Chapter 53 Soul Searching Spell

Glass Island, Lloyd District.

Sherlock looked around carefully and followed the path in his memory to find the smelly ditch and the garbage mountain.

Perhaps it is because of the intensification of factory sewage discharge. Compared with the abandoned chemical factory in the dream, there is more domestic garbage here and the water has become smellier. It even almost sealed the road, exuding an unpleasant rancid smell. When Sherlock approached the garbage to observe, the disturbed cockroach crawled out from under the garbage mountain.

Edward, who was following him, straightened his back and frowned.

He looked deeply at the garbage mountain with an ugly expression, obviously not wanting to come over.

"...How did you find this place, Hermes?"

Edward said as he stood there.

"First-hand information obtained during the advancement ceremony, my partner."

Sherlock didn't hide anything from his best friend: "Go past here and climb the hillside, and you can see an abandoned chemical plant. The hidden location of the Sweater Brotherhood is there."

"Then get out of the way first."

Edward said.

Sherlock obediently retreated behind his best friend. When he saw this classmate who gave off a deep and dark impression, he pulled out one of the elf daggers from his waist and pointed it forward.

White luminous runes lit up from the wrist of his right hand, quickly crawled towards the fingertips, and climbed all the way to the spine of the dagger.

"—The law gives me the necessary right of way."

As he gave the order, the pure white light surged and the storm roared.

The irresistible invisible force extended from the tip of the sword along with the light, pushing the entire garbage mountain to both sides.

There was a spacious space in the middle for ten people to walk side by side, and the ground was covered with a layer of road that glowed like mist.

Under the appearance of the luminous road, three green and one black faint lights lit up in the surrounding garbage mountains.

"It seems your information is correct, Hermes."

Edward put the dagger back into its sheath and said calmly: "There are traps buried in this mountain of garbage. There are three paths of adaptation and one path of love. But the energy level is not high."

"Yeah, I guessed it."

Sherlock was not surprised by this. He just walked forward and observed: "I just noticed that the shape of this garbage pile is not natural enough. It doesn't look like it was discarded by someone, nor does it look like it was blown by the wind. There is no garbage where there should be, but a clear path with the least garbage is deliberately left. I am afraid that the really safe way is to avoid that road and go directly over the garbage mountain.”

"It shouldn't be a lethal trap."

Edward followed Sherlock and analyzed: "If there are blood stains or corpses in the garbage pile, it will be easier to expose their location."

"It seems that the Sweater Brotherhood is really here," Sherlock frowned slightly, lost in thought, "But this surprised me. I thought they would be demonologists."

"Why do you say that?" Edward asked.

"Because someone told me that the Sweater Brothers were connected to the people behind the Pelican Bar."

Sherlock analyzed: "The people behind the Pelican Bar should be the Noble Red Society. You know, they are a group of demonologists who kill, sacrifice, rob, and steal. But after all, they have a heritage - I am Say, the inheritance from Xing Antimony.

"If they're helping the Sweater Brotherhood, then the trap at the door seems a bit simple."

After hearing Sherlock's words, Edward was silent for a moment.

Of course he knew it wouldn't matter. Because they are not qualified enough.

The Sweater Brotherhood is nothing but a bunch of petty thieves. Although there are extraordinary people mixed in, it may be a bit difficult for ordinary people to deal with... but the "Noble Red" association should look down on them.

However, it doesn't matter if Sherlock wants to think so.

It's better to say this. Edward thought.

He knew that his lazy and unruly old friend had a strong adaptability to the path of wisdom and was extremely sensitive to the truth. He followed because he was afraid that Sherlock would find out something by himself.

Although his father didn't say it clearly, Edward had roughly guessed the conspiracy behind the Pelican Bar.

That group of people came from the Noble Red Order.

On the surface, this is an organization of demonologists composed of most Avalonians. There are some mentors from Star Antimony mixed in.

But Edward knew better.

They are not a purely illegal extraordinary organization, but a group of rebels funded by the Star Antimony Kingdom and intending to subvert the rule of the Avalon Knights.

the reason is simple. Their leader was a giant.

