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

In the evening, Olier wrapped himself tightly in his dark grey raincoat, stepped into the muddy swamp in his heavy rubber boots. The drizzle gradually turned into a downpour, and every drop was like an ice needle falling from the sky, mercilessly hitting his cheeks and bringing a biting chill. The wind, like a wild beast, whistled past his ears, bringing waves of biting chill, as if to swallow him up in this endless darkness and cold.

His heart was filled with mixed emotions, including fear of the unknown and deep worry about the unknown watcher. He prayed silently, hoping that God would lend a helping hand and protect the souls who were unfortunately stranded in this desolate quagmire, because at this moment, even the seemingly solid highlands in the past had been eroded by the continuous rain, turning into muddy swamps, leaving people with nowhere to live.

After a long and arduous journey, Olier finally arrived at the foot of the iconic black rock. The rock stood alone, like a silent guardian, witnessing countless winds and rains. He looked up and saw that the top of the rock was shrouded in clouds and mist, which made it even more mysterious. From there, he could clearly see the surrounding desolation, the bare and gloomy highlands in the distance and near, without any signs of life, only the sound of wind and rain intertwined into a sad movement.

The storm became more and more violent, carrying endless rain, fiercely brushing across the reddish-brown ground, leaving traces of varying depths. The sky was tightly covered by thick bluestone-like clouds, hanging low above the earth, as if it would collapse at any time. And those wisps of gray clouds were like torn strips of cloth, helplessly dragging on the strange-shaped mountainside, adding a sense of desolation to this desolate place.

In the ravine far to the left, the outline of Jack's manor was vaguely visible. The two slender towers, half hidden and half visible in the rain and fog, stood high in the woods, like a mirage, giving people an unreal feeling. This was the only trace of human civilization that O'Leary could see in this desolate land, but it seemed so small and lonely.

However, what made him uneasy was that he searched every corner carefully but still could not find the lonely figure that appeared here two nights ago. Where did the mysterious watcher go? Was he also avoiding the sudden rainstorm? Or had he quietly left this troubled place?

After searching in vain, Olier began to return.

When Oriel slowly turned around and started his journey home, night had quietly fallen, covering the swamp with a mysterious veil.

Just then, the heavy sound of wheels rolling on the muddy road came from afar, breaking the silence.

Dr. James, the friend who always had a warm smile and endless care, drove his slightly rustic but extremely sturdy two-wheeled carriage slowly out of the darkness, like a touch of warm brightness in this desolate place.

The carriage bumped along the rugged swamp path, and every vibration seemed to tell of the vicissitudes and difficulties of this land.

Dr. James's concern for Oriel and another companion has long gone beyond simple neighborly affection. He has made daily visits to the manor and asking about the well-being of the two a part of his life.

This deep friendship made O'Neill feel unprecedented warmth and security on that stormy night.

Faced with Dr. James's insistence, Oriel did not refuse. He gratefully accepted the help, got on the carriage, and let it carry him through this swamp full of unknowns and dangers.

Inside the carriage, the two sat opposite each other, the dim light shining on each other's faces, reflecting the myriad thoughts in their hearts.

When talking about his recent situation, O'Leary couldn't help but mention the missing spaniel. It was once Dr. James's favorite, but now there is no news of it, making its owner feel anxious and lost.

O'Leary tried to comfort him in his own way, but deep down, he knew that in this vast swamp, the disappearance of a puppy often meant the sorrow of never being able to find it again.

Thinking of this, he could not help but think of the pony in the Grimpen Mire who had suffered the same ill-fated fate, and an indescribable sadness welled up in his heart.

In order to change the subject, Olier cleverly asked a seemingly irrelevant question: "I say, James, you should know all the houses that can be reached by carriage in this area. I would like to ask, do you know any women whose names start with A. A.?"

Behind this question lies O'Neill's in-depth investigation and exploration of a series of mysterious events, but he did not state it directly, but only raised it in a seemingly casual tone.

Upon hearing this, Dr. James frowned slightly, obviously trying hard to recall.

He shook his head and said, "I know most of the people here, but I can't remember a woman with the initials A.A. at the moment. I may not be familiar with the Maasai and those who do hard labor, but among the farmers and gentry, I really don't remember anyone with such a name."

At this point, he suddenly seemed to remember something and added, "Oh, wait a minute, I remember one, Ellen Love Walker - her initials are exactly A.A. However, she doesn't live here, but in Akali Village."

"Who is she?" O'Neill asked, with an inexplicable premonition in his heart.

