Mystery: The New Dark Emperor Arrives

Chapter 543 Invitation from MI[-]

At No. 62 Queen Backlund Avenue, Hobert opened his eyes from the bed in the bedroom.

There was no time to be dazed this time, so he immediately got up and went to the study, where he arranged a ceremony and received 2700 pounds in cash. "Little Sun" had accumulated debts for more than a dozen extraordinary materials, but he could not repay them until he returned to Silver City.

After putting the cash in the safe, Hobert found a book and pretended to read it.

In the bedroom at this time, Forsi came out of the "Traveler's Gate". The Countess, who was wearing a Feneport costume, immediately went to the study after learning from the servant that the Earl was in the study.

After Dophis's many explanations, the servants had long been accustomed to the countess who came from the Kingdom of Feneport and usually did not like to go out. At least they would not be surprised by her sudden appearance.

"Hobert!" Forsi came to the study: "I didn't disturb you, did I?"

"No." Hobert raised the book in his hand and said, "I am reading the history of the nobility of the Kingdom of Loen in order to avoid running out of topics with the so-called gentlemen at the dance party in the evening.

"It's just that these things are too boring. To be honest, I'm not very interested in what evil things the ancestors of these vampires did."

He threw the book aside and asked knowingly, "What's the matter?"

Forsi smiled and said, "Hobert, you are also a noble now."

"I know, I know." Hobert hugged Forsi's waist: "I will tell you these words."

"Well! I'm here to tell you some good news. Through a friend's channel, I heard about a Level 2 Sealed Artifact that sounds easy to get rid of, as well as the extraordinary characteristics of an 'Interrogator'." Foer Thoughts:

"It's a pity that the other party only accepts transactions in gold pounds. As you know, I don't have many gold pounds there."

Hobert opened the safe: "You can take as much as you need."

Among the cash he got just now was the 750 pounds that Forsi donated, but Hobert put them in another safe.

After becoming an "astrologer", Forsi's spirituality suddenly became much stronger, and he would probably feel familiar with those gold pounds.

However, this sense of familiarity should disappear after a while, and Hobert will also prioritize spending this money on Backlund.

"I'll pick it up later. I have to go find Xio first." Forsi waved his hand and walked out the door.

Hobert also went out and ordered his servants to prepare the carriage.

Returning to the study room again, Hobert glanced at the book on the table and put it back on the bookshelf: "The history of nobility is really boring."

At around four o'clock in the afternoon, at the urging of the housekeeper Dophis, Hobert came to the dressing room. The servant who had been waiting here trimmed Hobert's hair, eyebrows and nose hair, then polished his nails, sprayed perfume, and changed his clothes. Wear formal attire.

By the time everything was finished, it was already past five o'clock in the afternoon, and Forsi had just returned from Xio's place. Hobert's style made her eyes shine. The black formal suit fit perfectly, creating a noble temperament, and his handsome face had a The bright smile made Forsi feel like a spring breeze.

Hobert opened his arms: "What do you think of this outfit?"

Forsi took Hobert's hand: "I realized today that there is a reason why noble clothes are so expensive."

After saying that, she stepped up and kissed Hobert on the cheek: "What a handsome boy."

In the presence of ordinary servants, Forsi rarely took the initiative to make such intimate gestures. At this time, under the influence of hormones, his usual reserve was temporarily forgotten.

Hobert kissed Forsi's forehead: "Mrs. Backlund and the ladies are so blessed."

Forsi smiled and said: "Fortunately we are in Loen. If we were in the Republic of Intis, I should be worried about whether you can come back tonight."

Hobert scratched her nose: "Then you won't go with me, can you rest assured?"

Forsi shook his head: "I don't have a common language with those ladies. Do I want to talk to them about the skills of writing books or the use of Mitsubishi thorns?"

Hobert said "Yeah": "That's right."

Then he smiled helplessly: "Actually, I don't really want to go, but he is not willing to ask Dophis to pretend to be me and go to the dance."

