In the game, when searching Veronica's corpse, one can obtain [A letter sent to the Noble Red Society by someone].
This is a guaranteed early-game main quest item, used directly to unlock the next stage of the main quest.
And this "someone" is the agent of "a certain Minister" who was later involved in the incident.
Aiwass couldn't recall exactly who this person was, nor which Minister it was... but knowing a general range was enough.
It was like a teacher outlining the scope of an exam before a final test.
Excluding those Aiwass had no impression of, and those he knew for certain could not be it, there were only three possibilities left:
The Minister of Finance, the Law Minister, and the Minister of Trade.
Their common traits were that all three were high-ranking, over fifty, usually amiable and well-liked, and when wearing casual clothes, they were middle-aged fat men who couldn't see their shoes when looking down this was Aiwass's impression of that "certain Minister."
It was a classic three-way choice.
One of them was bribed by a spy sent by the Stibium Kingdom, regularly and secretly transmitting top-secret high-level intelligence to the Stibium Kingdom. The other two were innocent.
The medium they used to transmit intelligence was the "Noble Red Society."
The Stibium Kingdom, behind the Noble Red Society, intended to overthrow the Avalon Kingdom this was the main storyline up until version 0.
This Minister was the mole connecting the Stibium Kingdom with Avalon.
He was a genuine traitor.
Letters exchanged with him were naturally top-secret. Such important items would certainly not leave his person.
After all, there were many thieves in Avalon, and if such an item were silently stolen and made public, they wouldn't have enough lives to die.
If this letter fell into the Surveillance Bureau's hands, it might not be effective. If he had a mole in the Surveillance Bureau, it might just be cleared away.
But with Aiwass obtaining it, the situation was different.
He could follow this letter to track down that "someone." Then he would know which of the classic three choices was the traitor.
"...My Master."
A deep, rumbling, hoarse voice, like a lion just waking up, sounded in Aiwass's ear.
That was the Phantom Demon beneath Aiwass.
A slender, black snake, purely made of shadow, about the thickness of a young girl's arm, crawled up Aiwass's left leg, waist, and chest, all the way to his throat.
The shadow snake's eyes glowed crimson, hissing and flicking out a smoky black tongue.
And so, the lion-like voice turned into a snake-like, raspy voice:
"What... are you doing?"
"As you can see, destroying my own criminal evidence."
Aiwass showed no fear, not even lowering his head to look at the black snake coiled around his neck.
He simply focused on retrieving evidence from Veronica, while casually replying, "And searching for others' criminal evidence."
When communicating with these Demons, one must never appear tired or afraid.
Because the more you fear and dread them, the more Demons will look down on you.
So-called "Demons" are not otherworldly creatures from the abyss as in other fantasy settings, but a type of Phantom Demon.
More precisely, only Phantom Demons from the Way of Transcendence are called Demons. But after the term became generalized, Phantom Demons from other Paths that commit evil, dark-attributed Phantom Demons, and Phantom Demons that resemble Demons are all generically referred to as Demons.
Phantom Demons are special life forms that lack a material body, have no lifespan, do not truly die, belong to only one Path, possess self-awareness, and have the potential to gradually grow stronger. Most of them are born by drawing power from different Paths, though a small number are transformed from living beings.
Aiwass's sister, Yulia, is in very poor health, specifically in a state of almost perpetual fever this is because she harbors the seed of a Phantom Demon within her. From this perspective, she can be considered a sacrifice for the birth of a Phantom Demon.
And a Demon Scholar who has advanced incorrectly can also transform themselves into a Demon through a complex ritual. That is to say, the person directly becomes a Phantom Demon.
These are the two main ways to transform into a Phantom Demon.
Because orthodox Demons all come from the Way of Transcendence, they all possess the pure characteristic of "intending to transcend the strong and despising the weak." That is, they have a highly ambitious personality, with strength and initiative.
And a Demon that has signed a contract can gain experience in practicing the Path when its master walks the Way of Transcendence. They cannot do this on their own.
This is because native Demons lack their own desires they are missing a goal to transcend.
As long as one has a promising future, clear goals, and strength... that is, proving their determination and ability to walk the "Way of Transcendence," a Demon will not betray its master for the time being.
