Chapter 481
I Absolutely Don’t Believe He’s That Much of a Genius
After delivering the most crucial information, Eivass gently squeezed Isabel’s hand, signaling that their act could end.
However, their conversation didn’t conclude immediately and continued for a short while longer.
Under Eivass’s guidance, they provided the advisor with some seemingly trivial information. This was intended to dilute the informational density of their previous discussion.
Following that, Eivass removed Sherlock’s outer robe and proceeded with the healing using a rather “normal” method—as if he were a genuine Bishop. The use of the Illuminate Spell was standard and lacked any spiritual essence.
Undoubtedly, this was within the expected skill level of “Eivass.” As a prodigy Bishop who had reached the Third Tier at the age of nineteen, it was only natural for him to lack experience.
Midway through Eivass’s healing, “Sherlock” subtly moved his eyes and slowly woke up.
“…Bishop.”
“Please don’t, Mr. Hermes,” Eivass replied with a slight nod. His face, illuminated by the light, appeared compassionate and gentle. “Just call me Eivass.”
“…Mr. Moriarty.”
“Sherlock” struggled to sit up but was gently yet firmly pressed back down by Eivass.
He could only frown deeply and ask in a low voice, “How is Princess Isabel… Oh!”
As he spoke, he saw Isabel standing behind Eivass.
“Sherlock” immediately understood, his eyes welling up with tears. “Your Highness, I’m so glad you’re alright!”
“…But I couldn’t help at all.”
Isabel sounded somewhat dejected. “I only caused you trouble.”
She appeared timid, standing in the corner of the room, her body leaning slightly against the full-length mirror. Isabel, standing sideways before the mirror, saw another self reflected within. From afar, she looked like a pure white butterfly.
As soon as she spoke, Eivass and “Sherlock” fell silent.
Thus, Eivass could only give Sherlock an apologetic glance before leaning in and pulling her outside the door to comfort her in a low voice.
What acting… truly befitting an Extraordinary of the Path of Beauty.
The advisor, sitting alone on the bed, thought to himself.
He secretly calculated in his mind.
He wondered what Tier the Extraordinary Isabel was currently. If the story about her becoming an Extraordinary in the autumn of 1898 was true, then she could be at most the Second Tier now. But if she had become an Extraordinary as a child, she might even be at the Third Tier.
As a half-elf, reaching the Third Tier before the age of twenty…
…This meant she was almost guaranteed to reach the Fifth Tier.
Even Eivass, the advisor mused. In the real world, Minister Moriarty, having embarked on the Transcendent Path, was distracted and unable to advance further on the Path of Devotion. He had not only failed to become a Bishop but hadn’t even become a Priest or Deacon. According to intelligence from the Royal Law University, he was barely attending school anymore.
Although there were wild rumors circulating in Avalon that Eivass’s devout prayer had summoned a miracle from Hengwo, thus eradicating Count Emma, who had manifested as a Succubus. But as an old Extraordinary, the advisor knew this was impossible.
Hengwo was the God of Self-Pity and Solitude; in her eyes, there was nothing but reflections and herself.
Even Hengwo’s beloved Child of the Moon couldn’t invoke her miracles…
And he knew clearly that the Blood Rain wasn’t the ability of a Succubus at all… it was more akin to the legendary Night Demon.
The divine and eerie bleeding statue that appeared suddenly on the night of the Blood Moon could only be seen by an avenger filled with jealousy. Praying devoutly to Her could exchange one’s soul for power… hence, in some places, the Night Demon was also called the God of Wishes.
He would rather believe that another of Eivass’s pursuers had made a deal with the Night Demon to protect him, than believe that a prayer could summon a miracle from Hengwo for an Extraordinary who stopped attending school less than three months after becoming one. After all, Queen Isabel was indeed beautiful and powerful, and it was normal for her former lover to be consumed by jealousy.
His scandalous reputation had even reached Star Antinomy; the advisor didn’t dare to imagine how many lovers he had in Avalon.
As for him reaching the Third or even Fourth Tier on the Path of Devotion, that was simply impossible.
After all, intelligence from the Eye Demon faction indicated that Eivass had already reached the Third Tier on the Path of Transcension. He had even defeated the last royal bloodline of the Giants.
He had only been in contact with the Path of Transcension for less than six months at that time!
Originally, the knowledge of Extraordinary Power was given to him by Noble Red. At that time, he had almost been sacrificed by his own mentor due to his aptitude for the Path of Devotion. Later, during his revenge, he had used a pistol and hadn’t sought help from the church, clearly not having become an Extraordinary yet.
This nearly public information could be easily obtained by the “Secret Chamber” without any errors.
