Chapter 543: Invitation from MI9
Chunas Kolger
At 62 Empress Borough, Backlund, Hobert opened his eyes from the bed in his bedroom.
This time, he didn't have time to daze; he immediately got up and went to the study, where he had obtained 2700 pounds in cash by setting up a ritual. "Little Sun" had also accumulated debts of more than a dozen Beyonder ingredients, but he would have to wait until he returned to City of Silver to repay them.
After putting the cash in the safe, Hobert found a book and pretended to read it.
At this moment, in the bedroom, Fors emerged from the "Traveler's Door." Countess Fors, dressed in Feynapotter attire, learned from a servant that the Earl was in the study and immediately went there.
After Dophis's repeated explanations, the servants had long been accustomed to the Countess from the Kingdom of Feynapotter, who usually disliked going out, so they wouldn't be surprised by her sudden appearance.
"Hobert!" Fors said as she entered the study, "Am I disturbing you?"
"No," Hobert raised the book in his hand. "I'm reading the history of the nobility of the Kingdom of Loen, so I won't be at a loss for words with those so-called gentlemen at the evening ball.
"It's just that this stuff is really boring. To be honest, I'm not very interested in what disgraceful things these Sanguine' ancestors did."
He threw the book aside, knowingly asking, "Is there something wrong?"
Fors smiled and said, "Hobert, you are a nobleman now."
"I know, I know," Hobert put his arm around Fors's waist. "I only say these things to you."
"Yes! I'm here to tell you good news. Through a friend's channel, I heard about a Grade 2 Sealed Artifact that sounds easy to sell, as well as an 'Interrogator's' Beyonder characteristic."
"Unfortunately, the other party only accepts gold pounds in exchange. You know, I don't have much gold pounds there."
Hobert opened the safe, "Take as much as you need."
Among the cash he had just received was 750 pounds that Fors had sacrificed, but Hobert put it in another safe.
After becoming an "Astrologer," Fors's spirituality suddenly became much stronger, and she might feel familiar with those gold pounds.
However, this feeling of familiarity should disappear after a while, and Hobert will also prioritize spending this money in Backlund.
"I'll come back to get it later. I have to go find Xio first," Fors waved her hand and walked out the door.
Hobert also went out, instructing the servant to prepare the carriage.
Returning to the study again, Hobert glanced at the book on the table and put it back on the shelf. "The history of the nobility is really boring."
At about four o'clock in the afternoon, urged by the butler, Dophis, Hobert came to the dressing room. The servant who had been waiting here trimmed Hobert's hair, eyebrows, and nose hair, then filed his nails, sprayed perfume, and put on formal attire.
By the time everything was done, it was already past five o'clock in the afternoon. Fors had just returned from Xio's place, and Hobert's appearance made her eyes light up. The black formal attire fit perfectly, creating a noble temperament. His handsome face was accompanied by a bright smile, giving Fors a feeling of being bathed in spring breeze.
Hobert opened his arms, "How is this outfit?"
Fors took Hobert's hand, "Today I realized that there's a reason why noble clothes are so expensive."
After saying that, she tiptoed and kissed Hobert's cheek, "What a handsome young man."
Usually, when servants were present, Fors rarely took the initiative to make such intimate gestures. At this time, under the influence of hormones, her usual restraint was temporarily thrown to the back of her mind.
Hobert kissed Fors's forehead, "The ladies and misses of Backlund are in for a treat."
Fors smiled, "Fortunately, we're in Loen. If we were in the Intis Republic, I'd be worried about whether you could come back tonight."
Hobert flicked her nose, "Then wouldn't you be worried if you didn't come with me?"
Fors shook her head, "I don't have a common language with those ladies. Am I supposed to talk to them about writing techniques or the use of ice picks?"
Hobert "Mm"ed, "That's true."
Then he smiled helplessly, "Actually, I don't really want to go either, but Dophis doesn't want to pretend to be me to attend the ball."
