383: Two hundred forty.
Difficult assessnt 383: Two hundred forty.
Difficult assessnt The garden, as bright as day, bustled with guests who weaved through the banquet.
They gathered around, engaged in constant conversations and laughter, with a few ladies in formal attire.
Were it not for the predominance of black-tie attire among the guests, the scene could have been mistaken for a typical evening dance.
Lu Li’s gaze swept over the figures, first landing on the graceful and ample ladies.
Having not found the person he was looking for, he then turned his attention to the n.
From his brief interaction with Baron Joseph, it was clear that the baron could completely disguise herself in n’s clothing among the guests.
Perhaps she was even mingling among the guests with a fake beard, laughing and talking.
However, Lu Li did not see her.
Most of the guests at the dinner were exorcists, perhaps numbering over a hundred, with a steady stream of newcors entering the estate through the main entrance.
Invitations extended across the entire Ailen Peninsula.
Most of these exorcists who had traveled from various parts of the Ailen Peninsula saw the dinner as an assessnt for employnt by Baron Joseph.
However, because the invitation used the plural form, implying that Baron Joseph would hire more than one exorcist, the atmosphere in the garden was relatively harmonious, lacking significant hostility among colleagues.
So guests gathered in groups of two or three to chat, probe others’ intentions, or make requests of the ladies.
Only Lu Li was busy looking for food everywhere.
As Lu Li moved through the garden, each ti he passed a banquet table, he ended up with more pastries, beverages, plates filled with food, or sliced fruit in his hands.
His mouth was never still.
Yet his deanor was calm, and his actions discreet enough not to return to the sa table twice, thus no waiter paid attention to this freeloading individual.
When Lu Li picked up a box of fruit for countlessly the umpteenth ti, Anna couldn’t help but mutter with a tinge of sorrow, “Don’t you like the food I make…”
“It’s not that.”
Lu Li’s deep, dark eyes calmly surveyed his surroundings, his deanor aloof and mysterious.
No one would associate him with freeloading.
Anna felt slightly happier, knowing that Lu Li wasn’t one to flatter, so his response must be genuine, “But you’ve eaten so much already…”
“These are tastier and more nutritious.”
It had been a long ti since Lu Li had replenished the trace elents his body needed.
In the Inner World, Anna was silent.
Chewing the fruit silently, Lu Li’s gaze landed on a group not far off.
One of the n, a portly figure bursting out of his tailcoat, was boasting, “I am a guest professor of Mysticology at Pfassel University, an honorary citizen of Shadow Town, and a titular priest of the Church of the Morning Dawn.
I have helped countless unfortunate folks rid themselves of devilish afflictions, specially invited.”
This declaration drew a small wave of astonished murmurs.
Elsewhere, a conversation caught Lu Li’s attention, and he turned his gaze there.
A small man in a tall top hat scoffed to other guests, “Pfassel University doesn’t offer Mysticology, Shadow Town is just a small town of a few thousand people, and the Church of the Morning Dawn was attacked by the Evil God and its followers a few years ago.
Since then, they’ve hardly recovered, even secretly selling priestly titles for just 5000 shillings.
As for the last two claims…
we’re all exorcists here; we all received an invitation, right?”
These words also elicited so nods of agreent.
It was not uncommon for exorcists to include so less capable individuals.
Like the initially introduced Lu Li.
Lu Li quietly listened to the exorcists’ boastful remarks, discussions about recent paranormal occurrences, and debates on recent significant events.
Feeling that eating more might hinder his activities, he stopped, placing his empty plate back on the table.
Just then, the perennially closed doors of the mansion suddenly opened, and Baron Joseph’s diminutive female housekeeper walked to the front steps and addressed the guests looking towards the mansion, “The Baron will soon prepare a challenge, please wait by the front door.”
After speaking, the housekeeper retreated back through the door, the head maid closed the grand doors of the mansion, hiding the splendid grand hall from view.
The noise above the garden dwindled sowhat as the exorcists voluntarily moved closer to the mansion, waiting at the steps.
Shortly, the doors opened again, and the head maid in her long maid’s uniform ca out, letting the first exorcist enter the mansion.
The chosen exorcist adjusted his bow tie and, amid the gaze of others, proudly ascended the steps and walked through the door.
…
The comfortable brightness and warmth enveloped the hall, intoxicating the air with its fragrance.
A ravishing beauty leaned against a luxurious sofa, her red lips vibrant, her narrow eyes fixated on him.
Suppressing his excitent, the exorcist bowed and said, “Beautiful Baron Joseph, I am delighted to et you.”
The housekeeper beside the sofa spoke in a business-like tone, “Please demonstrate your ability.”
With what he believed to be an appropriately gentlemanly smile, the exorcist said, “I possess the clairvoyant eye, capable of detecting ghosts.”
The housekeeper’s tone remained unchanged as she continued, “Could you please check if there are any ghosts here?”
“My honor.” The exorcist bowed slightly, closed his eyes, then abruptly opened them and scrutinized the lavishly ornate hall before exhaling softly and saying, “There are none, Baron, your mansion is very clean.”
Baron Joseph spoke then, his lazy voice like that of a cat, as he waved his hand dismissively, “Next.”
The perplexed exorcist was led out the front door.
Soon, the second exorcist entered the hall.
With a solemn face, he strode in and shouted, “Baron, you are being watched by a ghost.”
“Oh?”
The baron’s jewel-like, narrow eyes examined him with interest, her voice light yet slightly hoarse.
“Watch eliminate this ghost!”
The exorcist drew his slender sword from his waist, flourished it elegantly a few tis, then suddenly stabbed into thin air.
“Ah!!!”
A scream abruptly emanated from the void where he stabbed, then faded away.
A smile appeared on the exorcist’s face as he sheathed his sword and said, “Baron, you are safe now.”
The emotionless housekeeper said, “Thank you.
Feel free to eat anything outside, next.”
“What?
Please wait a mont—”
The exorcist was led out.
After a few more exorcists, Baron Joseph yawned several tis—not only did she find them uninspiring, even her own housekeeper was unimpressed.
As the tenth exorcist was dragged out of the hall, Baron Joseph couldn’t help but frown and complain, “Do I have to deal with these people all night?”
“They were all invited by you,” the housekeeper said emotionlessly.
“I certainly didn’t invite any circus mbers.”
As she finished speaking, footsteps approached from outside the door.
Baron Joseph glanced casually, then couldn’t look away.
Lu Li entered the hall; he saw the languidly reclining Baron Joseph on the luxurious sofa, and Baron Joseph saw him too.
“Hello,” Lu Li said calmly.
Baron Joseph rose from the sofa, a velvet blanket slipping from her indolent form.
Her eyes sparkled with undisguised excitent.
“You’ve passed!”
Reviews
All reviews (0)