"The ritual of 'Shadow of Avalon' is itself a counterattack ritual. It can only solve part of the problem."
After explaining the mechanism of the ritual, Shafiya pointed out the shortcomings of this ritual: "Objectively speaking, the damage caused to Avalon by the Star Antimony Man controlling Drost to assassinate Her Majesty Sophia is actually far less than the damage they caused to Avalon.
The knights killed each other violently.
"As you said, all the knights loyal to the royal family will probably be killed immediately. Even if Lancelot I is resurrected, he will not be able to bury all the remaining knights together.
"Even if Lancelot I is the founding monarch of Avalon, we are still living in the present after all. That His Majesty is not a Tiansi, nor an apostle... Even if he is successfully resurrected, he is only a mortal, and a mortal cannot be alone.
Controlling an entire country with incomparable detail. He still has to rely on today's knights and officials to rule Avalon."
Avalon is, after all, a very large and complex organization.
If the entire Round Table Hall were to die suddenly, then basically the entire country would be paralyzed. Even if a new group of leaders were replaced, they would have to be replaced one by one, and it is impossible to replace everyone at the same time.
Just defeating the invading enemy, thwarting the enemy's conspiracy, or obtaining the decisive power of the eternal pope can only achieve "stability" and be protected from external enemies, but it still cannot solve Avalon's internal problems - Lancelot
I can punish corrupt and greedy ministers, but I can't create a better minister out of thin air.
"Her Majesty Sophia once said that 'Lancelot' is just an amulet to preserve the integrity of Avalon's sovereignty, and it is the last chance to repair the royal power corrupted by Prince Lloyd. With the character of His Majesty, there is a high probability that he will not directly
Participate in governance.
"And being too close to mortals will only make the mysterious aura of the 'resurrected monarch' gradually fade away... and the rule of people from the past will also make Avalon approach dusk. So Avalon
The future monarch will still be little Isa, and this is unshakable."
Shafiya replied simply: "Even if all the knights loyal to the royal family die, we must find a part of the remaining knights that can be won over."
They were unable to forcibly pull out a team "more loyal to the royal family" from this team that was obviously betrayed as a transition to the temporary governance.
Because everyone's hands were stained with blood, it was impossible to tell from this point.
After hearing the professor's words, "The Moriarty family is the only founding family that is completely unaffected by Lloyd's," a new idea suddenly popped up in Shafiya's mind, and it continued to expand.
It’s becoming clearer and clearer——
——Can these ministers be reclassified based on "whether they are willing to obey the Moriarty family" as a dividing line?
Professor Moriarty himself is a senior executive of Lloyd's, and he can undoubtedly represent the will of Lloyd's.
All we need to do is to separate Professor Moriarty and the leaders who obey the Star Antimony people from the Lloyd's level, and then we can divide Lloyd's into "Lloyd's loyal to the royal family" and "Lloyd's not loyal to the royal family".
"Loyal to the Royal Family". Winning a group of people, warning a group of people, and then punishing a group of people... Wait until Avalon stabilizes, and then slowly liquidate them.
"I remember that the original vision of the establishment of Lloyd's was to control the royal family through marriage like Prince Lloyd, so as to establish a government system that is beneficial to businessmen."
Shafiya's thinking was clear: "Compared to being dogs for the Star Antimony people, businessmen are definitely more willing to support Aiwass, who is also a businessman and will definitely become a prince. Therefore, the main body of Lloyd's will inevitably return to you.
side.
"In this case, as long as the influence of Noble Red on Lloyd's is removed and the 'finance owners' can support Isabel again, those knights will be forced to come back to Isabel's side. Those knights controlled by the Star Antimony people
will be exposed.
"Even if all these people are hanged, there will never be any resistance or fear in Avalon... and it can even further strengthen cohesion. Because they are essentially using other people's lives as bargaining chips to benefit themselves.
"
Aiwass and Isabel are lovers who can trust each other, so as long as Aiwass becomes the prince, it also means that power returns to Isabel in disguise...
The more Shafiya thought about it, the brighter her eyes became. The happier she became when she saw Aiwass.
Aiwass just sighed silently and looked at Isabel.
……no doubt.
Before Shafiya knew it, she was controlled by Professor Moriarty.
Lawyer York once described Professor Moriarty as "possessing a wisdom as sophisticated and invisible as spider silk", and Aiwass witnessed how he operated for the first time on site.
