Chapter 1331 Build Up and Burst Forth <TOC> Chapter 1333 Venom
Translator: SumTLMan
Upon Angel’s return from the Wilderness of Dreams to reality, he promptly stepped outside.
Standing at the doorway was a somewhat bashful young maiden. Her visage was quintessentially South Lurian — high nose bridge, deep-set eyes, and pronounced facial contours. Her jade-green eyes shimmered, reminiscent of a tranquil, crystal-clear pond. A smattering of light brown freckles adorned her cheeks, and her flaxen hair was neatly braided into a long plait.
“Lucia? What brings you here? Where’s Butler Torino?” Angel inquired, puzzled.
Previously, all the major and minor affairs of the estate were managed by Head Maid Mana. But after a sudden turn of events, Butler Torino, a veteran butler who had been in charge during Old Pat’s time, assumed her duties.
As for Lucia, Angel recalled that she was a servant of the mansion. He didn’t have any particular memories of her, only noting that she was close with Maid Ollie and was inherently shy.
“Butler Torino sent me to take over… Sister Ollie’s position,” Lucia remarked, her face clouding with sorrow and desolation as she mentioned Ollie. Evidently, she shared a profound bond with Ollie.
Does this imply Lucia is now Angel’s personal housemaid appointed by Butler Torino?
Angel pondered for a moment and then instructed, “Please fetch Butler Torino for me. I’ll await you both in the main hall.”
Without any further ado, Angel descended the stairs.
In less than five minutes, both Butler Torino and Lucia had arrived in the grand hall.
Angel glanced at Lucia, “I need to discuss some matters with Butler Torino.”
Lucia hesitated briefly but nodded and withdrew.
When only the two of them remained, Angel directed his attention to Butler Torino.
The elder was the embodiment of strictness. His hair was impeccably combed, not a strand out of place. The tailcoat he wore had no creases, and it was so smooth that one could easily imagine raindrops just rolling off it.
“Butler Torino,” Angel began, “I am aware of your kind gesture in assigning Lucia to serve me. However, I might be leaving the estate soon, and my return is uncertain.” Angel paused before adding, “If it concerns Lucia, perhaps you could reassign her duties.”
Butler Torino’s expression remained unfathomable, but he bowed slightly in acknowledgment. “Young master, as one of the estate’s proprietors, you ought to have personal attendants, one or more. Even in your absence from the estate, such assistance is indispensable.”
Angel sighed inwardly. Ever since they were children, Torino, with his stern countenance and strict adherence to the aristocratic traditions, was an unapproachable figure. He often reprimanded Angel and his brother for minor timekeeping or etiquette infractions. Because of this, the brothers had always found it hard to warm up to him.
After the death of Old Pat, Torino had retreated to a corner of the mansion to live a life of retirement. Leon, perhaps scarred by childhood admonitions, had appointed the gentler Maid Mana to the role of estate manager.
But perhaps the years of retirement had softened Torino. He seemed to genuinely enjoy the company of the Kulakuka tribe. In the past, such an association would’ve been unthinkable. In Torino’s eyes, the estate was a place for servants and masters. The Kulakuka, being subjects of the territory, would’ve only been allowed to reside outside the mansion.
Noticing Torino’s newfound flexibility and the Kulakuka’s fondness for the butler, Leon reinstated him. However, once reappointed, Torino seemed to revert to his old stern ways.
He once said, “As a butler, I do what butlers do. Mana did splendidly, and while I respect her style, I can’t emulate it. I can only act based on what I’ve been taught.”
Perhaps the only change in Torino was his slightly more relaxed stance on non-staff members appearing within the mansion. Otherwise, he was very much the Torino of old.
“If you are not fond of Lucia, young master, I can arrange for a different attendant,” Torino offered once again.
“Though I harbor no aversion to Lucia, her mere presence outside my door, even in stillness, tends to distract me, be it during meditation or research,” Angel remarked with a touch of hyperbole. He elaborated, wanting not to waste Lucia’s time idly standing outside. “Rather than her simply waiting there, she could engage in more meaningful endeavors.”
This seemed to be the first time Butler Torino had encountered such a conundrum. Considering Angel’s transcendental status, conventional noble etiquettes might not apply. After pondering for a moment, the butler replied, “Then I shall ensure Lucia maintains a greater distance from young master.”
“What’s the purpose of having a servant then?” Angel inquired.
“Her very existence as your servant is its own significance,” the unyielding butler responded.
Angel rubbed his temples. Against such obstinacy, he couldn’t outstubborn Butler Torino.
He then conjured an illusion of a mechanical puppet and presented it to the butler, suggesting, “Consider this my attendant.”
Angel detailed how this mechanical puppet could potentially replace a human servant in both experimental and daily contexts.
To the butler, the illusion was indiscernible from reality. After some contemplation, he reluctantly agreed, “If it can cater to the young master’s needs, so be it.”
Though the butler held reservations, given this “mechanical puppet” hadn’t been schooled in etiquette or the art of serving nobility, its extraordinary nature silenced any further objections.
