When the plot-skips players into the game world

Aiwass's first target was aimed at York, and there was a reason for that.

Actually, to make a big fuss, it would be best to kill Vice Chairman Boka. That was indeed the most advantageous scapegoating method... because there were truly quite a few who would want to kill an unscrupulous lawyer like York, but only President Lohar would want to kill Boka.

However, Aiwass was worried that this would actually help President Lohar directly take over Boka's faction.

Conflicts would indeed intensify— but as long as President Lohar had a ruthless and decisive heart, and directly took on the blame for the troubles from outside, Aiwass would instead become the clown. Because apart from helping the president clear obstacles, he wouldn't have achieved anything else.

After all, within the Lohar Society, only Vice Chairman Boka possessed the strength to contend with President Lohar, and the only person President Lohar feared was Vice Chairman Boka. It's just that Boka could never make up his mind to tear off the facade and confront him.

"Then I shall make that decision for you."

With a slight upward curl of his lips, Aiwass lifted his gaze toward his destination.

This was the York Law Firm in the metropolitan district.

According to Aiwass's investigation, Lawyer York was not currently living in Hermes Manor in the White Queen District.

Because Sherlock's brother Mycroft was a smart man, York was afraid of giving himself away. That's why he chose to live far from the Red-White Queen District... Conveniently, the metropolitan area was a business district with a high volume of people, and it was perfectly normal for him to reside there as a lawyer for a long time.

Lawyer York usually lived in an apartment he rented.

The apartment faced the law firm directly, allowing mutual surveillance and observation.

This was exactly where York's cunning came into play—he deliberately arranged rituals so that if someone sneaked in for investigation, theft, or ambush, an alarm would immediately sound from the other house.

His law firm housed his manservant, who dealt with paperwork and also protected the inside property of his office.

York's personal maid also settled in the apartment building, responsible for his food and accommodations, ensuring there were people on both sides always paying attention to the alarm.

His own wife and children lived in a villa in the White Queen District, where his butler also resided.

The proverb says a crafty rabbit has three burrows.

Because the alarm sounded from another house, it wouldn't alert the intruder here. And he couldn't possibly report to the Supervisory Bureau and let the Inspectors handle the theft case; he definitely dealt with it himself. After all, as a Parasitic Demon Bearer, he had great confidence in his own strength.

One reason was that the Inspectors would arrive too late to catch anyone on the scene, and most likely couldn't catch the thief or retrieve the stolen goods; another reason was that, if those Inspectors were to investigate the value of his stolen property, it would be easy for them to see some things York did not want them to see.

Moreover, if the information or items related to the Lohar Society or the Noble Red Society were lost, then he might as well be dead—not hanged, but killed by the assassin sent by Miss Grey Green.

On the flip side, it could also be seen as a tactic specifically designed to lure him out.

When Aiwass and Lily infiltrated, they deliberately triggered the alarms along the way as if not seeing those ceremonial lines at all, and headed straight for the archives.

He let Lily carry a lantern, pretending to search for information on the bookshelves. This angle, combined with the semi-transparent curtains York purposefully used, allowed York to see a blurred silhouette from the second floor of the apartment and determine it was a young female, but at the same time, he couldn't make out her face.

Generally speaking, being young meant being weak. This could further relax Lawyer York's vigilance.

As expected.

The hook had been set for less than ten minutes when Lawyer York came running over in a rage.

He quietly pushed open the door to the archives and took a deep breath.

But before he could get a clear look at Lily's face,

A hand suddenly struck from the side, grabbing hold of Lawyer York's throat!

In that instant, York was taken aback. He was immediately scared out of his wits—

It's a damn trap!

He realized in an instant that the female searching for information was just a decoy, meant to draw him out!

Luckily, it seemed the other party wanted to ask him some questions. They merely gripped his throat lightly, without breaking it or causing him to suffocate.

"Friend, friend... let go, let's talk this out politely,"

York pleaded with a trembling voice, "What do you want? Are you here to ask something? Or is it money? I can give it to you, but don't get agitated..."

While saying this, he spread his hands to indicate that he meant no harm.

But in a blind spot where the other party couldn't see, the back of York's hands suddenly opened several snake-like eyes.

That was the power of a minor Demon known as the "Gecko-eye Demon", a naturally occurring Demon. Their sole ability was to paralyze others with their gaze.

As a Parasitic Demon Bearer, York could also make use of this trait. As long as someone saw the back of his hands, they would become enervated.

"Snare Fiend," commanded York internally, "lend me your strength!"

The power stored within the Snare Fiend in his body was continuously drained.

Pink radiance slowly emerged in the depths of York's eyes, mixing with the synchronized purple halo—that was the Magic Eye able to control willpower and induce corruption in others with just one glance.

[If I were you, I'd simply give up on resisting.]

But unexpectedly, the Demon inside him only taunted.

...What?

A dark and cold voice resonated, "You're quite the easy catch, Mr. Yu."

Including the previous time, this was the second time York had been hooked by Aiwass.

Aiwass kindly added,

"—and also, such petty tricks are of no use against me."

As his words ended, the shadows at his feet began to spread.

The entire room was enveloped in shadows, completely absorbing the light source. York suddenly plunged into an abyss so dark that he couldn't see his own hand in front of his face.

