The Body is a Child, but the Mind is an Adult: The Great Detective

"That's not necessarily true... Detective Little Mister."

Iver's lips curled slightly, and he responded in a low voice, "Are you sure it's okay that you're not trying to sell us newspapers?"

This boy with reddish-brown curly hair, a face full of tiny freckles, and a slender, petite body that made him look only seven or eight years old... must be Sherlock.

Iver easily recognized Sherlock's identity as soon as he got out of the car.

Because Sherlock wasn't hiding at all.

He wasn't even trying to play his role properly.

As a newsboy, he wasn't busy trying to sell his newspapers. Instead, he calmly and silently hid in the shade, scrutinizing everyone who passed by with his sharp, gloomy eyes.

His gaze was like a cold blade, making passersby feel distinctly uncomfortable. Several people looked at him with surprise and wariness, only to relax slightly after seeing that he was just a gloomy child.

"Fox, you're smart... but you must be new, right?"

The boy sneered coldly, "Let me teach you something. Most of the time, it's okay to not play your role.

"Although 'playing a role' is a necessary task, the failure standard isn't your failure to act, but being questioned or exposed.

"I'm just a newsboy, so even if it's strange for me to stand here without moving, who's going to jump out and question me, 'You don't look like a proper newsboy'? No one will care about me... because I'm insignificant."

"I see..."

Iver looked thoughtful, a warm and bright smile appearing on his face, "Does that mean that as long as I kill everyone who might question me before they get the chance—as long as I stop them from speaking, I don't have to worry about being exposed?"

"Yes, that's right. But with your abilities, you probably can't do that."

Detective Sherlock, who had descended in the form of a small boy, wasn't at all moved by the cruelty and danger in Iver's words, but calmly analyzed, "That old man probably did it that way.

"He was the first to arrive, which means he's also an Avalon person. Since we can't exchange information with each other, and the task requires us to go to Gallows Square, he should be able to realize that our current unified goal is to 'acquire weapons' through the 'prepare for battle' hint in the task. Then, from the most effective way to acquire weapons, 'black market trading,' he would think of the Pelican Bar, which was just mentioned in the newspaper.

"Furthermore, by putting himself in our shoes, he would realize that others also need to acquire weapons and would therefore think of the 'black market'—and then judge that others might also come to the Pelican Bar. So we could gather here. Compared to 'weapons,' teammates are obviously more valuable. Whether he's on the first floor or the second floor, he'll go to the Pelican Bar as soon as possible. And this is the only way to get there."

"But Bone Carver didn't come here."

"Right. That means he doesn't plan to cooperate with us... or he thinks that most of the people who would come here have already abandoned the Path of Twilight. Even if they come, they won't be able to get teammates."

"...So, Detective, you expected us to come here?"

Lu Lu couldn't help but whisper, "If Old Mister Bone Carver doesn't come... are you planning for the three of us, plus the Knight, to team up?"

"In fact, in my plan, the three of us, including the Knight, should have gathered here. Not including you."

Sherlock's expression was cold, "It's an accident that you appeared with the Fox.

"Although I don't oppose the Path of Beauty transcendents—but if you'll forgive my bluntness, if you had appeared alone, without the Fox by your side, you definitely wouldn't have thought of gathering at the entrance of the Pelican Bar."

"...Ooh."

Lu Lu gave a small whimper.

The voluptuous, beautiful woman looked as helpless as a young girl.

Because she knew that Mister Sherlock was right.

"It's not just that, is it," Iver suddenly said, "It's not just because he knew he wouldn't run into teammates here."

Little Sherlock looked over, somewhat surprised.

The boy made a childish sound, but his tone was mature and cold, as he encouraged with an interested look, "Care to elaborate?"

"You were concerned about the 'Bone Carver''s cane earlier. Apostle-sama said that the items that can be brought into the ritual must be extraordinary items 'personally crafted'—which means his cane is no ordinary cane, but a creation of the Path of Twilight. But this is his first advancement ritual, meaning he has only just embarked on the Path of Twilight. I believe his cane may be an extraordinary item made from human bones."

"To be precise, it's made from a completely stripped spine."

Little Sherlock raised his eyebrows, adding precisely, "Female, eighteen to twenty-six or seven years old. She hasn't done heavy physical labor, and the signs of exercise aren't obvious. But she probably often works or studies at a desk. And she's slightly hunchbacked.

"She could be a student, or a painter or writer. Her background wouldn't be too bad or too good, probably a local of Glass Island. There's a high probability that she was seduced shortly after graduating. To be able to create extraordinary items just after stepping onto the Path of Twilight... it means he was often practicing bone carving or sculpting techniques before entering the Path of Twilight, and has a good understanding of creating extraordinary items.

"That is to say, his other identity is likely one of the Equilibrium Path, Path of Beauty, or Path of Transcendence, who is good at making extraordinary items."

At this point, he glanced at Lu Lu, "I'm more inclined to the Path of Beauty. He may be a sculptor, or perhaps a collector.

"Do you understand now, Fox? The allies of the Path of Beauty are unreliable. When their strength is low, they usually seem normal, but their senses are too sharp and their nerves are too sensitive. This makes them prone to losing control and going crazy, becoming unstable factors in the advancement ritual.

"Moreover, a seasoned Path of Beauty holder can easily become indifferent to life. They value art more than law and morality. If they didn't, it would be difficult to observe the world with pure 'beauty', and it would be difficult to go deeper."

"Not necessarily..."

Lu Lu subconsciously retorted, "I also know very kind art masters..."

"I know," the newsboy nodded calmly, "I know some too. And you are an exception. Because in my opinion, you don't count as a standard 'believer of beauty'. You value morality... which is good."

"...You just said that was dangerous."

"It's not contradictory."

The boy was too lazy to explain further, and fell into his own thoughts again, muttering, "When I get back, I have to go to the Bureau of Supervision to check the files of recent missing persons. Maybe it can bring me some inspiration...

"He's already old, why would he suddenly embark on the Twilight Path? Is it because of a serious illness? Or a terminal illness? Did he feel that he wouldn't live long, and suddenly developed a strong attachment to life? Hoping to live on... Is it because there are no students to inherit, or are his descendants too disappointing and fighting over the inheritance?"

"...If it's an elderly artist from Glass Island," the ignored Lu Lu mustered her courage and suddenly said softly, "It might be Old Lars. He was diagnosed with bone cancer this summer."

"Old Lars?"

Sherlock was stunned for a moment before he realized, "Mr. Lars Graham? Isn't he the one who gave the Queen..."

Speaking of this, he suddenly stopped.

The look in his eyes as he looked at Lu Lu became profound, and he said no more.

Iver also glanced at her.

...Good heavens.

This fully automatic unboxing machine can also be used to unbox other people?

Her Highness actually has this function.

"...'Knight'-san hasn't arrived yet. Perhaps he didn't think of this, after all, he seems like a very careless person."

Sherlock's tone changed, and his attitude changed significantly, "But it doesn't matter if it's just us. Remember to stick close to me at all times..."

Compared to prioritizing helping the Knight and the Fox before, Sherlock's strategy suddenly became prioritizing helping the Fox and Lu Lu who were already present.

Clearly, Sherlock must have guessed that Lu Lu was Princess Isabel... It wouldn't be difficult for him.

Fortunately, Sherlock is loyal to the Queen.

Iver knew that his father had once been a minister. He was framed and got into trouble. Queen Sophia had specially pardoned his father's crimes and had been kind to him.

Since then, Sherlock had been secretly serving the royal family. The Queen would specifically invite Sherlock to participate in the investigation of some events. On the one hand, it was because he was reliable, and on the other hand, it was for confidentiality.

So, compared to normal people, Sherlock knew more about the secrets of the royal family.

At this point in time, this was still a secret. Even Isabel herself probably didn't know.

So that's how it is...

Iver realized.

Before he changed history and appeared in this advancement ceremony that he shouldn't have participated in, Princess Isabel's advancement ceremony was indeed won by Sherlock lying down.

—Just then.

The three of them suddenly fell silent at the same time.

Because in their hearts, a clear bell suddenly rang.

No one around them heard it, only the three of them. After about a few seconds, another bell rang.

"...That's the death knell."

