Bab 424: Helene
The sudden arrival of the new owner had left the steward, Mr. Harvey, unprepared. Nevertheless, Ebner could see the effort and diligence he had put into the welcome banquet.
This was unsurprising. The steward and servants of the estate enjoyed relatively decent working conditions and generous salaries. Naturally, they wanted to curry favor with their new master to avoid losing their cherished positions.
After briefly "reading" their surface thoughts, Ebner realized that Cullen had selected reliable personnel to stay behind. Although they harbored personal interests, such sentiments were entirely natural. In fact, Ebner found the idea of using a selfless "saint" far more unsettling than relying on someone with typical human motivations.
Thus, after sampling a few bites of the appetizers, he announced that all current staff could remain employed at the estate, with their salaries unchanged.
Upon hearing this, everyone—from Mr. Harvey to the most junior maid—breathed a sigh of relief. Their smiles grew more sincere as they served a veritable feast of soups, side dishes, main courses, staples, vegetables, fruits, and desserts, totaling over a dozen dishes.
The grandeur left Winter, the guide, swallowing audibly in awe and envy. He was deeply impressed by his employer's apparent wealth and extravagance.
Little did he know that Ebner himself was not particularly fond of such ostentation, especially since it all came out of his pocket. However, as a newcomer, it was more important to reassure the estate staff with a proper welcome banquet than to forgo the expense.
Fortunately, the Fragrant Manor cultivated many spices, and the annual profits from selling them provided a substantial income to offset the costs.
As Ebner finished the main course and prepared to nibble on some fruits and desserts to appear polite, his spiritual intuition suddenly stirred, prompting him to set down his fork and knife.
Having anticipated potential complications given his "accident-prone" nature, Ebner had taken the opportunity to tour the estate and discreetly set up simple "spell traps" in various corners of the castle.
These traps were not lethal but rather designed for stealth and to alert him of any intrusions.
This defensive setup was something he had learned during his meeting with Emma in the Backlund University Library.
Now, he sensed that the trap near the third-floor study had been triggered. Since it wasn't cleaning time, no servants should have been near the study.
On the other side of the table, Mr. Harvey grew tense when he noticed Ebner setting down his utensils. He asked nervously, "Is the Tiana fruit not to your taste? I can have the chef prepare a different fruit platter."
Tiana was a local specialty fruit, renowned for its pleasant flavor. Even the future "Bell Ringer Angel" had sipped on its juice before listening to the scriptures of the Fool.
"Tiana is delicious; there's no need to change it." Ebner shook his head and instructed Mr. Harvey to arrange a room for Winter. Then, with a casual excuse, he left the dining room, declining the company of any attendants.
Alone, he made his way to the third-floor study, keeping his Pure White Eye active to "trace back" recent events. It didn't take long to identify the uninvited guest.
"Striking red hair… Emerald-green eyes like gemstones… A healthy complexion, not pale…"
"Her movements are swift. She's undoubtedly an Extraordinary, likely one with enhanced physical attributes… Combining her hair color and agility… A Hunter?"
"Wait… I just spotted Tracy, Vice Admiral of Ailment, in Bayam earlier. Could this be the event where Helene escapes? But wasn't she supposed to head for the Intis Consulate? How did she end up here?
"Most importantly… Did Tracy pursue her? And if so, how do I handle it? As the Hero Detective, I don't want to attract trouble or reveal too much of my strength. But Tracy is a pirate—she won't bother reasoning with me."
Determined to act swiftly, Ebner sealed the surrounding space with his spirituality. He then opened the door to the study, exuding simulated "Dragon Might."
Inside the study, Helene was hiding. After escaping from the Seid Chamber of Commerce, she had fled toward the outskirts of Bayam, avoiding the main roads and weaving through forests and narrow paths.
As a Hunter-pathway Extraordinary, Helene was accustomed to such terrain. However, her ornate gold-and-red dress, adorned with ribbon-tied flowers—a favorite of Tracy—was cumbersome and fragile. It snagged on branches, leaving her almost indecently exposed by the time she emerged from the woods.
Overwhelmed by shame, Helene had stopped her escape to seek clothing. She snuck into a nearby estate, aiming to find a simpler outfit before resuming her flight.
The estate happened to be hosting a banquet. With servants bustling between the first and second floors, Helene avoided detection by scaling the third floor and slipping into the study.
To her delight and surprise, she found a neatly folded suit inside the study.
Without hesitation, she stripped off her tattered dress and put on the suit.
But just as she finished dressing, the door suddenly opened, and an invisible wave swept over her. Her body trembled uncontrollably, and she involuntarily wet the trousers of the suit she had just donned.
Moments later, her legs gave out, and she collapsed to the floor.
Ebner, unfazed by her pitiable state, simulated the Whip of Agony. He conjured a lightning-infused whip that hovered over her spirit and demanded, "Did Tracy follow you here?"
While speaking, he applied a subtle degree of psychological suggestion.
Overwhelmed by the threefold effects of Dragon Might, the Whip of Agony, and the suggestion, Helene lost all resistance. Without even questioning how her captor knew about Tracy, she spilled everything she knew.
Upon learning that Tracy was preoccupied with negotiations and wouldn't return until at least midnight, Ebner breathed a slight sigh of relief. After a brief pause, he asked again:
"So, the ones pursuing you are likely the Chamber of Commerce's local personnel… led by the Deceiver Misol?"
"Yes…" Helene stammered, trembling under the lingering threat of the whip.
"That simplifies things." Ebner's eyes narrowed as a straightforward yet effective plan formed in his mind:
He would eliminate the pursuers entirely and ensure Tracy was forced out of Bayam before she caught wind of Helene's presence. This way, no one would know Helene had sought refuge at his estate, and the Hero Detective's true strength would remain concealed—at least for the time being.
As for Helene? To maintain the separation between "Hero Detective" and "Doctor Strange," she would have to stay hidden at the estate until his Polymath potion was fully digested.
Having made his decision, Ebner began setting up a protective ritual learned from the Astrology Book to confine Helene securely within the study.
Once finished, he clasped his hands in prayer and recited the Fool's honorific name in a low voice:
"The Fool who does not belong to this era;
"Mysterious ruler above the gray fog;
"King of Yellow and Black who wields good luck.
"I ask for your guidance in conveying a message to Mr. Hanged Man: Tracy, Vice Admiral of Ailment, is currently at the Seid Chamber of Commerce in Bayam. Please have him report this to the Church of Storms as soon as possible.
"I am willing to pay an equivalent price for this favor…"
For example, the bounty on Misol, the Deceiver—assuming he dared pursue her!
(End of Chapter)
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone