When the plot-skips players into the game world

April 6th, Avalon.

Isabel sat calmly in her study, flipping through the letters that had been sent back.

"How amusing."

She flicked the edge of the letter with her finger and chuckled softly. "What's your take on this, Lord Hermes?"

A week earlier, Isabel had sent a letter to Star Antimony, expressing her intention to conduct an "official state visit."

However, Star Antimony had not responded to the message immediately.

Although Avalon and Star Antimony were separated by a sea, the exchange of messages was not easily disrupted.

This was because international letters of this level were handled by the Church for delivery. The Candle Master's Apostle, "Wings of Life Fire," was fond of carrying out delivery tasks for others, and messages sent by Apostles and transported by the Church were kept as secure as possible. This eliminated chances of "letters getting lost" or "letters being sent but not arriving."

Yet, after such a long delay, Star Antimony still hadn't replied... but coincidentally, they responded immediately after the Holy Nation began recruiting troops yesterday.

Isabel, however, was neither angry nor annoyed. Her eyes held a hint of amusement, and her demeanor was calm and composed.

Her gaze became even more luminous, exuding the steadiness befitting a monarch.

"They are frightened, Your Majesty."

Mycroft Hermes spoke without lifting his head.

He was dressed in a light sweater and white shirt, seated across from Isabel, meticulously arranging documents.

Compared to last year, the man, who had once been as plump as a seal, was noticeably thinner now.

Partly, it was due to overwork... but also because his declining adaptation to the Path of Dusk had weakened his unusual "steady and substantial obesity." Much of his past weight gain was the result of the overflow caused by his excessive adaptation to the Path of Dusk.

After all, neither his father nor mother, nor any other family member, including Sherlock, were overweight. Moreover, Mycroft himself was quite disciplined, showing no signs of any excessive eating or drinking habits.

His obesity had been purely a physical manifestation of his advanced adaptation to the Path, a typical case of path destabilization. Not all destabilizations manifested as madness or monstrous deformities—sometimes, it simply resulted in becoming a fat man.

Now, with his workload steadily increasing, Mycroft's adaptation to the Path of Dusk diminished correspondingly.

The fat on his face had receded significantly, revealing a faint resemblance to Sherlock's features. He looked much more handsome now, a person of substance. Compared to Sherlock's lean and youthful appearance, Mycroft's square and upright visage had an air of steadfast justice.

He exhaled softly, tidying the papers upright and tapping them lightly against the desk to align them. Leisurely, he spoke, "It's quite clear—those... little gestures by the Holy Nation have scared them."

"Originally, they might have harbored some reservations about Your Majesty's visit. But now that the Holy Nation has started recruiting soldiers, they dare not refuse your visit. Or rather... they're desperate for you to arrive at Star Antimony as soon as possible. Preferably before the Elves get there."

Mycroft glanced toward the corner of the room where the Queen's Guards stood and smiled faintly, addressing them, "Don't you think I'm right?"

"Though we're not really sure why the Holy Nation suddenly abandoned neutrality and resumed conscription..."

The eldest Queen's Guard replied nonchalantly, "But since it was a joint decision by His Holiness the Pope and the Cardinals, it must be the right one.

"Those people should've replied earlier—that's basic courtesy. And now, their country isn't even ruled by a king but by the Empress Dowager. Replying only after hearing about the Holy Nation's recruitment efforts—how laughable. As if the conscription were a punishment targeted at them!"

"They're not worthy!"

An Elf, far older than Isabel but youthful in appearance, laughed in a crisp voice. "Not even close! My instructor once said that if the Elves ever reassembled the Paladin Legion, it would surely be to combat the enemies of the world."

"Precisely," replied the Queen's Guard who appeared to be in her thirties with the most refined demeanor. She nodded. "The Church wouldn't need to recruit troops just to deal with a fragmented Helasal Empire. Those imperialists always overestimate themselves—even at Helasal's peak, they could never force His Holiness to abandon the Holy Nation's traditions.

"From what I know of the Church, this likely pertains to combating Apostles or even Celestial Marshal-level adversaries. Lifting neutrality now is more about preparing people in advance to avoid chaos and fear at critical moments, fostering early adaptation."

Being the eldest of the guards, her knowledge of Star Antimony was vague at best, whereas her understanding of the Holy Nation was more comprehensive. In her mind, Star Antimony seemed nothing more than a lingering fragment of the Helasal Empire. She didn't even know how many parts the Helasal Empire had splintered into or what names they now bore.

"If they're so eager, then we shall not rush."

Isabel didn't correct her statement. She leisurely folded the letter, saying, "Set the date for a week from now. Let's keep them waiting. Besides, Aiwass plans to go there first and handle some matters... no need to trouble him."

Having become a mother, her approach to affairs had noticeably matured.

Since Aiwass had merged with Alaister and removed The Holy Crown, he could now meet Isabel again in the Dream Realm.

Knowing that Aiwass was safe and well, Isabel finally found peace of mind.

Through Dream Realm communication, Isabel had also learned about Aiwass's plans.

Aiwass intended to travel first to the Narcissus Duchy to rendezvous with his mentor. Previously, the Amber Master had issued a call for archaeologists that had been circulating for some time. Isabel had already sent Aiwass's archaeology mentor, Bard, there, and Aiwass should now be en route as well.

Apparently, the ruins there contained remnants of Celestial Marshal-level power, sparking Aiwass's deep interest.

But as one of the rare dual-path Fifth Power Level beings in this world, Aiwass was unlikely to encounter any trouble.

