From the Ship of Fools to Earl of Wugang

Edmund lowered the muzzle of his revolver to the ground, stood up naturally, and brushed the grass clippings and silver dust off his clothes.

"Of course, Thomas. I also have many questions I'd like answered."

Thomas stepped aside slightly to make way for Edmund on the path to the mansion, clearly indicating that he should go first.

The two walked one after the other through the moonlit garden.

After entering the foyer, Thomas gave directions, and the two went to the study and sat down.

Thomas placed the double-barreled shotgun next to the coffee table, and Edmund walked to the armchair opposite the writing desk and sat down.

Thomas spoke first: "I'm sorry to disturb your evening in this way, but your conversation with Miss today has forced me to confirm some things."

"When you ask her to buy those silver powders, sea sand, herbs, and essential oils... to someone familiar with certain areas, the implication is very clear."

He patted the armrest of the armchair: "Mr. Black, I'm sure you have some knowledge of the supernatural world. And Miss Rebecca, despite her intelligence, has always been well protected in these matters."

Edmund met Thomas's gaze and responded calmly.

"Your observation is very keen, Mr. Butler. I do have some knowledge of the supernatural, but I prefer to consider it a private matter and not very relevant to the project I'm working on with Miss Rebecca."

He leaned forward slightly: "We are working on a fairly large project, and my presence is indispensable to its success, while you are undoubtedly loyal to Miss Rebecca Young's interests. From this perspective, you should consider me a collaborator rather than an enemy."

Thomas paused for a moment, tapping his fingers lightly on his knee, as if assessing the veracity of Edmund's words.

After a moment, he shook his head: "A collaborator? Mr. Black, 'collaboration' involving the supernatural often means danger. And my duty includes ensuring that Miss Yang is not affected by any supernatural events."

"I understand." Edmund nodded, then changed the subject. "Let's be frank. You showed up in the garden tonight with a shotgun, clearly to confirm my true intentions."

He stood up from his seat and paced around.

"You might have noticed that the ritual just now was merely an attempt to become a 'suitable candidate,' and this kind of spiritual awakening ritual is enough to show that what I experienced was not a dangerous path. Before I came here, I had already been drawn into the vortex of the extraordinary by some unexpected events. I need power to protect myself and to complete my cooperation with Miss Rebecca."

Edmund stood still and looked Thomas directly in the eye: "Then, as a reciprocal exchange of information, shouldn't you also answer some of my questions? For example, the notes in that hidden compartment in the study and 'Zagrus's Horn'? And Miss Yang's adoptive father—I'm afraid his experiences are more than just a simple career change?"

A long silence fell over the study, the wall clock ticking monotonously, and Thomas's face flashed with extremely complex emotions.

Edmund decided to add fuel to the fire: "To be honest, after coming into contact with 'Zagrus's Horn,' I have become an 'actor' in 'Bacchus's epic play,' which should help you understand the necessity of my immediate promotion."

Thomas's pupils contracted slightly: "You also joined the play?"

Edmund nodded: "The internet gave me the necessary knowledge, right there on Ms. Yang's old computer. Realizing the danger, I was immediately promoted."

After explaining, Edmund shrugged at Thomas: "So, what are you going to say?"

Another period of silence followed, and just as Edmund's back was slightly damp with sweat, Thomas whispered, "You've already found out about these things, alright. I'll tell you some of what you should know."

Edmund sat down again, remaining attentive.

"Miss Rebecca's interests lie in finance and computers; she's not very familiar with her father's collection. And sir... do you remember the scientific expedition I mentioned to you before?"

Thomas's gaze fell on the faded spines of the books on the study wall: "Only the master and two or three others survived that squad. That notebook and that horn are remnants of that experience."

"The old man became a different person after he came back. He quit his job at the university and began to study the remaining things frantically, especially the contents of that notebook."

Thomas's tone carried a barely perceptible hint of awe: "He later told me that the expedition had uncovered a hidden ruin where some untouchable power had been released—power belonging to 'Dionysus,' a lost deity."

"The old man spent over a year researching, trying to find a way to survive or even exploit the 'play' you mentioned. But ultimately, he realized that this path was too risky and could affect his family."

Thomas's voice grew heavy: "In the end, he sealed most of his research notes and artifacts here and became a traveling wine merchant."

He looked at Edmund: "He told me these things when he left, and instructed me not to let Miss Rebecca touch them unless absolutely necessary. My duty is to guard the secrets of the mansion and the sealed items."

"In addition, as you may have noticed, I am not, in some ways, the kind of 'ordinary butler' you might think of."

Thomas gave a wry smile, while Edmund remained silent, waiting for what was to come.

"About ten years ago, I fell seriously ill." Thomas's voice lowered. "Mr. Yang had already begun his research on the Dionysian Pact. He... he made a decision to have a creature from the spirit world possess my dying body through some kind of ritual."

"In order to enter the material world, that spirit creature accepted a complex set of restrictions: it would be transformed into a mortal form and exist in this body, while its original extraordinary nature would be almost completely lost."

Thomas spoke as if recounting someone else's story: "But it retained some knowledge from that world. It became 'me,' continuing to serve the Yang family as a butler."

"My mission is clear: to discreetly guard this mansion, ensure that the sealed supernatural items are not triggered by unrelated individuals, and most importantly—to ensure that Miss Yang can grow up in a normal environment, unaffected by any supernatural events."

"After all, according to the master's research, anyone with sufficient spiritual aptitude could be chosen by Dionysus. The level of understanding of the spirit world increases this probability, and we don't want any factor to accelerate this process."

After Thomas finished speaking, he looked back at Edmund: "That's all. Now, Mr. Black, you should understand why I'm so wary of your behavior. Your actions so far... all of this could shatter the balance that Mr. Young has maintained for over twenty years."

Edmund stroked his chin and posed a new question: "Speaking of which, now that I've been forced into the affairs of Mr. Yang's estate, may I observe his research findings?"

"Okay." Thomas nodded, taking a parchment scroll out of his pocket. "But there's one condition."

He tossed the scroll precisely onto the coffee table next to Edmund.

"Sign this, and then we'll talk about the next steps."