Chapter 52 Jason Belia
Returning to the bedroom, I took off my mask and fed Little White, who was lying on the blanket. The little fellow, who had grown noticeably bigger over the past month, finished eating and then lay lazily on the blanket.
Calming down from the bloody scene of disembowelment just now, Aaron realized he might have misjudged the killer's identity.
Serial murders targeting those who had fallen; at least 13 victims, up to 49. The more complete the ritual, the greater the hope of advancement.
There must be at least a three-day interval between two murders, otherwise it's easy to lose control, but the interval cannot exceed nine days, as that would reset the ritual.
Aaron recalled the ritual for advancing to Sequence 5, Desire Apostle. Even calculating by the longest possible time, that demon dog couldn't possibly continue this ritual two years later, not to mention that the Demon pathway is inherently the most prone to losing control and going mad.
Therefore, the protagonist of this advancement ritual is highly likely, perhaps, the demon dog's true master—Jason Beria from the Beria family.
"Jason Beria..." Aaron muttered to himself, sitting on the sofa. His spirituality subtly surged into the Red Moon mark on his wrist, entering a hidden state to avoid being perceived by that demon if he harbored malice towards him.
This fellow's alias in Backlund is Patrick Jason, a major shareholder in a small bank. He is also the true perpetrator of the assassination of the current Duke Negan, with the "Hermits of Dawn" and Adam behind him, which is a bit troublesome.
However, Qilingus was also acting on orders for the assassination. After being erased by Mr. Azik, they simply replaced him with another assassin to continue targeting the current Duke Negan.
This indicates that the life or death of the assassin is not important; only Duke Negan must die. If one assassin is gone, another can be replaced. If one attempt fails, there's always the next.
After all, the biggest obstacle to George III's reforms and the group whose interests were most damaged were the conservative party formed by the great landlords and nobles of the Loen Kingdom.
And if the current Duke Negan dies, the new Duke Negan will not have enough prestige to suppress all dissenting opinions and unite the conservative and new parties against the reforms.
Whether it's George III pushing his reforms and secretly preparing his godhood ritual, or Adam's desired world war, they can all proceed smoothly.
Having figured out the crucial implications, Aaron no longer dwelled on it and began to think about how to extract all possible value from this Jason Beria.
As a Sequence 6 Demon, the most troublesome aspect is their passive ability to predict danger.
That is, if the opponent can cause him fatal harm in a very short time and takes practical action, he can sense and perceive it, and grasp where the danger comes from and who it is from, thus allowing him to specifically eliminate or retaliate.
Different demons have different ranges for their intuition to take effect, varying from a few minutes to a day, and from a few kilometers to a metropolitan area. As a demon on the verge of advancing to Sequence 5, his ability to predict danger is certainly not limited to just a few kilometers.
Moreover, the extraordinary individuals from the family cannot just casually intervene this time, especially those at the demigod level. The church is one thing, but the previous solo action has already drawn dissatisfaction from the King's faction within MI9.
After pondering for a moment, Aaron decided to go to Saint Samuel Cathedral, the headquarters of the Church of the Evernight's Backlund Diocese, tomorrow to seek help from the Nighthawks team and request the use of Sealed Artifact "1-42," the silver full-body armor stained with the blood of an ancient god.
Aaron will also participate in the operation. He can use the Sun Holy Grail's restraining effect on the Criminal pathway to assist the Nighthawks team, and he can also contain that demon dog, which might have already reached Sequence 7.
And he can both digest the Sheriff potion during the punitive action and, after a successful encirclement and suppression, use the discovery of the serial killer hidden in Backlund for many years to promote his new newspaper, gaining greater prestige among the common people and laying a solid foundation for the future promotion of the bicycle company.
Having made up his mind, Aaron stopped thinking further and began to savor the changes brought about by advancing to Sheriff.
When dealing with that human trafficker tonight, Aaron felt that the combat abilities and physical qualities he gained as an Arbiter, including stamina, strength, and speed, had all been significantly enhanced.
Furthermore, he gained an additional sense on the extraordinary level, allowing him to detect abnormal factors and grasp subtle traces. When close enough, he can also detect and sense unscreened things related to evil, chaos, and madness.
This is why he was able to detect the elusive scent of blood from a great distance and accurately locate the body.
Aaron exhaled slightly, a fiery glint flashing in his eyes again, and he couldn't help but think to himself:
"If I can kill both Jason Beria and his demon dog, these two order-disrupting, cunning, and evil criminals, how much of my Sheriff potion will be digested by such feedback?"
Seeing the human who always fed him suddenly start smiling inexplicably on the sofa, Little White, who was lying on the ground, quietly and subtly moved away.
-----------------
June 16, 1346, Wednesday morning. A luxurious carriage was parked in front of the East Chester family villa in Backlund. Aaron stood before the carriage, instructing the butler, Dido, about the day's affairs.
"You are to fully cooperate with that editor-in-chief to complete the layout design of the 'Citizen's Daily'. You can contact the printing factory under the name of the East Chester family, and you can find an unused warehouse to temporarily use as a workspace."
"I have only one requirement: tomorrow, I need the 'Citizen's Daily' to appear in the streets and alleys of Backlund. Tonight, I will provide an explosive piece of news as the main focus for the newspaper's promotion."
"Tell that editor that this is an opportunity for them to prove their worth, and I hope they can seize it."
After the butler left with his orders, Aaron took the Backlund Morning Post, just published this morning, and entered the carriage. The front page headline was highlighted in bold red: "Murderer Appears in East District."
A man with a South Continent face wearing a tight black outfit also followed and sat opposite Aaron.
Solo Bent, Deputy Captain of the Duke's Personal Guard, a Sequence 5 Chaos Instructor. He returned from the South Continent to the North Continent a week ago and arrived in Backlund by train from East Chester County, serving as Aaron's personal bodyguard during the day.
Accompanied by the clip-clop of hooves, they passed through the streets and alleys to Saint Samuel Cathedral. After being announced, they met Archbishop Anthony.
In a room deep within the cathedral, Aaron voluntarily surged his spirituality into the Red Moon mark on his wrist, creating a hidden environment. He placed the Backlund Morning Post on the table, displaying the headline. Then he spoke:
"Archbishop Anthony, this murderer is a Sequence 6 Demon. This cruel method of killing is the ritual he is preparing for his advancement to Sequence 5."
"I know his true identity and detailed address. Without further delay, I want to take action tonight."
