When the plot-skips players into the game world

Aiwass immediately felt a joy surge into his heart. A delicate strength, accompanied by music, flowed into his heart, and he even felt that his steps had become lighter, his body more balanced—he even had the confidence that he wouldn't hurt himself if he jumped down from the third floor.

This was the "Lively Tune" extraordinary ability of the Path of Beauty. It could grant allies within range a buff that was equivalent to 1% to 300% of the effects of a "Haste Spell" and "Balanced Stance" spell.

The buff provided in this way started at only a third of its full effect but grew stronger as the singing continued.

Lulu's intensity was probably around 10% to 15%, which meant that her singing could provide nearly a 50% continuous enhancement of both spells to everyone. Most importantly, this was an extraordinary ability—that is, it did not consume mana.

—That's good enough; this intensity is quite sufficient.

Aiwass was entirely sure that this girl was none other than Princess Isabel.

A common "Prodigy" couldn't possibly have accumulated such a strong foundation. Usually, being an all-rounder just meant mediocrity—

But she really was an all-rounder.

With her talent and foundation, she might be able to keep pace with Aiwass's advanced rate of progress.

The only problem was that the girl was not cautious enough.

He hadn't even set a trap or actively tried to lower her guard; she just blurted everything out after he casually asked her.

She was practically a walking, fully automated box opener.

...Hopefully, before she meets Princess Isabel in the Dream Realm again, her tutor will train her acting skills properly.

You keep doing this, and I'll feel bad about deceiving you.

Aiwass never bullied children.

He stretched out his hand and pressed down slightly, like a conductor of an orchestra, signaling Lulu to quieten down.

And she indeed instantly stopped her chanting and became quiet.

"Are you still nervous?"

Aiwass showed a friendly smile, "Do you feel much better now?"

"...Yes, thank you!" Lulu had an epiphany.

So, Mr. Fox realized I was too nervous and intentionally made small talk to ease my mental pressure!

"—Don't call me 'you'."

Aiwass emphasized, "Giulio Alexander, you are Annie. In front of others, you can call me Giulio... or you can call me dear."

"...I will still call you Giulio."

Lulu whispered.

At this point, she suddenly realized something, "Wait, aren't we going to look for Bishop Mathers?"

"Hmm, we're not."

"Eh... why? I know him, he's very powerful... He's the royal tomb keeper; he can definitely protect us."

"I believe what you say—if you say so, he must be very strong, strong enough to protect us."

Aiwass first affirmed Lulu's words, then turned to ask, "So, did you bring a message?"

"...A message?" Lulu said with less confidence.

In that instant, she felt as if she might have done something wrong, said something silly, or lost something important...

"I mean the original of the threat letter."

"No..."

"Yes, I don't have it either. So we don't know what that person wrote in the letter. At the same time, I also don't know Bishop Mathers, so it would be difficult to play his student well."

But I actually have a way to get him to protect us...

Lulu thought, but swallowed her words back down.

She still had some vigilance after all—speaking out would be the same as exposing her real identity!

Mr. Aiwass squinted his eyes like a fox and said leisurely, "You must have the task to 'leave the cathedral' as well, right?"

"Yes. It directs me to leave the cathedral voluntarily and go to Judiciary Square," Lulu responded immediately.

"How many points?"

"100 points."

"It's low. It's the same for me," Mr. Aiwass commented, "The more difficult and challenging the tasks are, the higher the score. Given how powerful Bishop Mathers is, why is the score so low for leaving the protection of the cathedral he shelters us in and going to a dangerous place?"

"...Because he can't provide us protection?"

Clutching the child, Lulu's eyes widened with a sense of incredulity, as if she had been betrayed by someone familiar: "How could this be..."

"It's not necessarily a refusal to offer protection; it might also be that he's simply not there. Or perhaps there's an emergency that requires us to leave earlier."

Mr. Aiwass continued calmly, "In that case, finding ourselves empty-handed and pushed out onto the streets... the situation would likely become even worse."

"Look, there's no task that deliberately puts us in mortal danger, right? That means these tasks are intended to benefit us in achieving our ultimate goal."

"...'Once and for all'? Or 'survive longer'?"

Lulu hesitated a bit, "But you... you are from the Path of Devotion, and I am from the Path of Beauty. Neither of us has much combat strength."

A thought struck Mr. Aiwass.

Does she not have the task 'The Start of Everything'?

"So, we actually need to leave the cathedral in advance."

Leaning against the door, Mr. Aiwass explained his plan: "To prepare weapons."

In his plan, there was no need to hide anything from the other party—"Lulu" would not become his weapon or consumable; making things clear in advance would not make her vigilant; she also wouldn't talk to others alone, so there was no worry about leaks.

In this situation, Mr. Aiwass needed to make things crystal clear, be explicit. He had to make her trust him, believe in his plan, and understand his purpose.

Only then would she fully commit to carrying out Mr. Aiwass's plan without suddenly adding her "own ideas."

Mr. Aiwass knew how to bring along a novice.

"Weapons... like a gun?"

Lulu was somewhat worried, "Do you know where to find a gun?"

"If worst comes to worst... I might have a way, perhaps to find a very powerful weapon. But since it's been fourteen years, I'm also not sure if it's still around..."

"Of course, I know."

Mr. Aiwass answered calmly, "Near Judiciary Square is the Pelican Bar."

"...Ah, I know!"

Lulu blurted out, "It's the news about Mr. Aiwass, right! He... Huh? Aiwass?"

She paused for a moment, picked up the boy from her bosom, and carefully examined him at closer range.

"Your guess is correct, he is that 'Aiwass.' 'We, as a couple,' obviously died in the original history, which is why he now goes by the surname Moriarty."

Mr. Aiwass answered languidly, "Rather, you've finally noticed."

"But you don't understand my plan. I said I was going to the Pelican Bar to prepare weapons—it doesn't mean that I'm going to buy guns."

"...Transcendent items?"

Lulu asked cautiously, "Do you... also have your resources in the Pelican Bar?"

"No."

With his eyes closed, Mr. Aiwass replied softly, "The weapon I am preparing is called Sherlock Hermes. As you said, both of our paths are auxiliary, and even if we got weapons, they would just be so-so. What we really need is to find combat-capable allies."

"I believe that even without any prior communication or agreement... Mr. Sherlock would surely come to the Pelican Bar to gather with us."

"—To be precise, to gather with me and Sir Knight."