Chapter 128: Emanuel's Decision
Main Hall, Holmes' Mansion, Bristol Street.
At this moment, almost all the guests had left the mansion. Only a few people, like merchants and some servants of knight households, talked with Stephaine and other servants and gathered information.
A blonde-haired man in his thirties stood near the hearth and talked with a middle-aged man in a double-breasted suit.
"How long will it take for the House to return the wagons after renting? Our shop has only 15 wagons right now. If we rent five of them for over a week, it might affect our overall business."
"You don't need to worry about the time, Sir Alfred. My Lord said that he would pay double the amount. Also, we might plan to do business in the long term." Emanuel answered.
Alfred spoke coldly, "Talk after your Lord reclaimed the ruined town. I chose to rent these wagons to a fallen house as a gesture of respect to Lord Count. But listen well, Emanuel—if even one wagon is damaged during this expedition, your Lord will owe me 30 gold coins per wagon."
Emanuel could only smile wryly.
After all, he wasn't 100% sure this expenditure would succeed.
"Anyway, it's time for me to go as well." Saying so, Alfred shook his hand and walked away from him.
At that moment, a 60-year-old man in a butler suit walked close to him and greeted him while tipping his hat.
"Good day, Mr. Emanuel."
"Greetings, Mr. Mateo." Emanuel knew that this man was a butler of Highmere Estate and greeted him politely.
"The clock strikes at thirteen," Mateo said with a smile, and gave a small piece of paper in his hand.
Meanwhile, Emanuel's face stiffened.
It means something was wrong and warned him to abort the mission!
Before Emanuel could speak, Mateo calmly touched his shoulder and patted him.
"The carriage is ready." Saying so, he walked away from him.
'The escape plan is in place? Does that mean I have a way to save myself from this situation?' A hope appeared in his eyes.
Alas, another sentence suddenly echoed in his ears.
"Giaris fog is thick tonight."
On the other hand, Emanuel's expression turned worse.
He knew the real meaning behind those words.
'Danger is near, proceed cautiously, huh?' He muttered inwardly.
He could tell it wasn't an order from the higher-ups but a warning for Mateo himself.
As more and more guests left the mansion, his hands and face started becoming sweaty.
Once everyone left the mansion, he quietly arrived near the hearth and opened the paper.
It was a secret message.
"02 Willow Lane, North Borough. Use the 18th password of the 7th page once you reach the entrance and walk in. A guest will be waiting for you…"
'My mission is done? Is it because of the last report?'
His mind instinctively moved to report it to Raven, but he refrained from the strange urge.
'Damn it, it's the spell again. It urges me to report this to Thomas Holmes.' He could feel his heart aching. But not as painful as before.
'If I had become a Walker and awakened my Sea of Consciousness, I wouldn't have ended up in such a situation.' But Emanuel knew that if he didn't follow the secret order he had received just now, he would be dead before morning.
However, in Thomas's case, he could delay relaying the message about this secret letter.
'Technically, I'm not meeting with a member of Humphery, so I don't feel any backlash.' At this moment, he didn't know whom to trust at all.
'Ha, it's time for me to decide.'
Emanuel pondered momentarily and glanced around cautiously before walking towards the mansion entrance.
"What are you doing here all alone, Emanuel? Aren't you going to sleep?" A woman's voice came from behind, causing him to turn around.
A black-haired woman in her forties walked towards him from the kitchen and looked at him in confusion.
Emanuel scratched his head awkwardly and responded.
"The banquet made my body a bit tired, Madam Stephanie. I want to take some fresh air."
"At this hour?" She gave him a deep look and soon shook her head.
"Come back before 4 o'clock. A representative from Lucas Company will come here for a talk about the survey."
"I'll return in an hour, Ma'am." Saying so, he continued to walk.
Meanwhile, Stephanie watched his back with a sharp gaze and soon felt a gust of cold air passing through her.
"Ugh, I suddenly feel cold. I should go and rest." She muttered solemnly and turned around to walk towards the servants' quarters.
On the other hand, Emanuel left the mansion house and quickly put on a hooded robe to cover his head.
He then walked on Bristol Street and approached Salford Main Road.
After walking on the dark road, he left the Salford Borough and entered the Northern Borough.
After that, he moved to Willow Lane and soon arrived at RA-02 Police Station.
"Who's there?" As he approached the entrance, one of the police officers stood on guard, raised his rifle, and asked while pointing it in his direction.
"The tailor has new fabric, Sir," Emanuel said as he removed the hood and revealed his face.
