Chapter 168 Gowell Hotel
Sebastian led four strangers to Gowell Street.
This is the most lively street in the whole town. Most of the existing townspeople live on this street. At this moment, everyone has lights in front of their doors and gather on the street to chat. This is also the reason why this coastal town A rare entertainment project in the town.
This street is named because it is the street closest to the Cowell Hotel in Ilkesmouth. It is said that before he was born, the business of his hotel was very prosperous, and the guests coming and going were almost trampling the threshold. Other businesses that drove the town also became prosperous, so everyone in the town renamed this road that must be passed to the hotel Cowell Street.
"Perhaps travelers at that time hoped to get up together, open the curtains and see the burning sun rising from the distant sea."
"But since my grandfather closed the open library, the number of guests in the hotel has decreased a lot. In the past few years, I haven't seen tourists like you for a long time."
"Are you here to watch the sunrise too?"
Sebastian said that he was very keen to introduce the history of poverty in the small town of Ilkesmouth to these outsiders. He also hoped that these outsiders could be as enthusiastic as him and tell it to him. Things in the outside world.
"Yeah, we just heard that the most beautiful sunrise in this area can only be seen at the Cowell Hotel, so we came here because of its reputation."
Mr. John, who was at the forefront of the strangers but was clearly not the leader, replied with a smile.
But why Sebastian can be so certain that the other party is definitely not the leader of the four people - all because when he said he was going to lead the four people to his hotel, this Mr. John was hiding in secret He glanced at the other three foreigners, obviously asking for other people's opinions - and a real leader must be bold and decisive on such a small issue, and will never hesitate for a moment.
When he knew that the man in front of him, Mr. John, who gave him a strange sense of intimacy, was not the leader of the outsider team, he suddenly had a doubt about his unfounded intuition that had been very effective for so many years - although this gentleman seemed It seems extremely reliable, but is there really any way he can help me escape from my grandfather's control?
"Sebastian, why are you still walking around town so late? Aren't you afraid that Mr. Michaelis will lose his temper later?"
"Hahaha, grandpa wouldn't be so stingy."
"Little Sebastian, we baked apple pie tonight. It tastes very good. You can take some back and give it to Mr. Michaelis to taste."
"Thank you for your kindness, but my grandfather said some time ago that he would give up desserts temporarily, so I won't take them back to seduce him."
"Hey Sebastian! Where have you been today? Our card game has been waiting for you to start!"
"Sorry, sorry, I lost track of time while fishing at the beach today."
Sebastian was walking on the streets of Cowell. The townspeople on both sides of the road who had not yet rested all smiled cordially and greeted him after seeing him. They were so familiar with each other that they were like a family.
However, the young man did not notice that when he turned his head to reply to another neighbor who was greeting him warmly, the neighbors who had been smiling warmly just now immediately dropped their faces and became stiff when they saw the four foreigners following him. He looked like an ice sculpture, and his eyes seemed to be burning with hatred and anger. It seemed that the next moment he was about to go home and take out the thick-edged kitchen knife for chopping meat, pick up the iron hoe for plowing, and hold up the ax for chopping firewood, and go straight to these four damned people. Cut off the foreigners!
But Sebastian was completely unaware of the neighbors' hostility towards foreigners, because every time he glanced away, the townspeople would immediately show friendly and friendly smiles, just like changing a mask. fast.
But the four outsiders at the center of the hostile storm could clearly feel the undisguised gaze of hatred. They just felt like they were pawns who had fallen into the enemy's base camp, and every face they saw was They were all gnashing their teeth fiercely, with such force that the chewing muscles on their cheeks bulged, as if they wanted to skin them alive, devour their flesh, and drink their blood!
Watson, who had experienced hundreds of battles, didn't care. He could even respond with polite nods and smiles to these hostile faces, but at the same time he was thinking in his mind, "This remote little town doesn't even have roads or telegraph stations." The town seems to be isolated from the world due to lack of information. Even the buildings are still in the style of the beginning of the last century. There is no involvement of steel bars and cement. They completely use the ancient wood and stone structure. It is as if the entire town is still sealed in In those decadent and backward old days.”