"However, due to the incident in the docks area last time being criticized by the King's faction within MI9, I would like to request the assistance of the Nighthawks team this time and activate Sealed Artifact '1-42'."
Archbishop Anthony looked at the headline on the newspaper and pondered for a moment, then slowly said:
"Very well. I will send the Sost team. He is a Sequence 6 'Requiem Master' and possesses his own mystical item. I also approve the use of Sealed Artifact '1-42'."
"Due to the Demon's passive danger perception, the specific details of the operation do not need to be disclosed to the Sost team for now. You will be fully in charge of the command."
#53Chapter 53 Action Begins
After getting satisfactory results, Aaron took a carriage from Saint Samuel Church to the bicycle research and development studio in Backlund's St. George's District.
The carriage stopped in front of a gate that was being renovated, the slightly old decorations being replaced with marble to better reflect status.
Aaron walked into the R&D room and saw items very similar to bicycles placed in the center of the hall, which Howard was enthusiastically introducing to Humphrey.
Seeing Aaron arrive, everyone respectfully bowed slightly. Aaron walked straight to the model vehicle; from the appearance alone, it was very similar.
Just as Howard was about to introduce the model vehicle's usage to Lord Aaron, he saw Aaron skillfully mount the vehicle and ride a lap around the hall, swallowing the words that were about to come out.
Aaron nodded with satisfaction, the practicality and comfort had been restored quite well. He then looked at Howard and continued to ask:
"So what is the current cost price of this vehicle? And what would the cost price be if it were put into mass production in a factory?"
Howard pondered for a moment and replied:
"This current model vehicle has undergone material substitution, compressing the cost to around 1 pound. Raw materials like the rubber used for the tires and seat cushions are all purchased from our own estate in East Tack County. If put into mass production in a factory, the cost can be compressed to 15 sols."
Aaron thought for a moment, then looked at Howard and Humphrey and said, "Our target market is not the upper-middle class who frequently use carriages, so we don't need to set the price too high."
"Our main target groups are skilled workers with a weekly wage of 1 pound 10 sols or more, students from decent families, and public servants who often need to travel around."
"My suggestion is to price a bicycle between 2 and 4 pounds, making it affordable for our target class if they grit their teeth a bit, while also allowing them to show off to lower-income groups."
"You can also offer customization services, and you need to create a model suitable for women to ride."
"You must hurry up with improvements and contact the factory. You can also make a type of tricycle for carrying goods."
After giving instructions for improvements, Aaron left and returned to the manor to wait for the evening's action.
The butler, who had returned from his outing, handed Aaron a pink letter and said as he did so, "Lord Aaron, this is a letter from the Earl Hall's family for you."
Aaron looked at the pink envelope, having some guesses in his heart. He then took the letter to his bedroom, opened it, and saw elegant handwriting.
The letter was from Audrey. She first offered friendly regards to Aaron, and the rest expressed her concerns about the aftermath of the repeal of the Corn Laws, as well as an invitation for Aaron to attend a gathering on Friday evening.
Aaron read the letter carefully, took out some stationery, wrote a reply agreeing to attend the gathering on Friday evening, and called a manservant to give the letter to the butler, instructing him to deliver it to the Earl Hall's family himself.
At 11 o'clock in the evening, in a small alley near Edward Street in Backlund's West District. Aaron, along with Sost's team of four Red Gloves and the butler, stood quietly in the shadows. The red moon mark on Aaron's wrist glowed slightly, creating a hidden atmosphere.
Aaron confirmed the location of 6 Edward Street again, then turned to the Red Gloves members and said, "The target of this operation is a Sequence 6 'Demon' who is preparing for his advancement ritual. Everyone needs to be careful."
As he spoke, he took out a portrait of Patrick Jason, which he had copied from the City Hall, showed it to everyone, and continued:
"The human skin he is wearing looks like this person, and he also has a Demon Hound that might be a Sequence 7 'Serial Killer'. I have a magical item that can help you. We will act together when the time comes, and absolutely cannot let him escape."
Then he turned to the butler, who was holding a camera, and said, "You wait right here. Come in when I give the signal."
"Soul Soother" Sost flexed his five fingers, which were covered by red gloves, and gave an encouraging pat on the shoulder of the team member who was starting to break the seal and put on the blood-stained silver full body armor.
At the same time, he said to the other Night Watchers, "You take the hot water and follow him closely. If there's any problem, replace it immediately and dig a 'bathtub' on the spot!"
Jason Beria, wearing the human skin of Patrick Jason, held the newspaper printing about the serial killer, stood frowning by the second-floor window, feeling a faint unease in his heart, but without reason.
The black Demon Hound curled up on the second floor seemed to sense its master's irritation, retracted its bared bloody fangs, and dared not make a sound.
Suddenly, Jason Beria found that everything around him became illusory and unreal. This, this was a nightmare! He quickly realized he had fallen into an ambush.
A pure golden beam of light shone directly onto Jason Beria, accompanied by a piercing wail. He had sunken eye sockets, and the human skin on his body had long since disappeared, turning into black skin from which red liquid flowed.
The black Demon Hound felt its master's pain. It rushed out from the second floor, charging straight at Aaron. There was no ripple in Aaron's eyes. He pointed from a distance, and a golden light flew out, shooting directly towards the Demon Hound.
The Demon Hound was about to dodge, but a spirit world creature somewhat similar to a vengeful spirit suddenly appeared beside it, forcibly possessing it and stopping its attempt to evade.
Before coming into contact with the golden light, the spirit world creature residing within Aaron's mask quickly escaped the Demon Hound's physical body.
The scorching halo of sunlight directly struck the Demon Hound's body surface, and the Demon Hound let out a mournful shriek.
At this moment, Jason Beria's body was completely enveloped by the golden beam of light, and his body began to undergo mutation.
His skin slowly turned like that of a demon, deep black, with red liquid flowing. His eyes also began to turn crimson, and his whole body exuded a demonic aura.
The blood-stained silver armor instantly appeared behind him, and a punch pierced through Jason Beria's body.
A black light flew out from Jason Beria's body, shooting directly towards the ground, but was bounced back the moment it touched the ground.
Aaron's mouth curved upwards. The red moon mark on his wrist rippled, enveloping this area and forming a temporary hidden barrier.
The black light twisted and transformed into a human shape. Just as it was about to speak, Aaron activated the Sun Ring and shattered this black light.
Villains die from talking too much. Although this doesn't entirely apply to the current situation, the core meaning is the same. Moreover, for such an utterly wicked criminal, there's no need to give him a chance to speak.
