When the plot-skips players into the game world

Chapter 13: 6: Copy: Sin Nexus Pelican Bar

Early the next morning, Inspector Hayna went to Moriarty Manor with the authorization from the Supervisory Bureau.

Clearly, she had learned her lesson from yesterday.

After a quick breakfast, Hayna immediately hurried over, even arriving before seven o'clock.

At that time, Mr. Aiwass had not yet risen, so the butler Oswald could only settle her in the parlor and have the maids serve her some tea and pastries.

It wasn't until Aiwass had gotten up, washed, and finished breakfast that Oswald informed him that Inspector Hayna had been waiting in the parlor.

"...You've come so early, senpai. Wasn't the agreed time half past nine?"

Aiwass sat in his wheelchair, which Oswald slowly pushed into the parlor.

The moment he entered, he saw Hayna dressed in "formal attire."

Completely different from her attire the previous day, Hayna was now wrapped in a two-piece suit of leather armor.

However, this leather armor was closer to a uniform than protective gear. It didn't completely cover all skin, but even so, it could still provide some protective function. Yet, its meaning seems to be more ritualistic than practical.

"Armor" is sacred in the Kingdom of Avalon.

In the Kingdom of Avalon, the main power hierarchies are divided into "Knights" and the civil system of "Civil Servants". Aside from hereditary Knight Families who could enter the Senate, this also includes Inspectors, Arbiters, and the entire cavalry system. Only "Knights" are allowed to don armor, and lawmakers must be fully armored when entering the Senate; entering the Senate in ordinary clothes is seen as a provocation to the authority of the Round Table Hall.

Apart from knights, anyone who wears or even owns armor could be directly sentenced to the severe punishment of capital execution. Even for Knight Families, the children of the house head cannot wear their parents' armor without the Queen's authorization.

As she spoke, Hayna cheerfully tapped the sword she had placed on the table.

Aiwass followed her gaze.

It was a leaf-shaped shortsword with a scabbard gleaming with a silver sheen. About twenty-four inches long, or sixty centimeters, the scabbard was etched with beautiful thorn patterns, and nestled among them were red, green, and blue grains of glass, the size of sand particles, dazzling under the reflection of the sunlight from outside. It was evident at a glance that this was very typical Elven Style—whether functional or not was a different matter, but it sure was good-looking.

Because the sword's appearance was so striking, it didn't quite match the somewhat simplistic leather armor on Hayna. Instead, it blended seamlessly with the Elven Style ornaments in Aiwass's home.

It made Aiwass first think that it was one of his family's artistic pieces.

If it's something you brought, then it's fine.

"I will definitely protect you well!" Hayna said with utmost determination.

Her calloused fingers carefully brushed over the thorny pattern on the scabbard. Once she held the sword, a confident aura suddenly burst forth from her.

Different from the timid, clumsy, cautious demeanor of last night, her entire temperament changed. Even her eyes brightened up.

As an analogy, it was like the difference between a horror game player without a gun and one who has just obtained a firearm.

Aiwass watched Hayna's eyes deeply, falling silent and reflective.

He could tell that she obviously hadn't slept well last night—she was too excited to rest peacefully.

Of course, part of the excitement came from early contact with her own sword. But a bigger thrill, perhaps, lay in her belief that she could finally "show her mettle."