The boy's expression suddenly became serious: "There's bad news... or good news. Two people have been eliminated. Your chances of passing the ritual have increased."

"Two people?"

Speaking of this, Lu Lu subconsciously looked at Iver beside her: "Were they together too?"

What she actually wanted to say at first was, were they also a couple?

But these words were too shameful, so she swallowed them back before she could say them.

Iver then asked the newsboy: "What does the death knell mean? Being exposed, or death?"

"Death. If their identities are exposed, the remaining people will hear the sound of 'uproarious laughter'."

Little Sherlock's speed doubled: "It's only been an hour, and there are still three hours of survival time. And the killer has already started, and even two people together can't resist them. In a 'safe' difficulty ritual, we will only encounter one enemy, and it won't be too strong. It must be something we can easily fight against if we cooperate.

"Considering the Bone Carver might act alone, among the remaining people, apart from the little girl on the Path of Love and the apothecary on the Equilibrium Path, the others won't be weak in combat.

"Unless those two happen to encounter the killer together..."

"—That would mean that the monster can kill two people in a row in a short period of time."

Iver continued: "Fast enough that the other person couldn't run away."

"It must be a sneak attack."

Sherlock judged: "They didn't come to Legal Square, which means the enemy isn't waiting here. It's possible that this is actually a safe zone, and we'll only encounter the enemy at the last moment."

"Not necessarily."

The young priest lowered his eyes slightly, adding other possibilities: "It's also possible that foreigners ran into the Strangulation Gang, after all, they don't understand Avalon."

"Mm, you're right."

The boy nodded, looking around warily, "In short, be careful of shadows and corners... I'll follow in front of you in a bit, to prevent me from being ambushed and dragged away without you noticing."

"Where are we going?" Lu Lu asked softly.

"Pelican Bar—now give me a reason to take you to the Pelican Bar."

Hearing Sherlock's low instructions, the young clergyman's face immediately showed a warm, sunny smile.

"You're so polite, young sir. May the Light Bearer light your way."

Iver raised his voice slightly, speaking loud enough for those around him to hear, "Thank you for the compliment to my wife—it's so hot, how about I buy you a drink? Is there anything you'd like to drink?"

"...Don't give me alcohol, Fox."

Little Sherlock lowered his voice to remind him, "I can only drink milk right now... Alcohol will disrupt my intellect and weaken my spells."

"How about milk then? After all, you're too young to drink."

Iver readily agreed.

"...I know a bar."

Little Sherlock's volume also returned to normal, as he spoke in a childish voice, "We call it the Pelican Bar!"

Hearing Sherlock's somewhat clumsy attempt to sound young, Iver's expression immediately became a little subtle.

You don't have to act if you can't, Mr. Sherlock.

This affected voice of yours reminds me of another famous detective whose body is a child but whose mind is an adult...

But just then, they heard a long death knell again.

Iver's expression turned grave.

—The third person is dead.

It was only two minutes from the previous two tolls.

"Wait," Little Sherlock's face suddenly changed, and he couldn't care less about his act, "Something's wrong! They're dying too fast!"

Two people were still explainable, it was possible they were ambushed together. The second person was chased and killed while running away.

—But with only one enemy clearly present, it's unreasonable for three people to die in quick succession!

This isn't a ritual of mutual competition and killing; the nine people descended to different places with different identities.

The difficulty of this ritual is obviously wrong! —Is it because the presence of Sherlock or the Bone Carver has raised the enemy's strength? Soon, Iver realized another thing: he previously thought the two who died were foreigners. But with three, that's not necessarily the case.

The Knight hasn't come, perhaps not because he didn't think of the Pelican Bar.

But because he went to other places, and may have already died on the way!

Where did they go?

"We can't go to the Pelican Bar anymore; it's not necessarily absolutely safe there, and we won't be able to escape if we're cornered. The Knight hasn't come or is already dead, we can only rely on the detective's spells, but the strength of a first-level spell isn't enough."

Iver immediately changed his plan and skillfully took over Sherlock's command:

"—We need to detour and hide to see if anyone else continues to die. I know a secret passage here. Follow me."

The early-stage dungeon is simple and won't take too long; it'll probably be over in another two or three days~