Mystery: The Stranger

Chapter 8 Border Baron

Snow Serin's evil and arrogance were almost overflowing.

These words were like the most alluring poison, striking Leah's heart with pinpoint accuracy. Looking into the unfathomable depths of Snow's eyes, feeling the all-encompassing power in his words, her remaining will to resist gradually crumbled.

As a listener, she could vaguely sense the terrifying malice hidden within the man before her, but she could also feel the order and planning behind that malice—which reminded her of the time Rodney often mentioned when the Solomon Empire still existed, the real world stage, where those extraordinary nobles who held great power were all so ruthless and powerful.

Snow gently stroked her hair, his movements tender, but his tone carried an undeniable command: "Until then, we need to wait patiently. Wait for a future that isn't too good, but isn't too bad either."

His voice, like a whisper from the abyss, steadily eroded Leah's last psychological defenses. Meanwhile, Saratas laughed even more unrestrainedly; his silent laughter, audible only to Snow, was filled with a mockery and ecstatic pleasure of human nature.

The shadows gradually receded, and the room returned to its usual tranquility. Only the light in Leah's eyes, which had initially been filled with fear, slowly turned into numb obedience—she knew that from this night onward, the master of Hawke's Castle had changed.

...

As dawn broke through the night mist, the stone walls of Hawke's Castle were bathed in a pale gold. The salty sea breeze still blew, but it seemed to have dispelled the sulfurous smell of the previous night. The servants in the castle were busy as usual, polishing silverware, preparing breakfast, and trimming the garden. No one knew that a fatal change had taken place in the master bedroom.

Breakfast was served on time in the restaurant. On the long table were toast, fried eggs, hot milk and smoked meat. Snow Serin sat in the head seat, wearing Rodney’s dark blue aristocratic morning suit, and calmly cut the smoked meat on his plate.

He imitated Rodney's usual eating habits, chewing slowly and carefully, and even slightly frowning when drinking milk—a subtle sign that Rodney disliked lactose.

Even the old butler who knew Baron Hawke best did not notice anything unusual while serving him.

The territory has been plagued by too many troubles lately. Tax revenue from three villages has plummeted for three consecutive months, and the guards that have been trying to forcibly collect taxes have repeatedly run into obstacles. Even worse, last week, the village of Rye in the north foolishly summoned a demon in an attempt to resist taxes, and the entire village was eventually swallowed up by the power of the abyss, leaving only a scorched ruin and wandering, heartless people. The guards still have to be dispatched to continue clearing them out.

The old butler assumed the Baron was simply depressed by these events, hence his taciturnity, and never suspected that the "Baron" before him had already been replaced by a different soul.

Leah sat beside Snow, dressed elegantly and behaving dignifiedly. She would occasionally add a glass of milk to her "husband's" cup and whisper to him if he liked the breakfast, playing the role of a perfect baroness.

Her two children—ten-year-old Eric and seven-year-old Lillian—sat in the high chairs opposite her, chattering about their dreams from the previous night. Leah would occasionally respond gently, but a hint of wariness and worry lurked in her eyes.

It wasn't until breakfast was over and Snow got up to go to her study that she breathed a sigh of relief. She immediately settled the children, instructed the nanny to take good care of them, and then began her plan as Snow had instructed.

Five people arrived on time at the long oak table in the council chamber.

Sequence 9 lawyer Arnold sports a neatly trimmed goatee and sharp, eagle-like eyes. His fingertips unconsciously trace the gold thread pattern on his cuffs. As Rodney's most trusted strategist, his eloquence and sensitivity to loopholes in the rules have helped the Hawke family resolve border disputes on numerous occasions.

The two Sequence 9 Mystics wore faded, dark purple priestly robes with symbols of a fallen God embroidered on their chests. They carried an aura of mixed holiness and twisted charisma. They were descendants of priests from the Solomon Empire and the presiding priests of religious activities within their territory.

There were also two Sequence 8 barbarians, so large they almost touched the beams of the council chamber. Their muscular arms were covered with hideous scars, and they carried heavy battle axes at their waists, the blades still stained with blood. They were the main force of the castle and Rodney's sharp blades in suppressing rebellions.

"Why hasn't the Baron arrived yet?" Arnold spoke first, his tone professional and serious. His gaze swept over Leah, who was standing next to the main seat, but he couldn't find any panic on her face, only growing anxiety, which lessened his doubts.

Leah gestured for the servants to leave, then walked to the wine cabinet in the corner and took out a bottle of perfectly sealed red wine—the wax seal on the bottle was still the same as it had been three years ago. This was Rodney's most treasured wine, which he would never show to anyone easily.

"Rodney dealt with the aftermath of the Black Rye Village incident last night and didn't get to rest until late. He has a fever this morning and asked me to discuss things with you all first," her voice was calm and steady, with just the right amount of weariness, perfectly replicating the image of a noblewoman who was worried about her husband and anxious about her territory.

"As you all know, the events in Rye Village were caused by demons, resulting in the tragic deaths of the villagers, and leaving the remaining villagers in a state of panic. How to proceed with tax collection, how to completely eradicate the remaining wicked in Rye Village, how to strengthen border patrols, and most importantly—after the collapse of the Solomon Empire, we need to find a new superior noble to ensure the safety and legitimacy of the Hawke family. These are all pressing matters, and Rodney must make the final decision."

As she spoke, she picked up a crystal goblet and poured wine for each of the five people. The crimson liquid swirled in the goblet, reflecting an eerie luster. No one noticed that the colorless and odorless Shadow Toxin had already seeped into it—this demonic pathway toxin, provided by Snow, did not harm the physical body but specifically targeted the spirits of extraordinary individuals. Like a spiritual plague, it could imperceptibly erode the mind, distort the senses and cognition, and ultimately turn a person into a puppet to be manipulated at will.

"Madam, this wine..." Arnold's gaze fell on the wine glass, his brow furrowing slightly. He clearly remembered that Rodney had said that this bottle of wine was to be saved until the border was pacified and a new patron was found before being opened to celebrate. Now, with the situation so critical, it was clearly not the time to drink.

Leah seemed to see through his doubts. She picked up her glass, took a small sip, and gave a bitter smile. "This is Rodney's idea. He said the border is fraught with danger, and you are all pillars of the Hawke family. You've been working hard these past few days, so you deserve some good wine to refresh yourselves. Besides, the summoning of demons in Rye Village is too strange. He suspects that other forces are secretly behind it. We'll need your help with the defense and investigation going forward."