Master the Abyss, starting from an apprentice priest.

Chapter 641 Hayek (4k2, Second Update!)
I wonder where that "Hayek Nolan"—the young Earl Hayek—is now. But since I live at Austin Manor, there are plenty of ways to find out where Hayek is.

Luo Xiu thought to himself.

In fact, as soon as he entered Austin Manor with the help of the waiter, in addition to looking at the scenery, Luo Xiu had already observed and noted the other nobles he saw in Austin Manor along the way.

As the waiter had proudly stated earlier, Austin Estate was undoubtedly one of the most luxurious estates in the capital. The guests staying there were mostly members of royal families, or at least "nobles" like Lagrand.
They must have had close ties with royalty like Hayek, and it would have been easy for them to glean the information they needed from them.

With these thoughts in mind, Luo Xiu had already begun to silently formulate a plan—how to confirm Hayek's whereabouts, how to kidnap him blindfolded and take him to the "Holy Abyss," how to brainwash him with "mad piety" and then throw him to Quesanx for conversion...

"..."

As Luo Xiu was thinking about these things.

Before him, Quesanx slightly opened his dragon jaws and let out a low growl.

"Roar……"

[Regarding that "Supreme" Emperor, Augustusville... he will be bestowing a title upon you. What are your thoughts, Luo Xiu?]

"..."

Quesanx finally asked himself that question.

Luo Xiu had always known that accepting the title bestowed by Emperor Augustusville would be an unavoidable issue, whether facing the saints of the Holy Court or the [authoritarian] dragon, Quesanx.

“We still need to rely on the identity of the Empire…Quisanx.”

Luo Xiu sighed and said to Quesanx—

“I know what Augustusville is plotting, but we also have bigger and longer-term plans. Now, all I know is that the calamity of ‘Crimson’ has awakened, and everything Augustusville has to do with us, his plans to ‘dominate’ and ‘control’ us, will ultimately be crushed and submerged by that ‘Crimson’.”

"He can't actually control us, dominate us, or divide us."

"On the contrary, if we accept Augustusville's investiture, we will have a large expanse of frontier lands, where we can truly cultivate our own power; and I will also have power and status second only to Augustusville and several imperial dukes, even if it is nominal power—enough to give us more say."

“If Augustusville has really done anything to me or to us, or conversely, what we are prepared to do to Augustusville and the Supreme, then what Augustusville has now bestowed upon me can become an important force in our hands.”

"..."

He recounted these things to Quesanx.

And these were indeed what Luo Xiu was thinking. He knew perfectly well what Quesanx was worried about—that he was completely biased towards the "Supreme." So, as long as he could dispel that worry, that would be fine.

……

Quesanx was able to sense the spiritual changes in His contractor, the "Rossi Durant" before him.

That spirituality remains pure, pulsating and resonating with each passionate word.

That was indeed gradually calming Quesanx's anxiety, making Him gradually believe that His contractor was not affected by the [Supreme]—

"……Roar."

【……I see. 】

In Luo Xiu's ears came the deep voice of Quesanx—

I believe you, Luo Xiu.

[But... I still want to hear you say these things yourself. This is enough for now, enough to dispel some of my... inexplicable concerns.]

【…】

Quesanx recounted these things to Luo Xiu.

As Luo Xiu knew, there were no obstacles left for Quesanx regarding the matter of the Supreme Emperor Augustusville bestowing a title upon him; he was an easy-going dragon.

However... Luo Xiu.

While Luo Xiu was thinking about other things, Quesanx continued—

[Augusville…that’s not an immediate problem. Just recently, I’ve felt a pang of anxiety; the true divinity I inherited from Helmond…seems to be reacting somewhat erratically.]

It felt like something was targeting me, charging towards me relentlessly... and this feeling intensified after completing the transformation of that "Supreme" Divine Knight.

What is that...?

"..."

Listen to Quesanx say these things.

