Glass Island, Lloyd's district.

Sherlock looked around, following the path he remembered to find the stinking ditch and the mountain of garbage.

Perhaps because of the increased sewage discharge from the factory, there is more domestic garbage and the water is more smelly than the abandoned chemical plant in the dream. Even the road was almost sealed, and it smelled of bad rancidity. As Sherlock approached the garbage to observe, the disturbed cockroaches crawled out from beneath the garbage mountain.

Edward, who followed him, had a straight back and a furrowed brow.

He looked deeply at the garbage mountain, his expression was ugly, and he obviously didn't want to come over.

“…… How did you find out here, Hermes? ”

Edward said, standing still.

"First-hand information from the Advanced Ritual, my partner."

Sherlock doesn't hide anything from his best friend: "Past here, over that hill, you'll see an abandoned chemical plant. The hidden station of the Sweater Brotherhood is there. ”

"Then you get out of the way."

Edward said.

Sherlock obediently stepped back behind his best friend, and saw the classmate, who had given a deep, dark impression, draw one of the elven daggers from his waist and point it forward.

White glowing runes lit up from his right wrist and scurried towards his fingertips, all the way to the spine of the dagger.

"—The law gives me the necessary right of way."

As he gave the order, the pure white light stirred and the storm roared.

An irresistible invisible force erupted from the tip of the sword with light, pushing the entire mountain of garbage to both sides.

There was enough space for ten people to walk side by side, and there was a layer of road that glowed like mist on the ground.

Beneath the glowing path, three green and one black faint glows in the surrounding mountains of garbage.

"Looks like your intelligence is correct, Hermes."

Edward retracted his dagger into his sheath and said calmly, "There are traps buried in this mountain of garbage. Three paths of adaptation, one path of love. But the energy level is not high. ”

"Well, I guessed it."

Sherlock wasn't surprised, but observed as he walked forward: "I just noticed that the form of this garbage pile is not natural enough. It doesn't look like it's been discarded, it's not like it's been blown by the wind. There is no place where there is garbage, but a clear path with the least garbage is deliberately left. The safest way to go is to avoid that road and go straight over the garbage mountain. ”

"It shouldn't be a lethal trap."

Edward followed behind Sherlock and analyzed, "If there is blood or corpses in the garbage heap, it is easier to expose them. ”

"Looks like the Sweater Brotherhood is really here," Sherlock frowned slightly, deep in thought, "but that surprised me a little. I thought they would be demonic scholars. ”

"Why do you say that?" Edward asked rhetorically.

"Because I've been told that the Sweater Brotherhood has a connection to the people behind the Pelican Bar."

Sherlock analyzed: "The person behind the Pelican Bar should be the Noble Red Society. You know, it's a bunch of demonic scholars who kill, sacrifice, rob, steal. But they have a heritage after all—I mean, a legacy on the Star Antimony side.

"If they're helping the Brotherhood of Sweaters, then the trap at the door seems a little simpler."

Hearing Sherlock's words, Edward was silent for a moment.

Of course he knew, it certainly didn't matter. Because they are not qualified enough.

The Brotherhood of Sweaters is nothing more than a gang of thieves. Although there are transcendents mixed in it, it may be a bit difficult for ordinary people...... But the "Noble Red" association should not look down on them.

However, it doesn't matter that Sherlock wants to think so.

It's better to say that way. Edward thought to himself.

He knew that his lazy and unruly old classmate had a strong intellectual adaptability and was extremely sensitive to the truth. He came along, just because he was afraid that Sherlock would find out something by himself.

Although his father didn't say it explicitly, Edward had roughly guessed the conspiracy behind the Pelican Bar.

The gang was from the Noble Red Society.

On the surface, this is an organization of demonic scholars made up of the majority of the Avalons. Mixed in with a little bit of a mentor from Star Antimony.

But Edward knew better.

They are not a purely illegal Transcendent organization, but a group of rebels funded by the Kingdom of Star Antimony intent on subverting the rule of the Knights of Avalon.

The reason is simple. Their leader was a giant.

Their giant bloodline comes from the kingdom of Alctos, a giant dynasty that was overthrown by Avalon's founding monarch, Lancelot I, with the support of the elves, four hundred years ago.

