The next day.
Just as dawn was breaking, Audrey woke up from bed. She rarely suffered from insomnia, yet she had been unable to sleep the night before.
She lifted the quilt and leaned halfway against the padded headboard, her gaze passing through the stained-glass window toward the dimly brightening world outside.
It was already October. The weather had begun to turn slightly cool. In another two months, it would be the New Year, and Backlund would be covered in snow by then.
She had once looked forward to inviting Hastur, Glaint, Xio, and Miss Fors to go out together as the New Year approached.
Even if they were merely sitting and chatting, drinking hot tea while gazing at the hazy snowy scenery outside the window, it would have a unique kind of atmosphere.
But now, Mr. Hastur might leave Backlund before the New Year, heading for Southville County, which was about to become a battlefield.
"Audrey, what's wrong with you?"
"Be quiet, don't talk. Let me think."
Hearing this, Susie turned over, then lay back down on the floor and fell asleep again.
Only when the sun leapt up from behind the hills, dispersing the thin mist outside, did Audrey withdraw her gaze and lift the quilt to get out of bed.
She did not disturb Susie, who was still sleeping soundly. She went to the washroom to freshen up, then allowed the maids to dress her up as Backlund's most dazzling pearl.
When she went downstairs for breakfast, Earl Hall deliberately glanced at Audrey today. Audrey returned a sweet smile.
Everything seemed just like usual. Earl Hall was unusually gentle today. He told a few interesting jokes at the dining table.
During the meal, Audrey and Countess Hall also joined the conversation several times, and the atmosphere was relaxed and pleasant.
At around nine-thirty in the morning, Audrey took a carriage out. Susie wanted to follow along, but Audrey refused and told it to stay home properly.
The carriage passed along the Emperors Avenue and arrived at Hastur's residence.
At this moment, Hastur had just awakened from deep sleep. He had successfully consumed the Baron of Corruption's Beyonder characteristic last night and had advanced to Sequence 6, Baron of Corruption.
His spirituality was faintly overflowing at the moment, and his head hurt a little. Hearing that Audrey had come to visit made him feel both surprised and caught off guard.
He could only barely suppress the overflowing spirituality, muster his spirits, wash up, and, without even having time for breakfast, meet Audrey, who had already been waiting for a while, in the study.
Seeing that Audrey remained silent, Hastur spoke first. "Miss Audrey, why did you suddenly come to visit today?"
Under normal circumstances, Audrey would have someone send a calling card in advance, stating when she would come.
This was the first time she had visited directly. And she did not look like she was merely passing by and decided to drop in.
Audrey said calmly, "What does Mr. Hastur think about the Southern Continent and Southville County?"
"Miss Audrey is also interested in such matters?"
"Yes. This may be something that affects the situation of the entire continent, so I'd like to understand it as well."
It was probably at the Tarot Club that Alger, the Hanged Man, had entrusted her with probing the attitude of the upper echelons of the Kingdom of Loen.
She did not want to ask Earl Hall directly, so she came to him instead.
"War is inevitable."
"The best outcome is for the war to take place on the land of the Southern Continent."
"A worse outcome is for large-scale naval battles to erupt on the sea between the northern and southern continents."
"The worst outcome is for the flames of war to begin in Southville County."
Hastur told Audrey his views on this war without reservation. It should be enough for her to go back and submit her mission report to that Hanged Man.
However, Hastur did not see a pleased expression on Audrey's face. Instead, he saw a faint sadness.
"How great do you think our Kingdom of Loen's chances of victory are, Mr. Hastur?"
"As for victory or defeat, it's naturally fifty-fifty, either we lose or we win." Hastur joked lightly and did not answer directly.
Audrey's eyes seemed to sharpen instantly. "Mr. Hastur, you don't seem optimistic about the Kingdom of Loen in your heart, do you?"
Having had his thoughts exposed, Hastur no longer intended to be evasive.
With a grave expression, he said, "I really am not optimistic about this war. The later it breaks out, the more favorable it will be for the Kingdom of Loen."
"Why?"
Hastur stood up and fetched a hand-drawn world map. It was a precise map drawn by the kingdom's navigators after many voyages and was extremely valuable.
In some places, Hastur had filled in a bit more detail, though without writing specific location information, he only needed to be able to understand it himself.
"On the surface, it looks like a confrontation between the northern and southern continents, but in reality, it isn't. The ones who truly have to face the threat of the Southern Continent are the Kingdom of Loen and the Kingdom of Feynapotter."
