A Family Reunion

Upon returning to the Silver and Tin Palace, Iver immediately had Lily call Hermes Manor and invite the Minister of Royal Affairs Mycroft Hermes, over.

After Iver and Isabel had returned to her original form, finished framing the painting, the Minister of Royal Affairs, who looked as cheerful as a fat seal, swayed over in a hurry.

Despite working overtime before the New Year, Mycroft showed no resentment and seemed to be in a good mood.

After he used the "preservation spell" to save the painting, Iver curiously asked him what good thing had happened to make him so happy.

Upon hearing this, Iver was greatly surprised. "What? Sherlock went home?"

He's still in his shrunken child form... and he's just gone home like this? Iver already knew that Sherlock had a bad relationship with his family.

He had lived alone for a long time, and before moving to Bishop Mathers' house, he suffered from chronic malnutrition due to irregular sleep and eating habits. If Edward hadn't kept a close eye on him, often rushing over in the morning to check on him and bring him breakfast, Sherlock might have starved to death one day.

It's not because he doesn't have money, but because when he's busy he's too lazy to eat. But when he's free, he'll eat a proper meal, but this kind of irregular eating habits is even worse for his health.

In short, it was because no one took care of him. According to the authoritarian customs of Avalon, ordinary people could not hire servants. Only those with a certain level of income and status, and after starting a family, could hire a very limited number of butlers and maids.

The Hermes Family did have a quota, and Sherlock had a personal maid who had grown up with him. But when he left home, he not only didn't take his maid with him, but he didn't even take a single penny from the house.

All his income came either from consulting fees he received for helping the Bureau of Supervision solve cases, or from small fees he earned for resolving private cases. Sherlock also didn't have the habit of saving money; he spent every penny he had. He lived a peaceful and carefree life.

When Sherlock faked his death, he didn't even go home, but instead stayed at Bishop Mathers' Sherlock. Only his Mycroft knew that Sherlock was alive. When Sherlock later "resurrected," he simply sent a letter home to let them know he was still alive.

Bishop Mathers urged him to go back and check, so Sherlock went back and wandered around briefly. After proving that he was indeed alive, he left immediately—without even staying overnight or having a dinner.

But is it possible that Sherlock had some kind of grudge against his family?

... That doesn't seem to be the case.

At Sherlock's "funeral," his mother was visibly distressed by Sherlock misfortune. She wept openly, her grief genuine. Sherlock's father, Arthur, was also deeply saddened, clearly concerned for his son.

Iver had always been curious about how Sherlock had fallen out with his family. But whenever he asked, Sherlock either remained silent or changed the subject. Iver didn't want to press the issue further, as that could easily hurt their relationship.

When Iver's question was asked, Mycroft just laughed awkwardly.

It wasn't until Isabel and Ligeia, also curious, came over and asked them themselves.

Mycroft had already guessed that Ligeia was Meg. Therefore, the loyal Minister of Royal Affairs gave Ligeia a meaningful look before finally offering his explanation.

As he listened, Iver began to lose his composure.

Ligeia, standing next to her, also couldn't hold back.

—Because Meg is partly to blame for Sherlock's falling out with his family.

That happened when Sherlock was about to graduate... actually, it was only a few years ago.

Meg took a liking to Sherlock and wanted to take him on as her apprentice.

Sherlock possesses exceptional talent for the path of authority, is very young, and is extremely loyal to the Queen. He is highly intelligent, possesses leadership qualities and composure, has no particular attachment or preference for women, and is an upright person with little desire for power.

This is an absolutely perfect template for the Path of Authority.

Because he is young enough, he will not become lazy and conservative in pursuit of twilight; because he lacks an obsession with power, he will not seek to surpass others and intend to rebel; he has no obsession with Path of Love women, so he is not easily tempted by foreign spies.

This effectively shuts out the three most problematic deviations on the Path of Authority.

At the same time, his intelligence would make him a qualified leader; his loyalty to the Queen would also enable him to assist the future monarch.

It's fair to say that Meg's judgment was spot on.

Moreover, Meg's life was nearing its end at that time. She had to find a successor.

She wanted to nurture Sherlock with all her might, to get him into the Inspectorate, then to the Arbitration Hall, and finally to inherit her position as the next Grand Arbitrator.

But it was at that moment that Sherlock felt the urge to pursue the Path of Wisdom.

During his school years, he experienced unprecedented fulfillment, excitement, and satisfaction from reasoning and puzzle-solving, and finally realized what he truly wanted to do.

The fact that Meg's life was nearing its end was a top-secret matter known only to the highest echelons of the pro -Queen faction and kept strictly confidential. Sherlock's father, Arthur, knew of this and was very honored that Sherlock had been recognized as the future Grand Arbitrator.

Furthermore, Meg held an extremely high position in Avalon, yet she rarely made a request in over a decade. Arthur, naturally, took it even more seriously, relentlessly pursuing Sherlock to agree to Meg's opinion.

At that time, Sherlock was also somewhat rebellious—he had no interest in power, only in pursuing the truth. Just as Iver had been blinded by the impulse to Path of Transcendence, Sherlock also became stubborn because of his powerful Path of Wisdom.

"Sherlock was very mischievous as a child, but his family was quite open-minded. Both his mother and father were the mild-mannered type."

Mycroft said helplessly, "So the family has always been very lenient with his various interests and hobbies... But that time was a big deal, and my father became very firm. And because the matter was kept secret, he couldn't explain the significance behind it to Sherlock."

"At that time, Sherlock was in his prime. He was studying the Path of Wisdom in the school library like a madman, and he was very excited to discuss it with me."

