The Secret Cult Chronicles of the Decaying Lake Manor

George snapped out of his heavy thoughts and smiled slightly: "Thanks to Mrs. Patmore. She comes from a nearby village and has been in the manor kitchen since my grandmother's time, but she's always been open to new things."

"It must be very comfortable to live here." Kelly nodded, then turned her gaze to Sybil across from her.

"Miss Sybil, I see that this estate has Brown-style gardens, and the lake view must be quite charming. It's a pity we didn't spend more time by the lake today."

When Sybil heard "lake view," a glint of light flashed in her eyes, and she replied politely:

"Yes, if you go to the east pier for a view, especially at dawn or dusk, you should see a beautiful sight. The lines of the trees are reflected on the lake, creating distinct layers..."

"Oh, that sounds really nice!" Kelly's enthusiasm seemed quite natural, like an ordinary visitor's longing for a beautiful view.

"My grandfather always said that the garden design of aristocratic estates reflects the owner's thoughts. Does the garden of the de Boral family also have some unique features?"

Sybil paused for a moment, her fingers unconsciously twisting the napkin.

"Perhaps..." she said softly. "When I was little, my mother would take me for walks along the lakeside path. She said the layout here 'balances the wildness of nature with the orderliness of humanity,' like a musical movement..."

As she spoke, her voice lowered, and her gaze fell upon the almost untouched food on her plate.

George listened from the side, his mind filled with mixed emotions.

The way Sybil spoke of her mother did not quite match the image of the "insider" described by Carson.

He looked at Kelly and nodded slightly in approval of the commissioner's attempt to liven things up.

Kelly immediately changed the subject, turning to George with a playful inquiry: "So, Mr. De Laporte, when you were working at the nursing home in London, did you encounter any stories more appetizing than these... dishes?"

After a moment's thought, George chose a relatively mild case from his experience that did not involve any secrets.

"It has indeed happened. There was a young patient who firmly believed he was a cat, sleeping soundly during the day and roaming at night, with a far greater fondness for porcelain potted plants than most people. Interestingly, an elderly nurse at the nursing home secretly told me that the patient's grandmother had a similar preference when she was young."

Kelly chuckled, and even Sybil pursed her lips slightly.

Inspector Douglas chuckled and shook his head. "Ha, that reminds me of a case from years ago. But it's best to wait until after dessert; it involves some... haha."

Uncle Albert also chimed in, recounting anecdotes from London's social scene.

Under Miss Kelly's guidance, the atmosphere at the dinner table temporarily emerged from the eerie gloom, revealing a touch of warmth typical of everyday life.

After dinner, the inspector expressed his gratitude to his uncle and asked him to convey his respects to the cook.

The uncle then led the guests and his nephews and nieces to the reception room, where they would spend the rest of the evening.

This was also to prevent too many people from becoming curious about the scenery outside the mansion and subsequently discovering the strange insects that roamed the island.

George himself did not participate in the activities in the reception room, but instead returned alone to the alchemy room on the third floor.

He first dealt with the finishing touches on the [Holy Grail Spring] – after an afternoon of distillation and purification, most of the materials were ready, and all that was left was to complete the final refining steps on a sunny afternoon.

The most urgent task now is to find a solution to the lice infestation.

George took out the four books and notes that were left after taking "The Shocking Secret!" earlier.

The viscount's plans were disrupted, and he could no longer concern himself with the current situation.

The louse plague waits for no one, not to mention the inspector's deadline and the precarious situation on the estate.

George laid the five items out in a row on the table.

The remaining books on the card table were titled "On the Macrocosm and Microcosm and the Unresolved Theory of Materiality", "A Critique of the Phototaxis of World Religions", "Where Do We Go, Volume One", and "Pilgrimage in Pursuit of Radiance".

There is another notebook, which is known at the card table as "Burning Heart with Fire".

George knew that he had one card left to play: "Reason" and one night to spare. He could probably only analyze one of the four massive books or skim through half of it.

Since the last time he used the card table, he knew that these books described the forms of matter, the light source, the virtual source, the structure of the spirit world, and the origin of the extraordinary, while the notes described a summary of some apprentices' methods to reach higher stages.

George's gaze lingered between "On the Nature of Things" and "Where Do We Go From Here?"

"The Comedian," the inspector has already revealed the dominant factors behind this disaster, so understanding Xu Yuan Siwei is certainly necessary.

However, if we're talking about what he's best at, and what's the most direct way to solve the lice infestation?

Alchemy.

He was already working on the "Holy Grail Spring" that afternoon. Although it wasn't finished, it at least proved that this path was feasible.

"On the Nature of Things" discusses the alchemical worldview and materialism. Although a later, smaller version was inexplicably torn out and its whereabouts are unknown, George knew from the table of contents that the basic parts he needed were indeed intact.

If we can understand the deeper principles of the material world, we may be able to further our understanding of alchemy and thus find a way to deal with those "fleas".

In the current situation, if I want to find a breakthrough in "Where Do We Belong," I only need to go and read the chapters about "The Comedian."

And to devour most of a large, comprehensive book with a complete knowledge system in one night? Even with the ability to meet deadlines in my past life, I wouldn't dare to guarantee that.

With that in mind, George no longer hesitated, picked up the card "On the Macrocosm and Microcosm and the Unresolved Theory of Matter," and then covered it with the only remaining lit card, "Reason."

Since the night he received the [Pure White Cube - Purification], he used one of his [Rationality] abilities to obtain the [Grand View of Alchemy], and now his only remaining ability has come to an end.

The light exploded instantly, and words flowed through my consciousness like a waterfall.

Chaos and radiance existed before God. From the "container of divine possibility," the "soul" of the universe endowed it with form and movement. At the center of all things lies the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit, and all connections are like water. "Stars" are the foundation of existence, while "strings" provide the steps for "radiance" to reach the material world. The universe is plucked by the divine hand, and all celestial bodies play a harmonious symphony within it.

Vlad proposed an organic cosmology based on "divine light," creatively outlining his experiences on his spiritual ascension. However, he then attempted to create a single-stringed instrument for playing "celestial music"—an undoubtedly dangerous endeavor. He was subsequently placed under the control of the Anti-Corruption Bureau and "eliminated" from the threat, turning his attention to secular medical research, where he achieved remarkable results.

After the analysis was completed, the four new cards coalesced into a form.