Lord of Mysteries: The New Black Emperor

Chapter 94: The Viscount's Commission

Viscount Glaint's words made Hobert smile as he sipped his red wine. While looking at the tidy dining table, his thoughts suddenly wandered to the meals of a cheap café.

After finishing the dessert and fruit, and having a few more sips of tea, the dinner finally came to an end.

Viscount Glaint stood up and said, "I have many more questions regarding the 'Apothecary'. Please follow me to the study."

Once the two entered the study, Glaint glanced at his pocket watch before quietly saying, "Mr. Hobert, the real reason I invited you is that I have a commission I'd like to entrust to you for investigation."

Hobert sat across from the Viscount, saying, "In principle, as one of the founders of the 'Justice League', I should assist. However, your commission is too dangerous. I'm sorry, but I must refuse."

Glaint was taken aback, "But I haven't even told you what the commission is yet!"

"I just know that while I was preparing the potion for you, someone was watching us the whole time." Hobert leaned back in his chair, "I'm only a Sequence 8, and it seems my father is not in a favorable position either. I don't want to get involved in the disputes among nobles."

Glaint smiled and said, "You're more vigilant than I expected."

He continued, "Let me tell you about my commission first. You can choose to refuse afterward."

Hobert gave a wry smile, "Respected Viscount, sometimes just knowing certain things can bring trouble."

Glaint assured, "Don't worry. No one is eavesdropping on us. The person who was secretly monitoring me left this afternoon after confirming that I had taken the 'Apothecary' potion."

He showed Hobert his pocket watch. The watch appeared quite old, and the hands were completely still, as if it was broken.

Glaint explained, "This is a mystical item. If someone is listening to or watching me, the hands will move. If no one is eavesdropping, the hands remain still."

Recalling how Glaint often checked his watch, Hobert realized that what he had once thought was the Viscount's punctuality was actually him ensuring he wasn't being watched.

"Alright," Hobert said, "Let me hear about your commission first, but you must explain the risks involved."

"I've been observing you for some time," Glaint said. "You handle Beyonder events with great caution and professionalism. Even if you don't complete the commission, you won't bring danger upon us." Glaint pulled out a sketch from his drawer.

"The commission is actually simple. I want you to retrieve my father's ring. This is a drawing of it that I sketched earlier today."

The ring had a plain design. Beside the drawing were the words: gold, with a red gemstone.

Looking at the ring, Glaint sighed deeply, "On my eighteenth birthday, my father told me that the origins and history of the Glaint family are tied to that ring, along with many valuable materials passed down by our ancestors.

"My father said that once I got married, he would pass the ring down to me, so I could continue our family's legacy."

"But..."

Glaint's tone turned cold, "But, I did not find the ring on my father's body."

The usual warmth in his demeanor vanished completely, replaced by an icy chill.

Hobert memorized the ring's design, "I remember that your father passed away from illness, correct?"

Glaint nodded, "That's what they say."

Hobert didn't ask who "they" referred to, "The items inside the ring may have already fallen into the enemy's hands."

"That's impossible," Viscount Glaint said. "It requires a spell to open the ring's space, and only my father and I know the incantation."

He added, "Moreover, they didn't give me my father's Beyonder characteristic either."

"That's right," Glaint continued. "I'm not completely ignorant of the Beyonder world. The Glaint family has always been a family of Beyonders.

"However, when it came to my generation, because I am an only child and taking potions carries the risk of losing control, my father insisted that I wait until after I had children to take any potions.

"But unexpectedly, before I could marry, my father passed away 'from illness,' and I was placed under surveillance."

Glaint gave a cold, bitter smile, "Only after I took a potion that posed no threat to them did they finally lift their surveillance."

These plans and thoughts must have been suppressed for a long time. After finishing, Glaint's expression visibly relaxed.

He covered his face and said, "Although I've shaken off their monitoring, I may never be able to avenge my father."

Hobert remained a good listener, just as he had claimed earlier—he didn't want to get involved in noble disputes.

After a while, Viscount Glaint regained his composure, "As for the risks of this commission, I'm not entirely sure. I don't know if my father hid the ring before his death or if it was taken by the murderer."

"These are things you'll need to investigate. Of course, your safety is paramount. If you sense any danger, you're free to abandon the investigation. The choice is entirely yours.

"For me, preserving the Glaint family's legacy is most important, so I must retrieve the family history and those precious materials.

"This will be a long-term commission. I understand that it may take years, even decades, before there are any results. From today, I won't mention this matter to you again until you have something to report."

"As for the payment, I can assure you it will be satisfactory."

After a moment's thought, Hobert replied, "Viscount, I must say your caution is the wisest choice."

He continued, "Unless I find clear clues, I will only proceed with the investigation when I'm stronger and have better means of mitigating risks."

Glaint smiled, "That promise is enough."

Though free from surveillance, Glaint seemed to have developed a habit of acting as though he were still being watched. As he saw Hobert off, he continued chatting enthusiastically about matters of the occult. Even after Hobert boarded his carriage, Glaint still looked as if he hadn't had enough.

In the carriage, Hobert chuckled to himself, "Nobles certainly have their own troubles."

Upon returning home, Hobert was informed by his butler that Christian was still in the study. He knocked on the door and shared with Christian his plan to use Upton as bait.

Christian nodded approvingly, "Sounds good."

Then, out of the blue, Christian mentioned another matter, "I made a significant choice some time ago, and now it's time to face the consequences. This might affect you as well.

"About half a year from now, you'll need to pay attention to each of my questions and make your own decisions carefully."

Hobert was taken aback. It seemed that not only the nobles of Backlund were caught in predicaments—Christian too had his burdens. "Alright, I'll be mindful," he replied.

Back in his own room, Hobert lay awake for a long time, feeling that today's conversations with Glaint and Christian were packed with information. It left him with a sense of foreboding, like the calm before a storm.

It wasn't until midnight that Hobert finally managed to settle his thoughts and fall asleep. The next day, he still had to continue reading the Bible of Life.

On Wednesday morning, Hobert went out early again to "visit clients." He spent the entire morning reading scriptures at the Harvest Church and even got a free lunch.

Around 2 PM, Upton hurried into the church, looking flustered, "I just put on the 'Astrologer's Hair' and immediately sensed danger."