Man in the Three-Body Problem: After facing the wall, I founded the Reception Society!

October 16th, the day seemed to be tightly wrapped by a curtain carefully woven with thick haze and drizzle, and the whole world was immersed in a hazy and gloomy atmosphere.

The sky is like a depressed painter, casually painting gray tones, making the earth look mysterious and unsettling.

The house is looming in this endless sea of ​​fog, like a lighthouse on an isolated island, trying to penetrate layers of fog but can only emit a faint light powerlessly.

The thick fog sometimes rolls up and sometimes slowly sinks, and every change seems to tell an unknown secret.

In this ever-changing scenery, the desert-like swamp is particularly eye-catching. Its undulating terrain is even more profound and desolate under the cover of fog.

Tiny streams of water flow through the land like silver threads, shimmering with light, but unable to illuminate this gloomy land.

In the distance, the protruding rocks became even more slippery after being washed by the rain. Their surfaces were occasionally penetrated by sunlight, casting mottled shadows, adding a bit of weirdness to the gloomy scene.

The terror of last night was like an indelible shadow, deeply imprinted in the baronet's heart, and every breath he took seemed heavy and uneasy.

Oriel, as his best friend, also felt this oppression. An indescribable sense of crisis was like an invisible shackle that tightly bound their hearts.

This danger is both concrete and abstract. It lurks in every dark corner and may erupt at any time. It cannot be ignored, but it is impossible to guard against it.

Looking back on the series of bizarre events that have occurred recently, O'Leary's heart is full of doubts and confusion.

The sudden death of the previous owner of the manor was surprisingly similar to the curse in the family legend, which made people feel chilling.

The swamp monster that the villagers repeatedly mentioned lingered in their minds like a nightmare.

O'Lear had heard twice with his own ears that sharp howl, like that of a hound. The sound penetrated the fog and struck deep into the soul, making people shudder.

However, as a rational man, O'Leary knew that these supernatural explanations were nothing but nonsense.

He tried to look at it all from a scientific perspective, but found that no matter what the explanation was, it seemed so pale and powerless.

If such a demon dog really exists, how can it survive in such a harsh environment?

Where does its food come from?

Why does it only appear at night and disappear during the day?

On the edge of this wilderness gently embraced by the twilight, let us put aside the mysterious hound for the time being and focus on the more urgent and more real mystery - the "human" figure that has quietly emerged in the local area.

The figure hidden in the dark in the carriage and the letter of warning that arrived unexpectedly with ominous words between the lines, they are not just a pile of words and shadows, but real and tangible fragments of the truth, piecing together an intricate picture of mystery.

Is the person behind this a well-intentioned friend who wants to protect Sir Jack from unknown threats? Or is he an enemy lurking in the shadows, enjoying his jokes or malice? Both are possible, like the two ends of a scale, delicately balancing the fear and hope of the unknown.

Where is this friend or enemy now? Is he still hiding in the cracks of the bustling city, watching from the sidelines? Or has he quietly followed their footsteps and stepped into this dangerous swamp?

Oriel's thoughts were like fallen leaves caught in a strong wind, spinning endlessly.

A thought flashed through his mind: could it be that stranger, alone and helpless on the rock, be the key to all these mysteries?

Although O'Neill had only met that man once, that brief gaze left a deep impression on him.

He was sure that the man was not a familiar face here, nor was he a neighbor he had met one by one in recent days.

The man's figure was tall and slender, neither as burly as Scourge nor as rough as the jailer, but with an indescribable elegance and mystery.

What made O'Neill even more uneasy was that he firmly believed that the man had not intentionally followed them. This intuition was like the brightest star in the night sky, guiding him to explore deeper into the mystery.

So, what does this mean? Does it mean that there is another pair of eyes watching them from the dark, like an invisible hand controlling everything?

Are the man's stalking in the city and the shadow on the edge of the swamp now just different manifestations of the same force?

O'Leary knew that if he could uncover the identity of this mysterious stalker, all the mysteries surrounding them would dissipate like morning mist.

This sense of urgency drove him to act, and act quickly and decisively.

Two completely different strategies emerged in his mind, like the two ends of a scale, each carrying its own pros and cons.

The first was to be frank and tell Sir Jack all his findings and speculations without reservation.

But then he thought, Sir Jack was already disturbed by the strange atmosphere of the swamp, and any additional information might be the last straw that broke his will. Olier didn't want to be the one pushing his friend into a deeper abyss of despair.

Therefore, he was more inclined to the second strategy - to move forward alone and silently carry this heavy burden on his shoulders.

The next day, in the early morning when the light first broke, the breakfast on the table still had a lingering warmth.

The silver cutlery gleamed with a soft and low-key luster under the dim light, as if foreshadowing that the day that was about to unfold would be extraordinary.

