Chapter 535 Audrey: You Still Have Me in Your Heart
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Hobert and Dunn strolled along the streets of the new district, talking as they went.
Dunn said seriously, "Although this is the first time I've encountered a region reclaimed from the hands of evil forces, based on my experience, we must strengthen the deployment of extraordinary powers in such areas to prevent evil organizations from making a comeback."
"The 'Unwinged Angel' I caught before is a good example. Even though they seem to have left, they will definitely send people back secretly. After all, they have been entrenched here for so long and should have many secret strongholds."
"And the Earth Mother Church doesn't have enough manpower. I heard they were also invited to guide local agricultural development, so the Lord's Mansion must deploy enough extraordinary power!"
Hobert nodded, "I understand. I'll talk to Angus later and arrange manpower to the West Bank as soon as possible."
Dunn seemed relieved, looking at the residential buildings under construction over there, and suddenly brought up another matter: "The salary you give me is too high."
Hobert smiled and said, "Your value is higher than those salaries!"
Dunn didn't say anything more: "I plan to settle down in this city! The moist morning mist, the beautiful evening glow, the beautiful scenery that can be toured by train, and the gradually bustling town."
He smiled, "This allows me to experience a different life, or rather, it makes me realize that life can be spent this way besides work."
"It is my honor that my territory can retain talents like you," Hobert said with a smile.
Dunn glanced at Hobert: "Do I really deserve your respect?"
"First of all, you are indeed worthy of respect," Hobert said, "In addition, your previous actions have given me many new perspectives on the morality of the Beyonder world and have had a profound impact on me."
"It can be said that you are a benchmark for me. Many times I can't help but think: If Captain Dunn were to do this, what would he do?"
"I have been using you to measure my moral values."
Especially after becoming a demigod, Hobert increasingly realized that no matter how his external performance was, he needed a benchmark in his heart to anchor some of his persistence and beliefs.
There was one more thing Hobert didn't say: You are the Captain, a unique symbol!
Captain Dunn smiled: "This may be the greatest contribution I have made to the Beyonder world."
Based on his understanding in the recent period, he had realized that Hobert's ambition was not small, so his ability to influence the other party's moral values would definitely prevent many unfortunate things from happening in the future.
Dunn added, "If you need me to train Beyonders in other places, please feel free to ask."
Watching Dunn return to the dormitory building alone, Hobert prepared to build an "Official Beyonder Training Center" in Jeffrey City, so that official Beyonders from all over the place could come here for training in the future.
Then Hobert found Angus again and talked to him privately in the conference room.
"I saw your report," Hobert said with a more serious expression, "The task I gave you before was completed very well!"
Angus's handling of the aftermath of the fallen team members made the Tudor family members feel very favorable towards Jeffrey City. The recruitment of new team members went very smoothly. Now the first team has a full twenty Beyonders!
This is also the main reason why Dunn asked Hobert to set up a branch on the West Bank: sufficient manpower!
Angus smiled slightly after receiving Hobert's praise: "The main reason is that the clansmen have been suppressed in the family for too long, and also because the conditions given by the lord are very generous."
"I'm here to give you two new tasks today," Hobert said, "The first task is that I plan to launch an attack on the Aurora Order in the near future. You must be prepared for battle. Also, don't announce this news to the public for the time being."
He paused and added: "Also, my personal request to you is: strive to make enough contributions in this battle to get the opportunity to become a 'Disciplinary Knight'.
"If you can become a 'Disciplinary Knight' in the near future, I will transfer you to Longtail Island and let you be the commander of the official Beyonders there.
"That island is not only much larger than here, but also has more opportunities.
"For example, there is a wild god on that island. If you can work with me to eliminate that wild god, you will have the opportunity to become a demigod."
Angus's eyes lit up: "I will always follow the Lord!"
The phrase "my personal request to you" warmed his heart, proving that the Lord was cultivating him as a confidant.
Hobert nodded slightly: "The second task is that you select five capable team members to establish a branch in Felix Town to prevent the Blood Sanctify Sect from returning.
"Refer to the official Beyonder team, you need a Sequence 7 to lead the team, and the others can be low-sequence Beyonders. Well, I will provide them with one Level 2 Sealed Artifact, and the captain of the branch team can hold the Sealed Artifact!
"That's a good place to earn merit, after all, there are very few opportunities to earn merit in Jeffrey City during peacetime."
Angus nodded: "I will choose members who study hard in Captain Dunn's class."
