Mystery: The Stranger

Chapter 20 Earl's Domain

At dawn the next day, before the mist from the Misty Sea had fully dissipated, a black carriage bearing the coat of arms of the Hawke family departed from the castle. Its wheels crunched over the morning dew, speeding southwest—this time, Snow was going to visit the powerful Earl of Cullen.

Earl Cullen's territory boasted the finest harbor on the southwestern side of the Northern Continent, later known as Port Lessel. However, in this era, the port's value was greatly diminished. To the west of the Northern Continent lay the Misty Sea, the entrance to the Abyss in the real world hidden deep within that sea. Coupled with the deep-sea superhuman creatures hunted by human extraordinary beings and the occasional mid-to-high-ranking powerhouses roaming the seas without warning, the port, in this chaotic world of rising gods, resembled less a modern economic engine and more a trap that could devour everything at any moment.

The true upper echelons disdain to dabble in this sea area, while mid-level superhumans prefer the Sunia Sea on the eastern side of the Northern Continent—where there are densely packed islands, unlike the Misty Sea, which is shrouded in thick fog, has sparse islands, and is rarely visited by humans, where one can easily die if one is not careful.

Traditional commerce and colonization were insignificant in this era. The nobles were extraordinary beings who directly ruled their territories, and the rulers of various regions were also extraordinary beings who had achieved this through different means. Colonization was never the mainstream of this era, and no one could arbitrarily encroach upon the sphere of influence of other gods.

As the carriage entered the Earl's territory, Snow clearly sensed the difference. This place had once been the southwestern border of the empire guarded by the demigods of the Solomon royal family. From its inception, it was built to the specifications of a military fortress. High stone walls were built against the mountain, and patrolling soldiers could be vaguely seen on the battlements. Arrow towers stood in rows. Even though it had never experienced any truly devastating battles, the majestic and imposing aura it possessed was far superior to that of Hawke's Castle.

"My lord, since Countess Cullen took over this place, she has changed many rules." Rodney lifted a corner of the carriage curtain, pointed to the distant sky, and whispered, "For example, this area is a no-fly zone, and no superhuman is allowed to fly in without permission; also, she has absorbed many extraordinary individuals who voluntarily submitted to her, but instead of bestowing noble titles upon them, she created a new bureaucratic system, making those people arbitrators, sheriffs, and judges in various places, rather than knights or lords."

Snow nodded knowingly.

It's the same old trick with a different name; he knows all too well the rules of playing the extraordinary path.

The path to advancement through the lawyer route requires following the sequence of Sequence 9 Lawyer → Sequence 8 Barbarian → Sequence 7 Briber → Sequence 6 Corrupted Baron → Sequence 5 Chaotic Mentor → Sequence 4 Fallen Earl, with each step requiring the corresponding role-playing.

The arbitrator path naturally requires following the sequence 9 Arbitrator → Sequence 8 Sheriff → Sequence 7 Inquisitor → Sequence 6 Judge → Sequence 5 Punishing Knight → Sequence 4 Lawful Mage, playing the corresponding role in order to better digest the potion and reduce the risk of losing control.

In this world, acting is very important. When everyone uses acting, those who don't are considered different and seem foolish. Even if acting is a semi-public secret and not that sophisticated, extraordinary people with a little background still use it. But it is precisely because most people use it that the resulting star effect and herd mentality become stronger.

Snow didn't deliberately act, mainly because...

His race has all become demons, there's no need for him to deliberately play the role anymore, that would be awkward.

Moreover, demons need to flaunt their malice, but he doesn't. His malice is Xal'atath, and Xal'atath will remain active on her own. In Azeroth, she is a void being that transcends most demons; her very existence is 'flashy' enough.

The carriage stopped at the castle's main gate. Rodney alighted first and spoke with the gatekeeper. A moment later, a servant in a silver-grey uniform approached and bowed respectfully: "Baron Hawke, His Excellency the Earl requests your presence."