"She is the daughter of the old jailer," Dr. James explained. "She once fell in love with and married a painter named Love Walker, but the painter was an absolute bastard and eventually abandoned her. It is difficult for outsiders to tell the right and wrong of this matter, but as far as I know, the fault may not be entirely hers. Because she married secretly without her father's consent, and she may have had an unknown entanglement with the painter, the relationship between her and her father was completely broken. The old jailer was so angry that he cut off contact with her and left her to fend for herself in Akali Village."

Hearing this, O'Neill could not help but feel shocked: "What! Is it the jailer with a weird personality who is called Old Neurotic?"

Doctor James nodded and continued, "That's him. Ellen's experience is indeed pitiful. A young woman who was blinded by love ended up like this. However, although her father was indifferent to her, there are still some kind people here who are willing to lend a hand. Scotch, Childs and I have all given her some help so that she can start her life again. I heard that she now makes a living by typing. Although her life is hard, she finally has a place to stay."

Upon hearing this, O'Neill felt mixed emotions.

He felt sorry for what happened to Alan, but also a little uneasy about his upcoming investigation.

He knew that if he could meet Mrs. Allen, who had an ambiguous reputation, he might be able to find key clues to solving a series of mysteries.

So he secretly made up his mind to go to Akali Village tomorrow morning to talk to Mrs. Allen face to face.

On the way back to the manor, Dr. James tried several times to ask Oriel why he was so interested in Mrs. Allen, but Oriel cleverly changed the subject.

He successfully attracted Dr. James's attention by mentioning zygomaticology, a field that seemed unrelated to the current topic.

So, in the following time, the two of them had a heated discussion on various topics surrounding zygomaticology until the carriage slowly stopped in front of the gate of the manor.

O'Leary benefited greatly from this chance encounter and conversation with Dr. James.

Not only did he gain important information about Mrs. Allen, he also learned how to change the subject at critical moments and protect his secrets.

All of this made him more convinced that he was gradually becoming as cunning and smart as a fox.

All these changes and growth are inseparable from his many years of experience and teachings with Lu Mofei.

In this gloomy evening with raging winds and heavy rain, the sky seemed to be weighed down and oppressed by thick leaden clouds, and the whole world was shrouded in chaos and anxiety.

However, in this chaos, there is an unusual light that penetrates the haze. That is the meaningful conversation between O'Neill and the butler. It not only adds a bit of suspense to the dull weather, but also paves a secret path to the unknown and the truth for the whole story.

The afterglow of the dinner had not yet completely dissipated. In the flickering candlelight, James and O'Neill sat around an old oak table, playing a card game that seemed leisurely but was actually full of undercurrents.

Every tinkle of the cards seemed to tell of unknown secrets and strategies.

But O'Neill's mind had already drifted to more profound places. He cleverly took advantage of the time when the butler delivered coffee to start his inquiries.

"Ah, Mr. Butler," O'Leary's voice was low and magnetic, as if it could penetrate the noise of the storm, "Are there any new clues about the whereabouts of that 'good relative'? Has he left quietly, or is he still lurking in that hidden place?"

Upon hearing this, the housekeeper frowned slightly, and a trace of helplessness and worry flashed in his eyes.

"I'm afraid I can't give you a definite answer, Mr. O'Leary. I sincerely hope that he has left this troubled place. After all, his existence is tantamount to a time bomb for the manor. I haven't heard from him since I last sent him food three days ago, but the food was indeed taken away, which makes me confused and worried."

O'Leary gently put down the coffee cup in his hand, his sharp eyes seemed to be able to see into people's hearts.

"So you didn't see him that time, did you? Does the disappearance of the food mean he's still watching from the dark?"

The butler shook his head, with a hint of uncertainty in his tone.

"Indeed, sir, I did not see him with my own eyes. But who else except him could take away the food quietly without leaving any trace? Unless..." Having said this, the butler suddenly paused, as if he was considering his next words.

"Unless what?" O'Leary demanded, a hint of urgency and curiosity in his tone.

"Unless, there is another person," the butler finally said the disturbing guess, "Yes, Mr. O'Leary, there is another unknown figure hidden in this vast moor. All this was told to me by my brother-in-law a few weeks ago. He is also an adventurous man and occasionally explores the edge of the moor. He firmly believes that in addition to the 'relative', there is another person wandering around this land."

A gleam of light flashed in O'Leary's eyes, and he realized that this was not just a simple missing case, but there might be more complicated conspiracies and secrets hidden behind it.

"Well, has your brother-in-law ever seen this man himself?"

The butler shook his head, his face full of confusion and anxiety.

