Upon entering the house, Caine first noticed a spacious foyer, generously furnished with several chairs and umbrella stands, elegantly decorated with tasteful appointments. Had he not been familiar with the building's layout or visited it in person, he might have mistaken it for a reception hall. Through the second grand door, the view opened up dramatically to reveal a vast hall capable of accommodating dozens or even hundreds of guests dancing. At the center of the hall lay a rich, vibrant, and plush carpet, while the surrounding floor was composed of bright, clear marble tiles, adorned with a piano, stone sculptures, and stone pillars embedded with decorative elements supporting the upper floor. To the left stood a row of floor-to-ceiling windows, framing a lush green lawn and flourishing gardens, while to the right lay walls, wooden doors, and corridors leading to the lounge, storage rooms, bathrooms, kitchen, and the butler's quarters. The hall rose two stories high, with crystal chandeliers hanging from the ceiling, instantly evoking the scene in the evening. Proceeding to the end, there are staircases on either side leading up to the second floor. The corridor here is square, with the central open space precisely matching the area of the main hall where the carpet is laid. All Clarence needs is a glass of wine and a spot behind the second-floor balustrade to enjoy the ballroom festivities from a relaxed vantage point. The second floor features numerous rooms—living rooms, sitting rooms, dining rooms, bathrooms, a billiards room, and a large number of bedrooms—where guests staying overnight will reside. Similarly, there are two staircases on the second floor leading up to the third floor, which is where Doun Tangtze lives. This floor boasts an elaborate master bedroom, sunlit, partially open rooms with a bar, a study that functions as a small library, two dressing rooms, and private bedrooms for the personal butler and night maid, as well as rooms and bathrooms for family members. However, at present, Clarence is single. The other servants reside in the row of attached cottages at the back of the house, while the stables are located in the opposite direction. The basement of the building is equally spacious, featuring large storage rooms and a wine cellar. Standing straight with his coat off on the spacious semi-open balcony of the third floor, Caine gazed out over the surrounding streets, silently marveling: "Indeed, there is value in being upscale—those 315 pounds for rent aren't entirely wasted..." He had paid the annual rent yesterday afternoon, and had to keep convincing himself to grow more comfortable with the place. At the same time, he had directly settled Walter's annual salary of 115 pounds, as upon securing the Antigonus family's notes, he likely would have to flee, putting the housekeeper out of work. Acting on this principle, he also paid Miss Tania's annual salary of 42 pounds this morning, thereby giving her an initial impression of Mr. D'Artagnan's generosity and refined demeanor. Under the coordination and busy efforts of the two housekeepers, the staff has been fully hired: a male estate manager earns 30 pounds annually, a personal male servant Richardsons earns 35 pounds annually; two male servants responsible for attending guests at the table each earn 25 pounds annually; two first-class maids each earn 18 pounds annually; two second-class maids each earn 12 pounds annually; and two male laborers each earn 12 pounds annually. In addition, the head chef earns 30 pounds, a kitchen assistant 15 pounds, a kitchen maid 13 pounds, a storekeeper maid 11 pounds, a household nurse 25 pounds, a general laborer 10 pounds, two carriage drivers each earning 25 pounds, two gardeners each earning 20 pounds, and two laundry maids each earning 10 pounds, totaling 413 pounds—approximately 8 pounds per week. Adding the salaries of the two housekeepers, Craine's annual expenditure reaches 570 pounds, equivalent to about 11 pounds per week, not including the costs of food, clothing, and various household essentials. Every Monday, upon waking, with no income yet received, he must make expenditures of fifteen to twenty pounds—Crawen casually calculated this in his mind and then forced his gaze toward the garden. After settling the rent for two carriages and the first week's salaries for the servants, and paying Miss Tania, the housekeeper, 1,000 pounds in cash for her daily expenses at noon, he was left with 1,286 pounds in cash and 18 gold coins. However, the payments due to Miss Justice and Miss the Hidden One would arrive gradually within the week. He had no idea how long the 1,000 pounds to Tania would last—merely setting aside funds for wine and beverages for the various gatherings would require at least several hundred pounds. Dowager D'Artagnan, the wealthy gentleman, found himself deeply immersed in contemplation. To steady his spirits, he decided to take a walk up to the Gray Mists during the time when the housekeeper and the servants were busy with the arrangements for their new home, and to study the peculiar puppet that Emlyn White had sacrificed. — After the Blood Moon, Caine had no choice but to return to that mysterious realm, drawing Fols into it and enduring his drowsiness as she went on at length about the daily life of Beckland. Once everything had settled, he was so exhausted that after receiving Emlyn's sacrifice and confirming there were no anomalies, he returned to the real world and fell asleep immediately. Straightening the well-cut, dark jacket, Caine walked to the entrance, opened the door, and addressed his personal male servant, Richardsson, who stood waiting outside: "I usually take a three-hour nap at this time of day. Please don't disturb me." "Yes, sir." Richardsson replied with respectful humility. He is a mixed-race bastard child: his father was a