Chapter 2709: Charity Auction

Xia De opened his umbrella and inquired a little, only to find out that Mr. Condor had actually lent his own manor to hold a charity auction here tonight, and the funds raised would be used to buy grain to donate to the poor in winter.

Philanthropy is also one of the sources of Chief Condor's reputation, and this is not the first time he has held a charity auction, so the people of Vesta City are accustomed to it.

The people in the manor now are preparing for tonight's auction. Because it is said that Prince William Anjou, who is staying locally, will also be present to participate in the bidding tonight, Mr. Condor attaches great importance to this. Even the auctioneer and appraisal experts were specially invited from the Cassandra Auction House in Willendale.

Because there are many people coming in and out of the manor at this time, it is not difficult to sneak in. However, Xia De and Miss Danister did not do so, but inquired about the fire disaster at Hoy Manor in this old city area.

Although the matter has passed three hundred years, for these old people who live in the old city and are unwilling to leave, they have heard these things as stories since childhood.

The old owner of the grocery store, the manager of the old bookstore, the old man in the flower shop—everyone can say a few words about this.

Xia De also learned from this that the former Hoy family was almost the most prestigious noble family in Creekwood Town three hundred years ago, but after a fire, the entire Hoy family was almost wiped out. The only remaining bloodline was just a very distant relative, and they also left the area after inheriting the family estate, so the surname "Hoy" is no longer seen in the Vesta Forest of the current era.

And when talking about that fire, the old people could vividly tell Xia De and Miss Danister many details as if they were present at the scene from the stories they heard in childhood:

"That fire started from the dining room. At that time, the Hoy family was having a dinner party, but it is said that there was a conflict within the family. Everyone started fighting and accidentally knocked over a candle, and as a result, the whole family was burned to death."

"When that fire started, it was actually rainy weather like today. That fire was very abnormal. My grandfather's grandfather said that the flames illuminated the entire town like a tornado, but except for Hoy Manor, the nearby buildings were all preserved."

"You ask me how I know? The grocery store my family opened has been operating since 1500, and the sign outside didn't lie."

"This is God's punishment for the Hoy family. Their family relied on sucking the blood of the entire town to enjoy a wealthy life."

The Hoy family used to control almost one-third of the loggers in Creekwood Town, and every cart of wood leaving Creekwood Town had to pay them a tax. So that day a thunderbolt ignited the house and burned those hateful vampires to death!"

"My great-grandmother's cousin was a maid at Hoy Manor that year. She was one of the survivors of that incident. I have heard stories about that place from my elders. After the Hoy family was accidentally burned to death, many people thought they had buried a staggering amount of secret treasure in the basement of the manor."

Before Chief Condor bought the ruins, more than one person wanted to find that money."

And the old man who runs a flower shop and sells potted plants, green plants, and fresh flowers provided the most outrageous rumor:

"The Hoy family who were burned to death are still in that manor."

"You think why did the police chief buy this house but not live here? Aunt Yulia next door is right, they also want to find the treasure of that year, but they are afraid of the ghosts of the Hoy family."

But in fact, there are no rumors of Hoy Manor being haunted. If the fire that year was really caused by a demon, it is impossible for the church's monitoring of this manor not to have discovered souls unwilling to leave.

Although there are various rumors about this manor, taken together, there might really be a problem with the fire three hundred years ago.

Plus, it was approaching noon. When Xia De and Miss Danister were eating in a small restaurant on the street, they saw a church squad appear at the manor gate and enter it, which further proved that there was a problem with the big fire in this manor three hundred years ago.

"Don't you have a means to observe demonic power?"

The red-haired girl across the table asked:

"Does this manor look normal to you?"

"There is something abnormal. I can see faint black smoke, but it is very faint. I am not sure if this is because the sun during the day suppresses the evil power, or if this place just left traces from hundreds of years ago, but in fact, there is nothing."

"Since there is going to be a charity auction here, let Flora think of a way to see if she can get an invitation. I will go back for a meeting in the afternoon, and you will come with me to attend the auction in the evening."

Xia De said, and the eighteen-year-old red-haired girl put her elbows on the table, holding her head and tilting her head to look at him. This action was quite girlish:

"So you are really going back to attend your group meeting this afternoon? I don't quite understand. You haven't had anything to report to the academy recently. If there is, can't you just tell me?"