"His eyes shone then," Mycroft said softly, a hint of nostalgia in his voice.

"Sherlock was furious and even incredulous at his father's interference—as if he had been betrayed by his family. But I knew that it was essentially a misunderstanding caused by a secret that couldn't be told to his family... After all, if Sherlock really disagreed, his father couldn't force him to go."

Mycroft said helplessly, "But after that, Ms. Meg never took on any more apprentices. No matter how talented the school was, she never took them seriously—you know what happened next."

"... The ' Supreme Glory ' plan?"

Ligeia murmured, somewhat amazed, "So that's how it is..."

She glanced at Iver and Isabel, who seemed somewhat confused, and then explained it to them in detail.

This plan actually refers to Meg's early promotion to the Sixth Level.

Meg could actually live for quite a while longer.

If all the life-extending rituals and tools are used, one can at least barely live for another twenty years.

Of course, its combat effectiveness will probably be greatly reduced later on. But at least it can serve as a visible symbol, acting as a deterrent.

Although she would grow weaker with age, she didn't need to worry too much about Avalon's future as long as a suitable successor could be found. However, if a suitable successor couldn't be found, she had to prepare for her advancement while her body was still strong and her mental state was relatively good. The longer she delayed, the lower the chances of a successful advancement would be.

"To be honest... no one really felt that the ' Supreme Glory ' plan was very feasible. And at the time, Father didn't know about the ' Shadow of Avalon ' plan, so he thought that Sherlock's willfulness had made a big mistake—angered Ms. Meg and disappointed her."

"He was immediately enraged and vehemently rebuked Sherlock. He also gave him a firm order to apologize to Ms. Meg and change his mind..."

"Wait, wait," Ligeia couldn't hold back any longer and Self-Destruct her identity, "You should know that I used to be Meg, right, little fatty? Let me make it clear beforehand... I want to emphasize that I really wasn't angry back then."

"I had been searching for a successor for many years before I found Sherlock. If he was unwilling, I felt that if I dragged it out any longer, it would be difficult to find a successor of the same caliber. So I focused on maintaining my mental and physical health and preparing to carry out another plan."

"Yes," Mycroft smiled helplessly, "I also feel that you are probably not angry. But in any case... it's because Sherlock didn't accept your invitation."

"Sherlock thought his father was unreasonable, and in a near-furious argument with him, he moved out to pursue his ideals. I never told him the truth about it. It was only after you... 'appeared' that I explained the truth of what happened back then to him."

Clearly, this top-notch shrewd man from Avalon realized the moment Ligeia appeared that she was Meg.

Mycroft finally breathed a sigh of relief and told Sherlock the truth after realizing that the mistake Sherlock had made years ago was in the past. Because by then, the fundamental conflict between Sherlock and his father Arthur had disappeared.

Mycroft truly loved Sherlock, which is why he went to such lengths to protect him. He protected not only his physical safety, but also his spirit and mind.

... So, the collapse of Avalon can be traced back to Sherlock being partly to blame.

Iver couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

History is truly a complex and intertwined system. It seems to relate to everyone.

Iver finally understood why Sherlock's mood was so low and he looked so lost during that dream-like Promotion Ritual, like a cat soaked in the rain or a homeless abandoned dog.

He even considered sacrificing himself to help Iver and Isabel get promoted.

Several times he considered giving up his advancement on the Path of Wisdom and switching back to the Path of Authority as Law Mage when he was next promoted.

Iver had a feeling at the time—like arguing with your girlfriend and knowing you're wrong but still stubbornly insisting you're not. You're both stubborn and regretful, wanting to casually make some significant sacrifices and changes to show you've admitted your mistake.

It took Iver a long time to coax him and give him a new job before Sherlock's spirits were lifted.

At that moment, Iver vaguely sensed that Sherlock craved defeat. But he didn't know the reason behind it.

Now Iver finally understands—now Sherlock, looking back, finally understands the mistakes he made in his youth.

He didn't know how to make up for his mistake, and Sherlock's pride prevented him from admitting it. He wanted to find another way to make amends, but he didn't want to... nor dared to go back and apologize.

By this point, Sherlock had already realized his mistake. He just needed a way to save face.

If he could make a sacrifice for Iver and Isabel during the Promotion Ritual, it could serve as a stepping stone—to show that his detective career was merely a personal hobby, and that he was now returning to the path of Law Mage.

But Sherlock didn't actually give up being a detective. He merely used it as a sacrifice to fill the guilt he felt for his past naivety and willfulness that almost caused a huge disaster.

It's like pinching your own hand when you have a headache, or listening to sad love songs when you're heartbroken.

Use pain to relieve pain. Use harm to numb harm.

"I wonder who convinced him," Iver couldn't help but say, "We really have to thank him."

"That's right."

Mycroft said with a smile, "And Sherlock is still a little kid... so cute. Father and Mother both look like they've become more than ten years younger. I haven't seen such a happy family scene in a long time, and it's been many, many, many years since we've had such a reunion for the New Year."

"If Your Majesty has nothing else to attend to, I must return home for the New Year."

He said it with an almost boastful ease.

For Sherlock's transformation, and for the happiness of his family.

Even Iver and Isabel couldn't help but wear happy smiles.

"Alright, let's go back."

Isabel smiled and said, "Take my blessings with you—send my regards to Sherlock and Arthur."

Looking at the young Queen's bright and generous smile, Mycroft glanced thoughtfully at Iver, then nodded cheerfully. "Okay, okay."

A 7,500-word update! Please vote at the end of the month/beginning of the new year~ Tomorrow will be January 1st in both the book and reality! The cat is a genius! Such exquisite parallelism! Please cheer for me, cheer for me!