Could this damned golden box be the thing that those Fate pathway Beyonders were pursuing?
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Wasn't this thing supposed to still be on the third floor of his old house? Which shameless fellow sent this thing here?
They even went so far as to wrap the golden box in an extra layer of an iron case, how vicious!
What "guidance of fate"? Clearly someone is playing tricks behind the scenes.
He absolutely didn't believe that the golden box had come here on its own.
For a moment, countless thoughts surged through Hastur's mind. Only after a while, seeing that the golden box showed no abnormalities, did he gradually regain his usual calm.
Since this thing had already been delivered into his hands, he could no longer turn a blind eye.
But he didn't want to open this golden box either, better to just let it remain sealed away.
As for who sent it, that was no longer important.
The more he ignored it, the more anxious the one hiding in the shadows would become, and sooner or later they would reveal themselves.
Hastur covered the golden box again with the iron case and bound it tightly with packaging straps.
He intended to bring the thing up to the third floor and place it in a room where no one lived.
Let's see what other tricks it could possibly stir up.
Hastur originally wanted to summon the servant outside and have them store it away, but after some thought, he decided to do it himself.
If anything unexpected happened, he would be able to handle it immediately.
Carrying it by the strap, Hastur went up to the third floor, found a sunny room, placed it inside a drawer, and even locked it.
After finishing all this, he returned to the study on the second floor, took out pen and paper to jot down his thoughts, then burned the writings.
…
In the afternoon, Hastur sat at the window, bathing in the breeze, leafing through a book written in Jotun.
"Lord Baron, someone has sent a gift." Butler Neil knocked on the door, his voice clear.
Another gift? Hastur's face changed slightly. Was he at odds with gifts today?
This morning he had already opened two gifts, one containing a war emblem extraordinary item, the other the golden box.
Both looked precious, but in reality, both concealed danger.
"Bring it in."
In the end, Hastur closed his book and had Butler Neil bring the gift inside.
"This gift is from a man called Mr. Maric." Neil placed the gift on the desk, then withdrew.
A gift from Maric, rare of him to be thoughtful.
Hastur felt much more at ease. As long as it wasn't something of unknown origin, it was fine.
As usual, he first scanned it with Spirit Vision. After confirming there was no danger, he opened the gift.
It wasn't that he didn't trust Maric, just a matter of habitually being cautious.
Inside the box lay a flower shaped like a baby, its root like an umbilical cord, pale yellow petals holding a tiny red bloom.
It gave off a faint, pleasant fragrance.
Hastur observed it for a while, then confirmed that this was exactly what he had been searching for all along, the Weeping Infant Flower!
"This gift really came at the perfect time."
Hastur was very satisfied with this gift.
After admiring it for a while, he closed the box again, then sealed it with spiritual power, so as not to affect the quality of the Weeping Infant Flower.
Yet after the initial joy, he felt something amiss.
He had long ago entrusted Maric to find this item, but until now, he had never succeeded.
How could it be that at just this moment it was found, and even delivered as a gift?
Could it be that this gift had been prepared by Miss Sharon?
It must have been her way of repaying the favor from the last time he helped her.
The more Hastur thought about it, the more convinced he became that this gift was from Sharon.
Only Sharon would be so considerate. That brute Maric would likely have just notified him immediately after finding the flower.
Now, all the materials for Sequence 7 Briber were finally collected, it was only a matter of fully digesting the Barbarian potion.
In a good mood, Hastur took out his pocket watch and glanced at the time, it was close to three o'clock.
Just the right time to go out for afternoon tea. Perhaps on the way he might even encounter something extra, helping to speed up the digestion of the Barbarian potion.
To avoid the small chance of running into Bernadette, Hastur deliberately avoided Intis-style restaurants and instead went to sample the local delicacies of Lenburg.
Lenburg was a small country devoted to the God of Knowledge and Wisdom, retaining many traditions of the old era.
Its cuisine was no exception.
Taking a carriage there, Hastur walked briskly into a specialty restaurant.
He ordered several local dishes, sipped a sweet-sour drink, and gazed out the window, watching the passing pedestrians.