"Go to the second house." After retracting the weapon, the officer gave him a deep look and responded by unlocking the iron gate and allowing him to pass through.
Emanuel soon stepped into the station's courtyard and moved towards the left side, where four single-storied houses were built within the compound. He moved towards the second building and knocked twice on the wooden door.
"Who is it?" A deep voice came from inside.
"A letter has arrived," Emanuel answered.
"The door is open. Come in." A response came after a short delay.
Meanwhile, Emanuel grabbed the doorknob and slightly turned it before carefully opening it.
The dimly lit room revealed a cluttered desk with papers scattered across it. Inspector Bennett, a young man with red hair and deep amber eyes, was sitting on a worn-out chair, flipping through some documents.
"An informer, huh? Why did you come at this hour?" He asked without lifting his face.
"The eagle has landed with a golden feather, Sir," Emanuel responded.
Bennett furrowed his brows and asked.
"Give me a short report."
"Lady Anastasia from the Ravenshield Family and Daley from the Findlay Family have come to attend the banquet, Sir." His words caused Bennett to pause in surprise.
"Didn't the report say his connecting with the Ravenshield family was just a bluff?" He looked at him with a sharp glare.
"Please forgive me, Sir! I didn't know he-" His heart tightened as he was about to talk about Raven. He instantly grabbed his chest and started breathing heavily.
Meanwhile, Inspector Bennett noticed his odd behavior and soon furrowed his brow.
"A curse spell?" It didn't take long for him to realize that some restriction was placed on Emanuel from revealing crucial information. But Emanuel wasn't affected by Raven's spell due to a loophole. Raven indeed restricted him from talking about Holmes's house-related matters to anyone. Not only that, but he even ordered him not to relay any information to the Humphery Household without his permission. But he never ordered him not to reveal anything about Lady Anastasia or Young Master Findlay.
"Was it a magic contract? No, don't say a word about him and trigger the effect. Tell me who attended and what happened at the banquet in detail."
Emanuel nodded his head and started talking.
"Although I didn't hear what they discussed during the banquet, I did overhear Count talking to Lady Rowina about the House and even showed his full support by presenting the 'Knight's Sword' as a gift."
"Samuel's artifact? I heard that each sword he created has a unique effect. That Count is not someone who takes a losing side." Inspector Bennett had warned Count that they had an Expert Rank as a backup. But Count Andres supported Thomas Holmes openly, even after hearing such a warning indicating something was wrong.
'Holmes' house has the power to face off an Expert Realm Walker!'
"Could it be that Alchemist from Ravenshield will help him personally? What did she give him as a gift?"
"Anastasia Ravenshield gifted him a potion, Sir. And Dailey Findlay gifted him a rare bracelet called 'Guardian's Bracelet.'" He answered.
"Didn't the letter from Holmes' mansion provide detailed information about all his newly recruited knights? Wait! Is that information fake?" At that moment, Inspector Bennett realized their plan might have been exposed already.
"Did he restrict you from leaving the house permanently?" He asked.
Emanuel shook his head.
"I will only die if I talk about his house or his personal matters to outsiders."
Bennett pondered momentarily and took a Gladstone bag from the nearby drawer.
"You've done your job well. The storm arrives at dawn. Leave," he gave it to him before adding.
"There are 50 platinum coins in the bag and a Common Knight Technique you requested. We will no longer bother you."
"Thank you, sir." Emanuel grabbed the bag and hurriedly walked out of the House.
He quietly entered the courtyard, left the police station, and started carefully walking on Willow Lane.
It was already 3 A.M.
So, he couldn't even see a single soul on the road.
He moved towards the alley road and planned to take a train to the South Borough to leave Giaris.
But as he walked only a few hundred meters, he suddenly saw a man sitting on the roadside.
Due to the darkness, he couldn't see his face clearly and thought of him as a beggar.
As he walked past him, a cold yet familiar voice echoed from him.
"I've warned you multiple times, kiddo. But here you are playing hide and seek."
Emanuel turned his face towards the man in panic, but soon froze as he couldn't find him.
"You've underestimated our Young Lord too much." A cold voice came from behind, causing him to stiffen up.
Before he could open his mouth, a strange pain appeared in his neck.
The next second, he saw the world start to spin!
No, he saw his own body staggering without a head!
Then, the whole world darkened.
…
Marcellus sheathed the sword he was carrying and stored Emanuel's corpse in his spatial ring.
"The rose has wilted." He muttered coldly and started walking into the dark alley.
…
Meanwhile, Inspector Bennett sat on the seat and was writing a letter.