Forsi smiled and said, "Mr. Earl, that is your new battlefield."

"Okay." After Hobert made the final preparations, he walked out and said to Forsi, "Dopheus knows the password."

Forsi nodded, understanding that Hobert was talking about the password to the safe.

Not long after Hobert's carriage set out, it could no longer move.

Because not far from his residence is Thordrak Palace, and on the first day of the social season, the king will invite all the nobles, including the lords, to attend a grand ball at the palace to officially start the social season.

The nobles who came to attend the ball completely blocked the spacious Queen's Road and the King's Road next door.

This allowed Hobert to experience morning rush hour-like traffic jams for the first time in this era.

After more than half an hour of slowly advancing and many barons' carriages giving way, Hobert finally arrived at the gate of the palace.

After getting off the carriage, Hobert realized that he seemed to be a little special. The other nobles were accompanied by their wives and children, but he was alone, and he seemed quite lonely.

Fortunately, Hobert quickly found Viscount Graylint, who was also alone, and the two of them arrived at the ball together.

There were already many nobles in the ballroom. After chatting with familiar and unfamiliar faces, Hobert felt that his smile had become a little stiff.

"You'd better eat something first." Grelint said: "I have seen many ladies looking this way. They are obviously not looking at me. Maybe you won't have time to eat after the dance starts. ”

Buffet-style food has been prepared around the spacious ballroom.

Because dances are now very popular in the Loen Kingdom, even palace banquets have combined formal banquets and dances.

Hobert listened to the advice and picked up a dinner plate: "Ladies will take the initiative to invite men to dance?"

"No, they will ask their father to talk to you." Grelint said: "During the chat, he will take the initiative to introduce his daughter and hint that you can invite her to dance."

Hobert picked up a portion of lamb chops that looked pretty good: "Are you familiar with these processes?"

Gray Point nodded: "In previous years, those lords wanted me to invite their daughters to dance, but this year, with you here, I can be free."

"Not necessarily." Hobert smiled: "After all, I am already married."

Gray Lint opened his mouth, but in the end he didn't say anything.

When the dance was about to start, Christine's family arrived. Hobert's parents said hello and introduced Viscount Gray Lint to the somewhat shy Talon.

Finally meeting two people of the same age made Tai Lun less nervous.

At seven o'clock in the evening, the dance officially began.

Just like last time, after King George III gave a speech, he handed the ball over to the Crown Prince, Prince Gwynton. After the prince and his wife danced the first dance, the ball officially started.

In the huge ballroom, melodious music dances, making people feel like they want to dance.

Young people began to invite their favorite girls, or girls who looked very beautiful, to dance. The gorgeous costumes were spinning and weaving around, which was full of beauty.

Nobles of this age, like Christine and Earl Hall, seemed to gather together casually to chat.

Hobert considered whether to invite Audrey to dance, who had already rejected the two gentlemen. In the end, he decided to wait and invite Audrey now. If Audrey agreed, it would be equivalent to humiliating the two young men. people.

He was about to have a glass of champagne and a steak.

The palace chef's skills were quite good and were highly recognized by Hobert's taste buds.

But just as he picked up the champagne, a dignified woman wearing a black evening dress with a somewhat hazy look in her eyes came over: "Long time no see."

She was none other than Count Georgina, who had participated in the Feneport City operation before.

When Hobert saw the countess stretching out her hand, he quickly extended his hand as well: "Hello, madam, I have indeed been... missing for a while."

He originally thought that a simple shake of hands would be enough, but Georgina held his hand tightly and wouldn't let go.

This puzzled Hobert, so he paused while speaking.

But after exchanging pleasantries, Georgina still had no intention of letting go. Hobert smiled helplessly: Come and see, the Countess is playing rogue!

After a few seconds, Georgina let go of her hand: "Won't you ask me to dance?"

Hobert put down the champagne and said with a smile: "Dear Madam, please!"

