Chapter 190: Chapter 190: The Secret of the Manor (Request for Full Subscription)
[Manor Treasure: The Fallen Tulip.]
Description: This flower contains some special information. It’s poisonous, but you will need more treasures to unlock the secrets of the manor.
More treasures? The secrets of the manor?
"Alright, just rest here. You’ll be able to leave safely tomorrow morning," Lu Luo said. "This must be the gardener’s treasure. Keep it safe for now; consider it my first gift. Don’t be so scared. Have you forgotten? Five percent of all this belongs to you!"
"I... I understand..."
Lu Luo gave the accountant a gentlemanly bow, performing it with earnest precision. However, bending over brought the eerie glow in his eye sockets closer, causing the accountant to take two unnatural steps back.
"Hehe, don’t wander off, Miss Accountant. This manor isn’t as simple as you imagine. If you wander off, you might die!"
"I understand."
THUD! THUD! THUD!
Lu Luo dragged his heavy iron legs away, and the accountant finally had a chance to catch her breath. She slumped to the ground, burying her face in her hands.
...
Lu Luo stood at the entrance of the blacksmith’s shop, his eyes narrowed slightly. Not far from him lay the miner’s body, torn in two.
[The blacksmith’s body was violently ripped in half. The strength used was immense; the man probably didn’t feel much pain.]
Just as I suspected! Lu Luo thought. My progress through this game has been far too smooth. The first half of the night is supposed to end before 2:00 AM. It’s only around 1:45 AM now, and almost everyone is dead. This is clearly abnormal. It seems someone is dividing the player teams, or perhaps the players themselves are fracturing their own groups. Under certain conditions, is his strength slowly recovering as well?
Although Lu Luo had already considered that there were some hidden circumstances in the manor, the body still had to be burned. It was a mission requirement, an inviolable rule that couldn’t be changed. However, before burning the body, there was something else to do.
Lu Luo checked his energy level. With the Summoner Sequence, he needed to conserve more energy.
My current energy reserve is 3,400. That’s not quite enough!
[Currently using Sequence S-07 Summoner, Specimen Summoning: Consuming 250 energy points to summon Crawlers!]
[Currently using Sequence S-07 Summoner, Specimen Summoning: Consuming 250 energy points to summon Crawlers!]
Soon, a large number of Crawlers gathered around Lu Luo, prostrating themselves on the ground. Besides awaiting Lu Luo’s commands, they were also terrified of the aura emanating from White Snake—the oppressive presence of a higher-tier Exotic Species over lower-tier ones.
"Alright! Most people are dead now," Lu Luo said to his new minions. "Aside from the accountant, two players remain: the student and the thief. I’ve encountered the thief once. While her abilities have some unique aspects, she’s generally within the capabilities of an ordinary player. So, that leaves only one truly problematic player. The student. Find the student or the thief. There’s no need to fight; just tell me their location. Go!"
Upon receiving Lu Luo’s orders, the Crawlers immediately scattered, beginning to roam throughout the entire manor.
Even though they’re only ten First Tier Exotic Species, I can already feel the power and advantages of the Summoner Sequence, Lu Luo mused. Searching for items, gathering intelligence, engaging in actual combat, harassment—this feeling of being a one-man army is incredibly useful! It’s just a bit expensive. For ten Crawlers, I doubt I could even recover 300 to 400 energy from them, yet summoning them cost 2,500—it’s simply absurd.
"Alright, let’s continue searching for treasure for our dear Miss Accountant!" Lu Luo declared. "White Snake, help me see what’s in the water."
White Snake nodded and dived directly into the ghostly pond. The ghosts that originally inhabited the pond had been entirely devoured by White Snake; now the pond water was merely ordinary, fetid water.
Lu Luo waited quietly by the pond. Before long, White Snake emerged, holding a still-beating gemstone and a dusty sword in its mouth.
Lu Luo frowned slightly as he took the two items.
[Manor Treasure: Ghostly Gemstone.]
Description: A gemstone that seals souls, but you need to find more treasures to uncover the secrets of the manor.
[Manor Treasure: Dusty Sword.]
Description: This sword is very special, with forging marks still on its blade, but it seems the forging was not successful.
Lu Luo didn’t rush to solve any puzzles. Instead, he returned to the garden once more, handing the gemstone and sword to the accountant.
