When the plot-skips players into the game world Chapter 43: 25 "The Last Case"2

However, Aiwass did get a strange piece of information from their chatter—

It was that the Moriarty Family's old butler, Oswald, despite having served the Moriarty Family since the establishnt of the Kingdom of Avalon, felt a deep sense of identity and affection for the Eternal Theocracy.

Yet even so, when Aiwass tentatively asked him if he wanted to "go back and have a look," Oswald simply shook his head.

"There's nowhere to return to," the old butler sighed, saying casually.

"The Holy Nation is good in every way, but there is no ho left. Better not to go back."

It was the first ti that Oswald, who was as silent and reticent as a shadow, had ever ntioned his past in front of Aiwass and the other "young masters."

After that, Aiwass fell sowhat silent as well.

By the ti Oswald, pushing Aiwass in his wheelchair, made their leisurely way back ho, it was already evening.

The setting sun hung in the sky, with the lake in Moriarty Manor gleaming with a shattered gold brilliance. And at the iron gates of the manor, a lean young man with black hair and brown eyes leaned quietly.

He was perusing a dark gold-colored book, seemingly indifferent to his surroundings.

The pages in his hand were emitting a mysterious blue-green glow, as clear and pure as the bottom of a lake.

He was boldly reading a forbidden book in front of Moriarty Manor without any fear, clearly very familiar and comfortable with the place.

Because Aiwass was seated in a wheelchair, with a lower line of sight, he noticed the na of the book in the young man's hand at a glance.

—"Clarity Secret Sequence."

Aiwass knew this book.

This was a mystical skill from ancient tis—back in that era, the boundaries between Paths weren't as defined as they are now. Thus, many ancient skills could possibly belong to multiple Paths. But this book was an exception.

It was strongly attributed to the Path of Wisdom. The "Art of Vacant Clarity" it described was the precursor to the Path of Wisdom's mystical skill "ditation" that ca later.

In the ga, the owner of this book was supposed to be Sherlock Hers. It was a collection he acquired shortly after the main storyline began.

Sherlock was a Transcendent with adaptations to the Paths of Wisdom and Authority, and already had the dual professions of "Legal Mage" and "Mage" in version 1.0.

He was a powerful ally who remained outside the main character group.

Although he didn't beco a player's companion, he would occasionally step in to help solve a few difficult issues. After the collapse of the Kingdom of Avalon, he didn't follow the player to the Holy Nation, nor did he go to Star Antimony Kingdom. Instead, he accepted an offer from the Iris Kingdom and held a governnt position for a while.

It was clear from the na that this character was based on Sherlock Hols.

But different from the stereotypical image of Hols with his "pipe and cane"—Sherlock, as a semi-insider of the Glass Island Supervisory Bureau and a high-level Transcendent, had much more money than the original Hols and beca famous much earlier. He also didn't have his own Watson.

At the start of the main storyline, Sherlock was just 26 years old. By that ti, he was already the "Chief Consultant" that even the Supervisory Bureau Chief of the White Queen District had to treat with great courtesy.

As a Legal Mage from the Path of Authority, he was much more extravagant in his spending on luxuries.

He would buy the most expensive cigars he could afford, not the cheap pipe tobacco. He wasn't thrifty with his food either; every ti he t with players, he would take them out to eat. He would even take special trips abroad to attend the best concerts. The gifts he gave to friends were also of high value—for example, the gifts planned in his na for the player were mostly expensive items for in-ga purchases.

This was a typical characteristic of the Path of Authority: only the best will do. It wasn't for the enjoynt itself, but for the sake of having "the best."

But after quickly spending the money he had on hand, he would calmly downgrade his consumption and live contentedly without money until the next incident made him rich again.

The most prominent trait of Sherlock was that he never saved money. He never considered the situation of "what if I run out of money in the future."

Because the young Sherlock was full of confidence in his abilities. With his own skills, he could always get a sum of money at any ti—he just didn't bother to earn it because he wasn't interested.

He believed that if he worried about what to do in the future, it would be like subconsciously implying to himself that his talents would eventually degrade. The suggestion that one day he would beco dull was more intolerable to him than a downgrade in lifestyle.

NPCs with talent and extre pride, yet friendly attitudes towards players, always had decent popularity among players. There was also a substantial amount of fan art, cosplays, rchandise, and doujinshi.

Sherlock remained active throughout the main storyline until version 5.0, giving many standout performances.

In the end, he died in the main storyline of version 5.1.

The cause of death was bizarre — he was silenced by a retaliatory killing at a critical mont in an investigation when he was working on a case alone.

Even though the plot was different from "The Final Problem," it might have been a hint at the direction of the story to co. The na of that big chapter was "The Final Problem."

Looking back now, it might have been Jas Moriarty, Aiwass' foster father, who killed Sherlock. Because it was not until after Sherlock's death that Aiwass' foster father reappeared in the storyline.

At the ti, players comnted, "Oh no, the one who's co back from 'The Empty House' is Moriarty."

Aiwass was extrely impressed with this event.

Because when this suggestive main storyline na was exposed, the online discussions and fervor exploded. When the final storyline actually ca out, the reaction of the players was one of disbelief.

Instead of anger or sadness, most of the comnts were "They really dare to hand out death notices, huh," "He can't really be dead," "Waiting for the return from 'The Empty House,'" and similar remarks.

They refused to believe it was true, but they feared it might be.

It was like the feeling a little boy gets after making a girl cry, thinking, "She really cried?"

Even Aiwass went out of his way to ask his screenwriter friend if Sherlock was really dead.

The response he got was deliberately vague, "Probably."

But even after Aiwass crossed over, the storyline of Sherlock's "The Empty House" had still not co about. Instead, Jas Moriarty leaped out, displaying his identity as the ultimate boss of the version's main storyline.

As if he had noticed that extrely complex gaze, Sherlock suddenly looked up in Aiwass' direction.

Seeing Oswald approaching with a wheelchair, he smiled and put away the book in his hand.

"Good afternoon, Mr. Oswald,"

he cheerfully greeted the old butler and nodded to Aiwass with a smile.

Oswald obviously recognized Sherlock and greeted him warmly, "Mr. Sherlock, why don't you co in and sit? The professor has been ntioning you a lot lately."

Aiwass knew that the old butler was quite proud, with the stubbornness of an elf and a sense of superiority.

If it were not soone he approved of, he would never be so cordial.

"Forget about it, if I go in, the professor will nag again. I'll just deliver the things and leave, I have other matters — just say hello to the professor for ."

The young man with black hair politely declined.

"If you're busy today, how about coming to the family dinner tomorrow? I will instruct the cook to prepare so good dishes in advance. After all, the professor really has been talking about you for a long ti — and Mr. Sherlock, it's been almost a year since you visited the professor."

Oswald asked affectionately, with an attitude starkly different from the indifference he showed when eting Hayna, "You haven't visited the professor in almost a year."

"I'm busy tomorrow night... You understand. When I have ti later, I will send a formal invitation to visit."

Sherlock responded vaguely.

He exchanged a look with the old butler, and Oswald seed to understand, nodding his head and not pursuing the matter further.

Aiwass also realized what Sherlock ant.

If he says he has sothing important tomorrow night, it very likely involves advancent.

His vague attitude suggested that this ti his advancent was probably illegal — he dared to openly read the Mystical Skills books about the Path of Wisdom, yet was evasive about this matter.

It must be that he had just recently acquired the secondary Path, and the "Mage" profession of the Path of Wisdom was about to advance to the second level!

... Just like himself.

Aiwass was taken aback.

Well, well.

—We won't et in the Dream Realm, will we?