Silver and Tin Palace

Hai Na was stunned for a moment, then belatedly realized with lingering fear what she had said.

Fortunately, she had asked Mr. Sherlock this question, not Director Kent! "As for why I didn't join the Bureau of Supervision..."

Sherlock said calmly, "Because you and I are similar yet different. I, too, cannot go far. This world isn't one where the most talented and excellent people rise the highest. I understood this when I graduated."

"...What do you mean?"

"I mean I'm like you. Compared to the Path of Authority, I'm more inclined towards other Paths."

The black-haired youth fearlessly and frankly said, "What I asked Mr. Kent for were the mystical books of the Path of Wisdom. I help him solve problems, and he gives me forbidden books in his private capacity—it's a fair exchange of mutual benefit. Now, my second Path is already nearing the Second Rank... Compared to the Path of Authority, the Path of Wisdom is what I truly yearn for."

"But..."

Hai Na wanted to say something more.

But her intuition was suddenly triggered. So she immediately looked alert and stopped talking.

After the two faced each other in silence for five or six seconds, a middle-aged man came running around the corner, panting.

"Hai Na—I finally found you, I've been looking for you for ages! Oh, Consultant Sherlock is here too! Great, the Director is looking for you!"

"Does Mr. Kent have any news?"

Sherlock retorted without any politeness, "I have other things to do right now."

"He didn't say... but I think you should still go and see. It won't take long, will it?"

The middle-aged man said with a smile, "You know, Mr. Sherlock—if it were something uninteresting, Director wouldn't have specifically asked you to come, right?"

"Alright."

Sherlock nodded in agreement.

Having said that, he looked at Hai Na beside him, "That's another reason.

"I'm a restless person. If I have nothing to do, I become uneasy... but if you make me do ordinary, repetitive work, I get bored. I need difficult problems and strong enemies to excite me.

"Your kind of daily patrol is too uninteresting. With that time, I'd rather read more books and do some experiments. Even traveling alone like a wandering monk is more meaningful than that repetitive every day.

"I don't want fame, and I don't want achievements. I just want work that can utilize my wisdom, allow my pent-up energy to be released—and incidentally satisfy my curiosity. That's why I cooperate with you."

"Alright, Mr. Sherlock."

The middle-aged man said with a wry smile, "You should get going quickly—the sooner you hear the Director's task, the sooner you can do your own thing, right?"

Sherlock remained noncommittal and walked towards Director Kent's office.

On the other side.

The center of Avalon's capital, Glass Island, is a clear and transparent lake, like a sapphire.

The royal family of the Avalon Kingdom lives in the island within the island—the very center of the lake island in the capital, Glass Island. It is the Silver and Tin Palace with glass steps, blessed by the Silver Crowned Dragon. In the sunlight on a clear day, it shines with brilliant light, and even on cloudy days, it emits a dreamlike soft glow.

In the Silver and Tin Palace, a girl who looks fourteen or fifteen years old, with blond hair and blue eyes, is quietly reading today's Glass Staircase Newspaper.

She seems to have elven blood, so she looks younger than she actually is. Her appearance is gentle, her back is straight, and the fair nape of her neck exposed by the dress reflects the sunlight along with the Silver and Tin Palace where she is. She has a quiet temperament belonging to a literary girl, and her eyes are as calm as water.

And an elf who looked to be in their twenties or thirties, possessing both the mature charm of a woman and the innocence of a maiden, was smiling with her hands propping up her cheeks as she sat across from the girl. She had the distinct air of an artist—not an illusion, but an influence from the Path of Beauty.

"I didn't lie to you, did I, my little princess?"

The elven artist said with a smile, "I told you yesterday that I saw a very handsome person. I specifically reserved a full twelve seconds for him this time, just to capture that crucial turning-back smile.

"My aesthetic sense is absolutely flawless—that smile is the key, capable of preserving his charm to the greatest extent. Honestly, I even want to paint a portrait of him. But I don't feel any urgency at the moment; there will definitely be opportunities to get to know him later."

"...Indeed."