From vigilance, to trust, to hostility, to relaxation, to making peace, to getting along... Professor Moriarty said almost nothing, and did not use any extraordinary powers. In just a few words, Shafia was
Winning over to his side.
Shafiya, who was originally anxious and nervous, was unknowingly injected with confidence, which calmed her restlessness. She originally wanted to take Isabel and escape to the Theocracy... Now she no longer considers that kind of thing at all, and even
I started to think about "what will happen after the success of Shadow of Avalon".
Aiwass can also understand why she is like this.
Professor Moriarty induced her to develop a logic of "no loss no matter what" and created a sense of security that was fatally attractive.
——Safiya went to snatch the Queen's body this time. If the Shadow of Avalon ritual is successfully launched, Avalon will be directly reborn with blood; even if she fails and is killed, Isabel will still be able to survive with the support of the Moriarty family.
There is a chance to regain the country; even if she is held back, with the protection of old Moriarty, Isabel will not be chased and caught.
In short, it can make her "peace of mind".
After realizing this, Shafiya relaxed and completely stood by Professor Moriarty, even though she had not taken back the body yet.
"I have an idea here, Ms. Shafia."
Aiwass suddenly spoke.
Even though he knew that if he spoke at this time, he would be sending information to his adoptive father... Aiwass could only bite the bullet and intervene.
After all, he couldn't really watch Shafiya run back to die.
Hearing this, Shafiya and old Moriarty both looked at Aiwass.
And Aiwass said: "There is a high probability that there is a trap over the Queen's body... But the reason I want to stop you is not for this reason, but because I know that if you go back like this, you will 100% not be able to get the Queen's blood.
"The reason is very simple. According to you... there is at least a fifth-level necromancer in the Palace of Silver and Tin looking at the queen's body. Once you reveal your intentions, he will desecrate the body and contaminate it at a very fast rate.
, definitely better than your blood collection speed."
"……Is such that."
Shafiya nodded reluctantly.
She actually knew in her heart that the chances of this happening were slim, and rationally speaking, she even thought that the queen's body had been contaminated... but she had nothing to do.
——If they don’t resurrect Lancelot I, how can they win back the founding families, and how can they drive out these extraordinary beings?
Even if they were lucky enough to win and barely defeat these people... the number of fifth-level extraordinary beings left in Star Antimony is still several times that of Avalon.
After all, after Meg died, Avalon lost the ability to fight back.
——Furthermore, if this ritual is not completed, wouldn’t those royal families who were cursed and died in the past have died in vain?
Now there is only one last step left!
"But, Ms. Shafiya, don't forget..."
Aiwass said: "Because they hope to replace 'Isabel', the Queen's funeral will be held normally seven days later. So if they don't realize that your target is the body, they will not destroy the Queen's body immediately.
In other words, they will keep the remains there as traps and bait."
"...But as long as I try to fight for the body, there will be traces."
Shafiya shook her head.
"So," Aiwass replied calmly, "Our real target is not the Queen's body. We just want them to think that we want to fight for the body. That way their attention will be focused there.
"And we can complete the Shadow of Avalon ritual through other methods."
Hearing this, Shafiya was stunned for a moment.
Soon, her pupils narrowed slightly in surprise.
She realized the meaning behind Aiwass' words.
——How can you activate the Shadow of Avalon ritual without taking blood from the Queen?
Then there is only one way.
That is... the assassination of John du Lac.
Apart from Isabel, the last royal member of Avalon. Isabel's aunt's posthumous baby was nursed by a wet nurse in the side hall. The baby was only two years old.
Shafiya glanced at Isabel subconsciously, and then looked at Aiwass with some fear.
What frightened her the most was...for a moment, she thought Aiwass's plan was the most correct and effective.
"As a minister who has sworn allegiance, you cannot take action against the royal family. Therefore, all crimes will be shouldered by me - I will be the one to do it, and you will be responsible for distracting them and helping me delay time.
"I don't need to sneak in. I can accept Minister Drost's invitation and walk in openly.
"If possible, I hope you can rescue Sherlock by the way. He is trapped somewhere in order to report a message to the queen. If I can't come out, he can contact you on my behalf."
Aiwass said word by word: "Let's take action immediately before Diomedes goes far. I can still catch up."
Shafiya's expression was a little complicated: "This matter has nothing to do with you..."
Aiwass shook his head: "For Isabel, I will do anything.