After teaming up with Captain Sost to kill the Demon Hound, Aaron clearly felt the Sheriff potion being digested within his body.
He quickly dispelled the hidden barrier. The spiritual energy consumption was too great, making it somewhat unbearable for Aaron.
With a pale face, he handed the two precipitated Beyonder characteristics to Captain Sost, then beckoned the butler from a distance and had him take pictures of himself.
The remaining Night Watchers quickly dug up multiple bodies underground in the backyard and around the house as Aaron requested.
After taking photos for evidence, Aaron immediately had the butler take the pictures to the temporary workplace of the Daily News, aiming for them to be published early tomorrow morning.
#54Chapter 54 Fors and Hugh
Aaron and the Night Watch team stood rooted to the spot, waiting for the police to arrive. After handing over the scene to the visibly shocked officers, they left.
Early the next morning, many newsboys appeared in the streets and alleys of Backlund, shouting loudly as they peddled newspapers throughout the city.
Many curious citizens paid for a copy of the newspaper, only to see two large characters on the front page: "Common People's Daily". Many citizens looked puzzled, wondering when a new newspaper had been published.
Curiously, they looked down and saw a striking sentence in red letters at the headline: "Lord Aaron Assists Police in Solving Serial Killer Case."
The same newspaper didn't just appear in the streets and alleys; many nobles also received a copy. In the Queen's District, Earl Hall sat in his study, looking at the "Common People's Daily" before him with great interest.
The "Common People's Daily" described in detail the numerous blood debts incurred by Jason Beria, who used the alias Patrick Jason, in Backlund and the East District.
The just and brave Lord Aaron, together with the Church of Evernight, found the serial killer's true identity and assisted the police in killing him, with accompanying photos of the scene.
For a time, Lord Aaron and the newly appeared "Common People's Daily" became the center of discussion among Backlund residents, and the tense situation caused by the repeal of the "Grain Act" was significantly eased.
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June 18, 1346, Friday morning, Backlund Steam Train Station. The station was crowded with people. A pale-skinned, black-haired girl carrying a suitcase stepped off at Platform 2. She seemed to be wearing red cosmetic contacts, making her eyes look captivating and beautiful.
Louise got off the train and finally let out a long sigh of relief. As a noble Bloodkin, her sense of smell was exceptionally keen, and the smell on the steam train had made her uncomfortable the entire journey.
Looking at the note her parents had given her before she left, it listed the address of Earl Mistral's family: Backlund, West District, 9 East Veras Street.
Louise couldn't help but scratch her long black hair, a troubled expression on her face. She sighed, but still decided to take a carriage.
She followed the crowd towards the exit and spotted a crowd of people on Platform 6 in the distance. They were standing with a line of guards and a young man wearing a black formal suit and a top hat.
He was currently walking towards two ladies who had just disembarked from the steam train: a mature and gentle woman, and a lively and beautiful blonde girl.
Aaron felt his spirituality being touched. He turned his head and saw a black-haired, red-eyed woman curiously looking at him. A hint of surprise flashed in Aaron's eyes; he recognized her, it was Miss Louise, who had been promoted to Bloodkin Baron.
Pretending it was a casual glance, Aaron subtly retracted his gaze and continued looking at his mother, Countess Selena, and his sister, Arfney, who had come to Backlund from East Tussock County, leading them towards the luxurious carriage.
Although Aaron was happy that his mother and sister could come to Backlund, he still looked at his mother with a puzzled expression. Countess Selena saw Aaron's confusion, tapped his head with her finger, and said with a smile:
"You child, you really don't remember things. Sunday is your grandfather Earl Wolf's 60th birthday. Since you're in Backlund, and Arfney also wanted to see you, I came along."
Saying that, Countess Selena picked up the "Common People's Daily" published yesterday and said in a concerned tone, "From now on, just leave these kinds of things to your subordinates. There's no need to rush into danger yourself. Your safety is the most important thing."
Aaron smiled and nodded. Then, both of them looked at Arfney next to them and found her eyes sparkling as she looked at the blanket deep inside the carriage compartment, where a cat with snow-white fur was lying.
Aaron picked up Whitey, ignored its protests, and handed it to Arfney, explaining with a smile:
"This is a White Feathered Spirit Cat I rescued from a smuggling ship from the Southern Continent. Uh... I call it Whitey."
Arfney listened with great interest. When she heard its name, she couldn't help but let out a chuckle:
"No, that name is too unpleasant. I'll give it a new name. Hmm... from now on, you'll be called Evelina."
After saying that, she picked up Whitey, or more accurately, Evelina, and announced it solemnly. Perhaps feeling that this name was much better than Whitey, Evelina's tail wagged slightly without resisting.
After speaking, Arfney held Evelina and looked at Aaron expectantly:
"Is this name okay? This is a character I really like from "Wuthering Heights", which I've been reading recently. Unfortunately, it's only been serialized for a dozen chapters, so I don't know what her ending will be."
Aaron paused slightly and asked uncertainly, "Are you talking about the "Wuthering Heights" written by Fors Wall?"
Arfney responded with a hint of surprise, "You've read it too?"
Aaron coughed dryly, "Sort of." He muttered slightly to himself, "As expected of a slacker. She's probably used to delaying updates, so much so that it wasn't even finished serializing two years later."
The carriage did not head towards the East Tussock family's luxurious villa in the Queen's District, but instead turned towards the research studio in Backlund's St. George's District.
Aaron intended to show his mother and sister his work in Backlund.
-----------------
Meanwhile, in Backlund, a lady was wearing a beige, ruffled, high-collared long dress, with slightly curled brown hair draped over her shoulders. Her pale blue eyes held a hint of playfulness and laziness.
This lady held a lady's cigarette in her right hand and lay straight on the sofa like a fish out of water. There were many crumpled paper balls of discarded drafts around the sofa.
Suddenly, her body trembled, almost falling to the ground. The noise caused a shorter lady to emerge from the next room. She was barely over five feet tall, with slightly chubby cheeks, delicate and soft features, but her eyebrows and eyes seemed undeveloped, looking quite young.
Although she had messy, rough shoulder-length blonde hair and wore a traditional knight's training uniform, she possessed an indescribable majesty and a captivating charm that made people trust her.
She looked at her friend, who had sat up with a confused expression, and said somewhat helplessly:
"Fors, stop smoking. Smoking is bad for your health. What happened to you just now?"