"The academy shouldn't have issued any targeted tasks to your group either, so what are you going back to do this afternoon? After lunch, don't you want to continue investigating with me?"

As she spoke, her free left hand stirred the soup spoon in the soup bowl very casually. The action made her question seem casual, but Xia De answered very seriously:

"Of course it's not that I don't want to continue the investigation, it's just that I asked for leave last week, and I can't ask for leave again this week."

"Besides, isn't there nothing else to do here in the afternoon? Peripheral investigation can be left to those girls, and as for this manor, I don't think anything will happen here until nightfall."

Miss Danister did not understand his special affection for the weekly study meeting, but she did not persuade him again. Her rose-red eyes lifted to look at him, and she put down the spoon and asked with a smile:

"Then I will wait for you to come over in the evening, but Flora might ask to follow you herself."

"Ever since waking up from the lake, almost every three sentences we talk, she will mention your name once. Answer me, Xia De, if you were to choose, who would you want to come with you to attend this auction tonight?"

This question was really too easy to answer:

"Do you have time?"

"This method of answering questions with questions can only be considered a small trick."

The eighteen-year-old sorceress's smile did not diminish:

"But I have time."

"That's good, then please come with me to attend the auction tonight."

After lunch, Xia De sent Miss Danister back to the Accord Hotel before throwing the crystal shoe to return home.

Just as the sorceress said, he really didn't have any major matters to participate in for this group study meeting, and he just showed his face to prevent himself from not appearing for two consecutive weeks.

Similarly, it was the middle of the autumn semester, and the other four besides Xia De didn't have much to do. So everyone just shared their own experiences and encounters this week. It was just that Priest Augustus's eye, which seemed to have a problem, had returned to normal.

"I have one more thing. Next week I might go to the Vesta Forest with the detective. It's about my sublimation language."

Near the end of the meeting, Doctor Shi Nai De said. Everyone still remembered this matter, and Priest Augustus also gave a warning similar to Xia De's last night:

"So, you have already decided? You want to use a new core spirit rune for the high-ring sublimation language? Bill, this is not a joking matter."

"Doctor, are you ready?"

Dorothea also asked, so the middle-aged psychologist hesitated for a while, but thinking of Mr. Shelf Tim and Miss Shana Aya, he nodded firmly:

"I have already decided. When the time comes, I will let the detective help me. If something really goes wrong, let the detective help me end it all. If I don't come back, let him succeed me as the group leader."

"Doctor, don't say that."

Xia De hurriedly stopped him, while Luvia took out divination cards and let the doctor draw one at random:

"We still trust Xia De's ability, and for so many years, although your luck, Doctor, has been a bit poor, you rarely do things without insurance. Try it, fate might tell us the answer."

The doctor chose the last card, and the face of that card was "Upright - The Devil." He then glanced at Xia De. For other divinations, this is a very bad result, but for what they are doing, Luvia's divination is a bit too accurate.

Because everyone had nothing to do, the meeting this afternoon ended early. Of course, Xia De did not forget to apologize to Dorothea before returning to the Accord Hotel again:

"I have some things to do in Vesta City tonight, and I might be back a little late."

After all, Saturday is the exclusive teaching time for Dorothea and Lei Qianya.

"It doesn't matter, it's not like we haven't postponed classes before."

Dorothea said generously, lowering her voice in the carriage:

"However, I will wait for you at home. Even if tonight's night class cannot be held, it's not like tonight's 'night class' cannot be held, right?"

Xia De then handed Little Mia, who was sleeping drowsily, to her:

"Then I'll leave Little Mia with you, and I will be back in time."

When he returned to the Accord Hotel, it was only four in the afternoon, and the ladies were also in the hotel.

Flora had already obtained the invitation to the charity auction tonight. Xia De didn't know what Miss Danister said, but in short, Flora had no objections to Xia De continuing to go out with Miss Danister tonight.

Xia De then had dinner with them in the hotel before changing into formal evening wear and setting off with the eighteen-year-old girl who had her long red hair coiled behind her head.

The rain that had lasted all day was still falling. Although it was not as urgent as in the morning, when the carriage wheels rolled over the puddles that were constantly rippling with raindrops, large splashes of water still flew out.

Even the rain could not disturb people's interest in attending the charity auction. In the night rain, the manor in the remote north of the city was brightly lit, and the servants were already waiting for the guests to arrive with umbrellas. ===== CHAPTER 2710 =====