Pastor's Tantra

The weather on Sunday was very nice, with a timely drizzle starting in the early morning.

Avalon's climate is warm and humid. Although it is winter, it rarely snows.

The rain wasn't heavy, and even if I stood under the rain for half an hour, my clothes wouldn't get wet. But even so, there were still many black umbrellas at the funeral site.

With Shylock's current achievements, it is not enough to be stored in St. Guinevere's Chapel. Therefore, this is the family cemetery dedicated to the Hermes family, in the metropolitan area close to the Red and White Queen.

Even Aiwass rarely wore a black suit. His legs were covered with a thick black cloth with a finely woven white pattern, and he held a bouquet in his hands. Sitting upright and quietly with his head bowed, the upper half of his face was completely covered by the black umbrella and rain screen.

Lily, who came with Aiwass and held an umbrella for him, was wearing a black dress with few decorations. She bundled up her thick and dense long flaxen curly hair and hid it under a black big-brimmed hat.

The priest on the stage was not Bishop Mathers, but an old bishop whom Aiwass did not know.

His hair and beard looked fluffy and gray, and they were very thick.

The old bishop wore thick glasses on the stage, struggled to read the words on the chanting table in front of him, and read slowly. Those are Shylock's life achievements and scriptures written in advance.

As a dedicated priest, he can look so old, which shows that his age is already terrible. This also means that he is very senior and has a high status. Not something ordinary people can ask for.

But logically speaking, the Hermes family should invite Bishop Mathers. As a spiritual councilor, Bishop Mathers is also the supreme bishop of the Candlelight Cathedral and the top administrator of the Church of the Nine Pillars in Avalon. He is the highest-ranking clergyman that can be invited.

But he obviously declined. That's why it was the turn of this old man who was old enough to even feel like he was walking like a scumbag to preside over Sherlock's funeral.

——But Aiwass thought that the real reason why Bishop Mathers did not come was probably because he was afraid that he would not be able to hold himself tight.

If he couldn't help laughing when he looked at Sherlock's "corpse", something would probably happen. So he didn't dare to come.

At this moment, the huge coffin behind the old bishop was open, with a lifelike "Sherlock" lying inside. Three pillars stood next to it, with white flames burning quietly on them. Next to the "corpse" in the coffin, there was a small exquisite silver box inlaid with fine rubies and emeralds.

Of course, the one in the coffin is not Sherlock, but it is also not some illusion or puppet that Mycroft asked someone to make to look like the real one. It's just an ordinary wax figure.

After all, Sherlock was involved in the explosion and died, and the guests present should be able to imagine the tragic nature of his death. Therefore, the Hermes family decided to directly cremate Shylock and then ask someone to make a wax figure to use at the funeral to maintain the dignity of the deceased, which is also a very reasonable behavior.

However, it takes only one or two days to create a lifelike wax figure, which is definitely not possible for ordinary wax figures. Only a conservator of the Dusk Path can do this. Finding a preserver in Avalon is a difficult task, but it is not so for the Hermes family - now the only "minister" of the Hermes family, Sherlock Hermes' brother Mike Love Hermes, he is a preservationist.

Queen Sofia is sensible.

Sir Arthur was framed back then and lost his position as minister, and his reputation has not been fully restored to this day. But he was obviously an innocent person... Because of this, the Queen chose to use Arthur's children as compensation and open higher permissions to them. Just as Sherlock can walk on the path of wisdom, his brother Mycroft can also walk on the path of twilight.

In addition to being an arbitrator, Mycroft is also learning the survival skills of the twilight road.

Preservation is a very broad occult art. It is more of a concept than a technology.

Preservation techniques are required to make wax figures, models, specimens, to preserve corpses and food for a long time, or to preserve contracts, evidence, wills, deeds, documents, paintings and other items that are easily damaged over time. It even includes skills that can quickly stop bleeding from a wound, or allow people who are close to death to try to survive.

The ability to "ensure that the situation does not deteriorate further" is the extensive knowledge that a preservationist must master.

The wax figure that now replaces the body of Sherlock Hermes was made by Mycroft himself.

It is said that he was so shocked when he saw Sherlock's body that it left a deep impression on his mind.

Therefore, it is possible to create a wax figure that will take the place of the corpse and attend the funeral using only the remaining memories in the mind without referring directly to the person.