At that time, in this small island nation, the mighty and heroic Giant King ruled and sheltered the dwarf humans. They were so powerful that they were able to maintain peace and independence under the influence of the Empire.

Although there is no evidence that the leader has the royal blood of Alctos, there is no doubt that he is an extremely rare giant on the continent today. In "Alctos", the giant is basically a nobleman - so he is at least a nobleman of a former dynasty if not a royal family.

Among the other high-ranking members of the Noble Red Society, there are also many half-blood giants. Although not as tall and strong as their leader, they are also better than ordinary people. The "noble red" in the name of the association alludes to their noble bloodline.

Today's Avalon has no nobility and is ruled by knights. Although the royal family can grant armor to knights, they basically do not have much real power. The Round Table can only be indirectly influenced by the development of new knights loyal to the royal family...... However, the real influence of the royal family on the new knightly class was much less than that of the merchants. A new generation of knight families who only have the power to be restrained by others, but have no background and no money, are easily influenced by their patrons.

Edward's adoptive father, Professor Moriarty, was in the business.

Among the older generation of knight families, there were those who prospered and those who declined. Some of the latter are willing to accept sponsorship, but some are not.

Some people boast of nobility, and there is a fundamental difference between them and the new knights who come from the commoners; There are also people who are tired of the endless ripping on the round table hall, and the invisible hands that are swaying and manipulating outside the round table hall; There are also people who are greedy enough to get rid of the money control of these merchants and directly grab their money.

Although these people have different positions, they share the same demands.

- That is, the restoration of aristocracy.

Therefore, in addition to the Star Antimony people, there are also some ministers on the Glass Island who secretly support the Noble Red Society.

Edward had little affection for Avalon. He didn't care about Avalon, and he didn't care about Alctos.

Formerly an orphan living on the streets, he became a "Moriarty". Later, he graduated with honors and joined the Inspectorate, where he was responsible for spying on suspected knights, vetting suspected corrupted officials, and screening spies from other countries.

In the process, he saw too many ugliness that were completely different from what he imagined when he was a teenager. The law does not maintain justice and morality, but the authority of the Round Table—not even the authority of the Temple of Silver and Tin.

It is obviously more important to repay Moriarty for his nurturing grace than to the knights.

Edward had also asked his adoptive father before which side they were going to be on.

But the answer James Sr. gave was, "You're on my side, Edward." ”

Today, Edward is glad that the Sweater Brotherhood has nothing to do with the people behind the Pelican Bar. Otherwise, he didn't know how he could stop Sherlock's obsessive investigation.

This old friend of his, too smart, too sensitive.

Any hesitation and evasion of the truth will probably be detected by him.

Edward's friends were few—very few.

He didn't want to lose an important friend one day.

Thankfully, this is the wrong direction of investigation.

"Although it is not known who provided this...... But I thank you. You're going to continue to investigate in this direction, Sherlock."

Edward said in his heart.

Find something to do for this boring detective. It would also prevent him from being idle and going back to investigate the Pelican Bar. ”

When he thought of this, his heart suddenly moved.

He has another case at hand – one that needs to be dealt with as soon as possible, given the safety of civilians and their families. After all, they are not on the side of the Noble Red Society, but to maintain a balance.

So, Edward spoke, "Maybe it's not completely unrelated.

"I remembered something else. Recently, the Inspectorate is investigating a case codenamed 'Redstone'.

"There was a batch of high-powered, small-sized portable alchemy bombs that had been smuggled from the Pelican Bar to Avalon. The Inspectorate suspects that the buyer may be a high-ranking member of the kingdom. But no matter how portable they are, they can't be kept at home. One is unsafe, and the other is easy to detect.

"If they hadn't had time to move, they would have been in Lloyd's by now. You say that the Sweater Brotherhood's stronghold is an abandoned chemical plant, so it makes sense that they are stored here......"

As Edward said this, he suddenly sensed something.

He heard someone's heartbeat.

Sherlock, on the other hand, was more than a second late, and as if he had sensed something, he immediately raised his head.