After a while, when the food arrived, Hastur was about to draw his gaze back, when suddenly he caught sight of Bernadette!
She had chestnut-colored long hair, flowing freely, wore beige trousers and a pair of black leather boots, her figure proportions excellent.
There were many people on the street, all secretly sizing her up, but no one dared to approach her, probably because her aura was too overwhelming.
Hastur pretended to withdraw his gaze casually, his heartbeat accelerating. He took a deep breath before calming down.
It wasn't that he was afraid of Bernadette, but because of the matter with the Son of Chaos earlier, he felt a bit guilty.
First, he summoned the Son of Chaos late at night, leaving Bernadette worried every evening, and then he dragged the Son of Chaos into a meeting with the Mother Tree of Desire, indirectly facilitating their transaction.
It could be said that the Abomination coming to Backlund to cause trouble this time was all because of him.
After all, she was a fellow transmigrator's daughter, it didn't seem right to set her up like this.
Thinking of this made Hastur even more uneasy.
He could only focus on the food in front of him, trying not to dwell on Bernadette.
But just his luck, Bernadette also walked into the same restaurant and sat not far from him.
When her gaze swept over, Hastur tensed inside, but outwardly kept eating as if nothing had happened.
Fortunately, her eyes did not linger on him.
Not far away, Bernadette sipped a Lenburg-style drink.
Although her eyes weren't directly on Hastur, she was watching him out of the corner of her eye.
If her information was correct, it was this Baron Campbell who had saved Sharon that night.
So young, yet already preparing to advance to Sequence 7, Briber, not simple at all.
And looking at his appearance, he actually matched Sharon quite well.
She hadn't come out today intending to run into anyone, she had just come to enjoy some food and relax, only to happen to meet this Baron Campbell.
That, one had to admit, was fate.
Fate, such a strange thing.
Bernadette stood up and walked straight to the seat across from Hastur.
"Mind if I sit with you for a while?"
Hastur looked up, put on a polite smile, and said with a laugh, "I think no man would refuse such a request from such a beautiful lady."
But in his heart, he was screaming: I mind, I mind very much!
"You seem to know me?"
Bernadette's calm gaze seemed as though it could pierce through everything.
Hastur replied evenly, "That kind of opening line should really be mine to say."
"You're quite familiar with Sharon?"
Hastur nodded. "Miss Sharon is very kind and very lovely. It's an honor to know her."
"You're so candid, because you know I have no ill will toward Sharon?"
"..." What is it with you people, are you all veteran hunters, masters of setting traps?
Can't you just be simple and straightforward?
All this scheming is exhausting!
Hastur grumbled inwardly, but outwardly kept smiling. "Miss Sharon has always been kind and non-contentious. Unless someone's completely deranged, who would ever want to harm her?"
"What if I were a member of the Rose School of Thought?"
Bernadette's eyes carried a pressing force that made them hard to meet.
Hastur kept as calm as he could. "I would rather believe you're Miss Sharon's friend."
"Not a bad judgment, but still a bit too naïve."
Bernadette withdrew her oppressive gaze, her words light as a feather.
'Heh, you're all old monsters who've lived who knows how many years, of course I'll look naïve in front of you. Bernadette, someday I'll make sure to return this evaluation back to you.'
Hastur's inner thoughts were lively, but his mouth said, "Having a simple heart is no flaw."
"Perhaps."
Bernadette gave Hastur another glance, then made to leave.
Before going, she added, "Since we're both Sharon's friends, this time, the bill's on you."
"Of course."
Hastur kept up his genial, generous smile.
As he stood to pay, a voice sounded in his ear.
"If you were a normal person, you would've asked my name to confirm my identity. But you didn't. That means you already knew who I was."
'Damn! Bernadette, didn't you already leave?
Why are you still hiding in the shadows watching?!
Do you really have nothing better to do?!
Hastur stiffened slightly, inwardly fuming, but his face didn't betray the slightest panic.
"I once saw a bounty poster with a huge reward for the Mystic Queen of the Seas."