If the guests stood a little further away, they would not even be able to tell whether the person in the coffin was actually him or not - the body was very different from the state it was in when he was alive. What's more, it was the version with closed eyes and a pale face.

"...At this point, his spirit evaporates in the fire, and his soul returns to Si Zhu. He will drink Si Zhu's blood, and Si Zhu will bear his sins."

The old bishop's eulogy was coming to an end. He trembled and swayed as he read: "We worship the God whose holy number is three, the God who binds the body with sin thorns, and the God who burns the body to chase away the darkness - the Stag of the Candle, please protect his spirit. Just like you protect the tiniest candle and guard the faintest fire in this world."

After saying that, he stretched out his hand and tapped his crown slowly three times.

The old bishop chanted in a low voice: "May the candle burn brightly in front of his tomb."

"——May his candle burn brightly forever."

All the guests present bowed their heads, chanted in unison, stretched out their hands and tapped their chests three times.

At this point, the main process of the funeral is over.

After that, someone will be found to close the coffin and bury it in the soil. Then let the priest bless the land, and those who bring flowers can come and lay flowers. Those who came just to visit the funeral can now leave and walk around to talk freely.

Under the black umbrella, Aiwass noticed that not far away, Sherlock's mother finally couldn't help crying. His mother is also in a wheelchair. Unlike Aiwass, she now looks gaunt and thin-cheeked. The middle-aged man wearing black-rimmed glasses and neat black short hair was whispering comfort from the side.

——When this matter is over, you have to let your mother give you a good beating to vent your anger. Aiwass thought.

"Leave the flowers to me."

At this moment, a steady voice came: "You are not in good health either, Mr. Aiwass."

Aiwass raised his head, the black umbrella on his head tilted back slightly. Immediately afterwards, a palm as wide and fat as a seal's paw stretched out from under the umbrella and gently took away the bouquet in his arms.

"Mr. Mycroft."

Aiwass nodded slightly and greeted the visitor.

This man is Sherlock's most trusted relative, his eldest brother Mycroft Hermes.

Aiwass visually estimated that Sherlock was about 1.83 meters tall, only half an inch taller than himself. But Mycroft is close to 1.9 meters, not much different from Edward.

Mycroft is not only taller than Sherlock, he is even much stronger than him. The current only minister of the Hermes family is not just a big belly, but also visibly fat, and even his face is wider. Even the umbrella he held was bigger than the others.

Despite this, the fat Mr. Mycroft did not look ugly.

Aiwass could clearly see traces similar to Sherlock's on his face - even though the fat on his face was so plump, he could still see the traces of his deep facial features. Mycroft has the same black hair and wolf-like amber eyes. His eyes were bright and clear, and he seemed to be deep in thought.

He looked fat, but not bulky. His quiet steps when walking give people a feeling of lightness and precision; holding such a huge umbrella in one hand and keeping it motionless reflects his balanced and stable strength.

"I heard Sherlock mention you before."

Mycroft held a bouquet in his free hand and looked at Aiwass with deep meaning: "He trusts you very much."

"I am also proud and proud to have such a friend."

Aiwass said softly, with no obvious sadness on his face: "He is a smart and upright man. Loyal to the kingdom and loyal to the queen... But I never thought that in the end it was his wisdom that harmed me. .”

"I don't think so, Mr. Aiwass. I think wisdom is always right."

Mycroft said calmly: "Sherlock, as the victim, is completely clean and without any mistakes - the fault obviously lies with those hateful gangsters."

Although he also knew that Sherlock had faked his death, Mycroft did not act sad. He looked very calm, as if this was not his brother's funeral, but another person he had never met.

Based on Sherlock's high regard for him, Mycroft shouldn't have thought of such a thing. So that would have to be the other way around - Mycroft was always like that, out of step with everyone else.

"I prefer this to a despicable revenge rather than silence," Aiwass said.

"What do you think it comes from?" Mycroft asked.

"The Sweater Brotherhood."

Aiwass lowered his head and said softly: "To be precise, it was the alchemy bomb smuggling case involved in this matter. Sherlock, who was investigating the bomb, was killed by the bomb... I think this is a high-profile provocation. From In this regard, maybe this is just the beginning.”

"——Yes, it's not impossible."