"The second and third treasures, Miss Accountant. I wasn’t wrong, was I? Cooperating with me offers a boundless future! Though we are shrouded in darkness, we both have a bright future ahead!"
As the accountant stared in somewhat bewildered astonishment, Lu Luo left again with a smile.
And so, Lu Luo subsequently found the dining room’s candlestick and, from the maid’s room, the mistress’s necklace. After gathering all five items, Lu Luo discovered his own cane had also transformed into a treasure.
[Manor Treasure: Butler’s Scepter.]
Description: This manor hides a secret.
Lu Luo arranged the first five treasures neatly and then twisted the scepter in his hand. Instantly, the sky above the entire manor brightened, but its color wasn’t white; it was red. The dark clouds dispersed, and everything seemed unusually clear, yet tinged with a macabre romanticism.
At the same time, the soul sealed within the Ghostly Gemstone vibrated violently. In an instant, a flood of memories poured into Lu Luo’s mind; fragments of information, like so many cookies, were forcibly crammed into his brain. If he hadn’t possessed the experience of absorbing memories from his transmigration, Lu Luo might have lost his balance and been dazed for a while. But fortunately, he was an experienced transmigrator. He now "remembered" everything about the butler.
[A long, long time ago, this was a beautiful manor, and its master was an outstanding Mage. He was generous, handsome, open-minded, and everything was wonderful. This lasted until he obtained a gemstone—the Ghostly Gemstone!
After acquiring the gemstone, the Lord of the Manor began to grow extreme. He lost his rationality, consumed by mad desires. Naturally, the servants of the manor were the first to bear the brunt. The butler, the maid, the chef, the gardener, the blacksmith, the pets—they all became test subjects for the master’s evil magic. This nefarious experimentation continued relentlessly. Although the servants suffered greatly, this torment also endowed them with great strength.
One day, the butler suddenly realized the master seemed weak. So, he united the other servants, and they killed the master! The gardener snipped off the master’s fingers, the maid strangled him, and the chef hacked off his legs. Even the ghost wolf, loyal to the master, was bludgeoned to death by the blacksmith with a hammer and thrown into the pond. The final blow came from the butler’s cane sword, which pierced the master’s heart. From then on, the manor housed only servants and a butler; there was no longer a master.
After the Lord of the Manor’s death, the butler desired to become the new master. He coveted the manor’s wealth and power, but the other servants disagreed. They began to turn on each other. The butler used the Dusty Sword to kill the blacksmith, throwing his body into the furnace. Then, using the mistress’s necklace, he strangled the maid. He smashed the butcher’s skull with the dining room candlestick, poisoned the gardener with the Fallen Tulip’s toxins, and bound the ghost wolf securely in the pond with chains.
Eventually, all the servants were dead, leaving only the butler. Just when the butler believed he had obtained everything, the restless souls of the servants and the Lord of the Manor began to permeate the estate. They cursed each other, struggled, and finally transformed into monstrous creatures, neither human nor ghost—Exotic Species! Even the butler himself did not escape such a mutation.
The servants feared their master’s retribution; he was too powerful. If they faced him alone, they wouldn’t stand a chance. So, they had to band together once more to seal the master’s soul within the Ghostly Gemstone. However, the manor was already cursed. In the eyes of those servants, the butler was the true culprit! The butler had caused the master’s death, and the butler had killed them. Everything was the butler’s fault! If it weren’t for the butler, everything would have returned to normal!]
The memories ended abruptly at this point. Lu Luo now had a rough understanding of what had happened here.
Since the resentful spirits have already returned, then as the former master of this place, the Lord of the Manor should also be due for a comeback. The Lord of the Manor was ultimately sealed in the Ghostly Gemstone by the servants acting together. So, the question is, now that all the servants are dead, shouldn’t the soul of the Lord of the Manor inside the Ghostly Gemstone be able to emerge?
Lu Luo gazed at the Ghostly Gemstone in his hand, which flickered incessantly, and fell into deep thought.
Suddenly, he sensed that one of his summoned Crawlers had died! The approximate location was the manor villa.
