Chapter 31: Chapter 31: Planting a Gold Coin, Growing a Golden Tree
Chapter 31: Planting a Gold Coin, Growing a Golden Tree
Taking advantage of Deputy director Bard's absence, Hugh began to exercise her professional abilities.
"Is this string of bells really something you picked up from outside?" Hugh asked with an indifferent tone that carried an authority that brooked no refusal or lies.
She was using her extraordinary abilities as an arbitrator.
"Yes," Amy replied timidly. "I found it at the foot of the mountain a month ago, and many people can vouch for me."
"What do you think of Dean Darn?" Hugh inquired further.
"He's terrible," Amy said. "He often doesn't give us food and always threatens to lock us up in the underground solitary confinement."
"And what about Deputy director Bard?"
"Dean Bard is a good man. He treats us well and always takes care of us."
"Is there anyone in the almshouse who is peculiar on a regular basis?"
Amy thought for a moment before answering, "Dean Darn, he loves to dream."
Hugh became interested. "What kind of dreams does Dean Darn have?"
Hastur, who had been listening, also became serious upon hearing this question.
"He always dreams of digging a hole in the ground, planting a gold coin, and then growing a tree laden with gold coins."
Hugh and Hastur were stunned by this answer. Such dreams of wealth, they had fantasized about them too.
"In the morning, when he wakes up, he gets angry because the golden tree has disappeared. He loudly curses us as thieves, stealing the gold coins that belong to him," Amy added.
Hugh's expression turned peculiar. She had thought she might uncover something unusual from Dean Darn's dreams, but it was just the fantasy of a man extremely greedy for wealth, nothing suspicious.
Hastur pondered for a while before asking, "Has Dean Darn ever dreamed of burying children in the ground?"
Instructor Folen's face paled, shocked at Hastur's question, recalling the cruel acts of burying children in the ground at the almshouse mentioned by his teacher. Hugh's eyes widened, listening even more intently.
"I only remember him angrily shouting that the thieves who stole the gold coins should be buried in the ground so that his golden tree would produce more gold coins."
"Did Dean Darn really say that?" Hugh had an ominous suspicion.
"Yes, many people heard it. We even mocked in private that only someone as greedy as him could grow a golden tree laden with gold coins if buried in the ground," Amy said with certainty.
Hugh walked over to Hastur and whispered, "Did Dean Darn really do such cruel things?"
"It's a possibility."
"That's despicable! How could he not spare even the children!"
Hugh clenched her fists in anger, regretting not keeping a closer eye on Dean Darn, allowing him to escape.
Hastur, restraining his own anger, asked calmly, "What is the relationship between Dean Darn and Deputy director Bard on a regular basis?"
Amy thought long and hard before whispering, "Dean Darn has often talked about firing Deputy director Bard. Once, when he was very angry, he even said he would lock Deputy director Bard in solitary confinement forever, making him a prisoner for life."
"Why was Dean Darn so angry that time?"
"I'm not sure. I just remember that Dean Darn was in a very bad mood that day, and many people were punished by him."
As Hastur was about to continue his questioning, Deputy director Bard and a policeman came over, leading a boy who was clearly taller than Amy.
After some questioning, it turned out that the boy named Simon had indeed stolen Amy's bells the night before and had sneaked out, but he didn't have the courage to scare Aunt Lisa. Instead, like Amy that night, he hid in the washroom and spent the night.
"That's good," Hugh sighed with relief, returning the collected bells to Amy and warning him not to run around late at night or shake the bells at will, lest he disturb others.
The two policemen also gave Amy and Simon a verbal reprimand, then let Deputy director Bard take them back to rest.
It seemed there had been a misunderstanding that night, and the two policemen didn't stay long. After Deputy director Bard sent the people back to the dormitory, they left together.
The iron gate was locked again, and all was quiet.
The two policemen and Deputy director Bard went back to rest, while Hastur and his companions returned to his room for a brief gathering.
"Are you hiding something from me?" Hugh asked with a stern face, tapping the table with the trident in her hand.
"It was a man named Old Jeff who told my teacher…" Instructor Folen steadied himself, using his storytelling ability.
Hugh was furious after listening. "Is there any doubt? Old Jeff must have discovered Dean Darn's crimes and then was murdered by him!"
