Chapter 964
Moriarty’s Inheritance (Request monthly passes!)
The ice-cold moonlight, forest white, pierced through the not yet dissipated thin mist and fell on Eivass, as if it had solidified into frost.
After Oswald left, he still stood in place, staring at old James. Speechless, motionless. Like an ice sculpture.
“It’s my fault.”
Old James suddenly spoke, “I also didn’t expect Mr. Oswald to react so strongly after learning about that matter.”
“Which matter?”
“Little Yulia. Where I come from, where I go… these aren’t secrets. I’ve told him for a long time. I never keep these trivial secrets from those around me, just as I don’t from you. It’s just that some people aren’t qualified; knowing the truth would only bring them pain or helplessness… I would never tell them things they couldn’t bear.
“Citizens from Avalon don’t need to know how the slaves on the Southern Continent live, and civilians from the Iris Flower don’t need to care whether Avalon and Star Antinomy are going to war. Regardless of the outcome, they can’t change anything, and their knowledge would be meaningless, only adding to their suffering.”
Knowledge—is a kind of suffering. Just like himself.
As the old man spoke, his brow relaxed slightly, revealing a hint of a helpless smile. “I thought he would get angry, I thought he would scold me, and I thought he would accept it in silence—all for a higher good. After all, when I threatened Edward back then, he also chose silence.
“But I didn’t expect that truth to pierce his heart. He still stood straight, silent. But tears of blood were streaming from his eyes, and his back gradually stooped. In an instant, he looked like he had aged ten years… I mean, ten human years.”
At this point, old James sighed, “I miscalculated. And that might be a warning, or a beginning…”
The foster father clearly didn’t consider his actions to be beyond devotion.
As a self-proclaimed “Savior,” a fine youth recognized by Cardinal Loki, James naturally had the potential for the Path of Devotion. He practiced the Necessary Evil, pre-emptive death… For him, activating Eivass’s potential, allowing Yulia to incubate the Phantom Demon within her, and having her “killed” by the Phantom Demon in a way that she couldn’t be revived, was an acceptable price.
It was just one life.
In the face of the world’s doomsday, any price seemed so pale and meaningless—no matter how radiant, how wise, how lovable, how righteous, how beloved a person was, the unit of their life could only be “one.”
Compared to the billions of ordinary people, compared to hundreds of thousands of years of history, compared to the immeasurable future… paying any price was worth it.
Everything.
If one could see through a person, they wouldn’t fear them; if one knew a person’s death date, they wouldn’t be angry with them. Old James always looked down on all beings with compassion… that perspective was less like a “Brave,” and more like a “God.” This was also why he never panicked or got angry when encountering anyone or anything, always remaining calm, composed, and rational.
Because he didn’t care.
But now, it was different…
“The ‘future’ has changed, hasn’t it?”
Eivass’s lips curved upwards, “Of course, for you… it should be ‘history’.”
“Was it you who did that ‘Ouroboros Ring Ritual’?”
Old James’s expression was solemn, and he asked extremely seriously, “This answer is very important to me. I… beg you to tell me.”
Hearing this, Eivass smiled even more happily.
He looked at old James—his face was half expectant, half resistant. Even old James himself didn’t know what kind of answer he wanted.
He wanted to change the future, yet he was afraid of the future being changed. In the end, he just wanted the future to be changed by his own hands.
Considering himself the protagonist of the era…
…How similar this hypocritical posture was to his own.
Thinking of this, the smile on Eivass’s face gradually subsided.
“See, do I have that kind of ability?”
He spread his hands and said calmly, “No.
“But I know that it was the conspiracy of the Ring Heavenly Envoy—he had been preparing for this scene for at least tens of thousands of years.”
“…I had guessed this possibility. After all, His name was once Samsara Heavenly Envoy.”
Old James did not lose control.
He just nodded slightly, seemingly accepting this answer.
The old man raised his head and looked at the night sky.
However, in the originally dark night sky, there was a violet color as the base.
Ever since the Father Snake began his “final transcendence,” the color of the night sky had been fading day by day.
After a long silence, the old man suddenly spoke, “Do you know your flaw, Eivass?”
“What, are you starting to criticize me, Father?” Eivass laughed.
“You are too mature,” old James looked at Eivass quietly, “This is your flaw.”
