When the plot-skips players into the game world

And this Demon did not believe his mentor's plan was flawless. That's why he hedged his bets, not intending to let himself die outright and thus cut off all paths of return, so he deliberately spared his own life.

These possibilities were all inferred by Lawyer York from what he had seen and heard, as well as the fact that he was still alive.

Perhaps there might be some discrepancies, but the rest should be the truth.

"Then I must fake my own death," York Hermes realized, "If I show my face again, my mentor might send him to kill me again."

"So I can't deal with this by myself. I must inform the Vice Chairman..."

With this thought, he walked out of the archives room and dialed the Vice Chairman's number in the living room.

"I am Bran Boka."

Although it was still not daybreak, the phone was answered instantly. Then, a calm voice came through.

York said in a low voice, "Something happened, Mr. Boka."

"I know," Vice Chairman Boka answered.

...You know?

What do you know? Do you know I've been killed? Or do you know that I've leaked your information?

York muttered internally.

But soon, Vice Chairman Boka caught on, "Your voice? You are...?"

"I'm York. I was attacked, killed once, and have become a Demon. It might take me half a day to recover," said Lawyer York, continuing with his deductions, "The one who attacked me is a powerful Demon, probably from the Noble Red Society. They have a close relationship with President Lohar, so they're trying to eliminate us."

On the other end of the phone, Vice Chairman Boka asked back, "A Demon possessed by a Shadow Demon?"

"How do you know?"

York was stunned, "Have you seen it?"

"No, not at all. Aiwass was attacked and went missing last night. That's why I got up so early... Although Aiwass has not yet inherited the Moriarty Family, his identity is almost the same. His disappearance after being attacked is a major incident that could stir the Round Table Hall."

"Didn't we send people to attack Aiwass last night?" York frowned deeply.

"Yes, and they're all dead. The specifics are still unclear; I'm trying to figure it all out... I suspect they might have been killed by the same Shadow Demon. Since you're saying he's the President's man... then I think I understand what's going on," replied Vice Chairman Boka calmly.

"The one who attacked you and the one who attacked Aiwass are the same people."

His voice was calm but with an undercurrent of barely concealed hatred and annoyance, "He's still planning to stop my plan! He recognizes Aiwass's status and talent, which is why he feels threatened by Aiwass. He doesn't want Aiwass to join my camp, so he's planning to kill him directly... even at the risk of exposing Lohar Society!"

"From the very beginning, he never intended to let us truly show our abilities and loyalty—he directly killed those I had sent out and took Aiwass captive. I think he might want to force 'Moriarty' to join their faction.

"In that case, we might have to be ready to completely destroy him. If a 'Moriarty' turns against us, the consequences would be unimaginable."

"I think it might be..."

It was probably someone from the Noble Red Society—Lawyer York was contemplating this when suddenly, shadowy blades pierced through his chest, shoulder, and the back of his head.

The phone in York's hand fell to the floor with a thud.

And he let out a sharp, piercing scream—this time his cry finally woke his servant.

"York? York!"

Voices came from the other side of the phone, but York's death was already confirmed, and everything was too late.

The very instant he subconsciously turned his head, the Shadow Hound had clamped onto his throat, then pinned him to the ground. A multitude of blades pierced through his body and then retracted.

It was as if dozens of daggers were stabbing out in quick succession, frequent piercing attacks making York's blood splatter, only to be enveloped in shadows. It was like he was spraying ink around.

Soon, he stopped moving.

His head was cleanly cut off by the Shadow Guillotine.

In his dying moments, Lawyer York faintly heard the door open, "Good thing I doubled back. You actually used such despicable means to escape..."

—What means did I use??

York had so much to say, but now he could no longer speak.

Filled with anger and hatred, as well as the sound of Snare Fiend laughing heartily, his consciousness gradually sank into the abyss.

He didn't even get the chance to transform into a demon—as a demon who had made a contract with another demon, his soul had long been sold to the Snare Fiend.

After his death, his soul was to be harvested by the other party.

[Killing a fourth energy level Transcendent, gained 130 free experience points.]

—The experience was quite substantial.

Aiwass silently smiled.

Besides, he never actually turned back... because Aiwass had never left in the first place.

He had always been quietly hiding in the shadows behind the living room sofa. As soon as York came to make a phone call, he would appear directly behind him.

Watching the experience points for killing York emerge, Aiwass then picked up the fallen telephone and directly handed the receiver to the Shadow Demon, which had turned into a hound and was tearing, dissolving York's corpse.

Here, the receiver's for you, please speak.

"Hello, Mr. Boka. This is Aleister. President Lohar sends his regards..."

The Shadow Demon lifted its head and very cooperatively made a deep, hoarse voice into the receiver, laughing ominously, "You'd better not be alone, I know where you are."

After it spoke, Aiwass hung up the phone. He then tore the wire off the receiver and threw it directly into the shadows.

"Well said," he whispered, "I reward you with a receiver."

"You should reward me with a syringe."

Complaining, the Shadow Demon quickly corroded and dissolved the corpse, the bloodstains, and the receiver: "You've fed the Defiant Flame Butterfly so much blood; it's about time to give me some too."

"Tomorrow and the day after's share are all yours; after all, you'll be the main force coming up." Aiwass said with a smile, "I have to give you some overtime pay."

"But, aren't you worried about turning into a Great Beast?"

"The Defiant Flame Butterfly has said it, her consciousness is merged with yours. That means, what you can see she can also see... so I'm not afraid. I'm only afraid of being sealed into Darkness," the Shadow Demon replied.

Aiwass was somewhat surprised: "Are you, a Shadow Demon, actually afraid of the dark?"

"...That's not it."

"Then you must be afraid of loneliness," Aiwass confidently stated.

"Perhaps."

The Shadow Demon neither agreed nor disagreed.

"Don't be scared," Aiwass said softly, "I will be with you."

"...Mr. York?"

The manservant, who had been awakened earlier, walked timidly into the pitch-dark living room.

Before turning on the light, it seemed as if he heard some chewing noises in the living room, along with ghostly whispering... but upon turning it on, he found the living room completely silent, with nobody around.

He switched on the light, searched carefully all over, even inside the closets.

He found that aside from a missing telephone receiver at some point, nothing else was surprisingly missing from the house.

"Strange... Was it a nightmare I had?"

The manservant shook his head and returned to his room to continue sleeping.

And just as he closed the door, Aiwass silently emerged right outside his room.

He was leaning against the wall, with the Shadow Demon coiling around him.

Lucky, he didn't turn on the lights here.

Aiwass smiled as he watched the manservant's bedroom door, whispering softly, "Goodnight, sir. Go back to sleep a bit longer; it's not even dawn yet."

"Young master, what shall we do next?"

Lily also emerged beside Aiwass.

"We wait," Aiwass replied, "Just quietly wait for the situation to ferment."

"However, I think we should find a place to sleep first. The bishop's place doesn't seem bad... It's perfect for meeting Sherlock and confirming that the plan is flawless. We must also report the good news of Lawyer York's death to him."