The Shepherds Are Dense

Chapter 116: I Want to Go Home with You

Soon after Aiwass departed the Lloyd's building, Lily discreetly warned him that they were being tailed.While increased her awareness, Lily was merely first-rate. If the pursuer was determined to remain concealed, she'd not be able to detect them.

That is, this was an —Boca's means of delivering a message:

It also suggested they didn't trust Aiwass entirely, with a hint of hidden spies ever vigilant—*Be on your best behavior, or we'll be aware.*

And Aiwass learned one more thing: Lloyd's was politically pressured.

Historically, dominating two-thirds of the Round Table Hall, large businesses by loaning them money, and most of the press, Lloyd's wouldn't be afraid of a new comer such as Aiwass.

They'd exchanged secrets but not evidence or details. If Aiwass blew it, it'd reveal his own motives at no harm to Lloyd's. Their confidence against betrayal demonstrated their power.

But now, they were on guard. With old Moriarty "dead" and the Moriarty family without allies or relations, their restraint only hinted that their power in the Round Table Hall was diminishing.

"Interesting," Aiwass whispered, lips twitching upward.

Who was opposing Lloyd's power?

Upon consideration, he discovered the answer—*Minister Meg*.

The elderly woman, via Haina, had tasked the "alchemical bomb smuggling case" inquiry, which meant she was gunning for Lloyd's.

She couldn't be ignorant that smuggling within the port area was connected to Lloyd's—Lloyd's owned the whole Lloyd District. As the Grand Arbiter of the Arbitration Hall, she'd be aware of this, especially since several arbiters were Lloyd's administrators or their relatives or friends.

Then why the investigation now?

Though alchemical bombs were new, smuggling heavy cargo wasn't.

When had they ever investigated Lloyd's previously?

"She's hoping for promotion," Aiwass understood.

Meg was looking for a replacement, as in getting things straight before a dangerous move.

She may realize her promotion might fail—most likely would.

So, on the eve of her ritual, she wished to clean up loose ends and take care of outstanding issues.

In this era, fifth-tier peak transcendents were few, a tight-knit circle where everyone knew each other. Nine might enter a room, most elderly, some with decades-old grudges or ties.

In such a small group, acting was easy—it wasn’t about strength but connections and favors.

Whether attacked under the New Moon Ritual or double-crossed in the Full Moon Ritual, even a powerful Meg would falter if someone stood in her way.

She was aware of that but obstinate enough to attempt it.

Or maybe…

"She realizes she's running out of time," Aiwass pondered.

Even self-restoring Devotion Path transcendents, if short-lived varieties, couldn't live forever. Only the Dusk Path provided explicit longevity or immortality. Meg was more than ninety and looked spry, but only she had any idea of her actual condition.

Aiwass did not shake the tail. Instead of dropping by Sherlock at Bishop Mathers', he returned home to console Yulia, whom he found fretting, hugged her, and then went off to school.

He instructed Lily to wheel him to the girls' dormitory, where he respectfully requested a third-year senior to go and fetch Haina.

The senior's eyes opened wide, hand pressed against her mouth, shocked for a moment before she agreed excitedly.

Within minutes less than twenty, a tousled Haina, with hair uncombed and barely dressed, was rolled downstairs by classmates who were curious.

"…What's up, Aiwass?"

Haina looked embarrassed and stroked her hair.

Dreaded hair might appear unkempt without attention, and with her dense hair, washing was a task, particularly during winter. Having it been the weekend, she'd spent it in her dorm reading books.

A bestseller Avalon novel, , had left her amazed, so she checked out more of Bram Stoker's writing from the library to spend a quiet weekend.

But her roommates, acting secretive, dragged her down, saying someone was looking for her.

It was Aiwass!

“You look better without makeup today, senior,” Aiwass complimented casually.

Glancing at her classmates gawking from the windows, he shook his head with a smile. “Come with me, senior.”

“…Huh? Where? If we’re meeting someone, let me wash my hair first…”

Haina, self-conscious and unwilling, attempted to style her unruly hair, following behind Lily as Aiwass didn't immediately react.

She wasn't so much worried about where they were going, more intrigued by what he'd said before. "Was that real, what you said?"

"About the make-up?" Aiwass looked over, laughing. "Yes, I think you're more attractive without it."

.Guess my makeup skills are just bad," Haina complained, deflated. "I only learned this year. I was too busy when I first came to university. Now, accepted early by the Bureau of Supervision, I've got time to experiment.

But it's so complicated—like second-department chemistry or sixth-department aesthetics. I either barely notice a difference, or it looks worse than nothing.

