When the plot-skips players into the game world-Chapter 1269 - 2: Man-Made Fear

Just in case, Aiwass still handed Sherlock’s letter to Mycroft.

Now that Avalon’s Grand Justice has retired due to old age, Mycroft, as the Minister of the Privy Council, has essentially become the powerful minister "under two people" in Avalon.

Mycroft is gradually adapting to his new job and no longer complains to Isabel about the busyness of work every day.

It’s not because he has adapted to the intensity of the work, but rather because he has found a group of trustworthy young people and gradually transferred critical powers to them.

In other words, Mycroft has now assembled his own team and established a new management system—the efficiency of its operation is at least much higher than during the Old Queen’s tenure. As a result, Mycroft is not as busy anymore.

He has returned to his "Barrel Club," quietly reading, studying, and tending to his own affairs with his fellow enthusiasts of the Path of Dusk. Here, no one is allowed to talk to others or inquire about or pay attention to what others are doing... even Mycroft, as the Minister of the Privy Council, is no exception.

Seeing the letter Sherlock sent to Aiwass, he was slightly taken aback, then suddenly looked up at Aiwass.

This man, who looked like a plump seal with a serene smile, a handlebar mustache, a round head, and who liked to pat his belly, jumped up from the sofa in an instant, hurriedly pulling Aiwass and rushing out.

As they left the club’s entrance, he spoke rapidly like a released mute: "Let’s skip the other words for now—I suppose you already know what kind of problem Sherlock has encountered, right? Otherwise, you wouldn’t have come to me at this time..."

"Indeed."

Aiwass nodded: "I think he is probably being held at the Duke of Vandome Mansion because the other party wants him to uncover the truth of a certain case... It’s obvious that it likely involves some significant matters related to the former Royal Family of the Iris Country or the current parliament."

Mycroft grabbed Aiwass’s arm, his short and stout legs moving quickly, muttering continuously with rapid and clear speech, speaking in somewhat complex sentences:

"You know, theoretically, Iris Flower is a ’joint-rule by four dukes’ territory—it was initially pieced together by the Iris Duke, Duke of Vandome, Duke of Bofu’er, and Duke of Hacourt. Later, the Iris Duke established the kingdom but even so, the other three dukes still retained the right to recruit soldiers and mint coins.

"And as everyone knows, Iris Flower’s ’Thirteen Uprisings’ are essentially a humorous series—now it’s fourteen uprisings—although those mobs beheaded the Iris Flower King, deprived the nobles of their lands and titles during the Third Uprising, also known as the ’Third Rebellion’, and looted some estates and personal wealth of minor nobles from other regions... However, the legacy, lineage, power, and wealth of the Three Dukes remained untouched.

"According to the Inspectorate Intelligence Bureau’s investigation results, this uprising was actually controlled by the Three Dukes behind the scenes, so they did not conduct a serious suppression—the ’hot-blooded young Louisov’, who first rushed into the Royal Palace, captured the entire family of the Iris Flower King, and forced them all onto the guillotine on the same day, disappeared without a trace after the new citizen assembly was established.

"Now, there are no nobles on the surface in Iris Flower—although the previous noble families managed to escape destruction during the ’Fourteenth Uprising’, they cannot publicly proclaim themselves as ’a certain Viscount’, ’a certain Earl’. Only the Three Dukes are exceptions. Because they have their own armies... even the parliament controlled by the Son of the Moon does not dare to conflict with them. From this perspective, Iris Flower has essentially become a new country jointly governed by the Three Dukes...

"The Three Dukes each have their own fully independent and fully staffed Transcendent armies that are not directed by the state; they have their own territories and can establish new laws on their territories as per their requirements. Though symbolic citizen assemblies are established in these territories, the assembly members are basically appointed by the lords. It can be said that this is essentially a country within a country in Iris Flower.

"If there is a possibility that Sherlock’s investigation has encountered any danger or touched any taboo, it could only come from here—Duke of Vandome was a staunch royalist, so their involvement in the ’Third Rebellion’ is the least likely. Their private investigation indicates a high probability of pressure coming from the other two... because even if the parliament itself is against Sherlock, the Duke of Vandome can protect him..."

Mycroft spoke rapidly while running, continuously revealing secret intelligence to Aiwass, some known and some unknown to him.

Though he had never been to Iris Flower, he was well-versed in its complex political situation—he even knew the extent of Aiwass’s understanding. These insights were gained from his usual observations of the conversations, chats, and opinion sharing on decrees between Aiwass and Isabel.

"...But if that’s the case," Aiwass asked quietly, "there seems to be no need for kidnapping or silencing."

"Therefore, I believe there must be an even bigger secret hidden within. Even the annihilation of the Iris Flower lineage is likely related to it, perhaps only a surface appearance rather than the true purpose..."

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