Chapter 24: A Talent for Fundraising

Chapter 24: A Talent for Fundraising

After blankly following Ernest Boyar for some distance, Emlyn gradually began considering giving up.

He glanced at the increasingly heavy rain outside the arcade and could not stop himself from thinking:

“How should I punish Ernest? Although he was likely following orders or hints when he did this, he is still very detestable!

“As for Lord Nibais… I currently—currently do not have the ability. Once I, once I become a marquis or a duke, I will definitely make him pay!

“Miss Magician has already completed the exploration of that abandoned castle. I wonder whether she was monitored by Sanguine sent by Lord Nibais… Judging from her tone, her description, and the feedback given by Mr. Fool, probably not… Could it be that Lord Nibais did not send any Sanguine to the vicinity of that castle? But if so, what was the point of the test? Or did he miss the opportunity because of some problem?”

Amid his many thoughts, Emlyn felt that he should find someone to discuss how to punish Ernest Boyar. He truly lacked experience in this area.

Subconsciously, the first person who appeared in his mind was The Hanged Man. This senior member of the Tarot Club showed rich experience and extraordinary reliability in all kinds of matters, never disappointing the other members.

After hesitating for several seconds, Emlyn rejected this choice on his own. This involved the internal probing of the Sanguine. Before any result emerged, revealing it to a Tarot Club member would damage his pride and the overall image of the Sanguine!

For the same reason, he eliminated The World as an option.

Of course, he felt he could probably guess what suggestion The World would give:

Kill him!

There’s no need to go that far… Emlyn muttered inwardly. While aimlessly trailing Ernest Boyar, he expanded his range of potential discussion partners to the real world.

Then he discovered that he did not have many options to choose from. He barely had any friends.

After excluding his parents, who were also Sanguine, there were only two people he could consider. One was Father Utravsky of Harvest Church, and the other was the mysterious, resourceful great detective Sherlock Moriarty.

“Sherlock left Backlund and still hasn’t returned. Sigh, I can only find Father tomorrow. But I can’t say it so directly…” Emlyn quickly made his decision. Passing Ernest Boyar, who had entered a clock shop, he walked toward the end of the arcade, where several hired carriages were waiting.

After boarding a carriage and feeling the wheels begin turning, Emlyn casually turned his gaze toward the window. He saw more and more rain striking densely against the glass, dragging trace after trace down toward the bottom.

In his blurred field of vision, carriage after carriage drove past.

…

Audrey withdrew her gaze from the rainy scenery outside the carriage window, glanced at her personal maid Annie, and silently communicated with Susie, who was crouching beside her.

Through her eyes, expressions, and subtle body movements, she said:

We’re almost home. I’m a little nervous.

Susie wagged her tail, raised one paw, and fiddled with the gold-rimmed glasses hanging at her neck. Combining that with changes in the colors of her ether body and mind body, she expressed her meaning:

Don’t worry too much. Madam Escalante, who appears to be a Psychiatrist but is actually only at the level of a Telepathist, cannot see through your lies.

Audrey nodded slightly. She watched the carriage enter the Hall family’s luxurious villa and stop before the covered entrance hall.

Ever since joining the Loen Charity Bursary Foundation, she had spent less and less time at home during the day. She had originally planned to invite Madam Escalante of the Psychology Alchemists to 22 Phelps Street in the North Borough for a meeting. But since Mr. Dwayne Dantès had gone to the Southern Continent and was not at the foundation, that was no longer necessary.

Inside her private study, Audrey met Madam Escalante Osillica, whose black hair reached her waist and who had a doll-like face.

“I apologize. After returning to Backlund, I was constantly busy attending gatherings with friends, and later I joined the Loen Charity Bursary Foundation. Only today did I find time to meet you.” After leaving Susie outside the door, Audrey performed an elegant curtsy, displaying her attitude.

This was actually intentional. She had delayed by nearly a month. That way, the fact that she had finished digesting the Psychiatrist potion and advanced to Hypnotist seemed relatively reasonable—belonging to the progress of a genius rather than something suspicious.

Escalante returned the greeting without much concern.

“I have heard that you have been running around for those children who thirst for knowledge. Your virtue shines more brilliantly than diamonds.”

While gesturing for the other party to sit, Audrey walked to a single-seat sofa and gave a soft “mm.”

“The circumstances of those children are things I had never seen in the past. There is always a voice in my heart urging me to do something. Madam Escalante, if you have free time, you may accompany me and the staff of the Loen Charity Bursary Foundation to visit different schools and see the condition of most of the children in this world.”

At this point, she laughed lightly, as if mocking herself.

“I’m sorry. Recently, I’ve grown accustomed to bringing up this topic, because I want more nobles and wealthy people to participate in this virtuous act, donating more funds and helping more children.”

