Aiwass sat steadily in his wheelchair, gently pushed from behind by Haina.
This feeling was very comfortable especially since Aiwass actually had no problems with his legs, which made it feel even better.
He even closed his eyes, leisurely basking in the early winter sun, feeling drowsy.
For a moment, he had the illusion that he had grown old and retired, being pulled out for a walk in the sun by his daughter.
Wrapped in a black cloak, Aiwass only showed half of his chin, quietly observing his surroundings.
Thus, Aiwass clearly observed an interesting phenomenon: the passersby walking near Moriarty Manor showed no fear when they saw Haina, dressed as an Inspector.
They merely glanced at her and continued on their way.
But as they left White Queen District and gradually moved southeast into Lloyd District… the situation began to change.
The passersby's gazes towards Haiyina Inspector gradually became fearful. They would deliberately avoid Haina's Path in advance, and some would even stop and move aside more than ten meters away, carefully making way for Haina.
When Haina entered a fresh market, a terrifying solemnity quickly spread through the crowd, centered around her. When the residents realized that an Inspector was pushing some important figure in, the somewhat crowded populace automatically dispersed to both sides.
It was a miracle like Moses parting the Red Sea even though the crowd was noisy and shoulder-to-shoulder, the wheelchair beneath Aiwass never stopped moving. No one dared to block his way, no one came to speak to him, and they didn't even dare to speak loudly, fearing to disturb the mysterious, heavily cloaked person.
Even the residents who were previously shopping stopped their transactions. They watched with curiosity and some fear as Aiwass slowly passed through the crowd, seeing him off… until they left the market.
"Did you see that, Haina?"
Only then did Aiwass close his eyes, relax his body slightly, and lean back, speaking softly: "People are very afraid of you."
"I don't understand why."
Haina made no attempt to hide her voice, and there was no wavering in her words: "Those who haven't committed crimes have no reason to fear us."
"Everyone knows that 'rules' are very important in Avalon this is no secret, but common knowledge. Since that's the case, they just need to not violate the rules and not break the law. I don't know what they are afraid of."
As she said this, she straightened her chest and raised her head. Her gaze was burning like fire.
Aiwass was somewhat surprised.
"I thought you would sympathize with them," Aiwass said.
"Why?"
Haina retorted, "Did I do something wrong? Or is it just because of my humble background?"
…She seemed a bit too sensitive about her background.
Aiwass realized that Haina seemed to not want to discuss this topic. But even so, she did not end the unpleasant conversation.
"Yes, my family is poor. But my parents always told me from a young age to be an upright person to follow the law, be loyal to the Queen, and be sincere to my teachers. Although I have no money, I have never done even a single small wrong thing like petty theft."
At this point, Haina's voice was filled with a strong sense of confidence: "I won't ask others to be like me, because not everyone agrees with The Path of Authority. But I will restrain my own behavior as much as possible not because I am forced, but because I am willing to do so."
"Now, I wholeheartedly obey my superior, executing every command he gives within the rules; but if one day I am higher than him, then he must likewise obey me."
"This is The Path of Authority. The rules of Avalon."
Aiwass understood.
This was Haina's anchor for maintaining her self-esteem and confidence at Royal Law University.
The reason she was able to enter The Path of Authority so early was precisely because she had understood the essence of The Path of Authority early on. It could even be said that from a very young age, she had been intentionally or unintentionally guided onto this Path by her parents.
She was born for this.
Because the extraordinary professions in this world are, in a sense, projections of "thought," "ideals," and "personality." They are fragments of power seeping from the nine great paths.
Even those lofty, immortal gods are merely pioneers of these "Paths."
To enter the nine great paths, one must fully understand and resolve to follow that Path. A person who does not understand or agree with "What is Dedication" cannot enter the Path of Dedication; a person who does not understand what art is, or what beauty is, cannot enter the Path of Beauty.
Although Avalon Kingdom emphasizes "rules" and upholds "laws," they are not actually following The Path of Law for "fairness" and "justice."
