At the gate of the villa.
Hibbert escorted Hastur out. Only after they stepped through the main gates did he speak. "Hastur, why did you refuse that goodwill just now?"
"It was too sudden. It felt like something beyond my control."
Hastur sighed. He had been thinking about this the whole way.
He needed Earl Hall's help, and Earl Hall had clearly expressed his support, even paving a broad, bright road ahead for him.
'With such favorable conditions, why did he refuse?'
'Why didn't he simply accept it calmly?'
Hibbert looked deeply at him. "Hastur, you can't possibly control everything."
"I understand that." Hastur nodded. He truly did understand.
But when faced with Earl Hall's sudden goodwill, his first instinct had been to refuse.
At that moment, he felt that once he agreed, he would be tied to the Hall family's chariot.
Interests and favours… in this regard, he truly wasn't yet a qualified noble.
Tonight's lesson was worth pondering.
Seeing Hastur's troubled expression, Hibbert patted his shoulder with a smile.
"This was only the first meeting. You'll still have chances to win over our Earl in the future."
"I hope so." Hastur could only place all hope on that untrained hound.
But after tonight, he felt that repairing his relationship with Earl Hall was going to be difficult.
"Think carefully later about what my father said. He usually doesn't say unnecessary things." Leaving Hastur with these last words, Hibbert watched him leave in the carriage.
Only after the carriage disappeared into the distance did Hibbert frown slightly.
Honestly, he couldn't understand his father's behaviour tonight either.
Even if he wanted to help Hastur rise in rank, he shouldn't have been so direct.
Loen nobles had always been symbols of subtlety and restraint.
He was just as confused as Hastur. When he returned to the villa and entered the study, Earl Hall was already waiting for him.
His expression was calm, completely unlike someone who had just lost his temper and driven someone out.
Hibbert stepped in with a smile. "Father, your behaviour tonight seems to have scared him."
"Do you know why I suddenly said those things?"
"You wanted to use this incident to make Hastur understand that nobles prioritize interests above all, and that being too naïve and innocent makes him unfit for the battlefield of politics."
Hibbert had considered many possibilities on the way back. In the face of Earl Hall's questioning, he appeared composed.
"I'll give you another chance." Earl Hall's rejection stunned Hibbert for a moment, and then he fell into deep thought.
After a long pause, he said uncertainly, "Are you really angry because of Hastur's connection with Audrey? And deliberately scared him off on purpose?"
Earl Hall's expression darkened. A silent pressure weighed heavily over Hibbert.
"In this matter, Hastur was right, you really are foolish. You only see what's on the surface and then start making your own assumptions."
"…" Reprimanded, Hibbert could say nothing. He sighed inwardly. Even the person involved, Hastur, hadn't fully understood it. How could an outsider like himself see through everything?
"Between nobles, interest does come first. But not everyone accepts that. Beyond interest, there are personal bonds."
"He refused my goodwill because he wanted to repay any help with equivalent benefits, not with a debt of personal favour."
"That is his confidence, but also his naïveté. At my level, he's just a baron, what benefits can he possibly offer me?"
Hibbert listened thoughtfully as Earl Hall continued, "You want to bind Hastur to the Hall family through favours and goodwill?"
A smile appeared on Earl Hall's face, but he still rejected Hibbert's guess.
"That's another thing you failed to understand."
"…" Hibbert really wanted to ask, why all this roundabout twisting?
He could understand why his father had so many thoughts…
But why did Hastur also have just as many?
He was so young! How did he manage to sense something off just from his father's questioning?
"Actually, I was very satisfied with his performance tonight." Earl Hall suddenly changed the topic, almost causing Hibbert to lose track.
He had clearly worn a stern expression earlier, even issuing an order to leave. Now he said he was satisfied?
After thinking for a moment, Hibbert asked his question: "If you were satisfied, why act like the villain for no reason?"
"Hastur's performance tonight was too simple and naïve. He still lacks real tempering. Giving him a setback will let him go further."
Hibbert was once again confused.
