Anna Kingsford

February 17th, early morning.

Edward traveled to the Silver and Tin Palace, bid farewell to Queen Isabel and Iver, and then headed to Lloyd District. He prepared to take a ship from Lloyd Port to Iris.

Iver, Lily, and Sherlock, carrying their luggage, mounted the griffin and prepared to fly to Midsummer County, the westernmost part of Avalon, to catch the regular ferry to the Theocracy.

Of course, it wouldn't be impossible to have the griffins fly them directly to their destination. But that would be a bit impolite—after all, griffins are considered one of Avalon's top-tier units, which is practically equivalent to being taken directly there by armed helicopter.

Edward was on a diplomatic mission to the Iris Kingdom, while Iver was going to study in the Theocracy and also to express his gratitude. Given that Avalon was still at war, it was best for them to keep a low profile regarding their actions towards friendly nations.

Moreover, riding a griffin is definitely not as comfortable as taking a ferry.

Even so, news of Minister Moriarty's impending trip to the Theocracy spread quickly.

It wasn't that Avalon's reporters had any unique sources. This was something Iver deliberately leaked... through Dimit, the Editor-in-Chief he had personally promoted. Now that Iver is gone, if Avalon still harbors a group of treacherous individuals, they could be easily fooled by this news.

They had no idea how long Iver would stay in the Theocracy —that's what they mean by "time waits for no one."

Although Iver had already used this trick once, a good trick never gets old. As long as it's used well, humans have no memory of it.

On the ferry, Iver, dressed in Clerical Robe, gazed at the shimmering water in the distance, lost in thought.

During a casual chat last night, Isabel told Iver all the secrets she had learned from the Promotion Ritual.

Professor Moriarty certainly couldn't have obtained the information directly from the Promotion Ritual... but Iver always felt that the esoteric knowledge he shared Iver Isabel wasn't entirely out of good intentions. Perhaps, after learning certain things, Aiwass's actions would veer in the direction Professor Moriarty desired... that wasn't impossible.

... But from another perspective, this is indeed invaluable intelligence.

"Cicada molting," "Endless Knot," "Reincarnation Angel"... these are all things that Iver doesn't know. Yet, they happen to corroborate the few remaining impressions that Iver already has.

The event of the "Cicada's Molting" is the first recorded instance in history of a change of Pillar God. Only the earliest intelligent races witnessed this event. It can be said to be the greatest secret of this world.

Compared to the Forbidden Fruit and the Royal Power, the most unique aspect of the Cicada's Molting is that it simultaneously replaced several Pillar God.

Based on what is currently known, the Lord of Scales and Feathers, Amber, Weizhe, the Beast Lord, and the Supreme Heaven all ascended to the position of Pillar God after that event. And from the secrets vaguely known to Iver, the Serpent Father and the Hourglass are also deeply connected to this matter, yet remain shrouded in mystery...

The only ones who can be definitively identified as completely unrelated to the "Cicada's Molt" are the two Pillar God, Si Zhu and Twin Mirrors, who have existed since the most ancient past.

Today, only a very few long-lived species, such as dragons, remember the secret of the "Cicada's Molt." Even the Candlelight Library of the Theocracy is vague about it.

Some say it was a war for unification, others say it was a sacrifice for division. But perhaps the initial war was indeed a sacrifice, the cup filled with the blood of the enemy.

Professor Moriarty is actually trying to access the [Cicada's Molt], and he's already learned about the "Endless Knot." Is the "Endless Knot" or other such treasures what he's after? "What are you thinking about?"

Just then, Sherlock walked up to Iver with a sour face.

He reached out and pressed his elbow against Iver's shoulder.

Iver shoved his elbow away in annoyance, while Sherlock very pettily propped his elbow on his other shoulder.

"I'm thinking, you're so petty."

Iver complained.

"I guess you're at least not thinking about Her Majesty the Queen."

Sherlock raised an eyebrow. "Is that so, an auspicious omen?"

"... You're not calling me Bewitching the Lord this time?"

"You said it yourself. Fox are auspicious creatures—aren't you happy about being called that?"

Iver clicked his tongue and grabbed Sherlock by the back of the neck.

He said with a forced smile, then pinched his neck. "Your shoulder is quite tired, let me treat it for you."

Although the first blow was exceptionally heavy, causing him to howl in pain, Iver was genuinely massaging Sherlock afterwards, so Sherlock squatted down and held onto the railing on the deck.

"I guess," Sherlock suddenly said, "That you're worried about the future."

"A portion, I suppose."

Iver smiled.

Part of it is the past—the past before the birth of humankind.

Sherlock suddenly asked, "Thinking about the professor?"

Iver looked at Sherlock with some surprise. "How did you guess?"

He quickly realized what was going on. "Isabel asked you, didn't she?"

Given Isabel's meticulous nature, she would surely have noticed my wariness of the professor. She wouldn't simply relay everything the professor told her verbatim; she would definitely have consulted a mutual, trustworthy friend who could absolutely keep the secret.

That means it can only be Sherlock.

"What I told His Majesty was to speak frankly. For a wise person, difficulties are always easier to resolve than misunderstandings."

Sherlock didn't look up at Iver. He remained squatting on the ground, his hands gripping the railing. With a posture reminiscent of "tears behind bars," he gazed at the distant sea and said lazily, "Instead of letting you guess what she's hiding, it's better to lay it all out and then analyze it."

"So, what have you figured out?"

"A part of it."

Sherlock gave a reserved smile and provided an answer that surprised Iver.

This time, Iver was genuinely surprised.

Given Sherlock's personality, he wouldn't tell Iver if he had only discovered a little bit. When he said "a little bit," it meant he had already found out a lot.

And this has only been one day!

Or is it...?

"—You were already suspecting my father before?"

"I told Edward about this a long time ago. He almost killed me."

Sherlock said quietly, "Of course, those things have already been given to Edward to destroy. I couldn't possibly lie to him and deliberately leave a backup that someone might find and use to attack him."

As he spoke, he turned his head smugly and tapped his head with his hand. "But do I need those things? No, not at all."

"The documents I've seen once are etched into my mind. The evidence and documents were indeed destroyed, but I remember every word and every punctuation mark."

"After receiving the information from His Majesty, I went back to organize it... and sure enough, I discovered something."

Looking at the smug Sherlock, Iver suddenly understood why he had disappeared from the "empty house".

He became interested; he really dared to investigate anything! Although he wanted to criticize his adventurous behavior, Iver wisely kept quiet—it wouldn't be good if Sherlock got angry and he didn't tell him the results of his investigation.

In short, let's get the information out of them first, and then criticize them.

"So," Iver asked with interest, "What did you find out?"

"A very crucial point."

Sherlock didn't keep her in suspense, but answered quickly, "Your sister, Freya Molly Moriarty —she's actually Professor Moriarty's biological daughter... Hmm, judging from your reaction, you already know?"

"Indeed, and then what?"

"Aren't you curious about who her mother is?" Sherlock countered.

"... To be honest, I am indeed a little curious."

Iver nodded, speaking from the bottom of his heart.

What kind of person can win the heart of a man who is so deep in thought and indifferent to emotions?

At least based on Iver's understanding of Professor Moriarty, the man seemed to have no personal desires whatsoever.

"She is a witch from the Domain of Love. Her name is Anna Kingsford, and she is a Stibnite Person. Based on unconfirmed information, I believe she is a member of the "Rosy Cross" Society."

Sherlock answered smoothly, "And she has another identity... she is the original founder of the Golden Dawn, a civilian superhuman organization in Avalon."

"—Yes, that's the Golden Dawn where Jacob, Mathers, and Ye Zhi were."