"Mr. Hastur, he… is dead?"
Audrey and Susie also hurried over, and quite a few people gathered around them.
Hastur's gaze swept across every face present. When he had time later, he would verify them one by one.
"Yes, he fell to his death himself," Hastur casually made up an excuse.
"Who is he? Why did he suddenly appear here? Where is the original coachman?"
Audrey had far too many questions. She vaguely guessed that the fake coachman had come for Mr. Hastur.
It was just that Mr. Hastur and Susie saw through him in advance, so he tried to escape.
"Leave everything to the police."
Hastur told Audrey not to worry. When the police arrived, he first escorted Audrey home, then returned to his own house before going to the police station to handle the matter.
...
Police station.
The officer in charge of the case was Chief Gemon. Seeing Hastur come in person, he felt slightly surprised.
Although the case was not complicated, some testimony was still needed to complete the file.
Usually, nobles would entrust lawyers to handle such matters. It was rare for them to come to the police station personally.
After a few polite exchanges, Chief Gemon began the routine questioning.
"The criminal who disguised himself as a coachman and attempted to assassinate Miss Audrey and me is named Stom. He is a member of the Moses Ascetic Order and a servant in the household of Viscount Haig. Viscount Haig is also a member of the Moses Ascetic Order. They are attempting to do something detrimental to the entire Backlund."
"..."
Chief Gemon was stunned for quite a while before reacting. His routine questioning had only been meant to cover simple matters, but before he even got to the suspicious assassin, Baron Hastur Campbell had already stripped away all of the man's background, and even implicated a viscount.
"How do you know such detailed information?"
"Of course he told me before he died. He also said that if life could be chosen again, he would want to be a good person."
"Did he really tell you that himself?"
"You might as well verify the information. When you go to arrest Viscount Haig, it would be best to bring clergy from the Church of the Lord of Storms. That was the advice Stom left me before his death."
Hastur did not say more. These details were obtained after he returned home and went to the Hall of Stars, where he learned them by peering into fate.
The members of the Moses Ascetic Order had always been paying attention to matters related to Bernadette. Since he had once been in contact with Bernadette, he had been targeted as well.
In addition, there were indeed many suspicious aspects about him. For example, after holding a resurrection ritual, he had not died. He must have been sheltered by some mysterious existence.
Upon learning this information, the Moses Ascetic Order members identified him as a Follower of the Stars.
Today's incident was more of a test. Unfortunately for them, their secrets had all been laid bare. Viscount Haig's base was certainly doomed.
Chief Gemon watched Hastur leave the police station in shock, then immediately sent a copy of the case file to the Church of the Lord of Storms.
That very night, the police dispatched personnel under the leadership of several Church of the Lord of Storms clergy to raid Viscount Haig's villa.
It was confirmed that Viscount Haig was indeed a member of the Moses Ascetic Order, and evidence of their conspiracy against Hastur was found.
Viscount Haig was arrested on the spot, along with four other members of the Moses Ascetic Order.
After eleven at night, Hastur placed the paper crane in his palm, lay on his bed, and entered a dream.
Soon, Will appeared, yawning. "Has another new witch set her sights on you?"
"Not for now. But I've been targeted by the Moses Ascetic Order."
"Oh, those people. Their power in Backlund isn't enough to deal with you. At most, they can only harass you a little."
Hastur smiled. "I want to know which organization in Backlund is most suitable for stirring up trouble right now."
"The Aurora Order. They're a bunch of lunatics."
"Any other suitable organizations?" Hastur still planned to seize that evil god's offspring and did not want the Aurora Order to attract too much attention for the time being.
"The Demoness Sect and the Rose School of Thought are no good either."
"The Rose School of Thought, is that the indulgence faction?" Hastur needed to confirm, lest he drag Sharon and Maric into this vortex as well.
"Don't worry. I know you're on good terms with that little girl from the temperance faction."
Will teased him, then added, "The Rose School of Thought is indeed a good choice. It can muddy the waters and also reduce some threats for your friend."
"Alright, then it's them."
"Remember to bring me the latest ice cream!" Will shouted, but Hastur had already cut off the dream, hung the paper crane back by the window, and returned to bed before entering the Hall of Stars.
