A sharp nose, sparse eyebrows, slightly sagging cheeks, pale blue eyes... Qilangos looked at himself in the mirror, examining himself from top to bottom several times, confirming that he was no different from the unconscious man.
After mimicking a few of the man's habitual gestures, he bent down, dragged the man to the side, and stuffed him into the wardrobe.
Then, he stretched out his right hand and, with a crack, snapped the man's neck.
He took out a handkerchief, wiped his palms, and pulled the wardrobe doors shut.
He walked slowly back to the dressing mirror, donned his black double-breasted coat, tied his bow tie, picked up a bottle of amber perfume, dabbed a few drops on his wrists, and then rubbed it onto different parts of his body.
After combing his hair in front of the mirror, Qilangos left the room, casually closing the door, and said to the butler waiting outside:
"Don't let anyone enter my room; there are important items inside."
"Yes, Baron!" The butler, with graying hair, pressed his hand to his chest and bowed. "Your carriage and the attending servants are waiting downstairs, along with Duke Negan's invitation."
Qilangos maintained the baron's air, gave a barely perceptible nod, and, with the butler accompanying him, arrogantly walked towards the stairs.
Hah, a baron laden with debt, who can't even afford to hire ordinary security guards, yet maintains a butler, a personal manservant, two valets, two first-class maids, four second-class maids, two laundry maids, a coachman, a groom, a gardener, a cook, and a cook's assistant. For these stupid nobles, dignity is truly everything... I had to waste time learning their peculiar pronunciation of certain words and their so-called aristocratic accent... Qilangos thought coldly and contemptuously.
....
Backlund, Qiaowude District, a small apartment.
Xio Dilcha sat cross-legged on the bed, watching Fors Wall reading a novel by the light from the window, and said:
"It's truly hopeless. Qilangos hasn't left a single clue; we still can't find out what he's planning to do in Backlund."
Following their prearranged plan, they had reported it to the police, and secretly sent a letter to the police station in charge, detailing the strange circumstances of the murder scene and the suspect who was likely Qilangos.
The police reacted as they expected, being cautious, and directly transferred the case to the "Punisher" team.
Within a day, the news that "Hurricane Admiral" Qilangos had infiltrated Backlund spread throughout various "enforcement squads." Xio and Fors had also left their original rental place, gone into hiding, and were conducting covert investigations.
They didn't want to be called back to the police station to assist in the investigation. The members of the "Punisher," "Nighthawks," and "Mechanical Heart" all harbored hostility toward unofficial Beyonders, considering them potential criminals.
Thus, Xio and Fors were not only avoiding Qilangos's possible pursuit but also staying away from those "enforcers."
"If we could find out his purpose so easily, Qilangos would have been buried in the cemetery long ago, and the gravestone would definitely be overgrown with weeds," Fors replied calmly. "We need to be patient. As long as this level of thorough investigation continues, Qilangos is bound to make a mistake. I have to say, that magical item that allows one to change appearance is truly enviable."
Xio hugged her knees and looked towards the windowsill: "I'm just worried that Qilangos will act soon and then escape Backlund before everyone can react."
"In that case, I don't know when I'll be able to advance to Sequence 8, let alone Sequence 6, Sequence 5..."
She paused for a few seconds, staring blankly, and murmured: "And even less do I know when I'll be able to reclaim my family's belongings... I haven't seen my brother for almost a year..."
Fors comforted her with a smile: "When you fulfill your wish, please let me write your story. It will definitely be very exciting and interesting."
"Well, actually, I think with Miss Audrey's generosity, even if things end like this, she will give us a generous reward, considering we've been working so hard all this time and we made Qilangos show himself."
"I hope so... Sigh, why can't I have some good luck?" Xio casually grabbed her shoulder-length blonde hair.
Fors frowned slightly: "In the mystical world, good luck often comes with danger. I still don't know what the whisper that appears at the full moon really means, or if it could cause some bad changes. Haha, there are lucky encounters without danger, but they are extremely rare. Your wish is really hard to achieve, unless... unless we can gain the favor of a true god, or the attention of a friendly hidden existence. However, it's hard to tell if that is a disguise of an evil god or demon."
Xio straightened her back and drew a crimson moon over her chest: "May the Goddess bless me!"
....
Inside Duke Negan's mansion in the Queen's District of Backlund, a grand ball was underway.
It was divided into two parts. One part was a dancing hall on the ground floor, paved with ornate stone slabs carved with intricate patterns, with the duke's excellent band in a corner. Going up the stairs from the hall was a circular corridor on the second floor, where guests stood with glasses in hand, leaning against the railing to watch the dancing below, similar to watching fencing from a spectator stand. From time to time, gentlemen would approach ladies or young misses, inviting them to dance. If accepted, the two would take hands and descend the stairs into the hall.
On the other side of the corridor, away from the hall, there were many doors, behind which were guest lounges.
But one grand double door opened to a corridor lined with plaster statues of Negan family ancestors.
Walking to the end, you would find the other part of the ball. There was also a hall here, with long tables laden with various delicious foods and fine wines. Another band hired by the duke played melodious and relaxing tunes for the guests.
In this hall, guests gathered in small groups, sitting or standing, chatting about various matters. Those hoping to briefly escape the noise stepped out onto the balconies attached to the hall, overlooking the garden scenery and the crimson moon in the sky.