Chapter 772 Confrontation between spectators
Before preparing to hold this psychology enthusiasts salon, Audrey discussed with Angel how to conceal the fact that she had been released from hypnosis. In addition to asking Mr. Fool for an angel's blessing, the most important thing was to guess the content of the hypnosis.
There are two difficulties here: one is the "hypnosis" content, and the other is who will "trigger" it.
Since her memories before and after being released from hypnosis hadn't changed, Audrey suspected that the person who actually performed the hypnosis wasn't Hampress, whom she had contacted, but rather Hvin Rambis, who was hiding behind the scenes. Given this, it was unlikely that the latter would devise instructions that would require him to awaken the person in person. Instead, he would continue to use the identity of Hampress to obtain intelligence through daily interactions.
In view of this, the content of "hypnosis" is most likely to make her obey Hampress's orders when she is alone with him, or to make her obey his orders after being "awakened" by a special sentence.
Obviously, this imperative sentence "Report your findings" is the instruction implanted in Audrey's mind.
Therefore, she immediately put on a slightly dull expression, nodded obediently, and said with a smile:
"After investigation, I found several suspicious points about Miss Christine Theresa."
Hampres nodded with satisfaction, and changed his posture slightly to be more comfortable. He looked towards the door from time to time to prevent outsiders from interrupting their conversation, and said at the same time:
"continue."
"Yes, she claimed to have invested in the maritime transportation industry in Intis and made a lot of money. Since she's from Loen, she returned to Backlund to settle down. But after investigating, I found many loopholes in her resume. For example, her publicly listed business isn't that profitable, and she must have hidden many businesses in secret. She also suspected of having connections with Trier's underground forces. And... she must be a Beyonder."
When Hampres heard the first two obvious conclusions, he didn't care much, but the last sentence made him sit up slightly straighter and his expression became serious:
"How did you confirm this?"
"From various clues, such as when Baron Sindras attempted suicide in her home, her power is greater than mine. You know, I've been promoted to 'Hypnotist' and possess..."
Audrey continued to analyze in a calm tone, but was interrupted by Hampres:
"Wait, you've already been promoted to Sequence 6?"
"Yes."
Audrey's expression was filled with a hint of joy, as if she was sharing a little secret with a good friend.
The Beyonder, who had spent eight years becoming a "psychologist," had a changing expression on his face, his mouth opening and closing. He seemed to want to ask her how she did it, but in the end, he just sighed.
"Go on...just state your conclusion without any analysis."
As expected, after learning of my advancement to Sequence 6, Mr. Hampress was somewhat flustered. He subconsciously assumed I might break free from the "hypnosis" prematurely, asking me to skip unimportant details and quickly conclude the "report"... Audrey felt as if another self was calmly narrating inside, keeping her focused. She was able to communicate with the other party while pretending to be hypnotized and casting the bait she had prepared long ago.
She didn't dare use any extraordinary abilities on this member of the Psychological Alchemist Society who would likely meet Hvin Rambis later, so she could only use her rich experience to provide verbal guidance.
At least it's much easier to deal with than those bitter and vengeful noble ladies... The other Audrey muttered in her heart, while the "her on the surface" continued:
"I think she's somewhat similar to the previously wanted Baroness Langdon and Viscountess Cross. She has a special charm in her gestures and likes to get close to unmarried men, but I'm not sure what kind of potion she uses."
"Do you feel similarly about her yourself?"
Hampres suddenly took over the topic and asked back.
"...Yes, Christine makes me want to be close to her. I even miss her a little when I haven't seen her for a long time..."
Audrey answered honestly, her face flushed with shyness.
This was not a lie, of course, it was mainly to make the other party fall into the trap that she and Angel had agreed on in advance and think in the direction they were led to think.
Sure enough, Hampres looked serious and thoughtful. After a moment, he nodded and said:
"I understand. No wonder Sindras acted in her residence, causing our plan to fail..."
He immediately sat up straight, his expression became calm again, and said in a commanding tone:
"Audrey, here are the new instructions: cease investigating Christine Theresa, monitor your father, Earl Hall, and Baron Sinderas's interactions. Discreetly investigate the reasons for his defection to the New Party and the content of the agreement, but do not expose yourself."
"Yes, I understand."
Audrey nodded with dull eyes, like a rigid machine.
But the other Audrey inside snorted and shook her head:
"This instruction is too blunt. If it were me, I would definitely use a more tactful method to 'persuade' the target to accept my commission."
However, she also knew that because the person who "hypnotized" her and the one who issued the instructions were not the same person, Hampres could only command her in such a rigid way instead of implanting hints in casual conversation.
