Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Hoodlum was in a crouching pose, but not because it had a lower center of gravity to allow better defense and attack. His spine was badly deformed, so he had to crouch.
âThatâs Hoodlum!â
Aside from the commanding officer George, other Knights also recognized Hoodlum. But George didnât speak because, before him, the Victorians were displaying strange behaviors.
A lot of gamers were standing beside Hoodlum and chasing other Victorians away. They began shouting various things.
âGive way, give way. This place is reserved by the Hoodlum Yoga Association. Individual gamers, please go to other places to fight. Thank you!â
âIndividual gamers, give way. This BOSS is ours. There is another BOSS over there. Please cooperate.â
âWeâll kill you if you donât give way.â
Hundreds of gamers gathered and shouted. It was very intimidating. George noticed that a lot of Victorians had left this area for other places.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om
Hoodlum crouched on the ground, not attacking immediately. He removed the Short Sword from his mouth and said to his Guild members, âOnce we start fighting the BOSS, attack fast. If youâre seriously wounded, die immediately, then revive and ride the horses here. We have horses on both sides of our Guild. The reinforcements must be fast. Donât lag behind in the battle.â
After speaking, Hoodlum placed the Short Sword in his mouth again. George thought that it wasnât necessary to hold the Short Sword in his mouth. Moreover, wielding double Short Swords wasnât as powerful as a Shield and a Short Sword.
But it wasnât the time to critique Hoodlumâs combat technique.
Hoodlum was the leader of this group of Victorians, and he had already proven himself in the Gladiator Arena. Though George thought that Hoodlum was inferior to him, he was still a respectable warrior.
When two leaders met on the battlefield, it would be a death duel!
George wasnât afraid of such a battle. He swung his weapon and picked up a Round Shield from the side. The surrounding fighting continued unabated. The Knights from the York Territory and the gamers of Victoria City purposely gave lots of empty space to George. The Knights did so because of their honor as Knights, while the Victorians did so because they were being cleared by the Hoodlum Yoga Association.
âYouâre an opponent worthy of respect. Iâll try my best not to kill you because the Duke needs you.â
George swung his weapon and walked to the middle of the battlefield. To him, it was his duel ground.
Hoodlum was taken aback, not having expected George to speak to him directly. A gamer who was at the side shouted excitedly, âChairman, youâre awesome! Even the NPC recognizes you. Dragonborn was killed twice, but none of the NPCs recognized him.â
âDonât be too excited. Proceed as planned.â
Hoodlum spat out his Short Sword and reminded the excited Guild member. Another Guild member asked, âChairman, shall we surrender? Perhaps theyâll send you back to the Castle for the Strange Encounter Mission.â
âImpossible. Do you see how vicious the battle is? Even if we want to surrender, itâs too late!â
âOkay. Donât talk about surrendering. The discussion is over. Take the equipment and horses. I canât let my brothers lose equipment because of me.â
Hoodlum wanted to bite the Short Sword with his mouth but found it troublesome. The Guild members at the side gave an âOKâ hand gesture and said, âDonât worry, Chairman, Iâve started the video recording.â
âGood, proceed according to our plan!â
Hoodlum shouted, âFight the BOSS!â
Hoodlum charged towards George. He wielded the double Short Swords and attacked George viciously!
Georgeâs eyes glinted coldly when he saw the various shortcomings!
He grasped his Shield tightly and rammed against Hoodlum. He saw the gap in Hoodlumâs attack and used the Shield to ram Hoodlumâs body. Hoodlum flew out like a kite with a broken string. This blow didnât kill him, but he broke a few bones and was suffering.
Though the warriors of Victoria City hadnât broken down, to George, it was just a matter of time.
He intended to knock Hoodlum unconscious and capture him, but he instinctively felt danger. Suddenly, tens of arrows flew towards him.
He lifted his Shield, and the arrows landed on it. Some arrows hit his armor, but they didnât penetrate its protection. But the impact of the arrows made his body ache.
George was furious. Was it not supposed to be a duel? Why were there sniping arrows?
Before he recovered, another volley of arrows was fired at him. In response, his Knights dashed towards the group of Victorians.
He saw someone using a strange language, and a fireball appeared in his hands. He then directed the fireball at George.
