The Secret Cult Chronicles of the Decaying Lake Manor

Chapter 103 Recruiting Bates

At the same time, in the gym on the third floor of the mansion.

George changed into a dark hunting outfit that allowed for easy movement, and Lieutenant Bates and Elliott also changed into clothes that allowed for easy movement.

In the empty room, the morning light slanted in through the high windows, illuminating the clean wooden floor and the neatly arranged equipment on the shelves.

After a brief warm-up, George and Bates had a slow-paced sparring session.

Bates held a wooden practice sword, his movements steady, each block and swing perfectly timed;

George, wielding another wooden sword, used skill and speed to deal with the situation. Although his senses were not as sharp as Bates', they were still greatly enhanced.

Elliott stood to the side, observing intently, sometimes nodding slightly, sometimes frowning in thought.

Ten minutes later, the two sheathed their swords, both with a thin layer of sweat on their foreheads.

George walked to a bench and sat down, gesturing for the two of them to sit as well.

Elliott thoughtfully handed over a towel and a spare water bottle.

At that moment, George took a stapled handwritten notebook from the pocket of his clothes and handed it to Eliot.

"William, these are some fundamental points about spiritual application and sensory control that I've compiled based on my learning and insights over this period, as well as some personal understanding of the 'string' principle."

"Your talent lies in the stars and the strings"—this notebook should be helpful to you. Remember to proceed step by step and don't rush things.

Elliott took it with both hands, solemnly turned a few pages, and a look of surprise flashed in his eyes.

"Thank you, young master! I will study it carefully and put it into practice according to your instructions."

George nodded, then took a long, narrow object wrapped in thick brown paper from his other pocket and handed it to Bates.

"John, this is a copy of the manuscript by the swordsmanship master Johannes Richtenauer from our family collection, along with some related annotations."

"I've skimmed through it, and it should offer profound insights into your hunting principles. The sections on 'intuition' and 'distance' are particularly relevant to your abilities."

Bates took the paper package and carefully opened it, revealing ancient diagrams and Brittany annotations on the paper.

He flipped through a few pages, his eyes brimming with surprise and barely concealed, intense joy.

But he controlled himself well, simply letting out a long breath and looking up at George: "George—the value of this information is immeasurable. You—"

"Take it, John," George interrupted him, his tone gentle but firm.

"As a friend, and as a partner who fights alongside us, I believe you can find your own path within this."

Bates nodded emphatically, carefully wrapped the manuscript again, and tucked it into his pocket with great care.

His tone returned to its usual composure, but his voice trembled slightly at the end: "I will make good use of it and will never let you down."

George nodded slightly, then composed himself, making his tone more serious and candid.

"There is one more thing I need to be frank with you. As a nobleman of Highgarden, one of the privileges I inherited includes a formal mandate."

He shared the information he had learned the previous night.

"I can legally recruit and house a certain number of superhumans as my subordinates, and have considerable jurisdiction over them within a specific area. This is different from an ordinary employment relationship; it is more of a subordinate relationship and responsibility at the superhuman level."

He looked at the two of them with an honest gaze: "Having been through so much, I have absolute trust in your abilities and character. Therefore, I formally invite you to join the Delabor family as extraordinary individuals."

"We are no longer simply master and servant or friends, but partners on the same boat, facing unknown storms and protecting the future of this land and our families."

Elliott stood up almost immediately, his back ramrod straight, his eyes gleaming.

"Young Master! I am willing! It is my honor to follow you. You have shown me the way forward, and I will do my utmost."

Lieutenant Bates did not get up immediately.

His gaze shifted between George and Elliott, then he asked a few questions.

"After joining, our scope of action in extraordinary matters, our external cover, and our decision-making mechanisms in case of disagreements —"

George patiently answered each question, explaining that, with specific authorization and official registration, his subordinates with superhuman abilities enjoyed considerable autonomy.

Externally, identity issues can be handled according to specific circumstances, and major matters can be discussed jointly. However, in core matters such as manor security and seal protection, the viscount makes the primary decisions.

After listening, Bates nodded and stood up. "Understood. Clear and concise, with well-defined responsibilities. George, I accept your invitation."

As soon as he finished speaking, George felt a slight tremor in the card table in his mind.

He focused his mind on it and found that the edge of Lieutenant Bates' card was glowing.

With a thought, he consumed a [Passion] card that had just finished cooling down.

A flash of light appeared on the card table, and Bates' cards underwent a noticeable change in appearance.

The original "acquaintance" icon has disappeared, replaced by a more detailed information section:

Follower Bates

[Sexual Aspect: Hunter 4, Star 2, Follower]

Bates is decisive and ruthless, skilled at tracking and subduing his prey. His intuition for his targets is becoming increasingly sharp.

Rank: Veil Breaker (First Encounter); Attitude: Loyal

[Current inclination towards Siwei: Genbayashi's actions are due to the lingering effects of unconscious contact; a formal object of worship has not yet been chosen.]

George left the poker table, feeling a little more at ease.

He looked at the two people standing in front of him, their young faces bearing a solemn expression of shared destiny.

"Thank you," George said sincerely. "To be honest, given the complicated family situation, I need reliable partners."

"In the future, we may need more resources to handle more difficult matters. I hope that together we can gradually unravel the deep-seated problems of the family and bring it back to its former glory."

Almost simultaneously, on the second floor of the main house, outside Frederick's studio.

Uncle Albert was about to push open the door to check on his nephew—after all, having experienced such a strange change, although his body had been purified, the impact on his mind was probably considerable.

The door opened from the inside just as his hand was about to touch it.

Sybil emerged from the studio, her face pale.

Upon seeing her uncle, she paused, a flicker of panic crossing her face. She quickly composed herself and forced a polite smile: "Ah—Uncle, good morning."

"Sybil? You don't look well. Didn't you sleep well?" Albert asked gently, his gaze sweeping over her slightly haggard face.

"Hmm... I'm having a bit of trouble sleeping." Sybil lowered her eyes, her fingers unconsciously twisting the hem of her skirt. "I just came to see Fred."

Seeing his niece's pale face, the uncle asked with concern, "Do you want to go back and rest for a while?"

"No need, Uncle. I—I'll go back to my room first." Sybil replied hastily, then lowered her head and quickly left down the corridor.

Her figure disappeared around the corner of the corridor, leaving behind a slightly flustered silhouette.

Albert watched her leave, his face showing no blame or doubt, but instead he sighed and shook his head.

He turned to the studio door, knocked, and then pushed it open and entered.