For a newly adult child to reach the Third Tier on dual paths in just six months… it was obviously impossible. One could argue that if he had only pursued one path, it would simply mean he had a strong affinity with that path.
Not everyone was as monstrously talented as his beloved student, “Albert Lore.”
Even young Albert had been exposed to Alchemy and Necromancy from childhood. At the age of seven, under his parents’ guidance, he had completed the creation of a stitched corpse. By ten, he could raise the dead through his own power. It was only then that he reached the Fourth Tier on the Twilight Path and the Third Tier on the Path of Balance at the age of twenty-five.
That was already a level of talent that made the advisor’s scalp tingle and filled him with envy.
If it were paths that were more compatible, like Beauty and Twilight, Authority and Balance, or Love and Transcension, it would be understandable.
But the advisor truly couldn’t imagine what kind of person could walk both the Path of Devotion and the Path of Transcension.
He absolutely did not believe Eivass was such a monster!
If one could reach the Third Tier on dual paths in six months, then what was he?
In this timeline deduced by the Lord of Scales and Feathers, Eivass did not come into contact with Noble Red and embark on the Path of Transcension. Instead, he focused solely on the Path of Devotion.
As a result, he became a Bishop at nineteen, the youngest Bishop in Avalon and even the entire Human World—this was enough to demonstrate his talent.
…Perhaps only such a genius could contend with Isabel.
Thinking this, the advisor’s heart stirred.
Information as precise as “Merlin’s Shadow of Avalon ritual” could be easily investigated by finding someone. At the very least, one could approach any Bishop and pray to Merlin or other Apostles familiar with him.
If this ritual indeed existed and was operating effectively, then Star Antinomy would be unable to successfully invade Avalon, and Valentine VII’s plan would have been doomed from the start.
If Star Antinomy couldn’t, then other countries certainly couldn’t.
Based on this premise… if Star Antinomy couldn’t withstand the pressure of the Daffodil Territory rebellion and eventually split apart, Avalon would be the beneficiary.
Although Isabel currently did not have an aptitude for the Path of Authority, no one could say for sure. Perhaps she would develop one if she became Queen for a while.
To contend with the strong-handed Isabel, Minister Moriarty needed his own influence. He had ample wealth and even controlled the Lloyd Society. However, he lacked a sufficient number of high-quality Extraordinary individuals. As someone on the Transcendent Path, he couldn’t cultivate trustworthy subordinates. Besides his unsavory lovers, he only had a group of opportunistic merchants by his side.
Rather than moving to the Iris Flower territory, which could split at any moment, or going to the Southern Continent to watch foolish Trolls bare their teeth…
—It would be better to move the Spirit Tower to Avalon and pledge allegiance to Eivass.
Such a genius was worth investing in, and the perpetually calm Avalon was also suitable for those like them who pursued the Twilight Path—much more so than Star Antinomy, where constant brawling and mutual slaughter occurred daily.
He decided to ask the Principal and Vice-Principal about it when he returned. The advisor made up his mind.
However, it couldn’t be ruled out that he might die in this ritual, or that his memory might become confused after leaving it.
Therefore, the first thing he needed to do now was to find those two fools. He had to pass on this crucial information—information that could directly determine the future of the Spirit Tower—so they could escape quickly.
After all, even General Karl had blown up.
Others might not know, but the advisor was well aware—a fully hatched Flame Demon. He might be able to control it for a time, but he doubted he could control it for four days. He needed support from the rear… but now they were on Glass Island, so where was the “rear”?
As a Calamity Stitcher, within the Ascension Ritual, “he himself” would surely not have the elite stitched corpses stored in the “Amber Egg” from his own laboratory. He was not a Ghoul Shepherd who could easily summon numerous skeletons, and his current power could likely not be utilized even by a third of its capacity.
This was the characteristic of the Path of Balance. Their Extraordinary Power largely came from “pre-made” creations. This was true for Botanists, Alchemists, and Calamity Stitchers alike.
The ritual of the Lord of Scales and Feathers, although it only required survival to have a chance to complete the mission and advance.
But this also meant that survival itself was incredibly difficult within His ritual. No matter where one fled, there would be danger, and it would only become more dangerous as time passed.
This Ascension offered two approaches: either escort Isabel to the Church, or hide and grind for points.
The former was of sufficient difficulty but controllable in terms of time and relatively short; the latter would undoubtedly be more comfortable initially, which was why people were led here. However, the danger would increase progressively. Regardless of the choice, different dangers would be encountered—just like in nature, there was no absolutely safe place.
If one were to deduce what they would encounter when undertaking different missions based on this underlying design mechanism… the answer would be clear.
—The armies from Star Antinomy would arrive at Glass Island within three days at most.
They would annihilate everything.
(End of Chapter)
