“Clang——!”
As the crimson radiance bloomed from Sherlock’s body, Fang Li’s ice-blue Mystic Eyes, which were mere inches away, were also tainted with a vivid shade of red.
“What is this?”
Fang Li was suddenly taken aback.
Because from that crimson radiance, he sensed an unprecedentedly dreadful power.
That power was unquestionably the strongest Rank Fang Li had encountered thus far.
No matter who he compared it to, it couldn’t be matched.
This stirred an unsettling premonition within Fang Li.
And true to his intuition, Fang Li’s premonition was accurate.
“Phew——!”
Just as Fang Li’s blindingly fast strike cleaved through the air, Sherlock’s figure disappeared without any warning.
“Sizzle——!”
The extremely fast attack landed in empty space, cleaving the air and leaving behind a dazzling blade mark.
However, Fang Li couldn’t help but exclaim in disbelief.
“Gone?”
Indeed.
Gone.
Sherlock had vanished right before Fang Li’s eyes.
Not due to excessive speed or an optical illusion; he simply vanished abruptly.
It was only after a brief interval that Sherlock’s voice slowly came through.
“This is called Teleportation. I assume there’s no need for me to explain what kind of power that is?”
With these words, Fang Li suddenly noticed.
In the space before him, Sherlock’s silhouette was gradually forming as if composed of particles of light.
“You…” Fang Li’s ice-blue Mystic Eyes began to shift unpredictably.
Sherlock, did he actually possess the Teleportation Super Power as well?
In other words, had Sherlock been throwing the game during their recent exchanges?
“No, no, no.” Sherlock shook his head as if once again reading Fang Li’s thoughts and explained, “You’ve got two points wrong, Fang Li-San.”
“First: The Super Power I just used is indeed Teleportation, but it can only be used once a day. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have gone through the trouble of defending against your attacks and trying to figure out how to avoid your inexplicable Ability. So, this doesn’t count as throwing the game.”
“Second: This Super Power doesn’t belong to me; it’s not something I learned from someone else’s body. I acquired it through something else.”
With this, Sherlock extended a hand toward Fang Li.
On that hand lay a bullet.
The bullet appeared entirely crimson and it was as if flames were burning within it.
“I call this bullet ‘Hidan,'” Sherlock told Fang Li. “It’s made from a metal known as ‘HihiHihiirokane.’ This metal has the ability to bestow the holder with an incredibly powerful Super Power— a fantasy-like power.”
Fang Li recognized this name.
Because there was a legend in Japan about a dream-like metal— a material like a Perpetual Motion Machine, a crystallization of human fantasy.
Little did he know that this thing actually existed.
And what’s more, it can bestow Super Powers upon people.
“To be honest, compared to the Super Powers granted by Hihiirokane, the Super Powers that humans possess seem like child’s play. The difference is like a nuclear bomb compared to a bullet. Just like this Hidan in my hand, if I can completely control the Super Power it grants, it wouldn’t be a difficult feat to ignite a global war.”
Sherlock remarked, “I’m able to command the entire I-U thanks to its overwhelming power. Moreover, I’ve been able to survive until now because Hihiirokane’s power can extend my lifespan.”
Incredible.
Fang Li had assumed that Sherlock’s extended lifespan was achieved by copying genes, possibly through introducing the genes of a long-lived species like Vlad into his own body.
“However, it’s a pity that using Hidan to prolong my life will only work until today. Based on my deductions, my lifespan will run out soon, regardless of what I do,” Sherlock regretfully spoke, “Honestly, I didn’t wish to die so soon. Hidan is a substance that surpasses our world, and many mysteries about it remain unsolved. Back when Her Majesty the Queen commissioned me to study Hihiirokane, I hadn’t yet unraveled all the secrets of this metal. This brings my ‘Study in Scarlet’ to an end, and it’s truly regrettable.”
For this famous detective with the most brilliant mind, failing to unravel all of Hihiirokane’s secrets seemed genuinely regrettable.
And now, Fang Li finally understood.
He understood why he had felt a sense of abruptness and discord when he thought all the mysteries were solved.
The answer was right here with Sherlock.
“This recent incident, whether it’s Ignatis, Daio, or even the Tohyama family, each has their own goals.”
Ignatis sought to seize the leadership position, using I-U’s power to conquer the world.
Daio aimed to select an exceptional leader to ensure the continuation of I-U’s ideals.
Tohyama Kinichi and Tohyama Kinji wished to dismantle I-U, eliminating the criminal organization.
Even Fang Li and Aria had their own motives for infiltrating I-U and coming here.
There was only one person who hadn’t revealed their purpose throughout.
That person was Sherlock.
No.
Sherlock’s purpose was quite clear: he intended for Aria to become his successor.
But this successor was not intended to inherit I-U.
“You…” Fang Li looked at Sherlock with great surprise and said a line.
“Do you want Aria to inherit your mission and complete your research on Hihiirokane?”
“You guessed right.” Sherlock smiled suddenly, making such a declaration.
“I want Hidan to become Aria’s possession, allowing her to inherit my will and continue my ‘Study in Scarlet.'”
“Therefore, from today on, Aria will no longer be ‘Aria of the Twin Blades and Twin Guns.’ She will be ‘Hiden No Aria.'”
With that, Sherlock raised his head, looking towards the entrance, and said, “According to my deductions, Aria should be arriving soon.”
Just as Sherlock finished speaking, Fang Li immediately sensed movement.
“Thud——!”
This was the sound of thrusters and jets in action.
At the entrance, a figure carrying jet propulsion radiance streaked through the air like a flying fighter jet, coming to a halt in mid-air.
That person was none other than Aria.
The back of her bulletproof uniform and the sides adorned with metal resembled leg protectors of armor, giving her the appearance of donning an unfurled battle skirt.
The seven variable wings beneath her machine emitted fiery jets, illuminating the air.
These were high-energy miniature rocket thrusters combined with attitude-control wings.
Aria had packed these in the case she brought along before setting off.
Thus, Aria gained the ability to fly.
When this Aria turned her gaze downward, her crimson eyes instantly widened to their fullest.
Shock flooded Aria’s heart.