章 440: Chapter 440: The Real and Fake Hastur?
Chapter 440: The Real and Fake Hastur?
"Did you just say that many people dress like this and walk around late at night?"
Klein ultimately chose to deflect the question with another question.
"This book, *Children of the Stars*, is the best-selling mystery novel right now. Some readers like to embrace the mystery by dressing up like this."
"Mr. Hastur, you seem to know a lot about this."
"Mr. Klein, you haven't answered why you know so much about the King in Yellow."
Klein's mouth curled into a bitter smile. How did the boomerang come back to him again?
"I just heard about it from someone."
Klein then fabricated a non-existent person to explain some information about the King in Yellow to Hastur, while pretending to casually ask why Hastur was here.
"Adventure. The ruins of Emperor Roselle have reappeared, and they are of great archaeological value. As a fan of Emperor Roselle's culture, how could I miss such an event?"
This reason was something Klein could accept.
During his time adventuring at sea, he had encountered many fanatical admirers of Roselle. They were willing to risk their lives to decipher the mysterious texts left by Roselle.
The crimson moon had quietly disappeared at some point, leaving only the stars in the sky, whose faint light barely illuminated the space in front of them.
Klein's heart suddenly trembled. He looked up again at the ragged yellow figure claiming to be Hastur.
Under the hazy starlight, the figure remained indistinct, especially the face. Though it wasn't covered by the ragged yellow robe, it was still impossible to see clearly.
This gave rise to a ridiculous thought in Klein's mind.
Was the Hastur in front of him really Hastur?
Or was it the King in Yellow, deliberately creating an illusion to mislead him?
Did it know he suspected a connection between Hastur and the King in Yellow, so it disguised itself as Hastur to confuse him?
If the Hastur before him was indeed the King in Yellow in disguise, it would explain many coincidences.
The more Klein thought about it, the more plausible it seemed. When dealing with mysterious events, one could not rely on common sense.
His vigilance increased several times over.
"Mr. Hastur, why can't I see your face clearly?"
As Klein asked this, the fate charm in his left palm was ready to activate, and he was prepared for battle.
"Can't see clearly?" Hastur turned back, speaking in a deliberately ethereal and oppressive voice, "Then I'll come closer so you can take a good look."
"No, there's no need."
Klein's body tensed, and he decisively refused the offer.
"It's getting late, and I have matters to attend to. Mr. Hastur, please rest early."
As Klein was about to leave, the streetlights flickered and then went out, plunging the surroundings into darkness and silence.
In this world lit only by scattered starlight, the ragged yellow figure in Klein's vision became even more indistinct and mysterious.
"Mr. Klein, are you doubting me?"
The casual tone made the surrounding temperature drop several degrees, and an inexplicable chill penetrated Klein's skin and into his heart.
Klein took a few steps back. "It's not doubt. I just don't believe Mr. Hastur would appear here for no reason tonight."
"Maybe I just came to catch up with you."
"Catching up in the middle of the night is a bit too unique."
"An encounter is an encounter, whether it's day or night."
"Then why hasn't Mr. Hastur rested yet?"
"Because I came to see you."
During their brief conversation, Klein keenly noticed that the shadows cast by the starlight were flowing into the ragged yellow figure's feet.
He then realized that the feet covered by the ragged yellow robe were actually pitch-black tentacles, greedily devouring the surrounding shadows and darkness.
Looking closer, he saw that Hastur's originally indistinct face was now wearing a pale mask, with countless tentacles writhing beneath it, merging with his flesh.
This scene made Klein's scalp tingle because the real King in Yellow looked exactly like this.
*As the face reflects the heart?*
Klein didn't know why this phrase came to mind. Was it because he had seen through the King in Yellow's disguise that he could now see its true form?
He couldn't stay any longer!
He needed to find an opportunity to leave!
"Mr. Hastur, do you remember Leonard from Backlund? He's a mutual friend of ours!"
Klein's shout broke the silence, even causing the flowing wind to pause momentarily.
Seizing this opportunity, Klein dashed backward, firing his gun named "Death Knell." The gunshots echoed through the street.
He ran far away until the previously dark streetlights lit up again. He stopped and calmly observed his surroundings.
There were pedestrians walking by, and the shops along the street were still open, with occasional sounds of haggling.
Although it was late at night, there was still a bit of lively atmosphere.
The ragged yellow figure had disappeared, and the chill it brought was dissipating from his heart.
As expected, the person he had been talking to wasn't the real Hastur but the King in Yellow in a mysterious event!
Klein stood in a daze for a long time until the passersby began to comment on his cautious stance with the "Death Knell" gun. Only then did he put away the gun and leave.
In the darkness at the end of the street, the ragged yellow figure disguised as Hastur quietly vanished.
This prank had been more successful than expected.
Especially the last part, when Klein began to doubt. Hastur had cooperated by creating a mysterious and eerie atmosphere.
Hastur was already planning how to deny being there the next time he saw Klein.
...
Audrey, awakened by Susie at dawn, opened the window to the morning sea breeze, gradually waking up. She recalled her late-night outing with Mr. Hastur, a smile forming on her lips, feeling much more cheerful.
The sea view, which she had almost grown tired of, now seemed more charming and lively.
"Audrey, can you take me along next time you go out?"
Susie, with a look of grievance and longing, placed her front paws on the bed's edge.
She wanted to go out and play too, instead of staying on the ship all the time.
"No, Susie, you need to cover for my absence."
"Audrey, that's not your true intention. You're lying."
Susie's sharp eyes seemed to see through Audrey's heart. "You deliberately left me behind so you could go out alone with Mr. Hastur."
"Susie..."
Knock, knock, knock.
Just as Audrey was about to find an excuse, a knock on the door diverted her attention. She got up to open it.
It was Hugh and Fors, saying that a pirate group nearby was targeting the *Hope*.
Quickly, Audrey led Susie to the deck with Fors and Hugh. Through the telescope, she clearly saw six ships arranged in a semicircle, waiting for the *Hope* to enter their trap.
Audrey also noticed that the pirate group had its own flag, a pirate flag with white bones.
"This is the pirate group of one of the seven pirate generals, Vice Admiral Disease." Hugh, who had gathered a lot of information about pirate groups, explained.
Her eyes sparkled. Without the Vice Admiral Disease's flagship, *Black Death*, this was a bounty delivered to their doorstep!
Audrey put down the telescope and handed it to Fors, who was also interested. "Are they specifically targeting us?"
Hugh chuckled. "Not sure, but regardless of their target, it's a considerable bounty."
As they discussed, Hastur also came out to the deck.
"Good morning, Mr. Hastur." Audrey greeted him with her usual cheerful smile.
Hastur smiled back, and Hugh approached to report the situation.
Vice Admiral Disease's fleet—were they here to find the missing Elaine?
What a coincidence.
Wait, does this mean there's a chance to see Klein cross-dressing?
Hastur's thoughtful expression made Hugh and Fors think he was troubled. Did Mr. Hastur also fear Vice Admiral Disease?
"Mr. Hastur, Vice Admiral Disease and her flagship, *Black Death*, are not here," Hugh reminded him.
Hastur put away his thoughts and smiled. "I just remembered something interesting."
Yes, something interesting about Klein's first time cross-dressing.
If he could bring Audrey along to watch, Miss Justice could see another side of Mr. Fool's interests.
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