Fors smiled, "Earl, that is your new battlefield."
"Alright," Hobert said to Fors as he made his final preparations and walked out, "Dophis knows the password."
Fors nodded, understanding that Hobert was talking about the safe's password.
Hobert's carriage hadn't gone far when it stopped moving.
Because not far from his mansion was the Soderak Palace, and on the first day of the social season, the King would invite all the nobles, including the lords, to the palace to attend a grand ball, thus officially beginning the social season.
The nobles who came to attend the ball completely blocked the spacious Empress Borough and the adjacent King's Avenue.
This allowed Hobert to experience something similar to rush-hour traffic for the first time in this era.
After slowly advancing for more than half an hour, and after many baron's carriages gave way, Hobert finally arrived at the palace gate.
Getting out of the carriage, Hobert realized that he seemed to be a bit special. The other nobles were all with their wives and children, while he was alone, looking rather lonely.
Fortunately, Hobert quickly found Viscount Glaint, who was also alone, and the two of them came to the ball together.
There were already many nobles in the ballroom. After exchanging greetings with familiar and unfamiliar faces, Hobert felt that his smiling face was already a bit stiff.
"You'd better eat something first," Glaint said. "I've already seen many young ladies looking this way. They're obviously not looking at me, and perhaps you won't have time to eat after the ball starts."
Around the spacious ballroom, buffet-style food had already been prepared.
Because balls were very popular in the Kingdom of Loen, even court banquets had combined formal banquets and balls.
Hobert took a plate, listening to advice, "Do the young ladies take the initiative to invite gentlemen to dance?"
"No, they will ask their fathers to talk to you," Glaint said. "During the conversation, he will take the initiative to introduce his daughter and hint that you can invite her to dance."
Hobert picked up a portion of lamb chops that looked pretty good, "Are you very familiar with these procedures!"
Glaint nodded, "In previous years, those lords all hoped that I would invite their daughters to dance, but this year, with you here, I can relax."
"Not necessarily," Hobert smiled. "After all, I'm already married."
Glaint opened his mouth, but ultimately didn't say anything.
The Christian family didn't arrive until the ball was about to begin. Hobert's parents greeted them and introduced Viscount Glaint to the somewhat shy Tyron.
Finally encountering two people of his age made Tyron less nervous.
At seven o'clock in the evening, the ball officially began.
As before, after King George III gave a speech, he handed the ball over to Crown Prince Jevington. Only after the Prince and Princess danced the first dance did the ball officially begin.
In the huge ballroom, melodious music floated, giving people the illusion of wanting to move their bodies.
Young people began to invite their favorite misses or misses who looked very beautiful to dance. Gorgeous costumes swirled and shuttled, full of beauty.
Nobles of Christian and Earl Hall's age gathered together to chat casually.
Hobert considered whether to invite Audrey, who had already rejected two gentlemen, to dance a dance, but in the end, he decided to wait. Inviting her now would be equivalent to humiliating those two young men if Audrey agreed.
He was about to have a glass of champagne and eat a steak.
The court chef's skills were quite good, earning Hobert's palate's high recognition.
Just as he picked up the champagne, a dignified woman in a black evening dress, with some gloom in her eyes, walked over, "Long time no see."
It was Countess Georgina, who had participated in the Feynapotter City operation before.
Seeing the Countess extend her hand, Hobert quickly reached out his hand as well, "Hello, Madam, it has indeed been some time… since we last met."
He originally thought it would just be a simple handshake, but Georgina held his hand tightly and wouldn't let go.
This made Hobert a little puzzled, so he paused in the middle of his speech.
But after exchanging a greeting, Georgina still didn't intend to let go. Hobert smiled helplessly: Come and see, the Countess is being a hooligan!
A few seconds later, Georgina finally let go of his hand, "Won't you invite me to dance?"
Hobert put down the champagne and smiled, "My esteemed madam, please!"
He realized that Georgina's abnormality must have a purpose, so he went to the dance floor with her, dancing gracefully to the melodious music.