He realized that Georgina's abnormality must have some purpose, so he went to the dance floor with her and danced to the melodious music.

"Have you heard of MI[-]?" Georgina looked into Hobert's eyes and asked with a smile.

Hobert said to himself: Here comes the topic.

He smiled and said, "I've heard of it."

"I know you are an Extraordinary person in the 'lawyer' path." Georgina said: "You are also an earl who does not have an official position for the time being. According to the usual practice, such extraordinary resources cannot be wasted."

Hobert nodded. What Georgina meant was: According to convention, extraordinary people among nobles must be forced to arrange a job to avoid wasting extraordinary power.

And Georgina was obviously assigned to arrange Hobert's work.

Georgina added: "Generally, people in situations like yours will be arranged in two directions, one is to join the army, and the other is to join MI[-].

"Of course, you can also work in the government, but there are no very good positions."

The two men danced and talked, but Hobert just listened quietly.

Georgina said: "As the commander of MI[-], I hope you can come to MI[-]. I didn't expect that you are already a 'count'. As soon as you come, I will give you the position of deputy director."

"And if you join the army, you can only start as a major. Although you will be promoted quickly, it will take two to three years to promote you to a major general!

"When you come to MI[-], you will start as a colonel, and next year you will be promoted to major general!"

Positions in the Loen Kingdom are also divided into departments, bureaus, divisions, and sections. Specific service personnel are also divided into senior section staff and section staff.

Hobert immediately understood that the countess was holding his hand just now to test his strength.She may have a sealed artifact, and she can know by shaking hands that the target is an Beyonder of a certain rank.

Hobert thought about Georgina's words for a moment before asking: "Do I have to choose one of the two? Or do I have to have some public office?"

"That's not the case." Georgina smiled: "It's just that you don't look so special now that you have an official position.

"You should know that your good friend Viscount Graylint also works in the Ministry of Agriculture."

The implication is that if you don't follow this convention, you will easily be squeezed out by the nobles.

Hobert asked again: "If I choose MI[-], will I have free time?
"You also know that I haven't had time to go to the fief yet."

Georgina smiled: "I'm not responsible for attendance. Even the person responsible for attendance will not come to your office to check, but you still have to participate in some actions.

"Besides, I heard you have a magical item with the ability to 'travel'."

Hobert nodded. What the Countess meant was: As long as you clock in and out on time and occasionally act as a goon, no one will care whether you are working seriously or not.

He asked again: "Can I access some files?"

Georgina stared at Hobert, as if there were knives in her eyes: "What file do you want to see?"

"Don't get me wrong." Hobert smiled: "I only plan to check some extraordinary files on Longtail Island, as well as some files about hidden organizations."

"Deputy director level can of course access files at this level." The "knife" in Georgina's eyes slowly disappeared, and she smiled again and said: "Just register before accessing."

Hobert sighed in his heart: Intelligence workers are not very good at this point, they are too sensitive.

However, he thought that he didn't intend to be a spy, play a role in lurking or anything, so he didn't care much about it.

"So, how about coming to work the day after tomorrow?" Georgina sounded like a question, but in fact she sounded like an order.

"no problem."

At this time, the song just ended.

When Georgina retracted her hand, she squeezed Hobert's waist gently: "What a handsome young man, with a good temperament. If it were 20 years ago, I would have considered ending my single life."

Hobert twitched his lips. Before he even started working, he was harassed by his boss.

As the two walked off the dance floor, Georgina said again: "I think you should ask Princess Alice to dance."

After saying that, she left without any explanation.

Hobert sighed, did he mean that Princess Alice had something to do with him?
He looked at Princess Alice. She still looked very noble. If Audrey was not present, her appearance would be acceptable.

Surrounding the princess were the princes, princesses and duchesses.

If you were an ordinary noble, you would need to be quite thick-skinned to get through, but Hobert was different, Monlisa was also there.

So Hobert walked straight over, said a few words to his mother, and then said to Alice: "Beautiful princess, can you please dance?"