"Only these two kingdoms have large portions of their territory along the coast. If the Southern Continent counterattacks, considering combat routes, their first targets will definitely be the coastal ports of the Kingdom of Loen and the Kingdom of Feynapotter. They won't take a huge detour to the northeast, cross the Amantha Mountain range, and attack the Feysac Empire."
"As for small countries like Segar and Lenburg, it would already be good enough for them to protect themselves. They won't send troops to join the war. The Intis Republic does have sufficient national strength, but if we want them to participate, they'll probably propose a strategy of borrowing passage through the inland territory of the Kingdom of Loen. That's not something that can be easily agreed to."
"As for the Feysac Empire, it monopolizes the northern region, and to its north lies icy region. It is the country that most hopes for the war to erupt on a large scale."
"It will sit back and watch the Kingdom of Loen and the Kingdom of Feynapotter confront the Southern Continent fleet, then look for an opportunity to reap the benefits."
Hastur spoke eloquently.
If one did not consider the existence of gods, the Feysac Empire would indeed be the country most likely to unify the northern and southern continents.
Unfortunately, the God of Combat did not have much of a brain.
Audrey merely listened quietly, occasionally glancing at Hastur's spirited demeanor. This was a side of Hastur she had rarely seen.
She had always thought Mr. Hastur was a scholarly noble, but only now did she realize that he had another side that was not widely known.
His analysis of the war situation, as well as how the future of the northern and southern continents might evolve, all followed his own line of reasoning.
She did not fully understand these views and insights, only parts of them, since she had never been very interested in such matters.
But she did understand one thing: Hastur was not optimistic about the Kingdom of Loen's current situation.
No wonder Earl Hall had recently been constantly sighing and wearing a worried expression.
"Ahem, all of this is just a set of events that could occur with certain probabilities. How the future situation will actually change is something no one can be sure of. After all, war is very likely to produce miracles and accidents."
After satisfying his urge to command and discuss grand strategies, Hastur remembered his current identity.
He was no longer that player who could sit at a computer desk, drink a can of Red Bull, and play Civilization VI through a full day and night.
What he had just said about the evolution of the situation was all based on the assumption that the demigods or angels did not intervene.
Once They personally stepped in, how the war would develop was something even he found hard to predict.
Especially the movements of the Intis Republic. The most important reason for this north–south continental conflict was that the Eternal Blazing Sun had personally instigated it. The other orthodox churches were merely helping Him.
But judging from the current situation, the Kingdom of Loen and the Kingdom of Feynapotter were indeed in the most difficult position.
"Is it because of these reasons that Mr. Hastur wants to go to Southville County?" Audrey finally asked the most important question that had brought her here today.
"The territory passed down through generations of the Campbell family lies in Southville County. I can't just ignore it. Restoring the glory of the Campbell family is a promise I once made to the old butler."
Hastur could not directly state his true purpose and could only use the restoration of the Campbell family's former glory as an explanation.
That was indeed part of the reason.
Audrey hesitated for a moment, then asked again, "Is Mr. Hastur doing this of your own free will, or out of responsibility?"
"Both."
"I understand." Audrey stood up and said lightly, "Thank you, Mr. Hastur, for clearing up my doubts today."
"You came here today just to ask this question?" Hastur looked at the graceful Miss Audrey before him with confusion.
Today, she seemed somewhat different from usual. She had clearly come with a heavy heart. But now, it seemed that she had figured things out, leaving him the one who was confused.
"Mr. Hastur is about to leave Backlund. Isn't that reason enough?" Audrey looked at Hastur with the same puzzled gaze.
The two looked at each other for a moment, then smiled, tacitly letting the topic pass.
Seeing that Audrey did not wish to explain further, Hastur did not pursue it.
Audrey smiled softly. "Mr. Hastur, could you see me off?"
"Of course. It would be my honor." He escorted Audrey out of the study, down the stairs, and only withdrew his gaze after she boarded the carriage.
Audrey's visit today was like a gentle breeze that brushed past lightly and then quietly left, leaving behind thoughts that were hard to fathom.
Hastur did not dwell on the matter. Audrey's visit was clearly prompted by news she had heard from Earl Hall.
It was likely that he was about to be promoted in rank and then sent to Southville County, something he had always been looking forward to.
"It's just a matter of whether it'll be before the end of the year or after," Hastur sighed.
Naturally, he hoped to leave Backlund after the New Year, but if the situation became too tense, he would be dispatched to Southville County by the end of the year.
He did not think too much more about it. His head still hurt a little, and his mood was more irritable than usual.
After returning to the dining room and finishing breakfast, Hastur ignored Ariella, who was looking at him eagerly. He went back to his room, ruthlessly shut Ariella outside the door, and continued sleeping.