When the plot-skips players into the game world

Chapter 605: Chapter 20 Drost’s Past_2 Chapter 605: Chapter 20 Drost’s Past_2 He had become thoroughly disappointed with Charles.

Since then, Diomedes no longer spoke to Charles about those matters.

And Charles had noticed this—so he stopped calling him “Mr.

Diomedes” and simply used his first name, stopped asking for his advice, and instead directed him to do things.

The once naive and passionate youth gradually became slick and sinister.

His career level on the Path of Authority ceased to rise, and his once robust and vibrant body became flabby.

Charles, who at graduation was filled with belief in law and Justice, had eventually committed numerous crimes, including hiring assassins, accepting bribes, smuggling, and rape…

—To the point that Charles had even become a traitor and regicide.

It was Queen Sofia who had elevated him to the position of Minister of Commerce!

The man known as “Minister Drost” had become completely different from his former self.

He had changed in every way.

The only two things that remained unchanged were the cheerful smile always plastered on his face, and the burning desire in his heart, fierce as fire.

—That’s why Diomedes would deliberately do things outside of Drost’s orders.

Like protecting Drost’s potential illegitimate daughter from assassination by transferring her to Oswald’s care in advance; like never taking the initiative to remind him to destroy evidence when Drost forgot.

These were the careful arrangements he left behind, one foreshadowing after another.

Perhaps they would never be needed, or perhaps Drost himself would suddenly remember…

But they always held a sliver of possibility to bring down Charles Drost, to liberate Diomedes, to return his freedom, to grant him a new master.

Diomedes was very secretive in his actions, so he had never been discovered.

Drost still entrusted him with the most important matters because he had become highly suspicious, only a Guardian Spirit could never betray him and had to do everything possible to ensure his life’s safety and to carry out orders completely.

Just like now—sending out a warning to the entire Moriarty family in advance when Charles sought to silence Aiwass Moriarty.

According to Diomedes’ view, Star Antimony could never bring much benefit to Charles.

Because they were deeply divided internally while still controlling power.

The benefits they offered to Charles—those lands and titles—were, in reality, like making the three parties pay the price jointly.

One party comes up with a plan and expects the other two to pay up to accumulate merit for the one who proposed the plan; that was simply impossible.

They wouldn’t drag their feet, and even if they didn’t back out, the benefits would most likely dwindle…

or they might simply assassinate him to default on the debt.

This also meant that Charles was unlikely to attain a high position in Avalon’s new government.

On the other hand, as the head of the Founding Family, a top executive of the Lohar Society, with an excellent reputation in the public eye, one of Avalon’s wealthiest merchants, and also a world-class scholar with specialized works in fields like mathematics and astronomy, James Moriarty would become a prime target for Star Antimony’s courtship.

Charles was an utter waste compared to James; there was nowhere near a comparison to be made.

As long as they drag out until Star Antimony takes control of Avalon through that fake queen, Professor Moriarty would immediately be put to use.

By then, Aiwass would be completely safe.

So if Charles wanted to kill Aiwass, he had to act before Star Antimony took control of Avalon, in the darkness of complete collapse of Avalon’s order, to preemptively kill Aiwass—

Edward, being an Inspector, had no right of priority inheritance; Yulia had already died, so Aiwass was the sole heir to Professor Moriarty for the future.

Charles definitely did not have the capability to make Aiwass, the only heir of the Moriarty Family, die unnoticed.

So if he made a move on Aiwass, he would surely be detected by Professor Moriarty.

That meant offending the other party.

Now, having Diomedes attempt to abduct Aiwass was the last of his courage.

Once Diomedes brought back the sufficiently determined stance of Old James, Charles would back down.

And Aiwass, destined to become a promising bishop, would surely not forget this grudge, holding it close to his heart…

He would then become a thorn in Charles’ side, causing unease for his master.

Later, as Aiwass gains more power, he could expose the crimes of Star Antimony and reveal the wrongdoings of Charles.

In his reluctant interaction with Charles, Diomedes had also learned Charles’ slick acting skills and the art of concealing his true intentions.

Although he wore a face of regret, Diomedes was quite satisfied with this outcome.

…But at this moment, Aiwass himself came looking for him.

This completely disrupted Diomedes’ plans.

Yet, as he looked at Aiwass and was about to burst into anger, he suddenly paused.

He vaguely captured some information from Aiwass’s eyes and expression.

“Please take me with you, Mr.

Diomedes,” Aiwass said with his right hand over his chest in a polite and respectful salute.

“Let me have a talk with him.

Rest assured, I won’t risk my life foolishly.

“I am confident enough…that after he hears what I have to say, he won’t kill me.

Or rather, he can’t kill me.”

— He can’t kill me.

Despite being a fragile priest, Aiwass’s words revealed such confidence.

“You mean to…”

Hearing Aiwass’s words, Diomedes slowly began to understand: “You wish to save someone?”

Aiwass had clearly guessed that Minister Drost harbored murderous intent towards him—this also meant that Aiwass realized that the letter he sent to Princess Isabel had been intercepted by that man.

Because only through this channel would Minister Drost develop a desire to kill Aiwass, who he had never met before and was not at all familiar with.

And based on that…

As expected.

The words Aiwass spoke next were in perfect agreement with the thought in Diomedes’ mind: “Yes, I want to survive, but I also want to rescue Sherlock as well.

“I guess, the missing Sherlock must be with him too.

Minister Drost is so eager to have me visit, probably he wants to use me as an opening to pry open Sherlock’s mouth.

“— Since that’s the case, whatever he wants to know, I’ll tell him.

If he needs a hostage, let me be that hostage.

I’ll take Sherlock’s place…he has long since cut ties with the Hermes Family, so let Minister Drost send him to the Holy Nation.

As long as he never comes back, there’s no need for thorough extermination, right?

“Killing two men and making enemies of two families is a poor strategy.

Now that I’m taking a step back, I’ll soften up for him—I’ll exchange my support as Professor Moriarty, the future ‘Moriarty’ friendship, the information he wants to gain, the evidence he wants to destroy…I’ll use these to bargain for our lives—especially Sherlock’s.”

“Since Minister Drost prides himself on being a businessman every other day, then let him see if this deal is worthwhile or not,” said Aiwass clearly.

Just like Professor Moriarty had previously persuaded the Grand Adjudicator Shafiya with his rhetoric.

Creating an atmosphere of “no loss either way,” a friendly ambiance that would cause one to relax, then kindling the thought of “what if they agree with him,” to lead them to consider Aiwass’s words.

Minister Drost did not want to offend Professor Moriarty but wanted to clean up the matter.

A conciliation coming directly from Aiwass was the solution most acceptable to Minister Drost;

And Diomedes did not want the righteous and innocent young men, Aiwass and Sherlock, to be killed for this, hoping they could serve as witnesses to etch Minister Drost’s crimes.

— This is what you call learning on the fly.

Although somewhat more immature compared to Professor Moriarty’s rhetoric.

But Diomedes was moved by Aiwass’s words.

Because Diomedes could accept this outcome, he also believed that Minister Drost could accept it…

so the plan must be feasible.

Therefore, Diomedes stopped trying to dissuade him and took Aiwass to the Hall of Silver and Tin.@@novelbin@@

It was more like companions walking together than a kidnapping.