When the plot-skips players into the game world

Chapter 594: Chapter 14: Series of Traps Chapter 594: Chapter 14: Series of Traps As Mr.

Aiwass was immersed in grief and anger, he suddenly heard a knock on the study door.

A voice with an elf-like accent, ancient yet clear, came from the entrance of the study, “Mr.

Aiwass, a guest is looking for you.”

That voice was so familiar to Aiwass…

and yet it felt somewhat foreign due to the length of time since he last heard it.

It was none other than the Elf Butler, Oswald, who had looked after Aiwass since he was a child.

Since his departure to the Holy Nation in search of Old James, he had not returned to Avalon.

When Oswald had left, Aiwass had been a frail young man threatened by the Demon Scholars of the Second Power Level, whose life was limited to a wheelchair.

Oswald had also been worried that Aiwass might be secretly harmed by the people of the Noble Red.

Now, Aiwass had become the power behind Avalon, second only to one…

and had even wholly dismantled the Noble Red.

Even the leader of the Noble Red had been personally killed by Aiwass, destroyed to the point of obliteration.

In that moment, Aiwass felt a pang of nostalgia for Oswald.

He picked up a towel to dry his face, sniffled, and cleared his throat.

His eyes were still a bit red, but his spirit had once again stabilized.

Aiwass opened the door to the study and nodded politely, “Mr.

Oswald.”

Before him stood the gaunt old butler, resembling a wolf in thinness.

Close to two meters tall, an elf of pureblood would consider him somewhat short.

But to humans, he was like a tall, thin ghostly shadow, oppressing in presence.

Oswald held his hands behind his back, his face lined with deep wrinkles as profound as tree bark.

Despite his advanced age, there was not a single sign of stooping in his back, as straight and unbowed as his pride.

His sharp, wolf-like gaze immediately found Aiwass’s eyes.

The old butler effortlessly noticed that Aiwass had just been crying.

But instead of inquiring, he simply moved his gaze away calmly, as if he had seen nothing.

He nodded slightly to Aiwass, then slowly walked towards the door with his hands behind his back.

Clad in a red bishop’s robe, Aiwass crossed his hands and followed behind the old elf.

His gaze involuntarily swept over his home…

naturally, missing that gentle and silent figure.

— Lily was no longer there.

The moment he realized this, Aiwass bit the air lightly, as if slowly chewing on something, his cheek muscles bulging and then smoothing out momentarily.

Upon reaching the living room, Aiwass saw another familiar figure.

Grey pupils, deep eye sockets, thin cheeks, and high cheekbones.

And that hair, neatly combed back though much of it had thinned to reveal a balding scalp…

It was Foster Father James, whom he had not seen in a long time.

For some reason, James had not attended the luncheon at the Hall of Silver and Tin…

and neither had he had lunch at home.

Instead, wearing glasses suspended by two silver chains, he sat leisurely in the living room, sipping tea and reading the newspaper.

“Please wait here; I will bring the guest to you.”

Oswald turned back to signal.

Aiwass nodded politely in response, “Very well, Mr.

Oswald.”

Seeing Aiwass come out and sit opposite him, James raised his head and teased him gently, “Well, did you find the book you were looking for?

Can Dad go back to the study now?”

This distinguished gentleman, who was now not in formal attire, was merely dressed in a simple brown wool vest and a white shirt underneath.

Though he appeared to be a gentle, refined, and frail scholar, one could see the clear outline of his muscles— his shoulders alone filled out the shirt tightly.

He sat firmly on the sofa, exuding a sense of immovable stability.

Looking at his long-unseen foster father, Aiwass subconsciously paused.

His eyes conveyed a mix of complexity and nostalgia which he then dispelled, revealing a composed smile, “I have indeed found it, Father.”

This was the usual manner of interaction between Aiwass and Old James.

Old James always referred to himself as “Dad” in front of the children, but actually, only Yulia would call him Dad.

Aiwass and Edward would address him more formally as “Father.”

This didn’t indicate that their father-son relationship was too estranged, but was simply mutual accommodation, each striving in their own direction—Old James wished the children to grow closer, while Aiwass and Edward both aspired to stand on their own as soon as possible, to become reliable and trustworthy adults.

If someone else was attempting to play “my” role, just getting past Oswald and Father would be an insurmountable obstacle.

Suddenly, such a thought popped up in Aiwass’s mind.

Because both Aiwass and Yulia were sensible.

Although Oswald was just their butler, they still respectfully addressed him as “Mr.

Oswald,” and most of the time, they used the formal “you” when speaking to him.

If someone slipped up and mistakenly addressed Oswald or Old James casually, they would likely be suspected of being an impostor on the spot.

