Chapter 384 - 384 Two hundred forty-one

Words : 1292 Updated : Oct 11th, 2025

384: Two hundred forty-one. One good news and one bad news 384: Two hundred forty-one. One good news and one bad news Standing a head shorter to one side, the butler wearing a gentleman’s tailcoat opened his mouth as if to say something, but eventually, it turned into a resigned sigh. With a slight bow, he gestured and said, “Please wait in the drawing room for a moment.” The maid came to Lu Li’s side to lead the way, and the latter withdrew his gaze, following the maid into the hall’s side door. Baron Joseph’s gaze, however, never left Lu Li, watching until his figure disappeared behind the drawing-room door, her slender legs beneath her long dress about to step forward to follow. The butler, wearing thick round glasses, stepped forward to block Baron Joseph, in his usual even tone, “You still need to stay to oversee the examination.” Baron Joseph said indifferently, “Can’t you do that?” “They want to see Baron Joseph.” Baron Joseph’s expression became more impatient, “What if he runs away!” “He won’t run, Mr. Luli is attracted here by you.” Baron Joseph’s red lips curved slightly, pleased with the butler’s play on words— Seeing that the baron temporarily extinguished her thoughts and leaned back into the sofa, the butler picked up a blanket that had fallen on the carpet and handed it to a waiting maid, took a new velvet blanket from another holding a tray, and covered Baron Joseph with it, “If there are others to follow...” The butler paused slightly, at a loss for the right words, skipped over and said, “Please restrain yourself, we can only add four more at most.” “Aren’t there three left?” “But each one less would decrease our chance of successfully pleading our case.” Baron Joseph lazily raised her palm, admiring her alabaster fingers as if they were works of art, unconcerned, “Let’s treat it as a vase then, isn’t it normal to have such a character in a story?” She deliberately adopted a rough, hoarse voice and recited, “Then the heroic Baron Joseph steps in for a heroic rescue, winning the beauty’s heart, embracing and sharing a long kiss beneath the moon.” The maids standing on both sides of the bench were indifferent, seemingly accustomed to the Baron’s... whimsicality. But just as Baron Joseph’s words fell, a streak of black line that emerged from the void became solid, a foreboding presence enveloped around the baron, accompanied by whispers like secretive murmurs, several twisted and deformed, meters-long shadow claws emerged from the void, as if following the black line, looping down. The butler’s face suddenly turned ugly, whereas Baron Joseph, glancing up, showed an undisguised repulsion, “Disgusting.” That’s when the butler raised his head and shouted, “Every romance novel has its heroic rescue, which is as normal as can be! Even Maid Irene would crave these things, crave to be saved by a handsome man called Baron Joseph!” Her voice spread throughout the hall, but it seemed not directed at anyone present. As her voice fell, the shadow claws slowly descending over Baron Joseph’s head paused, gradually withdrew, and dissipated into the void, the solid black line also gradually fading, becoming unnoticeable. Everything returned to normal. Except for the fear that never faded from the maids’ eyes. Witnessing the complete disappearance of the black line, the butler slightly loosened his breath, returned to a businesslike attitude, and said, “Remember to watch your words, even if it’s sleeping, now is not the time for the story to proceed.” Baron Joseph, impatiently waved her hand, “I know, call the next one quickly.” The examination, which had paused for a few minutes, continued; with the appearance of the Head Maid once again, the whispering voices in the garden faded, and the Exorcists envied the one who had passed smoothly, hoping to follow in his footsteps... ... As the drawing room of the Baron’s Mansion, this place was hardly less magnificent than the main hall, whether it be the marble tiles or the exquisitely crafted reliefs, all exuding luxury. The long table was laid with expensive fruits and pastries, and after Lu Li sat in the silver-inlaid, carved chair, his gaze paused momentarily on the plate before moving away. He was temporarily unable to eat. But... maybe he could still have a few smaller grapes. Minutes later, the silver plate holding the grapes had diminished by a small half. As Lu Li lifted a grape to his mouth, his movements suddenly stopped, and his brows furrowed tightly. “What’s the matter!” Several seconds passed in Lu Li’s peculiar state before Anna’s anxious voice came from the void, “The food is poisoned!?” “It’s not that serious.” His furrowed brows relaxed, Lu Li gently shook his head and put back the grape he was holding. “I just wanted to belch.” No sooner had he finished speaking than the parlor door swung open. Lu Li turned his head and saw the second exorcist who had passed the audition entering the room. ... Whoosh— A large fireball burst out of the exorcist’s mouth, dimming the brightly lit hall in an instant. As the fireball faded into thin air, the hall returned to a state of near brightness. The exorcist wiped the corner of his mouth with a handkerchief and stood waiting for Baron Joseph’s evaluation. Clap—Clap—Clap— Slow applause came from the sofa, Baron Joseph’s lips carried a smile as he clapped in appreciation, then turned to the butler and said, “Give this circus performer a tip, then send him away.” “Eh? I’m not a circus performer, I’m an exorcist—” Dozens of seconds later, the next exorcist walked into the hall. This exorcist was clad in a black cloak, his gaunt face etched with age. His gaze lingered on Baron Joseph seated on the sofa, then shifted above her head as if he saw something. His hoarse, magnetic voice spilled out, “I knew Baron Joseph’s flamboyant hiring of exorcists wasn’t just simple employment, the trouble you’ve encountered is no small matter.” The butler standing by the sofa straightened slightly, as if sensing something, and said, “So, we have invited all the exorcists from the Ailen Peninsula.” The middle-aged exorcist smiled with a hint of meaning, “That hardly counts as all.” Before the butler could respond, he continued, “Spare me those clownish words, I know what kind of evil spirit the Baron is dealing with.” The butler’s face grew stern, not pursuing the conversation any further, and simply stated, “Please wait in the parlor.” ... Lu Li’s gaze moved downward, noticing the badge pinned on his cloak. The Three-eyed Black Crow shimmered with a somber hue. “Exorcist?” the exorcist began the conversation proactively. “Colleague.” Lu Li took out a badge from his pocket. The look in their eyes became less strange as they looked at each other. “I thought I was the only one idle enough to come to the Baron’s place,” the exorcist said as he sat down across from Lu Li, politely introducing himself, “Ben Petra.” “Lu Li.” Petra nodded to Lu Li and then began to discuss, “Have you thought about how to deal with The Shadow of Puppetry?” “The Shadow of Puppetry?” Lu Li furrowed his brows, instinctively sensing an ominous air. “You haven’t noticed?” Petra asked, surprised, and explained to Lu Li, “The evil spirit entangled with the Baron and his head maid is The Shadow of Puppetry.” Lu Li was certainly aware of it, having heard about this evil spirit only yesterday. But he had not expected to encounter it so soon.

Chapter 384 - 384 Two hundred forty-one

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