Surviving The Fourth Calamity

Chapter 1465: Chapter 43: The Hidden Hand in the Shadows

Hill looked at the enchanting flowers and plants outside, the jade trees and exquisite orchids, and a cold smile appeared on his lips: ”If you don’t have the intention to do evil, it won’t be magnified.

Still, something doesn’t seem right. Logically speaking, after Lind left here, he shouldn’t be so easily agitated, right?

This array isn’t strong enough yet. It will probably take another cycle for the Crystal Tree to grow before it’s about right.

Hmm... There seems to be something off inside Stelter Castle too.

Ha~ How interesting.”

Hill only realized after Lind caused such a big commotion that the Bewitching Heart Array set in the garden had already formed.

However, the influence of this array on emotions doesn’t last very long. Logically, upon returning home and feeling the love of his parents, Lind should have calmed down.

With the character of the Count and Countess Stelter, they would certainly celebrate Ellie, but they would also surely bless their son for the new opportunities he’s gained.

Though Lind is somewhat petty and his jealousy almost leaps from his eyes, Hill can feel that he still loves his sister... Even though he sometimes loses his mind temporarily, when he sees Ellie smile at him, he can suppress it.

That’s why Hill, despite not liking him, doesn’t intend to just let him fall into ruin.

The target of this array is more aimed at those invaders who are bound to arrive... Illusion Array combined with Bewitching Heart Array should be enough to expose more secrets of these guys inside.

Hill just wants to figure out if there’s any other trap in the World of Aesces that might make him fall, never expected Lind would pose in the front yard himself... To be honest, that winding stone path is hard to walk to match the array.

Without some perseverance, it’s really challenging to navigate to the fountain beside it.

Hill quietly contemplated the garden scene for a while, then stood up, ready to look at Galan’s ”Casual Diary”... This Archmage, in his later years, really dared to reveal all kinds of gossip!

Even dared to talk about Draculus.

Probably because he thought that since he was dead, even if his teacher knew he couldn’t drag him out to kill him again, that’s why he was so reckless?

After receiving the latest items, Hill didn’t sleep all night, not for the construction methods of those exquisite Strange Objects, but because of that metal-woven pouch.

That kind of uninhibited style made Hill even think of Fran’s teacher... That character of Draculus, how did he cultivate such unique students?

Or is it that the more serious a teacher is, the easier it is for students to turn... into butterflies?

Basia City entered a strange calm.

And those not privy to the news just knew that Young Master Lind was sent elsewhere, striving to become a real Magical Swordsman.

But actually, he was merely sent to a hidden castle located in the cliff of the nearby mountains to follow Yanos for learning magic.

For the decision of Count Stelter, Ellie came respectfully with numerous gifts to seek Hill’s forgiveness... Count Stelter originally intended to come himself, but Hill doesn’t accept anyone other than Ellie into his territory.

It’s said that the eldest son of the Ismael Family went out on some matters... on the day Prince Danboro appeared in Basia City.

With coincidences reaching this extent, Hill wouldn’t see it as mere coincidence.

Ellie stood trembling in front of the desk, a face of resigned numbness awaiting Hill’s judgment.

Indeed, Lind put his sister on the brink of a precipice.

With the character of Count Stelter, when it comes to sacrificing Ellie’s interest, he absolutely wouldn’t hesitate.

But what can the Stelter Family do?

If Lind had acted this way before the Earl sent those Magic Tower collectibles to Hill, Count Stelter certainly wouldn’t have supported him further.

But at this point, they not only paid a hefty school selection fee, but even the tuition was already settled... Despite Yanos temporarily being attached to Count Stelter, he won’t work for free.

The opportunity cost is too high, and Count Stelter only has this one son to rely on, so he can only choose to give Lind another chance after teaching him a lesson.

Hill looked at the handicrafts and antiques from various countries of the World of Aesces sent to him, and eventually chose to nod.

However, Hill doesn’t hope later, when the array effect emerges, to become the scapegoat for the enemy hidden at Stelter Castle, so he merely smiled to remind Ellie: ”I don’t think your brother suddenly turned stupid.

His jealousy indeed is quite heavy, but he’s not irrational... Have you seen the Crystal Fruit Tree in my front courtyard?”

Ellie nodded in surprise.

”This fruit tree, once it reaches the flowering and fruit-bearing maturity, will cause emotional fluctuations in people, so Crystal Fruit is the best material for wine brewing.

The Crystal Fruit Tree is not the only plant with this effect.

Your home... especially that small garden of yours, it would be best to examine the trees planted there.”