"I will eventually witness the Shadow of Avalon ceremony as a sinner and a murderer. I will accept the trial of His Majesty Lancelot calmly. And I am ready to die for it. As for that traitor... I
I hope you can leave it to me and I will execute it myself.
"No matter what, I want to kill him."
——All this is true.
Aivas was indeed prepared to die, otherwise he would not be able to deceive Shafiya.
It's just that he was not "accepted by Lancelot's trial", but was killed by the impact of Shadow Sky's arrival.
Shafiya finally realized how extreme Aiwass was and couldn't help but take a breath.
No wonder...Aiwass was able to reach the third energy level at such a young age.
As long as the purpose is purely altruistic, even if the cost is not "self-harm", it still falls within the principles of the path of dedication.
Coupled with the calmness and sacrifice of willingly bearing sin...
These are the followers of the "God of Sins".
Absolutely crazy...
Shafiya was speechless for a moment.
When Aiwass finished speaking, there was only silence in the living room.
"Aiwass..."
Suddenly, Isabel grabbed Aiwass' arm tightly.
She was so forceful that she could even be said to have pinched Aiwass' flesh. Then, she grabbed Aiwass's face.
Isabel was extremely determined, but lowered her voice and said word for word: "No matter what you do, I am willing to believe that you are doing it for me.
"No matter what you do, I will be with you.
"No matter how serious your sin is, I will bear it with you..."
She stared into Aiwass's eyes: "So..."
Aiwass was stunned for a moment.
Because he only saw pure seriousness and sincerity from the bottom of Isabel's pupils.
He couldn't be sure whether Isabel was acting...or taking the opportunity to tell the truth that she was usually shy and didn't dare to say.
"——So, please feel free to do it."
The girl replied seriously.
She took off the silver necklace hanging around her neck and stepped on her feet to hang it carefully for Aiwass.
Shafiya looked at all this with a complicated expression.
She knew that it was a sacred necklace called "Isolde's Tears" with a drop-shaped emerald pendant.
It has the power to bring the wearer back to life. It is an extraordinary item used by Isabel to save her life. It is no exaggeration to say that it is priceless.
Since Isabel handed it over to Aiwass, it means that she has acquiesced in Aiwass' plan.
"——I don't think this is a sin, at most it can only be called a necessary evil."
The old Moriarty beside him suddenly spoke at this moment.
He asked seriously and solemnly: "After all, isn't this the original sin of the Star Antimony people?
"If their plan succeeds, Prince John will inevitably die in the end. Therefore, by using Little John to resist the protection of the Star Antimony people, we can only advance his death. First, we put his life on the cliff.
Aren’t they the Star Antimony people?”
After that, he took a deep look at Aiwass and waved his hand to end the topic: "Oswald, you go with Ms. Shafia..."
"There's nothing wrong with me." Shafiya temporarily put aside the entanglements in her heart and worried about Aiwass's safety. "I'm more worried about Aiwass. You might as well ask Mr. Oswald to follow Aiwass."
…”
"I believe in my son."
Old Moriarty said without hesitation: "He is by no means a pushy person. Since he didn't say he needed it, it means he didn't need it.
"Go quickly, Aiwass. It's still too late to catch up now."
Hearing this, Aiwass nodded without changing his expression: "I'll pack up and leave now."
Aiwass's heart moved slightly.
Great, I finally tried it out.
The adoptive father tricked Shafiya into committing suicide just to test Aiwass's mission, and also to observe Isabel's attitude towards him through Aiwass.
And the same...
Aiwass chose this plan that was utilitarian and ruthless to the point of cruelty, but extremely efficient and executable, just to test his adoptive father's attitude towards "sacrifice" and "chess pieces".
After all, it was not convenient for them to lie in front of Shafiya.
Therefore, as long as you speak, it will be at least one-sided truth.
Now, with the promotion ceremony as the stage and Shafiya as the mirror, the real Aiwass and the illusory old Moriarty look at each other.
Just like a person standing in the middle of a lake, looking down at his own reflection.
Aiwass finally got a glimpse of the reality behind his adoptive father's mask.
He hoped that Aiwass could become a person like him, so he said these words.
This shows that he at least does not regard Aiwass as a pure tool.
This is good.
only……
"Premature death" is just a necessary evil——
This is the basic idea that old Moriarty cannot hide. Similarly, it is probably his attitude towards Aiwass and others.
