The Secret Cult Chronicles of the Decaying Lake Manor

Chapter 99 Greetings from the Residents of Xianqiu

A moment later, George left the card table and began staring blankly at Frederick the Stone Man.

In his mind, he repeatedly pondered the family history the viscount had just recounted.

From his perspective, this explanation makes sense.

A family corrupted by ambition and seduction signed a secret pact years later to exchange for status and territory, and then guarded a gradually decaying secret for generations.

This aligns more closely with his understanding of "truth" than historical narratives that simply portray loyalty or ambition.

But there are still some things that don't make sense.

The dark figure that appeared multiple times in the spirit world and in reality warned him during the blood flood and left behind the withered golden branch to guide him—this doesn't seem to be anything from the bottom of the lake.

It seems to have an independent will, or even an intention to protect or guide, while the Viscount describes his mother as a sacrifice, which renders George's previous conjecture invalid.

In other words, it has no place in the Viscount's narrative.

Returning to the topic of his mother, Carson said that his mother "knew and consented" to his father's dangerous rituals and died because of them.

But the viscount never mentioned the lunar phase code or the diamond key left by his mother. Did he not know them?

Or was it a deliberate attempt to conceal it?

Then there's the younger sister, Sybil, whose personality changed drastically after their mother's death. She sneaks into their father's study late at night and is terrified of thunderstorms—her reactions seem somewhat inconsistent with the Viscount's account.

George rubbed his temples.

The viscount gave him a map, but it was far from the whole picture.

However, he himself, along with Bates and Elliott, formed the newly established "Holy Light" group, which was still too weak.

As George pondered all this, a vague plan gradually took shape in his mind.

Continue to deepen your knowledge of alchemy and rituals, which are the most direct sources of armed force; elevate your own and your two companions' ranks; and at the same time, cautiously win over Sybil, Carson, Arthur Thompson, and even—Ston.

The dream creature summoned by this father might be able to extract more information.

George's mind wandered, his thoughts drifting away.

Just then, an extremely unusual feeling arose.

heartbeat.

He suddenly felt his own heartbeat clearly.

Thump, thump, thump————

What highlights the subtle inner changes? What stirs up the shifting order of flow?

George suddenly opened his eyes, quickly looked around, and was about to get up from the ground.

However, when he saw what was behind him, all his movements froze.

It was a humanoid creature.

It stood a few steps behind George, as if it had always been there, only choosing to be seen at this moment.

It was tall and slender, dressed in a strangely styled gown—a dark robe that looked as if it were woven from long bird feathers.

A metallic sheen flowed in the dim light of the ceremonial hall.

Its face was so handsome that it was impossible to tell whether it was male or female. Its long hair and eyes were the same deep silver-gray color, like solidified moonlight.

This strange creature was staring silently at George, its silver-grey eyes filled with nothing but indifference.

"Good evening, Your Excellency George de la Porte."

It spoke, in Brittany, but with a peculiar and melodious accent.

George quickly adjusted his breathing, forcing himself to calm down.

The appearance of this mysterious creature was silent and undetected by my spiritual senses—meaning that its level of existence was at least higher than mine.

"Who are you?" George asked cautiously, temporarily abandoning his plan to get up.

"A greeter," its voice devoid of any emotion, "I have no intention of offending. On the contrary, I have come to reclaim a gift."

"A gift?" George frowned. "I'm afraid I've never—"

'

Before he could finish speaking, a thought suddenly flashed through his mind.

Stone.

Stone said in the tower library that, in addition to it, his father had summoned another “resident of Fairy Hill”.

"Are you the being that Father Summoned, the resident of Fairyhill, that Stone mentioned?" George asked tentatively.

The silver-gray creature nodded slightly, its posture as elegant as if it were extending a formal invitation to a ball.

"Ston—is that what it calls us? An interesting name, though in Sindarin 'Fairy Hill' it means eternity and the ultimate."

Its silver-grey eyes turned to George.

"I need to reclaim the treasure I once gifted to a certain lady. That territory, which originally belonged to me, was later given—to your family."

"Treasures?" George's heart skipped a beat. "You mean—gems?"

"Yes, there are three portions," the resident of Fairy Hill confirmed.

"The content of that contract was to return them to me. Now, it is time to fulfill the contract."

George's heart raced; he realized the mysterious creature was referring to the diamonds his mother had left behind.

But he has only found two so far. Where is the third one?

"I didn't bring it with me," George said truthfully as he got up from the ground, his mind racing.

This seems like a trading opportunity; such a powerful being—if one could exchange gems for its assistance—

The creature seemed to read his mind, and a slight smile appeared on its lips.

"Your assessment is reasonable, Your Excellency De Lapol," it said calmly, looking at George, who was still shorter even when standing.

"If you can give me the three treasures, I can provide you with some assistance within the scope of my authority."

It raised its long, slender hand and gracefully spread it out, gesturing to Frederick behind George.

"For example, rather than a long wait, I can more clearly tell some people that their awakening is imminent."

Before George could respond, the creature's figure seemed to be blown across the sand dune by an invisible wind, fading from the edge.

Its voice seemed to emanate from the very space itself that vanished: "Remember, the moon begins to hide when she is full, and returns again after she departs," it has always been so.

In the blink of an eye, it vanished completely, leaving only a bewildered George in the room.

His prominent heartbeat returned to normal.

George stood there, lost in thought. Fairy Hill People — Contract — Three Treasures — What did this mean? Was it the help his mother had arranged for her family members?

Suddenly he remembered something and abruptly turned to look at Frederick.

Just then, he heard a clear, crisp sound.

Crash, like thin ice breaking under the warm spring sun.

A large crack appeared in the crystal on Frederick's body.

Before George could react, the crystals on his brother's body began to shatter more and more, with a constant crackling sound.

After the crystals shattered, puffs of white smoke rose up, which looked like sublimation.

George saw that within the crystal shards, his brother's limbs had been restored, and his human face was gradually emerging from the smoke...

But he immediately realized something and had to turn his head away.

He noticed that his brother's clothes, which had endured so much hardship over the past two days, had become even more tattered after the purification ritual.

It would be impolite to keep looking like this.