Snow followed the attendants into the castle. The great nobles of the Fourth Age preferred to live in castles, not out of a deliberate desire to recreate the past, but because castles were grand, sturdy, and offered a degree of privacy, satisfying many of the needs of high-sequence extraordinary beings. This was a transcendental world; the mundane troubles and inconveniences of life, such as darkness and dampness, were essentially nonexistent.

The castle hall was spacious and solemn, with a stone floor polished smooth as a mirror. Intricately carved columns stood on either side, and a huge crystal chandelier hung from the top, casting a soft yet majestic light. At the far end of the hall, on a high platform covered with a deep blue velvet carpet, a woman sat gracefully in an oak chair—this was Earl Cullen.

Snow paused slightly when his gaze fell on her.

The countess was exceptionally beautiful, with a face so exquisite it was almost perfect. She had grey eyes, black hair, and skin as white as jade, but her exquisiteness was tinged with an almost rigid regularity—her hairstyle was symmetrical, and her earrings, necklace, and even the embroidery on her skirt strictly adhered to the aesthetics of symmetry. She was like a meticulously sculpted wax figure, without the slightest superfluous curve.

Rodney, standing behind him, instinctively tensed, a hint of discomfort flashing across his face. He was a gentleman of the Solomon Empire to the core, and the Solomon Empire, from top to bottom, revered asymmetrical beauty; the staggered arrangement of buildings, the irregularity of decorations, and the casualness of clothing were all core elements of the empire's aesthetic.

The extreme symmetry and rigidity of Count Karen before him was an insult to him. If it weren't for the demigod's majesty, he would have frowned on the spot.

This wasn't standard attire for nobles; it was a top-down aesthetic for the entire population. Ordinary commoners, unable to achieve such refinement, would still bind or sew things onto their bodies to highlight this asymmetry. The buildings seen from the outside still maintained the empire's consistent style, but upon first meeting this renowned count, seeing how upright, symmetrical, and orderly he was, Rodney didn't immediately utter words like "heretic," "barbaric," or "scum," demonstrating considerable self-control and restraint.

Snow could understand this awkwardness—like a person with obsessive-compulsive disorder seeing someone covered in grease and deliberately wearing their pants askew, the discomfort was almost unbearable.

Greetings, Earl Karen.

Snow stepped forward, placed his hand on his chest, and bowed with composure.

Rodney stepped forward at the opportune moment and handed the sandalwood box in his hand to the Earl's attendant.

Countess Karen raised her hand, and the servant opened the box. When the head, emanating a faint yet extraordinary aura, came into view, a barely perceptible look of surprise flashed in her grey eyes—it was the head of the Child of the Forest, one of the core materials for the Lawyer's Path Sequence 5 "Chaos Mentor".

Although this material is exceptional, submitted through the legal process rather than the arbitrator's route, it is still valuable to the Tamara family because it is an adjacent process.

What's even more remarkable is that the "Baron Hawke" before her, being a "Corrupted Baron" of the Lawyer Path Sequence 6, needed this material to advance to Sequence 5. The fact that the other party was willing to give away such a core material necessary for advancement truly exceeded her expectations.

"This is a very precious gift."

Earl Cullen closed the box, gestured for the servant to put it away, and said in a calm tone that could not hide his approval, "I am quite surprised by Baron Hawke's sincerity."

She did not rise to greet her—she was a demigod of Sequence 4, the master of this place, while Snow was merely a baron of Sequence 6. In terms of status and strength, he was not worthy of her rising in person.

Snow didn't care at all. He readily accepted the servant's guidance, sat down on a chair on the side of the hall, and took the black tea offered by the servant. The warm touch spread from his fingertips.

"In my opinion, nothing represents the Hawke family's sincerity better than this gift."

Snow took a sip of black tea, his tone direct and without any beating around the bush.

"This world is always dangerous. Although we can temporarily live in peace in this corner, no one knows when the unknown storm will suddenly descend. Losing the protection of the empire's order has made me feel a deep sense of crisis, and you are already the strongest in our borderlands."

He looked up at Count Cullen on the high platform, his gaze sincere: "I have come here today hoping to serve under you."

The hall fell silent for a moment...