Hastur agreed with Hugh's deduction.
The murder of Old Jeff was almost certain, but even if Dean Darn was the culprit, he would need an accomplice, wouldn't he?
With Dean Darn's character of being greedy and valuing his life, he certainly wouldn't personally deal with Old Jeff. There must be subordinates in the almshouse who were willing to do his bidding.
Today's search confirmed all of Dean Darn's crimes, but it did not find the accomplices who helped him commit them.
This was ultimately a hidden danger.
Hastur thought for a while, then shared his thoughts with Hugh.
"I'm equally professional when it comes to interrogation," Hugh declared confidently.
"Everything must be within the bounds of the law; do not resort to violence arbitrarily," Hastur felt it necessary to remind Hugh.
"Me, violent? I'm just sometimes more direct in my approach…" Hugh's cheeks flushed slightly, her voice lacking confidence.
"Considering our acquaintance, if you end up in the police station because of such matters, you can ask for my help," Hastur offered.
Hugh, dissatisfied with Hastur's words, retorted ungraciously, "Ask you? With your status as a destitute baron?"
"I am also a lawyer, and now I am the legal advisor for Bavarte Bank."
Hugh fell silent, then asked in a low voice, "Is Bavarte Bank very wealthy?"
"Not just wealthy, very wealthy."
"Sigh, it's a pity I don't have the ability to rob a bank; I can only earn a meager living through hard labor."
Hugh sighed, suddenly feeling dispirited, waved her hand, and lost the interest to continue the conversation. Instructor Folen followed her out.
"Sometimes I also think about robbing a bank," Hastur sighed as well, but it was just a thought, like Dean Darn's dream of planting a gold coin to grow a golden tree.
Locking the door, Hastur lay back on his bed, pondering tomorrow's matters.
Regardless of whether there was news from Professor Wayne, he had to go home first. Not having bathed or changed clothes for two days made it difficult for him to sleep.
As for the remaining doubts about the almshouse, he would wait until Dean Darn was found.
Perhaps he was overthinking it, and Dean Darn was the sole culprit.
As for the different sounds of the bells on two nights, it could be due to different people's strength; the sound of the bells varied accordingly.
Hastur thought a lot and soon fell asleep, choosing to go to the Hall of Stars.
Now he was gradually familiar with and mastered the Hall of Stars, able to decide whether to enter it after falling asleep.
With recent troubles, Hastur sat with his eyes closed for a long time before looking at the star belonging to the Lamp God.
As his gaze drew closer, the starlight dissipated.
The phantom of the lamp still flickered with a dim light, very peaceful and serene.
Hastur stared for a while before whipping the Chain of Order as usual.
After shifting his troubles, he felt much more relaxed.
…
The next morning, Instructor Folen knocked on the door again.
Hastur, who had barely slept, was woken up. He got dressed and slowly opened the door.
If Instructor Folen was disturbing his sleep for some trivial matter, he wouldn't mind showing him what cruelty meant.
Fortunately, the news Instructor Folen brought was shocking and a cause for celebration.
Professor Wayne was found! It was said that around two or three o'clock last night, Professor Wayne returned to his house and was quickly discovered by the policemen closely monitoring the area.
Then early in the morning, the news reached the dock area, and Instructor Folen was the first to inform him.
"Did Professor Wayne walk back on his own?" Hastur asked with a displeased tone.
"That's what they say."
"Haha, how fortunate."
Hastur's expression grew darker. He had only suspected before, but now he was certain that this disappearance case was orchestrated by Professor Wayne himself!
He didn't care that Professor Wayne had taken over his role; what angered him was that Professor Wayne hadn't given him any notice, causing him unnecessary worry.
Instructor Folen coughed lightly and said, "Well, I think the teacher didn't do it on purpose. Maybe he was just in a hurry and didn't have time to say goodbye to us."
"Instructor Folen, while you were anxiously unable to sleep eating white bread, Professor Wayne must have been alone, silently drinking wine, accompanied by a roasted sausage, spending a very sad night."
…
Frustrated by Hastur's description, Instructor Folen felt his anger surge instantly.
Suddenly so angry!
(End of Chapter)
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