Found one? Still in the villa? Is it the student or the thief? Lu Luo pondered. Before dealing with the final Lord of the Manor, I’d rather take care of the thief first. I’m still not sure if the student actually counts as a player. If the student *is* a player, and I expose myself to both the thief and the student simultaneously, all my attributes will drop to 10%. That would be very dangerous.
Therefore, Lu Luo decided to play it safe. He would send White Snake in first to assess the situation.
There’s still plenty of time; no need to hurry. Besides, the student likely discarded that corpse at the blacksmith’s shop entrance. If he truly is the Lord of the Manor, he should also be looking for the thief. And with White Snake here, all I have to do is wait!
Leaving the other treasures behind, Lu Luo took the Ghostly Gemstone and departed.
...
The thief covered her mouth, hiding among a pile of old, discarded junk, doing her utmost to conceal her presence. The sound of Exotic Species running about could occasionally be heard from outside the door. She didn’t know why there were suddenly so many Exotic Species in the manor. But she knew she just had to hold out; at least the student hadn’t found her hiding here yet.
"Stay calm, control your breathing and heartbeat, and that guy won’t find me," she whispered. Her voice was as faint as a mosquito’s buzz, normally inaudible, but suddenly, a curious voice spoke from behind her.
"Really?"
"Ah?" The thief bit her finger. Her body, usually as supple as if boneless due to her thief class, suddenly became incredibly rigid.
"I’m asking you, hmm? Hiding here, do you really think you won’t be discovered?"
The thief instantly drew her dagger and slashed behind her, but the blade of the person behind her was faster! With one strike, half of the thief’s hand was severed.
"AH!~"
Her scream echoed through the manor villa, and all the Crawlers immediately rushed in that direction.
"Miss Thief, did you know the Hunter’s ability is called ’Track Prey’? And you, you are my prey," the student said.
Before the thief could answer, the sound of Crawlers slamming against the door came from outside.
A formidable enemy before her, pursuers behind. Clutching her severed hand, the thief knew she had nowhere to retreat. But fortunately, the Tokens she possessed were enough for her to die once without truly perishing.
This time, I’ve really messed up!
SPLAT!
The student’s knife pierced the thief’s heart. The player count decreased by one again.
But at this moment, the student wore a strange expression. He looked down at his own body and frowned.
"All the servants except the butler should be dead by now! Why haven’t I reverted to my original body? Why do I still look like a student? Is someone still alive?"
Just as the student was pondering this, a surging thunderbolt pierced through the door and struck him directly.
BOOM!
The entire room was shattered by white lightning!
The student was blasted out of the villa and crashed heavily at its main entrance! And there, in front of him, stood Lu Luo, the ghostly butler, who had been waiting.
[Lord of the Manor - Student, Fourth Tier Unknown Creature.
Strength: 75, Constitution: 75, Agility: 75.
Hint One: The Lord of the Manor, disguised as a player.
Hint Two: The imprisoned soul and body cannot merge.
Hint Three: Originally, he was a Lord.]
Looking at the student, felled by the white lightning, Lu Luo revealed a satisfied smile. He brazenly walked over to the youth and squatted down. The Thunder Sword suddenly thrust out.
DING!
Yet, the student managed to block Lu Luo’s full-force strike with his bare hands.
"This punch carries twenty years of my skill. Think you can block it?" Lu Luo taunted.
He feigned a punch. Although the student was perplexed by Lu Luo’s words, he cautiously adopted a defensive stance. But Lu Luo’s supposed punch was completely limp; the real attack was White Snake, positioned behind the student!
CRACK!
White Snake struck decisively, its fangs sinking into half of the student’s body.
"Full-force attack! Kill him!" Lu Luo commanded.
When facing a formidable enemy, I always go all out. If I were fighting myself, I wouldn’t even waste breath talking. But since it’s White Snake attacking, I feel it’s necessary to give a clear command, he thought.
Hearing Lu Luo’s order, White Snake unleashed a torrent of wild lightning. The electricity made its fangs even sharper, and the Fourth Tier unknown creature, the student, was bitten cleanly in half by White Snake!
CRACK!
Lu Luo looked at the corpse before him and smiled. "Finally... We’re so close to the end!"
Lu Luo seemed to be muttering to himself. He extended his palm, and the Ghostly Gemstone lay there quietly, no longer pulsing.
"Aren’t you going to come out, Lady of the Manor?"
"Oh? How did you find out?"