Lord of Mysteries: Return of the Stars!

Now that he had basically adjusted to the terrifying strength of a Barbarian, his safety level had risen significantly, making it the perfect time to go out and stroll around.

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Walking along the main street in the western district, there were not many pedestrians. Most of the wealthy merchants and minor nobles traveled by carriage, while those who walked were usually servants buying groceries.

To avoid affecting the living environment, there were no slaughterhouses or vegetable markets nearby; those were located farther away from the residential area.

Hastur wandered around for quite a while but didn't find anything new. When he checked the time, it was almost eleven o'clock, so he casually chose a restaurant to have a meal.

He had barely sat down and started eating when someone called out to him from behind.

Hastur put down his knife and fork and looked toward the voice. It was Chief Reid, whom he had met once before.

"Baron Campbell, I didn't expect to meet you here." Chief Reid walked over with two young officers, smiling.

"Perhaps it is the goddess's guidance." Hastur smiled and invited Chief Reid and his two companions to sit down. He happened to have something to ask him.

"Praise the goddess."

Chief Reid touched his chest four times, drawing a crimson moon. He was also a devout follower of the goddess.

Once the three of them were seated, Hastur called over the waiter and ordered three more meals.

The prices here were moderate, and Hastur didn't feel any burden about it.

Even if he treated a few more people, it wouldn't cost a pound.

Chief Reid and his companions quickly stood up to express their thanks before sitting down again.

While waiting for the meals, Hastur asked about Andrew.

"We do have news about him recently. Someone saw him yesterday in the dock area, looking like he was about to set sail and leave Backlund. Our police have already stationed people there to make sure he doesn't get on a ship."

Chief Reid still had some impression of that fraudster who dared to deceive a noble. Last time, he had led men to secretly guard near Hastur's house.

The dock area? Hastur frowned slightly. He had thought about personally arresting that scammer if given the chance.

But the dock area was too close to the Sunrise Almshouse Home, a place he preferred not to approach.

"He's very cunning; it might just be a feint to mislead us."

Speaking of this, Chief Reid sighed.

From the start of pursuing Andrew until now, quite a long time had passed, but every time, it was always just a little bit short of success, they could never catch him.

"Have you gained any other clues?" Hastur tried asking.

By then, the three lunches were served. The two young officers, not wanting to interrupt the conversation, took their plates and sat at a table nearby.

Chief Reid cut a piece of steak, thought for a moment, and said, "He seems to have very good luck. Every time, we're just a little bit too late to catch him."

"Once, our men saw him during patrol and were about to give chase when something else suddenly interrupted them."

"And another time, we organized a late-night raid on taverns, but arrived just a few minutes late, allowing him to slip out through the back door."

Unusual luck?

Hastur became alert. Unusual luck, could there be some Beyonder factor behind this?

As far as he knew, the Fate pathway could grant others good fortune for encountering opportunities or curse others with continuous misfortune.

He recalled chatting once with Professor Wayne, who had said Voltaire Campbell had terrible gambling luck, yet he casually flipped cards and won an estate deed.

And Andrew extorting 2,000 pounds from him for no reason, were they really just after the money?

Or were they trying to force him to sell something valuable to them?

The night they broke into his residence, were they only looking for him, or searching for something else as well?

Hastur fell into thought, realizing he might be overthinking it.

This could simply be a case of a scam group targeting him and planning a burglary.

As for the unusual luck, maybe someone in the police was leaking information to Andrew.

Seeing Hastur silent for a long time, Chief Reid awkwardly said, "We'll capture him as soon as possible; next time, he won't escape!"

"I've always believed in your ability and that you'll arrest the criminal and send him to prison."

Hastur smiled, glanced at the nearly finished steak on Chief Reid's plate, and said, "Would you like a beer?"

"Thank you for your generosity."

"Here's an early congratulations on capturing the culprit."

Hastur waved over the waiter and ordered three of the best beers and one non-alcoholic drink.

"I have some business this afternoon, so I can't drink," Hastur explained.

…

Dock area.

Shortly after parting ways with Chief Reid, Hastur went there alone.

In the past, he wouldn't have risked coming alone, but now, playing the role of a barbarian, he acted first and thought later. Since he felt inclined, he decided to take a walk around the docks.

He might actually gain something, after all, fate always draws kindred together.

Upon arriving at the dock area, he set himself one rule: the encounter of fate is irresistible.

