Chapter 187 Case File 3: The Mystery of Rose Villa Begins (3)
In fact, as early as the morning when Jiangyou and Andre were about to set off for the private chef mission, Winston said goodbye to Andre and the others at daybreak, and with a fake face that no one recognized, he went to Melori City alone.
Of course, Winston had also made arrangements in the west city of Easton. The 'Winchester Clerk' fell from his horse and broke his leg and was bedridden. Naturally, one of his secret agents changed his appearance and lay on the clerk's bed with a plaster cast to recuperate, groaning from time to time to let the neighbors know that he was still alive, injured, and complaining, and his presence was very strong.
As the leader of King Huntington's Shadow Army, Winston had been operating in the western city of Easton for many years. He not only had several reliable subordinates but also had established numerous strongholds. He led a white horse from one of the courtyards and, concealed by the morning mist, quietly left the city using a pass issued by the Kingdom's Knights.
The pass was officially issued by the Knights of the West City Kingdom of Eston. Everything from the paper to the seal was authentic and valid, except that the name of the user on the document was a pseudonym. The guard guarding the city gate was still half asleep and half awake waiting for his shift. He glanced at the pass for a few seconds, then waved his hand to tell Winston to leave quickly. He was in a hurry to return to the sentry box to take a nap.
Winston passed through the city gate smoothly, and then rode his horse, galloping all the way to the port of Melori City, where he found a familiar ship and went on board to meet his trusted adjutant, Ish Ho Lind.
Yis Ho Lind was a handsome man: he had a square, upright military face; his silver-gray eyes were filled with cold frost; and his short, misty-gray hair was like the hair of a gray wolf lurking in the snow and ice of the North.
There is a shallow scar on his right eyebrow, which adds a bit of tough guy aura to him.
Such a fierce and military-like general should have been a shining beacon in the darkness wherever he went, but strangely, Is was also adept at concealing his presence. With a simple change of clothes, a wig, and a touch of makeup on his face and body, he could perfectly transform into anyone of any gender, age, or race.
—Well, it doesn't even have to be a 'human'.
Even among the Shadow Army spies who are good at disguise, his ability is among the best. Moreover, he has a calm personality and is cautious and meticulous in his work. He is one of the few partners that Winston dares to trust with his life.
Winston nodded to Is, accepted the full set of clothes from his adjutant, and entered the cabin. A moment later, the current Earl of Mordor emerged from the cabin again, dressed in a dark blue, gold-trimmed, one-shoulder military cape, matching slim-fitting trousers, military boots, and a silver pocket watch. He was handsome and powerful.
Some people appear to be taking off masks, but in fact they are wearing masks. Winston completely took off the disguises that did not belong to him, but put on the unique and gentle mask of Count Winston de Mordo.
His slightly curly, medium-length golden hair was carefully combed back and tied with a sapphire blue ribbon that matched the color of his eyes, forming a low ponytail. This was the most popular and trendy hairstyle among male nobles of this era. It made him look well-educated and polite, while also reducing his aggressiveness.
Winston packed his bag roughly - this mysterious party organized by Madame Butterfly was full of mysteries, so he couldn't help but ask Isdo to prepare some things: common self-defense weapons, hidden weapons, antidote potions, defensive talismans... and of course enough costumes for disguise, as well as luxurious clothes for attending cocktail parties and dinners.
Most of the shameful life-saving measures were placed in the portable space props, while the count's clothes and daily necessities were placed carelessly in the luggage and carried by Is, who was disguised as a servant.
"Let's go to the Ellery Hotel."
They stepped into the courtyard gate of Ellery Hotel at noon on time, and sure enough, they saw a carriage waiting in front of the hotel. The coachman was wearing a butterfly mask on his face, making him very easy to identify.
The driver soon noticed them. "Are you Lord Winston de Mordor and Lord Isaac Ho Lind? I've been sent by Madame Butterfly to pick you up and take you to the party. Please show me your invitations so I can verify your identities."
Winston took out two invitations and handed them to the driver. After carefully examining them, the driver handed the invitations back along with two hoods. "The location of the villa we are going to is secret. We need the cooperation of our two distinguished guests. Please wear the hoods after getting in the car, otherwise..."
"What else?"
“…otherwise, my horse wouldn’t take a single step.”
Winston remained motionless, staring at the driver for a long time, until the driver began to shrink uncomfortably. Then he took the black hood, stepped into the carriage, sat down, and put on the hood.
The mask was clearly enchanted; once put on, it couldn't be removed until they reached their destination. It had only a few small holes for breathing, but not enough for vision. Even the sounds of the outside world were muffled. Although most of his senses were blocked, Winston could still sense the outside world through the vibrations of the carriage and the jolt of inertia—they had already embarked on their journey.
He counted the time silently in his mind and calculated the direction by the rhythm of the carriage shaking, turning and bumping. This was not an easy task, especially since the driver was obviously turning around in circles, trying to disrupt their memory and senses.
The bumpy journey lasted for a long time, and Winston felt hungry. Just when he was beginning to get impatient, the carriage slowly stopped, the door opened, and a figure with a hint of fragrance jumped into the carriage and reached out to take off the hoods of the two men.
"Welcome to Rose Hill!" the man said briskly. "Earl Winston, you and your companion may get out of the carriage."
Winston squinted his eyes. It was completely dark, with only a faint light streaming in from the carriage door. He followed the figure out of the car and realized they were at the entrance of a luxurious mansion. In the dim light from the lanterns lit at the entrance, he could see the figure clearly. It was a woman with black hair and red lips. She wore a butterfly mask on her head, a jeweled butterfly necklace around her neck, and a black satin dress.
"Madame Butterfly?" Winston ventured.
"It is I," Madame Butterfly said, lifting the hem of her skirt and curtsying slightly. Her voice was slightly hoarse but magnetic and extremely charming. "It is truly tiring for you two to have come so long. Please follow me into the house and rest."
Before she could finish her words, she saw another carriage coming up the driveway in the garden and stopping in front of the group.
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