Seeing that she behaved normally, Hampres smiled and nodded, then stood up from the sofa and continued:
"Audrey, forget everything we said after I walked in except for the new instructions, and treat these instructions as the actions you desire in your heart."
Afterwards, he immediately acted as if he had just entered the room, straightened his tuxedo, slowly sat back on the sofa, adjusted his bow tie, and said to Audrey, who seemed to have just woken up, with a cheerful face:
"Ms. Audrey, you took the initiative to invite me to the salon this time. I guess you want to introduce your mastery of potions, right?"
"Yes, Mr. Hampres, I want to share a good news with you: I have become a 'hypnotist'."
Audrey's eyes gradually regained their vitality, sparkling like bright gems.
————
After escaping from the encirclement of the ladies and young ladies, Angel dismissed a few young men without leaving a trace, and came to the corner of the hall with a cup of fragrant coffee. He yawned as if he was a little tired, squinted his eyes and sat down on a single sofa.
She took a sip of coffee produced in the Saint-Desi Mountains of Fenaport, shielding her face with the curling hot steam. The purple in one of her eyes deepened slightly, and she entered the magic mirror divination state, showing the scene in the reception room in the side hall.
Angel smiled slightly, feeling relieved as he watched Audrey, after pretending to be hypnotized, throw out the answers they had planned, even proactively admitting her advancement to Sequence 6 and interrupting her further questioning.
At the same time, she was using the glass windows and decorative mirrors around the villa to constantly inspect the entire building and all places in the nearby gardens, ruling out the possibility that Hvin Rambis, a member of the Psychological Alchemist Society's jury, was hiding in these places.
Of course, Angel thought that this "manipulator" who liked to hide behind the scenes was unlikely to take the initiative to enter Earl Hall's house. After all, this place was under the protection of the Church of the Night, with official extraordinary people stationed here, and the archbishop would visit from time to time. With the caution of an "audience", he would only let Hampres "step on the landmine".
Deep within the mind of this bait, there must be some hints he had set up, so that even if his identity was exposed and he was arrested by the Nighthawks, he would not reveal anything about Hvin Rambis.
Therefore, when he noticed that Audrey's conversation was nearing its end, Angel stopped paying attention to the situation around him and stood up again. He took two glasses of sparkling wine from the waiter's tray, which were a bit too stimulating for the afternoon salon, and walked towards the side hall. He "coincidentally" bumped into Stephen Hampres who was walking from that side.
"Mr. Hampres, is Miss Audrey over there?" She handed over the wine glass and winked, saying teasingly, "Everyone in the salon is waiting for the owner. Don't monopolize her."
The thirty-year-old unmarried gentleman took the glass calmly and replied with a chuckle:
"I was just discussing some academic matters with Miss Audrey. Her beauty is so dazzling, I dare not keep her to myself."
As he spoke, Audrey appeared from behind him. Seeing Angel, she smiled happily and took the initiative to step forward and greet him.
Hampres gave the two young ladies some space to themselves with a faint smile, then walked back to the salon and watched the other guests discussing something in groups of two or three. Like a "spectator" watching everything, he no longer paid attention to what was happening behind him. He raised his glass and took a sip of the stimulating sparkling wine.
Between his pursed lips, a streak of light red blood mixed with the wine, and disappeared instantly as soon as it touched the wine glass, as if it had never existed.
————
In the evening, Stephen Hampres returned to his home in Hillston, changed out of his tuxedo and slim-fitting shirt, put on loose room clothes, went to the living room, and asked the maid to bring him a cup of coffee.
Neither of them noticed that there was an old man sitting quietly on the sofa opposite the door. He was wearing a shirt and vest, striped blue trousers, with gray hair and a gentle and elegant temperament.
After sending the maid away and having her close the door, Hampres sat naturally on another sofa, sniffing the aroma of coffee and looking around boredly, as if he had just realized that it was a bit unnatural for him to stay in the living room as soon as he got home.
What should I do... His eyes were a little confused as he scanned the furnishings in the living room. Suddenly, his gaze focused on the old man.
"Your Excellency, Commissioner."
As if he had suddenly discovered the other person, Hampres's eyes fixed, he came to his senses, stood up swayingly, lowered his head and greeted.
Without further ado, the royal advisor, one of the members of the Psychological Alchemist Association's panel, and the "manipulator" Hvin Rambis quickly got to the point:
"Sit down. Did the contact go well today?"
"Yes, after I was alone with her and started by addressing her by name, she became 'submissive' and reported to me on the latest progress of the investigation."
Hampres sat back on the sofa stiffly, relayed Audrey's words to the old man in front of him, and then frowned and said:
“I think, based on her description, Christine Theresa is most likely a…
"...The Witch of Pleasure."
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