Chapter 439 Gift from the Abyss
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As described in the notes, a huge tree was hung with shriveled or fresh corpses.
From the fresh corpses, it was clear that the people who had been hung up had suffered inhuman torture before their death.
It is said that these emotions, such as pain, resentment, and fear, can please higher-level demons.
Hobert simply counted, and there were already more than two hundred corpses hanging on the tree, which made the towering tree creak.
Seeing this scene, Hobert, although he had some opinions about the gods, still fully affirmed the role of the orthodox church.
If there were no blows from the orthodox church, many places might be like Teuton Viscount's territory, where the people are numb and dull, and there may be countless such trees full of corpses.
When he came to the tree, Knight Keton dismounted and knelt down piously, and then introduced to everyone with some pride that there was also a "Sacrificial Tree" in his territory, but unfortunately he has only hung up more than thirty corpses now.
For this reason, he said that he still needs to work harder to hang up a hundred corpses as soon as possible.
When Hobert was talking to him, he took a strand of hair from his clothes without paying attention: You don't have this chance, because I will go and kill you tonight.
As for why Hobert did this to these corpses who were hung up and had nothing to do with him?
Because Hobert was beaten in Backlund and had a belly full of anger, and he had nowhere to vent it.
Finally, they arrived at the Teuton Viscount's mansion. The viscount, who was in his prime, greeted Hobert very politely at the door, and secretly glanced at Helen, who was dressed as a maid, and sighed in his heart that Hobert was very lucky.
The banquet began in a harmonious atmosphere, until Grove came to the banquet, and the atmosphere immediately became subtle.
Grove deliberately approached Hobert, as if provoking him, and wandered around in front of Hobert twice.
He sneered and said, "I heard that Baron Hobert is going to take all the land in the territory under the name of the lord's mansion?"
"That's right," Hobert certainly wouldn't give him a good look: "It's just to prevent knights like you from running rampant in the countryside!"
"You are smearing the face of the nobles! There will be no good results!"
Hobert smiled and said, "Your son is now my servant!"
"You..." Grove drew his sword and was about to rush up and fight Hobert desperately, but fortunately, Teuton stopped him, and the two of them did not fight at the banquet.
After Grove left with a look of indignation, the atmosphere of the banquet became harmonious again, as if the little episode just now had never happened.
Of course, this kind of harmonious banquet is basically just talking nonsense.
When the banquet was about to end, Teuton euphemistically expressed his hope that Hobert could take action to clean up the monsters in the lake again.
After Hobert beat those fish-headed crocodile-bodied beasts so that they dared not go to Jeffery Town, those fish-headed crocodile-bodied beasts began to attack Teuton Town like crazy.
Hobert laughed and did not agree or refuse.
The banquet ended in such a harmonious but estranged and inefficient atmosphere and conversation.
After Hobert and his party said goodbye, they rode their horses and left unhurriedly.
It was still Knight Keton who sent them to the pier.
At the pier, several well-dressed men were waiting there. The leader, who looked like he was in his thirties, had black hair and unruly eyes. No matter how he smiled, it seemed like he was smirking.
Knight Keton quickly dismounted and prostrated himself in front of the man: "Mr. Arlin!"
This Mr. Arlin with a smirk on his face didn't even look at Keton, but said to Hobert: "I have brought you a gift."
He stretched out his hand to show the gift in his palm, which was a delicate wooden box with a demon pattern engraved on it.
Hobert did not dismount: "Is the demon family showing goodwill to me?"
"It seems that you know something about us!" Arlin smiled evilly: "This is a gift from the great 'Abyss' to you. You are the person chosen by Him!
"Cheer! 'Abyss' will return to the earth!"
Hobert smiled: "Sorry, I am a devout believer of the Earth Mother!"
After speaking, he bypassed Arlin and others, came to the pier, and boarded the ship while watching Arlin and others.
Arlin chased after him to continue giving gifts. They stood there and smiled at Hobert, smiling so hard that it made people feel goosebumps.
At this time, town residents like zombies came to the pier and knelt down and cheered towards Hobert.
This made Hobert once suspect that he had been tricked by some high-level demon?
But he repeatedly checked his spirituality and spirit, and found nothing wrong.
Until the boat sailed to the center of Full Moon Lake, the demons and the demon's believers on the pier were still watching Hobert.
Hobert was also staring at them. Suddenly, he felt his pocket tighten. While staring at the opposite pier, he stretched out his hand and took out a delicate wooden box with a demon pattern engraved on it.
"Damn it!" Hobert almost lost his hand and dropped the wooden box in the cabin.