Their giant bloodline comes from the giant dynasty Kingdom of Alctos, which was overthrown by the founding king of Avalon, Lancelot I, with the support of the elves four hundred years ago.

At that time, in this small island country, the powerful and heroic giant king ruled and protected the short humans. They were so powerful at the time that they were able to remain peaceful and independent despite the influence of the Empire.

Although there is no evidence to prove that the leader has the royal blood of Alctors, there is no doubt that he is an extremely rare giant on the continent today. In "Arktos", giants are basically nobles - so even if he is not a royal family, he is at least a noble of the previous dynasty.

There are also many hybrid giants among other high-ranking members of the Noble Red Society. Although not as tall and strong as their leader, he is still better than ordinary people. The "noble red" in the association's name implies their noble bloodline.

Today, Avalon has no nobles, but is ruled by knights. Although the royal family can grant armor to knights, they basically do not have much real power. They can only indirectly influence the Round Table Hall by developing new knights who are loyal to the royal family... However, the royal family's actual influence on the new knight class is much inferior to that of merchants. The new generation of knight families, who only have power that needs to be controlled by others but have no foundation and no money, are easily influenced by their sponsors.

Professor Moriarty, Edward's adoptive father, is doing this business.

Among the old generation of knight families, there are prosperous and declining ones. Some of the latter are willing to accept sponsorship, but some are unwilling.

Some people claim to be noble and are fundamentally different from the new knights who come from the common people; some are tired of the endless wrangling in the Round Table Hall and the invisible hands that are remotely controlled outside the Round Table Hall; some are greedy enough to turn the tables and get rid of the money control of these merchants and directly seize their money.

Although these people have different positions, they have common demands.

——That is to restore the rule of the nobility.

Therefore, in addition to the Star Antimony people, there are some ministers in Glass Island who secretly support the Noble Red Society.

Edward has no feelings for Avalon. He doesn't care about Avalon or Alctorus.

He used to be an orphan wandering the streets, and later became a "Moriarty". Later, he graduated with excellent grades and directly joined the Inspectorate, responsible for monitoring suspected knights, examining suspected corrupt officials, and screening spies from other countries.

In this process, he saw too many ugliness that was completely different from his imagination in his youth. The law does not maintain justice and morality, but the authority of the Round Table Hall - not even the authority of the Silver and Tin Hall.

Compared with the knights, repaying Moriarty's upbringing is obviously more important.

Edward had asked his adoptive father before, which side they should stand on.

But the answer given by old James was: "Stand on my side, Edward."

Today, Edward is very glad that the Sweater Brotherhood has nothing to do with the people behind the Pelican Bar. Otherwise, he didn't know how to stop Sherlock's persistent investigation.

His old friend was too smart and too sensitive.

Any hesitation and avoidance of his about the truth would probably be noticed by him.

Edward had few friends - very few.

He didn't want to lose an important friend one day.

- Fortunately, this was a wrong direction of investigation.

"Although I don't know who provided this... but thank you. Just continue to investigate in this direction, Sherlock."

Edward thought to himself.

Find something for this boring detective to do. This can also prevent him from going back to investigate the Pelican Bar when he is idle. "

When he thought of this, he suddenly had an idea.

He had another case on hand - considering the safety of civilians and his family, this matter had to be dealt with as soon as possible. After all, they were not on the side of the Noble Red Society, but to maintain a balance.

So, Edward said: "Maybe it's not completely irrelevant.

"I remembered another thing. Recently, the Inspectorate is investigating a case codenamed 'Redstone'.

"A batch of high-powered, small-volume portable alchemical bombs were smuggled from the Pelican Bar to Avalon. The Inspectorate suspects that the buyer may be a high-ranking official in the kingdom. But no matter how portable they are, they cannot be kept at home. One is unsafe, and the other is that they are easy to be found.

"If they haven't been moved yet, they should be in Lloyd's Quarter now. You said that the base of the Sweater Brotherhood is an abandoned chemical plant, so it is reasonable for them to be stored here..."

When Edward said this, he suddenly sensed something.

He heard someone's heartbeat.