Hobert smiled slightly: "Yes, that's exactly the kind of person I need."
Then he added: "Go and prepare, and by the way, call Captain Helen here."
Angus didn't leave immediately, but asked: "Lord, I heard that the entire South Colson area is your fief, is that right?"
"Yes."
Angus smiled: "Many team members plan to bring their families here to live!"
"Come on!" Hobert said with a smile: "See those newly built residential buildings? I asked Roy to build one for the Special Operations Department. There are discounts for buying buildings with merit."
Angus said happily: "Okay! I think the members will be very happy to hear this news!"
Not long after, Helen came to the conference room, a charming smile appearing on her beautiful face: "I thought the Lord had forgotten about me."
Hobert, who now meets Audrey often, has become immune to this level of "charm."
He smiled and said, "I've been a little busy lately, so I rarely come to see you."
Hobert paused and added: "I plan to launch an attack on the Aurora Order in the near future. You must be prepared for battle."
He also exhorted: "Don't announce this matter to the public for the time being, just keep it to yourself."
Helen's eyes seemed to be able to talk, and looked very intelligent: "No problem, everyone wants to get more opportunities to make contributions."
Hobert's previous division of spoils and handling of the aftermath made the members of the Second Team very supportive of this lord and willing to continue fighting for him.
Hobert took out the prepared wooden box, opened it and showed it to Helen.
Helen was a little surprised: "Gallbladder of a Two-Tailed Black Snake!"
Inside the box was a main ingredient of the "Demoness of Affliction" that Hobert had in his hand. He closed the box: "I said, as long as I find the material you need, I will definitely buy it for you.
"If you accumulate enough merit in this battle, it will be yours."
Helen withdrew her gaze and said with a sweet smile: "I hope the battle can start tonight."
She had also accumulated a lot of merit in the Theosophy Order. If she obtained this main material again, she would have the opportunity to advance.
Hobert was very satisfied with this effect: "There's one more thing! The entertainment center on the other side of the mountain has been built. In addition to the traditional bars and dance halls and some new games I invented, I hope you can bring some witches and Demonesses to digest the potion."
In this era, entertainment centers would be outrageous without such services.
Helen was slightly stunned: "Didn't you say that our potions can be digested in a positive way? For example, only by making our lovers happy."
Hobert thought, then your other half must be an Beyonder, otherwise who can handle it?
He smiled and said, "Didn't I also say that? You have to bring pain to the evil people. Those nobles are guys who eat people and don't spit out bones. You break up their families and let them immerse themselves in the joy you bring, and they will never be able to extricate themselves. It is also doing a very righteous thing!"
Helen was stunned again: "It can be explained this way!"
Then she smiled and said: "This is an opportunity. We don't have to secretly bring disaster to men anymore."
"Be more noble!" Hobert smiled and said: "For those nobles, sometimes the more they can't get, the more they will miss it!"
He thought for a while: "Just treat it as an attempt to start a real love affair and see if you can digest the potion in this way."
Helen smiled and said: "You don't need to teach me this."
"There's one more thing!" Hobert said seriously: "Your targets can only be those nobles or wealthy people. You are not allowed to target other people.
"If any of you have a relationship with someone in the territory, you will immediately lose this job, unless you want to marry that person, otherwise you will also face my punishment!"
"I will tell them."
The conversation ended and it was dusk.
Hobert walked through the streets of the town, feeling the atmosphere of life around him.
Many people stopped their work and greeted Hobert respectfully, and Hobert would respond to them warmly.
A middle-aged man carrying a few small pumpkins also smiled and said: "Good day, Lord."
"Hello," Hobert looked at the pumpkins in his basket: "Why did you pick them so small?"
The middle-aged man smiled helplessly: "A goat kicked the vine, so I had to pick them in advance."
Hobert thought of a delicious dish from his childhood: "You can't eat so many, give me two."
The middle-aged man was overjoyed: "It's my honor!"
He picked out the two largest pumpkins and gave them to Hobert. After the lord left, everyone came up to chat with him, and some even congratulated him directly.
The middle-aged man smiled and responded casually. This event was enough for him to brag about in front of his relatives and friends for several years!
… …
The kitchen of the Lord's manor.
Donna came in from outside: "Hobert! Is it ready yet? I'm starving! Do you want to starve your sister to death?"