He glanced at Arlin on the pier again. Although he could no longer see Arlin's face clearly, he could still feel his smirk.
Helen on the side said: "I really can't tell that you have the inner being of a demon, and you actually made these demons offer gifts as soon as they saw you."
In fact, Helen was the most nervous just now. The "Theosophy Order" had had some conflicts with the demon family before, and she thought that the people on the pier were coming for her.
Hobert smiled and said, "Since you like it so much, I'll give you this gift."
"I don't want it."
"Give it to you, don't be polite!"
Helen showed a beautiful chuckle and hummed cutely twice: "Don't try to trick me, this gift must not be a good thing! Otherwise, you wouldn't give it to me."
"Since you don't want it, then I'll throw it away!" After saying that, Hobert threw the small box into the lake and watched it sink into the water.
Helen also noticed that this gift was unusual. She asked with some concern: "Do you want to ask Ms. Monica to help?"
"No need," Hobert smiled and said, "I'm not afraid even if the 'Abyss' comes!"
"Lying," Helen said with a smile: "You are obviously starting to be afraid."
Then she asked: "What is the Abyss?"
"When you become the captain of the official Beyonder of Jeffery and make great contributions to me, I will tell you," Hobert said thoughtfully while looking at the lake.
He was a little strange, why did that demon say: The Abyss has chosen me?
The Abyss, besides being a real place, symbolizing the source of all evil and the land of depravity, is also the title of Sequence 0 of the "Demon" pathway.
Hobert didn't know whether the demon was talking about the place of the Abyss or the person of the "Abyss".
No matter what it was expressing, Hobert felt strange. He had never been in contact with a "Demon" or the "Abyss" pathway before. How could the "Abyss" give him a gift!
That oil painting!
Hobert suddenly thought that according to the records in "Colin Antigonus's Notes", the oil painting was obtained from the Southern Continent, supposedly from a demon family.
Thinking of this, Hobert said to everyone: "I remembered something important, I have to go back first!"
Before a few people could agree, Hobert had disappeared from the wooden boat.
One or two seconds later, the space in Hobert's bedroom suddenly became illusory. Hobert stepped out of the illusion and glanced at the oil painting hanging on the wall.
It was still the landscape painting, and there was no change.
Hobert sat on the chair and continued to consider what was going on?
Suddenly, he had a flash of inspiration and glanced at the table next to him. I don't know when, a small wooden box with a demon pattern engraved on it appeared in the center of the table.
Hobert was not as surprised as last time. He carefully looked at the wooden box, and then entered the "Nation of Disorder" in the way he prayed to himself, and checked the small wooden box with True Sight.
It looked like an ordinary small wooden box, and it did not reveal any evil aura.
Returning to the real world, Hobert simply opened the small wooden box. Since this small wooden box was destined to follow him, it was better to take the initiative to investigate it than to turn a blind eye.
Inside the small wooden box was an ancient ring with a demon head carved on it. Perhaps because of its age, the platinum ring had become a little black.
Hobert did not touch the ring. He entered the "Nation of Disorder" again and observed the ring with "True Sight".
Under "True Sight", the demon on the ring seemed to come alive. Although it was only a head, its expression was sometimes ferocious, sometimes angry, and sometimes roaring.
Hobert did not dare to bring the ring to the "Nation of Disorder". He was afraid that this was a trick of the "Abyss" to seize the "Nation of Disorder".
Although the probability that the "Abyss" knew that he was the master of the "Nation of Disorder" was very small, what if the other party knew through some means?
"Demons" and "Devils", besides being synonymous with evil, are also known for their cunning.
Hobert had never dealt with demons before, so of course he had to be careful.
Returning to the real world, Hobert didn't even mean to touch the ring. He closed the box, put it in a locked drawer, and then locked the drawer.
He knew that ordinary locks would definitely not be able to lock this box, or this ring, but this way he could feel more at ease.
As for why the "Abyss" wanted to give Hobert this ring? He planned to investigate it tonight.
Because of the protection of the "Nation of Disorder", Hobert was not afraid of the "Abyss". The current "Abyss" may still be the "Demon Monarch" Farbauti of the Second Epoch.
Speaking of those eight ancient gods, except for this "Demon Monarch", they have all fallen once. Although the "Progenitor of the Sanguine" and the "Dragon of Imagination" are not completely dead, they have fallen after all.
Only Farbauti has no clear information showing that He has fallen. On the contrary, Hobert still remembers that in the current Fifth Epoch, He is still active as the "Dark Side of the Universe".
This should be an ancient god who cherishes his life and understands the essence of "evil". Hobert felt that He should not mess around.
Letting out a long sigh, Hobert took out a note from his pocket.