Fors extinguished the lady's cigarette and rubbed her nose in confusion. "I just feel like someone is thinking about me. My writing state isn't good today, I think I need to rest."
She pondered for a moment and continued, "Xio, how about we go out to eat today? I know an Intis-style restaurant, their smoked sausages are quite good, and my manuscript fee from last month just came in."
Xio scratched her messy short hair and said somewhat helplessly:
"Alright, but it has to wait until evening. You don't want my first bounty mission in Backlund to be delayed because of eating, do you?"
Fors chuckled and collapsed back onto the sofa. Looking at Xio, who was preparing to go out, she said in a lazy voice, "Remember to wake me up when you come back, I'll take you out for a big meal."
"Oh, right, remember to bring me a pack of cigarettes and a bottle of red wine when you come back. My creativity needs their company."
Xio turned her head and glanced at her friend, who was already sprawled on the sofa with no intention of going out. She shook her head helplessly and headed straight for the "Bravehearts" bar in the Backlund Bridge area, Iron Gate Street.
55Chapter 55 Party
After receiving the 50 pounds bounty money from the middleman Kaspars, Xio finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Unwilling to see her family wronged, she left her mother and brother and came to Backlund alone. Her savings had long been depleted.
Most of this time, she relied on her friend Fors for help, and now she could finally repay the money. Xio valued her friendship with Fors greatly; they huddled together for warmth in this big city.
After a moment of happiness, thinking about her father's case and not knowing when she could obtain the Sequence 8 Beyonder characteristic formula, Xio's mood couldn't help but sink again.
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Backlund, St. George's Borough, the research and development studio of the already listed East Tussock Bicycle Company. Aaron led his mother and sister out of the carriage and began to visit the company he founded.
Hearing that the Duchess and Miss were coming to visit, Harland and Humphrey hurriedly pushed out the newly developed ladies' bicycles that had been rushed into production.
After detailing the riding method and precautions for the bicycle, Avoni couldn't wait to sit on the bike. Evelyna, who was here for the first time, wagged her tail with interest, and with a slight push, jumped into the basket in front.
Avoni rode around the factory with Evelyna, completing the initial experience of the sample under the satisfied gaze of Madame Seline. After receiving positive feedback, the visit concluded.
After the visit, Aaron took two ladies' bicycles and one men's bicycle, planning to give them to Audrey and Earl Hall when he attended Audrey's invitation that evening. The remaining ladies' bicycle was left for Avoni.
Knowing that Aaron was going to attend the party, Avoni, holding Evelyna, begged for a long time to go with him. Unable to resist her sister's persistent pleading, Aaron finally agreed.
Backlund, Empress Borough, the luxurious villa of Earl Hall.
Audrey was wearing a pure white gown, her golden hair casually tied up, flowing down smoothly and lustrously. Her emerald green eyes were as deep as the ocean and as pure as the most pristine gems. Her features and face shape combined to create a breathtaking beauty, with an elegant and pure temperament.
Susie, by her side, was lowering her head, eating her favorite snack—dog biscuits made from flour, vegetables, meat, and water by the Backlund Pet Care Company. Her body had clearly grown a size larger, and she could no longer be called a 'little' golden retriever.
Accompanied by the clatter of hooves, a luxurious carriage stopped at the entrance. A man and a woman stepped out, holding a very cute white cat in their arms.
Audrey, who had originally intended to go forward and greet them personally, stopped in her tracks when she saw the girl beside Aaron. She didn't know why she felt a little unhappy.
Aaron directed the servants to take down the three bicycles from the back of the carriage, walked towards Audrey with a smile, and actively introduced Avoni and Evelyna to her.
Hearing Aaron's introduction, a look of realization flashed across Audrey's face. She revealed a sweet smile and stepped forward to perform an elegant courtly curtsy.
Susie also raised her head from eating her snack, a dog biscuit in her mouth, and wagged her tail as she ran to Aaron's side. Avoni also placed Evelyna, who was in her arms, on the floor.
The white cat and the golden retriever stared at each other. Aaron cleared his throat, stroked Susie's and Evelyna's heads, and said with a smile:
"Susie, her name is Evelyna. You can have the dog biscuits all to yourself."
Then, the group walked into the hall. Earl Hall was sitting on the sofa in the center of the hall, smiling and inviting everyone to sit down.
After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Earl Hall glanced at Audrey and Avoni, then invited Aaron to the study for a conversation.
Upon entering the study, Earl Hall did not beat around the bush and looked at Aaron, asking, "What is your view on the repeal of the Corn Laws?"
Aaron thought for a moment, hesitated, and then said, "The repeal of the Corn Laws is essentially a struggle between the old nobles who control the land and the new nobles who control productivity and production technology."
"Regardless of whether it is repealed or not, this will greatly increase the conflict between the two parties and create a divide. Of course, this is only from my perspective as a noble."
Earl Hall nodded with satisfaction and did not continue to ask for opinions from other perspectives. Instead, he sighed and continued:
"That Mr. Humphrey is indeed a talented person with great foresight and courage. Unfortunately, many things are beyond his control. We are all people swept along by the tide of the times."
Looking at Earl Hall, who was suddenly filled with emotion, Aaron smiled and said:
"Recently, I had a sudden idea and had my subordinates build a new type of transportation tool, which I call a bicycle."
"Several models have been designed and are already in mass production. I plan to invite my maternal grandfather, Earl Woolf, a member of the Conservative Party, to invest. I wonder if Earl Hall is interested?"
Conservative Party? Earl Hall's eyes narrowed slightly. He looked at Aaron and suddenly smiled, "Of course I'm interested. What price are you willing to sell the shares for?"
After some negotiation, the specific details were finally settled. Earl Hall invested 100,000 pounds to acquire 10% of the original shares of the East Tussock Bicycle Company and would provide assistance in subsequent product promotion.
Both parties were relatively satisfied with the transaction. The company established by the East Tussock Ducal family had both New Party and Conservative Party backgrounds, and the product itself was of excellent quality and could fill a market gap.
Earl Hall felt that this transaction had broad investment potential in the future and also carried unusual political implications. Aaron was also very satisfied, as this meant that future promotion would be smoother.
After the transaction was completed, Aaron and Earl Hall walked out of the study and heard laughter coming from the living room.
Avoni was riding the ladies' bicycle, with Susie quietly lying in the front basket, her tongue hanging out, and Evelyna lying on Susie's golden fur.
