When the plot-skips players into the game world Chapter 1226: 520: Moriarty's Legacy

Chapter 1226: Chapter 520: Moriarty’s Legacy

The cold, forest-white moonlight pierced the lingering thin mist, falling on Aiwass, as if it had turned to frost.

Even after Oswald left, he still stood there, looking at Old Jas. Motionless, silent, like an ice sculpture.

“—It’s my problem.”

Old Jas suddenly spoke, “I never expected that after Mr. Oswald learned about that matter, he would react so strongly.”

“Which matter?”

“Young Julia. Where I co from, where I’m going… these things aren’t secrets. I’ve told him a long ti ago. I never keep such trivial secrets from those around , just as I don’t with you. But so people are not yet qualified; knowing the truth will only bring them pain or make them feel powerless… I never tell them things they cannot bear.

“Citizens from Avalon don’t need to know how the slaves on the Southern Continent live. Commoners from the Iris Flower don’t need to concern themselves whether Avalon and Star Antimony will go to war. Regardless of the outco, they can change nothing, their awareness carries no aning, only additional pain.”

Knowing—it’s a kind of pain. Just like his own.

The old man’s brows relaxed slightly here, revealing a faint, helpless smile, “I thought he would be angry, thought he would rebuke , also thought he might silently accept—it was all for a greater good. After all, when I threatened Edward back then, he also chose silence.

“But I never imagined the truth would pierce his heart. He still stood upright, speechless, but blood flowed from his eyes, his back slowly bending. In an instant, he seed to age ten years… I an ten human years.”

At this point, Old Jas sighed, “I misjudged. And perhaps it was a warning, or a beginning…”

The adoptive father obviously did not believe his actions transcended those of Dedication.

As a self-proclaid “Savior,” recognized by Cardinal Loki as a good young man, Jas naturally had the potential of the Path of Devotion. He practiced necessary evil, premature death… For him, activating Aiwass’s potential, allowing Yulia’s Phantom Demon inside her to complete its ergence through her irrediable demise, was an acceptable price.

It was just a human life, after all.

In the face of apocalypse, any price seems pale and aningless—no matter how brilliant, wise, lovely, just, or adored a person is, their life can only count as “one.”

Compared to the billions of living souls, the tens of thousands of years of history, the imasurable future… offering any price is worth it.

Everything.

If you can see through soone, you won’t fear them; knowing a person’s death date, you won’t get angry at them. Old Jas always looks down on the masses with empathy… that perspective is more “godlike” than “heroic.” This is why he, when encountering anyone or anything, never panics, never gets angry, and is perpetually composed, perpetually calm and rational.

Because he doesn’t care.

But now it’s different…

“The ‘future’ has changed, hasn’t it.”

Aiwass’s lips curled, “Of course, for you… it might be ‘history’.”

“—Did you do it, the ‘Tail-Biting Ring Ceremony’?”

Old Jas asked with a serious and earnest expression, “This answer is crucial for , I… beg you to tell .”

Hearing this, Aiwass laughed even more joyfully.

He looked at Old Jas—his face was part expectant, part rejecting. Even Old Jas himself, didn’t know what answer he wanted to hear.

He wanted to change the future, yet feared it being changed. Ultimately, he just wanted to change the future with his own hands.

Deeming himself the protagonist of the age…

…how strangely similar this false posture is to his own.

Thinking of this, the smile on Aiwass’s face gradually faded.

“Look, do I have that kind of capability?”

He opened his hands, speaking calmly, “No.

“But I know it’s the plot and machinations of the Serpent Celestial Marshal—preparing for this scene, at least tens of thousands of years.”

“…I anticipated this possibility. After all, His na was once the Reincarnation Celestial Marshal.”

Old Jas did not lose control.

He rely nodded slightly, seemingly accepting this answer.

The old man lifted his head to gaze at the night sky.

In the originally pitch-black sky, there was a backdrop of violet.

Ever since the Serpent Father started his “Final Transcendence,” the color of the night sky has beco paler day by day.

After a long silence, the old man suddenly spoke, “Do you know your flaw, Aiwass?”

“What,” Aiwass laughed, “beginning to criticize , father?”

“You are very mature.”