The blue-white light flowed in his pupils, and Sherlock did not hesitate to issue a command: "[Still]! ”

Brilliant brilliance poured out from him like a new star, spreading out in all directions.

In the corner behind him, an Assassin crouching there was suddenly knocked out of his invisibility state, and his entire body was covered in white light, like a stone statue.

Half a second later, he broke free.

Sensing that the restraint was not strong, the assassin suddenly looked at him fiercely. The dagger in his hand shook and turned into a straight grip.

He crouched slightly, his body diving into the shadows again. He wanted to rush forward to assassinate Sherlock first, and then flee quickly.

However, the assassin's heart suddenly shuddered, and a violent sense of crisis hit his heart—

"—[Arrest]."

Edward coldly issued the law.

Two pure white triangles condensed out of thin air on the wrists of the Assassin's hands that had sneaked again, and then a great magnetic force drew and held his hands together. The Assassin who had just rushed forward was disbalanced by the power belt, and staggered and almost fell, but the poisoned dagger was unable to use his strength because his wrist was tightened, and he fell to the ground with a thud.

Subsequently, the two triangles that overlapped into a six-pointed star flew straight upwards, remaining level with the ground...... Hung the Assassin directly in the air.

How lucky. I was actually blinded.

Thinking so, a rare smile appeared on the corner of Edward's mouth.

He slowly walked towards the restrained young Assassin with a panicked look on his face.

"Isn't that just the fish, Hermes?"

Edward said slowly, "I'm going to do it...... Remember to plug your ears. ”

"Not necessarily. I'm not an innocent little girl. What's more, sooner or later, these strangulation parties will also be sent to the hanging square. ”

Sherlock clasped his hands to his chest and said calmly, "I asked you to bring a handkerchief, which means that I had thought of this scene before." After all, I'm not good at hands-on...... But you are the Inspectorate and have the power of provisional execution.

"I'm curious. Your men—I remember a little girl who adores you, right? Has she seen you search the memories of sinners? ”

"What do you think the work of the Inspectorate is, Hermes? What we're doing is much dirtier than that. ”

Edward scoffed.

"Then I was so lucky that I didn't follow you into the Inspectorate."

Sherlock said lazily, "I don't think you're the leader of the Inspectorate, so you shouldn't have to go on a mission." ”

"I also came from the frontline, Mr. Hermes. And I'm not a big leader. I can't say much else, it's still in secrecy - in three years I'll be able to tell you what the first task I did. ”

As he spoke, he slowly pulled his white handkerchief from his chest pocket and slowly approached.

The shadows cast by his tall figure, and his slow, determined movements, were terrifying.

"No, don't...... I will say it, I will say it...... Spare my life......"

This strangulation party who has adapted to the path has an unexpectedly young voice.

"I can't spare you, thief. Sooner or later, it's a death. ”

Edward said coldly, "How many people have you killed?" Five? Six?

"You think no one can detect you, you think you've buried the evidence wisely......"

He slowly unfolded the white handkerchief, soaked in narcotic potions, and pressed it against the Assassin's face.

Let him whine as he struggles.

The next moment, Edward's pupils overflowed with a brilliant white glow. Five runes stretched out from the fingers that clasped the Assassin's cheek, darting across the skin of the Assassin's head, causing his grease-covered black curls to light up.

"—The law gives me the right to search as necessary."

Edward solemnly declared.

Accompanied by a muffled scream covered by a handkerchief, several puffs of grayish-white smoke drifted out of the Assassin's facial features and were slowly inhaled by Edward.

Eventually, he let go of his hand and released the shackles of the Order: Arrest.

The corpse of the Assassin fell to the ground with weakness. Blood slowly leached from the handkerchief he had stuck to his face. Where the handkerchief couldn't cover it, the white rune pages on his throat, behind his ears, and above his head gradually disappeared.

Edward did not pick up his white handkerchief.

Anyway, his soul-searching spell can only be used once a day, and the face covered with a handkerchief can also indicate that the person has been "searched".

"We've found the right place, Hermes – at least partially. The Brotherhood of Sweaters does have a connection to the Noble Red Society, and you're right.

"—one of the alchemy bombs, stored in this abandoned chemical plant at the moment."