Chapter 381 - Chapter 381: Chapter 380: Very Strangers
Chapter 381 of "Exploring Technology in a Wizard World" introduces the scene: The funeral at White Stone Tower hadnât ended long before Richard left, his mood somber.His... Keep going!
The funeral at White Stone Tower hadnât ended long before Richard left, his mood somber.His mood had to be somber, as earlier that day, first the Golden Mask had diedâmost likely dead, and then Macbethâdefinitely dead. With continuous deaths, it was impossible to predict who would die next. How could his mood be anything but downcast?
With this heaviness in his heart, Richard called for a carriage and headed to the mansion of the Great Scholar Socrates.
By the time he arrived, night had fallen, and the rain had lessened but continued to patter against him, feeling somewhat chilly.
Richard straightened his clothing, hopped off the carriage, and strode toward the grand gate of Great Scholar Socratesâs mansion, preparing to knock and explain his visit. He wondered whether such a late visit would be rejected.
Just as he reached this thought, as his hand touched the gate, it creaked open with a squeal.
Richard looked into the courtyard with mild surprise, greeted by an eerie silence reminiscent of a haunted house. A strange odor wafted through the air, faint and peculiar. He took a deep sniff; it smelled like blood.
Richardâs eyebrows shot up, and his muscles tensed instantly, sensing danger.
Inhaling deeply, Richard scanned the darkness, his mind racing. What had happened here? Had the Great Scholar incited revenge upon himself, or could it beâŠ
As he pondered the possibilities, Richard cast âShadow Cloakâ to mask his presence, moving stealthily deeper into the yard.
In various corners of the yard, Richard discovered several bodiesâservants he had seen before at the Great Scholar Socratesâs residence. They had been killed by shattering internal organs.
If he wasnât wrong, these servants had died instantly during the attack without showcasing any injuries, as if asleep. It was only much later that something seemed amiss as blood with internal organ fragments oozed from orificesâa sign of a master assassin. Of course, to Richard, it seemed more like the work of magic.
A wizard?!
With this thought, Richard became more vigilant and moved even more carefully. He then crossed the garden, entered the house, and familiarly found himself outside the door to the Great Scholarâs study.
âIf the Great Scholar is still alive, heâs most likely here. If heâs dead, heâs probably here as well,â Richard thought, gingerly pushing open the door.
In the instant the door swung open, Richardâs eyes rapidly took in all the details of the study, narrowing sharply.
He saw the Great Scholarâs granddaughterâthe Cat Slave Girl, Heidiâlying unconscious and limp on the floor, while the Great Scholar himself sat in a chair, his complexion ashen. Behind the Great Scholar stood a disheveled man in blue noble attire, his eyes red with veins, holding a dagger to the Great Scholarâs neck.
As the door creaked open and Richard appeared, the man in blue looked somewhat taken aback, while a glimmer of something called hope burst forth from the Great Scholarâs eyes as he mustered all his strength to cry out, âRichard, quickly take Heidi and goâŠâ
The next moment, the voice of Great Scholar Socrates was abruptly cut off as the man in blue swiftly drew the dagger across Socratesâs throat and yanked upwards, cleanly severing the head from the body. The cut was eerily smooth, with all blood vessels sealed by some bizarre power, and no blood gushed forth.
The man in blue casually placed Socratesâs head on the desk like a trophy, glanced at the unconscious Heidi on the ground, and softly said to Richard, âYou wonât be taking her with you.â
âUhâŠâ Richard uttered, asking, âWhat about me leaving on my own?â
âThat is unlikely as well,â said the man in blue. âIâm not sure how you sneaked in here, but Iâm sorry, now that youâre here, youâll have to stay.â
âWill it be the same way as those who died outside?â
âIf you have any special requests, Iâm willing to accommodate within reason.â
âMmâŠâ
Richard responded, eyeing the man in blue as his eyes narrowed to slits, realizing somethingâthe man in blue was likely not just an ordinary person. He might be part of the Mysterious Organization behind Suo Men and Mu Konni, perhaps even more powerful than they were. This was not a situation to be taken lightly.
Then, how did Great Scholar Socrates provoke such a person?
Was Socratesâs identity truly unique as Richard suspected, making him a target?
Or could it beâŠ
Richardâs eyes flickeredâŠ
Time moved forward a bit.
âSwish, swishâŠâ
The rain continued to fall, and the Great Scholar Socrates was in his study working on something. A large number of books were open and strewn across the desk as he constantly consulted them. At that moment, a faint knocking sound came from outside, persistent and unending.
âBang, bang, bang! Bang, bang, bang!â
The knocking went on for a while without stopping. Irritated, Great Scholar Socrates called out to the hallway, âPhilic, go see whatâs going on!â
Having said this, Socrates received no answer.
âHmm?â Socrates furrowed his brows and called out to the other servants, âMukula? Hassak? RossâŠâ
After shouting for a long while without hearing any response, in the end, it was only his granddaughter Heidi, holding a cat that meowed in her arms, who ran into the study and asked, âGrandfather, is something wrong? I heard you calling for the others, have theyâŠâ
âOh, itâs nothing.â Socrates waved his hand dismissively at Heidi, âJust take care of your cat, donât let it go hungry. Donât worry about anything else.â
âOh.â Heidi nodded, hugging the cat and quickly running out.
Once Heidi left the study, Socratesâs expression instantly darkened, his brow deeply furrowed in an ugly frown. He could clearly hear the knocking continuing outside, incessant.
âWhewââ
Socrates took a deep breath, stood up, and left the study. Outside the study, he caught a glimpse of his granddaughter Heidi chasing after her mischievous cat as it ran out.
âHeidi, take your cat to the kitchen and shut the door,â Socrates said, âItâs safer thereâŠâ
âHmm? What is it, Grandfather? Why go to the kitchen?â
âOh, go to the kitchen and help me boil some water for tea; we might have a visitor.â Socrates quickly changed his response.
âOh, is that so.â
âGo on then, take your cat with you, and make sure to shut the door tightly so it doesnât run off,â Socrates said.
âOh, okay.â Heidi replied obediently, grabbing the mischievous cat and scooping up a few more, then she carried them towards the kitchen.
Socrates withdrew his gaze, steadied himself, and walked slowly out of the house toward the courtyard gate.
When he reached the gate, Socrates asked the person knocking outside through the gate, âWho is it?â
âA stranger visiting.â
âDo you need something?â
âI do.â
âCan it wait until tomorrow?â
âI have limited time; I would like to talk to you tonight, respected Council MasterâMr. Socrates.â
Hearing this, Socratesâs eyes narrowed, and he fell silent. The next moment, he reached out and opened the door, revealing the figure standing outside.
He saw a man wearing a wrinkled blue nobleâs costume, his eyes red and bloodshot, looking somewhat unkempt, and⊠somewhat dangerous.
The Steward for the Supreme Order Divine Society of the East Coast, Ji Burlen!