“Because it’s inconvenient for you to use me?” Eivass retorted.
“Yes.”
Unexpectedly, old James nodded calmly, “My so-called ‘use’ is actually nurturing. What they want to do themselves is what I hope they do. This isn’t because I found them, but because I nurtured them.
“Everyone needs an understanding person, Eivass. In some moments of deep pain, having an understanding person stand beside you gives you the courage to move forward. And to keep this understanding person, they often have to give up their own direction of progress… This is how I manipulate others.”
As if imparting his experience, old James patiently and meticulously dissected his “insights”:
“The kind of person a child becomes, the kind of person he will be in the future, depends on the kind of people he meets and the kind of things he encounters. Talent can change a person’s fundamental nature, while experience changes their soul. No one is born holy, no one is. I have met many saints and even more villains… Their commonality is that they have experienced much suffering.
“It’s just that some butterflies can break out of their cocoons, while some die within them.”
He looked at Eivass, his clear pupils filled with worry, “But you are different, Eivass.
“You are too mature. Although adults can also be changed, they are far less malleable than children. Because of this, adults find it harder to enlightenment and progress than children. Adults have learned to endure pain and not cry, so they need greater pain to make them unbearable.”
Upon hearing this, Eivass narrowed his eyes slightly, his expression gradually turning gloomy.
“Is this your defense for yourself? Because I am too mature, I need greater suffering to sting me? So, you attacked Yulia?”
Cards appeared and then dissipated one by one on Eivass’s fingertips. He looked like a magician, or a dealer shuffling cards with one hand.
“You can also understand it that way.”
Old James, however, said frankly, “Don’t you think so? Your progress is too slow, much slower than the people around you.
“Sherlock reconciled with his awkward self after gaining his family’s approval; that little Queen was able to bravely move forward after obtaining courage and supporters. They are all chasing you, Eivass.
“So, what about you? Will you stand still and let them catch up?”
His words were sincere, yet they seemed to possess a magical power to bewitch people’s hearts. Every single word was something Eivass was worried and anxious about.
“…Is this how you usually manipulate others?”
Eivass felt a moment of wavering within himself, and his expression gradually became calm.
The so-called “poker face” doesn’t necessarily mean a lack of expression; rather, it means not letting others guess your hand from your expression. Old James’s smile was essentially a poker face.
Learning from old James, Eivass’s face also slowly revealed a gentle smile.
He even did better than old James—he possessed a genuine warmth, a light that originated from genuinely caring for others. This was completely different from James’s cold sweetness, which lingered in the throat like icy sugar water.
“If I didn’t change myself, I wouldn’t be appearing here at this time.”
Eivass said, then countered, “Why are you here? Fragments of the Envoy of Mist shouldn’t be of any help to you, right?”
“Because it is helpful to you.”
Old James said gently, “I want to collect it for you—I’m sure you won’t believe this reason.”
Eivass raised an eyebrow and didn’t reply.
“But the truth is almost the same… Because I want to know what you’re doing. The current ‘history’ has surpassed my understanding, yet you seem to know more secrets than I do. So, by following your trajectory of action and finding the things you want to find in advance, I can guide you to where I want to place you. As long as I’m one step ahead of you, I can be one step ahead every step of the way.”
At this point, the old man gave a wry smile, “But I really didn’t realize you would appear here at this time. The Stellar Secrecy also didn’t tell me your whereabouts… But every night when I look at the stars, I divine your future.
“Is it because the Lord of Scales and Feathers obscured your tracks? Or is this all a thought born by you ‘today’? But no matter what, you were trying to bypass my detection, weren’t you?”
Old James said calmly, “So, when I saw you appearing here, I already knew everything.
“When I can’t see the future… it’s also seeing the future. You have surpassed me.”
With that, old James tightened his staff slightly.
In the depths of his pupils, two balls of brilliant blue light ignited.
His voice and a deep chanting sound arose simultaneously, “Eivass, from now on, you will be Moriarty.
“I have an experience, an inheritance, or perhaps a painful lesson…
“Hearing is not necessarily believing, and seeing is not necessarily true. Even the memories of personal experience can deceive oneself.
“—Do not trust the [Future] you know too much.”
As the words fell, the spell suddenly condensed.
(End of Chapter)
