This also explained why Count Richard could summon it precisely each time and remain unharmed, because Count Richard still had enough value to be exploited.
-------------------------------
"Counterclockwise?"
Maric's limited knowledge of the occult made it difficult for him to fully understand what this meant, but as an experienced Beyonder who had survived many battles, he could sense the potential danger hidden within.
"If reincarnation after death is clockwise, then resurrection is counterclockwise," Hastur briefly explained.
Resurrection?! Maric's face changed dramatically; in occultism, resurrection was definitely one of the taboos!
Anything or anyone associated with it would never meet a good end, blood and madness, corruption and destruction, those were the ultimate fates of such taboos!
"Can you be sure?"
"No, but it's a reasonable guess."
Hastur shook his head. He was only making a rational inference based on his knowledge of the occult; as for whether it was correct, he wasn't sure.
Perhaps he was just overthinking it, and clockwise versus counterclockwise had no real effect at all.
Maric hesitated and said, "We'd better report this to the Church of the Evernight Goddess. Just the two of us might be too dangerous."
"Hmm, can we do it anonymously?"
Hastur didn't want to reveal his identity. From what he knew about the Night Watchers of the Church of Evernight, they would definitely investigate whoever provided such information.
For example, they might use nightmare spells to question you in your dreams, and Hastur wasn't sure he could resist such influence.
"That's a bit difficult."
Maric scratched his head. As long as there was an instigator, the people from the Church of the Evernight Goddess would surely trace it back to the source.
"Count Richard isn't a bad person; maybe there's another way to handle this."
Hastur still decided to take a bit of a risk, sometimes being bold was an effective way to solve problems.
"You're not even an Beyonder, yet you dare to get involved in this kind of thing?"
"Aren't you here to protect me?"
"...If a real fight breaks out, I can't guarantee your safety."
"Relax, I'm not that weak."
Maric glanced at Hastur's scrawny frame with disdain and said, "I seriously doubt that."
"Sigh, fine, cards on the table, I've already become an Beyonder."
Facing potential danger, Hastur didn't hide it anymore. After all, he would have to cooperate with Maric many times in the future.
"You, an Beyonder? Which pathway?" Maric didn't look too surprised.
"Lawyer pathway, Sequence 8 Barbarian."
Hastur didn't directly mention the Black Emperor pathway because many Beyonders didn't know its true significance.
"Tsk, that was fast!"
"You nobles sure are rich, it's been less than two months since you first went to the Brave Bar, hasn't it?"
"Barbarian, huh? You sure don't look like one."
Maric clicked his tongue in amazement, feeling more confident about tonight's action.
Without having to worry about protecting Hastur, he wasn't too afraid of that spirit world creature, especially at night.
Hastur smiled and said, "If Miss Sharon were here too, our operation tonight would be even more secure."
"I'll leave her a message, but she might not come; she doesn't like unnecessary complications."
Then the two discussed their plan for the evening and quickly formulated the basic strategy.
Maric would deal with the possibly enraged spirit world creature, and Hastur would evacuate the ordinary people. If Count Richard turned out to be evil, Hastur would launch a surprise attack to take him down.
After finalizing their plan, they also went over relevant details and possible unexpected developments.
...
Around midnight, the familiar sound of a whistle rang out.
Hastur and Maric, who had been waiting by the lake for a long time, exchanged a glance and moved toward the source of the sound.
It was truly Hastur's first time directly encountering such an Beyonder event, and he felt slightly excited.
To ensure tonight's operation went smoothly and safely, he had come up with several suitable rules, some for fighting, others for covering retreat with Maric.
As for weapons, he had already placed a suitable large wooden stick near the location he had predicted as the center.
If the ceremony really took place where he expected, he could quickly grab the weapon to fight back. If not, then it meant tonight was still safe.
As they approached the source of the sound, their expressions gradually grew serious. The path they were taking led exactly to the position Hastur had predicted.
This proved his guess was correct, Count Richard's group was indeed holding a ritual around a circular formation, with the most important thirteenth ritual placed at the center.
"Looks like your guess was right."
"I can't say I'm happy about it."
"Be careful."
"You too, I don't want you calling for my help later."
"Save that line for yourself."
As the operation was about to begin, Hastur fetched his large wooden stick and then followed Maric to the bonfire.
A wide clearing had already been opened up here, and many people were adding wood to the fire, making the flames surge even higher.
There were nearly twice as many people attending tonight's gathering as before, about thirty in total.
Seeing Hastur arrive, Count Richard eagerly came forward and introduced the grand ceremony they were going to hold tonight.
Hastur listened to Count Richard's introduction with a smile, and when he finished speaking excitedly, Hastur asked how Count Richard knew to hold the ritual this way.