Law is merely a tool of The Path of Authority. And the still-naive Haina instinctively understood this most important core idea and did not stray.
"Not easy, senior sister,"
Aiwass's heart stirred, and the corners of his mouth curved slightly upwards as he spoke in a gentle voice: "I didn't expect you to have such ambition?"
"…What ambition?"
Haina didn't even realize what she had inadvertently said.
"Becoming your superior's superior, and even climbing higher…"
Aiwass slowly said: "This is not an ideal belonging to The Path of Authority."
"I didn't expect you to be a follower of Way of Transcendence as well."
Upon hearing this, Haina was suddenly startled. Even the hand pushing the wheelchair paused for a moment.
"…Wh-what?"
"What, you didn't even realize it yourself?"
Aiwass countered.
His fingers intertwined beneath his trench coat, and he whispered seductively: "But actually, this is quite normal."
"Senior sister, I don't know how you learned in school. But everyone is mortal. No one can avoid deviating from their Path… for example, the Path of Love, the Path of Wisdom, or the Path of Dedication."
"Don't you ever fall in love with someone? Savagery, bestiality, the urge to procreate… this is precisely influenced by the Path of Love. Every teenager will be influenced by the Path of Love."
"Similarly, the Path of Wisdom is characterized by utilitarian thinking, or the pursuit of truth; and if you decide to sacrifice your life for others, then you have already entered the Path of Dedication and are being watched by Si Zhu. The nine great paths are inherently the nine unavoidable modes of human thinking; everyone will always have their own leanings, and when doing anything, they will more or less conform to one of them."
"Aside from fanatics, how many people can truly never deviate from their Path?"
"If that's the case, then what's so scary about deviating from one's Path?"
Aiwass's voice was low, yet it clearly echoed in Haina's ears: "Have you thought about this question, senior sister? Why does Avalon follow The Path of Authority?"
She only felt an itch in her ears, and her back also began to itch. Hot blood rushed through her, even her earlobes felt warm.
That was not shyness, but excitement and fear.
"Please speak quieter, Mr. Aiwass"
She lowered her voice and whispered.
She was too afraid of being overheard speaking such heresy… but from another perspective, she was also somewhat curious.
Her heart felt a little itchy, wanting to hear more.
This was something no one would tell her at home or at school… and even if they did, she would disdain to listen. But now that she heard it, she felt a sense of recognition, like "I've thought this way for a long time."
Under this contradictory psychology, she even used the respectful address "Mr." for Aiwass, who was four years younger than her.
Therefore, she subconsciously said, "Please speak quieter," instead of "Please don't say any more."
But just then, Aiwass instead smiled and closed his mouth, chuckling lowly like a villain.
Listening to Aiwass's soft chuckle from the wheelchair, Haina suddenly felt that the itching in her ears, neck, and back was gonenow her teeth began to itch with frustration.
Why did you stop halfway?! So why, exactly!?
But Haina didn't dare admit she wanted to hear it that would undoubtedly be an act of disloyalty.
Can't you just keep talking on your own?
I'll just try to dissuade you a little, and if I can't, then I won't try anymore, right?!
"When the time is right," Aiwass said, "I will tell you."
"So, when will the time be right"
"It's simple,"
Aiwass replied: "After we resolve this matter, after we meet again at school… I'll find a quiet place to tell you."
"You understand, don't you? Such a secret isn't suitable for discussing on the street."
"Alright!"
Haina said confidently: "You don't need to tell me, I will help you apprehend the culprit and bring them to justice."
"Then I want to hear the part of the story you didn't finish!"
Unbeknownst to her, she no longer cared if she had deviated from The Path of Authority.
Perhaps she had long known in her heart that she had strayed from her Path, but only now was she willing to tacitly accept it.
Moreover, she hadn't realized one thing
That is, unconsciously, the reason she wanted to arrest the criminal… had changed from "the Surveillance Bureau's order" to "helping Aiwass arrest the criminal." Yet, she was completely unaware.