This was what Grove secretly stuffed into him when he was at the Teuton Viscount's mansion, when Grove walked into the restaurant and wandered around in front of Hobert twice.
Hobert opened the note and read it. The contents were Grove's previous plan for Baron Teuton: first, use Hobert as an unstable factor to request the king's assistance; second, use Hobert's power to strike at the demons that had already lost control in Baron Teuton's territory.
After reading it, Hobert burned the note with spiritual flames: "This is a good strategist!"
This note was both a report to Hobert and an attempt to take credit.
Hobert pondered for a moment. These two strategies were equivalent to "getting something for nothing" for Baron Teuton. He didn't pay much cost, but he was likely to gain huge benefits.
For Hobert, he could freely go to the other side of Full Moon Lake to strike at the demons in the future, without having to worry about Baron Teuton's territorial awareness.
As for the king's assistance, Hobert smiled. Of course, the more assistance, the better.
Then Hobert went to the study and wrote a letter to Bishop Simpson, talking about his experiences in Baron Teuton's territory and inquiring about more detailed information about the South Colson demon family.
After another while, Seel and the others returned.
Facing their worried gazes, Hobert told them: "It's alright, go and do your work!"
Seel and Corwin couldn't help much, and Hobert wasn't comfortable letting Helen help, so he simply lied that the problem had been solved.
Just as the few people were about to leave, Hobert called out to Corwin again: "You come with me to the main hall."
Seeing that the lord was about to start dealing with government affairs again, Seel and Helen were completely relieved.
Arriving at the main hall, Hobert said: "I have a task to assign to you."
Corwin said somewhat excitedly: "Please tell me."
Generally, when the lord assigned a task, it was a sign that he was going to be given an important role.
"Go to Bugas City or Granada Port and hire a batch of carpenters and renovation workers." Hobert said: "In a while, a large number of renovation workers and carpenters will be needed in the territory. If they are unwilling to come, then pay them a generous salary."
Corwin nodded: "Yes!"
"Go to Philip and collect 500 gold Solas, take the ship rented by Seel, and set off this afternoon."
Hobert had previously asked Seel to rent a ship in Bugas City to lead the way for Montresor and his party. That ship had been docked in the port.
"Yes!" Corwin shouted again with high spirits and turned to leave.
"By the way." Hobert called out to him: "Go and call Grove's son here."
As soon as Corwin left, Alan came to report: "Lord, Wayne is back."
Hobert quickly called him in. Wayne happily paid his respects to Hobert and reported the general experience of buying the ship.
The ship was easy to sell, but it took several days to gather the crew.
They were all brand new steamships. According to Hobert's requirements, one was a cargo ship with a displacement of about 800 tons, and four were passenger ships that could carry 32 people.
Hobert was very satisfied with the task that Wayne had completed. After listening to the report from the accompanying financial staff, he immediately knighted Wayne as "Knight of Shipping!"
Wayne was so happy that he couldn't close his mouth. He had forgotten all about the hard work during this period.
Hobert said: "Rest for one night, and I will have to trouble you to make another trip to Granada Port to purchase a batch of decorative materials. I will have Roy send you the list in a while."
"As for the passenger ships, one will go with Corwin, one will go to Granada Port, one will go to Bugas City, and one will go to Feynapotter City."
"Regardless of whether there are passengers or not, stay in the port for one day and one night before heading back."
Wayne said with some difficulty: "But, but we don't have the relevant procedures."
"No relevant procedures are needed! Someone will naturally send us the procedures in a while." Hobert smiled and said: "If you can argue with the port staff and attract people to watch the excitement, I will also give the captain a reward!"
"By the way, each ship must have an eye-catching banner: South Colson, Jeffery Town Welcomes You!"
Wayne didn't understand what the lord was going to do. He was stunned for a few seconds before reacting under Seel's repeated winks: "Yes!"
After letting Wayne go to rest first, Corwin brought three people. Because the lord didn't say clearly which son to call, Corwin brought all three of Grove's sons.
After dismissing Corwin, Hobert looked at the three people. Grove's eldest son was called Archie, who was burly and had a long beard like a rude warrior.
The second son was called Edgar, who was also very tall, but had not yet grown a beard.
The third son, Dennis, was still a teenager in his teens, thin and not as tall as his two older brothers.
But only Dennis glared at Hobert with anger in his eyes and dared to look Hobert in the eye, while Archie and Edgar were obsequious and showed enough obedience.
Hobert said: "I need two servants recently. Archie and Edgar will stay and be my servants. As for Dennis…"
"Hobert Jeffery! This is an insult to the knight…" Dennis only shouted halfway before Edgar quickly covered his mouth.