The ladies around were slightly stunned. Before attending the dance, they would all tell their sons or sons not to ask Princess Alice or Audrey to dance if they were not completely sure.

Because as we all know, in aristocratic balls, they are the only two people who always refuse invitations, and only they have the qualifications to refuse.

Next, some ladies and ladies were already preparing to watch the joke, while Meng Lisa smiled and prepared to rescue her son.

Unexpectedly, Alice stretched out a hand and placed it on Hobert's palm: "Of course." The Duke and Countess were stunned for a moment, but they didn't expect the joke they expected, and then they realized: Princess I also like handsome boys.

With his appearance and demeanor, Hobert was very eye-catching in this gathering where the stars were shining brightly. Coupled with his title, most of the ladies present were already thinking about him.

After the two people entered the dance floor, the ladies praised Monlisa for what a talent Hobert was.

Monlisa smiled and glanced at her son and princess on the dance floor thoughtfully. She always felt that Alice was too arrogant and a bit unworthy of her son.

On the dance floor, Hobert looked at Alice who raised her chin slightly and smiled: "I should thank the princess for not rejecting my invitation."

Alice didn't smile at all, and asked with a calm expression: "Are you satisfied with the official position arranged by Georgina?"

Hobert was stunned. Georgina's "interview" just now was arranged by Alice?
"Of course I'm satisfied." Hobert smiled and said, "That's MI[-]. It's usually difficult to join."

Then he tentatively said: "Thank you princess for your favor and giving me a chance to integrate into the noble family."

"I thought you would choose to go to the army for training. After all, your father has rich connections there." Princess Alice said calmly: "I did play some role here.

"Even with your father's connections, you wouldn't be able to become an officer all of a sudden."

Hobert thought to himself: I'm not familiar with you either, are you helping me like this because I'm handsome?

He tried again: "Can I help you?"

"I heard people say that you are the favored one of the 'Creator'?" Alice stared at Hobert and asked.

Hobert was obviously stunned, and immediately understood that after the battle in Feneport City, there were still some people in the Loen royal family who guessed from the state of the ancient death god that it might be related to the "creator".

He didn't think he would be in any danger, because no matter what the "creator's" purpose was before, he had indeed helped Luen achieve his goal. In their view, the "creator" could be fought for. ally.

So Hobert knew that not only was he not in danger now, he was actually very safe.

Then he glanced at Princess Alice in front of him: What do you mean?Do you still want to hook up with the "creator" line through me?I don’t even know whether to say you are persisting or that you are stubborn.

Alice finally smiled slightly: "No one around us will hear our next conversation. Those demigods may hear it, but they won't be so boring."

She smiled and added: "Although this matter is required to be kept secret, it is not difficult to get some clues from the two earls who participated in the battle in Feneport City."

Hobert admitted: "Sort of."

"I hope to get a response from the 'Creator'." Alice said: "The kind of response that can listen to my prayers."

Hobert said to himself: This "creator" is listening. If you have anything to say, just say it... Forget it, I know what you are going to say, so it's okay if you don't listen.

He said seriously: "If you want to get a response from the 'creator,' you have to pass some tests."

"What test?" Alice responded eagerly for the first time.

"Sorry princess, I can't answer your question." Hobert showed a helpless smile: "As far as I know, this test varies from person to person, and most of them get the attention of the 'creator' first.

"And even if it gets attention, whether it will be tested and whether a response will be given ultimately depends on the 'creator''s thoughts."

What Hobert said is equivalent to throwing the blame to the "creator": It's not that I don't want to help, it's that I can't influence the "creator's" ideas at all.

If you say this, you can prevent Alice from finding you because of this matter in the future.

Alice then asked: "How did you get the attention of the 'Creator'?"

"I would like to answer your question, but it would violate some of my oaths." Hobert looked embarrassed: "And my experience may not be of much reference to you at all."

His answer was impeccable, making Alice frown slightly: "If you need help, just come to me."