Luo Xiu quickly realized what it was—it was the "Curse of Helmond" that he had seen in the "Demon God" panel of Quesanx!
—【Helmond's Curse (God-Slaying Curse): Helmond has cast a curse. Some of his followers and bloodlines will be unaffected by Quesanx's "Demonic Authority" and will launch an attack on Quesanx!】

Luo Xiu had noticed before that although Helmond had been stripped of his godhood, he had also sown the seeds of disaster for Quesanx. Now, those seeds were finally about to erupt!

I wonder which of Helmond's followers launched this revenge against Quesanx... Thinking this, Luo Xiu looked at Quesanx and said to him:

"That's normal... I think."

"Perhaps it is Helmond's followers or supporters who have launched a revenge against you... For the time being, you should stay on the 'Sacred Abyss' so that they will not be able to find you in the real world, but will only find me."

Luo Xiu wanted to draw the gaze of "revenge" to himself—luckily, after the final battle, he still didn't have a battlefield to test his strength.

And this might be another opportunity—Quisanx lowered his dragon head, closed his dragon eyes, pondered for a moment, then reopened his dragon eyes and said:

【……good. 】

He knew that was the best way; staying in the Abyss to recover his strength was the right choice.

……

After parting ways with Quesanx, Luo Xiu passed through the vortex gate and left Quesanx's Dragon Domain.

Upon returning to the "Sacred Abyss," Luo Xiu saw Indis standing in the center of the hall. Seeing that her "Lord" had finally returned, she stepped forward and bowed respectfully.

“As you wish, Your Majesty,” Intis said in a light voice, “I have taken Pampas to a secret abode, where an apostle of the Holy Abyss is watching over him. When he awakens, I will convey your command to him.”

"Okay." Luo Xiu nodded slightly.

He was preparing to leave the Holy Abyss and return to "Auston Manor," where he would wait until evening before heading to "The Holy Court."

But before that,
"There is one more thing I need to report to you, Your Majesty," Indis said softly to Luo Xiu.
"In Songyuan City... President Qiao Dewen recently visited the Iris Merchant Guild. He said that he and the Fesera family are preparing to establish another cooperation with you and want to sign another 'Golden Contract' worth fifty million gold."

“That’s beyond the scope of my authorization… President Jodwin and the Fesera family seem to want to work with you on the reconstruction of Fafnir. To this end, President Jodwin asked me to convey to you that if you agree, the Florence and Fesera families are willing to increase the value of this Golden Contract.”

"..."

That's because... Elder Gurt of the Fesera family personally went to the Dark Capital and inquired with several officials and ministers he knew well about the fact that Emperor Augustusville would be granting him the territory of Fafnir? Therefore, they wanted to draft a new "Golden Contract" with him before the actual investiture...

Luo Xiu thought to himself.

For the wealthy merchants of the Golden Kingdom, this was indeed a significant collaboration with considerable potential value. However, for Luo Xiu himself, having long cooperated with President Qiao Dewen and the Fesera family, he was confident in their ability to fulfill their obligations.

“I accept their invitation to cooperate and can sign a new ‘Golden Contract’ with them.”

Luo Xiu then instructed Indis:
“But you should go back and tell them that the reconstruction of the Fafnir territory is a very large project, and it cannot be handled by just the two of them. I invite more families to join, and I want permanent ‘shareholder’ seats for the Florentine family and the Fesera family, the two major families.”

"If they feel that further discussion is needed, we can wait until after the investiture is completed and I return to Songyuan territory for a more detailed meeting. But perhaps they can't wait that long, and by then, we may have a better option."

"..."

"As you wish, Your Majesty."

Indis remembered Luo Xiu's words, bowed to him again, and then returned to the real world.

Luo Xiu lingered a while longer on the "Sacred Abyss" to do a few other things before returning to the real world.

……

until night.

When Luo Xiu opened his eyes again on the bed, the room had become somewhat dim.

By this time, the sun had completely set. Luo Xiu got up from the bed, turned on the crystal lamp beside him, and then withdrew the real illusion created by the foggy night.

Now, we can head towards the "Holy Court"—

While thinking, Luo Xiu had already reached the door and opened it.

The three servants of the Lakeside Villa—one standing at the gate, one sweeping the courtyard, and one watering the plants—stopped at the same time and bowed respectfully to Luo Xiu when they saw him come out of the room.