steward from Ruin, and his mother was a native from eastern Bayland, a servant in that estate. After his birth, he endured constant discrimination and bullying, developing a timid, obedient nature. Because of his attractive appearance, well-suited for hosting guests, he was chosen by the estate's owner to serve as a personal servant and brought to Beckland. When both houses of the Kingdom of Roon passed the bill abolishing slavery, he lost his job and had to seek assistance from the "Association for Urban Families Assisting Household Servants." Prior to joining the Cline household, he had served two families, made a few mistakes, and gained valuable experience, which caught the attention of the housekeeper Walter, and thus became the personal servant to Dowager D'Antes. Glancing at Richard, tall and nearly as tall as himself, Cline gave a barely perceptible shake of his head, murmuring to himself: "A man with such star-quality presence in appearance, capable of being a celebrity in this age, can only serve as a servant. Though so tall and sturdy, he's timid and hesitant—yet that's actually an advantage: obedient, quiet, compliant, always following the master's instructions without making any independent decisions... If I had only one personal male servant to manage various affairs, Richard would certainly fall short. But I have Walter, the butler, and so many other servants; with his experience and capabilities, he's more than capable of handling the rest." Without further comment, Cline closed and locked the door, then returned to his armchair, took four steps backward, and stepped into the gray mist. He settled into the seat designated for the 'Fool,' extending his hand to summon the blackened 'moon puppet,' which then floated over and settled before him. After careful scrutiny, Crane found no unusual elements. He then materialized a sheet of paper and pen, writing the divinatory phrase: "Its origin." Setting down the steel pen, Crane waited several seconds before picking up the paper and leaning back against the chair. Hmm, the intuitive sense didn't prevent this divination—this indicates that the hidden danger of the "Moon Puppet" isn't as extraordinary as the Rosicrucian school's unique traits. Crane murmured this to himself, reciting the divinatory phrase smoothly. In the hazy landscape, he saw a altar adorned with a circle of torches. The altar was covered with something resembling human skin, stained with blood in numerous places, and at its center stood three candles and several slender, pillar-like puppets. These small puppets had curved eyes and curved mouths, corresponding to the crimson crescent of the sky. Thus, they always wore an eerie smile, their bodies embedded with dried grass and twigs. A priest in a deep crimson robe was briskly circling the altar, as if dancing a movement invented by epileptic patients. At some point, the moonlight gathered and fell upon the figures, growing brighter and brighter, until it seemed as though gentle ripples were flowing through them. The ceremony was drawing to a close. The priest then picked up a slender figure and walked to a human bound to a nearby stand, inserting it swiftly into the person's eye sockets. Amid the sharp, piercing cries, the scene changed rapidly—those whose eye sockets now held the "moon figures" were buried in a regular pattern at a specific site. The scene then jumped and evolved: whenever the full moon or blood moon appeared, a luminous glow would spill over the burial ground, seeping in like water, leaving the surrounding area dark and profound. Cain opened his eyes, adjusted his seating position, and roughly understood the origin of the "moon figures": they stemmed from a ritual dedicated to the "Primordial Moon," a ritual that had lasted for several centuries! Over the course of several centuries, they absorbed the power of the Red Moon, gradually mutating until they were unearthed by certain colonists. Under normal circumstances, they exhibit no unusual traits—only the faithful followers of the "Primordial Moon," using the proper method, can awaken them. As for the effects, Caine has no clear understanding. In a sense, these puppets are equivalent to the divine emissaries of the "Primordial Moon." After I felled one of them last night, the deity grew furious, and thus the Blood Moon emerged. Caine lightly tapped the weathered edge of the long table, forming an initial judgment. Hmm. The wrath of the "Primordial Moon" directly alters the lunar appearance, manifesting as the Blood Moon. If this hypothesis holds true, then within the domain of the Red Moon, the goddess is outmatched by the "Primordial Moon"—perhaps even merely occupying a name, overseeing only a zero-tier seal. Caine gave a slight nod, attempting to discern the vulnerabilities of the moon puppets. This time, he saw sunlight, and he saw lightning. In other words, the extraordinary abilities of the "Sun" domain and the lightning of the "Storm" domain were most suited to counteract it. While reading the revelations, Caine tossed the "Moon Puppet" into the pile of clutter and returned to the real world. An hour later, Walter, dressed impeccably and wearing white gloves, knocked on the door, bowed, and said: "Mr. I will be printing some of your business cards and accompanying small gifts to deliver to your neighbors. They will observe you for a few days to assess your condition. If they wish to welcome you, they will return a gesture and invite you to visit. What title would you like on your business cards?" Titles... not belonging to an ordinary figure of this age? Caine quietly remarked to himself, and smiled in reply. "The merchant from Dijon, D'Artagnan, will be sufficient." Valerian nodded and said, "According to your wishes, I will immediately arrange a lessons in etiquette, with a focus on dancing. I will invite a professional private tutor."