Old Jas quietly looked at Aiwass: “This is your flaw.”

“Because I’m inconvenient for you to exploit?” Aiwass retorted.

“Yes.”

Unexpectedly, Old Jas nodded calmly: “My so-called ‘exploitation’ is actually cultivation. What they want to do themselves is what I hope they do. It’s not because I found them, but because I nurtured them.

“Everyone needs soone who understands them, Aiwass. At so monts when they are battered and bruised, just having soone who understands standing by them gives them the courage to go on. To keep this understanding person, they often relinquish their direction… This is how I manipulate others.”

As if imparting his experience, Old Jas patiently and ticulously dissected his “insights”:

“What kind of people a child ets, what kind of events they encounter, will determine what kind of person they beco. Talent can change a person’s base nature, while experiences alter their soul. No one is born saintly, not at all. I’ve seen many saints, and even more villains… their commonality is having endured many hardships.

“Only so butterflies can break out of the cocoon, while others die in it.”

He glanced at Aiwass, his clear eyes filled with concern: “But you’re different, Aiwass.

“—You’re too mature. While adults can be changed, they are not as malleable as children. This is why it’s harder for adults to gain enlightennt or progress. Adults have learned to endure pain without crying out, so they need a greater pain to break them.”

Upon hearing this, Aiwass slightly narrowed his eyes, his expression gradually growing grim.

“Is this your justification for yourself? I’m too mature, so I need greater suffering to pierce ? And that’s why you took action against Yulia?”

Card after card appeared at Aiwass’s fingertips, then dissipated, like a magician or a one-handed shuffling dealer.

“You could see it that way.”

Old Jas rely said calmly: “Don’t you think? Your progress is too slow, much slower than those around you.

“Sherlock reconciled with his awkward self after gaining family approval; that little queen was able to courageously move forward after gaining courage and supporters. They are all chasing after you, Aiwass.

“And you? Are you just standing still, letting them catch up?”

The words were sincerely spoken, yet seed to possess an enchanting power.

Each word resonated with Aiwass’s concerns and anxieties.

“…Is this how you usually manipulate others?”

Aiwass felt a montary wobble within himself, and his expression gradually beca calm.

The so-called “poker face” doesn’t necessarily an being expressionless, but rather not letting others deduce what card you’re playing from your expression. The smile on Old Jas’s face is essentially a poker face too.

Emulating Old Jas’s manner, Aiwass slowly revealed a gentle smile on his face.

He even did better than Old Jas—he exuded a genuine warmth, a light of consideration for others from the heart. This was completely different from Jas’s cold and sweet presence, a taste like cold syrup lingering in the throat.

“If I were incapable of change, I wouldn’t be here, in this place, at this ti.”

As he spoke, Aiwass asked in return: “Then why are you here? The fragnts of the Fog Sky Departnt shouldn’t be of much help to you.”

“Because it helps you.”

Old Jas said gently: “I wanted to collect them for you—I suppose you won’t believe this reason.”

Aiwass raised his eyebrows without responding.

“But actually the truth isn’t far off… because I want to know what you’re doing. The current ‘history’ has gone beyond my understanding, yet you seem to know more secrets than I do. So by following your actions, I can find what you’re looking for in advance and lead you to where I want you to be. As long as I’m one step ahead of you, I can be ahead every step.”

Upon saying this, the old man gave a bitter smile: “But I truly didn’t realize you would be here at this mont. The Stargazing Continuity didn’t reveal your whereabouts to …yet every night I watched the stars and divined your future.

“Is it because the Lord of Scalefeather obscured your trail? Or is it that this is a thought born only ‘today’? But in any case, you are aiming to bypass my detection, aren’t you.”

Old Jas stated calmly: “So when I saw you appear here, I already knew everything.

“When I can’t see the future… I am actually seeing the future. You’ve already surpassed .”

As he spoke, Old Jas grasped his cane tightly.

In the depths of his eyes, two azure flas ignited.

His voice and the low murmur of a curse sounded simultaneously: “Aiwass, from now on, you are Moriarty.

“I have an experience, a legacy, or it could be called a painful lesson…

“Don’t rely too much on what you believe the [future] holds.”

As those words fell, the spell abruptly converged.