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4.73% Lord of Mysteries: The Stars Return / Chapter 31: Chapter 31: Planting a Gold Coin, Growing a Golden Tree

章節 31: Chapter 31: Planting a Gold Coin, Growing a Golden Tree

Chapter 31: Planting a Gold Coin, Growing a Golden Tree

Taking advantage of Deputy director Bard's absence, Hugh began to exercise her professional abilities.

"Is this string of bells really something you picked up from outside?" Hugh asked with an indifferent tone that carried an authority that brooked no refusal or lies.

She was using her extraordinary abilities as an arbitrator.

"Yes," Amy replied timidly. "I found it at the foot of the mountain a month ago, and many people can vouch for me."

"What do you think of Dean Darn?" Hugh inquired further.

"He's terrible," Amy said. "He often doesn't give us food and always threatens to lock us up in the underground solitary confinement."

"And what about Deputy director Bard?"

"Dean Bard is a good man. He treats us well and always takes care of us."

"Is there anyone in the almshouse who is peculiar on a regular basis?"

Amy thought for a moment before answering, "Dean Darn, he loves to dream."

Hugh became interested. "What kind of dreams does Dean Darn have?"

Hastur, who had been listening, also became serious upon hearing this question.

"He always dreams of digging a hole in the ground, planting a gold coin, and then growing a tree laden with gold coins."

Hugh and Hastur were stunned by this answer. Such dreams of wealth, they had fantasized about them too.

"In the morning, when he wakes up, he gets angry because the golden tree has disappeared. He loudly curses us as thieves, stealing the gold coins that belong to him," Amy added.

Hugh's expression turned peculiar. She had thought she might uncover something unusual from Dean Darn's dreams, but it was just the fantasy of a man extremely greedy for wealth, nothing suspicious.

Hastur pondered for a while before asking, "Has Dean Darn ever dreamed of burying children in the ground?"

Instructor Folen's face paled, shocked at Hastur's question, recalling the cruel acts of burying children in the ground at the almshouse mentioned by his teacher. Hugh's eyes widened, listening even more intently.

"I only remember him angrily shouting that the thieves who stole the gold coins should be buried in the ground so that his golden tree would produce more gold coins."

"Did Dean Darn really say that?" Hugh had an ominous suspicion.

"Yes, many people heard it. We even mocked in private that only someone as greedy as him could grow a golden tree laden with gold coins if buried in the ground," Amy said with certainty.

Hugh walked over to Hastur and whispered, "Did Dean Darn really do such cruel things?"

"It's a possibility."

"That's despicable! How could he not spare even the children!"

Hugh clenched her fists in anger, regretting not keeping a closer eye on Dean Darn, allowing him to escape.

Hastur, restraining his own anger, asked calmly, "What is the relationship between Dean Darn and Deputy director Bard on a regular basis?"

Amy thought long and hard before whispering, "Dean Darn has often talked about firing Deputy director Bard. Once, when he was very angry, he even said he would lock Deputy director Bard in solitary confinement forever, making him a prisoner for life."

"Why was Dean Darn so angry that time?"

"I'm not sure. I just remember that Dean Darn was in a very bad mood that day, and many people were punished by him."

As Hastur was about to continue his questioning, Deputy director Bard and a policeman came over, leading a boy who was clearly taller than Amy.

After some questioning, it turned out that the boy named Simon had indeed stolen Amy's bells the night before and had sneaked out, but he didn't have the courage to scare Aunt Lisa. Instead, like Amy that night, he hid in the washroom and spent the night.

"That's good," Hugh sighed with relief, returning the collected bells to Amy and warning him not to run around late at night or shake the bells at will, lest he disturb others.

The two policemen also gave Amy and Simon a verbal reprimand, then let Deputy director Bard take them back to rest.

It seemed there had been a misunderstanding that night, and the two policemen didn't stay long. After Deputy director Bard sent the people back to the dormitory, they left together.

The iron gate was locked again, and all was quiet.

The two policemen and Deputy director Bard went back to rest, while Hastur and his companions returned to his room for a brief gathering.

"Are you hiding something from me?" Hugh asked with a stern face, tapping the table with the trident in her hand.

