In the small living room on the second floor, where the afternoon tea party was usually held, Seth saw his mother, Anilu. Although no longer young, she still exuded elegance as she flipped through a collection of poems. The glasses perched on her nose lent her an air of intellectual beauty.
Since there was no afternoon tea gathering today, Seth was relieved. He wouldn't have to deal with those ladies, especially since some of them seemed to have ambiguous relationships with the original owner of his body—a situation he preferred to avoid.
"Good afternoon, Mom," Seth greeted as he strode into the room. His bright and cheerful tone made Anilu look up from her poetry, remove her glasses, and smile warmly at him.
"Would you join me for afternoon tea? Unfortunately, it's still a bit early."
Seth quickly crossed the room and sat on the carpet beside her, looking up at her with a grin.
"I found something interesting in one of your books, and I wanted to ask for your advice."
"Oh?" Anilu gently stroked his tousled black hair.
"What did you find?"
Seth handed her a diary—one that belonged to Emperor Roselle. Anilu put her glasses back on and examined them.
"Ah, you found this? Where did you come across it?"
"In that book about the Mythology of Creation," Seth replied with a knowing smile.
"Are these symbols or something else?"
Anilu took off her glasses again and chuckled.
"This is a note supposedly lost by Roselle Gustav before his death. Of course, it's not the original."
"It's said that the great emperor invented a strange set of symbols to keep his secrets hidden. What you see now is his unique creation."
"This note was something I came across during my earlier adventures. I tried deciphering these symbols, using a mix of mathematics, ancient languages, and occult knowledge, but I couldn't make any sense of them."
"To be precise, I couldn't decipher a single symbol—except those representing numbers. Eventually, I put it away, never expecting you to find it."
Seth nodded thoughtfully and asked, "Is this the only one? I find it fascinating and would like to try deciphering these symbols myself."
"Unfortunately, this is the only one I have in my collection. I've heard that some Extraordinary parties occasionally auction off the Emperor's notes, but it's difficult to tell the genuine ones from the fakes. After all, only the Emperor himself truly understood these symbols and their meanings."
Anilu shrugged lightly. "Many collectors who are passionate about such items often end up buying fakes. However, people can still differentiate between real and fake notes through divination and philology."
Seth felt a twinge of disappointment. "I see. I'll watch for more opportunities to collect them in the future."
Anilu added, "It's fine as a hobby, but don't devote too much energy. You still have a lot to learn. Don't forget that tomorrow, you'll study ritual magic and amulet crafting."
Seth reassured her, "I'll manage my time well. Don't worry, Mom."
The next day, Seth and his sister Annabelle went to their mother's 'private classroom,' where they spent the entire day.
In the morning, they learned about ritual magic, discovering that different gods required prayers with items made from specific materials. For instance, to pray to the Goddess of the Evernight, they needed candles made from moonflowers, deep red sandalwood, and similar materials.
In the afternoon, they studied amulet crafting, which involved mastering incantations and various symbols. They also learned how to channel their spirituality by carving and engraving these incantations and symbols onto amulets.
Seth quickly realized he needed more talent in ritual magic and amulet crafting. Annabelle, on the other hand, excelled in these areas, leaving Seth feeling somewhat behind.
After dinner, Seth returned to his room—his original bedroom. Since his last encounter with the monster known as 'Gorey,' during which the bedroom window had been shattered, the room had been refurbished with a new window and rearranged. Seth had now moved back in.
From time to time, a dog barked outside the window. Since the attack, the villa's security had been heightened at night, with two hounds added to the guard force.
Seth heard the distant neighing of horses and the rumbling of wheels. Glancing out the window, he saw the family carriage leaving the gate. It seemed his father still had social obligations even at this late hour.
When the clock on the wall struck ten-five, Seth changed into a high-collared long coat with buttons running down the front. He strapped on his golden revolver and donned the Shadow Gauntlet, finishing his ensemble with a black iron mask.
Now transformed into the bounty hunter 'Duke,' Seth quietly opened the window and slipped out of the house without drawing any attention.
Desi Bay is south of Enqi Town. If one walks along Mermaid Road, they'll eventually arrive at the City Gate. Passing through this ancient gate, which witnessed the White Rose War, a right turn and a fifteen-minute walk will lead to a white sandy beach.
That was White Beach.
Consulting his pocket watch by the crimson moonlight in the sky, Seth saw that there were still ten minutes left until his agreed meeting time with Doug.
He moved under the trees near White Beach, blending into the shadows. After a while, he noticed a group of gang members nearby.
They were gathered around someone, seemingly beating them. From time to time, screams and mocking laughter broke the night's silence.
The gang leader, Doug, wasn't among them. At that moment, Seth heard another horse neighing. He looked toward the sound and saw a carriage parked far away on the beach.
Although the 'Hunter' had sharp eyesight, the distance and poor lighting made it difficult for Seth to determine the carriage's details.
The carriage door opened, and a stout figure stepped out, bowing towards the vehicle's interior.
The carriage quickly turned and disappeared into the vast night while the short, stocky figure began walking back. As he drew closer, Seth finally recognized him—it was Doug, the leader of the Black Tie gang.
With his hands in his pockets, Seth left the shadows and approached the group on the beach.
Doug spotted Seth and spread his arms wide, shouting, "Duke, you're right on time!"
Seth gave a slight nod in response, saying nothing.
Seeing their boss return, the gang members parted, revealing a man kneeling on the beach. Blood stained his face, clothes, and the sand around him. He'd been beaten badly.
Doug approached the man, delivering a vicious kick to his stomach, and snarled, "Run, why don't you run now?"
"Traitor! You dare betray me? Trying to report me, huh? Fine, I'll let you make your report!"
Doug raised his hand, and someone handed him a pistol. He pointed the gun at the 'traitor,' a cruel smile on his face.
"You're lucky. I've got other business to attend to, so I need more time to play with you. Could you do me a favor and end it quickly? You should be grateful for my kindness."
He cocked the revolver, but just as he was about to pull the trigger, Seth pressed down on his hand, causing the bullet to hit the sand instead.
Doug looked startled but then grinned. "Duke, what's the meaning of this?"