Hal was still in shock after finding out that his favourite cock was a member of that crazy cult that worshipped the blue moon.
Mr Vandinel lit his pipe and
Took a smoke from it before shaking the captive awake
"Dear cook, I first want to thank you for helping me to prove that cultists were living among the nobles and also for taking my bait"
"So wait, detective, you planned for this?"
Hal couldn't control the shock in his voice as he was quick to pull back from the question. Mr Vandinel smiled at him before nodding briefly.
"I mean, there has to be, for them to be able to sneak the catalysts into the houses of nobles unnoticed is almost utterly impossible without inside help, especially during the selection, where nobles ramp up their security, so even though I did not know who exactly, I knew that they must have been listening in"
"But that doesn't explain why they would give up on their biggest asset, the fact that they can easily operate from the shadows"
Hal did not understand why they would give it up so easily. If they had stuck with it, the duke would have disappeared, and they would have been none the wiser unless
His eyes shone with discovery as he heard the duke clap in applause
"I see you have finally caught on. It's the catalyst. Something tells me that if they want to keep the duke captive, they would have to not move the catalyst from the mansion, so it would only be a matter of time before we discover what the catalyst is and neutralise it"
"So they found it better to get rid of us instead, in fact, now that I think about it, they were trying to kill us in our sleep and not openly challenge us"
Tai was not wrong in the slightest with his words. If the catalyst couldn't be moved once it's placed, then they would just have to track the only thing different about the mansion and find the catalyst
Mr Vandinel once again took a sip from his pipe and exhaled the smoke as he moved to the chef, who was partially conscious after the detective shook him awake
"Now tell me, how many houses have been infiltrated by your kind, please? I would like to know"
The man showed a bit of resistance, but soon fell to the effects of the detective's voice as he began to talk about everything he knew
"All the families in the selection have been infiltrated; this year, there will be no successor to the title of high count prime minister"
The words he said sparked alarm in Hal's heart as he heard the detective ask in a calm tone once again
"And why would you say that?"
The man laughed strangely as if he was on the verge of falling apart
"Isn't it obvious, it's because this time, the King will rise, we finally have enough power, so after this selection, the King's descent will be upon us"
"What is the goal of this king of yours?"
"Huh, it's a glorious desire, for he promised that when he descends, the world shall be reforged in his image and we shall all know true happiness. When I gave my soul, I saw it, the world he wishes to create, and it was the most beautiful thing I have ever seen"
Mr Vandinel did not seem too happy with the chef's words, as a calm sigh escaped his lips, and at this point, Hal could tell he was about to ask the question that really mattered.
"So tell me, Chef, where and what is the catalyst?"
The man began to shake as he fought to free himself from the daggers sticking him to the wall.
"The catalyst must never be revealed, so I burnt it, destroyed it the minute I knew we were destined for failure RAAAAAAh, I can't fail him, I can't fail MY KING!!!!"
He roared and struggled until he finally broke free of the restraints and ran into the moonlight. He knelt as the surrounding servants ran to capture him, but then Hal heard Helen's cold voice in his ears.
"The King, he casts his gaze this way"
The man spread out his hands and bathed in the moonlight that showered him from above.
"Dear King, I am one of your most loyal, and I ask of you to use my soul to ignite your moon, use my body to crush your foes, shape it in the image I deserve"
The man began to convulse and shake rapidly as his head suddenly turned full circle before flipping upside down.
"The King is merciful"
The man's body rapidly mutated as he grew larger and larger until he became a large, cylindrical-like being with black and white tentacles stretching from it.
The abomination roared as the sound it made shook the entire mansion in its entirety. Mr Vandinel's face quickly turned to worry as he tightened the grip he heard on his cane.
"Conceptual corrosion and it's that severe"
The being stretched its tentacles to attack them as Tai and the other maids went to intercept them, but then Hal heard Helen's voice again.
"Don't let them"
Hal quickly turned to Lyrrah and shouted
"Lyrrah, don't let them"
Lyrrah acted fast as she pulled Tai, Mr Faizo and a few others, but not all, as the rest of the servants attacked and cut the monsters, only for pieces of them to fall onto their skin
The servants pulled back and held their heads as they too began to mutate as the Owl's eyes showed him what was happening to the poor servants.
"Spectres they're becoming spectres of the King"
The rest of the servants fell into panic as they ran away from the attacking monsters. Lyrrah formed a barrier to protect them from the incoming invaders, only to let out a scream as the barrier began to become a deep black colour.
"How are we supposed to beat this thing?"
Suddenly, the locket that was placed on Hal's neck by Helen began to glow, and as he stared at it, he felt a presence overwhelm him. He turned to Lyrrah and gritted his teeth.
"Lyrrah throw up there, I can face that thing, I believe I am the only one who can"
"Are you crazy? You saw what happened to them"
"Trust me, Lyrrah"
Lyrrah turned to Tai, who nodded in response, and let out a growl in frustration before using one of her hands to send Hal flying. He landed on one of the highest parts of the manor and summoned the Grieving Branch and took aim.
A beautiful arrow formed as he drew the string of the bow. Multiple tentacles rushed to confront Hal, as another arrow, this one of flame, scorched the tentacles, making the monster scream in pain.
Hal turned and saw Elizabeth, who continued to release flaming arrows to intercept the tentacles flying towards him.
She looked to be from a battle of her own, as her armour was covered in blood, although happy to realise it was not hers.
He turned his attention back to the abomination as the light from the locket flowed onto the arrow right before he let it fly.
The arrow flew and struck the monster in its heart, causing the abomination to scream one last time, but this time, he understood all it said
"The King shall rise, and you shall be made his servant"
And with that, the monster slowly faded away, finally putting the attack on the Harleyclover Mansion to a close, but as Hal prepared to leave, he saw something that truly frightened him as the grey moon slowly turned blue right in front of him
"After all that and the blue moon still rises"
Its appearance was stunning, but for all those who stared at it and knew what it brought, they found themselves frightened to their very core.