Moreover, Aiwass mentioned that a Cardinal would accompany him on this journey.

"Still, Star Antimony's panic is understandable," Isabel casually remarked to Mycroft. "I've heard there's been some... White Tide incident over there?"

"Yes, a necromantic disaster. Supposedly, it happened because Valentine VII passed away without any burial preparations, leading to his resurrection. Some even claim he transformed into the Earthbound Apostle of the Winter Celestial... it's plausible, given the bloodline connection."

Mycroft nodded. "It hasn't spread much yet—so far, its effects are contained. The undead transformed by this former King exhibit an unusual trait: they retain much of their original extraordinary abilities, along with nearly complete intellect and memory.

"In a way, it's like another version of the Son of the Moon—cold, lifeless Sons of the Moon. Maybe we should call them Winter's Children? Haha..."

As he spoke, Mycroft chuckled.

If such an issue had arisen in Avalon, he would've been utterly exasperated. An undead former Queen, seething with resentment, crawling out of the grave to seize the Royal Capital and reclaim sovereignty, killing others in the process and transforming them into her own undead followers with high intellect. No matter how the issue was handled, it would invite criticism...

But since it was happening in Star Antimony, Mycroft was happy to watch the spectacle unfold.

He tapped the desk, turning to Isabel, who could privately communicate with Aiwass. "I've heard this is the Spirit Summoning Tower's doing—a ploy to combat the Red Chancellor, sacrificing the Winter Maiden to elevate her to the Winter Celestial. Now that the Red Chancellor is dead... what's the Spirit Summoning Tower's stance?"

"They don't plan on addressing it. They intend to distance themselves from the Winter Maiden to some extent."

Isabel indeed knew about this matter and spoke directly, "On April 9th, the Spirit Summoning Tower will uproot itself and fly to Avalon. I've already prepared a spot for them... they'll settle at Eagle Cape Village. They'll surely appreciate the deathly aura and Dusk Power there... and the Wild Hunt can act as a barrier to prevent any undead spillover into the world of ordinary people."

This was something she had discussed in detail with Aiwass.

Mycroft clicked his tongue. "Were you planning to tell me, or were you just going to let it slide, Your Majesty?"

"Because, in the short term, there's not much to deal with. Few will even know the Spirit Summoning Tower has arrived in Avalon, and there's no rush for recruitment. We lack a proper foundation for accepting necromancy yet... Just last month, I had the Glass Staircase Daily subtly begin influencing public opinion, but we still need a few pivotal events to help people accept coexistence with necromancers."

Isabel smiled proudly. "I'm taking actions too, Lord Hermes. Not everything relies on your efforts."

Mycroft shook his head.

A bit exasperated, yet a bit reassured.

"That reminds me—"

Isabel suddenly spoke. "Have you heard of the 'Second Legion'?"

Everyone knew Avalon's Gryphon Legion was unique.

Mycroft hesitated briefly, nodding slightly, then shaking his head. He replied diplomatically, "I might know, or I might not."

"Don't be so cautious, Lord Hermes."

Isabel said cheerfully, "It's nothing scandalous. They're people Ligeia gathered from me.

"The members include Hayna and David. After Hayna became a Royal Guard, David transitioned into a 'Black Knight' at the end of the month."

Mycroft, of course, understood what Black Knights were—

This was a new vocation pioneered by the Heaven Defier, "Ranmarock."

It directly linked back to their "ancestor" in the broader sense—not by bloodline, but familial ties over generations had forged some kinship.

"I plan to build an entirely new legion. The age of warriors has arrived, and we can't rely on the Sky Cavalry alone. Black Knights, a vocation requiring both authority and transcendence, could eventually progress into professions tied to Ligeia. It's a promising route; I'm considering recruiting more, and by the end of last month... the first Black Knights must already exist."

Isabel smiled brightly, asking, "Can you lend me a hand, Lord Hermes?"

"... And where should these Black Knights serve?"

Mycroft, sensing an overwhelming workload looming, covered his forehead in resignation.

"The Supervisory Court," Isabel replied calmly. "Compared to Inspectors, whose abilities and personalities lean toward discipline and surveillance, Black Knights, driven by vengeance and justice, are better suited to oversee authority itself... and handle tasks unsuitable for open execution."

Her eyes narrowed slightly. "As Avalon's Path grows increasingly diverse, so too will the voices in society. We certainly hope people will no longer remain bound, unable to freely express their Paths as in the past... but we must also be wary of those manipulated or bribed, who may incite chaos under the pretense of diversity.

"The diversification of Paths leads to greater societal freedom—but also greater instability. Both Helasal and Star Antimony exemplify this dynamic.

"Avalonians are Helasal descendants. We have the potential to restore Helasal's former glory. Yet, likewise... we must guard against the downfall Helasal endured.

"'Using bronze as a mirror helps correct attire; using history as a mirror reveals the rise and fall; using people as a mirror clarifies right and wrong.' Aiwass told me this."

Her voice was steady. "It's a difficult path, but a righteous one. That means we can't avoid walking it—but neither can we tread it carelessly. We must tread it cautiously. Righteousness brings hardship, for nothing in this world comes easily."

Mycroft stared at Isabel for a long time before finally exhaling in relief and bursting into laughter.

For a fleeting moment, he thought he saw the shadow of the Old Queen in Isabel...

This little princess... no, this young Queen, was growing at an astonishing pace.

In just a few months.

"... Astonishing pace,"

Mycroft murmured.

With a tinge of melancholy, yet filled with heartfelt admiration.