And Sherlock was more than a second late, and he seemed to have noticed something and immediately raised his head.

The blue-white light flowed in his pupils, and Sherlock issued a command without hesitation: "[Stay still]!"

The brilliant light like a new star poured out from him and spread in all directions.

In the corner behind him, an assassin crouching there was suddenly shaken out of his invisible state, and his whole body was covered with white light, like a stone statue.

He broke free from the restraints after half a second.

Realizing that the restraints were not strong, the assassin's eyes suddenly became fierce. The dagger in his hand shook and turned into a normal grip.

He crouched slightly and his body dived into the shadows again. He wanted to rush forward and assassinate Sherlock first, and then quickly escape.

However, the assassin's heart suddenly trembled violently, and a strong sense of crisis came over him——

"——[Arrest]."

Edward issued a cold order.

Two pure white triangles condensed out of thin air at the wrists of the assassin who was sneaking again, and then a huge magnetic force attracted and handcuffed his hands together. The assassin who had just rushed forward was unbalanced by the force, staggered and almost fell, but the poisoned dagger could not be used because his wrists were tightened, and fell to the ground with a clang.

Then, the two triangles that overlapped to form a hexagram flew upwards, maintaining a level with the ground... and hung the assassin directly in the air.

What a lucky guy. I guessed it right.

Thinking of this, Edward showed a rare smile.

He slowly walked towards the restrained young assassin with a panicked look on his face.

"Isn't the fish caught now, Hermes?"

Edward said slowly: "I'm going to take action...remember to plug your ears."

"No need. I'm not an innocent little girl. What's more, these hanging gangs will be sent to the Hanging Square sooner or later."

Sherlock crossed his arms and said calmly: "I asked you to bring a handkerchief, which means that I have thought of this scene before. After all, I am not easy to do anything... but you are the Inspectorate and have the power of temporary execution.

"I'm more curious. Your subordinates - I remember there was a little girl who admired you, right? Has she seen you search the memories of sinners?"

"What do you think the Inspectorate's job is, Hermes? What we do is much dirtier than this."

Edward scoffed.

"Then I was so lucky that I didn't follow you into the Inspectorate."

Sherlock said lazily: "I don't think you are the leader of the Inspectorate, so you shouldn't have to go on missions."

"I also worked on the front line, Mr. Hermes. And I'm not a big leader. I can't say much else. It's still confidential - I can tell you in three years what I have done. What’s the first task?”

As he spoke, he slowly pulled out his white handkerchief from his chest pocket and approached slowly.

The shadows cast by his tall figure and his slow, steady movements were utterly terrifying.

"No, don't...I will say it, I will say it...spare my life..."

This strangler who has adapted to the road has an unexpectedly young voice.

"I can't spare you, little thief. You will die sooner or later."

Edward said coldly: "How many people have you killed? Five? Six?

"You thought no one could detect you, you thought you were smart enough to bury the evidence..."

He slowly unfolded the white handkerchief soaked in anesthetic potion and pressed it firmly against the assassin's face.

Let him make struggling whines.

The next moment, Edward's pupils overflowed with bright white light. Five runes extended from the fingers that were clasping the assassin's cheek, and they quickly traveled on the skin of the assassin's head, making his greasy black curly hair shine.

"——The law gives me the necessary search power."

Edward declared solemnly.

Along with the muffled screams muffled by the handkerchief, several streaks of gray-white smoke floated out from the assassin's features and were slowly inhaled by Edward.

Finally, he let go of his hand and released the restraints of [Law: Arrest].

The assassin's body fell limp to the ground. Blood slowly dripped from the handkerchief stuck to his face. Where the handkerchief couldn't cover it, the white runes on his throat, behind his ears, and on the top of his head were gradually extinguished.

Edward did not retrieve his white handkerchief.

Anyway, his soul-searching spell can only be used once a day, and covering his face with a handkerchief can also mean that the person has been "searched".

"We're in the right place, Hermes - at least partially. The Sweater Brotherhood does have ties to the Noble Red Order, and you're right.

"——One of the batches of alchemy bombs is currently stored in this abandoned chemical factory."