Mystery: The Stars Returner

Inside Greco Villa.

Hastur tasted the fine wine from Grek's collection while listening to him talk about how to promote his title in the current environment.

Among the people he knew, Greg was the most proficient in this kind of thing, so when he decided to digest the potion through the process of being promoted to a peerage, he naturally listed Greg as his first choice.

After sending a thank you note and waiting for a day, Greg had free time.

"The fastest way to advance to your title is to donate enough gold pounds. This is the current mainstream trend in promoting your title, but I don't think you will choose this method."

Grek said, giving Hastur a thoughtful look.

Hasta coughed lightly and said, "Grek, my current financial situation is much better than before."

"Oh, so you chose to be promoted to a peerage by donating gold pounds?"

"No, I choose another way."

Hastur directly vetoed this path.

Greco was not surprised and said with a smile: "In addition to this promotion method, there are three other ways."

"The first is to gain enough credit. For example, when you solved the workhouse incident, you can accumulate a certain amount of credit."

"Of course, the fastest way to accumulate merit is to go to the battlefield and make meritorious deeds. Many earls and dukes have been promoted because of their major meritorious service."

"But this method is too dangerous. You are still young and have no experience on the battlefield. In addition, there have been no large-scale wars recently. It is better to stay in Backlund and wait for other opportunities."

Greco drank a glass of wine and gave Hastur some time to think before continuing: "The second way is to become a vassal of a great noble."

"This is the fastest and easiest way for you to be promoted. As long as you can convince my father, you will have the opportunity to become an earl. This is the greatest limit of power in his hands."

"Becoming a vassal of the Negan family means that you will lose a certain amount of freedom, and in the future your family will advance and retreat together with the Negan family and maintain consistent interests."

Greco said in a gentle tone: "From my personal perspective, I very much hope that you will choose this promotion path."

"Grek, you know me."

Hastur smiled and rejected the proposal. He wanted to strengthen the Campbell family, but he did not want the Campbell family to become a vassal of the Negan family.

Moreover, becoming a vassal of the Negan family is the only way to be promoted to earl, which is not in line with his pursuit of the future.

By then, unless he is willing to bear the crime of betraying the Negan family, there will be basically no other opportunities for promotion.

Of course, there is an extreme way.

That is to put the Negan family on the throne, establish a new kingdom, and become a prince or grand duke with their own contribution in the new kingdom.

Then he will overthrow the royal rule of the Negan family and achieve his own path as the Black Emperor.

Unless he has no choice, he would prefer to directly overthrow the current royal family.

After all, when he reaches Sequence 2, he will inevitably become their enemy.

"Hasta, I acknowledge your pride."

Grek smiled and proposed the last way: Hastur obtained the recognition of the powerful people with real power in the Kingdom of Loen, including the royal family represented by the king.

After all, whether you want to be promoted to a noble title or not, all you need is the nod of the person above you. As for how much credit you have made and how much contribution you have made, these are all reasons that can be made up for later.

Many people tend to fall into a misunderstanding, which is to reverse the order.

It’s not that you make merit first and then get promoted, it’s that the small group of people with top power recognize you first and then look at your merit.

If your merits are sufficient, you will be promoted directly and openly, and no one can find fault.

If the credit is not enough, then work a little bit to add a few more credits to your resume. It doesn't even need to be to this extent. Anyway, it will only attract a few insignificant criticisms.

Hastur also agreed with Grek's words, but when he heard others say it, he still felt a little sad.

He did not forget his simple character, and asked in surprise: "Can the game of power still be played like this?"

Grek was silent for a while, then said with a smile on his face: "Hasta, it is precisely because this is a power game that we can play it like this."

……

After leaving Greco Villa, Hastur sat on the carriage with an extra piece of information in his hand.

It was a gift given to him by Grek. It contained basic information about several powerful nobles in the Kingdom of Loen, and even recorded their likes and dislikes.

This was a very heavy gift, and even Greco specifically told him to remember to destroy this information after reading it.

He finally chose the last promotion path, which was also the one that best met his needs.

But when it came time to start implementing it, he was still a little hesitant.

Once the power game begins, it must be followed to the end, and there is no room for turning back halfway.

At the moment, he only needs bribes, but in the future, there will be two sequences, Corrupted Baron and Corrupted Earl, waiting for him.