"Damn it. Things started getting more complicated day by day." As he spoke, a strange drowsiness appeared in his mind.
"I'm sleepy? Haa, I need to send a warning…"
He tried to keep himself awake, but soon fell on the table before falling asleep.
A moment later, an illusionary humanoid figure appeared behind him and soon became a blonde-haired woman in her thirties.
"Let's see what secret you are hiding," Selene said as she grabbed Bennett's head and then muttered.
"Dream Walk."
A second later, she disappeared!
…
Selene soon woke up in a strange mansion's bedroom and was startled deeply.
"Are you awake, My Lord?" A male voice came from outside, causing her to furrow her brow. At that moment, she felt the voice a little familiar.
But what startled her more wasn't the voice but her own hands. Even without looking in the mirror, she could tell this body was not a woman's but a man's!
She slowly walked out of the bedroom and looked at the mirror.
The man who appeared before the mirror was a middle-aged man with blackish brown hair and brown eyes. He had a slightly obese body, a handlebar mustache, and a triangular face.
"A completely unfamiliar face." A deep voice came out of the mouth.
"Are you there, My Lord?" A knocking sound came.
"I'm," Selene said in a deep tone and walked towards the door before unlocking it from inside.
To her surprise, the one that appeared before her was a familiar red-haired young man in a butler suit.
'Inspector Bennett? But he looks so young. So, he was working in this mansion as a butler?' Her curiosity piqued.
'But I need to act normally. Or else, he might notice something and wake up from this dream.'
Selene maintained a composed expression as she stepped back, allowing the red-haired butler—Inspector Bennett, in an unfamiliar role—to enter.
Bennett bowed slightly, his sharp amber eyes scanning her face with the trained precision of a servant well-versed in his master's moods. "You seem troubled this morning, My Lord. Shall I prepare your usual tea?"
Selene hesitated, quickly piecing together her situation. She was inhabiting a nobleman's body within Bennett's dream, an altered memory. What role did this man play in Bennett's life? More importantly, what secrets did this dream hold?
"Yes," she said in the same deep voice, lowering her tone to match the body's natural register. "And bring me today's paper."
Bennett nodded and left the room without another word.
Selene took the opportunity to scan her surroundings. The bedroom was lavish but dimly lit, decorated in deep mahogany and crimson. Its grandeur was laced with an unsettling gloom. Dust motes floated in the stale air, and an odd chill clung to the walls.
She moved toward the desk by the window and glanced at a stack of letters, her fingers pausing over the wax-sealed envelopes. Each bore the insignia of House Duskbane—a name that rang no bells in her memory. Who was this nobleman? And why was Bennett, an inspector in Giaris City, serving in this place?
A sudden knock on the door snapped her attention back.
Bennett had returned with a silver tray, carefully placing a steaming cup of tea and a folded newspaper on the table. "Your schedule remains unchanged, My Lord. Lord Duskbane has requested your presence in the main hall within the hour."
Selene masked her confusion.
'Lord Duskbane? If this nobleman isn't Duskbane himself, then who is she?'
"I see," she said smoothly, taking the newspaper. As she unfolded it, her gaze landed on the date.
'1st, January, 1384…' She also noticed that it wasn't Legacy Times newspaper but a newspaper called 'Silent Quill.'
'Isn't the Silent Quill based in the Viser Kingdom?' What startled her more was that the newspaper was over 30 years old!
"Wait outside for a while," Selene ordered.
Bennett nodded quietly and walked out of the luxurious room.
Meanwhile, Selene hurriedly moved towards the desk and started unsealing the letters.
She hurriedly skimmed through the letters and soon came to an understanding.
"The senders are mostly from baron and viscount households. If this man were the Lord of Duskbane, it's understandable. But from the looks of it, he seems to be Lord Duskbane's second son. Why would nobles send letters to a second son of a household?" It wasn't mere greetings but more like flattery.
Within seconds, Selene understood that this Duskbane House might either be a High Rank noble or Royalty!
'No, the Royal family name of Viser Kingdom is Viser Azarael.'
'Either a Margrave Family or a Duke.' She skimmed through a few more letters and learned that this middle-aged man's name was Jared Duskbane. And he was born in the Duke's Household of Viser Kingdom!
She quickly placed the letters in the same place and called Bennett back.
As Bennett walked in, Selene took the silver pocket watch from the desk, flipped open the outer case, and looked at the time.
'8.15 A.M.'
"Repeat today's schedule." She ordered.
Bennett bowed slightly before speaking in a respectful tone.
