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

Lu Murphy has a trait hidden deep in his heart that can almost be called a unique "flaw" - before the carefully constructed blueprint has fully blossomed on the real stage, he is like a lonely traveler guarding a secret treasure, closing the door to the depths of his mind to the surrounding world.

This trait stems from the untamable pride in his bones, a desire to shock everyone with a thunderous force at the critical moment; it is also deeply rooted in the soil of his professional instinct, a cautious pursuit of extreme details, and an instinctive avoidance and prevention of unknown risks.

As Lu Murphy's loyal partner and assistant, O'Leary has experienced this subtle emotion shrouded in mystery countless times.

But this time, as the night deepened and the mission became more urgent, the uneasiness and expectation caused by the unknown intertwined into an invisible net, tightly binding his heart.

Driving for a long time through the endless darkness, the only sound around me was the monotonous sound of the wheels rubbing against the road, and the silence that seemed to swallow up all the light.

O'Neill's face looked particularly solemn under the dim light of the car lights. The cold wind blew through the gaps in the half-open car window like a sharp blade, gently scratching his tense nerves and bringing waves of biting chills.

On both sides of the driveway are deep and dark swamps, which seem like ancient guardians, quietly watching these uninvited guests.

It is a wilderness that has not been touched by modern civilization, and every inch of land contains unknown secrets and dangers.

An inexplicable fear surged in Oriel's heart. He realized that they were stepping into an unknown world step by step, a world that could subvert all their plans and expectations.

However, beneath this fear, there is more desire and excitement for the upcoming challenges.

Every nerve in O'Leary was tense to the extreme because of the upcoming adventure, as if the power accumulated in his body would explode with just a slight touch.

Every bump of the carriage and every turn of the wheels were like the drumbeat of time, beating the rhythm of their impending entry into the whirlpool of fate.

Inside the carriage, despite the presence of a hired coachman as a third party, the atmosphere between the three people was extremely subtle.

They had to maintain superficial calm and use trivial and irrelevant topics to cover up the turbulent emotions in their hearts.

However, behind those seemingly relaxed conversations are endless thoughts and speculations in each of their hearts.

O'Leary's eyes occasionally swept across Lu Murphy's deep outline, trying to catch a clue from his expressionless expression, but every attempt was like a stone sinking into the sea, with no response.

Finally, as the carriage slowly passed the coachman's simple residence and got closer and closer to the legendary manor that was full of weirdness and mystery, the long-suppressed tension seemed to be released to some extent.

Olier took a deep breath and tried to calm himself down.

He knew that the real test was coming, and at this moment, he was ready.

Near the manor gate, they chose to get off the car and walk.

After paying the coachman a generous reward, they watched the carriage disappear into the night and then embarked on the last leg of the journey to the mansion.

The manor seemed particularly quiet and solemn in the night. The brightly lit windows seemed to be the only beacon in the darkness, leading them into the depths of the unknown.

"Tot, are all your equipment ready?" Lu Murphy's voice was low and powerful, breaking the silence around him.

His words revealed an unquestionable firmness and confidence.

Toth, the short but intelligent detective, had a playful smile on his face.

"As long as I wear this pair of pants, I will always have a pocket on the back of my butt, and that pocket will never be empty." His words were full of confidence and humor, as if he was using this method to ease the tense atmosphere.

Hearing this, Lu Mofei couldn't help but smile.

"Very good, my friend. O'Learn and I are fully prepared." His words revealed his determination and courage to face the challenge.

However, when their eyes once again focused on the brightly lit mansion, an inexplicable pressure enveloped them again.

Tott could not help but shudder. He looked around and saw the dark hillside and the mist over the Grimpen Mire intertwined into a frightening picture.

"This is really not a happy place." He whispered, his tone full of awe and vigilance for the unknown.

Lu Mofei nodded slightly, his eyes sharp.

"Yes, this is our destination. But remember, every step from now on must be cautious. We must walk on tiptoe and speak only in a whisper." His voice was soft but full of power, as if he was making a final mobilization for the upcoming battle.

In this way, the three of them slowly approached the mansion under the double cover of night and the unknown.

The three of them continued their cautious and firm steps, and each step seemed to be on the edge of the unknown, but they did not lose direction and moved towards the old house that stood alone in the night.

As the distance gradually shortened, an inexplicable tension and anticipation filled the air, as if even the wind was holding its breath.

When they were a safe distance of about two hundred yards from the house, Lumurphy, the experienced leader, suddenly stopped.

"Right here, friends." His voice was low and powerful, as if it could penetrate the night and strike people's hearts.

"These rocks on the right are like a barrier carved by nature, providing us with excellent cover." His words were filled with unquestionable authority, causing the air around them to freeze.

Upon hearing this, Toth frowned slightly, with a hint of doubt in his eyes: "Are we really going to wait here? Shouldn't we get closer?" His question revealed his cautious consideration of the new plan.

Lu Mofei nodded slightly, a deep smile appeared on the corner of his mouth, and then he began to make detailed arrangements.

"Tott, come with me. We need to use this hidden ravine as our front line. As for Olier, you know this place very well. Do you still remember the layout of those rooms? Especially those lattice windows that can be used to peek into the house, do you remember their locations?"

Olier's eyes flickered in the night, and memories came flooding back: "I think those lattice windows on the right should belong to the kitchen. The lights there are always the last to go out, revealing the fireworks of life."

"Then, what about that exceptionally bright window over there? How much do you know about the room behind it?" Following O'Neill's guidance, Lu Murphy's gaze moved to another window that was emitting soft light.

Olier pondered for a moment, and every corner of the room emerged in his mind: "That window is undoubtedly the symbol of the dining room. Whenever night falls, it is always brightly lit and full of laughter, but now, it seems to be the key to our action."

