Chapter 40
A Child’s Body, An Adult’s Mind: The Famous Detective
“That’s not necessarily true… Mr. Detective.”
Eivass’s lips curved slightly upwards as he responded in a low voice, “Aren’t you going to try and sell us newspapers? Is everything alright?”
This boy, with his auburn curly hair, face dotted with tiny freckles, and a slender, short frame that made him look no older than seven or eight… must be Sherlock. Eivass had recognized him the moment he stepped out of the car, easily identifying Sherlock’s persona.
It was because Sherlock wasn’t hiding himself at all. He wasn’t even properly playing his role. As a newsboy, he wasn’t bustling about selling his papers. Instead, he stood calmly and silently in the shade, his sharp, dark gaze scrutinizing every person who passed by. His gaze was like a cold blade, making passerby feel distinctly uncomfortable. Several people glanced at him with surprise and caution, only relaxing slightly when they saw it was just a gloomy child.
“Fox, you’re very clever… But you’re new, aren’t you?”
The boy gave a cold snort. “Let me give you a tip. Most of the time, it’s fine to not play your assigned role. Although ‘playing a role’ is a necessary mission, the failure condition isn’t your failed performance, but being questioned and exposed. I’m just a newsboy. Even if I stand here motionlessly, which is odd, who will step forward and question me by saying ‘you don’t seem like a proper newsboy’? No one will care about me… because I’m insignificant.”
“I see…”
Eivass mused, a warm, bright smile gracing his face. “So, if I just kill everyone who might question me beforehand—as long as I make sure they can’t speak—then I don’t have to worry about being exposed?”
“Yes, that’s how it works. But with your abilities, you probably can’t do that.”
Sherlock, appearing in the guise of a young boy, was unfazed by the cruelty and danger in Eivass’s words. He calmly analyzed, “That old gentleman probably did just that. He was the first to arrive, which means he’s also from Avalon. Since we can’t exchange information and we’re tasked to go to the Hanging Square, we can deduce from the mission’s hint of ‘preparing for battle’ that our common goal is to ‘obtain weapons.’ From there, he would connect the most effective weapon acquisition channel, ‘black market trading,’ to the Pelican Bar, which just appeared in the newspaper. He might even consider that others also need to obtain weapons and would similarly think of the ‘black market’—and thus deduce that others might also come to the Pelican Bar. That’s how we could gather here. Teammates are clearly more valuable than ‘weapons.’ Whether he’s on the first or second floor, he would go to the Pelican Bar as soon as possible. And this is the only way.”
“But ‘Bone Sculpture’ didn’t come here.”
“Correct. That means he doesn’t intend to cooperate with us… or he believes that most of us gathering here have already forsaken the Twilight Path. Even if they come, they won’t find teammates.”
“…So, Mr. Detective, you already expected us to come here?”
Lulu couldn’t help but whisper, “And if the old Mr. ‘Bone Sculpture’ doesn’t show up… are you planning for the three of us, plus Mr. Knight, to form a team?”
“In fact, my plan was for the three of us, including ‘Knight,’ to meet here. You weren’t included.”
Sherlock’s expression was cold. “Your appearing with Fox was an unexpected development. Although I don’t have animosity towards Extraordinary beings of the Path of Beauty—but if I may be frank, if you had appeared alone, without ‘Fox’ by your side, you definitely wouldn’t have thought of coming to the entrance of the Pelican Bar to gather.”
“…Boo.”
Lulu let out a small whimper. The voluptuous, beautiful woman looked as helpless as a young girl. She knew what Mr. Sherlock had said was true.
“It’s not just that,” Eivass suddenly interjected. “It’s not just because he knew he wouldn’t meet teammates if he came here alone.”
Little Sherlock looked over with some surprise. The boy let out a childlike voice, yet his tone was mature and cold, as if encouraging her with great interest, “Tell us more?”
“You were quite interested in ‘Bone Sculpture’s’ cane before. The Apostle said that the items that can be brought into the ritual are only extraordinary items ‘personally manufactured’ by oneself—meaning his cane isn’t an ordinary cane, but a creation of the Twilight Path. But this is his first Advancement Ritual, which means he has only just embarked on the Twilight Path. I believe his cane might be an extraordinary item made from human bones.”
“To be precise, it’s made from a complete, stripped spine.”
