When the plot-skips players into the game world

Looking at Aiwass, Sherlock showed an extremely surprised look: "You're actually... really deducing."

He was already used to Aiwass directly arriving at a mysterious yet correct conclusion. But now, Aiwass was seriously thinking and reasoning—although he hid part of the knowledge to reach the correct conclusion faster than Sherlock, at least this time there was a reasoning process that others could understand.

"Can't help it either."

Aiwass spread his hands: "If I follow the procedure to solve it, I'm afraid my thinking will be rewritten again."

The most terrifying form of the Box of Emptiness is when others don't know of its existence.

In this situation, it can almost be called "fate" itself.

But as long as someone realizes its existence—even further clarifying its operating principle, it is actually quite easy to crack.

In this situation, the simplest, most straightforward, and most correct idea is to solve according to the procedure.

Like a high school student doing middle school level math problems, the answer is obvious at a glance, or at least one can get a general idea with a quick look. There is no need for a procedural solution to provide the answer directly.

——And the part where the Box of Emptiness can play tricks is here.

When you think the question is so simple that it can't be simpler, you casually provide an answer. However, this is where the Box of Emptiness will rewrite your subconscious, making you ignore a few words or numbers, causing you to give a completely wrong answer—and you will firmly believe that you are absolutely correct.

This is also why Aiwass did not directly pray and seek help from the deities.

Even if the gods gave Aiwass the correct answer, this answer in his mind could be easily rewritten. And he would firmly believe that what he knew from the beginning was this wrong answer.

The current Swan King is a genuine Earthly Heavenly Official—half stuck in the Material Realm and half in the Dream Realm. By rewriting reality through dreams, although not with malice or without maximizing his theoretical potential, purely in terms of energy level, he even surpasses the priority of the Fallen Celestial Marshal dragged down by the Ring of Ouroboros. This is also why the Box of Emptiness is regarded as a "purely mechanism monster" in the game.

But as long as the correct goal is logically deduced, it's different.

Aiwass showed a confident smile: "What about you, Sherlock? It seems you have also deduced the answer—why do you say the Box of Emptiness is in Count Halik's hands?"

"——It's Count of Orleans."

Sherlock reminded: "Your memory has changed again."

Aiwass was startled, looking at the information in his hand—when he clearly saw the numbers under "blood supply," he immediately reacted.

He clicked his tongue, slightly annoyed: "Really annoying..."

"I'm certain this matter is due to other reasons."

Sherlock said, opening the document and pointing to a few details Aiwass hadn't noticed: "Look here."

"...Grande de Orleans, the position is Counselor of Iris Flower's safety affairs..."

Aiwass raised his eyebrow: "What's up? This position is probably equivalent to a semi-major character of Avalon. Should have a quarter of the Great Guardian's authority."

"Not here, it's the timing."

Sherlock pointed out the position changes of the direct relatives of the Orleans family—those Sons of the Moon granted the surname "Orleans," regardless of blood relation.

"Only the direct relatives of this family... their position changes occur after every rebellion."

"...Isn't the timeline quite dispersed?"

Aiwass frowned: "And there are both rises and falls... very balanced."

"Correct," Sherlock said seriously, "But if you divide Iris Flower's new regime appointments after each rebellion into three phases, you'll find that almost all demotions occur in the third phase, which is before the next 'rebellion.' And most promotions happen in the first and second phases. As long as a demotion happens in the first phase, they will certainly be promoted to a higher position in the second phase.

"Other Son of the Moon families have this characteristic too, but their demotions are more evenly spread across the three stages, mainly in the second stage. But Count Halik's family has multiple major demotions in the first stage, indicating they always stand on the wrong side."

"...You found evidence this way?"

Upon hearing this, Aiwass couldn't help but laugh: "Looks like you agree with my method of deduction."

Just a few hours ago, Aiwass shared his theory—he suspected someone without any evidence. Because any evidence can be forged or destroyed, even the deities high above can be deceived. But regardless, a person's motive isn't wrong... No matter what roundabout methods they take, they will always fulfill their initial goal and achieve their true purpose.

Although Sherlock then didn't seem fully convinced, he used it smoothly now.

The body doesn't lie!

"It has nothing to do with that... If it works, I'll use it."

Sherlock shook his head: "I'm a pragmatist. The Swan King's dream is chaotic, and that Count of the Moon's Son can't precisely control the Swan King's dream to alter reality... In such a situation, unless someone like you understands the social environment of the Moon's Son, it's hard to obtain conclusive and direct evidence.

"But conversely—precisely because his control over the Swan King is weak, he doesn't dare to let the Swan King attack his forces in a dream because he can't gauge the Swan King's force level and suspects the Swan King might seize the opportunity to slip away. So, you just need to trace those obviously unnatural 'rebellions' and identify the forces that were unharmed and declining before the rebellions.

"You just need to remember all the rebellion's specific timestamps accurately—remember the times including fuse and conclusion, construct a chart in your mind, fill in all the data such as power position changes of up-rank Moon's Son, their holding companies' profit changes, every policy's discussion time, implementation time, and their adjustment time, etc. Naturally, you'll easily get the answer."

Sherlock sighed, leaning back slightly against the chair, covering his face with his hand, speaking in a muffled voice: "Even if it's not me, just an ordinary person could do the same. It's merely tedious data processing. I didn't get any pleasure of applying wisdom from it... Compared to the Path of Wisdom, it's closer to what the Transcendent adept in the Path of Balance are good at.

"The Box of Emptiness cannot change indisputable numbers... And through accurate data, everyone can arrive at the correct result; I just sped up this process a bit... Deduction is just a simple thing, unlike magic, bringing dreams and miracles..."

Saying this, Sherlock raised himself to look at Aiwass: "Your deduction style is closer to my past—unfortunately, you little guy are hiding things."

"I have to win occasionally."

Aiwass said casually: "When you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, no matter how improbable, must be the truth... It's not like I didn't learn anything."

Seeing Aiwass's reaction, Sherlock realized: "You're...not in a hurry at all?

"——Why, do you have another way to find the Box of Emptiness?"

"Of course."

Aiwass's pupils flickered, smiling gently: "Apart from the 'Sherlockian elimination method,' I also have the 'Aleisterian elimination method.'

"...What do you mean by Aleisterian elimination method?"

Sherlock remained silent for several seconds before tentatively asking.

"Haven't you already guessed?"

Aiwass, laughing happily, revealed a playing card at his fingertips, fiddling with it between them.

"I used to play a game," Aiwass said leisurely, "that asks me to capture some targets, or steal some intelligence."

"Is this game proper?"

Sherlock retorted.

"——But sometimes, if you're not quick, you'll be discovered."

"What happens after being discovered?" Sherlock asked.

"Then, to ensure confidentiality, everyone must be killed."

Aiwass chuckled lightly: "Quite unfortunate..."

With that, he flicked the card in his hand towards the corner of the wall and said: "This is also my contingency plan... and why I'm confident to solve the problem within twenty-four hours.

"——It would be best to settle things quietly, since I have half a Holy Nation background too, it's better not to interfere with foreign internal affairs. But if still manipulated by the Box of Emptiness…

"Then kill all suspects swiftly and thoroughly, there will be no information leaks..."

"——And as long as you kill them all, one of them will surely be correct."

From the corner where the card landed, Aleister's voice softly arose.