Chapter 327 - 327 The Real Guillaume Bnet

327 The Real Guillaume Bnet

The memories of the false Guillaume Bnet surged, and Lumian found himself immersed in the familiar confines of 50 Rue Vincents cozy parlor.

Draped in an air of regal poise, the counterfeit Guillaume Bnet stood before the armchair, addressing the recipient of these memories with calculated words, Take this money and venture to Rue de la Muraille. There, seek out the renowned courtesan of utmost repute. But you must a.s.sume my looks, veiled by a mask.

With humility and deference, the memorys owner bowed. Understood, Archbishop.

And thus, this memory concluded. Lumian held a steadfast conviction that the Inevitability bestowed before him was a meticulously crafted proxy, a construct devised by none other than Guillaume Bnet himself.

It appeared that he had likely garnered a cohort of adherents to Inevitability. From among them, he had singled out a candidate from southern Intis, one who swiftly reaped three successive boons. This candidate was meticulously endowed with the same abilities as him: the summoning of the Abyss Demon Flower and the shroud of Invisibility. This granted him an impeccable guise, perfectly mirroring the true him thanks to the contracts negative effects.

Of course, Transfiguration remained an integral, indispensable ability.

From this vantage, it became evident that Guillaume Bnet hadnt neglected the adverse ramifications of the specialized covenant. He might have contemplated this from inception or perhaps gained insight subsequent to a dire prophecy, reviewing his recent undertakings. Regardless, this counterfeit Guillaume Bnetproficient in Transfigurationappeared to be a deliberate ruse.

Lumian suspected the presence of other Inevitability devotees who clandestinely monitored the Dill brothel. They clandestinely shadowed the sham Guillaume Bnet, primed to relay swift notification to the authentic padre should danger befall his double.

In such a scenario, Guillaume Bnet enjoyed a distinct advantagewhether he elected to abscond, leaving the product of this Subst.i.tution Spell to grapple with looming peril, or opted to ensnare his antagonists using the doppelganger as bait.

Synthesized with the fragments of the fake Guillaume Bnets recollections, Lumian surmised that the genuine Guillaume Bnet primarily resided at 50 Rue Vincent. Yet, he permitted the subst.i.tute to operate overtly, effectively obfuscating his true whereabouts.

Upon this realization, Lumian harbored a pang of vexation.

Had Albus not unearthed the sham Guillaume Bnet within the confines of the Dill brothel, Lumian wouldnt have been lured away from the decoy; he would have been affixed on the Guillaume at 50 Rue Vincent. This would have spared him the frenzied teleportation prompted after the incapacitation of the Subst.i.tution Spells byproduct. Lumian would have gravitated towards scouring the building, conceivably unearthing the genuine Guillaume Bnet.

Granted, absent the synchronous appearance of Guillaume Bnet, Lumian wouldnt have entertained notions of a Subst.i.tution Spell. Hed have likely fallen prey to deception, swerving far from the path leading to the authentic padre.

With this epiphany at the forefront, Lumian cast aside his intention to scout for lurking Inevitability adherents. Recognizing that the bona fide Guillaume Bnet had been alerted, Lumian terminated his Summoning Dance and dissolved the wall of spirituality. Turning to Franca and Jenna, shrouded in separate shadows, he intoned, Lets head to 50 Rue Vincent now.

Presently, Lumian clung to the hope that vestiges of clues lingered or that Anthony Reid, entrusted with overseeing the locale, had gleaned pertinent insights

Franca and Jenna emerged from the shadows one after another, wasting no time to inquire about the current situation. Lumian grabbed their shoulders and activated spirit world traversal once more.

In the blink of an eye, their forms solidified within the modest confines of 50 Rue Vincents parlor.

Absent were the butler, valets, and maids, leaving an unattended figureunconscious, the result of the Subst.i.tution Spelllaid out on the carpet.