After the meal, there was a subtle sense of tension in the air, like the eve of an impending storm, with undercurrents surging beneath the calm.

The butler, a gentleman who was usually known for his rigor and loyalty, seemed particularly anxious at this moment.

There were complex emotions flashing in his eyes, including fear of the unknown and persistence in loyalty.

He slowly walked towards Sir Jack, and in a low and firm voice, asked for a private conversation with the Sir.

The Lord, the pillar of the family, is well-known in the countryside for his calmness and wisdom.

He nodded slightly, signaling the butler to follow him into the study room filled with the fragrance of books and memories.

The door closed lightly, blocking out all the noise from the outside world.

In the study, heavy curtains block out the prying eyes of outsiders.

Only a beam of light shines through the gap and onto the yellowed family diary on the table.

The words seem to tell the glory and vicissitudes of the past.

The butler and the knight sat face to face, and their conversation initially maintained due politeness and restraint.

But as the topic deepened, the volume rose unconsciously, like an undercurrent surging beneath the calm surface of a lake, finally breaking through the surface tranquility.

O'Leary, the younger member of the family, was sitting in the billiard room not far away.

Although he was holding the golf club in his hand, his mind had already drifted towards the study.

He had heard arguments coming from the study more than once. Although the words were vague, they were enough for him to deduce the core of the conversation - the secret about the butler's brother-in-law Seldan, and the moral choice that followed.

Time seemed to freeze at this moment until the door of the study was suddenly opened.

Baronet Sir Jack appeared at the door, his face solemn and his eyes revealed an indescribable complex emotion.

He waved gently, signaling O'Neill to join this sudden meeting.

"The butler believes that he has suffered some degree of injustice," Sir Jack's voice echoed in the empty corridor with a hint of imperceptible fatigue.

"He believes that we betrayed his loyalty by choosing to hunt down his relatives after he trusted us with his family's secrets."

The butler's figure looked particularly pale and thin under the light, but his eyes were unusually firm.

It seems like he is defending the last bottom line in his heart.

"Perhaps my words were too harsh, sir," he began slowly, his voice soft but every word clear.

“But when I learned that you two had decided to hunt down Serdan, I was shocked and disappointed beyond words.

He, that unfortunate soul, has already had too much to bear without us adding to it."

Sir Jack frowned when he heard this, and his voice became more stern.

"If you had really told us everything voluntarily as you said, the situation today might be different.

But the fact is that your silence, and even your wife's forced speaking, compels us to act.

Serdan is not just a fugitive, but a dangerous person who poses a potential threat to society."

Upon hearing this, the butler's lips trembled slightly, as if he wanted to explain himself, but he didn't know where to start.

He lowered his head, was silent for a moment, and finally spoke in an almost pleading tone.

"I never thought my loyalty would hinder his escape, sir.

But I can assure you that Serdan would never actively hurt anyone.

His time here has been hard enough, and we are arranging everything for him to be able to leave this land safely and start over.

Please, for God's sake, do not tell the police about his whereabouts.

Otherwise, my wife and I will be in an irreparable situation."

O'Learn stood aside and watched it all quietly.

His heart was full of contradictions and struggles.

On the one hand, he understood the butler's deep affection for his family and his determination to protect his loved ones at all costs.

On the other hand, he was also well aware of the danger of Seldan and the serious consequences that might result from letting him go free.

Sir Jack looked at Oriel with a questioning gleam in his eyes.

"Ollil, what do you think?"

O'Leary pondered for a moment, finally shrugged, and said in a half-joking, half-serious tone.

“If we can get Serdan out of the country safely, then at least we can save the taxpayers an unnecessary expense.

But only if we make sure he no longer poses a threat to anyone else."

Upon hearing this, Sir Jack fell into deep thought.

He was well aware of the weight of this decision, which not only concerned his personal honor and family reputation, but also the safety and stability of the entire community.

Finally, he spoke slowly.

“But who can guarantee that he won’t commit another crime before he leaves?

If he loses control, the consequences will be disastrous.”

Upon seeing this, the butler quickly stepped forward and made the promise with almost all his strength.

"Sir, I guarantee on my honor that Seldan will never do anything crazy.

He was tired of the life on the run and longed to start over.

We will provide him with everything he needs to make sure he leaves safely.

Please trust us and give us a chance.”

Sir Jack's eyes wandered between the butler and Oriel.

Finally, he sighed, as if he had made a difficult decision.

“Perhaps we are indeed encouraging a great crime, but I also see the love and sacrifice you have for your family.

Butler, I hope you remember your promise today and make sure Serdan doesn't hurt anyone again before he leaves.

Otherwise, I will have to reconsider my decision.”

Upon hearing this, the butler's face showed indescribable joy and gratitude.