His "Snare Gaze" ability required eye contact to function... but now he was completely engulfed in shadows and hadn't caught even a glimpse of his opponent's eyes throughout!

This was...

"...Shadow Demon?"

York's voice trembled slightly.

This couldn't possibly be a Shadow Demon contracted by the Demon Scholar— even in the Star Antimony Kingdom, the number of Demon Scholars who barely managed to contract a Shadow Demon could be counted on one hand. Such a significant figure wouldn't specifically trouble themselves to find him; if they wanted to interrogate him, a simple ritual would suffice to arrest his soul. Therefore, it could only be a Demon possessed by a Shadow Demon.

But he was a formal member of the Noble Red Society. He had never heard of any Demon in Avalon being possessed by a Shadow Demon... so this must be a wild Demon.

York himself had once been a Demon, and he understood the plight of a Demon well.

Before he had broken free from the Demon's control to become a Parasitic Demon Bearer, he too would occasionally lose control and have his body manipulated by a Demon. The more he used power from the Demon, the deeper the control the Demon had over him. And the more powerful the Demon was, the harder it was to resist.

That he had overcome a Snare Fiend was the result of both willpower and coincidence.

Being possessed by a Shadow Demon, it was virtually impossible that he had much of his own will left. In other words, the one conversing with him wasn't the Demon at all, but the Shadow Demon controlling his body!

As a profession allied with Demons, even though York's level was higher than his opponent, he couldn't overcome them.

This was simply because the Snare Fiend's combat power wasn't on the same level as a Shadow Demon...

"Although you've been shaking for a while, this time, it's for real."

The other commented, "That was a poor performance, Mr. Lawyer."

"What do you want from me! We both belong to the Transcenders, in Avalon we should be allies, shouldn't we!"

The power from the Snare Fiend surged again, and York's voice became provocative: "You haven't killed me immediately, so you must have something you want to do, right?

"I am also a high-ranking member of the Lohar Society. At the same time, I am part of the Noble Red Society... Are you looking to join? Or seek revenge? Perhaps you need money? I can manage any of those things for you.

"Sir, whatever you need me to do, you can tell me. We are all companions in suffering... I was once a Demon too!"

He dared not provoke the other by directly calling them a Shadow Demon—if at this moment it happened to be the human consciousness controlling the body, they might just get enraged and strangle him; and if he directly said "I have a way to help you suppress the Shadow Demon," he might be killed by the Shadow Demon.

His voice was subtly and imperceptibly altering the other's subconscious—this was the slightest modification of consciousness, only so as not to be detected by the other: "Regardless, we at least aren't enemies... are we?"

"I do have something to ask."

From within the shadows, the other agreed.

—Good, being able to communicate is a start!

"Just ask me anything; I can answer it all!"

York's face immediately lit up with joy, even beginning to imagine how Vice Chairman Boka's faction's power would grow after he introduced this powerful Transcender to The Association.

Even if he couldn't become a Parasitic Demon Bearer, as long as he could grow normally to the third Energy Level... that would essentially allow him to use fifty percent of the Shadow Demon's true strength.

That would become their trump card!

York always had a grand vision. Someone plotting against him, ambushing him—such trifles were inconsequential compared to interests. Losing face was nothing; just laugh it off— even if someone slapped him twice across his own face, he wouldn't get angry. At least not visibly on his face.

However, the question from the other left York in silence.

"Where does Vice Chairman Boka of the Lohar Society live? What's his real identity? Does his family wield any influence?"

The other spoke indifferently, "Does he have any particular skills?"

York's pupils contracted slightly, his mouth agape.

"...Who exactly are you?"

"Wrong answer."

A cold voice sounded.

A Shadow Needle, thinner than a little finger, emerged from behind him, suddenly bursting the Demon Eye on the back of his left hand!

It wasn't the pain of his hand being pierced, but the sensation of an eye being burst—

The agony made York instinctively want to cry out.

But the hand around his neck suddenly tightened, choking back his scream of pain.

"I'll tell you; I'll tell you—Vice Chairman Boka lives at 113 Green Vine Avenue in the White Queen District, he is a fourth-level Legal Mage, a fourth-level Demon Scholar. The demon contracted is an Ice Demon, his best skill is the Decree Spells from the Legal Mage branch... He's a judge at a mid-level court, currently a Knight eligible to enter the Round Table Hall... He's not from a Knight Family; his father is a dentist, his mother a wealthy merchant, his father having been her kept lover..."

Merely a single interrogation, and York divulged all the intelligence.

Because he had an acute sense of the times—he had quite the knack for reading people.

The person before him was clearly not someone he could fool.

Since he and the Vice Chairman had a grudge, let him find the Vice Chairman!

—What has it got to do with me!

"Thank you for your information."

The other responded amiably, releasing his hand from York's neck.

Lawyer York let out a sigh of relief, and his face plastered with a smile once more, "Ah, it's good to talk it out. We're all the same after all..."

"I believe you've told the truth. I am also very grateful that you could provide key information..."

The dark and sinister voice continued, "But my mentor has ordered, I'm sorry.

"Aiwass Moriarty is not qualified to enter the Lohar Society. That's your reason for dying."

As he finished speaking, a shadowy spear pierced through Lawyer York's heart.

For a Demon, such damage wasn't enough to kill him.

But Lawyer York still shut his eyes and stopped breathing immediately.