Was Earl Hall satisfied with Hastur's simplicity and innocence? Or dissatisfied?
"At this stage, his innocence in certain aspects is exactly what satisfies me. Perhaps that's also why Audrey is willing to get close to him, because he's purer, without too many selfish desires."
"…" Hibbert silently turned his head away.
Just now, Earl Hall had scolded him for making assumptions about Hastur and Audrey.
And Earl Hall himself? Wasn't everything he did tonight basically testing Hastur's character?
Was this a father-in-law checking out his future son-in-law? His sense of involvement was stronger than anyone's!
Hibbert was sure that in tonight's events, Earl Hall absolutely mixed in his personal emotions. Especially when he scolded Hastur for being naïve and drove him away.
…
Hastur returned home and sat in his study, contemplating Earl Hall's intentions.
He didn't believe Earl Hall was someone who would reveal emotions so easily, yet his behaviour tonight was completely puzzling.
Goodwill at first, then sending him away the next moment.
"So strange." Hastur muttered and took out his pocket watch. It was past ten.
He didn't feel like thinking about it anymore.
Whatever Earl Hall was truly thinking, he would simply walk his own path.
Leaving the study, he found Butler Neil looking troubled at the door. In the end, the butler couldn't hold back and said, "I've always believed in your limitless future, my lord. Please don't feel disheartened because of what happened tonight."
"…" Hastur froze for a moment, then smiled.
"Thank you for the encouragement, Neil."
The steward gave him a determined, supportive look before going off to his other tasks.
"If even Butler Neil is making assumptions like this, no wonder Greg and Hibbert misunderstood. Fortunately, Miss Audrey didn't overthink it."
Hastur murmured, then went to take a bath before resting for the night.
...
The Hall of Stars.
Hastur's gaze fell upon the star representing the High-Dimensional Overlooker.
The originally unremarkable white crystal eye had been discovered by a tower keeper, who regarded it as a divine gift and even built a small chapel to enshrine it.
The white crystal eye emitted a hazy glow, seemingly influencing those nearby.
But not many people came to worship it. Most only visited out of curiosity.
Aside from the bell tower guard who found it, no one displayed fervent devotion.
"The white crystal eye must still contain the Overlooker's consciousness. Otherwise I shouldn't be able to see this scene."
"Is the High-Dimensional Overlooker trying to develop believers through this method?"
"This is way too casual. No miracles, no beyonder abilities, just some light."
Hastur watched for a while longer, then decided to continue observing.
If the Overlooker truly was building faith this way, it could offer him valuable insight for the future.
After that, he looked toward another small point of light.
The Overlooker's avatar was no longer by the seaside. It was traveling across the ocean with a ship, dressed in a classic sailor outfit and even working as labour on deck.
"Is he purposely experiencing mortal life?" Hastur genuinely couldn't understand the Overlooker's intentions.
After watching a little more, he shifted his view to the other stars. Nothing unusual, except for the poor Son of Chaos still sealed inside the Magic Wishing Lamp.
…
Late night, inside Mrs. Germani's room.
Crimson moonlight crept across the window frame, seeping slowly into the room.
A shadow merged with darkness slipped silently inside.
Mrs. Germani, already lying in bed, awoke instantly and looked toward the mirror, where a graceful figure stood as if no one else existed.
"Coming in through the window again? Haven't learned your lesson?"
"Don't be so cold. Last time I didn't mean to hurt your beloved. Besides, I'm the one who suffered, he stabbed me hard with that sword, straight through my heart."
Molaka removed her clothes in front of the mirror, then walked naked to the bed, lifted the blanket, and slipped underneath.
Before Germani could refuse, Molaka grabbed her hand and pressed it against her lower abdomen, speaking in a bewitching tone: "His scent still lingers here."
"His sword pierced through my belly from right here, and even twisted inside. That feeling… truly unforgettable."
"Don't you want to follow the path he carved and take a look inside?"
Soon, the blanket rose slightly, and suppressed moans drifted out through the window.
The crimson moon in the sky tried to admire the scene, but was blocked by clouds.