The Shepherds Are Dense

Chapter 159. Aiwass: Can’t Wait a Bit Ch 159. Aiwass: Can’t Wait a Bit

Gordon remembered him vividly.Even now, recalling that sinister laugh, his heart stung as if pricked by needles.

During his advancement ritual, the demon-man codenamed “Alastair” had pierced him with a shadow lance, killing him effortlessly. His body dissolved into shadows, the searing pain lingering even after waking, etched in his memory.

Gordon was getting old.

The weakness from the failed ritual lingered for days, leaving him prone to exhaustion and distraction, unfit for normal work. Yet he stayed on duty, handling minor tasks instead of resting.

After waking from the ritual, he’d recorded the dream’s details despite his hazy memory. As an Inspector, even if unusable as evidence, they could guide investigations.

He flipped open his dream journal to the latest ritual, finding Alastair’s page, densely packed with notes.

Alastair, new to the ritual, was clueless, not bothering to hide his identity or origins.

A former soldier turned Inspector, Gordon had experience with case analysis and intelligence. Thieves, thugs, and gang members rarely told the truth, but their lies revealed what they hid or assumed as common knowledge. Their perspective, shaped by hidden truths, betrayed them.

Gordon lacked psychology expertise—Chief Inspector Edward was better at that.

He shared all his intel, including dream insights, with Edward.

Edward was already anxious over Aiwass’s disappearance.

Woken at 2:30 AM by a call, he’d been irritated until hearing it was about Aiwass. He rushed to the Inspectorate’s office without even washing, still in his clothes.

Gordon’s intel calmed him, providing a clear investigative lead.

But reading it, Edward grew more anxious.

“He’s been possessed by a demon since childhood—a high-intelligence shadow demon with its own personality,” Edward said, frowning. “Besides his teacher and parents, that demon has constantly shaped his mind.”

Gordon nodded. “His worldview is clearly abnormal.”

Demons’ untrustworthiness stemmed from the forbidden knowledge and warped perspectives they imparted.

Edward continued, “His parents are Nine Pillars devotees, but he only worships the Serpent Father, not Si Zhu, showing disdain for the Devotion Path. He likely despises priests.”

Aiwass was a priest.

A tense silence followed.

Suppressing unease, Edward read on: “He only studied in a rural school, dropping out after junior high. Inheriting his father’s wealth, his first choice was mountaineering and rock climbing—dangerous, challenging pursuits. It suggests a restless, thrill-seeking heart, ignoring external risks.

“He doesn’t grasp Noble Red Society’s ideals but doesn’t resist them, likely manipulated into joining without knowing his recruiter’s identity.

“So, Alastair is a rural youth with a skewed worldview, cruel, rebellious, used as a tool by Noble Red, uneducated, thrill-driven, and hostile to priests.”

Edward’s frown deepened. “He’s extremely dangerous.”

Aiwass was truly in peril.

Their foster father, James, had just vanished, and now Aiwass. Both were in dire straits, and Edward felt powerless.

A thought flickered:

He hoped Isabel could stabilize Yulia’s emotions. Yulia was closer to Aiwass than to James or Edward.

But that might not work.

Isabel, close to Aiwass, would learn of his disappearance instantly and likely tell Yulia. If Yulia knew Aiwass was taken by someone so dangerous, her emotions could spiral, risking the phantom demon within her emerging. Best to keep it from her.

If her phantom egg identity was exposed, Yulia would be at risk too.

Then Edward recalled: Yulia was no longer a phantom egg.

Oswald, the old butler, had told him two nights ago before leaving. Though baffling, it was a relief.

He didn’t need to rush Yulia home to hide her identity. With Oswald gone, she was safer at the Hall of Silver and Tin than Moriarty Manor.

Edward, tasked with finding Aiwass, had no time to protect or care for her.

Taciturn and poor at comforting, he’d leave Yulia crying without knowing how to help—a role Aiwass always filled.

The thought gave him a headache.

For now, he’d keep quiet, leaving Yulia at the Hall with Isabel and Master Yannis’s care, ensuring her safety.

“Damn it!”

Edward’s anxiety boiled over, his fist cracking the solid wooden desk.

Despite his cold demeanor, family meant everything to him.

Unprecedented rage coiled in his heart.

He seared the names into his mind.

“I find Aiwass,” he muttered. “Wait for me, Aiwass. I’ll get you back.

“By Si Zhu, by the Silver Crown Dragon, let Aiwass survive… just live.”

He closed his eyes, praying softly.

Meanwhile, Aiwass and Lily stood silently in a shadowed corner.

Blending into the darkness, they went unnoticed by low-tier Inspectors passing by.

“Young Master, do we wait until tomorrow?” Lily whispered. “The patrols are increasing.”

Aiwass’s name carried weight.

Since 2 AM, patrols had visibly multiplied. Colorful griffins filled the sky, while those without griffins rode horses, galloping through city streets.

By 3:30 AM, law mages appeared, sternly checking suspicious bags and late-night carriages. Armored knights, accompanied by grim-faced mages, raided organization hideouts.

Clearly, higher authorities were taking over.

By 4:50 AM, the streets blazed with light.

In the last ten minutes, Aiwass saw multiple white griffins overhead.

At night, the shadow demon’s concealment was unbeatable against low-tier Inspectors and mages. Only white griffins could sense abnormal shadow density, forcing Aiwass and Lily to hide briefly when they passed.

“Can’t wait a bit,” Aiwass replied decisively. “If they calm down and compare notes tomorrow, they’ll spot the inconsistencies.

“The fire’s not hot enough—we need to add fuel.”

“Who’s first?”

“York, the lawyer,” Aiwass said, eyes narrowing. “Let’s avenge Sherlock.”

“The griffins are gone. Move!”

(Chapter End)