Hesta sat in the corner of the living room. When Villefort walked into the hall, she saw his swollen eyes. Endai followed the three of them upstairs and came down after about a quarter of an hour. Hesta exchanged a few words with her and said softly: "Isn't the Duke planning to go home today? Why is he back again?"
"Who said he was going home? The funeral he gave himself here will last for six days. Today is just..." Endai calculated, "The second day or the third day?"
"I heard what the housekeeper said," Hestad replied, "aren't you going to the Avenue de L'Enfant?"
"Yes, but the Duke is going to meet a former friend of his... for a newspaper." Endey said, motioning Hesta to look at the coffee table in front of her, "Just the copy you have."
Hesta unfolded the folded daily newspaper and saw the huge headline at a glance:
Murder photography: men being killed by "Alecto"
Hesta flipped through two pages and soon saw a photo prominently displayed on the second page. It was the letter she had left for Schmidt.
Next to this photo, there is also a clear frontal photo of Schmidt and Rich.
Different from the previous "Anecdote Daily", which was a small newspaper, this newspaper directly started the slave trading industry in the third district. From the habitable area to the wasteland, the entire human trading chain stretched thousands of miles. Officials at various joints are intertwined and their interests are intertwined with each other, and the few nobles targeted by the assassins this time are just a few of the more influential nodes.
"...What kind of newspaper is this?" Hestad took another look at the rather informal registration and the editor's information below, "Stella Clifford...who is she?"
"You seem to be Victoria's friend too?" Endai blinked innocently, "I've only met her once."
Hesta put down the newspaper, "...Is this thing credible? I feel like reporters in livable areas can make up anything for the sake of newspaper sales—"
"I have to question the credibility first, but this newspaper is free." Endai replied.
"free?"
"Well, it seems that the distribution started on the streets of Tan Yi this afternoon. It took more than an hour. People from the police station arrived to stop it and confiscated the remaining thousands of copies... The Duke's housekeeper happened to see this The newspaper was delivered here," Endai said. "After he read the newspaper, he wanted to go out, and then Alvira and Sophie said they would follow... that's it."
Just as Hesta was about to ask something, Villefort's cry suddenly came from upstairs.
The two of them looked up at the source of the sound at the same time. Endai was a little surprised, "I saw that his name was not mentioned in the newspaper. Why does the Duke care so much?"
Hesta laughed, "...who knows."
…
That night, the priest who was good at narrative therapy visited the Viscount's manor again. This time he stayed twice as long as last time. Before leaving, Hesta heard him sighing helplessly.
The next afternoon, only one guest who was originally going to attend the Duke's funeral came. The other guests all said that they were in an emergency for various reasons. The only guest who came only stayed for more than ten minutes. He left in a hurry.
Hesta looked at Villefort's depressed face from a distance. His state was completely different from that of the past few days, but this change was not without trace - just a few days ago, he was still facing the same situation. A gentleman with an unknown danger and an open mind, but now, his name is firmly tied to several heinous criminals because of a series of murders.
News from outside is still coming in continuously.
After several days of fermentation, public anger over the slave trade reached its peak. This incident started with Tan Yi and soon spread throughout the third district. People cannot imagine that today's civilization still retains this ancient evil. "Non-Existence Daily" published several pages of exclusive interviews with the characters. The photo of women crying towards the Golden Crow Palace in the dusk attracted countless tears. People drove to the outskirts one after another and put down snow-white golden gardenias next to the ruins.
In the manor, Hesta stood still. She still followed her previous orders, wandering alone in the huge manor, waiting for the "assassin" who would never appear in front of her. Several times, she passed by Tanglar's windows, which were still tightly sealed and had not been opened. She stood there, thoughtful.
In the past few days, she had read every copy of the "Non-Existence Daily" carefully - she had never heard of many things mentioned in these reports.
All this gave her a new understanding of the rules of the game in the livable land.
Over the years, the lives ruined by Rich and Schmidt have been like crucian carp crossing the river, but no one has ever come up to them and made them pay for their atrocities. No wonder people never tire of stories of revenge. No wonder the savior who has never appeared can still gain a large number of believers in this world...
People here say "don't do evil", but in fact they mean "don't be exposed", because the only evil here is stupidity, and leaving no trace is the greatest virtue...
Each of them skillfully plays the role of "just friend".
"Eureka!" In the distance, Endai waved to Hesta outside through the window, "I made tea, do you want to drink it?"
"Oh, here it comes."
Hesta trotted back to the villa, where Endai was playing with the tea set on the coffee table next to the sofa.
"Do you have to walk outside for so long every day?" Endai handed Hesta a cup, "Are you afraid that Victoria and the others will find you lazy?"
Hesta smiled, "Yes, after all, every move we make now may be in their eyes."
"Haha, yes."
The two clinked their glasses, and the butler not far away stared nervously at the porcelain cups in their hands.
"Today's "Non-Existence Daily" is here." Endai handed the newspaper over, "Have you read it?"
"Well, I already looked at it during dinner this morning."
"Do you think the assassin was reading this newspaper during this time?"
"Maybe."
"Will she be happy?"
"……Why?"
"She has been seeking revenge without saying a word, and now suddenly someone has written out the pain and anger she has endured..." Endai flipped through the newspaper, "Her story may be behind an article here, Will she find it comforting that everything is finally being revealed to the public?”
Hesta smiled, "Maybe."
"Huh? You seem to be disapproving of it."
"These people are already dead. It doesn't matter whether what they did in the past is made public."
"How could it not matter...Isn't it great that everyone is talking and paying attention to this now?"
"It will all pass." Hestad put away the newspaper, "Tomorrow? The day after tomorrow? A week at most. When things are really over, everyone will quickly forget these things... I have experience."
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