"But since this town is so closed, why is it so hostile to our group of strange visitors? Have other foreign tourists ever caused any damage here?!"
A fat middle-aged man wearing a bloody apron on the street, after trying to give Sebastian a piece of fresh meat and being politely rejected, immediately turned back and glared at Watson, muttering to himself. The language seems to be muttering local slang, which is obviously not a friendly word.
The middle-aged uncle held a broad-bladed bone-chopping knife tightly in his hand, and his knuckles were slightly white from excessive exertion. According to his telepathic perception, the other party's heart rate had reached as high as 140. It was obvious that he was angry. Their appearance is definitely not just a disguise - the residents of this town really want to hack the four of them to death!
"But...it's not yet certain who will kill whom." Watson smiled and nodded towards the butcher-looking town resident.
But compared to his calmness, the other three members of the Crossroads Order are not so rational and calm. Although they are all esoteric believers who have reached the second level of mind, their principles of mind are more inclined to movement, longevity and continuity. , are not good at frontal combat. Even if they work together to exert the influence of the heart and spread the trembling breath, it will be difficult to completely infect hundreds of families in this entire town.
Moreover, the influence of the heart is different from that of a cunning moth or a gluttonous cup, but mainly to invigorate emotions. If it is used on this group of mortals who have temporarily suppressed their hostility due to the presence of Sebastian, it will probably further encourage them. With their unknown source of hostility, they would draw their weapons and swarm us on the spot.
As a result, the three of them became more and more silent, just lowering their heads and following behind the leading boy, relying only on walking and talking to communicate.
Li Duo couldn't help scratching the new scar on his arm. This tiny scar healed quickly due to the vitality of the mind, but he couldn't help but scratch it: "How do I feel about the residents of this small town?" Something doesn’t seem right, why are they so hostile to us?”
Khalsa licked his lips. He had not eaten a proper meal for a day and a night, and his face was telling his hunger and thirst: "But fortunately, they seemed to care about the feelings of the young man in front of them, and did not take action against us... I can It’s impossible to charm so many mortals at the same time.”
Melanie began to activate the lamp to make her think rationally but ruthlessly, trying to think and reason: "Perhaps it is because the previous visitors have caused some trouble, which makes them hostile to any outsiders?"
Watson: "As long as they don't interfere with our operations, we don't need to pay attention to them. Let's go to the Gowell Hotel as Nello asks first."
Although Melanie was the captain of this trip, she was rational at the moment and agreed with Watson's point of view. She believed that the tasks assigned by the Complete Order were the first priority, so she silently gave the order - go to the hotel first, and then Discuss next steps.
The four of them followed the young man who claimed to be the grandson of the hotel owner, and set foot on the rugged and steep cliff mountain road under the enthusiastic watch of the townspeople of Ilkesmouth.
Perhaps it is because no one has visited the Cowell Hotel for a long time. The stairs leading up to it have been deformed and collapsed under the erosion of sea wind and rain. The upward mountain road has become extremely difficult to walk. If it were other ordinary tourists who came here, I am afraid they would have been there long ago. Already weak and unbalanced, he fell down.
But the four Watsons were all energetic enthusiasts, and they all followed Sebastian closely. No one was left behind. They finally reached the top and arrived at Gowell before the sky completely darkened. In front of the hotel.
This is a stone mansion with only three floors. The Gwaer-Inn sign at the door is tattered. The black-gray masonry walls are covered with twisted and winding plants like young snakes. The sloping roof also accumulates thick There was winter snow and moss, but the glass of the window was polished, allowing the warm yellow light inside to leak out, making the snow in front of the house glow with a pale golden color.
Only the window of the room in the middle of the top floor was covered with thick dust. The thick dust made the glass extremely hazy, but when Watson raised his head, he still vaguely saw a blurry figure standing behind the window. , are observing these four strangers with ulterior motives.