If a Demon recognizes its temporary master, even if the master falls into a desperate situation, they will not flee, and will even fight for them until the last moment. Because Demons do not dissipate when their master dies, they are not afraid of death. If the master can survive a fatal outcome, such a strong destiny of transcending adversity will greatly satisfy the Demon.
Therefore, if a Demon feels you are not pure enough, lack ability, and have no hopeful future, unable to provide it with enough sustenance through an act of insubordination, it will plot how to leave you.
It doesn't sound like much, rather quite normal it's just changing companies if you think your boss isn't good enough.
But once a contract is signed, as long as the Demon Scholar doesn't die, the Demon cannot leave his body. So, if a Demon becomes dissatisfied with the master it contracted with, it will find ways to kill him. Demons cannot harm their own masters, but there are many ways to cause someone's death.
Many Demon Scholars only summon Demons that are slightly stronger than themselves. This is because they are too wary of Demons, fearing they cannot satisfy the Demon's appetite.
However, Aiwass was not afraid at all.
Because, in Aiwass's view, these Demons were like very ambitious employees.
He found them very relatable.
Some capable and ambitious ones will seek out large companies, meaning they apply to high-level Demon Scholars; but there are also some Demons who prefer to respond to lower-level Demon Scholars, those are like employees who like to join startup companies.
Some lack sufficient ability and are not wanted by large companies, these are lower-ranking Demons and lesser Demons; some want to start their own company but lack capital, so they invest their skills in a startup, intending to usurp power one day, these are high-level Demons who intentionally respond to the summoning of low-level Demon Scholars, coming because they believe the summoner cannot control them; and then there are some who are simply tricked into it they applied to a large company but were assigned to a subsidiary with lots of work and little pay.
This is like being summoned by a high-level Demon Scholar, then controlled and handed over to a lower-level Demon Scholar for a contract. In the Stibium Kingdom, where the Way of Transcendence is legal, their mentors catch Demons for students in this manner.
Aiwass's Phantom Demon is also of this type.
Of course, the Phantom Demon's situation is even more complex because Aiwass himself was the sacrifice used to trick it over.
It's like a salary card coming to life and becoming the boss.
Later, when Aiwass creates a blank card capable of fully containing it, he will be able to completely seal the Phantom Demon into his Great Beast. At that point, it will no longer be a Demon, and thus impossible to betray him.
But for now, Aiwass still needs to specifically demonstrate his abilities.
...There's no help for it, it's a labor market now.
He still has to put on a bit of a show.
Once the lifelong contract is signed later, there will be no fear of the Phantom Demon devouring its master.
Although the Phantom Demon was sealed by Aiwass using a wheelchair, it always stayed in Aiwass's shadow. It must have seen everything that happened before.
This was also another purpose of Aiwass's trip to stabilize this tricked applicant by showcasing his planning ability, scheming level, and lying skills along the way. To provide the Phantom Demon with enough spiritual sustenance to earn its approval.
"Now, what do you think of me?"
Aiwass casually retorted.
Upon hearing this, the black snake on his neck melted and dripped away, transforming into a pure black hound.
It affectionately rubbed against Aiwass's calf, emitting a low growl.
"Perfect, delicious, excellent..."
Clearly, the Phantom Demon was very satisfied.
The black dog opened its mouth and spoke, enunciating each word with intonation: "I eagerly anticipate your future... our future."
"Since that's the case."
Aiwass casually discarded the letter belonging to him: "Then destroy it and let's leave."
"Heh heh heh..."
The Phantom Demon chuckled deeply.
After several seconds, it responded:
"Your will... Master."
"I look forward to you waking me up next time..."
"Then I hope to gnaw on real flesh and blood."
The black dog leaped, snatched the letter, and upon landing, merged into the muddy shadow, disappearing along with it.
The letter was directly melted into nothingness by it. Like a plastic bag heated by fire, it blackened, shriveled, wrinkled, shrank, and vanished without a trace.
Undoubtedly, if it had bitten a living creature, it would have been dragged directly into the shadow and melted.
This was certainly not something Aiwass's mere level one "Shadow Ability" could achieve. It was the result of the Phantom Demon acting personally.
And this was precisely the Phantom Demon showing off its "hunting" ability to its master.