Archie quickly apologized: "Lord, the child doesn't know how to speak, please don't take offense."
Dennis broke free from Edgar's hand: "You are afraid of him, but I am not afraid…"
Hobert smiled and said: "Since you are so brave, stay and be my manservant too!"
So the news quickly spread throughout the town that the fleeing Grove had angered the lord who went to the banquet, so the lord had all of Grove's sons be his manservants to vent his anger as soon as he returned.
Grove on the other side naturally cursed again. Baron Teuton scolded with Grove while trusting Grove even more.
But in order to prevent Grove from being threatened by Hobert with his sons, Baron Teuton sent Grove five beauties and hoped that the nearly fifty-year-old Grove would give birth to a child in Teuton's territory as soon as possible to inherit his current family business.
In the evening, Hobert received a reply from Bishop Simpson. The bishop said in the letter: "According to our understanding, the forces of the Blood Worship Sect are entrenched in the five adjacent territories of Baron Teuton, Baron Eugene, and Baron Felix.
"Mainly members of the Norse family. It is said that a demigod is in charge, but it is not clear in which field.
"There are also some members of the Andre family. The specific distribution of the members of the two families is also not clear, but there are at least three Sequence 5s."
While Hobert asked the kitchen to bring raw meat to entertain the spirit world dog that was already drooling, he pondered the opponent's strength.
If it was at Sequence 6, Hobert would have felt that he couldn't afford to offend them, but after being promoted and having a few Level 1 sealed items, Hobert's courage also grew, and he felt that he could completely go to the other side to fight.
After nightfall, Hobert changed into a set of tight and neat clothes, brought his portable magical items and sealed items, and entered the spirit world under the "navigation" of the "Faceless Necklace."
What Hobert was looking for was Knight Crichton, who had led the way for him today. In just one or two seconds, Hobert came out of the spirit world and saw Crichton devoutly worshipping a demon statue.
Crichton was startled when he saw Hobert: "Lord…"
Hobert deliberately did not change his appearance or wear a mask. He needed to distinguish between the two identities of Baron Hobert and "Favored of the Gods."
It was both for him to distinguish and for others to distinguish.
Crichton seemed to realize something and jumped to the weapon rack to get his sword. Hobert took a step forward and slashed Crichton's throat with a knife.
Amidst the gushing blood of "sizzling" sounds, Hobert kicked down the demon statue and sat on a chair, watching Crichton struggle to cover his neck and die in pain.
Then Hobert began to use the "Spirit Wine Glass" to communicate with the spirit world: "The residences and strengths of the Blood Worship Sect members that you know."
"…"
After chanting seven times, Hobert saw the residences of the Blood Sanctify Sect members one by one.
Their residences were easy to confirm. Either the walls had words written in blood, or there were piles of human heads in front of the door.
As for their strength, Crichton's understanding was very vague. He only knew that some people could use curses, some people liked to kill people, and some people could become huge and become "demonized" monsters.
Hobert pondered for a moment. The one who could turn into a "demonized" monster should be a Sequence 6.
Then he discovered that Yarlin, who appeared at the pier today, was not among these people.
However, Hobert did not continue to ask, because it was too late. From the moment he started communicating with the spirit world, it was estimated that these demons had sensed that someone was posing a threat to them.
If he didn't hurry up, he might not be able to catch even one demon.
"Travel" had just finished its cooldown, and Hobert stepped into the spirit world again and came to the residence of that Sequence 6 named Atwood.
The door of this "demon"'s house was piled with human heads, some of which were still "fresh" and some of which were just skeletons.
Seeing that the other party's door was open, Hobert quickly jumped to the roof and saw a figure running away quickly not far away.
He may have felt that the danger was very close to him, and he was "demonizing" himself while running away.
Hobert immediately used "Blink" and "Flight" to catch up: "Disorder!"
Although "demons" also have a strong defense against attacks in the spiritual field, Hobert was one sequence higher than him, so Hobert's "Disorder" made the demonized Atwood make a foolish choice.
He kicked open the door of a nearby house, preparing to add a few of his "collections!"
Hobert had already caught up: "Holy Light!"
Because he knew that he was going to deal with demons, Hobert put on the "Light Ring."
A huge beam of light fell, completely engulfing Atwood.
After the strong light passed, Atwood screamed and fell to the ground. The goat horns on his head, as well as his ears, nose, shoulders, and legs, had all melted to varying degrees, making him look like a melting wax figure.
The attack of "Holy Light" really has a bonus against demons!
Hobert was about to step forward and slash off the "demon"'s head, but he suddenly stopped, because he found that he had been surrounded.
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