A meticulous scan of the surroundings concluded with Lumians approach. He knelt beside the proxy, employing a variety of techniques to rouse him from his stupor.

As the counterfeit Guillaume Bnets eyes fluttered open, they met an unfamiliar visage.

Startled, he jolted upright, fear tinting his tone. Who are you? Why did you barge into my house? Get out! Ill call the police! Ill call the police!

He recollected the recent attacka curse-like a.s.sault!

Lumian drew his revolver and pressed it against the fake Guillaume Bnets forehead.

The subst.i.tute fell silent.

Where is the true master of this residence? Lumians voice resounded, deep and steady.

As if pierced by a sudden realization, the imposter Guillaume Bnet spat out, I am the true master!

Im the master here!

Lumians lips curled into a smile.

In that case, I offer my sympathies. Your wife, it seems, ran off with the butler with your valuables. The valets and maids, meanwhile, seem to have embraced an opportunistic approachessentially relieving you of anything tangible except this house.

In a while, the police will arrest you, citing your involvement in the slaying of a vagrant and perpetrating cultic rituals and extensive deceit.

A mosaic of fact and conjecture, Lumians words emerged with an intent to intimidate the subst.i.tute, dismantling any fantastical illusions.

Considering the retreat of the madame, butler, valets, maids, coachman, and gardener from 50 Rue Vincent, Lumian inferred their conversion into believers of Inevitability, orchestrated by the genuine padre. This intricate maneuver camouflaged a mult.i.tude of cultic practices and eccentric observances, all harmonized through the Subst.i.tution Spell.

The false Guillaume Bnet at Dill, having reached Sequence 7 Contractee status, was indicative of multiple instances of boon-request rituals in Trier. Innocents would undoubtedly become sacrifices, and the best candidates were undoubtedly tramps.

At Lumians declaration, the imitation Guillaume Bnet gazed about, bewildered and panic-stricken, his voice piercingly beseeching, Paulina! Paulina!

Paulina Its indeed the Condiment Beauty. Unfortunately, shes now a heretic Lumian watched as the fake Guillaume Bnet fell silent, his eyes filled with despair.

Any final words? Lumian inquired once more.

The fake Guillaume Bnet shuddered and said, Im real. Im really the master of this place!

However, that womanthat woman is a succubus. She surrept.i.tiously lured someone and ensconced him within the cellar!

Sh-shes having an affair with a devil!

Affair with a devil In the bas.e.m.e.nt Was she secretly meeting the real padre in private? Yes, the negative effects of Guillaume Bnets desire for coitus will always exist. They wont disappear just because he has two subst.i.tutes Lumian scrutinized the mock Guillaume Bnet, who tenaciously clung to his fa?ade as the genuine master of 50 Rue Vincent. Left hand poised, he controlled his might, and with precision, delivered a calculated blow behind the imposters ear.

The fake Guillaume Bnet fainted again.

Lumians strategy entailed swift exploration of the residence, as allowing the imposter to run amok could inadvertently trigger calamity.

He rose to his feet, ma.s.saging his throbbing temples, and turned to Franca and Jenna for an update. Any word from Anthony Reid?

No. Franca shook her head gently. It seems he followed your directive to trail Madame Paulina.

Lumian tersely acknowledged.

Then lets search this place and await his feedback.

Franca adjusted her black hood and emphasized, One team of three. Dont split up.

This was the territory of the heretics. Even if they had already escaped, residual vestiges might still remain. Should they split their efforts and encounter mishaps, timely rescue would be jeopardized.

When the authorities carried out such operations, they had to be at least in groups of three or within sight of each other if they wanted to split up.

Lumian issued a pointed gesture toward the staircase adjacent to the parlor, Lets proceed to the bas.e.m.e.nt.

The trio descended, and as they did, Franca leaned to Jenna, her tone hushed,

Ciels exchange with the counterfeit was textbook instigation. When you return, dissect the intent behind each phrase.

Okay. Jenna absorbed the counsel like a parched sponge.

In due course, they reached the bas.e.m.e.nt door. Lumian turned toward his companions,

Preparations before we venture inside.

To thwart lingering echoes of Inevitabilitys powers or unconventional creatures, precaution was paramount.

Promptly, Lumian, now adorned with altered visage and partially lengthened hair, pushed the door open, revealing the bas.e.m.e.nts dim recesses.

Within, an unremarkable array of miscellaneous items cluttered the s.p.a.ce. No conspicuous anomalies were apparent.

Just as Franca readied for Magic Mirror Divination, Lumian, with his Hunters ac.u.men, discerned subtle traces.

With metallic clinks, he unveiled a concealed door.

Beyond lay a stairwell descending further into the subterranean depths.

The trio descended cautiously, arriving after moments at a vast yet rudimentary chamber, bathed in gas lamp radiance.

It was unknown if Guillaume Bnet had created it himself or if he had sealed off a portion of Underground Trier and modified it into a private territory.

In the center of the stone-floored hall stood an altar, surrounded by ghastly white human bones, complete sheepskin, cowhide, and giant canine skin.

Upon seeing this, Lumian was taken aback as he recalled one of the five special ritualistic magics that Alms Monk had:

Animal Creation Spell!

Simultaneously, remembrances of the felines, avians, and canines inhabiting the floor above, and the brown-furred dog nestled beside the mock Guillaume Bnet, surged forth.

Dog Dog Animal Creation Spell With an epiphanic rush, Lumian pieced together the genuine Guillaume Bnets concealment.

He had invoked the Animal Creation Spell to trans.m.u.te himself into the hulking, brown-furred canine. In this form, he paraded brazenly before his counterfeit and the surrounding onlookers.

With a recitation of the preordained incantation, the true Guillaume Bnet could rapidly molt his canine facade, resuming his human guise.

In the confines of the parlor, the counterfeit Guillaume Bnet remained enshrouded in an unconscious reverie, utterly oblivious to the stark duality between reality and illusion.

Cautiously, he inched the guest room door ajar, greeted by a jarring tableau. Before him sprawled his beautiful wife, Paulina, ensconced upon the sumptuous bed, unclothed, whilst a hulking brown-furred canine loomed beside her. At the bedside, a plate bearing a medium-cooked steak was positioned

Amidst clenched teeth, Lumian communicated the enigma of the Animal Creation Spell and his speculative hypothesis to Franca and Jenna, his words resounding, I hope we find that d.a.m.ned dog. No, he should have shed his dog skin by now.

Animal Creation Spell Humans turning into dogs Jenna was alarmed.

The world of mysticism is so bizarre and terrifying!

The three of them worked together and swiftly searched for traces.

Before long, Jenna picked up something from a crevice in the stone slab and exclaimed in surprise, Ive found something!

Franca ran over and realized it was brown dog fur.

Both approached Lumian, who continued his investigative fervor, presenting their find.

Lumians elation was palpable. He postulated Guillaume Bnets evasion via an underground covert route, disentangling him from Paulina and the rest.

Then, they discovered a few strands of brown dog fur. Following the fur, they found another hidden door.

After opening the hidden door in the rock wall, Franca performed a simple Magic Mirror Divination and received a revelation that nothing was amiss. Then, she followed Lumian and Jenna in.

At that moment, Jenna, who was in the middle of the group, lost sight of Lumian. Franca was still following behind her.

Without waiting for Jenna to speak, Franca surveyed the room and frowned.

Weve circled back to the sacrificial hall.

Emerging through the secret door, Lumian entered an expanse echoing a quarrys cavern.

With gas lamps conspicuously absent, Lumian summoned forth a crimson blaze to pierce the shadows.

Almost simultaneously, he sensed that Jenna and Franca hadnt followed him.

We got separated just like that? Puzzlement swirled within Lumians mind, overridden by a low voice that echoed from the abandoned mines depths: Lumian Lee!