Chapter 8 Hayna Wants to Hear a Secret

Mr. Aiwass sat securely in his wheelchair, gently pushed along by Inspector Hayna from behind.

The sensation was very comfortable—especially considering that Mr. Aiwass actually had no problems with his legs, it suddenly felt even better.

He even closed his eyes, luxuriating in the early winter sun, drowsy and close to falling asleep.

For a moment, he had the illusion that he had aged into retirement, taken out for a walk and sunbathing by his own daughter.

Wrapped in a black cloak, Mr. Aiwass only revealed half his chin, quietly observing his surroundings.

Therefore, Mr. Aiwass clearly observed an interesting phenomenon: the pedestrians walking near Moriarty Manor, upon seeing Inspector Hayna in her inspector's attire, felt no fear at all.

They merely glanced her way and continued on as usual.

But as they left the White Queen District and gradually entered the Lohar District toward the southeast… the situation began to change.

The looks pedestrians gave Inspector Hayna turned increasingly fearful. They would deliberately avoid her path well in advance, and some would even stop and step aside over ten meters away, cautiously making way for Inspector Hayna.

When Inspector Hayna entered a fresh market, a terrifying solemnity rapidly spread among the crowd with her at the center. Once residents realized that an inspector was pushing some important figure through, the somewhat crowded tide of people automatically parted to either side.

It was a miracle akin to Moses parting the sea—although the crowd was noisy and packed shoulder to shoulder, the wheelchair beneath Mr. Aiwass never once stopped moving. No one dared to block his path or strike up a conversation, not even daring to speak loudly, lest they disturb the mysterious figure wrapped so snugly.

Even the residents previously engaged in shopping stopped their transactional chatter. They looked on with curiosity and a bit of fear as Mr. Aiwass slowly passed through the crowd, watching him… until they left the market.

"Do you see, Hayna?"

After that, Mr. Aiwass closed his eyes, his body relaxed slightly as he leaned back, speaking softly, "People are very afraid of you."

"I don't understand why."

Hayna did not attempt to conceal her voice, and her words did not waver in the slightest: "People without guilt have no reason to fear us.

"Everyone knows that in Avalon, 'rules' are essential—it's not a secret but common knowledge known by all. As such, one must not break the rules or violate the law. I don't understand what they are afraid of."

As she said this, she stood tall and straight. Her eyes blazed like fire.

Mr. Aiwass was somewhat surprised.

"I thought you would sympathize with them," Mr. Aiwass said.

"Why should I?"

Hayna countered: "Did I do something wrong? Or is it just because I come from a poor background?"

…In matters of her background, she seemed a bit too sensitive.

Mr. Aiwass realized that Hayna didn't wish to discuss this subject. Yet even so, she didn't end this unpleasant topic.

"Yes, my family is poor. But my parents told me since I was a child to be an upright person—abide by the law, loyal to the Queen, honest to my mentors. Though I have no money, I have never committed even a petty theft."

Hayna's voice was filled with strong confidence as she spoke: "I will not require others to be like me, because not everyone believes in the way of Authority. But I will do my utmost to bind my own actions—not because I am forced, but because I willingly do so.

"Nowadays, I devote myself to obeying my superiors, carrying out every order within the rules they give; but should the day come when I rank above him, then he must also obey me in the same manner.

"This is the way of 'Authority.' The rules of Avalon."

Mr. Aiwass understood.

This was the anchor that allowed Hayna to maintain her self-respect and confidence at the Royal Law University.

The reason she was able to step onto the path of 'Authority' so early was that she had come to understand the essence of the way of Authority. One could even say that from a very young age, she had been intentionally or unintentionally nurtured and guided onto this path by her parents.

She was born for this.

For in this world, the extraordinary professions are, in a sense, a projection of "thought," "philosophy," and "personality." They are the traces of power seeping from the nine grand Paths.

Even those high and immortal gods are merely the forerunners of these "Paths."

To step into the nine grand Paths requires one to thoroughly understand and commit to walking that path. One who does not understand, or does not agree with, 'what is Dedication,' cannot step onto the Path of Dedication; one who does not know what is art, what is beauty, cannot walk the Path of Beauty.

