The Secret Cult Chronicles of the Decaying Lake Manor

Upon hearing the news, the three immediately went downstairs, their footsteps echoing in the empty corridor, revealing a hint of panic.

Before even stepping into the living room, one could hear Old Lady Violet's voice, several pitches higher than usual, speaking with unprecedented enthusiasm and in a high tone.

"...We must treat our distinguished guests with the utmost hospitality! Our family must never neglect our hospitality!"

George frowned and quickened his pace into the living room.

The sight before him startled him slightly.

The old lady sat upright in the center of the sofa, holding Miss Kelly Moore's hand tightly with one hand and clapping her other hand repeatedly, as she poured out a long and eloquent welcome speech and recounted family history.

Kelly's sharp and spirited demeanor from that afternoon in the garden was nowhere to be seen. Now, she stood ramrod straight, a slightly stiff polite smile on her face, but her eyes were full of awkwardness, restraint, and unease.

She subtly shrank back, as if trying to break free from the old lady's overly enthusiastic control, yet unable to do so directly.

Uncle Albert stood to the side, his lips moving several times as if he wanted to interject, but he was always interrupted by the old lady's rapid-fire voice, which made him look quite helpless.

Just then, a noise came from the direction of the stairs, and Frederick and Sybil were called down by their servants.

It was obvious that the old lady insisted on inviting them down, saying that "it would be very impolite not to come out and greet guests."

Frederick still looked listless, while Sybil appeared even more dejected, pale-faced, and with a somewhat unfocused gaze.

As soon as the old lady saw Sybil, she immediately beckoned her over: "Come, Sybil, my darling, come here quickly! Sit with Miss Moore, the two young ladies can have a chat."

Sybil obediently walked over and sat down next to Kelly.

The old lady nodded in satisfaction and then began to lecture the two young women on "ladylike manners," "social etiquette," and "how to showcase the family's heritage," among other things.

Her voice was high-pitched and slightly neurotic with excitement, completely ignoring Kelly's slightly awkward silence and Sybil's exhaustion from forcing herself to listen.

While the old lady's attention was focused on the two young ladies, Uncle Albert quickly walked over to George and Inspector Douglas, lowered his voice, and looked worried.

"After she came back, Mother became... a little strange. At first, she came back from the garden pale, as if she had been greatly frightened. But not long after, she suddenly became unusually agitated, even a little neurotic, and we had to go along with her for the time being."

He paused, carefully considering his words.

"She is now keen on talking to people, especially emphasizing the need to arrange various 'decent activities,' giving orders to everyone, demanding that everyone behave properly, and not allowing anyone to disagree. This is a huge contrast to her previous self."

As George listened, he would secretly glance at Inspector Douglas beside him while his uncle was telling his story.

Sure enough, the inspector's face turned extremely ugly, a heavy cloud hanging over his fat face, his brows furrowed so deeply they could almost trap a fly.

He clearly realized something.

After Uncle Albert finished recounting the brief events that had befallen the old lady, he looked around nervously and suddenly asked:

"Did you see Arthur when you came back? I haven't seen him yet."

George asked doubtfully, "Uncle Arthur? After the insect attack in the garden, he said he was going straight back to the manor to see his father. He should be back by now."

Uncle Albert was taken aback, then called over a male servant: "Go and find out if Master Arthur has returned to his room or been seen in the mansion."

The male servant hurriedly ran off and returned in less than two minutes: "I've searched the entire mansion and asked all the servants, but no one has seen Master Arthur return. He doesn't seem to be in the mansion."

Arthur's uncle has disappeared?

Just then, Inspector Douglas abruptly pulled George aside, dragging him and Bates to the other side of the living room, his voice hushed.

"Tell me, what exactly happened after afternoon tea? Did Mr. Arthur de la Pole behave in any unusual way, or did he say he was going to do something?"

George and Bates exchanged a glance and briefly but clearly recounted Arthur's announcement after afternoon tea that he was going to see the Viscount, and their subsequent experiences.

Upon hearing this, the inspector's face turned even more ashen.

He gritted his teeth and said, "A sudden shift in mood, a dramatic conflict, a side so different from his usual self... there's no doubt, this must be the work of the 'comedian'!"

He grabbed George's shoulder: "If Mr. Arthur disappeared after this force spread outside the manor, or after he left the manor on his own, the situation is extremely dangerous. We must go find him immediately!"

George took a deep breath and immediately walked toward Uncle Albert.

"Uncle, you must stay here and take good care of the old lady, Sybil, and Frederick. Make sure they don't leave the manor, and please tell all the servants that no one is allowed to leave this house without your permission!"

Uncle Albert nodded solemnly: "I understand, leave this to me."

George and Bates then followed Inspector Douglas quickly toward the door.

Just as they reached the door, the inspector suddenly reached out and stopped them.

His gaze swept over George and Bates, his tone serious: "George, and Mr. Bates, this trip is certainly not safe. Can you protect yourselves outside?"

George hesitated for a moment, then took off the Golden Sun Amulet he always wore and handed it to Bates: "Take this, John. My father gave it to me; it provides considerable protection. You're more suited to have it."

He then took out the silver flute from his pocket, held it in his hand, and shook it slightly.

"I have the skill to perform this, as well as a few items left behind by the Viscount, which should be enough to handle things."

Bates accepted the amulet without hesitation and thanked him sincerely.

The inspector looked at the amulet, seemed to recognize something, nodded, and said nothing more.

He took his coat from the coat rack in the hall, reached into the inside pocket, and pulled out a silver isometric cross.

"Are you ready?" the inspector asked in a low voice.

The two nodded.

The inspector raised the cross and began to chant a cryptic, rapid, rhythmic incantation.

He was speaking... perhaps in English?

"We chigger the night guard— the good the leot a reef eth on theostro, see the two end as get set— on his na man we with all Eiffel and dwesh threat with stand ath! "

George was struggling with what "we cheated the next ward, they set fire to the driftwood and bones" meant when he saw the cross in the inspector's hand emit a dazzling light.

But his surroundings were not illuminated; he then realized that the light shone beneath the surface of the world.

Ignoring the thoughts of the two people behind him, the inspector immediately pushed open the heavy oak door.

A cold, damp, and unsettling wind immediately rushed in, and at the same time, the scene before them stunned all three of them.

The stone steps in front of the door, the gravel path, and even the lawn that stretches to the horizon are densely covered with tiny black insects.

They covered the ground like a layer of sesame seeds, crawling on the ground and occasionally jumping up.

Those suffering from trypophobia probably wouldn't be able to leave this door at this moment.

"Damn, there are more bugs than in the forests of Orissa..."

Faced with this chilling undercurrent, Bates muttered a curse.