"It'll be ready soon." Hobert took the steamed buns out of the steamer while impatiently saying, "Isn't it good to be starving? It'll elevate your figure to a new level!"
Donna glared at Hobert and then looked at the strangely shaped food: "What is this? A kind of peculiar bread?"
"This is called baozi!"
"Baozi? What a strange pronunciation? Just like the dumplings before, did you create it yourself?"
"Um…" Hobert said, "I guess so!"
This made him think of Roselle: Now I am as shameless as him.
Donna asked again, "But why are they shaped so strangely?"
Hobert had never steamed baozi before. He could only rely on his limited memory, thinking and steaming at the same time. As a result, the appearance of the baozi was imaginable.
However, he stubbornly said, "You don't understand. This is how you have to eat it."
Fors, who was adding firewood to the stove and had been helping from the beginning, deeply doubted this.
"Oh, oh, oh!" Donna looked like she had "learned something."
The baozi were brought into the dining room. Donna had just picked up a knife and fork when she noticed that Hobert was grabbing them with his hands to eat.
Hobert took a bite, and the fresh fragrance of the tender pumpkin burst in his mouth. He was very satisfied with the taste: It's a pity there's no chives. It would be even more perfect with some chives.
He had only eaten this at his grandma's house when he was a child, which left a deep impression on his childhood. Later, after going to school and working, he never tasted this flavor again.
After eating a few bites, Hobert glanced at Donna: "What are you looking at? Eat!"
Donna said seriously: "Hobert, it's impolite to eat like that!"
Hobert laughed: "Are you going to eat or not? If you don't eat, you'll be hungry!"
"I'll eat, I'll eat." Donna quickly grabbed a baozi with her hand.
Fors smiled and said, "Donna is reminding you that you are a count now, and you should always pay attention to your image."
"That's the hypocritical behavior of the nobility." Hobert laughed: "They are strict with themselves and the people around them on small matters, but they are greedy and indulgent on big matters."
Donna's mouth was full of baozi, and she said with puffed cheeks: "You are gentle to my sister-in-law, but you only know how to be fierce to me."
… …
On Thursday morning, Hobert returned to Backlund. According to the plan, he would inspect the manor bestowed by the king today.
Hobert and Todd were about to get into the carriage when the butler, Dophis, came to report: "Earl, Miss Audrey is here."
Hobert was stunned. What did she want from him?
In the somewhat empty hall on the first floor, Audrey, wearing a light green dress with many decorations but not at all cumbersome, was admiring a newly hung oil painting, showing off her youthful beauty.
Seeing Hobert coming, she smiled and said, "Hobert, you should add some more artwork, otherwise it will look too empty here if you hold a banquet in a few days."
Hobert smiled and said, "I used all my money to rent factory buildings."
Audrey smiled elegantly: Liar, don't think I can't tell!
She said: "There is an art exhibition today. We can go and take a look together. If there are any works you like, you can buy them."
She was here today to invite Hobert to visit the art exhibition together.
"I suddenly remembered something, come with me." Hobert took Audrey to the study: "Look!"
Audrey followed the direction Hobert pointed and saw an oil painting hanging on the wall, with a young lawyer laughing heartily, a helpless judge, and a middle-aged lawyer with a gloomy face.
It was "The Shadow of the Court" that Audrey had given to Hobert before.
Audrey was a little surprised: "This painting wasn't lost?"
After all, Hobert had committed treason twice in the past six months and should have lost some property, especially oil paintings that were not easy to carry. If he was escaping, carrying them would be a burden.
Hobert smiled and said, "When I realized something was wrong, I put this painting in a safe place. When I came back, I found it as soon as possible."
Actually, it was because the landlord of the terraced house cleaned up Hobert's belongings after the lease contract was about to expire and rented it to others.
Later, after hearing that Hobert had become an Earl, he sent all of Hobert's belongings back.
Hobert was also very happy when he saw this oil painting. It reminded him of his time as a lawyer, upholding justice.
For this reason, Hobert gave the landlord 30 pounds in cash to reward his behavior.
Because Audrey was looking at the oil painting at this time, immersed in emotion, she did not pay attention to Hobert's micro-expressions, so she did not notice that Hobert was lying.
"Thank you, Hobert!" Audrey smiled elegantly.
Hobert was slightly stunned: "I should thank you for recording my unforgettable time with oil paintings."
Audrey said meaningfully: "You don't understand."
She had always felt that she might just be a friend like Xio in Hobert's mind.