Audrey stood silently to the side, seemingly tempted, but gave up the urge to try because of her elaborate gown.
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Backlund, West Borough, 9 East Vilas Street.
A gathering was also being held here, but the guests were all pale-skinned, with black hair and blood-red eyes. Everyone held a glass, and red liquid swirled in the cups, a faint smell of blood lingering in the air.
Earl Mistral, with light silver hair and scarlet eyes, appeared in the center of the hall. All the vampires bowed in salute.
Mistral smiled, took Louise's hand, and introduced her to everyone:
"This is one of my descendants, Louise Sears, from Feysac. And she has just come of age this year and is already a Vampire Baron. She will be training in Backlund for a while."
The vampires watching on immediately stirred. Many vampires who had been adults for many years but had not yet advanced looked disheartened, but a few who had just come of age were full of fighting spirit.
A man with hair slicked back diagonally, a hint of nonchalance in his seriousness, unconcealed arrogance in his eyebrows and eyes, a high nose bridge, and thin lips, muttered in a low voice:
"I will also become a Baron, or even a distinguished Viscount."
A vampire next to him couldn't help but sneer, "Emlyn White, with you indulging in puppets every day, do you even deserve to be a Baron, or even a Viscount?"
Emlyn immediately let out a cold laugh and mocked with a disdainful tone, "Art, that is great art. A poor wretch like you who hasn't even paid off his debts naturally wouldn't understand."
Without waiting for the other vampire's retort, he looked down on his fellow vampires who wanted to integrate into Backlund's social circle or talk to Miss Louise.
Emlyn picked up a glass of fresh blood and left the crowd. In his mind, he was already thinking about what new clothes he should change for his puppets when he got home. Louise watched the scene with interest through the crowd.
#56Chapter 56 Alger
Late at night, after bidding farewell to Count Hall, Aaron picked up Evelyn, who was perched on Susie's head, and left Count Hall's residence with Avani, leaving the bicycle behind.
Sitting in the carriage on the way home, Avani's little face was flushed. She had an exceptionally good time today, not having to adhere to the rules and various noble etiquettes as she did at home.
Looking at Aaron, Avani suddenly revealed a sly smile:
"Aaron, when you went upstairs to talk with the Count, I felt like Sister Audrey was really concerned about you."
Aaron raised an eyebrow and coughed dryly, "What do children know? Don't talk nonsense."
Avani looked at Aaron's expression, suddenly let out a chuckle, and spoke with a hint of playful pride:
"Hmph, that's a woman's intuition. Also, Aaron, be honest, do you like Sister Audrey?"
Aaron pretended not to hear the latter question and gave his overly energetic little sister a friendly flick on the forehead.
June 18th, 1346, Friday midnight, Aaron appeared on the throne in the magnificent palace. His figure moved, appearing on the first high-backed chair to the lower left. Dark golden mist gathered, and a grand, illusory figure emerged on the throne.
Aaron's spirituality spread out, and four figures immediately appeared on the stone chairs at the bottom. After everyone bowed, this week's Chaos Assembly began.
Over the past month, all members had become familiar with the assembly's procedures and began exchanging their respective information.
Ferran stood up and spoke first, "Another new Pirate Admiral has been born, it is Qilingus. His title is now Admiral Hurricane."
He then explained in detail, "This Monday, Qilingus encountered Admiral Twilight, and their fleets clashed. Although Qilingus was slightly inferior, the fight went back and forth."
"After Qilingus plundered a warship transporting supplies to the Rosed Islands this Wednesday, Loen announced a bounty of 10,000 gold pounds on Qilingus, officially making him the seventh Pirate Admiral."
The other members listened with great interest. For most of them, the ocean was still relatively distant for now, but the opportunity to broaden their horizons was precious to everyone.
Seeing that Ferran had nothing to add, Chuck stood up and spoke:
"In Aethelburg, the capital of Lenburg, the Church of the God of Knowledge and Wisdom is recruiting several experienced bounty hunters."
"For some personal reasons, I joined this operation, and the information I've gathered is that they plan to send this group of recruited bounty hunters, along with the church's bishop and priests, by ship to West Balam in the Southern Continent, to the city of Cooktown in the Northern State."
"Cooktown in the Northern State? I remember that's the area Mesanyes effectively controls and dominates, and behind him stands Luca, a demigod from the Church of the God of Knowledge and Wisdom."
"Could it be that among this group from the Church of the God of Knowledge and Wisdom heading to Cooktown, there's a hidden demigod?"
After listening to Chuck's account, Aaron thought to himself and then spoke:
"There might be a hidden demigod from the Church of the God of Knowledge and Wisdom among those heading to the Southern Continent, named Luca Brewster. He might be replacing the original bishop to oversee the Church of the God of Knowledge and Wisdom's affairs in West Balam."
"You can keep an eye out. His appearance is characterized by habitually wearing a plain white robe with brass-colored thread embroidery, completely white hair, and grey-green eyes."
Louise and the other four below exchanged glances. If they didn't know that this person was the Lord of Order's Favored, they would have couldn't help but suspect if His Favored was an insider from the Church of the God of Knowledge and Wisdom?
Seeing that no one continued to speak or ask questions, Aaron began the trading session. Looking at the size of the light deep within the spirituality of the people below, Aaron had a vague guess.
Chuck was the first to stand up and respectfully address Aaron, "Mr. Favored, I am willing to trade 600 pounds for a Beyonder Characteristic of Sequence 8 'Provoker'."
"It seems the commission from the Church of the God of Knowledge and Wisdom is quite substantial, he gathered the money so quickly." Aaron mused inwardly, then nodded slightly under the calm or envious gazes of the others.
Although Ferran also felt he was close to finishing digestion, he had neither the money nor the corresponding potion formula, so he could only suppress his slightly restless heart.
Louise, on the other hand, was full of fighting spirit. She had just been promoted to Baron and hadn't even fully mastered her Beyonder abilities yet, so she wasn't in a hurry to be promoted to Viscount.
Syd, meanwhile, had a conflicted expression. As a local noble, he was capable of purchasing the Sequence 8 potion. However, the potion digestion was truly unsatisfactory. Even though he had prepared himself psychologically, the Undertaker potion still digested quite slowly.
Seeing that everyone was either excited, calm, or conflicted, but none spoke further, Aaron concluded this week's Chaos Assembly.
In a relatively simple two-story building in the South District of Aethelburg, the capital of Lenburg.
After receiving the commission from the Church of the God of Knowledge and Wisdom, Chuck moved here with his mother and sister, where the environment and living conditions were better.