"In this regard, my awareness is far inferior to Russell's."

Hastur sighed, closed his eyes and was silent for a while. When he opened his eyes again, there was no hesitation in his heart.

There is a saying that goes well: Those who keep moving forward may not necessarily die, and those who keep hiding behind may not necessarily die, but those who hesitate halfway will definitely die.

Now that you have chosen to move forward, you can no longer hesitate.

Back home, Hastur asked the chef to prepare a midnight snack and asked the maid to send it to the study.

study.

Hastur sat at the desk and began to look through the information on the powerful people given by Grek. After memorizing all the contents, he burned them all with a candle.

Taking out a pen and paper, he wrote three names on the blank paper.

Prime Minister, Earl of Hall, Duke Georgina Augustus.

According to Greck, as long as he can establish a good relationship with these three powerful people, it will not be difficult to be promoted to earl, let alone viscount.

Among them, the prime minister represents the Negan family, and Earl Hall is Audrey's father. He is a powerful nobleman with equal emphasis on power and wealth, and has recently been deeply trusted by the king.

The last Georgina Augustus was an important member of the royal family and the only woman among the three nobles.

Hastur had a reasonable suspicion that Gleick had deliberately mentioned Georgina Augustus for amusement.

After thinking for a moment, Hastur placed this Georgina Augustus last, and the first person was the Prime Minister.

Prime Minister Agushed Negan is the younger brother of Duke Negan and Gleik's uncle.

Based on his relationship with Greco, Greco can help introduce him. He is the most accessible powerful person.

Because of Greg's relationship, it shouldn't be difficult to successfully bribe him as long as he finds out the prime minister's likes and dislikes.

Earl Hall, it's a bit difficult.

He does have a good relationship with Audrey, but this is not a bonus. On the contrary, it may trigger Earl Hall's hostility.

A handsome baron who is not yet married, deliberately pleases Earl Hall, and also gets very close to Audrey...

No matter who it was, he would inevitably have endless thoughts.

As for the last one, let’s establish a good relationship with the first two first.

After enjoying the supper at night, Hastur took a bath, lay on the bed and fell asleep, and came to the palace of stars.

He was ready to take a peek at his fate with the Prime Minister and Earl Hall.

See if you can get any corresponding inspiration from it.

His eyes were closed, and the world in front of him was dark.

Only a picture of the future appeared, with Prime Minister Agushed Negan standing on a high position and himself standing below. Placed between the two was a box full of treasures.

"Isn't this a revelation to yourself that you have to send a large sum of money to the Prime Minister in order to have a good relationship with him?"

Hastur frowned, this was not a good revelation.

Although it was just a rough look just now, the property in the box must be at least tens of thousands of gold pounds!

I don't want to give such a large sum of money to the Prime Minister.

It's better to try other methods first. If it doesn't work, let's try again.

After taking a short rest, he closed his eyes again, preparing to have a glimpse of his fate related to Earl Hall.

There is also only one picture of the future, which also represents an ominous revelation.

Under the light of the crimson moon, in a beautiful and exquisite garden, flowers were blooming in the wind. On the cobblestone path, he and Audrey had a great conversation, almost walking side by side.

This was originally a beautiful scene, but behind the two of them stood Earl Hall, whose face was ashen.

What kind of hell drawing is this!

Hastur opened his eyes in shock. If this scene really happened, Earl Hall would be too kind if he didn't chase him with a knife.

Under the hazy moonlight, a man and a woman are alone, the path is full of flowers, walking side by side...

No matter how you look at it, the relationship between the two is unusual!

When Earl Hall saw this scene, he would be lucky if he could make friends with him!

"This scene must not be allowed to happen!"

Hastur was alert in his heart. Before Earl Hall helped him to be promoted to the title, such a thing must not happen!

If a baron like himself is targeted by a powerful nobleman like Earl Hall, it will be too difficult for him to be promoted to a peerage.

Even with Greg's help, it would be difficult.

"As expected of a briber, give me two sticks before it even begins."

Hastur sighed, not wanting to think about these troublesome things for the time being, and turned his gaze to the stars of the high-dimensional overlookers.

He was still hiding in the light cocoon, and the light cocoon seemed to have more life than before.

It seems like something is brewing.