Chapter 749: The Moon's Authority

Upon entering the house, the first thing Klein saw was the foyer. It was

very spacious here, with several chairs and umbrellas placed there.

Furthermore, the furnishing was elegant, and the decorations were

befitting of his status. If he hadn't known of the structure ahead of

time from his inspection, Klein might've imagined it to be the living

room.

After passing through a second main door, the sight before his eyes

opened up---it was a huge hall that could accommodate dozens of dancing

guests.

In the middle of the hall was a brightly colored, thick, and plush

carpet. Surrounding it were spaces covered with bright marble tiles,

with a piano, stone sculptures, and other decorations decorating the

hall. There were also stone columns that held up the second floor with

inlaid ornaments.

To the left was a series of floor-to-ceiling windows, and beyond them

was a lush, green lawn and blooming garden. To the right were walls,

wooden doors, and a corridor that led to the lounges, storerooms,

washrooms, kitchen, and butler's room, etc.

The hall was two stories high, and there was a crystal chandelier

hanging down from the ceiling. It instantly made one imagine what it

would look like when night fell.

Ahead of him were two staircases that led to the second floor.

The winding corridor here was square in shape, and the emptied-out

section in the middle happened to be where the carpeted hall was. All

Klein needed to do was hold a cup of wine and stand behind the railings

of the second floor, and he could leisurely take in the sights of a ball

below.

There were many rooms on the second floor. There was a living room, an

activity room, a dining room, washrooms, a billiard room, and many

bedrooms. If any guests needed to stay for the night, they would stay

there.

Similarly, on the second floor, there were two staircases that led to

the third floor. That was where Dwayne Dantès stayed. There was an

exaggerated master bedroom, with a bar counter-equipped open room that

allowed one to sunbathe and enjoy the scenery. There was a study which

could be deemed as a miniature library, as well as two changing rooms

and small bedrooms for the valet and the maid on night duty. There were

also rooms meant for the household members and bathrooms, but Klein was

currently a single man.

As for the other servants, they lived in a terrace house behind the main

mansion. In another direction was the stable.

The mansion's underground area was equally spacious with a huge

storeroom and wine cellar.

Taking off his coat, Klein stood on the balcony in the half-open room on

the third floor with his back straight. He took in the sights of the

surrounding streets and couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

*There really is a reason why it's so expensive. The rent of 315 pounds

really can't be considered a waste...*

He had already paid a year's rent yesterday afternoon, and he could only

force himself to enjoy this place that he rented.

Meanwhile, he had also directly paid Walter a year's salary of 115

pounds. As it was very possible that he would flee once he obtained the

Antigonus family's notebook, he didn't want to affect his butler's

livelihood.

By the same logic, he had long paid Housekeeper Taneja her annual salary

of 42 pounds. It allowed this lady to realize how generous Mr. Dwayne

Dantès was, as well as how mannered he was.

Through the two head servants' negotiations and hard work, they hired

all the servants. The annual salary of a male steward was 30 pounds; his

valet, Richardson, was 35 pounds; the two footmen in charge of valeting

guests and serving at the dining table each received 30 pounds; the two

lady's maids were 18 pounds each; the two chambermaids were 12 pounds

each; and the two handymen were 12 pounds each.

Apart from them, the cook was 30 pounds; the assistant cook was 15

pounds; the scullery maid was 13 pounds; the parlormaid was 11 pounds;

the nursery governess was 25 pounds, the steward's boy was 10 pounds,

the two coachmen were 25 pounds each; the two gardeners were 20 pounds

each; the two laundresses were 10 pounds each---all for a total of 413

pounds. It cost about 8 pounds a week.

Together with the two head servants' annual salary, Klein needed to pay

570 pounds a year, making it approximately 11 pounds a week. This was

still without including the expenditures for food, clothes, and all

kinds of daily necessities.

*I'll pay ten to twenty pounds a week without any income the moment I

open my eyes...* Klein did a mental calculation as he forced

himself to cast his gaze onto the garden.

In the afternoon, he had paid off the rental fee for the two carriages

and servants' first week's salary. Together with him giving Housekeeper

Taneja 1,000 pounds for the daily expenses, he only had 1,286 pounds and

18 gold coins left. However, he would receive the payments from Miss

Justice and Ma'am Hermit within the week.

*I wonder how long that 1,000 pounds can last Taneja. Just to store up

the required alcoholic beverages for the balls would cost a few hundred

pounds...* The rich Mr. Dwayne Dantès fell into deep thought and

could hardly extricate himself from it.

To calm his emotions, he decided to head above the gray fog while the

butler and servants were busy with handling the household chores. He

wanted to study the strange puppet which Emlyn White had sacrificed.

After the Blood Moon happened, Klein had no choice but to return to the

mysterious world and pull Fors into it. He resisted the urge to sleep as

he listened to her drone on about her daily life in Backlund. After

everything was over, he was just too tired. He accepted Emlyn's

sacrifice, and after confirming that there wasn't anything weird, he

returned to the real world and collapsed into bed.

After straightening his stylish dark-colored vest, Klein walked to the

door and said to the awaiting valet, Richardson, "I have a habit of

sleeping in the afternoon for forty-five minutes. I don't want anyone

disturbing me."