Were they to realize “this Aiwass is an impostor, and they are in Dreamland,” then Aiwass would immediately be eliminated and die.

Even after elimination, others might hear jeers echoing in their ears.

Mr.

Aiwass couldn’t help feeling a sense of relief.

Meanwhile, Oswald had brought the guest from the parlor.

Mr.

Aiwass noticed this detail.

According to Oswald’s customs, it should have been Mr.

Aiwass who was led to the parlor where the guest had been arranged…

just like when Hayna came too early the next morning.

But he had deliberately seated Mr.

Aiwass across from Old James…

It was evident.

It meant that Oswald did not wish for Mr.

Aiwass to meet this guest alone and, therefore, wanted Old James to be present during their conversation.

He had two possible motives, one was his loyalty to Old James, and the other was his concern for Mr.

Aiwass.

When the guest appeared before Mr.

Aiwass, he immediately confirmed—it must be the latter possibility.

Because Mr.

Aiwass also recognized the visitor.

It was an elf butler who looked to be about twenty-something years younger than Oswald, with a square face, a serious demeanor, and a relatively bushier head of hair.

If Oswald were in his seventies or eighties, then this person would pass as a leader who had not yet retired.

—He was the Guardian Spirit of the Drost Family.

“…

Mr.

Diomedes,”

Mr.

Aiwass stood up and nodded slightly in greeting.

The elf known as Diomedes also bowed slightly and drew a triangle over his chest with his right hand.

“May the Candle Master bless you, Bishop Moriarty.”

“Have you come to see me for something urgent?”

Mr.

Aiwass courteously inquired.

Diomedes maintained a smile and smoothly answered, “The patriarch wishes to invite you to the Hall of Silver and Tin…

Your mentor, Bishop Mathers, is indisposed, but such a grand occasion still requires the presence of a distinguished bishop to bear witness.

“I believe that in all of Avalon, aside from Bishop Mathers, there is no bishop more devout and sacred than yourself.

Please give us the honor and accompany me there.”

Hearing Diomedes’s words, Mr.

Aiwass’s eyebrows subtly raised.

He understood then.

—Either the captured Sherlock had been consumed by the Word Spirits and betrayed him, or the letters he sent to Isabel had been intercepted.

It could also be both.

The Hermes Family was not among the Founding Families, and this timeline’s Sherlock definitely had not reconciled with his family.

Therefore, his disappearance would alarm no one.

But if they left Mr.

Aiwass, who knew the truth, unattended, it could introduce unnecessary variables to Minister Drost’s schemes.

Hence Minister Drost sent Diomedes, hoping to “invite” Mr.

Aiwass over.

If Mr.

Aiwass simply refused to leave the house and did nothing, then with Oswald’s protection, he would be undoubtedly safe—at least he would survive safely until the end of the ceremony.

Those Transcendents from Star Antimony were obviously unwilling to attack a member of the Founding Families for the benefit of Drost…

After all, whether Drost’s schemes were exposed or not, it was irrelevant to Star Antimony’s plans.

It was merely a matter of whether Drost would be out of luck.

Therefore, Drost had to rely on his strength to deal with this matter.

He might not dare to kill Mr.

Aiwass, or he might…

but in any case, he had to control Mr.

Aiwass first to prevent him from rallying others.

If Mr.@@novelbin@@

Aiwass had not figured this out and naively thought that “going out with Diomedes would trigger the plot”…

then he would be directly detained or even killed in the confusion right from the start.

Undoubtedly, this was another deadly trap.

The successive intimidations caused Mr.

Aiwass to chill internally and be on high alert.

So Mr.

Aiwass simply refused with a smile, “I would rather not go, as I am but a young person.

There are many more qualified than I, and if I go, people would say I’m not treating the matter with the seriousness it deserves.”

But Diomedes shook his head and said firmly, “Only you will do.

The patriarch specifically instructed that if you were absent from this banquet, it would be a great pity…”

“—If he doesn’t want to go, then he won’t go.”

And just then, as James, who had been reading the newspaper, spoke indifferently.

“If he wanted to go, I couldn’t stop him.

But if he doesn’t want to go, then you can’t force him either.”

He set down the newspaper, his grey eyes fixed on Diomedes.

“Do you understand what I’m saying, Diomedes?”

“As you wish, Professor Moriarty.”

Diomedes didn’t continue to insist on taking Mr.

Aiwass away and immediately abandoned his plan without hesitation, bowing politely to James in farewell.

He didn’t seem the slightest bit discontent; in fact, he appeared to be relieved.

This sense of relief was all too familiar to Mr.

Aiwass.

—Lily once told him about when Diomedes was forced to give up on assassinating her, he had also “sighed with relief” in the same way.