"It was a man named Old Jeff who told my teacher…" Instructor Folen steadied himself, using his storytelling ability.

Hugh was furious after listening. "Is there any doubt? Old Jeff must have discovered Dean Darn's crimes and then was murdered by him!"

Hastur agreed with Hugh's deduction.

The murder of Old Jeff was almost certain, but even if Dean Darn was the culprit, he would need an accomplice, wouldn't he?

With Dean Darn's character of being greedy and valuing his life, he certainly wouldn't personally deal with Old Jeff. There must be subordinates in the almshouse who were willing to do his bidding.

Today's search confirmed all of Dean Darn's crimes, but it did not find the accomplices who helped him commit them.

This was ultimately a hidden danger.

Hastur thought for a while, then shared his thoughts with Hugh.

"I'm equally professional when it comes to interrogation," Hugh declared confidently.

"Everything must be within the bounds of the law; do not resort to violence arbitrarily," Hastur felt it necessary to remind Hugh.

"Me, violent? I'm just sometimes more direct in my approach…" Hugh's cheeks flushed slightly, her voice lacking confidence.

"Considering our acquaintance, if you end up in the police station because of such matters, you can ask for my help," Hastur offered.

Hugh, dissatisfied with Hastur's words, retorted ungraciously, "Ask you? With your status as a destitute baron?"

"I am also a lawyer, and now I am the legal advisor for Bavarte Bank."

Hugh fell silent, then asked in a low voice, "Is Bavarte Bank very wealthy?"

"Not just wealthy, very wealthy."

"Sigh, it's a pity I don't have the ability to rob a bank; I can only earn a meager living through hard labor."

Hugh sighed, suddenly feeling dispirited, waved her hand, and lost the interest to continue the conversation. Instructor Folen followed her out.

"Sometimes I also think about robbing a bank," Hastur sighed as well, but it was just a thought, like Dean Darn's dream of planting a gold coin to grow a golden tree.

Locking the door, Hastur lay back on his bed, pondering tomorrow's matters.

Regardless of whether there was news from Professor Wayne, he had to go home first. Not having bathed or changed clothes for two days made it difficult for him to sleep.

As for the remaining doubts about the almshouse, he would wait until Dean Darn was found.

Perhaps he was overthinking it, and Dean Darn was the sole culprit.

As for the different sounds of the bells on two nights, it could be due to different people's strength; the sound of the bells varied accordingly.

Hastur thought a lot and soon fell asleep, choosing to go to the Hall of Stars.

Now he was gradually familiar with and mastered the Hall of Stars, able to decide whether to enter it after falling asleep.

With recent troubles, Hastur sat with his eyes closed for a long time before looking at the star belonging to the Lamp God.

As his gaze drew closer, the starlight dissipated.

The phantom of the lamp still flickered with a dim light, very peaceful and serene.

Hastur stared for a while before whipping the Chain of Order as usual.

After shifting his troubles, he felt much more relaxed.

The next morning, Instructor Folen knocked on the door again.

Hastur, who had barely slept, was woken up. He got dressed and slowly opened the door.

If Instructor Folen was disturbing his sleep for some trivial matter, he wouldn't mind showing him what cruelty meant.

Fortunately, the news Instructor Folen brought was shocking and a cause for celebration.

Professor Wayne was found! It was said that around two or three o'clock last night, Professor Wayne returned to his house and was quickly discovered by the policemen closely monitoring the area.

Then early in the morning, the news reached the dock area, and Instructor Folen was the first to inform him.

"Did Professor Wayne walk back on his own?" Hastur asked with a displeased tone.

"That's what they say."

"Haha, how fortunate."

Hastur's expression grew darker. He had only suspected before, but now he was certain that this disappearance case was orchestrated by Professor Wayne himself!

He didn't care that Professor Wayne had taken over his role; what angered him was that Professor Wayne hadn't given him any notice, causing him unnecessary worry.

Instructor Folen coughed lightly and said, "Well, I think the teacher didn't do it on purpose. Maybe he was just in a hurry and didn't have time to say goodbye to us."

"Instructor Folen, while you were anxiously unable to sleep eating white bread, Professor Wayne must have been alone, silently drinking wine, accompanied by a roasted sausage, spending a very sad night."