Then he recalled something: ”Some insects can too.

If there’s no special animal or plant in your family castle, you might consider insects, some pretty butterflies, or spiders.”

”Spiders?” Ellie abruptly lifted her head, ”Spiders that produce silk?”

”Do your castle have them?” Hill curiously asked.

”Our castle is built against the mountain, so naturally we would utilize the mountains.” Ellie said nervously, ”In our family, only Lind especially loves spider silk products, even using that material for his sheets and quilts!

Because his health was poor when he was young, only spider silk products didn’t harm his skin, so whether it was his clothing or daily necessities, they were all made of silk.

Even his bed’s spider silk sheets always had more than 10 layers!

But this kind of spider that can spit silk has a very frightening trait—whatever it eats, the silk it produces carries those properties.

Sometimes, just a little toxin can turn an entire batch of silk into a source of poison!

Since my father returned, our family has been constantly targeted with attempts to murder him, I can’t tell how many poisonous silk products have been sent in!

Later, my mother chose to create a cave for raising spiders herself.

Since then, all of our family’s silk products have used materials from our own source!

Otherwise, Lind wouldn’t lead such a luxurious life... But, how is that possible?

That spider cave can only be entered by servants who have served the Stelter Family for three generations!

My mom and uncle the steward often go there for inspections themselves!”

Hill softly reminded the baffled Ellie, ”Why don’t you go back and see if there’s something like Crystal Fruit in the spider’s feed?”

Ellie’s feet twitched a few times before she remembered to bow to Hill, ”Thank you, Teacher Belfran, for your reminder!

Once I return, I’ll carefully inspect every corner of the castle!”

Hill watched her stride away with some curiosity, ”She should know I’m always referring to Crystal Fruit, right?”

Lind was merely emotionally amplified, not without that heart.

Moreover, if such things aren’t potent, they actually have a soothing emotional effect, otherwise, Crystal Mystery, such a strong wine, wouldn’t exist.

Certainly, making that kind of wine requires many things, and Crystal Fruit is just one of the main ingredients.

Yet Ellie behaves as if her younger brother is again that trustworthy brother.

”Perhaps it’s blind love for her family?” Purwell hesitantly interjected, ”But... she... how can a mage be so irrational?”

”She and the Count and Countess are also using that kind of spider silk!” Hill realized, ”She probably hopes in her heart that Lind was only led astray.

Sometimes I feel she’s not as stable as she seems, always shocked by sudden whims.

Maybe she’s influenced too?”

If that spider really grew up eating things like Crystal Fruit, Stelter Castle would have suffered long ago.

Count Stelter, due to his military demeanor, always disliked wearing silk products, thus escaping a disaster, but those around him all wore them... it’s no wonder his style is a bit aggressive.

As for another severe victim in Stelter Castle, it should be the Countess, bedridden for years... no wonder she impulsively brought Prince Danboro home without discussing it with the Count.

Hill fiddled with the Crystal Pen in his hand, feeling a bit puzzled, ”Though it’s a spider, I didn’t smell Rose’s stench?

But this strange ability does somewhat resemble Rose’s Abyssal Web Spider!”

This type of spider was specifically cultivated by Rose to serve as guards for her Spider Magic Net, and incidentally mend the damaged areas of the Weave.

The raw materials stem from the Zholar female priests punished for defying her will.

Purwell quietly asked, ”Do you want to see that spider in person?”

”If it’s really that, what can I do?” Hill murmured, ”The evil god I least want to deal with is her grace!

Maybe... pretend to be dead for now?”

Hill knew the moment he saw the silk products of this world, there had to be a reason for his immediate disgust!

”Aesces is so powerful, it can even drive out Triton.” Hill seriously said, ”Surely it can handle an Intermediate Divine Power like Rose!

There are no demons in this world!

Definitely no problem, I’m sure he already inspected it!”

For a moment, Purwell hesitated... Was Hill doing it on purpose?

But it seemed like he was speaking well?

Forget it, Hill speaking well one in ten thousand, Hill speaking poorly one hundred percent.

No matter which kind, as long as it doesn’t affect themselves, it’s no problem.

”Speaking of which, the Stelter family surely wouldn’t use Crystal Fruit to feed the spiders.” Hill mused, ”I don’t know what materials are used, maybe they also have the ability to soothe nerves and increase vigor.

I’ve always been looking for a main material to replace Crystal Fruit!”

”Don’t you get drunk at just one sip?” Purwell earnestly said, ”Fruit wine and you pass out, why research strong liquor?”