Pastor's Tantra

If only George were still here, Shafiya thought.

If possible, it would be best for the Grand Guardian to escort Isabel to the Theocracy and try to steal the Queen's blood himself. If it succeeds, then everything is fine; if it fails, at least Isabel can live safely.

But the Great Guardian George is not on the Glass Island at all.

Due to the turmoil on the border some time ago, the Great Guardian is guarding the southern fortress and commanding the navy to set up a defense line.

And if the Great Guardian is on the scene, the two of them may not be able to defeat the two fifth-level opponents with local advantages. At least the Queen's body can definitely be snatched out... George also knows about the Shadow of Avalon.

Or do you want to take a gamble?

Hide Isabel somewhere first, and then grab the body yourself.

After obtaining the Queen's Blood, immediately perform the Shadow of Avalon ritual. Just bet that I can resurrect Lancelot before Isabel is found...

It seems that this is the only way to do it, Shafiya thought to herself.

The most dangerous and accident-prone option, but also the most profitable option.

"If Meg was still alive, would she choose this way..."

Shafia murmured softly.

At this moment, she was actually a little confused.

Her ability to react immediately and rescue Isabel was already her limit.

But under the triple pressure of time, powerful enemies and family, Shafiya felt her scalp numb just thinking about it. She even felt her breathing trembling slightly.

As long as she goes too late, or the queen's body has been destroyed or turned into an undead, or if she goes too long and Isabel is caught... Avalon will be destroyed. It is entirely possible that they have set a trap around the queen's body, waiting to capture them, and they may also be framed by the Round Table Hall for assisting in the betrayal, and even their husbands and daughters may be implicated in this.

You don't even need to be killed or captured alive by them. As long as you can't obtain the Queen's blood in time, it means failure.

At this moment, the pressure piled up in Shafiya's heart was too great.

But she must be strong - as an elder, how can she show confusion and powerlessness in front of a poor child like Isabel?

Shafiya took a deep breath and asked slowly: "Little Isha... do you have any familiar and absolutely reliable friends? Someone who can take you in for a few days and will never betray you. .”

Her voice was hoarse from nervousness.

Originally, Shafiya just asked casually, and then planned to hide Isabel in Hermes Manor... At least Lord Arthur must be a trustworthy and loyal minister.

But she didn't expect that Isabel actually gave an answer.

"...Can you take me to Moriarty's house?"

This soft but tough girl whispered.

"Professor Moriarty's house?"

Shafia frowned slightly: "But he has a close relationship with Lloyd's... I don't recommend that you go to their house."

Although Professor Moriarty did not appear directly at this banquet.

But there is another possibility. That is Professor Moriarty had known for a long time that the knights were about to start a brawl. As a scholar, he was too weak and lacked combat effectiveness, so he chose to avoid the battle.

The Moriarty family usually has a relatively close relationship with the Drost family.

The ancestor of the Moriarty family is the Mordred family, and Mordred's biological son once betrayed Avalon. This is not without precedent.

Now Shafia's nerves are tense - she feels that these founding families cannot be trusted.

Among the twenty founding families, some must have received the news in advance.

Didn't any of them stand up and issue a warning?

...Or is it that the founding families feel that Lancelot's descendants have ruled Avalon for too long and want to return to the Round Table era?

But the timid and soft girl gave her a heartbreaking expression: "But, I can only..."

As she spoke, it seemed as if she was about to sob and cry: "The only one I can trust is him... If even he betrays me..."

When she said this, she finally burst into tears.

Shafiya felt shaken when she saw Isabel's sadness that was so strong that it didn't seem fake.

She realized that her denial seemed to be the straw that broke the camel's back. She subconsciously regretted her previous words, but at the same time, she also had doubts and curiosity.

"Who are you talking about?"

"...Aiwass."

Isabel whispered: "Actually, he and I are pen pals... We have known each other for many years."

"Pen pal? Really?"

Shafiya was a little surprised: "That famous bishop?"

It turns out that this autistic princess actually has her own friends...

Seeing Isabel lower her head and go down, Shafiya knew that she had roughly guessed it right.

"But, if it's just a pen pal..."

Shafiya still feels unreliable.

After all, Isabel has never been exposed to social life at all. Such a pure and spotless girl is really easy to deceive.

Although the young Bishop Moriarty had a good reputation in the circles of the royal capital, everyone said that he was a pious, gentle and solemn man, and many young girls were attracted to him. But he refused all confessions, and there were even rumors that he fell in love with his unrelated sister.

As an extraordinary being on the path of devotion...it seems that there isn't much of a problem...?

Originally, Shafiya wanted to find trouble.

But the more she calculated, the more she felt that Aiwass was quite reliable.

Those who can reach the third level of consecration at this age and pass the church's assessment become a bishop. He even touched the edge of the fourth level, and was invited by the Theocracy to study abroad... With how well a person like this fits the path of devotion, he is unlikely to be a bad person.

But thinking of this, Shafiya felt even stranger.

How did little Isa get to know this bishop?

From what she said, she seemed to have a very high level of trust in Aiwass. So high that if Aiwass betrayed her, she would be heartbroken to the point of despair.

But Isabel said firmly: "He has read my diary a long time ago."

"...That's it."

Shafiya understood.

Isabel probably liked Aiwass.

She knew what Isabel's "diary" was and what fears it contained.

The diary passed down in the royal family is the most desperate and softest place in Isabel's heart. If she is willing to share this thing with others, it means that she truly trusts the other person more than anyone else except her relatives... Not even Shafia and Meg have read her diary.

"Okay, I'll take you there."

