After trailing Ernest Boyar for some distance in a daze, Emlyn gradually began to consider giving up.
He glanced at the increasingly heavy rain outside the arcade and couldn't help but think:
"How should I punish Ernest? Even though he was probably following orders or suggestions, it's still detestable!
"As for Lord Nibas... I don't have the ability right now. Wait until I become a Baron or a Count, and I'll definitely make him pay!
"'The Magician' has already finished exploring that abandoned castle. I wonder if Lord Nibas sent vampires to keep watch... From her tone, her description, and the feedback Mr. 'The Fool' gave, it seems there weren't any... Could it be that Lord Nibas didn't send vampires near the castle? But then what was the point of the test? Or maybe something came up and they missed it?"
With thoughts swirling, Emlyn felt he should find someone to discuss how to punish Ernest Boyar — he truly lacked experience in such matters.
Subconsciously, the first person who came to mind was "The Hanged Man." This senior member of the Tarot Club had proven himself experienced and reliable in all manner of affairs, never once letting the other members down.
After hesitating for a few seconds, Emlyn rejected this choice on his own. It involved internal vampire matters and mutual probing — disclosing the situation to Tarot Club members before any result had emerged would damage his pride and the overall image of the vampire race!
For the same reason, he ruled out "The World."
Of course, he felt he could probably guess what kind of advice "The World" would give:
Kill him!
There's no need to go that far... Emlyn grumbled to himself, trailing aimlessly behind Ernest Boyar while broadening his search for consultants to the real world.
Then he realized he didn't have many options — he had almost no friends.
Excluding his parents, who were also vampires, he could only consider two people: Father Utlavsky at the Church of Harvest, and the mysterious, resourceful great detective Sherlock Moriarty.
"Sherlock has left Backlund and hasn't returned yet. Sigh, I'll have to visit the priest tomorrow, but I can't be too direct about it..." Emlyn quickly made his decision, passing Ernest Boyar as the latter stepped into a watch shop and heading toward the far end of the arcade, where several hired carriages were waiting.
Getting into a carriage and feeling the wheels begin to turn, Emlyn lazily let his gaze drift toward the window, watching the raindrops smacking against the glass with increasing density, each one dragging a streak down toward the bottom.
Through his blurred vision, carriage after carriage passed by.
.........
Audrey drew her gaze back from the rainy scene outside the carriage window, glanced at her personal maid Annie, and silently exchanged looks with Susie, who was crouching beside her.
Using her eyes, expressions, and subtle body language, she conveyed:
We're almost home. I'm a little nervous.
Susie wagged her tail, raised a paw, and nudged the gold-rimmed glasses hanging from her neck. Combined with the color shifts in her etheric body and astral body, she expressed her meaning:
Don't worry too much. That Ms. Isrande, who poses as a psychologist but is really only at the level of a "Mind Reader," won't be able to see through your lies.
Audrey nodded slightly as she watched the carriage pull into the Hall family's luxurious villa and stop beneath the sheltered entrance portico.
Since joining the "Loen Charity Education Fund," she had less and less time at home during the day. She had originally planned to invite Ms. Isrande of the Psychology Alchemy Society to meet at 22 Passfield Street in the North District, but since Mr. Dawn Dantès had gone to the Southern Continent and wasn't at the Foundation, there was no longer any need.
In the study that was exclusively hers, Audrey met Ms. Isrande Oschlacker, who had waist-length black hair and a baby-faced appearance.
"I'm terribly sorry—for the longest time after returning to Backlund, I was busy gathering with friends, and then I joined the 'Loen Charity Education Fund,' so it wasn't until today that I could finally meet with you." After leaving Susie outside the door, Audrey gave an elegant curtsy, displaying her sincerity.
This was actually deliberate on her part. She had delayed for nearly a month, so that her having digested the "Psychiatrist" potion and advanced to "Hypnotist" would seem reasonably plausible—the pace of a genius rather than someone with suspicious abilities.
Isrande returned the courtesy with a indifferent air and said:
"I've heard that you've been running about on behalf of children who crave knowledge. Your virtue shines brighter than diamonds."
Audrey gestured for her guest to sit as she walked to an armchair, giving a soft "Mm":
"The circumstances of those children are like nothing I've ever seen before. There's always a voice inside me urging me to do something. Ms. Isrande, if you have the time, you could join me and the staff of the 'Loen Charity Education Fund' on visits to different schools, and see for yourself the conditions most children in this world face."
Saying this, she let out a soft laugh, seemingly self-deprecating:
"I'm sorry—I've fallen into the habit of bringing up this topic lately, because I want to get more nobles and more wealthy people to participate in this kind of charitable work, to donate more funds, and help more children."
After hearing Audrey's words, Isrande responded with a trace of discomfort:
"I'll do that. I'll also make a donation to the 'Loen Charity Education Fund.'"
"No—I don't want to pressure you into donating. It must come from the heart, absolutely voluntary. All I hope is that you'll go and take a look, then tell the people around you about those children's circumstances and their possible futures, including the members of the Psychology Alchemy Society." Audrey shook her head and declined Isrande's offer.
"Very well." Isrande nodded slightly in agreement at first, but then felt a sense of indescribable absurdity about the whole matter:
Miss Audrey's true intention seemed to be to solicit donations from the Psychology Alchemy Society as an organization.
But this was a secretive, supernatural underground organization!
There was no essential difference between this and soliciting donations from the Aurora Society!
Audrey dropped the matter of the "Loen Charity Education Fund" and changed the subject: