The Ice Cream Bill from Little Snake

After finishing his conversation with Hahn at noon, Lucius returned to his room and started catching up on sleep.

When he woke up, it was already dinner time, and he was called to eat again.

While eating, he thought to himself that he had less freedom now than before—back then, he could eat whenever he wanted or skip meals entirely. Now, having someone watching over him was truly uncomfortable.

As he ate, he listened to Hahn report on today's events and tomorrow's tasks.

"At around three this afternoon, we received a bill from the East District. It was from your friend Will, who ordered ice cream at the 'Mousse Hut' dessert shop. It says you approved it. Along with it came a folded paper crane."

"Who!?"

Hearing Lucius's question, Hahn flipped through the bill again to confirm the name was Will.

He replied calmly, "Will. Will Auceptin."

After confirming it was him, Lucius could only sigh helplessly. "Ah, yes, that did happen. Put the paper crane in my room."

What he thought was: "Why did Little Snake send the bill to me? We're not even close. Is he trying to mooch off me? But since he knows about me, why not come in person instead of sending a bill first? He's probably sneaking ice cream while his parents are away at that dessert shop. Right now, he should still be an eight-year-old kid who hasn't restarted yet. And wasn't his name different...?"

The bigger problem was: how could someone who had never left the house have friends outside? And Hahn found it reasonable—did the Monster Pathway have such an ability?

As for refusing the bill, it was pointless. An ice cream wasn't worth much anyway.

Hahn continued his report. "Tomorrow is the Old Master's memorial service. The invitations have been sent out. I will accompany you, young master, at the entrance to greet the guests. Afterwards, you will follow Count Lev Strauss to entertain the guests until the banquet ends."

"The day after tomorrow, we will depart for the fief to bury the Old Master and inspect the lands. This will take about a month."

"After a month, we will return to Bexland..."

"This is basically the schedule for the next two months. Young master, please see if there's anything to add." Having finished the report, Hahn handed the itinerary to Lucius.

Lucius flipped through it casually and said, "There should be a guest arriving soon. Just lead him directly to me when he comes. I'll give you further instructions later. If I don't, just follow your own arrangements."

Hearing that a guest was coming, Hahn wondered—did the young master even have friends? Could it be someone he met this morning?

Hahn Clayton suddenly felt he had failed in his duties.

Unsure what kind of guest was coming or what hospitality was needed, Hahn asked directly, "Understood. Should I prepare some extra desserts and drinks?"

"No need. Just treat it normally. It's only an ordinary guest." Lucius himself had no choice in what was about to happen. Choosing willingly and being forced to choose were two very different feelings.

Tap tap tap

"Young master Lucius, the guest has arrived."

After announcing this, Hahn opened the door and brought in the strange "guest"—a middle-aged man of utterly unremarkable appearance, from his clothes to his face, carrying a huge box on his back.

Lucius stood up to greet him. "Hahn, you may leave first. And you, sir? Please, have a seat."

Seeing that the middle-aged man didn't sit down, Lucius asked curiously, "Sir? How should I address you?"

But the man had no intention of giving his name. He said directly, "Baron Sheffield, you're too polite. I've come on orders from above to deliver this mirror to you. I have other matters to attend to, so I can't stay long."

Watching the "man" set down the box, open it, and pull out a square full-length mirror, Lucius saw that the frame was carved from some kind of metal and inlaid with various colorful gemstones, forming a pattern of blooming flowers.

As expected of the Royal Family—even before his transmigration, a machine-carved frame like this would cost nearly ten thousand. With current craftsmanship, plus these pure-colored crystals and gems, the cost alone had to be at least a thousand Gold Pounds.

"Baron Sheffield, this is the mirror and a bottle of 'reagent' for you. When you use it, just apply the 'reagent' to the mirror's surface."

"This small handheld mirror is also part of the set."

Looking at the two mirrors, Lucius felt a chill run down his spine. Mirror divination existed in the True God Church too, but using a mirror to contact someone else—that was the exclusive ability of a "Witch," wasn't it!

"Someone will contact you through the mirror at seven o'clock. Just apply the 'reagent' to the mirror before then."

"Since my task is done, I'll take my leave."

Before Lucius could say a word, the strange man turned and left.

His entire manner was unlike normal conversation—mechanical and rigid, like a pre-programmed system, doing nothing extra.

Watching him leave, Lucius had no mood to see him out. After all, the man clearly didn't want anything to do with him.

"Young master."

Lucius turned at the sound and saw Hahn standing at the door with servants carrying various desserts and a pot of something unknown.

"Hahn, the guest has already left. You don't need those desserts—you can have them yourselves."

"Place this mirror in my study before seven o'clock."

With that, Lucius left the reception hall.

Hahn watched him go, feeling that everything today was strange.

"Butler Hahn, what about these things?" a maid asked, seeing everyone else had left.

Hahn looked at their eager expressions and said, "You can eat them. But finish your work first—move the mirror to the study."

Looking at this mirror, Hahn found it eerie. It was clearly no ordinary mirror—its design seemed more suited to a lady's chamber.

But this mirror possessed spirituality; it should be an Extraordinary Item. Yet why wasn't something like this sealed inside the vault with a Spirit Wall?

Everything from today onward reeked of strangeness. He considered whether to notify Count Lev Strauss, but he served the Sheffield family, not the Strauss household. Leaking information about his master's affairs without permission was a grave taboo...

Yet he feared for Lucius Sheffield's safety. No, perhaps he should consult Count Lev Strauss tomorrow?

This dilemma instantly stumped Hahn, the seasoned butler.

After moving the mirror into the study, Lucius ordered everyone out and forbade disturbance. He began smearing a "reagent" onto the mirror—the red substance likely contained blood.

As the clock struck seven, the surface of this peculiar mirror began to shift, eventually forming an image of "George III."

Then "George III" quipped, "It seems you've made your decision."

Lucius prepared to play dumb: "I've already spoken with Uncle-in-law Lev. He..."

George III said flatly, "No need to explain this to me. But only you and Lev should know—don't let it leak to anyone else."

"Since you've agreed, someone will announce your inheritance of the Count title at your father's memorial service tomorrow morning. As for the forged identity, write it out quickly and leave it by the door; someone will collect it."

"Later, your mystical teacher will meet you with the Potion. For now, what you should be considering is how to avoid having your true identity discovered by others tomorrow."