"...Senior Hayna?"
Aiwass was somewhat surprised, "What a coincidence?"
He did indeed know that Hayna came from a small place, and it was probably a town where commerce wasn't very developed.
The best evidence was that she didn't wear makeup, and she also hardly knew anything about skincare or how to dress.
Hayna was sought after by many classmates solely because she had a good foundation. Her usual attire consisted merely of a light brown shirt paired with a brown leather vest. The only thing that could be considered jewelry was a leather wristband embroidered with a diamond pattern.
—Not to mention for a girl, even boys wouldn't go out dressed like this nowadays. It was more like something a mercenary or an explorer from hundreds of years ago would wear in a remote area.
But to his surprise, his own biological father, Julio, also came from that place.
"It's not a coincidence..."
Sherlock's pupils were lifeless, his complexion even a bit pale. He staggered over to the table and started rummaging for the honey jar: "Where's the honey...?"
"Are you hypoglycemic, Sherlock?"
Mrs. Mina was the first to react, pouring Sherlock a cup of somewhat warm red tea, and then adding several spoonfuls of honey into it.
Sherlock downed it in one go, letting out a deep breath, then collapsed into the chair. No one else spoke; they just looked up, silently watching him without moving.
After a good while, he finally recovered.
Sherlock leaned back, subconsciously reaching for the pocket on his chest—there should have been a pocket there, containing his cigar or cigarettes. But now, he only grasped at emptiness.
"Why are you all staring at me like this?"
He said coldly, as if to alleviate the awkwardness.
Observing this familiar behavior, Aiwass was sure that he had indeed recovered.
"I believe you might be in need of some warm brandy, Mr. Sherlock?"
Bishop Mathers asked.
"Thank you very much," Sherlock, who normally didn't drink, unexpectedly didn't refuse, "If possible, please give me some biscuits as well."
Just one cup of honey tea could only awaken him as a person but wasn't enough to bring him into his usual state of high-intensity thinking.
Mrs. Mina nodded, "I'll get them immediately."
"Bishop," said the man with the disheveled black hair, asking with a voice that was dreamy and airy, "do you smoke?"
"Thank you, I don't."
"...Sounds like quite the tyrant."
Aiwass criticized sharply.
His comment didn't really conform to the rules of Avalon. But among those present, the only one who had walked the Path of Authority, Mr. Sherlock, did not hold any official title, so no one had any objections.
Mr. Sherlock even nodded, agreeing, "That's why we praise Her Majesty Sofia. The many policies she improved after her accession greatly eased the tense atmosphere in Avalon. Conversely, it was also due to people's discontent with the former king that they fervently supported Her Majesty."
"Without such a foundation, it would have been difficult for Her Majesty to initiate so many reforms in such a short time, and she certainly would have faced significant political resistance,"
"Nevertheless," Bishop Mathers added, "there were still many who harbored resentment towards the monarchy."
"The Noble Red Society was a product of that period."
As Sherlock spoke, he reached out to Mrs. Mina and accepted a cup of hot wine.
"I thought you 'never drink alcohol,' Mr. Sherlock?"
Aiwass raised an eyebrow.
Mr. Sherlock nodded, "I don't consider alcohol a beverage, it only harms my brain. But I'll drink a cup of warm brandy when I'm feeling unwell, as if it's a kind of medicine."
"I guess you woke up with a headache this morning? It should be quite effective for treatment. I've added plenty of apple juice, along with cinnamon, ginger slices, and lemon peel. In addition to reinvigorating you, it should also help ward off the cold; you got slightly chilled yesterday..."
Mrs. Mina said gently in a soft voice, "If it had been simmered a bit longer, it would have been even better. But it should still taste good now."
"Praise be to you, Mrs. Mina."
Mr. Sherlock bowed his head solemnly in gratitude, smiling and flattering her skills, "I could smell the aroma from afar. The man who marries you is indeed very lucky."
"Indeed, pursuing Mina was my stroke of luck,"
Bishop Mathers smiled self-satisfied, "I'm very happy every single day... I truly hope it can continue like this forever."
And Aiwass pressed on, "What happened next, Mr. Sherlock? How did that informal organization of Transcendents turn into the Noble Red?" Continue reading stories on empire
"It seems you already know about the Star Antimony people behind the Noble Red Society... and I guess Edward didn't tell you who the high ranks of the Noble Red Society are. Let me tell you then, you should know by now."
Mr. Sherlock raised an eyebrow and, after taking a sip of the hot apple wine, said softly, "Your grandfather Jacob was a Transcendent who practiced the Path of the Curse Ritual Magician. He once was a member of 'Hand of the Scaleless.'
"—What?"
Upon hearing this, Aiwass's eyes widened in shock.
"Is that so?"
Bishop Mathers, too, was quite surprised, "Curse Ritual Magician... I haven't heard of this profession in a long time."