"Have you heard of MI9?" Georgina stared into Hobert's eyes and asked with a smile.
Hobert thought to himself: Here comes the main topic.
He smiled, "I've heard of it."
"I know you are an Beyonder of the 'Lawyer' pathway," Georgina said. "Also, an Earl who doesn't have an official position yet. According to convention, such resources cannot be wasted, of course."
Hobert nodded. Georgina meant that, according to convention, Beyonders among the nobility must be forcibly assigned a job to avoid wasting Beyonder power.
And Georgina was obviously assigned to arrange Hobert's work.
Georgina added, "Generally, situations like yours are arranged in two directions: one is to go to the army, and the other is to join MI9.
"Of course, you can also take a position in the government, but there aren't any very good positions."
The two danced and talked, but Hobert mostly listened quietly.
Georgina said, "As the head of MI9, I hoped you would join us, but I didn't expect you to already be an 'Earl.' If you join, I'll make you the Deputy Director right away.
"But if you join the army, you can only start as a Major. Although you'll be promoted quickly, it'll still take two to three years to reach the rank of Rear Admiral!
"Come to MI9, and you'll start as a Colonel, and be promoted to Rear Admiral next year!"
The positions in the Loen Kingdom are also divided into departments, bureaus, sections, and divisions, with further distinctions between senior staff members and staff members.
Hobert immediately understood that the Countess had been testing his strength when she held his hand. She probably has a sealed artifact that can tell the target's sequence level just by shaking hands.
Hobert pondered Georgina's words and then asked, "Is it a must to choose one? Or is it necessary to have some official position?
"Not necessarily," Georgina said with a smile. "It's just that having an official position makes you seem less special.
"You should know that your good friend, Viscount Glaint, also holds a position in the Ministry of Agriculture."
The implication was that not following this convention would make it easy to be ostracized by the nobility.
Hobert asked again, "If I choose MI9, will I have flexible time?
"You know, I haven't had time to go to my fief yet."
Georgina smiled. "I'm not responsible for attendance. Even the person responsible for attendance won't check on you in your office. However, you'll still need to participate in some operations.
"Besides, I heard you have a magical item with the ability to 'travel.'"
Hobert nodded. The Countess meant that as long as he clocked in and out on time and occasionally acted as a thug, no one would care if he was seriously working.
He asked again, "Then can I access some files?
Georgina stared at Hobert, her eyes seemingly like knives: "What files do you want to see?
"Don't misunderstand," Hobert said with a smile. "I only intend to check some files on Longtail Island, as well as some files on secret organizations.
"A Deputy Director's level can certainly access files of that level," Georgina's "knives" slowly disappeared, and she smiled again. "Just register before accessing them."
Hobert sighed inwardly. That's the downside of intelligence work; they're too sensitive.
However, he thought that he didn't plan to be a spy or do any undercover work, so he didn't really care.
"Then, how about starting work the day after tomorrow?" Georgina sounded like she was asking, but she used a commanding tone.
"No problem."
At this moment, a song ended.
When Georgina withdrew her hand, she gently pinched Hobert's waist: "What a handsome young man, with such a good temperament. If it were twenty years ago, I would have considered ending my single life."
Hobert twitched the corner of his mouth. He hadn't even started working, and he was already being harassed by his boss.
As the two walked off the dance floor, Georgina said, "I think you should ask Princess Alice for a dance."
After speaking, she left without explaining.
Hobert sighed. Did that mean Princess Alice wanted to talk to him?
He looked towards Princess Alice. She still looked so noble. If Audrey wasn't present, her appearance would be acceptable.
Surrounding the princess were the Princess Consort and the Duchesses.
If it were an ordinary nobleman, he would need a thick skin to approach, but Hobert was different; Mona was also there.
So Hobert walked straight over, said a few words to his mother, and then said to Alice, "Beautiful Princess, may I have this dance?