"At 9 A.M., breakfast will be served in the grand dining hall, where you are expected to dine with Lord Duskbane and the other household members. At 10 A.M., you meet with the estate's financial advisor, Sir Vauclair, to review recent expenditures and trade agreements. At 11:30 A.M., Lady Evelyn has invited you for tea in the west garden. Lord Duskbane has also requested your presence in his study this afternoon, though he did not specify the reason." He paused for a moment and then added.
"At 3 P.M., you have a meeting with the Heinrich Excavation team to discuss the Agith Ruins. At 5 P.M., you will attend the Linguistic Scholars meeting and plan to showcase the Stone Tablet to discover its origin. At 7 P.M., you will attend Count Evans's banquet party and the meeting of Hollow Court at 2 A.M."
'A meeting at 2 A.M? What kind of meeting?'
Selene listened to Bennett's words and realized that the Heinrich Excavation team must have been involved in Holmes House's downfall.
"There is the Stone tablet, too..." She muttered.
"Archeologist Aiden from the Heinrich team said that the weapons found near the stone tablet should be around 10,000 to 12,000 years old, My Lord. But with the current archeological testing methods, we can't be sure of his words." Bennett deliberated for a second and then added.
"But there is a 50% chance that this stone tablet might be mentioned in the Ancient Gamsan Literature. If it is said to be true, then it will shake the whole history of the world."
'This stone tablet is not a simple one, huh?' Selene thought for a moment and spoke.
"I need to take a look at the stone tablet again."
Bennett furrowed his brows as he felt his Lord was acting strangely. But he wasn't even able to question his Lordship and responded calmly.
"The stone tablet and other artifacts are stored in the Underground Treasury. Do you want me to go and retrieve it, My Lord?"
Selene shook her head and spoke.
"No. I want to check something else in the treasury, too. Let's go."
Bennett bowed and led the way through the dimly lit corridors of the mansion. The air was thick with the scent of aged wood and candle wax, and the walls were lined with paintings.
They descended a spiral staircase, the stone steps worn smooth from years of use. At the bottom, a reinforced iron door stood, guarded by two armed men in dark uniforms. Their faces were unreadable, but the sigil embroidered on their sleeves—an intricate snake entwined with a dagger—immediately caught Selene's attention.
One of the guards stepped forward and bowed. "Lord Jared, your presence was not scheduled in the treasury today. May I confirm the purpose of your visit?"
Selene maintained a commanding tone. "I wish to check something. Open the door."
The guards hesitated for a moment but then complied, unlocking the heavy iron door with a set of thick keys. The scent of aged parchment and preserved relics wafted out as the doors groaned open.
Inside, shelves lined with tomes, scrolls, and artifacts filled the underground chamber. Glass cases housed weapons, ceremonial items, and strange sculptures. The room was dimly lit by hanging lanterns, casting flickering shadows that made the artifacts appear almost alive.
Bennett walked ahead, leading Selene toward the back of the chamber, where the Stone Tablet was placed.
The tablet was massive, about five feet tall and three feet wide, and its surface was covered in words in a different language. The edges were chipped, and dark stains marred the lower half as if it had once been submerged in blood.
"Why do you need to see the stone tablet, My Lord? Wait, wasn't I in my Police Quarters a while ago?" Bennett suddenly asked and froze like a statue.
'Oh? He already recalled his sealed memories?'
Meanwhile, Selene curled her lips upward, touched the stone tablet, and stored it in her 'Dream Storage.'
"I'd love to explore your dream world, but I'm in a hurry. See you later." As soon as Selene spoke, Bennett suddenly saw his Lordship turn into a puddle of sand and fall.
"M-My Lord?" He panicked and tried to touch the sand, but soon saw the surroundings shaking.
The massive pillars holding the building started to fall one by one, and the whole chamber collapsed.
Before he could understand the situation, a massive boulder from the broken concrete wall fell on his head and killed him!
…
Bennett suddenly woke up in the real world and looked at the table and the documents in shock and confusion.
"What was that strange dream?" He strangely felt that the whole dream was abnormal.
As he was about to focus on his work, strange, invisible hands suddenly gripped his head.
Even though he was a Radiant Walker, he wasn't invincible.
Before he could mutter, the grip of the invisible hands twisted his head with greater force and snapped it.
A sudden cracking sound echoed in the tiny House as Bennett's hands and legs twitched.
"Lord Holmes sends his regards." A cold voice echoed in the room.
A moment later, the humanoid silhouette that appeared behind Bennett started to fade like an illusion and disappeared like a ghost.
...