Frustrated by Hastur's description, Instructor Folen felt his anger surge instantly.

Suddenly so angry! 

(End of Chapter)


章節 32: Chapter 32: The Bright Side of Rules, The Shadow of Order

Chapter 32: The Bright Side of Rules, The Shadow of Order

After successfully angering Instructor Folen, Hastur consoled him, "Perhaps it's as you said, Professor Wayne didn't say goodbye to us simply because he ran out of time."

Folen didn't respond.

The two chatted at the door for a while, and then Hugh came out of her room.

"Is it true that Professor Wayne has been found?"

"Yes, thanks to Miss Hugh's help along the way," Folen recovered from his anger.

"Hmm, well, even though I didn't personally rescue Professor Wayne, the necessary hiring fee cannot be omitted."

"20 pounds is a reasonable price," Hastur offered a fair compensation.

"Agreed." Hugh had no objections, after all, it was 10 gold pounds more than she had expected.

Hastur took out two 10-pound notes and handed them to Hugh, planning to get reimbursed by Professor Wayne later.

Folen shared the same thought and gave Hastur a supportive look.

After receiving her due payment, Hugh didn't linger and hurried towards the direction of the basement.

To uncover the secret passage in the basement, the officers decided to use explosives to blow open the lounge, preparing to proceed.

Hastur had no interest in the commotion. Now that Professor Wayne's safety was confirmed, he didn't want to stay at the poorhouse any longer.

Folen agreed, and after a quick wash, they both left the poorhouse.

Boom! Boom! Thick gunpowder smoke filled the air as the lounge hiding the secret passage was blown open, revealing a hidden room blocked by a stone door.

Inside, Dean Darn was dead, clutching a wooden chest filled with gold coins.

Finally back home, Hastur's first task was to take a comfortable bath.

The sticky feeling was unbearable, and thankfully the weather wasn't too hot, otherwise, he would have smelled the sour stench of sweat.

After bathing and enjoying a carefully prepared dessert, Hastur felt revived.

"Lord Baron, Lord Greck has sent an invitation, asking you to attend tonight's banquet," the butler Neil reported at the perfect time.

"Yes, I will attend on time."

"You should handwrite a reply to show your anticipation and regard for the banquet."

"Alright, I'll take a nap later, wake me up at lunch."

"As you command."

Hastur got up and returned to his bedroom, missing the large bed and soft blankets after two days away.

He fell asleep within minutes of laying his head on the pillow.

In the eastern district, at Professor Wayne's house.

After Folen went home and cleaned up, he immediately rushed to his teacher's house.

"Ah, Folen, my good student, I was so afraid I wouldn't see you again!"

Professor Wayne warmly embraced Folen.

Folen still looked upset.

"Folen, are you blaming your teacher?"

"I wouldn't dare."

Professor Wayne sighed, "Alas, that night after we parted, I happened to find a key dropped by a guard. It was such a perfect opportunity, how could I miss it?"

"I left the poorhouse in a hurry without saying goodbye or explaining the truth, to avoid being discovered. I purposely went up the mountain, taking a long detour until dawn when I left the vicinity of the docks."

"To ensure the plan didn't fail, I stayed in the mountains for a day and a night, and only left the mountains to return home the following night."

To convince Folen of his story, Professor Wayne rolled up his sleeves to show his arms scratched by vines and branches.

"Is that really what happened?" Folen was persuaded.

"Of course, my goodness, Folen, do I seem so untrustworthy to you now?"

Folen's anger dissipated, and after a moment of thought, he frowned and said, "Mr. Hastur won't be as easy to convince as I am."

"For this matter, I've already prepared a gift last night."

"Teacher, what about my gift?"

"Ah, Folen, have you also become so greedy now?"

Folen gave Professor Wayne a resentful look, thinking he was too soft-hearted; otherwise, he would have had a share of the gift.

At two in the afternoon, Hastur arrived at Professor Wayne's house, while Folen had already gone back to rest.

Professor Wayne repeated the same story, and Hastur listened quietly.

"Professor Wayne, I have a few questions that I need you to clarify for me."

"I am an open book, a virtue I've always adhered to."