Though the Kingdom of Avalon emphasizes "rules" and upholds "law," they are not actually pursuing legal principles for "fairness" and "justice."

The law is just a tool of the Path of Authority. And now the still naïve Hayna, has instinctively grasped this most crucial core idea, without deviating from it.

"It's not easy, senior,"

A thought crossed Mr. Aiwass's mind, his lips curling into a slight smile as he emitted a gentle voice: "I hadn't expected you to have such ambition."

"…What ambition?"

Hayna hadn't even realized what she had inadvertently said just a moment ago.

"To become the boss of your boss, or even climb higher..."

Mr. Aiwass said leisurely, "That's not a concept of the Path of Authority."

"—I didn't expect you to be a follower of the Path of Transcendence as well."

Upon hearing this, Hayna was suddenly startled, even pausing for a moment while pushing the wheelchair.

"What, what?"

"How come, you haven't realized it yourself?"

Mr. Aiwass countered.

His fingers interlocked beneath his overcoat, he whispered seductively, "But it's actually quite normal.

"Senior, I don't know what you learned at the university. However, everyone is mortal. No one can remain unswayed from their Path... for instance, the Path of Love, the Path of Wisdom, the Path of Dedication.

"Won't you fall for someone? Savage, beastly impulses, the urge to procreate... that is the influence of the Path of Love. Every teenager is affected by it.

"Similarly, the hallmark of the Path of Wisdom is utilitarian thinking, or the pursuit of truth; and if you decide to sacrifice your life for others, then you've stepped into the Path of Dedication, under the watch of the Candle Master. The nine Pathways are the inevitable modes of thinking for humanity, and each person will lean towards one, their actions more or less aligning with it.

"Besides zealots, how many can stay completely true to their Path?

"—If that is the case, then what is so frightening about deviating from your Path?"

Mr. Aiwass's voice was low yet clear in Hayna's ear: "Have you thought about this issue, Senior? Why does Avalon follow the Path of Authority?"

She only felt itchy in her ears, and her back followed suit. Blood rushed to her head, and even the lobes of her ears grew hot.

It wasn't embarrassment but excitement and fear.

"Please, a little quieter, Mr. Aiwass—"

She lowered her voice, speaking softly.

She was too afraid of being overheard discussing such heretical ideas... but from another perspective, she was somewhat curious.

Something inside her itched to hear more.

These were things no one would discuss with her at home or at school... even if they had, she wouldn't have deigned to listen. But now, already feeling a sense of agreement as if she had thought this way all along.

Under this conflicted mindset, she had even started referring to Aiwass, who was four years her junior, with a respectful title like "Mr."

That's why she subconsciously said "please, a little quieter" instead of "please, do not speak anymore."

But at that moment, Mr. Aiwass instead closed his mouth with a smile, as if he was a villain hum-humming with suppressed laughter.

Listening to the soft laughter of Mr. Aiwass in the wheelchair, Hayna felt her ears, neck, and back stop itching—now her teeth began to itch with irritation.

Why did you stop halfway through? So why after all!?

But Hayna didn't dare admit she wanted to listen—there was no doubt that would be disloyal.

—Can't you just keep speaking on your own?

I'm just trying to persuade you a bit, if it doesn't work, then I won't insist, okay?!

"When the time is right," Mr. Aiwass said, "I'll tell you."

"So when is the right time—"

"It's simple."

Mr. Aiwass replied: "After we've resolved this matter, after we've reunited from the university... I'll find a quiet place to continue telling you.

"You understand, right? This kind of secret shouldn't be discussed in public."

"—Alright!"

Hayna said confidently, "You don't have to tell me, I will help you catch the criminal.

"At that time, I want to hear the rest of the story you haven't finished!"

Somehow, she no longer cared whether she had deviated from the Path of Authority.

Maybe she had always known in her heart she was off the Path, it was just now that she was willing to admit it to herself.

And yet, she hadn't realized something—

That was, without being aware of it, her reason for wanting to arrest the criminal had shifted from "orders from the Supervisory Bureau" to "helping Mr. Aiwass catch the criminal." But she remained completely oblivious.