When the plot-skips players into the game world

And the strange thing is, Aiwass also felt exactly this way—

He nodded, indicating that it was indeed true: "Yes, it can only be the Halic family.

"They could never have imagined that we realized the Box of Emptiness was in their manor ahead of time. If we launch a surprise attack tonight, we can catch them off guard..."

"—No."

Sherlock was silent for a long time, but finally, he coldly uttered a single word of denial: "We can't go."

The Old Duke immediately showed a look of displeasure.

But before he could erupt, Aiwass asked, "Why?"

He knew Sherlock wouldn't say something like this without a reason; there must be a reason behind it.

And Aiwass also trusted Sherlock's wisdom and judgment—he understood he had made mistakes, and thus humbly accepted Sherlock's correction.

"I actually also feel it should be the Halic family..."

However, Sherlock's first words left them confused: "I can find many reasons—for instance, the Halic family is the oldest Earl family of the Iris Flower, or because Count Halik once experienced the Third Rebellion, or because the Halic family is usually very low-key, and the Count of Moon's Son almost never steps outside..."

"Then..."

——Then why refuse?

Arsene originally wanted to ask this.

But he suddenly had a realization and abruptly halted his words.

Aiwass's expression also changed—

He exchanged a glance with Arsene, knowing that the other person had understood as well.

Sure enough.

Sherlock continued, "However, none of these things count as evidence. At best, they can be considered a kind of 'pseudo-logic,' like a paranoid Monarch looking for trouble and seeking 'evidence of rebellion.' It's having the answer first and then finding reasons; it's not deriving the result from the phenomenon.

"...But why am I so certain that 'it's the Halic family'?"

Sherlock paused, sweeping his gaze around the room: "Ladies and gentlemen, I believe you can all understand this."

In an instant, the room descended into a terrifying silence.

The atmosphere was frozen like ice, and Annie, who still hadn't fully grasped Sherlock's words, looked around nervously, fearing that everyone would suddenly break out into a fight.

It was the first time Aiwass extended his hand and rested it on the back of Annie's hand. He indicated for her to be at ease, not to be afraid.

Even though Aiwass still wasn't looking at Annie, instead focusing on Sherlock... Annie was staring, astonished, at Aiwass's profile.

She suddenly revealed a radiant smile, seeming as if she had shed ten years.

"...Hm."

The old man snorted coldly, slowly sitting down.

He fully opened his wolf-like emerald eyes, which appeared so cold and fierce. Within them was no hint of emotion, only a burning rage of overwhelming ruthlessness, like a red flame igniting on colorless oil.

"—Quite audacious indeed."

The Old Duke murmured slowly, without knowing for whom the words were meant.

Aiwass closed his eyes, reclining on the sofa: "I understand now..."

Without a doubt, there was only one answer.

Reality—or rather, the future—had already been altered.

Clearly, that Count of Moon's Son had set up a defensive 'destiny.' If anyone realized this matter, they would subconsciously look for trouble with the 'Halic family.'

This Halic family might be his ally or his enemy... Regardless, if something suddenly happened to the usually reclusive Halic family, it highly indicates that he's been discovered.

This is just like placing a paper in the doorway when heading out, or trapping a strand of hair in a drawer, or placing an empty can at the entrance.

It serves as a sufficiently sensitive 'pre-monition machine' to monitor his situation in real time.

By now, Aiwass even suspected his own memory might be at fault. Perhaps the true owner of the Box of Emptiness isn't the Count of Moon's Son after all.

Fortunately, Sherlock had a certain 'logic compulsion'—no matter what the situation was, if the logic couldn't be self-consistent, he would become suspicious, always feeling something was amiss. Previously, this flaw purely caused delays, and even Sherlock himself was trying to correct it... But now, precisely this habit allowed them to sense the anomaly in advance.

"...The ability to alter destiny is truly troublesome."

Arsene commented.

He looked at Aiwass, earnestly asking, "That 'empty box,' to what extent can it alter reality? Can it reverse time? Or perhaps cause someone to suddenly perish?"

"Certainly not."

Aiwass said with great certainty: "No matter what the power, reversing time is impossible."

——Because that used to be the power of the Serpent Celestial Marshal.

The power system of this world has a basic principle, which is 'occupancy.' The reason the Material Realm has an upper limit of Energy Level is because Celestial Marshals, and future Celestial Marshals, occupy 'power vacancies.' Even if these Celestial Marshals are yet to be born, this portion of power won't be distributed to the Material Realm.

The limit of Celestial Marshals for each Path should be five or six, as there has never been an occasion where more Celestial Marshals than this number appeared simultaneously. Even during the endless Tail-Biting Ring Ceremony, it was always one going down, one coming up; of course, the situation might be the reverse, but exceeding the surplus of Celestial Marshals might squeeze out the power of the Material Realm too.

Similarly, the Heavenly Authority of these Celestial Marshals also requires occupying a position.

For instance, due to the existence of the 'Playful Sky Department,' the former Swan King could never ascend to the 'Playful Sky Department' of the Path of Beauty because the authority of 'drama' was seized by the Playful Sky Department, and the authority of 'opera' had been taken by the Song Celestial Marshal. His greater possibility would be becoming the 'Rebel Celestial Marshal' or 'Heaven Defier' of the Path of Transcendence. If he insisted on entering the Path of Beauty, what might belong to him could only be the 'Dream Sky Department,' a kind of abstract marginal position.

But at that time, Heaven Defier had yet to be born.

Now, with the Heaven Defier born as the 'Justice Heavenly Official, Revenge Sky,' the Swan King has lost most of his chances of becoming a god.

——In other words, the authority that hasn't yet condensed in the Swan King must be the ability that the current Celestial Marshals don't possess. And the power to return to the past clearly belongs to the Reincarnation Celestial Marshal, so the Swan King could never obtain it.

By using this process of elimination, Aiwass basically deduced what the Box of Emptiness can do: "Essentially, it should be able to alter others' thoughts, with a small chance to change their memories and emotions. It might even create small probability 'coincidences'—which could be perceived as a form of 'drama.'

"For instance, a sudden worsening of disease, or escaping without being seen by anyone, or missing an obvious mistake when making plans... If such powers were used by the Swan King himself, it would undoubtedly be very powerful. Fortunately, the user of this power is an aesthetiless Son of the Moon..."

"...Is this how he manipulates the rebellion?"

The Duke frowned: "So how can we defeat 'coincidence' and 'illusion'?"

"Very simple."

Sherlock lowered the teacup, answering calmly yet proudly: "With 'logic.'

"Dreams... have no logic. In dreams, people are unaware of their flawed logic. But once people wake up, they realize how ridiculous it was.

"—Then you just need to stay lucid even in your dreams, right?"