After learning that Hobert cared so much about the things she gave him, she immediately understood: Maybe Hobert himself didn't realize that my position in his mind was higher than other friends.
"Okay, we should go to the art exhibition." Audrey smiled sweetly.
When walking out of the study, she saw the exaggerated safe: "Such a big safe, and you still say you have no money?"
Hobert said seriously: "This safe is in the study, and of course it is full of books."
The study is a relatively private place, so safes are usually placed here.
Few nobles or wealthy people would put a safe in the bedroom, because if they were to encounter a thief, the other party would not only seek money but might also kill them.
It's better to put it in the study; at most, you'll lose some money.
Audrey smiled: Lying again.
If someone else was lying, she might have been angry and left immediately.
But for some reason, she wasn't angry at all when she saw Hobert lying without hiding it, and she even thought Hobert looked cute when he lied.
Hobert had already given up, knowing that his lies could not deceive Audrey, so he told the truth where he could, and where he couldn't, he lied "openly and honestly"!
When she returned to the first floor, Audrey saw the reactions of Todd and Dophis and suddenly realized: "Hobert, do you have something to go out for today?"
"I'm going to take a look at the manor bestowed by the king." Hobert told the truth: "It's not a big deal. After accompanying you to the art exhibition, I'll go to the manor."
"How about this, we'll go to the suburbs directly from the art exhibition." Audrey smiled: "I also want to go to the suburbs to breathe some fresh air during this time. You accompany me to the art exhibition, and I'll accompany you to inspect the manor."
Hobert smiled and said, "It's my honor to have such a beautiful lady accompany me."
He said to Todd: "You take my carriage and follow behind."
"Yes."
Hobert still got into Earl Hall's carriage and came to the art exhibition in the Northern District while chatting with Audrey.
Today, the art exhibition was only open to nobles and royalty. There were not many people, and the scene was very quiet. When the nobles met, they only nodded with a smile, which was considered a greeting, even saving the pleasantries.
Only when a few nobles stopped in front of the same painting would they discuss a few words in a low voice.
Hobert didn't have much research on oil paintings. He would stop and watch the works that were painted realistically or that could clearly feel the emotions the author wanted to express.
Audrey looked very carefully and occasionally studied the brushstrokes of oil paintings, as if she was here to learn.
The two had only been watching for more than twenty minutes when they heard a noise coming from the direction of the door. Although no one was speaking, it seemed that many people had come in at once.
Hobert looked towards the door and indeed saw many people coming in at once. They were surrounding a figure with a noble demeanor and full of confidence in every move.
Hobert was stunned. It was Princess Alice!
He learned from the people around him, bowed slightly to the princess, and then withdrew his gaze.
Audrey saw Hobert's reaction, but she didn't say anything and continued to watch the art exhibition.
After watching for a while, Hobert became a little bored. Finally, he stopped in front of a hazy painting, seemingly admiring it, but in fact, he was wondering: What the hell is this grandson painting?
More than half an hour later, Hobert and Audrey left the exhibition hall together and came to the carriage. Audrey smiled and said, "I didn't expect you to like hazy works so much."
Hobert said with a double meaning: "Maybe it's because this kind of work is 'chaotic' enough."
Audrey nodded slightly and asked again: "Do you know Princess Alice?"
Princess Alice was not in Backlund during Hobert's conferment ceremony and court ball before, and now the social season has not yet begun, and the two have not had the opportunity to meet.
Hobert was about to say "I don't know" casually, but after seeing Audrey's smiling eyes, he had to smile and say: "I have heard others talk about Princess Alice. Today is indeed the first time I have met her."
"This reminds me of Princess Ethel of Feynapotter. You also saw her at the wedding. That princess is very politically savvy!"
Audrey nodded in satisfaction: "I have also heard of Princess Ethel. How did you get to know her?"
"I saved her life once," Hobert said truthfully.
"Just like a scene from a fairy tale," Audrey said. "The prince saves the princess, and they live happily ever after."
Hey, hey, hey, the atmosphere is a little strange. Why do I feel like you're testing me? Hobert suddenly realized he needed to respond carefully. He chuckled self-deprecatingly, "I'm not exactly a prince!
"Ethel is busy vying for the throne; she doesn't have time for romance. Besides, I don't like Ethel's type; she's too assertive."
Audrey smiled and said, "I think Princess Ethel has a lot of poise."
"She's alright, I guess." Hobert smiled. Crisis averted.
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