Mystery: Gray Walker

Chapter 70 The Viscount's Private Physician

The persuasion failed completely.

He could sense Uncle Victor's relief, Aunt Sylvia's slight unease, and Emily's indifference.

After Green returned to his seat, Anaïs immediately looked at him questioningly, "How was it?"

Green slowly shook his head, expressionless.

He could only sit down again, his gaze sweeping over the drinks on the waiters' trays.

The atmosphere of the banquet seemed to have changed slightly without anyone noticing.

The string music became tender and poignant, and the lights seemed to dim, creating an ambiguous and private atmosphere.

Just then, the carved doors on the side of the banquet hall were pushed open.

A rich floral and sweet musky scent wafted in; the fragrance was strong but not overpowering.

Immediately afterwards, a woman walked gracefully into the hall and took Linus's arm.

She wore a burgundy off-the-shoulder velvet dress that accentuated her graceful curves.

Her long, dark brown hair cascaded lazily over her shoulders, with a few strands falling beside her delicate collarbone. The moment she appeared, she stole the show from all the other women, whether they were ladies of high society or young women.

Her beauty couldn't be described as merely exquisite; it was breathtaking. Most importantly, she possessed an inner allure that captivated every man present with every gesture.

Viscount Linus beside her was a completely different person from the composed and reserved nobleman who had given the speech earlier.

He tilted his head slightly, his gaze almost glued to Veronica's face, his eyes filled with undisguised infatuation, dependence, and even a kind of almost devout fanaticism.

It was as if he were not holding a female companion, but a deity descended to earth, the embodiment of all his hopes and life.

Most of the men present couldn't help but follow her figure with their eyes, their wine glasses hovering in mid-air.

Even some women, after their initial jealousy, couldn't help but take a few more glances, as if the woman exuded an irresistible magic.

"Let me introduce you all. This is my personal physician, Ms. Veronica," Linus said with a look of fascination.

The two began to go around toasting guests.

Wherever they went, the men straightened their backs, trying their best to show their best side, their eyes burning with passion.

Veronica clinked glasses with everyone and said softly:

"Thank you for coming. We hope you enjoy your evening..."

"You look great, this dress suits you perfectly..."

"For the prosperity of Oberhafen, and for... the true desires of my heart..."

Green's gaze was involuntarily drawn to it. For some reason, he felt a dry mouth and a strange heat rising in his lower abdomen.

"It's so beautiful..." he murmured softly.

However, Annanis, who was beside him, seemed unmoved. She frowned slightly, glanced uneasily at Green's expression, and blushed.

Suddenly, she pinched Green hard.

Green suddenly felt a sharp pain and instantly regained some of his senses.

"Sir...that woman seems to have a problem," Anaïs whispered.

"Huh? W-what's the problem?" Green forced himself not to look at the woman and turned to Anaïs.

"I don't know, but I remember my grandfather's notes mentioning some extraordinary individuals who were extremely skilled at bewitching men..."

Green woke up with a start.

Anaïs is right, that person does give off a strange vibe.

It can no longer be described as bewildering, but as alluring. Yes, it is alluring, blatant allure.

It's not just about appearance and demeanor; it's more like an influence that affects the soul and even the body. This is something an ordinary "health consultant" can never possess.

He pondered for a moment, then turned his gaze to Clarisse and Olivier, noticing that the two had furrowed brows and their lips were moving slightly, as if they were discussing something.

"Come with me," Green whispered to Anaïs.

The two quietly left their seats and, under the cover of the guests' conversations and movements, moved towards the other side of the banquet hall.

Their actions clearly attracted the attention of the Night's Watch. As Green and Anaïs approached, a hint of surprise flashed in Clarice's blue eyes, seemingly taken aback that Green was still sober and willing to come closer.

Olivier scrutinized Green, his gaze lingering on him for a moment.

He spoke first: "It seems you've successfully been promoted, Mr. Morris. And you seem... to be in stable condition."

Clarisse smiled slightly. "Do you like my gift?"

Green paused for a moment, then met their gazes and calmly said, "I did not drink the 'Secret Seeker' potion."

Clarisse's smile froze instantly, a flicker of astonishment crossing her eyes: "What?"

Olivier didn't press further. After a few seconds, he slowly said, "Potion recipes and ingredients aren't things you can just get your hands on casually, Mr. Morris. Especially... through safe, systematic means."

"I'm an 'apprentice' now," Green said without hesitation, revealing his path directly.

He knew that at this critical juncture, concealing the sequence might mean failing to obtain effective cooperation, or even being misjudged.

For the sake of his family, he had to tell the truth in order to obtain useful information and possible assistance.

"Apprentice?!" Clarisse exclaimed softly, somewhat incredulous. "The 'Apprentice' pathway? How could you...?"

Her words trailed off abruptly, as if she had thought of something; her brow furrowed slightly, and she didn't press further. But her shock was palpable.

Olivier seemed relieved; at least it wasn't a terrible path. "Apprentice... a good starting point. You have strong survival skills. In most people's terms, you're very cautious right now."

Green didn't explain. "This isn't the time to talk about that. You've probably already noticed the problem, haven't you? I feel something's very off about that woman, the Viscount's personal physician."

Clarice looked at Green and nodded slightly:

"Yes, it's a clear combination of 'charm' and 'dominance' abilities, aided by drugs. The Viscount's state is a typical example of being deeply manipulated. Those red-cuffed attendants, with their mixed and impure spiritual senses, are mostly puppets forcibly enhanced or controlled using some method."

She glanced at Veronica, who was chatting and laughing with guests in the distance, and whispered:

"But we can't guess her, or rather, the specific purpose of the forces behind her. Such a high-profile operation, in front of so many important figures... doesn't seem like simple killing or destruction. We need more clues to figure out the core of the ritual and the triggering conditions."

"But it's quite obvious,"

Olivier took over the conversation, his gaze sweeping over the middle-aged butler who stood ramrod straight with sharp eyes at the entrance of the banquet hall, as well as several waiters who seemed to be moving around casually but were actually positioned to block the main passageway.

"The place is heavily guarded, especially by that butler. He's quite perceptive and has been keeping watch over the entrance and main passageways. If we make any rash moves, we might alert them and cause the situation to spiral out of control."

Green's heart sank; his worst fears were being confirmed. Now, there was no way to escape.

"Is there anything I can do?" he asked, his gaze involuntarily drifting towards the direction of Hayes' house, his voice tinged with anxiety. "My family... is almost all here."

Olivier followed his gaze, his face expressionless, and said in a deep voice, "Calm down, Mr. Maurice. Impulsiveness won't save anyone. The Viscount seems to be completely under the control of his personal physician. But control, especially this kind of large-scale, mixed-method control, is usually phased, requiring guidance and accumulation."

He paused, lowered his voice, and spoke faster:

"What we need most right now is intelligence. The enemy's sequence level is clearly not low, at least mid-series, and they likely have accomplices or backup plans. Blindly confronting them is extremely risky. We must know exactly what they are planning to do in order to find a way to interrupt or resolve the situation."

Clarice added, looking at Green with encouragement:

"Apprentices have a unique advantage in mobility. If you want to leave on your own, it should still be possible. If you want to save your family and are willing to take risks... perhaps you should deliberately try to explore some places that we cannot reach for the time being."

"For example, the Viscount's private area? But be very careful not to touch anything suspicious, and do not try to interrupt any ongoing rituals, as that could immediately trigger a backlash that you cannot afford to do."

She glanced at Anaïs, then said to Green, "This young lady is deliberately staying with us for the time being; it's relatively safer for her."

Green did not answer immediately, his mind racing as he considered infiltration plans.