Lu Mofei nodded with satisfaction, with a hint of appreciation in his eyes: "Very good, O'Leary, your memory is our greatest asset. Now, I need you to use this familiarity to quietly approach and observe the situation in the house, but remember, do not expose our whereabouts. We must be silent, like a ghost in the night."

Oriel nodded, and as soon as his body moved, he seemed to blend into the night, lightly and silently.

He walked slowly along the path and finally found the best observation position behind a mottled low wall.

Although this low wall was inconspicuous, it was cleverly hidden in a fruit forest with overgrown weeds and sparse fruits, providing him with excellent cover.

With the faint light of the moon and the cover of the surrounding shadows, O'Neill slowly stood up and cast his eyes towards the window without curtains.

Everything in the room slowly unfolded before him like a scroll: Sir Jack and Scourge sat opposite each other, their faces appearing both real and unreal in the interweaving of light and shadow.

The coffee in front of them was emitting curls of hot steam, which mixed with the cigar smoke in the air, creating an indescribable atmosphere.

Scourge's voice was high and excited, as if he was telling some fascinating story, but Sir Jack's face looked unusually pale, and his eyes revealed a hint of subtle worry and uneasiness.

Perhaps, it was the lonely journey he was about to embark on, the swamp full of unknowns and dangers, that was quietly eroding his soul.

Just as O'Neill was observing all this intently, something unexpected happened.

Scourge stood up suddenly, and the friction between the chair and the ground made a harsh sound, breaking the silence in the room.

He hurried out of the room, leaving Sir Jack alone to taste the bitterness in his cup.

Olier noticed that after Scourge left, Sir Jack filled his glass with wine, then leaned back in his chair, letting the cigar smoke linger in front of him, as if to escape the upcoming challenge.

Just then, a slight sound attracted O'Neill's attention.

There was the creaking sound of the door hinges turning, followed by the crisp sound of leather shoes stepping on the gravel road.

Olier followed the footsteps closely, and saw it pass through the fruit forest and finally stop in front of a small house not far away.

Biologist Scotch took out the key, gently inserted it into the keyhole, and turned it. The door opened quietly.

He disappeared behind the door, and then a strange scuffling sound came from inside the house, short and rapid, which made people suspicious.

A minute later, the scuffle stopped and Scourge reappeared at the door, locking it, the key turning gently in the keyhole with a small but firm sound.

He returned along the same route, his steps still steady, as if what had just happened had never happened.

O'Learn tiptoed through the hazy moonlight and the gradually thickening fog, his heartbeat forming a sharp contrast with the tranquility around him.

He witnessed the absence of the mysterious lady with his own eyes, and secretly pondered the various possibilities behind it. Then, he quietly turned back to his anxiously waiting companions, with an eager light in his eyes to convey the message.

"O'Lil, are you saying... that elegant lady did not appear in the planned scene as we expected?" Lu Murphy's voice was low and full of doubts, and his words revealed an anxiety that was difficult to conceal, as if this sudden change disrupted every move he had carefully planned.

O'Leary nodded slightly, with a hint of uncertainty in his tone: "Yes, Mr. Lu Murphy, I have checked carefully. Her figure did not appear outside any lighted room. The kitchen door has also been quietly closed, leaving only the empty echo and the gradually spreading mystery."

Upon hearing this, Lu Mofei frowned, and his hands unconsciously folded across his chest. His eyes passed through the layers of fog, as if trying to penetrate this invisible barrier and see the hidden truth.

"So, where could she be hiding? We have searched every corner of this mansion. Apart from the endless darkness and unknown depths, where else could there be room for such a mysterious lady?"

O'Leary shook his head, his face full of confusion and helplessness. "Indeed, I can't think of where she could be hiding. Perhaps, like the fog, she has silently blended into the night and become a part of us that we cannot touch."

At this moment, the white mist that was originally just lingering above the quagmire, as if driven by some invisible force, began to rush towards them at an alarming speed.

The fog grew thicker and thicker, and gradually, a low but solid barrier formed around them, isolating them from everything outside.

The moonlight becomes soft and hazy through the mist, covering the land with a layer of silver-white gauze, while the rocky hills in the distance are like boulders protruding from the ice field, quietly telling an ancient and mysterious story.

Lu Mofei's face became solemn. He turned and looked at the approaching fog, with a bit of impatience and anxiety in his tone, "O'Leary, look at this fog. It is approaching us with an unstoppable force. We don't have much time. If he can't get out in the next period of time, all our plans will come to nothing, and even... his life will be in danger."

O'Leary was also nervous when he heard this. He knew the importance and urgency of this mission, so he asked quickly: "Then what should we do? Should we continue to stay here and wait, or take other actions?"

Lu Murphy pondered for a moment, and then made a decision, "We can't just sit there and wait for death. We must remain vigilant and be ready to deal with any situation that may arise. At the same time, in order to better observe the changes in the situation, we can try to retreat to a higher place, where not only the view is wide, but also allows us to wait for him to appear more safely."

So, under the pressure of thick fog, the two began to retreat cautiously, and every step seemed so cautious and firm.

They crossed patches of moonlit grass, passed through several low bushes, and finally came to a high ground about half a mile from the house.

Standing there, they could clearly see the outline of the house looming in the night, and the golden lights were like stars, dotted on the dark curtain.

As time passed, the fog became thicker, like an invisible beast, slowly swallowing up the entire swamp.

The trees, rocks and roads that were once clearly visible have now become blurred. Only the two lights from the dining room still stubbornly penetrate the fog, bringing a touch of warmth and hope to this world shrouded in darkness.