âShucks! Magician!â
George couldnât help cursing.
...
Sherlock sat in front of his computer and browsed the videos that the gamers had uploaded to the discussion forum.
After opening the 3-minute video recording function, the gamers started making in-game recordings. For example, in the Black Volcano battle and the Victoria and York Territory battle, many gamers uploaded videos to the discussion forum.
âItâs a vicious battle at Victoria City, Lord Sherlock,â Bru said while Sherlock was watching the battle scenes.
âIsnât that good? The battle provides combat experience, equipment, and horses. With that many Knights, they might be able to create the first Cavalry unit. If Victoria City is able to occupy the York Territory, it will provide more resources to Eternal Kingdom. Itâs highly beneficial to us.â
âLord Sherlock is wise.â
Bru agreed with Sherlock, but he asked with worry, âBut if Victoria shows their power too early, it will attract the attention of the Surface World. The politics and conflicts of the nobles and the religions are complicated and dangerous compared to the simple Underworld.â
âI share your concern. What do you think I learned as a superior Devil? Everything is under control, Bru.â
A âPomâ sound was heard.
A black kitten extended his paws and covered his head, then lifted his head to look at the parrot perched on a cabinet.
A wooden cup rolled on the ground beside the black kitten. Eggface turned his head to observe the noise.
âAiya, apologies,â the parrot said as he sidestepped to another wooden cup and extended his leg...
âGrrrâ!â
The black kittenâs hair stood on end, his eyes filled with murderous intent. He leaped towards the cabinet as the parrot kicked the wooden cup at him.
The nimble black kitten dodged the wooden cup, which brushed past his body, as he landed on the cabinet.
âIâll tear out all of your feathers!â the black kitten said to the parrot as he crouched his body threateningly.
âHa? You? When Michelangelo was conquering the world, if not for Michelangelo, I would have killed you. Now that youâre a kitten, itâs too easy for me to kill you.â
The parrot laughed sinisterly while he shifted his legs along the support like a real parrot.
The black kitten was ready to leap, but Sherlock grabbed his neck and looked at the parrot. Sherlock waved his hand, and the parrot flew and landed in Sherlockâs hand. Then the parrot lowered his head and looked aggrieved.
However, it was difficult for a parrot to make such a complex expression.
While Sherlock was thinking of roasting or steaming the parrot, there was a knock at the door.
Sherlock turned his head to look at the door while he threw the black kitten and the parrot to the side. The two animals quickly returned to their own nests. Meanwhile, Eggface staggered to the door and opened it.
âWhatâs up?â
At the door was Brainiac.
âIâd like to meet Lord Sherlock. I have a matter to discuss with him.â
âCome in, Brainiac,â Sherlock shouted.
Eggface gave way and let Brainiac walk in. He then shut the door so that the gamers outside couldnât peep in.
Brainiac walked to Sherlock and put a letter in front of him.
It was a letter addressed to Brainiac.
âWhat is it?â
Sherlock looked at the front of the envelope. Since he didnât have Brainiacâs approval, he didnât examine the contents.
âThese are the letters sent by my mentor, Professor Bacon.â Brainiac put every letter in front of Sherlock and said, âInitially, I thought it was an ordinary letter. But these few days, the letters have been too frequent, and the contents have been strange.â
âIs that so?â
âYes, like this letter. My mentor said that he bought tens of things of Bone Strengthening Powder and asked me if I wanted some.â
Eggface, who was standing at the side, said, âMost likely, your mentor is old, so he requires more tonics. Did he send you the Bone Strengthening Powder?â
âThis is the problem. He didnât send any even though I waited for a long time.â
Brainiac shook his head.
âYouâre saying that your mentor deceived you, so you feel that your mentor is strange?â Sherlock pondered and said, âPerhaps he forgot because he needs to help those poor female students? Heâs a helpful teacher, so he has a lot of matters to deal with.â
âThatâs what I thought initially until I examined those letters carefully. I discovered that there was a difference in timing between me receiving the letters and my mentor writing them. I followed the timing that my mentor wrote them and arranged them in chronological order. Then I examined the contents carefully. I found out that my mentor left a secret messageâDo not look for me. It is dangerous.â
Brainiac frowned and said worriedly, âMy mentor is in great danger.â
âNo, according to logic, if he didnât wish for you to visit him and be in danger, he wouldnât purposely remind you,â the parrot abruptly interjected.