This was also their home before his father died, and now he had bought it back again.
Sitting on a chair, Chuck counted the 600 Loen gold pounds he had exchanged at the Aethelburg Bank three more times, confirming none were missing. With some reluctance, he placed the money in the center of the altar.
He prepared himself, began the ritual, and a gentle breeze blew. The gold pounds in the center of the altar vanished, transforming into a black iron-colored box.
After silently chanting the honorific name to show respect and gratitude, Chuck quickly dismantled the ritual, opened the iron box, and saw a dark red crystal placed in the center.
On the Sonia Sea, near the Rosed Islands, a three-masted sailboat sailed slowly.
A man with deep-set features, a rugged outline showing signs of being weathered by rain and wind, of medium build, but appearing calm, seasoned, experienced, and outwardly composed, even overly serious, stood on the deck.
He had messy dark blue hair like seaweed, indicating some elven heritage. His skin was bronze-toned, highlighting the result of years of sun and rain living at sea.
Because he had just returned from reporting to the Church of Waves in Bayam during the day, he had not yet taken off the uniform robe of the Church of Storms, which was uniformly embroidered with lightning patterns.
Alger Wilson's fingers tightly gripped a newspaper, his knuckles slightly whitened. The newspaper's headline prominently announced "Birth of the Seventh Pirate Admiral - 'Admiral Hurricane' Qilingus."
Time at sea was always long, and news channels were exceptionally blocked. He only learned this news today when he reported for duty in Bayam.
Alger didn't know how he got back on the ship. Since the afternoon until now, whenever he thought of himself still being only Sequence 8 'Folk of Fury',
while the person who came from the same small village as him had already become a Pirate Admiral, his emotions inevitably became very low.
Alger looked up at the red moon in the sky and murmured softly:
"'Admiral Hurricane' Qilingus..."
#57Chapter 57: Rafter-Pound
On Sunday morning, Aaron, as usual, headed to the East Tock Bicycle Research and Development Studio in the St. George's district of Backlund.
After making an appearance and inspecting the place, Aaron entered the inner compartment, skillfully put on his mask and changed into his bounty hunter outfit, and used Spirit World Travel to arrive in the Backlund Bridge area, at the "Bravehearts Bar" deep within Iron Gate Street.
Aaron found Caspas, intending to look for a target for today's performance and see if there were any interesting commissions.
After obtaining the list he wanted and the corresponding information, Aaron sat down and slowly drank the glass of Sunia Blood Wine. Suddenly, a whispering sound arose, and Aaron looked in the direction of the sound.
At the doorway, a short lady appeared. She was barely over one meter fifty tall, with slightly chubby cheeks, delicate and soft features, but her brows and eyes seemed not yet fully developed, appearing quite youthful.
Although she had messy, shoulder-length blonde hair and wore traditional knight training attire, the sight of her carrying a man with a bruised and swollen face gave off an indescribable sense of authority and persuasive charm.
Many sharp-eyed drunkards recognized the man's identity—a swindler with a bounty as high as 40 pounds—which immediately caused a commotion. Many people's eyes glinted with greed, but then they suddenly recalled some unpleasant memories and shivered.
Caspas compared the photo from the bounty mission with the man on the ground. After comparing for a long time, he finally confirmed that it was indeed the swindler. He looked at the bruised and swollen man with a bit of a headache and couldn't help but advise:
"Miss Xio, the mission was just to capture him, not to beat him like this. You need to control your actions, otherwise, even if you complete the bounty mission, you'll still have to go to the police station."
Saying this, he took out 40 pounds in cash from under the counter and handed it to Xio. Xio awkwardly scratched her messy blonde short hair, feeling a bit embarrassed, and nodded.
Just as she stepped forward to collect her bounty, a "clang" sound suddenly echoed.
Many people looked in the direction of the sound and saw a cold, gleaming three-edged awl lying quietly at Xio Derecha's feet. However, it was clean, not covered in blood as everyone had imagined.
"..." Many drunkards looked at each other, simultaneously forgetting to speak. Caspas's hand holding the money froze in mid-air, looking somewhat at a loss.
After a few seconds, Xio Derecha quickly and nimbly squatted down, picked up the three-edged awl, and hid it on her person again.
"I have to guard against accidents, you know, some people lack sufficient reason and aren't so easy to persuade," Xio Derecha explained seriously, as if she didn't see the stiff expression on Caspas's face.
Then she pointed at the bruised and swollen man on the ground and said:
"Don't worry, he was beaten by my fists, it's just superficial injury. I didn't use a weapon. I know how to control my strength."
After speaking, she coughed, took her 40 pounds in cash, and suppressed her inner awkwardness as she quickly left the "Bravehearts Bar," not noticing Aaron's gaze from not far away.
After watching this scene with interest and finishing the Sunia Blood Wine in his glass, Aaron settled the bill, picked up the purchased information, and walked out of the "Bravehearts Bar." He casually chose an empty corner and used Spirit World Travel to return to the studio's compartment.
-----------------
At 6 PM, a luxurious carriage bearing the East Tock family crest stopped outside the luxurious villa of the Earl of Wolf in the Empress Borough of Backlund.
Madam Celine and the Aaron siblings stepped out of the carriage one by one. A middle-aged man in a suit came forward with a smile:
"Oh, my dear sister, and lovely and beautiful Avoni." Then, facing Aaron, he smiled and said, "The 'Commoner's Daily' you started is very good, truly worthy of being the future helmsman of the East Tock family."
Aaron also smiled and nodded. On the way there, his mother had already told them that next year his maternal grandfather would formally hand over the title of Earl of Wolf to the uncle before them, Ned Wolf.
After exchanging pleasantries, everyone entered the banquet hall. What met their eyes was a lavishly decorated space, with glittering crystal chandeliers and huge wall paintings showcasing wealth and taste.
A large round table was placed in the center of the banquet area, covered with a magnificent tablecloth, surrounded by exquisite porcelain and silverware, displaying various delicacies, desserts, and drinks.
Guests appeared in beautiful evening gowns and luxurious jewelry. The gentlemen wore exquisitely tailored tailcoats, while the ladies wore gorgeous long dresses and noble hair accessories, displaying the demeanor of the aristocratic class.
Music echoed in the banquet hall, with string instruments or pianos playing melodiously, filling the entire space and adding elegance and warmth to the atmosphere.