Hobert said seriously: "I will continue to help you find a solution."

It's just that this method is difficult to "think of".

Alice nodded slightly, and after finishing the dance, they walked out of the dance floor in two directions.

After dancing for two times, Hobert actually felt a little tired. He picked up another glass of champagne and took two sips. Then he walked over to Audrey and asked Miss Justice to dance.

Because he had noticed that Audrey looked at him many times.

When he held Audrey's hand and entered the dance floor, the surrounding nobles were somewhat surprised. They had noticed that Hobert had challenged "two impossibles" tonight!
In the corner of the ballroom, Count Wolf said pointedly: "If I remember correctly, this is the second time Audrey has accepted Hobert's invitation, right?"

"Yes." Earl Hall smiled: "They were friends to begin with."

Although he said this, Earl Hall's eyes unconsciously became deeper.

On the dance floor, Hobert smiled and said: "Audrey, can you help me rub my waist? The two dance partners in front are too strong in their hands, and my waist is sore."

Audrey smiled and said, "You are very rude to the countess and the princess when you say this."

However, the hand she placed on Hobert's waist still rubbed it for him.

This action once again attracted the attention of many people. Although this group of nobles were not "audiences", if anyone made an extra action, even an extra glance, they would be noticed.

They will think it is not rigorous.

Audrey said: "Just now, several lords' daughters asked me about your financial situation."

Hobert was slightly startled: "Do you want me to invest in their family's business? I don't have this idea yet."

"No." Audrey chuckled: "They heard that you and I are friends, and they heard that you only have one dish, soup and a piece of bread for every meal.

"For a nobleman, this can only prove one thing: there is a serious financial problem with this nobleman."

Hobert smiled: "So they, or their father, think they can make some investment in me?"

"That's right!" Audrey said seriously: "For them, it is a good deal to pay the expenses of a count and get the position of a countess!"

What she didn't say was that Hobert was still young and handsome, and it was better to marry such an earl than to marry an old man or a fat and greasy middle-aged man.

"I'm curious about a question, don't they know I'm married?" Hobert was very surprised. He was obviously a married man, so why did so many people still regard him as a diamond king?

Audrey thought for a while and decided to remind her good friends: "They think you should get married again so that you can integrate into the aristocratic circle."

Hobert opened his mouth: "What about my original wife?"

"Of course I will continue to be your wife."

If this idea came from the Republic of Intis, it would not surprise Hobert at all, but it turned out to be the idea of ​​a Loen noble!
And judging from Audrey's appearance, this seems to be the consensus of the nobles.

Hobert's first thought was to bring Forsi to all the subsequent dances, but then he sighed, because the core of the problem was that many people hoped to use Hobert's status as earl to make their own The family becomes stronger.

They didn't care whether Forsi would attend such a dance. On the contrary, it would bring danger to Forsi. After all, she had blocked some people's path to "improvement."

Then Hobert burst out laughing again: What am I so surprised about?Isn't this the face of a noble?

"I know." Hobert smiled easily and said, "Audrey, thank you for telling me this, otherwise I wouldn't have thought of this."

Audrey shook her head slightly: "Hobert, you have a strong heart."

As a "psychiatrist", she could certainly detect through Hobert's micro-expressions his mental journey from surprise to anger, to relief and indifference.

"It's okay." Hobert seemed to be pointing out: "I am also a noble."

After dancing, the two people left the dance floor together and stood together chatting for a while.

Hobert told Audrey that Count Georgina had sent him an invitation, and he would go to work at MI[-] the day after tomorrow.

Talking about this is purely out of respect for friends, otherwise Audrey had just told Hobert a secret disclosed by the nobles that he was not aware of, and as a result, Hobert went to work for MI[-], and Audrey He knew it from other places, which would not treat her as a friend.

After that, Hobert kept hiding in the corner, chatting with Tai Lun, and had no intention of continuing to dance.

When the ball was about to end, Hobert told Tyron about Georgina's invitation, his decision, and Princess Alice's preferential treatment.