Lucia’s role was adjusted by Butler Torino. From being a personal maid, she was reassigned as a standard maid, still under Angel’s employ.
Without further ado, Angel had Lucia shadow the newly appointed head maid for managerial training.
Having resolved the maid issue, Angel intended to meet with Leon. He planned to depart from the mansion temporarily and wanted to notify Leon in advance.
However, before he could meet Leon, he was greeted by a rather disgruntled White Bear.
“Why have you arrived?” Angel inquired with a trace of curiosity as he turned towards White Bear. After his last departure from the estate with Eureka, he hadn’t returned.
“I’m here on behalf of Lord Redhead to relay a message. He’s been tied up with some matters lately and won’t be available to mentor Leon for a while,” White Bear relayed with a hint of resignation. “But the ironic part? I’ve come twice now only to find Leon asleep each time. Had I known, I would’ve performed a prophecy before coming.”
“Is Leon currently asleep?”
“Yes, the sun hasn’t even set, yet he’s fast asleep. Quite puzzling,” White Bear remarked with a sigh.
Angel mused internally. He suspected Leon might be discussing combat techniques with Knight Sabel at the moment. Initially, Leon intended to exchange techniques with Tulas. But Tulas’ preferred mode of ‘exchange’ was a good ol’ fistfight.
In the Wilderness of Dreams, Leon wasn’t an extraordinary figure. Purely in terms of combat skills, he was outmatched by Tulas.
While enhancing skills through combat is commendable, every time Tulas came out triumphant, he’d have this smug expression, which irritated Leon to no end. As a result, he sought out Sabel for a change. Sabel, more level-headed than Tulas, taught Leon numerous valuable techniques. Not really an ‘exchange,’ but Leon definitely benefited one-sidedly.
Naturally, Leon was overjoyed. Thus, besides honing his techniques with Sabel in the Wilderness of Dreams, he practiced in the estate’s battle arena. Hence, it wasn’t unusual for White Bear to miss him.
“I was planning to see Leon as well. I’ll relay your message, saving you the trouble of leaving a note,” Angel offered.
White Bear’s face lit up with gratitude, “That would be splendid.”
With satisfaction, White Bear took his leave. Angel glanced at Leon’s room, shaking his head and opting not to disturb his peaceful dreams. He decided he could always convey the message in the Wilderness of Dreams later. All in due time.
Angel didn’t linger at the mansion. Accompanied by Popoca, he soared into the sky and prepared to depart with his Gondola.
However, just as the Gondola activated, he heard a falcon’s cry from behind. Turning around, he saw Sanders’ demon falcon, which he had left behind. It spread its vast wings and flew towards him.
After some contemplation, Angel halted the Gondola, waited for the falcon to board, and then set off again.
He had two objectives for leaving the mansion this time. Firstly, to meet Gold.
Of the extraordinary individuals he knew on the Old Land Continent, Gold was the only one he wasn’t entirely confident about. Especially now, with the recent publication of —City Firefly’s Night Whisper— and matters of the Abyss beginning to ferment, Angel hoped to keep his whereabouts as concealed as possible.
Thus, his visit to Gold aimed to request him to withhold revealing his location to others for a short while.
His second and more crucial purpose was to construct the Spell Position.
The Gateway Model, having been built for so long, was missing only a few final runes. Although constructing a Spell Position might not seem like a significant task, the origins of this particular Gateway Model were rather special.
Unsure if it would create any ripples, Angel decided to leave the estate and find a secluded place with few people to establish the Spell Position.
…
The journey to Conia was smooth sailing.
The spring season of the Month of Blooming Flowers was nearing, and the temperature wasn’t as chilly as before. On his last visit, Conia was blanketed in a thin layer of snow. Now, the snow had melted, revealing Conia’s vibrant side.
However, Angel had no intention of setting foot in Conia. He directed his Gondola straight to Gold’s farm on the outskirts.
When Angel approached the barn he had previously visited, he once again encountered the prankster known as “Silver Star”. Facing Angel’s playful gaze, Silver Star seemed a bit embarrassed.
“I hadn’t expected to find Your Excellency here. I thought it was just an ordinary person who had ventured in,” Silver Star remarked with a hint of shyness.
From her demeanor and actions, one would hardly guess that Silver Star’s true form is that of a terrifying Gorgon of the Sea. Furthermore, she is a Gorgon who bears a curious fondness for humans.
Angel conveyed his purpose, expressing a desire to meet with Gold.
Having heard him out, Silver Star gently shook her head, “Ever since your last visit, Lord Gold has been in deep meditation. He has not emerged till now.”
Angel paused momentarily, taking in Silver Star’s words. Could it be that influenced by the Rhythm of the Ocean, Gold has been in seclusion for nearly a month?
This indeed was a peculiar revelation.
To be in seclusion for such an extended period suggests that the impact of the Rhythm of the Ocean on him was profound.
With Gold in seclusion and presumably unable to communicate with the outside world, Angel decided not to linger. He bid Silver Star farewell and took his leave.
Chapter 1331 Build Up and Burst Forth <TOC> Chapter 1333 Venom