Little Sherlock raised an eyebrow, adding precisely, “Female, eighteen to twenty-seven years old. No heavy physical labor, and no significant signs of exercise. But she probably often worked or studied at a desk. She was also slightly hunched. She could be a student, or perhaps an artist or writer. Her background wouldn’t be too high or too low. She’s likely a local from Glass Island, probably a student who had just graduated and was misled. Being able to create an extraordinary item so soon after entering the Twilight Path… indicates that before entering the Twilight Path, she was already practicing bone carving or sculpting techniques frequently and had considerable experience in creating extraordinary items. This suggests that his other identity is likely one of the Path of Balance, Path of Beauty, or Transcendent Path, specializing in the creation of extraordinary items.”
He glanced at Lulu as he said this. “I’m more inclined to believe it’s the Path of Beauty. He might be a sculptor, or perhaps a collector. Do you understand now, Fox? Allies from the Path of Beauty are unreliable. When their strength is low, they usually seem normal, but their perception is too acute, and their nerves are too sensitive. This leads them to easily lose control and go mad, becoming unstable factors in the Advancement Ritual. Furthermore, a seasoned Holder of the Path of Beauty can easily become indifferent to life. They value art more than law and morality. Otherwise, it’s difficult to observe the world with pure ‘beauty,’ and it’s difficult to delve deeper.”
“That’s not entirely true…”
Lulu unconsciously defended herself. “I also know very kind art masters…”
“I know,” the newsboy nodded calmly. “I know them too. And you are an exception. Because, in my opinion, you are not a standard ‘Believer of Beauty.’ You value morality a lot… That’s good.”
“…You just said that was dangerous.”
“That’s not a contradiction.”
The boy, unwilling to explain further, sank back into his thoughts, murmuring, “When I get back, I need to check the missing persons files at the Inspection Bureau. Perhaps it will give me some inspiration… He’s already old, why did he suddenly embark on the Twilight Path? Was it due to serious illness? Or a terminal diagnosis? Did he feel he wouldn’t live much longer and suddenly developed a strong attachment to life? Hoping to live on… Are there no students to inherit from him, or are his descendants too unpromising, squabbling over the inheritance?”
“…If it’s an old artist from Glass Island,” Lulu, having been ignored, bravely spoke up in a small voice, “it might be Old Lars. He was diagnosed with bone cancer this summer.”
“Old Lars?”
Sherlock was momentarily stunned, and it took him a while to recall, “Mr. Lars Graham? Didn’t he… serve the Queen…”
He suddenly stopped talking. His gaze towards Lulu became profound, and he fell silent. Eivass also glanced at her.
My goodness.
This automatic “unboxing machine” can be used to reveal others’ secrets too? Her Highness the Princess actually has this capability.
“…Mr. ‘Knight’ still hasn’t arrived. Perhaps he didn’t consider this. He looks like a rather careless person.”
Sherlock changed the subject, his attitude shifting noticeably. “But it’s fine if it’s just us. You two remember to stick close to me…”
Compared to his previous priority in helping Knight and Fox, Sherlock’s strategy abruptly shifted to prioritizing the now-present Fox and Lulu. Clearly, Sherlock had guessed that Lulu was Princess Isabel… It wasn’t difficult for him. Fortunately, Sherlock was loyal to the Queen’s faction. Eivass knew his father had been a minister, framed and implicated in trouble for certain reasons. Queen Sophia had personally pardoned his father and was indebted to him. Since then, Sherlock had been secretly serving the Royal Family. The Queen would specifically invite Sherlock to investigate certain matters, both for his reliability and for secrecy. Therefore, compared to ordinary people, Sherlock knew more about the Royal Family’s secrets. At this point in time, this matter was still a secret. Even Isabel herself likely didn’t know.
I see…
Eivass realized. Before he had changed history and appeared in this Advancement Ritual he shouldn’t have been involved in, Princess Isabel’s Advancement Ritual had indeed been a success, thanks to Sherlock.
—Just then.
The three of them fell silent simultaneously. Because a clear bell chime suddenly rang in their minds. No one else around heard it, only the three of them. After about a few seconds, another chime rang out.
“…That’s a funeral bell.”
The boy’s expression suddenly turned serious. “There’s bad news… or rather, good news. Two people have been eliminated. Your chances of passing the ritual have increased.”