Of course, he didn't talk about the favored ones of the "creator".

And told him: "I will tell my father and mother on the way back."

After the ball ended, Hobert, like other nobles, said goodbye to Prince Govington and left in a carriage.

In his carriage, Hobert began to wonder whether he should use his position in MI[-] to frighten those nobles with ideas?
But then he shook his head: That might put me on the opposite side of the entire aristocratic class, and I don't have the strength yet.

……

In Duke Christine's carriage.

Monlisa frowned and said, "I'm still wondering why Hobert asked Princess Alice to dance."

Then she asked Tyron: "Why did the princess help Hobert arrange an official position?"

Tyron replied: "Want Hobert to do her a favor."

"What are you busy with?"

"I didn't say it."

Christine smiled and said, "It's probably inconvenient to say."

He paused and said, "It's not bad to work in MI[-]. At least you have more freedom in time."

Meng Lisa was a little worried: "But..."

Kristine waved her hand: "Hobert is an adult, he can handle his own affairs."

Menlisa sighed: "Okay then."

……

On Earl Hall's carriage.

Countess Caitlin said: "Viscount Learson's youngest son has been in MI[-] for five years. He seems to be just a senior staff member, right?"

The eldest son Hibbert nodded: "Yes, leading a team in the operations department, with the rank of captain."

Caitlin frowned: "The royal family is too generous. Why would they give a deputy director all at once?"

Everyone turned their attention to Audrey.

Audrey smiled and said, "Hobert didn't say, and I don't know either."

Earl Hall said: "This shows that the royal family attaches great importance to him."

Caitlin was a little surprised: "How much contribution did the father and son make?"

Earl Hall glanced at his wife: "I'm not sure either."

He only found some information that was difficult to distinguish between true and false. The royal family seemed to have blocked the information about that operation to a certain extent.

……

On the second day of the social season, Hobert checked the information and planned to take advantage of the social season to go to Longtail Island to take a look.

Nothing happened at Duke Negan's ball that night, and on Wednesday morning, Hobert went to work in a carriage sent by MI[-].

MI[-] is ​​a special department. Although it is a "department", it has the specifications of a "bureau".

Therefore, MI[-] has a chief director, Count Georgina.

There are also three division chiefs, namely the chiefs of the Intelligence Division, the Interrogation Division and the Operations Division.

As the deputy director of operations, Hobert enjoys the privilege of being assigned a car by MI[-].

This two-wheeled carriage is completely black and uses a low chassis design. Although it can carry not many people, it is very fast.

On the car door is the emblem of MI[-], a ferocious lion, a strong horse, and a crown above the two.

The lion represents the division's original affiliation with the Army, and the horse symbolizes quick strike capabilities.

As for the crown in the middle, it naturally symbolizes this department’s loyalty to the royal family!

When we arrived at the two-story office building of MI[-] in the North District, there was no sign at the entrance, and it looked very low-key from the outside. After entering the building, we found that the decoration here was very luxurious.

Moreover, Hobert's office was underground. When taking the stairs under the guidance of the sentry, Hobert learned that the underground area of ​​​​the building actually had five floors!
At the bottom of the stairs on the third floor, stood a beautiful lady with a plump figure but wearing a tight-fitting uniform: "Are you the new Director Hobert?"

Hobert glanced at the other party's short skirt and chest: "The uniforms of MI[-] are so beautiful!"

"Hahaha, are you sure you are praising the uniform?" At this time, a tall man with a large beard walked out of the office.

The woman at the door of the stairs introduced: "This is the director of our operations department, Qonas Kilger."

Hobert was stunned for a moment, but he immediately recalled: I have admired the name for a long time!Is it the one who later became Klein's marionette?
　I was not in a good state last night. After writing for a while, I felt a little tired. The more I wrote, the more dissatisfied I became, so I just ended it here and took an early rest today to recover (￣.￣)
　　
　
(End of this chapter)