At this moment, a steady voice sounded from beside the two of them.

Aiwass raised his head, and Lily also raised the umbrella higher, allowing him to see the person clearly.

This man looked to be at least in his fifties, with obvious wrinkles and nasolabial folds on his face. But even so, his hair has not turned gray yet. Her blond hair was oiled and neatly slicked back into a back, and it didn't look messy even on a rainy day. The person's pupils were not tan, which was more amber-colored, but light blue, which was close to light gray.

He did not hold an umbrella and looked so sad that he seemed a little haggard. Although he was wearing black clothes, Aiwass still recognized...this man was the lawyer in a white suit that he had seen at the award ceremony.

——Lloyd’s legal counsel, York Hermes!

"...Uncle York."

Mycroft glanced at Aiwass first, then turned around and hugged York deeply as if nothing had happened.

And York also looked sad. He hugged Mycroft, who could not be hugged at all, and patted his back hard: "Sorry, kid.

"Sherlock was a good boy. It's such a shame that he died like this."

Lawyer York sighed softly: "I still want him to join Lloyd's. If he can join Lloyd's, someone will be able to protect him... Those people will never dare to do anything to him."

At that moment, Lily suddenly raised her head slightly.

She caught a hint of murderous intent in Mycroft. But that breath was fleeting, as if it was just an illusion.

And the fat man still looked gentle, generous, and kind to others.

"Lloyd's?"

At this moment, Aiwass made a suspicious sound at the right time: "That's not from Lloyd's District..."

"——It's just an insurance organization in Lloyd's District. We are not a company. We only provide a place for conversation. We are a purely private business organization."

Following Aiwass's words, York Hermes stepped forward and spoke.

Aiwass showed a puzzled expression: "But I heard that Lloyd's is an organization that provides usury..."

"It's not usury. Our loan interest rates are completely within the scope of the kingdom's laws."

Attorney York replied.

As he spoke, he handed Aiwass a gorgeous business card made of gold paper: "Although you may have heard some rumors, I want to say that they are not true. They are just rumors spread by jealous people... I am Lao Jock Hermes, the legal counsel employed by the Society, is Sherlock's uncle. We met last week - I'm a friend of Gordon's, and I'm sitting next to him. That's the guy on your right... you still remember me?"

"I remember, Mr. York. I also heard Sherlock mention you."

Hearing this, Aiwass suddenly understood, and his eyes became a little more friendly and convincing.

"What did he say?" York paused and asked.

But Aiwass' eyes were pure and serious, without any distracting thoughts: "He said that you are a good person who is kind to others and makes many friends."

"Sigh...Thank you for his comment. It's really a pity. Sherlock is also a very outstanding young man..."

Lawyer York sighed. He was genuinely sorry.

In the middle of his words, he glanced at Mycroft beside him and hesitated to speak. It seemed like he had something to say, but it was inconvenient to say it at the funeral.

Aiwass pretended to realize something, and nodded to Mycroft: "Let's talk next time, Mycroft. Please convey my condolences to Sherlock for me.

"I have something I want to talk to Mr. York about. I still don't think there's something right about Sherlock being attacked."

"Yes, Sherlock left some words for Mr. Aiwass before his death. It's not convenient here." Lawyer York nodded and greeted Aiwass enthusiastically, "Aren't you very interested in Lloyd's?

"——It just so happens, then I'll take you to see it. Let's go to Lloyd's headquarters to talk."

After reading some of this chapter, I changed my stance and thought about it. It’s really not a good idea to ask for leave when opening a dungeon. It can kill someone.

But I'm also a little worried that my body won't be able to hold on when the time comes... This summer is so hot and muggy that I feel a little out of breath when I stay in an air-conditioned room every day.

But he just took one day off, and it would be awkward to take another day off, so Mao thought of a way to take two half-days off!

Forcibly speed up the work and rest cycle!

I slept until 5:30 yesterday afternoon, but got up at 1:30 this morning. If I stay up until 7 or 8 o'clock tonight and wake up early tomorrow morning, my schedule should be normal!

This is called turning from cathode to yang!

Today I’ll start with a single update, only a little over 4,000 words. But at least there are some updates to watch! There may be a single update tomorrow, and updates should be resumed the day after tomorrow——

Also, Can Guan held an event in the book review area to promote it~