Professor Wayne smiled, inviting Hastur to sit down and brewed him a cup of Earl Grey tea.

"Did you really make a new decision because you were lucky to find a key dropped by a guard?"

"No, that night after hearing your plan, I had already made up my mind. You are a promising noble, and you shouldn't waste your credit on such matters."

"How did you manage to sneak past everyone at the poorhouse and hide in the mountains overnight?"

"The poorhouse's patrol arrangements are quite good, but I have acquaintances who helped me at a critical moment."

"Vice Dean Bard?"

"Yes, he is more suitable to be the new dean of the poorhouse than Darn."

"Did you really hide in the mountains for a day and a night?"

"Of course not, I left the docks area via the mountains overnight and spent that time at a friend's house."

Hastur paused his questioning, looked at Professor Wayne, and said in a relaxed tone, "So, what gift have you prepared to compensate for the hurt in my fragile heart?"

"You truly are a student I taught."

Professor Wayne stood up, walked to a bookshelf, and took out a thin deed from a book.

"This is a deed to your Campbell family's estate."

Professor Wayne handed the deed to Hastur, adding, "Don't look so surprised; your father is a gambler who has squandered much wealth, and this is just a small part of it."

Hastur examined the deed, which was for an estate dedicated to growing various flowers. Although not large, it was worth at least ten thousand gold pounds.

The value wasn't the most important aspect; the deed was the ancestral property of the Campbell family, marking their rise from obscurity to glory.

This history, perhaps forgotten by Voltaire Campbell, was always remembered by Hastur, taught by the old butler.

"This gift is too valuable; I cannot accept it."

"It is rightfully your family's."

"Once it's been given away, it's no longer part of the Campbell family."

Professor Wayne laughed, sipped his tea, and slowly said, "Because you have a good butler."

Hastur trembled, "Did the old butler arrange this?"

"He knew your father was a gambler and would eventually squander the family fortune. To leave you some assets, he devised many methods."

"I have a decent relationship with him. He asked for my help, then arranged for me to gamble with your father. I didn't disappoint him and won this deed in one night."

"Speaking of which, Voltaire's gambling skills and luck are terrible. That night, I did nothing but flip and look at cards, and I won."

Professor Wayne's thoughts drifted back to that night's gambling, shaking his head with a laugh, "I've never seen anyone as unlucky as him. Emperor Roselle described such people as 'bad at playing but still loves to play'."

Hastur remained silent, sharing the same opinion.

After a moment of silence, Hastur returned the deed to Professor Wayne.

"I think the old butler's agreement with you was to keep it for me temporarily until I have enough money to redeem it from you."

He understood Robert, the old butler, a wise man who wouldn't rely on empty sentiments to ensure Professor Wayne would unconditionally return the deed.

Keeping part of the Campbell family's legacy for Hastur to redeem when he was capable was the arrangement he would make.

"Such affection between you two is enviable."

Professor Wayne sighed. As a renowned law professor at Beckland University and a wealthy man with a good butler, he was sure his butler wouldn't be as loyal as Robert.

Robert had dedicated his life to the Campbell family, and the family's glory was his will.

Such a butler could only be cultivated by a noble family with a long heritage.

"If that's the case, then when you graduate from my tutelage, I'll return this deed to you as a graduation gift," Professor Wayne said with a smile, taking back the deed.

Hastur chuckled, "Isn't that condition a bit too lenient?"

"Heh, so far, only Folen has truly graduated from my guidance."

"I feel I've already learned some of your essence."

"Oh? Do tell."

"A flexible bottom line and a shameless attitude."

Hastur spoke cheerfully, adding in his mind, "The shadow of order."

Professor Wayne, a talented and ambitious law professor, had given Hastur and Instructor Folen two different kinds of teachings.

One was the bright side of rules, and the other was the shadow of order.

Instructor Folen was actually quite naive and clumsy. Without the protection of noble status, learning to use the law to serve mainstream elites would ensure a good future for him.

The knowledge the professor imparted to Hastur involved many darker aspects, allowing him to understand the overall structure of society and the essence of the law.

Learning to exploit the law for personal gain and then waiting for the opportunity to change the law was probably Professor Wayne's greatest hope for him.

(End of Chapter)


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