Shafiya made up her mind: "But after all, he is just Professor Moriarty's adopted son, and his opinion may not be decisive. If Professor Moriarty doesn't want to take you in... I will also find a way."

Compared to the loyalty of the Hermes family, Aiwass, who could soothe her heartbreak and fear, was indeed a better choice.

Isabel lowered her head slightly.

She clenched her fists slightly.

——I have to say that she is actually gambling.

Because she couldn't be 100% sure that if she happened to "herself", Aiwass would also happen to "Aiwass". At least Shafiya's words were no match for the Aiwass Isabel knew.

Not Chancellor Moriarty, but Bishop Moriarty.

Fortunately, Isabel reacted quickly enough and made adjustments in time.

...But if "Aiwass" is not Aiwass, will his lie be exposed?

Isabel was a little worried.

Because when she realized that Avalon was facing an extremely dangerous situation, she subconsciously wanted to seek help from Aiwass. The main reason is that she knows that she must not go to Hermes Manor...because she knows that York Hermes is the traitor, and judging from the situation, he seems to have not been discovered.

...Let’s take a step first and see one step at a time.

If Aiwass is not him, then find a way to deceive him...

Isabel still believes in her acting skills.

She can play the cold and correct queen, and she can also calmly play her autistic and weak self in the past.

——No matter the past or the future, it is her.

On the other side, Aiwass was sitting with James.

"...small key?"

Aiwass murmured in a low voice, frowning slightly.

He thought of many possibilities in his mind, but there was no definite answer.

As for the key, it should be for opening the door. But what door does one need to open by oneself?

Looking at Aiwass's reaction, James suddenly laughed.

The old man stretched out his hand and made a silent gesture calmly.

"Is this something that can't be said?" Aiwass asked.

"It seems you haven't made enough progress."

James smiled so happily that the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes creased with laughter: "Then I won't say anything."

There is no doubt that... James is testing Aiwass to see how far he has learned about himself.

Aiwass had no reaction to this keyword, which exposed some of his intelligence.

——For example, which period of Aiwass did he come back from. Another example is how far his plan has been completed.

"Then how about we change one question from another?"

James asked gently: "Why are you so wary of Dad?"

After hearing this, Aiwass made two points clear -

James was indeed aware that under the skin of "Aiwass" was another Aiwass; and he was aware of Aiwass' wariness and vigilance towards him.

Since he could be so keenly aware of Aiwass' inner thoughts in many different timelines of this detail...then Aiwass's adoptive father must have seen it more clearly.

...Is this why he left?

Because he sensed that Aiwass was wary of him, he simply faked his death and escaped, taking advantage of the situation to hide in the dark...

"I'm sending my guests away, sir."

As he said this, Oswald returned.

Aiwass subconsciously glanced up at Oswald, and Professor Moriarty waved his hand, signaling Oswald to leave first.

After Oswald nodded and left, Aiwass said softly: "Father, I don't really want to answer this question."

"Then don't answer."

James smiled and nodded, and said very calmly: "If you ask me questions, I won't say them if you don't want to; then if you don't want to answer the questions I ask you, it's the same thing. Our relationship is equal, Aiwass.

"No need to compromise, I will try my best to help you."

"...Because you want me to live, right?"

"right."

James gave an affirmative answer.

The professor must have some plans for Aiwass, and Aiwass, who doesn't know what the "little key" means, must have failed to complete his mission. In order to help him in another world line complete the layout, the professor would not let Aiwass die in the dream world.

Aiwass was also vaguely aware of this, but he still had to ask to confirm it.

——In other words, James’ ultimate goal must transcend personal interests.

He knew that he was in a promotion ceremony and was just a pseudo-soul created by the Pillar God, but he was trying his best to maintain the stability of this promotion ceremony. And trying to help another "real self" hide information.

If he is serving himself, then he does not need to stand so firmly with his true self. To him at this moment, after all, he is a different individual.

"Then it's my turn."

James asked: "You are a [Holy Entity] now, right?"

"...I'm not 100 percent sure, but it should be."

After a moment of silence, Aiwass replied seriously.

This is not a lie, but the truth.

Because even if he told the truth, the real Professor Moriarty would not know it. But Aiwass hopes to get intelligence from James, who has more information - every question asked by Professor Moriarty must be meaningful.

You can get some feedback by carefully exploring his perspective on the problem, the purpose of the question and his reaction after getting the correct reply.

But Professor Moriarty stopped asking.

He just leaned back and leaned on the sofa happily: "I have no questions. I can also answer your last question or help you complete a task."

"...Can you lend me Mr. Oswald?"

Aiwass pondered for a long time and then asked.

"Can."

James answered without hesitation.

He didn't even think about it, but responded immediately the moment Aiwass finished speaking.

But at this moment, Oswald suddenly came back quickly.

"I'm sorry, sir. But..."

The old elf hesitated to speak, his expression was a little strange. He glanced at Aiwass, and then looked at James hesitantly.

"What's wrong?"

James asked.

Without waiting for his response, Shafiya took Isabel's hand and walked out closely behind Oswald.

She took Isabel and sneaked directly into Moriarty Manor.

Oswald obviously knew what was happening in the Palace of Silver and Tin at this moment, so when he saw Isabel fleeing here directly, he subconsciously thought that this was Professor Moriarty's arrangement.

But Aiwass, who was sitting on the sofa, locked eyes with Isabel, who was looking straight at him.

Just by looking at each other for a moment, full of emotions, both parties can understand each other's identities.

——This is him.

——This is exactly her.

Seven thousand five hundred words, updated!