The nobles engaged in lively yet elegant conversations around the round table, discussing the major and minor events happening in Backlund and topics of interest to themselves.
As soon as Aaron sat down, he heard a commotion coming from the doorway. Initially, he didn't want to pay attention, but seeing his mother frequently looking in that direction, Aaron still got up to investigate.
A man with a wrinkled suit, slightly messy hair, puffy eye bags, and smelling of alcohol seemed to be constantly emanating from him was stopped by the butler at the entrance. Through the surrounding discussions, Aaron learned the reason for the matter.
The man's name was Raft Pound. He was the last viscount of the fallen Pound family, who had squandered most of his family fortune and was demoted to a baron by George III. Recently, he was planning to sell the ancestral home on Williams Street in exchange for pounds.
Most nobles detested this man who had completely disgraced the aristocracy, including the Earl of Wolf. Therefore, with the master's instruction, the butler had stopped him at the entrance.
Raft Pound? The Pound family? The family founded by the Tudor descendants?
Aaron examined Baron Pound, who was arguing with the butler, with a scrutinizing gaze. After a moment of contemplation, he recalled the underground palace beneath that house, the Blood Emperor's ruins there, and the existence of the Red Angel's wraith within it.
Aaron decided to intervene. At the very least, he had to acquire that house so that he would have the upper hand in future explorations or sealing.
Using the authority of an "Arbiter" to force back many onlookers, Aaron slowly walked out and looked at Baron Pound, speaking:
"Enough. If you still want to sell that ancestral home, I can buy it at a premium for 5500 pounds. If you agree, we can sign the contract here and now, but please leave after you receive the money."
Raft Pound was stunned for a moment. After clearly seeing the face of the person speaking, he immediately deflated like a punctured balloon. Clearly, he had also read that issue of the "Commoner's Daily" and recognized Aaron's identity.
Under the slightly mocking and strange gazes of those around him, Raft Pound took out a wrinkled contract from his Pregnant and said with a smile, "Esteemed Lord Aaron, 5500 pounds in total, please sign."
Aaron hadn't expected this guy to actually carry a contract with him. What he had said about signing the contract on the spot was just to express his willingness to buy.
However, Aaron didn't hesitate. He took the contract, signed his name, and wrote a check for 5500 pounds, handing it to the Baron.
Watching his gleeful figure leave, Aaron narrowed his eyes, a look of mockery flashing across his face.
58Chapter 58 East Tucker Bicycle Company
Putting an end to the interlude, no matter what the purpose of Baronet Pound's sale of the ancestral house was, it didn't change the fact that Aaron was about to acquire an entrance to a ruin.
Aaron was in a pleasant mood. He leaned towards Solow-Bent, who was following closely beside him, and whispered a few words, asking him to quietly follow Raft-Pound and observe his actions and reactions tonight. This was easy for a Sequence 5 Chaos Mentor.
Watching Solow-Bent blend into the crowd and disappear, Aaron returned to the banquet hall with the contract, and said with a smile to his mother and sister, "Don't worry, it's resolved. I also bought a property."
After hearing Aaron recount the details, Mrs. Celine nodded slightly and looked at Aaron with satisfaction, saying, "Well done. You can reimburse the 5500 pounds from the butler tomorrow."
Aaron shook his head, politely declining his mother's suggestion. The 5500 pounds had to come from his own pocket to ensure there would be no dispute over ownership later, and to leverage his status to have priority in future ruin explorations and secure the greatest benefits.
After the small interlude, the conversation at the banquet gradually shifted to the Pound family and the Baronet Pound from earlier.
Listening to the surrounding mockery and ridicule of the Pound family, Aaron, who knew their true identities, simply poured himself a glass of Sunya Blood Wine and sipped it slowly, feeling a sense of melancholy inside.
Seeing that the banquet was nearing its end, Aaron went up to the second floor and entered the study he had arranged with the butler beforehand. Pushing open the door, he saw Old Count Woolf sitting peacefully in the main seat, with his uncle Ned-Woolf seated beside him.
After greeting and paying respects to the two elders, Aaron sat down and spoke to them directly:
"The repeal of the Corn Laws has passed. Food prices are bound to fall, and land rent income will surely decline significantly."
"I'm sure both of you elders are aware of the characteristics of most old-fashioned nobles. They are proud of owning land, rely mainly on land rent income, and value appearances above all else."
"Many people, even if in debt, maintain a lifestyle befitting their status, with thousands or tens of thousands of pounds spent annually on clothing and jewelry, as well as persistent hunting activities, social banquets, occasional grand weddings, and extravagant funerals."
Uncle Ned-Woolf wanted to speak up and explain, but didn't know where to start. Old Count Woolf sighed slightly, his expression somewhat helpless as he said:
"Yes, that is indeed a criticism of us old-fashioned nobles."
"But unfortunately, apart from a few ambitious nobles who shifted their focus to industries like steel, coal, railways, banking, and rubber long ago, the cost of entering these industries now is unimaginable, and the losses wouldn't be less than this Corn Laws upheaval."
Looking at the expressions of the two elders, Aaron smiled and said:
"I've started a company called East Tock Bicycles. Currently, the East Tock family holds 90% of the shares, while Count Hall invested 100,000 pounds to acquire 10% of the initial shares of East Tock Bicycle Company and will provide assistance in future product promotion."
"I came here this time to invite Count Woolf to invest in the company, which can both mitigate the impact of the repeal of the Corn Laws and form an alliance of interests with Count Hall."
Old Count Woolf and Ned-Woolf exchanged glances, both seeing the eagerness in the other's eyes. Finally, Old Count Woolf made the decision to also exchange 100,000 pounds for 10% of the initial shares and provide assistance in future product promotion.
After the dinner ended, before leaving, Aaron told his uncle Ned-Woolf, who was seeing him off, that the bicycles would begin advertising and sales next week, and asked them to be prepared.
Mrs. Celine held onto the energetic Evelyn to prevent her from running around, watching everything with satisfaction. She was very pleased with Aaron's attitude towards the Woolf family and the help he offered.
-----------------
His suit wrinkled, hair slightly disheveled, eyes puffy, and seemingly exuding the smell of alcohol at any moment, Raft-Pound walked away from Count Woolf's house with slightly unsteady steps.
He reached out and hailed a hansom cab, getting in. Solow-Bent quietly appeared not far away, frowning as he looked in the direction the cab was heading. It wasn't towards Williams Street where the Pound family's ancestral house was located.
Solow-Bent thought for a moment and quietly followed.
