Shadow Apostle

The gas lamp gave off a soft but bright light.

In the luxurious living room of the Viscount's Mansion, melodious dance music was played on the gramophone. The servants held trays and shuttled flexibly among the sofas and the crowd.

Men and women in gorgeous clothes were sitting or standing in the huge living room, each holding a wine glass in their hands, and smiling at each other with unknown authenticity.

He speaks softly and laughs happily.

For nobles, the cocktail party was their most important social gathering, even more important than banquets and dances.

"Every ten days or so, a cocktail party is held in the circle of nobles. In the past, it was always held by suitable families in turn, but recently, due to Viscount Star's 'activity', they have held it many times.

At this time, Miss Jessica Bernd was holding a folding fan in her hand, lightly lifting her skirt, standing in the corner of the magnificent hall.

The well-dressed Horst stood behind her, like a competent bodyguard.

The two did not sneak into the basement of the Viscount's Mansion immediately, but returned to the lobby on the first floor.

I didn’t bring Minnie Mouse with me.

The two repeatedly told her to hide in the attic, and then returned to the reception venue.

The reception usually starts at nine o'clock, and there is still at least an hour left now.

But the guests have almost arrived and are gathering in the lobby on the first floor.

The two of them could only walk slowly toward the door in the most inconspicuous manner.

"Good night, Miss Burnt."

The older gentleman passing by took off his hat and saluted, greeting him attentively.

"Good evening, Baron Chris."

Miss Bernd held up the hem of her skirt and bent her knees slightly, sending the old gentleman past with a smile.

Horst lowered his head as if standing in wait, but his voice floated over: "Is it my imagination? Why do I feel that no one dares to talk to you, Miss Jessica."

"It's not an illusion." Jessica explained, "Except for the lord Marquis Venn, the two earl families are the most prominent nobles in Mingyue City. The unequal status will make them automatically retreat. Moreover, formally joining like me Nobles in the church have to voluntarily give up their inheritance qualifications, so I have a special status and am not popular in the circle, and my interactions are just polite. That's why I often played with Minnie."

"We were also at Viscount Star's house at that time?"

"No, someone else organized it, what?"

"I'm thinking about today's cocktail party. If it were me and the following things were present, I would never hold a cocktail party." Horst whispered, "Unless there is something that forces me to put two things together, In other words, putting two things together is the purpose.”

"Huh?" Jessica's hand holding the folding fan tightened, "His goal is actually all of us?"

"Not necessarily, but I can't rule it out. Does he often organize activities in the past six months?"

"I have held at least seven or eight cocktail parties. Now that I think about it, it is indeed a bit too much."

Horst suddenly stopped and waited until a few waiters passed by before saying: "I suspect it's not just this time. In the past six months since he changed the painting, he has had problems at every drinking party. If this is the case, can you judge him based on your knowledge? What are you planning to do?"

"I'm not sure, but it is likely to have some effect on all participants. As for the specific effect, we can only judge by going down and seeing it with our own eyes."

"Are you sure you want to follow?" Horst hesitated, "I don't mean to distrust you, but it's safer for me to sneak in the shadows."

"In that case... please wait for me for a moment."

Jessica thought for a moment and took Horst around the hall. At some point, she had four small glass bottles in her hand, the size of eye drops.

They were all taken from those coffee tables in the hall.

Ignoring Horst's doubts, Jessica took a goblet from the passing waiter's hand as she spoke, and put it into Horst's hand.

"Can you drink it for me? I don't like alcohol."

Horst was stunned and drank the golden champagne in the glass in one gulp.

"Thanks."

Jessica smiled gratefully, but did not take the cup, "I would like to ask you to hold it for me again, Mr. Horst."

With that said, he took him to a deserted corner and opened a bottle in his hand with his doubtful eyes.

"These are spices prepared for guests. Some people with unique tastes like to add them when drinking tea."

Horst only smelled a strong sour smell coming from the mouth of the bottle.

Jessica held it up in front of her and fanned it with her hand, nodding with satisfaction: "Some people like to use lemon juice for the juice of pomegranate, but pomegranate juice is more pure. It takes eight drops of this stuff, it is the foundation. , not a drop should be missing. Acidic things converge and solidify, which can lock the medicinal properties into the body and make them last longer."

As he spoke, he poured eight drops into the goblet in Horst's hand.

Why did this girl suddenly think of dispensing medicine?

And just grab a handful of things wherever you go?

Horst was a little confused, but he still held up the goblet as she asked.

“Then the broken beads are ground into powder.”

"When you drink tea, adding a little bit of it can increase the sensitivity of the taste and make the tea taste more mellow, but don't add too much, otherwise the tongue will be numb and the taste will become dull."

"So, um... one spoonful is enough. What you want to use is its numbing and insensitive properties. There is no need to use too much. Please help shake it and let it blend into the West Tree juice."

Horst quickly swirled the cup like he was tasting wine, and the tiny amount of powder quickly blended into the liquid.

As he shook, the liquid suddenly turned dark blue, but the amount was too small to be seen by people in the distance.

"Next is the root extract of Jingxin grass, but I never like to add this. It can counteract the stimulating effect of tea. Unfortunately, eating too much will make you sleepy. But its dream-like properties are sometimes very effective. But it can only be four drops at most, no more.”

The corner of Horst's mouth twitched slightly. Miss Berndt's current behavior was really like a naughty child mixing a lot of condiments together to trick others into eating.

"Want a shake?"

"Don't, the cup will explode." Jessica opened the fourth small bottle, "You must know this, this is honey, it is the most useful in pharmacy, it can mediate all evil spirits, add This one is ready for shaking. You can add a little more to this one, fifteen drops is just right. Okay, please shake it."

As Horst shook gently, the liquid at the bottom of the cup magically turned back to a translucent golden color, reflecting slightly under the light.

"What effect does this thing have?"

Horst had the urge to go up and smell it, but in the end he gave up his curiosity.

"Thank you, we can go." Jessica just smiled mysteriously, took the wine glass and looked at the light, nodded slightly, took a glass of water and filled the glass half full, with her fingers on the bottom of the glass. He quickly drew a special symbol, and finally tapped the cup, "Minnie said the basement should be..."

"there."

The entrance to the basement of Viscount Star's house is at the end of the corridor on the right side of the mansion. Although the location is out of sight of the guests in the hall, it is impossible to avoid the ubiquitous servants in the mansion.

As soon as the two of them turned onto the deserted side road in the basement, a waiter chased them from behind.

"Miss Burnt, Miss Burnt." The servant hurried over and said with an apologetic smile, "We..."

Before he could finish speaking, Miss Burnt gave him a gentle smile.

Then he dipped his index finger into the liquid in the goblet.

He flicked his finger in the direction of the waiter.

The waiter suddenly froze mid-sentence.

His eyes were filled with confusion.

Jessica waved her hand to him, and the waiter immediately remained in a dazed state, turned around and walked back along the way he came, as if he had not seen the two of them at all.

"You see, Mr. Horst, they can't see me now either."

"In other words, we can't be seen."

After saying that, Miss Berndt smiled softly and got into the small door leading to the basement first.