"No, sir. He just guessed it from some clues. He said that sometimes in the dead of night, you can vaguely hear strange noises coming from afar, like someone talking in a low voice, but it quickly disappears in the night and the wind and rain. These clues, although vague, are enough to make people feel cold."

Olier was silent for a moment, as if thinking about something.

He knew very well that he came to the manor not only to treat his physical illness, but also to unravel the layers of fog and restore peace to the manor.

"Mr. Butler, I understand your worries and troubles. But please believe that I am not doing this out of personal curiosity. I sincerely hope to help your master and the entire manor get rid of this invisible shadow. Now, I need you to tell me honestly, what is bothering you so much? Are you worried about the unknown visitor, or are you worried about the deeper secrets hidden behind all this?"

Upon hearing this, the butler showed a complex expression on his face, a mixture of relief and struggle.

Finally, he took a deep breath, as if he had made up his mind.

"Mr. O'Leary, the reason why I am so troubled is that I feel that all this seems to be inextricably linked to the past of the manor. Those forgotten past events, as if with the arrival of this 'relative' and the emergence of that unknown figure, are gradually surfacing, threatening the peace and tranquility of the manor. And I, as a member of the manor, feel powerless to stop all this from happening..."

As the butler finished speaking, the room fell into silence, with only the sound of wind and rain outside the window still raging.

"It is these endless, ever-present events, sir," he finally couldn't suppress his inner panic, and waved his arms vigorously at the scenery outside the window that was mercilessly washed by the heavy rain and seemed to lead to an unknown swamp abyss, with a trembling and despair in his voice.

"I firmly believe that deep in this swamp shrouded in haze, an unprecedented assassination storm is brewing, a terrifying conspiracy that is enough to chill people's hearts! My heart is filled with worries about Sir Jack's safety. I hope he can temporarily leave this dangerous town and return to the relatively peaceful haven in the city."

Upon hearing this, O'Neill frowned, his tone revealing a bit of calmness and inquiry.

"But what specific facts have disturbed you so much that you attribute everything to an as-yet-unclear conspiracy?"

The butler became more and more agitated when he heard this, as if every word carried unspeakable fear.

"Please take a look at Uncle Jack's unclear death! The coroner's conclusion was brief but chilling enough. Every word was like a sharp blade, cutting the peace of mind of the family members. And look at the strange noises coming from the swamp at night, like the whispers of the dead, which made people shudder. After sunset, no one dared to step into the cursed land even if they were offered a large sum of money."

"Not to mention the mysterious man hiding in the dark. He wanders around like a ghost, his eyes seem to be able to penetrate the darkness and spy on everything. What is he waiting for? What is his intention? All of this is undoubtedly a sword hanging over the Jack family's head, which may fall at any time."

O'Neill pondered for a moment and continued to ask.

"Can you give me more clues about this uninvited visitor in the swamp? Has Seldan, your brother-in-law, made any discoveries? Has he tracked down the man's hiding place or spied on any of his actions?"

The butler took a deep breath, tried to calm himself, and spoke slowly.

"Seldan did catch a glimpse of the man once or twice from a distance, but he was extremely cunning and cautious, never revealing a single word. At first, we thought he might be a detective sent by the police, but as time went on, we realized he had his own agenda. According to Seldan's observation, although the man was well-dressed and his manners revealed an upper-class atmosphere, his actions were full of mystery and were hard to understand. We had no idea what he was planning."

O'Leary's eyes sharpened and he asked.

"Where, then, is he? Did Seldan give the exact spot?"

the butler replied.

"He mentioned an old mansion on the hillside - it was a small house made of rough stones. It was said to have been a summer resort for ancient nobles, but now it has been abandoned for a long time and has become a habitat for wild animals. The man seemed to be hiding there, using its concealment to cover his tracks."

O'Leary pressed further.

"So, how does he meet his daily needs? He can't be isolated from the world forever, right?"

The butler shook his head and continued.

"Seldan discovered that there was a child who was responsible for delivering necessities to that person. The child seemed alert and loyal. He always quietly shuttled between Akali Town and the ancient house in the dead of night to provide the person with everything he needed. We speculate that the child might have been recruited from an unknown corner of the town and became a pawn in this conspiracy."

When O'Neill heard this, he felt a strong sense of curiosity and uneasiness in his heart.

He stared out the window and saw dark clouds and faint thunder, as if even nature was trembling at the secret that was about to be revealed.

"Very good, butler." O'Neill's voice was firm and powerful.

"We will discuss this issue in depth tomorrow. I will go to the swamp myself."

With the butler's departure, O'Neill was left alone in the room, his eyes piercing through the blurry window glass, looking at the distant blurry sky.