The surrounding ladies were slightly stunned. Before attending the ball, they would remind their sons not to ask Princess Alice or Audrey to dance unless they were absolutely sure.
Because it was well known that only those two always refused invitations at noble balls, and only they had the right to refuse.
Next, some ladies and young ladies were already preparing to watch the joke, while Mona smiled, ready to help her son out of the awkward situation.
Who knew that Alice would extend a hand and place it in Hobert's palm: "Of course."
The Duke and Duchesses were slightly stunned. They didn't expect the joke they were anticipating not to happen. Then they realized that the princess also liked handsome young men.
With Hobert's appearance and demeanor, he was very eye-catching in this gathering like a constellation of stars. Coupled with his title, he was already being coveted by most of the young ladies present.
After the two entered the dance floor, the ladies praised Mona for how talented Hobert was.
Mona smiled and glanced meaningfully at her son and the princess in the dance floor, always feeling that Alice was too arrogant and not worthy of her son.
In the dance floor, Hobert looked at Alice, who was slightly raising her chin, and said with a smile, "I should thank the Princess for not rejecting my invitation."
Alice didn't show any smile, and still asked with a calm expression, "Are you satisfied with the official position Georgina arranged?
Hobert was stunned. Was Georgina's "interview" just now arranged by Alice?
"Of course, I'm satisfied," Hobert said with a smile. "That's MI9. It's usually difficult to join.
Then he tentatively said, "Thank you, Princess, for your favor, giving me a chance to integrate into the nobility."
"I thought you would choose to train in the army. After all, your father has extensive connections there," Princess Alice said with a calm expression. "I did play a role in this.
"Even with your father's connections, you couldn't become an officer all at once."
Hobert thought: I'm not that familiar with you. Why are you helping me so much? Is it because I'm handsome?
He probed again: "Is there anything I can do to help?
"I heard that you are a favored one of 'The Creator'?" Alice asked, staring at Hobert.
Hobert was obviously stunned and immediately understood. After the battle of Feynapotter City, someone in the Loen royal family guessed from the state of the Ancient Death that it might be related to "The Creator."
He didn't feel any danger because of this, because no matter what "The Creator's" purpose was before, it did help Loen and achieved its goal. In their eyes, "The Creator" was an ally that could be won over.
So Hobert knew that he was not only not in danger now, but was also very safe.
Then he glanced at Princess Alice in front of him: What's the meaning of this? Do you still want to get in touch with "The Creator" through me? I don't know whether to say you're persistent or incorrigible.
Alice finally smiled slightly: "Our conversation next will not be heard by the people around us. Those demigods might be able to hear it, but they won't be so bored.
She smiled and said again: "Although this matter is required to be kept secret, it is not difficult to inquire about some clues from the two Earls who participated in the battle of Feynapotter City."
Hobert admitted: "I guess so."
"I hope to get a response from 'The Creator,'" Alice said. "A response that can listen to my prayers."
Hobert thought: This "Creator" is listening. Just say what you want to say… Forget it, I know what you want to say, so I won't listen.
He said seriously: "If you want to get a response from 'The Creator,' you have to go through some tests."
"What tests?" Alice reacted with some urgency for the first time.
"I'm sorry, Princess, I can't answer this question," Hobert showed a helpless smile. "As far as I know, this test varies from person to person. Most people first get the attention of 'The Creator.'
"And even if you get attention, whether or not you will be tested, whether or not you will get a response, ultimately depends on 'The Creator's' thoughts."
Hobert said this, which was equivalent to throwing the blame on "The Creator": It's not that I don't want to help, it's that I can't control "The Creator's" thoughts at all.
Saying this will prevent Alice from coming to him again because of this matter in the future.
Alice then asked: "How did you get 'The Creator's' attention?
"I would love to answer this question, but it would violate some of my vows," Hobert made himself look very embarrassed. "And my experience may not be relevant to you at all."
His answer was impeccable, causing Alice to frown slightly: "If there's anything you need help with, feel free to find me."