"You're awake. Do you need to go out?"

“Go to the Royal Opera House,” Roth said to the servants as he walked toward the entrance. “I have an appointment with a friend to see the premiere of ‘Triumphal Glory’ tonight.”

Actually, this was not Luo Xiu's purpose. The reason he explained it to the waiters in this way was simply because the Royal Opera House was a major landmark in the capital, and it would be very convenient to go anywhere after getting off the bus there.

The headquarters of the "Holy Court"—the Radiant Holy Court Cathedral—is located not far from the Royal Opera House. At that time, one can simply leave all the prying eyes behind and head straight to the Holy Court.

"Understood, distinguished guest." The waiters nodded in greeting.

Then, they quickly got to work—Luo Xiu soon heard a "creak-creak" sound, the sound of axles turning.

A carriage had already passed the gate of the Lakeside Villa, and the driver of the carriage was one of the three servants from before—Luo Xiu didn’t even notice where the carriage had been parked before, and the servant had now changed into a “butler’s” uniform.

They had received perhaps more professional training than he had imagined… Luo Xiu couldn’t help but think as he lifted the carriage curtain and boarded the carriage.

The creaking sound of the axle turning came once again.

The horse's hooves lifted off the ground like a gentle breeze, and the wheels of the carriage began to turn. The carriage gradually drove onto the manor's driveway, heading towards its destination—the Royal Opera House.

……

Inside Austin Estate.

In a lavishly decorated banquet hall, a young nobleman, dressed in equally luxurious attire, is surrounded by a group of noble ladies, enjoying the dinner specially hosted by the manor that evening.

A subtle smile played on his lips as he swirled the jeweled wine glass in his hand—worth more than several months' taxes for a small town—and sipped the rare red wine from Château Claude Dior, his expression one of comfort and contentment.

But that was actually an act; it was an expression honed through long exposure to aristocratic social settings, one that was appropriate for one's status and suitable for most banquet occasions.

His gaze swept over the nobles before him—all of whom had just returned from the front lines of the Dark Duchy and had come to the banquet at the invitation of Duke Austin.

Although the Duke of Austin was unable to attend in person due to health reasons, his son, Hayek, a young nobleman sipping Claudel wine, was present and was the true host of the dinner.

Due to the limitations of his status, he still had to host this banquet, following the teachings of his father, Duke Austin, from childhood—that even if one is extremely annoyed, one must complete a banquet from beginning to end, as this is "necessary aristocratic manners and etiquette."

But Hayek actually felt that he could hardly do it, and his inner restlessness drove him to want to get up and leave the main seat several times.

The news of the "Black Grand Duke's" fall reached his ears, making many established plans difficult to implement. Furthermore, Emperor Augustusville had seized the godhood and authority of the "Order Killers," which was undoubtedly a catastrophe for all the Order Killers lurking in the empire.

But Hayek knew that he could only continue to lie low—though he was always somewhat apprehensive, apprehensive that the emperor might discover the truth and then unleash his terrifying wrath upon him.

These are the things on my mind.

His vision blurred, and an elderly man in formal attire appeared before him—the rather aged butler, Old Ober, arrived leaning on a silver cane.

Old Ober looked at Hayek, gave him a simple but standard bow, then leaned slightly forward and said to Hayek:

"Young master, Duke Harkas has arrived."

"That gentleman is in the main manor of the estate. He has asked me to host this banquet on your behalf, and Duke Harkas specifically asked me to tell you to go see him now, immediately."

"..."

"I see."

Hayek narrowed his eyes slightly and nodded in response.

He then stood up, a gentle smile appearing on his face, and looked at the young nobles around him who were still enjoying the merriment of the banquet, and said to them:
"I may need to step away for a moment. Stephen, please take good care of the beautiful ladies for me."

The young nobleman named "Stephen"—another count and Hayek's best friend in public social circles—was somewhat drunk. He grinned at Hayek and nodded emphatically.

Then, Hayek turned around and walked toward the main house of the manor.

……

(End of this chapter)