"Yes, sir," Richardson answered humbly.

He was an illegitimate son with mixed blood. His father was Loenese, a

supervisor at a manor, while his mother was a native from East Balam who

was a slave in the same manor. After he was born, he was met with

discrimination and bullying. This resulted in a weak and submissive

character, and because he was good-looking, he was suitable for valeting

guests. He was selected by the manor's master to be a valet before being

brought to Backlund.

After both Houses of the Loen Kingdom had abolished slavery, he found

himself out of a job. All he could do was seek the help of the City

Family Servant Assistance Association.

Before Klein, he had served two households and committed some mistakes,

but he did build up a wealth of experience. He caught Butler Walter's

notice, and he became Dwayne Dantès's valet.

After looking at Richardson, who stood straight and tall, with a height

that was almost identical to himself, Klein indiscernibly shook his head

and sighed.

*This guy that can clearly be a celebrity with his looks can only be a

servant in this day and age. Furthermore, he's such a tall man, but he

appears cowardly and weak. However, this can also be considered an

advantage. He's obedient, silent, and submissive. He does whatever his

master instructs him to do, and he will absolutely not dare to make his

own decisions...*

*If I only have a valet with me requiring him to handle all kinds of

matters, Richardson will definitely not be up to mark. However, I still

have Butler Walter and so many other servants. He can handle the other

matters with his experience and capabilities.*

Without musing further, Klein locked the door and returned to the side

of the reclining chair. He took four steps counterclockwise and entered

above the gray fog.

He sat at the seat of The Fool, and he beckoned with his hand to make

the charred Moon Puppet fly over and land before him.

After scrutinizing it, Klein didn't discover anything odd about it.

Hence, he conjured a pen and paper and wrote the divination statement:

"Its origins."

Putting down his fountain pen, Klein waited a few seconds before picking

up the piece of paper and leaning back against his chair.

*Hmm, my spiritual intuition didn't stop me from making the divination

statement. It means that the latent danger of the Moon Puppet isn't as

bad as the Rose School of Thought Beyonder characteristic...*

Klein mumbled as he skillfully recited the divination statement.

In the gray, hazy world, he saw an altar with a circle of fiery torches

around it.

On the altar, there was what he suspected to be human skin with traces

of blood everywhere. In the middle were three candles and a few puppets

that resembled thin wooden poles.

These miniature puppets had curved eyes and mouths, as though they

corresponded to the crimson crescent in the sky.

Therefore, they continued hanging their creepy smiles as withered grass

and dried flowers remained embedded in their bodies.

A priest in a dark red robe was circling the altar with heavy steps, as

though he was dancing a dance created by an epileptic patient.

At some point in time, moonlight gathered and shone on the puppet as it

increased in brightness. Towards the end, it resembled the gentle ebbing

of water waves.

The ritual quickly came to an end as the priest picked up a thin puppet

and walked to the human body bound to a frame beside him. Instantly, he

stabbed it through the body's eye socket.

Amidst tragic cries, the scene quickly changed. The dead man with the

Moon Puppet in his eye socket was buried somewhere in an orderly manner.

The scene once again skipped and showed further development. Every full

moon or Blood Moon, the moon's glow would scatter over the grave,

seeping into it like water as the surrounding darkness turned gloomy.

Klein opened his eyes and adjusted his seating posture. He had a general

idea of the Moon Puppet's origins.

It came from a prayer ritual to the Primordial Moon. It was a ritual

lasting for centuries!

Over the past few centuries, they had absorbed the powers of the crimson

moon, mutating bit by bit until they were exhumed by the colonists.

They usually didn't exhibit any oddity, and something only happened when

a Primordial Moon believer activated them with the correct method. As

for what would happen, Klein had no idea.

*In a particular sense, these primitives are equivalent to the

Primordial Moon's Chosen ones... Last night, after I smote one to death,

that evil god was enraged; thus, causing the Blood Moon?* Klein

gently tapped the mottled table's edge as he came to a preliminary

judgment.

*Hmm, the Primordial Moon's wrath directly changed the moon's phenomena,

making it a Blood Moon... If this theory is right, it means that in the

domain of the crimson moon, the Goddess is inferior to the Primordial

Moon. "She" might only have the title in name as "She" grasps a Grade 0

Sealed Artifact...* Klein nodded slightly as he attempted to

divine the weaknesses of the Moon Puppet.

This time, he saw sunlight and lightning.

*This means that the Beyonder powers in the Sun domain and lightning

from the Storm domain are best at dealing with it...* As Klein

interpreted the information, he threw the Moon Puppet into the junk pile

and returned to the real world.

An hour later, Walter, who was wearing a starched suit and white gloves,

knocked on the door. He bowed and said, "Sir, I'll be printing your name

card in a while. They will be sent to the neighbors along with some

gifts.

"They will take a few days to observe to determine your situation. If

they're willing to accept you, they would send gifts and invite you to

be their guests.

"Does your name card need a title added?"

Title... The Fool that doesn't belong to this era? Klein

lampooned as he replied with a smile, "Merchant Dwayne Dantès from Desi

would suffice."

Walter nodded and said, "Based on your wishes, I'll immediately arrange

for you to have etiquette lessons. The focus will be on dancing, and

I've hired a professional teacher."