His gaze fell upon the star where the Mother Tree of Desire resided. The indulgence faction of the Rose School of Thought was precisely the organization that worshipped Her. Those who remained in Backlund to handle affairs should be Her devout believers.
Only devout believers could transform into small points of light and receive his divine revelation.
Hastur swept his gaze across the tiny points of light and finally found a suitable one located in Backlund.
Judging by the light it emitted, this devout believer should be at Sequence 4.
More than enough to deal with the Moses Ascetic Order.
Selecting the point of light, the Chain of Order extended and connected to it.
With the previous experience of guiding Mr. A, Hastur directly manifested as the image of the Mother Tree of Desire in that believer's dream, delivering a divine decree to assassinate members of the Moses Ascetic Order. He even thoughtfully provided a scene.
It was another base of the Moses Ascetic Order in Backlund, located inside the residence of an earl.
The Moses Ascetic Order only had these two bases in Backlund.
After finishing the revelation, Hastur glanced once more at the stars. The only noticeable change was the star belonging to the High-Dimensional Overseer.
The area influenced by that pair of white crystal eyes had expanded significantly, and the number of believers had increased.
The devout believer who had once been blindfolded had now removed the cloth covering his eyes. Behind him, there was an unfamiliar musket.
Preaching with a musket? Would there be a group of fanatics wielding Gatling guns in the future?
That would truly be creative.
Hastur watched for a while longer before shifting his gaze away.
...
Tonight was destined to be restless.
Aside from the incident with Viscount Haig, the residence of an earl was bathed in blood. The battle between Beyonders attracted the attention of the Nighthawks and the members of the Machinery Hivemind.
By the time they arrived at the scene, the Beyonder battle had already ended, leaving behind only a blazing earl's mansion engulfed in flames.
The fire erased the traces of battle, but the Nighthawks and Machinery Hivemind members still found some clues.
In the end, it was confirmed that the two sides fighting tonight were members of the Moses Ascetic Order and the indulgence faction of the Rose School of Thought.
"What is this? Dog-eat-dog?"
"No idea what caused their conflict. They fought so viciously that they even set the house on fire."
"I heard the Moses Ascetic Order's base hidden in a viscount's house was also wiped out?"
"Did they offend someone?"
"Those cultists make enemies everywhere for the sake of profit. Who knows who offended whom first."
After their discussion, the Nighthawks and Machinery Hivemind members tacitly agreed to seal the news and treat it as an accidental fire.
As for the cause, any excuse would do, such as a gas leak leading to a gas explosion.
...
The next day, Hastur learned from the newspaper that a fire had broken out at an earl's residence, and the earl, being asleep, had died in the blaze.
As for Viscount Haig, there was no report. Perhaps he was not important enough.
After enjoying breakfast and resting for a while, Hastur took a carriage to the royal palace to have an audience with King George III of the Loen Kingdom.
Halfway there, he encountered Earl Hall. Or perhaps Earl Hall had deliberately stopped his carriage along the necessary route to wait for him.
Earl Hall lifted the carriage curtain and asked, "Has yesterday's matter been handled?"
"The police have thoroughly investigated it. Those who violated the law will not escape."
"That's good. When you meet the king later, don't be too nervous. His Majesty holds you in high regard."
"I understand."
After giving a few more reminders, Earl Hall lowered the curtain and departed.
Hastur followed behind his carriage toward Sodorak Palace.
Though called a palace, it looked more like a castle, just far more imposing than the castles nobles built in their own territories.
In this regard, the King certainly knew better how to enjoy life.
Following behind Earl Hall without exchanging words, passing through several guards and gates, Hastur finally met George III.
He wore a crown, had a small mustache, a resolute face, and was dressed in formal attire with a cloak, appearing stern and old-fashioned.
"Greetings, Your Majesty." Hastur bowed together with Earl Hall. Fortunately, it was not a kneeling salute.
Otherwise, he would have experienced what Roselle once faced.
That feeling would certainly have been unpleasant.
If, with the status of the Hall of Stars, he were truly to kneel before George III, would the latter be able to withstand it?
Hastur only let the thought flicker for a moment before quickly suppressing it. Who knew whether the George III before him was the real one or a substitute?