“Two people?”
Lulu subconsciously looked at Eivass beside her. “Were they together too?”
She had actually wanted to ask if they were also a couple. But the thought was too shameful, so she swallowed it before it was spoken.
Eivass pressed the newsboy. “What does the funeral bell signify? Revelation, or death?”
“Death. If their identity is revealed, the remaining people will hear the sound of ‘roaring laughter’.”
Little Sherlock’s speech sped up by more than double. “It’s only been an hour, and there are still three hours of survival time. The murderer has already started acting, and even being together won’t allow them to resist it. In a ‘Safe’ difficulty ritual, we would only encounter one enemy, and they wouldn’t be too strong. It would definitely be something we could easily deal with if we cooperated. Considering that ‘Bone Sculpture’ might act alone, among the remaining people, aside from the little girl of the Path of Love and the drug dealer of the Path of Balance, their combat power wouldn’t be bad. Unless by chance, those two encountered the killer together…”
“—That means the monster can kill two people consecutively in a short period of time.”
Eivass continued, “So fast that the other person couldn’t escape.”
“It must have been a sneak attack.”
Sherlock judged. “They didn’t come to the Law Enforcement Plaza, which means the enemy isn’t waiting here. This might even be a safe zone, and we’ll only encounter the enemy at the very last moment.”
“Not necessarily.”
The young priest’s gaze lowered slightly as he added another possibility. “It’s also possible that foreigners ran into the Strangler Gang. After all, they don’t understand Avalon.”
“Yes, you’re right.”
The boy nodded, looking around warily. “In any case, be careful of shadows and corners… I’ll be in front of you for a while to prevent me from being sneak-attacked and dragged away without you noticing.”
“Where are we going?” Lulu asked softly.
“Pelican Bar—Now give me a reason to take you to the Pelican Bar.”
Hearing Sherlock’s quiet instruction, the young priest’s face immediately broke into a warm, sunny smile. “You’re very polite, little sir. May the Candlemaster illuminate you.”
Eivass slightly raised his voice, speaking loud enough for those around to hear. “Thank you for your compliment to my wife—It’s so hot today, how about I buy you a drink? Is there anything you’d like to drink?”
“…Don’t give me alcohol, Fox.”
Little Sherlock lowered his voice, warning, “I can only drink milk right now… Alcohol will disrupt my intelligence and weaken my magic.”
“How about milk then? After all, you’re too young to drink alcohol.”
Eivass readily agreed.
“…I know a bar.”
Little Sherlock’s volume also returned to normal. He let out a childlike, childish voice. “We call it the Pelican Bar!”
Hearing Sherlock’s somewhat clumsy, feigned childish voice, Eivass’s expression became a little subtle.
If you can’t act, you don’t have to, Mr. Sherlock.
Your affected voice makes me think of another famous detective with a child’s body and an adult’s mind…
But just then, they heard another long funeral bell. Eivass’s expression became somber.
—The third person had died.
It had only been two minutes since the previous two chimes.
“Wait a minute,” Little Sherlock’s expression changed abruptly, and he stopped worrying about his role. “Something’s not right! They’re dying too fast!”
Two people could be explained: perhaps they were sneak-attacked together. The second person was caught and killed while trying to escape. But with only one enemy defined, three people dying consecutively was unreasonable! This wasn’t a ritual of mutual competition and slaughter; the nine people had appeared in different places with different identities. The difficulty of this ritual was clearly not right! Was it because of Sherlock’s or Bone Sculpture’s presence that the enemy’s strength was amplified?
Soon, Eivass realized something else: he had initially assumed the two who died were foreigners. But with a third, that wasn’t necessarily the case. Knight’s absence might not be because he hadn’t thought of the Pelican Bar. He might have gone somewhere else and possibly died en route! Where had they gone?
“We can’t go to the Pelican Bar anymore. It’s not necessarily absolutely safe there, and once we’re cornered, we won’t be able to escape. Knight hasn’t arrived or is already dead. We can only rely on the detective’s magic, and the strength of First Tier magic isn’t enough.”
Eivass immediately changed his plan and skillfully took over Sherlock’s command. “—We need to take a detour and hide first to see if anyone else dies. I know a secret passage here. Follow me.”
The early stages of the dungeon are simple and won’t last long, probably ending in about two or three days~
