The Secret Cult Chronicles of the Decaying Lake Manor

When Sam rowed the small boat close to the shore, the pale-faced young man refused to go with him to the monster's corpse in the lake.

"Young master, please, for the sake of the Holy Prayer Book, don't let me go near that monster! I'm afraid if I see it, I won't be able to go to heaven..."

Seeing that Sam was about to cry, I guessed that he wouldn't be able to do much.

George eventually had no choice but to send him to stay on the shore while he and old man Hanmo boarded the boat.

The old man skillfully rowed the small boat, which broke through the calm, dark lake water and headed towards the floating, grotesque corpse.

As you get closer, the details of that thing become even more unsettling.

Twisted limbs, dull scales, and a chilling malice that lingers even in death.

George inexplicably felt those scaly things slowly wriggling, as if they would open like eyelids at any moment...

He suppressed the nausea in his throat and took out the small metal box that the Viscount had given him before he fell unconscious.

The Saint Dunstan Treasure Chest

[Sexual characteristics: candle, mirror, utensils]

[A blacksmith, after discovering the devil's true identity, deliberately placed red-hot horseshoes on his feet, causing him to utter laws. This blacksmith later rose to the position of Anglican Bishop, and after being canonized as Saint Dunstan, legend has it that he also preserved the laws.]

After reading the description, George tentatively opened the lid of the box, which was inlaid with a gold horseshoe symbol, and aimed it at the corpse in the water.

Although there was no unusual movement, the enormous corpse seemed to be under an invisible pull, and began to twist and deform.

It was like being sucked into an invisible vortex, rapidly shrinking.

The monster's corpse eventually transformed into a dim stream of light and was collected into the box.

George immediately closed the lid, and with a slight "click," the box returned to its original state, though its surface seemed a little colder.

The old man watched all this silently, without making any comment, his wrinkles remaining unchanged.

Back on shore, George focused his attention on the box again.

A dark green liquid seemed to be seeping from the gaps in the box inside the card.

【Saint Dunstan's Treasure Chest (Sealed)】

[Sexual characteristics: candle, mirror, utensils]

[...At this moment, a monster affected by the "Abyss" is sealed within the box.]

Another card features the shadow of a ferocious fish head.

Blood of the Abyss

[Sexual characteristics: Abyss, medium, material]

The followers created under the influence of the "Abyss" have no specific categories and are often called "Abyssal Dwellers." Their only common and significant characteristic may be the strange blood flowing through their bodies.

George put the box away and said to the old man, "Let's go back."

After returning to the shore, George rode over a horse that Old Man Mo had brought and quickly returned to the manor.

Unlike the chaotic lakeside, this place is peaceful and tranquil.

George went to the side door and, sure enough, saw that Butler Carson seemed to have been waiting there for a while.

He stepped forward, his demeanor as respectful and restrained as ever.

"Young master, you're back. The old lady and Master Albert are in the morning room serving tea and refreshments to Master Arthur and Mr. Bates." He bowed slightly.

The butler then added in a low voice, "The master's condition has stabilized since he returned. He is still unconscious but not in life-threatening danger. Thomas, please take your things to the master's bedroom as soon as you get back."

George nodded, his face showing a hint of fatigue.

"It's good that Father is alright. Most of the things by the lake died on their own, but we still need to arrange for people to clean them up as soon as possible to prevent them from rotting and breeding disease."

"I've already made the arrangements, young master. Someone will start handling it this afternoon."

After Carson finished speaking, he paused briefly and then said, "Also, there's something else I need you to know."

"What is it?" George asked, somewhat surprised. Seeing Carson's hesitant attitude, he had a bad feeling.

"Mr. Elliott came to me downstairs this morning saying he was feeling unwell, and I agreed to let him rest in bed. Before the master returned, he rushed out of his room as if possessed, making a huge fuss, and I had to have the men hold him down on the bed."

"It took him about ten minutes to calm down, and then I waited here for you and the master."

As George struggled internally, Carson quietly added, "I think he probably won't be able to help you change."

After hesitating for a moment, George decided to go and check on the Viscount first.

"It's alright, I'll change myself in a bit." He looked directly at Carson and added solemnly, "Please take good care of Elliott. I'll go see my father after I've seen him."

Carson nodded in agreement, and the two parted ways at the side door.

George hurried back to his room, changed into clean casual clothes, and then took the large and small items he had brought back from the lake to the Viscount's bedroom.

The viscount's room was filled with the scent of a red-hot metal.

The heavy velvet curtains were drawn, with only a few fireplaces and candles on the bedside table providing dim light.

Viscount Edward lay on his back on the huge four-poster bed, covered with a thick blanket, revealing only his pale, waxy face.

His breathing was weak, his eyes were closed, and he showed no reaction to the outside world.

Thomas stood by the bed and greeted George when he came in.

"Young Master, you're back."

He briefly described the current situation: "The master took an alchemical potion before falling into a coma and is out of danger, but it is still unknown when he will wake up."

George approached the bedside, his gaze falling on his father's lifeless face.

Visiting from across the bed evoked a complex mix of emotions—worry, curiosity, and an inexplicable sense of estrangement.

Although he possessed all of the original owner's memories, he truly had no emotional connection with this adoptive father, and besides...

He instinctively wanted to reach out and touch the viscount's sleeve or forehead to trigger the card table and see if he could gain more insight into the extraordinary man's true condition.

The fingers stopped a few inches from the blanket.

Out of caution, George hesitated for a moment before ultimately not taking any action.

He turned and walked to the bedside table, placing the large and small bags that he had been wrapping in his coat on the floor.

Then he took out the cane that was only covered at the head and used as a lever to lift the bundle, and held it in his hand.

"Thomas, look at these things," George said, his gaze shifting between the cane and Thomas. "The cane, and the ritual components—where are they usually stored?"

Thomas looked up, his gaze sweeping over the cane and then at the package on the ground, a hint of hesitation on his face.

"These are important extraordinary artifacts, young master," he said slowly. "As is customary, they are stored in a secret room in the tower of the manor, where there are special storage cabinets and protective measures."

George's heart skipped a beat, and he immediately replied, "Then, as a member of the family's extraordinary abilities, I will personally take care of these things. This is also a good opportunity to familiarize myself with the family's resources."

Before he finished speaking, Thomas had already taken a neatly folded piece of paper from his dressing gown pocket and handed it to George.

"Young master, you should take a look at this—it was left behind by the master before he fell into a coma."