If Andrew was indeed an Beyonder of the Fate pathway, he would likely run into him.

Hastur walked around the docks, staying alert for pickpockets, otherwise just wandering aimlessly.

If it came to investigation and reasoning, he certainly wasn't as professional as the police.

This time, he was simply relying on a bit of mysticism, if they met, great; if not, there was nothing to regret.

At three o'clock in the afternoon, Hastur still hadn't gained much. He was sitting in a small tavern, having ordered two smoked sausages, a cup of Earl Grey tea, and a dessert for afternoon tea.

Although the food in the dock area was rather rough, the smoked sausage was surprisingly delicious, even better than that in some well-known restaurants.

As for the dessert, the gap was obvious, it was neither delicate nor tasty.

Hastur quietly enjoyed his afternoon tea, his gaze occasionally sweeping across the tavern and outside, thinking he might actually run into Andrew here.

Halfway through eating, Hastur's gaze froze slightly when he looked outside the tavern, he had really caught sight of Andrew's figure!

Compared to the suit-wearing thug from last time, Andrew was now bundled up tightly, his chin covered by his collar, dressed like the common workers in the area.

His eyes were lowered, sometimes scanning around, sometimes acting furtively, as if avoiding someone.

Was he being watched by the police?

Hastur didn't immediately pay and get up but waited patiently, watching a bit longer. He wanted to see who Andrew was avoiding.

If it was the police, he wouldn't need to rush, just carefully follow behind.

If it was someone else, then he needed to take a closer look.

Even as Andrew's figure was about to disappear, Hastur hadn't noticed anyone in particular tailing him.

Had Andrew become like a startled bird?

Hastur stood up, paid the bill, 1 soli 4 pence, and left, blending into the crowd and following behind Andrew.

He always kept a safe distance of about ten meters, only quickening his pace when Andrew was about to turn a corner or disappear from view.

One in front and one behind, they weaved through several alleys and passed by two or three warehouses before Andrew finally stopped in front of a small wooden cabin.

He looked around cautiously before softly knocking on the door.

Soon, a sturdy man around thirty poked his head out, also scanning the surroundings before meeting Andrew's eyes.

After a brief exchange, Andrew followed the man inside, and the door closed again.

Was this his hiding place?

Hastur stepped out from the corner and stared at the cabin for a moment.

He now had two good options: one, to go inform the nearby police officers and have them handle it; two, to keep watch here, notify the nearby police, and move in with them.

Of course, he chose a third option, just rush in himself!

Hastur found a thick wooden stick nearby, tested its weight, and went to the cabin door.

He swung the stick hard, smashing the already weak door.

Boom!

The entire door collapsed!

Hastur stepped inside with the stick in hand and immediately saw three figures.

One was the panicked Andrew, while the other two men were on guard: the one in black grabbing a stool as a weapon and the one in gray pulling a dagger from his chest.

The man in black glared at Andrew and cursed, "You idiot, you didn't even know the cops tracked us here!"

"He, he's not a cop, he's Voltaire's son!"

Recognizing Hastur, Andrew grew even more flustered, retreating a step and hiding behind the two men, eyes darting as if ready to flee at any moment.

"Voltaire's son?"

"Heh, delivering yourself to us?"

"Yeah, I came myself, since you didn't dare come looking for me anymore."

Hastur's face showed a simple, kind smile, but before the two men could speak again, his stick swung toward the closer black-clothed man.

The man in black snarled fiercely, swinging the stool horizontally from right to left at Hastur's temple.

The man in gray moved around to block Hastur's retreat.

But Hastur was faster, the stick smashed into the black-clothed man's head first.

Crack!

The heavy stick snapped in the middle.

Along with it, the man's skull also cracked.

His head buzzed; he didn't even have time to marvel at Hastur's strength before collapsing backward. Andrew hurriedly darted aside.

The gray-clothed man, originally planning to cut off Hastur's retreat and attack from the side, quickly bolted for the door upon seeing this.

Hastur turned and threw the broken half of the stick with full force!

A cry of pain, the gray-clothed man was struck in the waist by the broken stick, the heavy force sending him sprawling onto the open ground outside, his forehead slamming hard against the ground as he fainted.

I was actually aiming for his thigh…

Seeing the gray-clothed man incapacitated, Hastur calmly shifted his gaze to Andrew, who now had nowhere to run.

He spoke in a calm tone, "I think we can have a good talk now."