"Of course, the Lord told me. He has appeared in my dreams for a long time, guiding me all the way forward. This ritual was also directed by Him."
"Oh? What does the Lord think of this ritual?"
"He said as long as we act according to His will, we will surely receive His blessing, and the souls of our deceased loved ones will finally rest in peace, reincarnate, and gain happiness in their next lives."
"Did your Lord say why thirteen rituals? That's not exactly a lucky number."
"I asked the Lord about that too. He said the first twelve rituals represent the twelve months of the year, and the final ritual represents His blessing being with us at all times, forever."
Despite Hastur's probing questions, Count Richard showed no sign of hiding anything, which made Hastur even more convinced of his innocence.
The situation today was mainly due to his ignorance of occult knowledge and the malicious intent of that spirit world creature!
Hastur hesitated for a moment, deliberately lowering his voice, "I heard those who can act as God's spokesperson in the human world are Beyonder people. You?"
"I am an Beyonder, Sequence 7 Spirit Medium."
Count Richard was clearly excited, his eyes filled with fanaticism, "It's precisely because I can communicate with spirits that I can hear the Lord's guidance and become His spokesperson in the world."
"That's quite an enviable experience."
"The Lord also likes you. If you are willing to become His follower, you too can become an Beyonder!"
Hastur caught the key word, "The Lord knows of my existence?"
"On the night I first met you, when the Lord communicated with me in my dream, He mentioned you are a good seedling, very suitable to be His follower."
"I'm a good seedling?"
"Yes, the Lord said you are very suitable to become a Secrets Suppliant. As long as you are willing, He can help you achieve your wishes."
A Secrets Suppliant? Hastur immediately felt his hair stand on end, his heart skipped a beat, his mouth went dry, and his body stiffened for a moment.
Why would he be suitable to become a Secrets Suppliant?!
Judging from Count Richard's experience, the so-called Lord he mentioned was undoubtedly that spirit world creature related to Death.
Even if that highly intelligent spirit world creature saw him as a good seedling, shouldn't it recommend he follow the Death pathway?
Why would it think he was suitable to be a Secrets Suppliant?! Was it really just a simple spirit world creature?
Or did he himself have some trait related to the Hanged Man pathway? And he just didn't know it?
The Hanged Man pathway belongs to the God Almighty, slightly connected to the power of the stars, could that be the reason?
No, that shouldn't be. With the status of the Hall of Stars, how could a spirit world creature easily detect someone with authority over the stars?
It must be another reason.
Damn! Could it have something to do with Mr. A? That guy had always given him a bad feeling, wanting him to take become a Secrets Suppliant upon their very first meeting.
At the time, he thought Mr. A simply valued his looks.
Looking back now, there must have been other factors.
During this period, Mr. A hadn't appeared in his life at all, and Hastur had nearly forgotten about him.
Could Mr. A be lurking in the dark, spying on him now?
Hastur's scalp tingled, goosebumps rose, and he didn't dare glance around casually for fear of meeting Mr. A's eyes and frightening himself.
Maybe he was just overthinking it.
This highly intelligent spirit world creature might know what kind of organization the Aurora Order is, so it thought someone with his looks would be suitable to join.
Mr. A should still be busy hosting Beyonder gatherings; there's no way he'd come to such a remote place just for him.
Besides, the timing didn't match up.
From the first ritual Count Richard held to now, twelve days had passed, and at that time, he hadn't even met Mr. A yet.
Tonight's matter should have nothing to do with Mr. A.
Hastur thought a lot, and the fear and worry in his heart gradually eased.
Seeing Hastur silent for so long, Count Richard asked with concern, "Are you feeling unwell? You don't look so good."
Hastur forced a smile, "Just feeling a bit overwhelmed."
"Don't worry too much. The Lord values all His followers equally."
"???"
Count Richard explained, "The Lord loves newcomers. Every time a newcomer appears, He will guide them to a suitable Beyonder path. Some are suited to be Audience, some to be Sailors, some to be Lawyers, and some to be Bards…"
"…"
A black line seemed to run across Hastur's forehead. Why didn't you say something this important earlier?
"The reason we continue to follow the Lord is because of His meticulous care. He treats us with equality and kindness, and we must repay Him with pious love."
"Yes, the Lord loves the world, and everyone loves the Lord," Hastur said casually.
Count Richard trembled slightly, his eyes lit up, and he kept muttering that phrase, "The Lord loves the world, and everyone loves the Lord…"
When he eventually finds out that the Lord he worships is actually that big toad he thought was a messenger between worlds, who knows what he'll feel?
Hastur finally relaxed his tense mood.