The sound of hooves clattered, and the cab stopped at 29 Westvilas Street, Queen's Borough. Raft-Pound got out of the cab and entered the building, showing no sign of abnormality.
Solow-Bent sat quietly on a nearby rooftop, monitoring 29 Westvilas Street for any suspicious activity. Unfortunately, he found no suspicious clues until dawn broke.
Aaron, who had already gotten up and changed clothes, frowned slightly after hearing Solow-Bent's report. After a moment of thought, he said:
"Thank you for your hard work, I understand. You don't need to worry about this anymore. Tell Dallen to assign two Hunters and Arbiters to monitor Raft-Pound in shifts."
-----------------
On Wednesday morning, Aaron got dressed and bathed in the morning sun, feeling the digestion of the potion in his body. He frowned slightly.
Aside from the operation last week with the Church of the Evernight to encircle and suppress Jason Beria and that demon hound, which significantly digested his "Sheriff" potion, the hunting activities over the past week hadn't provided much digestion feedback.
At this rate, it would take at least another month to fully digest the "Sheriff" potion. Aaron exhaled, shaking his head with some helplessness.
Without delay, he went downstairs, preparing to head to the St. George Borough in Backlund. Today was the official opening day of East Tock Bicycle Company, and newspapers throughout Backlund had been competing to report on it since yesterday.
Going downstairs, Aaron looked around and didn't see Evelyn. He looked at Mrs. Celine on the sofa with some confusion:
"Mother, where's Evelyn? Didn't she want to see the opening ceremony, which is why she postponed her plan to return to East Tock County?"
Mrs. Celine chuckled and replied, "Evelyn said she couldn't wait and wanted to go take a look first, so she took Evelyn with her in a carriage. But I've already had the butler follow them."
Aaron looked around and indeed couldn't find Evelyn either, and couldn't help but shake his head and laugh.
Wednesday afternoon, Queen's Borough, Backlund, Duke Negan's Mansion.
The current Duke Negan sat on the sofa, silently looking at The People's Paper on the coffee table. A photo of Aaron, Count Hall, and Old Count Woolf shaking hands and jointly cutting the ribbon appeared on the front page of The People's Paper. The surrounding manservants and maids were silent, fearing to speak.
-----------------
Meanwhile, the capital of Lenburg, Issara.
A group dressed as merchants gathered in the eastern suburbs of Issara, consisting of 5 carriages and dozens of people.
Chek stood among the crowd, watching the clergy of the Church of the God of Knowledge and Wisdom change into merchant attire, his lips slightly curled.
Just as he was about to chat with a colleague beside him, he saw an old man wearing a plain white robe with brass-colored threads appear next to the bishop who was originally leading their group.
Chek smacked his lips and muttered softly, "Tsk tsk, that old man has terrible taste in clothes. The robes of the Church of the God of Knowledge and Wisdom really need some improvement."
As soon as he spoke, Chek felt a gaze fall upon him, his spirituality pulsed, and he looked up to see a pair of deep, bottomless grey-green eyes, belonging to the white-robed old man.
Chek couldn't help but want to slap himself. Ever since taking the Sequence 8 "Provoker" potion, perhaps due to its influence, he had developed a habit of being talkative recently, and some things just came out inexplicably.
Chek quickly lowered his head, not daring to look into those eyes again, and suddenly felt the "Provoker" potion rapidly digesting.
Chek was slightly startled, suddenly remembering the description of the Church demigod's appearance by the Honored Follower, and couldn't help but feel bitter inside. Could he really be this unlucky?
#59Chapter 59: Gathering of Wisdom Eyes
Luka Brewster, with his white hair and white robe, withdrew his gaze. The bishop beside him, following where his eyes had been, proactively explained:
"His name is Chuck Wallach, a Sequence 9 Hunter. I've checked the archives; he's a down-and-out noble from Intis, with a relatively clean family background."
Luka Brewster's expression was blank, but his tone was very gentle:
"No, Montella, you must understand, always maintain an attitude of awe and humility towards knowledge. That young man is no longer a Hunter; he is already, well... a qualified 'Provoker'."
Luka Brewster emphasized the word "qualified". Bishop Montella replied with some surprise, "What? A 'Provoker'? But it's only been less than two months since he became a 'Hunter', this..."
Luka Brewster pondered for a moment, then instructed Bishop Montella, "He's a good prospect. You can keep an eye on him. If he's willing, he can be absorbed into the Church."
He paused, then added, "Provided he passes all his examination subjects."
...
The team began its journey. Chuck, blending in with the group, was unaware that he had already attracted their attention, still excited by the feeling of the potion digesting.
The team's journey was long. They had to enter the Feysac Kingdom from the southeastern border of Ruen, pass directly through the Feysac Kingdom, reach the southern port city of Saivea, and take a ship to the Ruen Desi Bay.
After resting in Desi Bay for a period, they would take a ship directly through the safe route in the Furious Sea to Port Berenice in northern West Balam, and then travel by carriage to their destination, the northern state of Kookawa City.
According to Bishop Montella, who was in charge of the operation, if everything went smoothly, it would take approximately three months to reach the destination. Therefore, the Church had also advanced a large amount of salary to ensure their families' lives were worry-free.
---
Backlund, Steam Train Station. Aaron saw off his mother and Afney. He brought many things with him on the train, such as a bicycle and a sample of a newly developed tricycle.
Aaron took a carriage to the Ponder family's ancestral home on Williams Street. This ancestral home had already been taken over by the East Chester Guard. After hearing Darren's report, Aaron went straight to the basement.
In a relatively hidden spot on the side of the basement, a secret door was opened. Several family Beyonders stood on either side, vigilantly watching the entrance.
Aaron's pupils constricted slightly. Through the not-so-bright lighting, he vaguely saw a large underground structure at the end of the passage.
Aaron's lips curved slightly. *Hmph, you want to trick me into going in and exploring? I'll gather some helpers and we'll go in and beat you up together.*
He waved his hand, signaling Solon Bent to close the secret door, and at the same time, set up a Wall of Spirituality on it to isolate any potential influence.
Leaving the basement, Aaron instructed, "Keep a certain number of guards focused on patrolling the basement and the surrounding area to prevent anyone from digging tunnels nearby. Also, continue to monitor Raft Ponder."
After emphasizing the secrecy discipline again, Aaron returned home. As soon as he reached the third floor, he saw Evelyn, who had clearly gained weight in the past few days, lying on a blanket, sleeping.