âAre you a fool? Heâs a mentor. Would he leave a secret message that says: Come and save me, please! That would be a loss of face! If I was him, Iâd do the same thing to attract attention and send out a request letter for help!â Polio explained his thinking.
The parrot and the black kitten were about to bicker, but when they saw Sherlock pondering, they shut their mouths.
âDonât worry. With my close relationship with Professor Bacon, if heâs in danger, Iâll not sit by and do nothing. We have to consider if the letters were written by Professor Bacon. That, or if itâs an elaborate trap to tempt you. I know that the words look like they are from Professor Bacon, but sometimes, the truth isnât apparent.â
Sherlock stood up and picked up his windbreaker before walking outside. He said to Brainiac, âCome with me. Letâs go to Specter College to find out more. The college will definitely know something.â
âIâm very grateful to you, Lord Sherlock!â
Brainiac bowed to Sherlock and followed him out of the room.
Eternal Kingdom and Specter College werenât directly connected by Teleport Portals. Only Specter Collegeâs examination grounds were linked to Eternal Kingdom by Teleport Portals, and it was quite a distance from the examination grounds to the college grounds.
To get to Specter College, Sherlock had to transit via Winterfell.
When Sherlock and Brainiac submitted their applications to visit Specter College at Winterfell, they were immediately approved. When the coordinates of the Teleport Portal were adjusted, Sherlock and Brainiac took it to Specter College.
Sherlock was surprised when Professor Bacon didnât receive them. Instead, it was Professor Cabbage.
Professor Cabbage was a teacher at Specter College. In a meeting, she expressed distrust in the superior Devil and suggested that Specter College terminate collaboration with Eternal Kingdom.
The proposal wasnât accepted by Specter College. Besides Sherlock, nobody could help Specter College solve the graduation problem.
âIâm happy to meet you, Brainiac and...â Professor Cabbage was dressed in a professional office lady costume. She looked at Sherlock and Brainiac before greeting Eggface.
âWelcome, Black Dragon.â
âCall me Master of Dark Flames,â Eggface corrected her.
Professor Cabbage ignored Eggface. She also ignored the parrot on Sherlockâs shoulder and the black kitten Polio by Sherlockâs leg, as they were merely pets.
âIt has been a long time since we met Professor Cabbage. Your bones look whiter now. The bone color suits you nicely, especially when youâre such a beautiful lady,â Sherlock said with a smile.
âYouâre such a tease, Lord Sherlock,â Professor Cabbage said without emotion.
Just as Brainiac was going to state his intent and ask about Professor Bacon, Professor Cabbage waved to Sherlock and said, âProfessor Bacon managed to contact you. I thought he had no intention to contact you. Itâs good for you to visit us, as there are many issues of collaboration that we have to flesh out. Please, follow me.â
Professor Cabbage gestured for Sherlock to follow her, then led everyone forward.
Brainiac was about to speak, but Sherlock stopped him. Sherlock shook his head at Brainiac.
Soon, the group of a Dragon, kitten, parrot, Sherlock, and Brainiac caught up with Professor Cabbage. It was recess time, and the college was full of joyful Lich students.
They noticed the group following Professor Cabbage, and most of them recognized Brainiac.
âIs that Brainiac, the rare genius? Oh my god, I have the chance to meet him!â
âHe looks powerful. Heâs indeed a rare genius.â
âHasnât Senior Brainiac graduated? Why is he at the college?â
âI guess heâs transferring some Labor Union files or has come here for an investment pitch. Perhaps he has written a book.â
The Lich students chatted enthusiastically, but none of them dared to talk about Professor Cabbage.
Professor Cabbage warned the chattering students to return to their classes.
She then brought Sherlock and his followers to her office.
She exhaled and took out a thick book before saying, âThis is the latest updated graduation examination guide. Iâm usually in contempt of such a guide, but recently, I received a new version with some shocking contents.â
Professor Cabbage said gravely, âI discovered that your combatants from Eternal Kingdom used the Power of Sacred Light. Please explain, Lord Sherlock.â