Hobert said seriously: "I will continue to help you think of a way."
It's just that this method is difficult to "think of."
Alice nodded slightly. After a dance, they walked out of the dance floor in two directions.
After dancing two dances, Hobert actually felt a little tired. He picked up a glass of champagne and took two sips, and then walked towards Audrey to ask the Justice Miss for a dance.
Because he had noticed that Audrey's gaze had looked at him several times.
Holding Audrey's hand and entering the dance floor made the surrounding nobles somewhat surprised. They had noticed that Hobert had challenged "two impossibilities" tonight!
In a corner of the ballroom, Earl Wolfe said meaningfully: "If I remember correctly, this is the second time Audrey has accepted Hobert's invitation, right?
"Yes," Earl Hall said with a smile. "They were friends in the first place."
Although he said that, Earl Hall's gaze unconsciously became deeper.
In the dance floor, Hobert said with a smile: "Audrey, can you help me rub my waist? The strength in the hands of the previous two dance partners was too great, and my waist is sore."
Audrey smiled and said, "It's very impolite of you to say that about the Countess and the Princess."
However, she still massaged Hobert's waist with her hand.
This action once again attracted the attention of many people. Although these nobles were not "Spectator members", they would notice if anyone made an extra move, even a redundant glance.
They would find it not rigorous enough.
Audrey said, "Just now, several daughters of baronets inquired about your financial situation."
Hobert was slightly stunned: "Hoping I'll invest in their family's business? I don't have that idea yet."
"No." Audrey chuckled: "They heard that I'm your friend, and they also heard that you only have one dish, one soup, and a piece of bread for each meal now."
"For a nobleman, this can only prove one thing: this nobleman is in serious financial trouble."
Hobert smiled: "So they, or rather their fathers, think they can make some investments in me?"
"That's right!" Audrey said seriously: "For them, bearing the expenses of an Earl in exchange for the position of Countess is a very good deal!"
What she didn't say was that Hobert was young and handsome. Marrying such an Earl was better than marrying those old men or fat, greasy middle-aged men.
"I'm curious about one thing. Don't they know I've been married?" Hobert was very strange. He was clearly already a married man, so why were so many people still treating him like a diamond bachelor?
Audrey thought for a moment, then decided to remind her good friend: "They think you should get married again in order to integrate into the aristocratic circle."
Hobert opened his mouth: "Then what about my original wife?"
"Of course, she will continue to be your wife."
If this idea came from the Intis Republic, Hobert wouldn't be surprised at all, but it turned out to be the idea of the Loen nobles!
Moreover, judging from Audrey's appearance, this seemed to already be a consensus among the nobles.
Hobert's first thought was to bring Fors to future dances, but then he sighed, because the core of the problem was that many people hoped to use Hobert's Earl status to make their family's power stronger.
They wouldn't care whether Fors would attend such dances. On the contrary, it would bring danger to Fors, after all, she was hindering some people's path to "advancement."
Then Hobert smiled wryly: What am I so surprised about? Isn't this the true face of the aristocracy?
"I understand." Hobert smiled easily and said, "Audrey, thank you for telling me this, otherwise I wouldn't have thought of this."
Audrey shook her head slightly: "Hobert, your heart is very strong."
As a "Psychiatrist", she could of course perceive his mental journey from surprise to anger, and then to relief and indifference through Hobert's micro-expressions.
"Not bad." Hobert said meaningfully: "I am also a nobleman now."
After the dance, the two left the dance floor together and stood together to chat for a while.
Hobert told Audrey that Countess Georgina had extended an invitation to him, and he would be going to MI9 to work the day after tomorrow.
Talking about this was purely out of respect for friends, otherwise Audrey had just told Hobert a public secret of the nobles that he hadn't noticed, and as a result, Audrey still learned about Hobert's going to MI9 from other places, which would be too unfriendly to her.
After that, Hobert stayed in the corner, chatting with Tyron, and had no intention of continuing to dance.