The girl nodded quietly, "Teacher Yanis is right. Mr. Iver's smile is reminiscent of the Sun.

"To be the same age as me, on the same Path level, and yet be able to personally lead the capture of a Demon Scholar who is much stronger than himself... The investigation, judgment, and reasoning throughout the process were all flawless. He is very impressive and also very brave."

She said softly, "I can't do it. Because I am very timid."

There was a longing and despondency on the girl's face.

—That was the longing that a sober, kind person would feel deep down when seeing someone of their kind who was much stronger than themselves; and the despondency of not being jealous or self-deceiving, but honestly recognizing the fact that they were far inferior to the other person.

"He's so amazing,"

The girl repeated.

"Ah—"

Looking at her like this, Yanis affectionately—and also somewhat crazily—made a sound like she was teasing a puppy, pulled the girl into her arms, and vigorously ruffled her hair a few times, "Little Isabel, you are just too cute!"

"Please call me Isabel, Teacher Yanis."

Isabel made a sound of protest, reached out to cover her hair, and said seriously, "Also, please don't mess up my hair—

"And, I don't know what's cute about me. I'm just telling the truth."

"You're cute precisely because you're so earnest in explaining things that don't need explaining at all."

"That sounds too stupid. I'm an idiot."

Isabel was a little frustrated and a little lost, "I can't even paint well."

"You are already very talented, Isabel."

When this topic was brought up, Yanis became serious, "It's just that the people you've come into contact with are even more talented than you.

"Isn't your Path of Beauty about to advance as well? To be able to come into contact with the Second Rank at this age is already very remarkable... Moreover, when I taught you, I used a more solid foundation, so your start was a bit later, but you will be able to go further afterward."

"I think that's just because my father is Prince Albert."

Isabel lowered her head and said softly, "I myself am not remarkable at all.

"If Mr. Iver were also a prince, he would have progressed earlier and further than me."

"Iver is a special case. You don't need to think too much. Even Her Majesty the Queen, after reading the newspaper, said that he is a remarkable young man... You don't need to compare yourself to someone like that."

"...Grandma too?!"

Isabel was very surprised, "Grandma rarely praises people... Was that Demon Scholar that powerful?"

"It's not about combat, or even searching ability. What Her Majesty the Queen values is his decisiveness when firing those two shots. In terms of results, although these two shots only killed a Second Rank Demon Scholar, they actually demonstrated his outstanding and swift judgment, the confidence of absolutely believing in his own judgment, and that stable execution."

"Her Majesty the Queen said herself that he has the bearing of a great general. Think about it, I wouldn't dare put him on the front page and write such a large piece if she hadn't nodded her head. It's because Her Majesty the Queen said that she wanted the young people of the kingdom to learn from him—although I don't think they will, it's good to let everyone see a handsome young man."

Yanis shook her head helplessly, "You need to change this habit of only comparing yourself to the strongest people, but immediately becoming inferior and retreating every time you can't compare."

"I think that if you want to compare yourself with your peers, you must compare yourself with the strongest ones."

Princess Isabel said seriously, "Because I enjoy the best resources, it would be a waste of resources if I didn't become the best. They should be given to those who need them more."

"...You."

Yanis sighed, only feeling that Princess Isabel was surprisingly stubborn.

"By the way, Teacher Yanis."

Isabel suddenly asked, "What did Iver see at that time? What was he waving at?"

"Actually, I wasn't there either."

Yanis shook her head, "But I asked the cameraman. He said it was a little girl selling flowers nearby."

"That girl called him 'a very gentle big brother'. I think he must have politely bought a bouquet of flowers from her before. Iver is indeed a very polite young man—if there is a chance, we can invite him to sit in the Silver and Tin Palace. Chat about what happened at that time, and what he thought, how he judged... I think that would be very interesting. And Her Majesty the Queen should allow it."

"—You must be looking forward to it too, Isabel?"

Isabel didn't reply, just clenched her small fist slightly, and opened her beautiful, emerald-like eyes like a child with some longing.

The follow-up reading every Monday and Tuesday is especially important during the new book period, everyone remember to follow the reading, meow!