He seemed to be facing the peeping figure through the dusty window that looked like rough glass. He saw the vague figure cast on the glass suddenly begin to twist and sway, a thick black and sticky shadow. It spreads on the gray glass, like ink splashed randomly on white paper, but it also renders a mottled vibrating... moth shadow!
"Faris, I'm back!" The boy who led the way pushed open the heavy solid wood door and shouted towards the empty hall: "Faris, where are you? I brought four guests back!"
"guest?!"
An obviously old and hoarse voice came from behind a wall. The speaker wiped his palms with the gray wall around his waist and walked out. He was an old man with white beard and hair, but he had a rosy complexion and a straight waist. Judging from the stick, the opponent's body is still strong.
Faris was just preparing a thick soup to ward off the cold, waiting for the young master to retrieve today's vegetables. When he heard the word "guest", he hurriedly walked out of the kitchen and saw four young people with strange faces standing in the hall. He looked around at his surroundings.
His eyes immediately narrowed slightly. Unlike the young master who had always lived in comfort, this old butler had experienced the busiest days of the hotel business. Of course he knew what the previous visitors had in mind. Purpose, and the four young people in front of me were not affected by the cold at all in the cold winter. After climbing to the top, their breathing was still as smooth as usual... Apparently they were also visitors to the hidden world!
But the master's library has been closed for so many years. Why do esoteric cultists still come here in pursuit of forbidden knowledge? Are they all newcomers without religion or sect? I just found the address of the hotel in documents from decades ago, but I didn't know that the library had been closed long ago and the master was no longer willing to communicate with other people?
Faris had a lot of suspicions in his heart, but at this moment he decided not to reveal the fact that he already knew the identities of the four coming esoteric believers. Instead, he pretended to be an ordinary old man, and at the moment he slowly stepped forward, he waisted The stick also stooped slightly and said in a surprised tone:
"I didn't expect that there are still guests willing to come to our shabby little hotel. I am Farris, the hotel's housekeeper. I welcome four guests!"
"The four guests have come from afar. They must be very tired and very cold. Master, please go and add some more firewood to the fireplace to warm up the room." As he spoke, he seemed to want to fulfill his duties as a hotel housekeeper and stretched out his hand. He grabbed the shoulders of the young man who stood tallest and seemed to be the leader of the visitors, "This guest, let me help you put your luggage. You can take a rest first."
Watson looked at the opponent's strange arm in the moth's field of vision, which was as skinny as a haggard tree and had five fingers as sharp as ghost claws. He just took a step back slightly and refused with a smile: "Thank you, but we want to eat something hot more than resting." Food, warm yourself up, why don’t you prepare some food for us first.”
The other three guests also shook their heads slightly and rejected the hotel housekeeper's kindness.
Farris's idea of testing the visiting esoteric cultists to bring their belongings failed, and he did not feel embarrassed at all. With an attentive smile on his face, he took the vegetable basket brought back by the young master, "Guest, you are right, in such a cold weather I have to eat some steaming food to warm myself up. I happened to be cooking some clam chowder tonight, and I asked the four guests to wait a moment, and I’ll bring it out right away.”
"Are you having clam chowder tonight?" Simple Sebastian was adding firewood to the fireplace. Hearing the butler's words, he immediately turned to the guests and said, "Guests, you are in for a treat tonight. , Farris’s clam chowder tastes really great, it’s fresh and sweet in one bite! ”
"Well, then we really need to taste it." Watson came to the long oak table that should be the hotel dining table, and gently put down the backpack on his shoulders so that the blades and firearms inside would not make a clanging sound. There is a clanging sound.
However, before he could sit down, he heard the sound of stepping on the stairs going downstairs. It seemed that the real owner of the hotel was about to appear.
But when Watson turned his head and looked towards the stairs, the moth in his skull began to actively vibrate its scales again, and the excess scales were thrown away and fell into his eyes, making the moth's vision clearer.
Then he saw the deep, rich, crazy and dangerous darkness.