When the ball was about to end, Hobert roughly told Tyron about Georgina's invitation, his decision, and Princess Alice's preferential treatment.
Of course, he didn't mention the thing about being a devotee of "The Creator."
And he urged him: "Tell father and mother on the way back."
The ball ended, and Hobert, like other nobles, bid farewell to Prince Jevington and left in a carriage.
In his own carriage, Hobert began to wonder if he should use his position in MI9 to scare those nobles who had ideas?
But then he shook his head: That might put me on the opposite side of the entire aristocratic class, and I don't have that kind of strength yet.
...
In Duke Christian's carriage.
Mona frowned and said, "I was wondering why Hobert would invite Princess Alice to dance."
Then she asked Tyron: "Why does the princess want to help Hobert arrange an official position?"
Tyron replied: "Wanting Hobert to help her with a favor."
"What favor?"
"Didn't say."
Christian smiled and said, "It shouldn't be convenient to say."
He paused and said, "Working at MI9 is not bad, at least the time is relatively free."
Mona was a little worried: "But..."
Christian waved his hand: "Hobert is an adult, he can handle his own affairs well."
Mona sighed: "Okay then."
...
In Earl Hall's carriage.
Countess Caitlin said: "The youngest son of Viscount Leerson has been in MI9 for five years, and it seems that he is only a senior staff member, right?"
The eldest son, Hibbert, nodded: "Yes, he is leading a small team in the Operations Division, with the rank of Captain."
Caitlin frowned: "The royal family is too generous, how could they give out a deputy director position all of a sudden?"
Everyone turned their attention to Audrey.
Audrey smiled and said, "Hobert didn't say, I don't know either."
Earl Hall said: "This can show the royal family's importance to him."
Caitlin was a little strange: "How much contribution did their father and son make?"
Earl Hall glanced at his wife: "I'm not very clear either."
He only inquired about some news that was difficult to distinguish between true and false. The royal family seemed to have imposed a certain blockade on the news of that operation.
...
On the second day of the social season, Hobert consulted the information, preparing to take advantage of the social season to take a look at Longtail Island.
There was nothing turbulent at Duke Negan's ball that night. On Wednesday morning, Hobert took the two-wheeled carriage sent by MI9 to work.
MI9 is a special department. Although it is a "Division", it has the specifications of a "Bureau".
Therefore, MI9 has a Director-General, who is Countess Georgina.
In addition, there are three directors, who are the heads of the Intelligence Division, the Interrogation Division, and the Operations Division respectively.
As a Deputy Director of the Operations Division, Hobert enjoys the treatment of a car assigned by MI9.
This two-wheeled carriage is black all over and uses a low-chassis design. Although it can't carry many people, it is very fast.
On the door is the emblem of MI9, a fierce lion, a strong horse, and a crown above the middle of the two.
The lion represents that the department was originally under the army, and the horse symbolizes the ability to strike quickly.
As for the crown in the middle, it naturally symbolizes the department's loyalty to the royal family!
Arriving at the two-story office building of MI9 in the North Borough, there are no signs at the gate of the courtyard, and it looks very low-key from the outside. Only after entering the building will you find that the decoration here is very luxurious.
Moreover, Hobert's office is underground. When taking the stairs under the guidance of the sentry, Hobert learned that the underground area of this building has five floors!
At the entrance of the stairs on the third floor underground, stood a beautiful lady with a plump figure but wearing a tight-fitting uniform: "Are you the new Director Hobert?"
Hobert glanced at the other party's short skirt and chest: "The uniform of MI9 is really beautiful!"
"Hahaha, are you sure you are praising the uniform?" At this time, a tall man with a large mustache on his mouth walked out of the office.
The lady at the entrance of the stairs introduced: "This is the Director of our Operations Division, Qonas Kilgor."
Hobert was stunned, but immediately recalled: I have long admired your name! Is this the one who later became Klein's marionette!
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