As they walked, she realized they were heading to Aiwass’s dorm, likely tied to Sherlock’s case.

She straightened, serious, but before she could speak, Aiwass, without turning, said, “No need to tense up, senior. Just be natural.”

“Yes, Mr. Aiwass,” Haina replied instinctively, as she had during their Pelican Bar fight.

Within his dorm reception room, Aiwass instructed Lily to go make tea and snacks and then put his hands together. "You didn't go this morning?"

"Sherlock's funeral?" Haina nodded. "No, I didn't go."

Although the Bureau had asked for her attendance, she'd pretended to be sad to avoid it knowing Sherlock was safe and wondering if she'd be a good actress.

"I was afraid I'd slip and destroy your and Sherlock's plan, so I kept my distance."

As a star Tactics Department student, schooled in combat and sword fighting, she grasped the principle:

How many third-department students weren't accidentally cut, bitten by a classmate's griffon, or pushed over by an uncontrollable horse? Maybe only the flirtatious fourth-department seniors, mastering illumination spells and making up, could keep tabs.

"Good job," said Aiwass approvingly. "Otherwise, you could've gotten hurt."

"…What occurred?"

Haina scrunched up her brows, stood stern, spoke firm. "Need my assistance, Mr. Aiwass?"

"Certainly," Aiwass agreed. "I want you to deliver a message to Sherlock. I have no idea whether or not phones are tapped, so a messenger you can trust is safest."

"Tapped?" Haina's eyes widened in surprise. "An adversary even the Moriarty clan can't manage?"

To her, the Moriarty family was inviolate giant. Their earnings for a single year exceeded her lifetime wealth, and Edward was the Inspector General of Glass Island. What foe could possibly be so formidable?

"It's manageable, I can handle it," Aiwass replied serenely. "Just inform Sherlock that I've had to take out a membership in Lloyd's and might have to stage my death soon. Inform him not to slip."

"—You too?" Haina exclaimed, forgetting etiquette.

Her thoughts flew to another matter. "What about Princess Isabel?"

"Depends on what Sherlock thinks," Aiwass replied, narrowing her eyes thoughtfully. "I'm not sure Isabel will cope with it. I'm inclined to let her know beforehand, but you know—every additional person who knows is more risk. Technically, it's not an actual death, only a kidnapping or vanishing. Possibly I can warn her in advance."

"Specific date?" Haina asked.

"Two weeks from today," Aiwass replied with confidence.

He had to pull the specter out of Yulia initially, or else she'd surely lose control.

"Early next month?" Haina's attention diverted strangely. "Finals are right around that corner!"

"My pretend death is not like Sherlock's. Missing just a few days, won't influence exams."

Aiwass wasn't concerned. He was at university to read forbidden books in the library, not to pursue top marks like Haina, who must have a chief title to alter her destiny.

Furthermore, this year's curriculum was a breeze. He was certain of acing finals without studying.

"How about I tutor you?" Haina suggested with enthusiasm.

She'd always felt inept around Aiwass. When he and Sherlock made plans, their quick logic bounds left her scrambling to keep pace, feeling dull despite her excellent grades.

Why did she appear so slow around them?

Now, she had an opportunity to make a contribution. Passing on important tasks to others while observing felt too close to the Authority Path, and she was not yet shy enough for that.

"Even if I'm not good at intricate plots or plotting, I'm excellent at exams!" Haina exclaimed. "I'm an exam master!"

"Fine by me," Aiwass agreed willingly. "Thanks, senior.".

Oh, by the way—after final exams, may I go to your hometown with you?

"…Huh?"

Haina stiffened, eyes open wide, still.

Aiwass laughed, his eyes glinting mischievously as he understood her confusion.

Waving his hand like a cunning fox, he smiled. "Just kidding. I have to go to Eagle Cape Village for something. Sherlock will be there too. As the native, you'll have to take us around.

"No problem!" Haina said cheerfully. "You come anytime, I'll take care of you! Eagle Cape's tiny, but it has excellent food and entertainment!"

"Incidentally," Aiwass said nonchalantly, fishing, "I just found out that prior to my adoption by my father, my biological paternal grandfather hailed from Eagle Cape Village."

"Actually?" Haina's eyes sparkled.

"Yes, Jacob Alexander, passed away fourteen years ago due to typhoid. Do you know him?" Aiwass inquired gravely.

Haina pondered, then gasped. "You mean… Grandpa Jacob? The one who wrote novels and poems?

He taught me to read when I was little!"