After listening to Audrey’s words, Escalante responded somewhat awkwardly,

“I will do that. I will also donate some money to the Loen Charity Bursary Foundation.”

“No. I do not wish to force you to donate. This must be an act that comes from the heart and is entirely voluntary. I only hope that you can go and take a look, then tell the people around you—including members of the Psychology Alchemists—about those children’s situations and the futures they might have.” Audrey shook her head, refusing Escalante’s proposal.

“All right.” Escalante first nodded lightly in considerable agreement, then felt that this matter carried an indescribable absurdity.

Miss Audrey’s true intention seems to be fundraising from the Psychology Alchemists as an organization.

But this is a secret, supernatural, underground organization!

There is essentially no difference between that and fundraising from the Aurora Order!

Audrey did not continue discussing matters related to the Loen Charity Bursary Foundation. Instead, she said,

“Madam Escalante, there is something I need to tell you.”

“What is it?” From the other party’s emotions and movements, Escalante “read” solemnity, joy, pride, and similar meanings.

Audrey smiled faintly.

“I have already become a Hypnotist.”

“…” At that moment, Escalante suspected that she had already been hypnotized by the other party.

Although she knew Miss Audrey had previously obtained the Hypnotist potion formula, how long had it been?

“You should be able to confirm that I am not lying.” Audrey smiled slightly.

Only then did Escalante recover. Both shocked and doubtful, she asked,

“It seems you have encountered an unusual opportunity?”

“I merely dared to put it into practice.” Audrey spoke words that could not be more true.

Escalante frowned slightly, hesitated, and said,

“You want the Sequence 5 potion formula?”

“Yes. What do I need to do, or what price must I pay?” Audrey did not conceal her goal.

Escalante looked at the beautiful blond, green-eyed young lady opposite her and said after some consideration,

“This is not something I can decide. I will report it upward and arrange for you to meet Hilbert and Stephen as soon as possible.”

She was referring to the psychologist and jewelry designer Hilbert Alucard, as well as the furniture merchant Stephen Hampres.

Clearly, within their group of Psychology Alchemists, Escalante occupied a subordinate position.

Audrey was not surprised by Escalante’s response, but that did not mean there was no problem with how the other party handled the matter.

A Sequence 6 Beyonder who had aspirations of advancing was, in any secret organization and even in the Churches of orthodox gods, a member worthy of attention and qualified to meet the higher-ups directly!

In other words, after advancing to Hypnotist, Audrey already belonged among the elites of the Psychology Alchemists’ middle ranks. Her next goal was to become a quasi-high-ranking member. The people she needed to meet should be members of the Psychology Alchemists’ Review Council, not people like Hilbert and Stephen.

As thoughts flashed through her mind, Audrey deliberately released a trace of displeasure.

Escalante keenly caught this signal and hurriedly explained,

“Meeting Hilbert and Stephen is to confirm your condition. After that, a certain council member will speak with you.

“Actually, with your current rank, you should be leading a small group and developing members beneath you. However, because of your identity, status, and everyday environment, we canceled that plan out of concern it would affect your usual life.”

Council member… I wonder how many members of the Psychology Alchemists’ Review Council are in Backlund… Could it be that royal adviser, Mr. Hvin Rambis? Audrey nodded thoughtfully.

“I understand. I will also wait for your arrangements.”

She then changed the subject. Her eyes turned slightly as she asked curiously,

“Madam Escalante, do you know what the Sequence 5 potion of the Spectator pathway is called?”

Seeing the blond, green-eyed noble young lady unconsciously reveal a girlish posture, Escalante secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

“I once heard Hilbert mention it. It is called Dreamwalker.”

Dreamwalker… That is a little different from what I imagined. Or perhaps this “dream” is only a substitute term. The more accurate name should be Walker of the Subconscious? Audrey did not conceal the fact that she was thinking and analyzing. Then she guided the topic toward various fields of psychological knowledge.

After keeping Escalante for dinner, she escorted the lady out of the entrance hall and watched her board a carriage.

At that moment, the outside was deep in night. The wind roared, and the rain poured down.

…

Amid the pouring rain, howling wind, and deep black night, a passenger ship powered by both sails and steam was traveling along the safe route through the Berserk Sea.

Klein had already left the Southern Continent and was returning toward Desi Bay in the appearance of Dwayne Dantès.

As the ship swayed, he suddenly woke, turned over, got out of bed, and walked to the window of the first-class cabin’s sitting room, gazing outside.

In the deep night where rain flew chaotically, a massive three-masted sailboat covered in pure black silently sailed over.

On both sides hung lamp after lamp. It was nearly a hundred meters long and suspended three pitch-black sails.

On its deck, leaning against the cabin, stood a mottled stone chair two to three meters tall. At that moment, no one sat in it.

This was the Black Emperor. This was the symbol of Nast, King of the Five Seas—the Black Emperor!