Inconspicuous Power

Ultimate power—or rather, unprecedented transformative power—could completely change the world.

Beyond that, some smaller forces could undeniably influence the world as well.

But in the early stages of their influence, before they fully coalesced into ultimate power, they were far from conspicuous.

Around the same time.

In the Southern Free Federation, inside an imposing manor near a prosperous city.

In a bedroom, Sherlock sat in a chair, looking at the old man before him with disbelief as he asked, "Is this true?"

The old man was tall and thin, and looked quite advanced in years. His eyebrows were thick and gray-white, beneath which hid a pair of sharp eyes.

Hearing Sherlock's words, the old man nodded slightly. "Yes, it's true."

"Then..." Sherlock's expression became extremely conflicted. Trying not to look into the old man's eyes, he muttered, "So the family knew all along that there was something strange about me, that I had certain abnormal traits?"

"Yes," the old man said again.

"Then the Blue-skinned Rat..."

"We knew."

"And those strange dreams I had, half real and half fake..."

"We knew that too."

"I..." Sherlock suddenly did not know what to say. In the end, he could not help clutching his head with both hands, climbing down from the chair and crouching in the corner with his back to the old man.

He wanted some peace and quiet.

The old man did not mind in the slightest. He remained seated in the room, quietly waiting.

After quite a while—long enough to bore someone to sleep—Sherlock suddenly turned around and practically leaped in front of the old man, demanding, "If the family knew all this, why didn't you tell me sooner?"

"Because the time wasn't right."

Sherlock did not believe him at all. "I want the truth."

"Very well." The