In the morning, after a tense meeting with family members, Arthur Havelock decided to focus on one of the most mysterious finds — ancient books found in the library of the Livingston mansion. These books were rare and forbidden volumes related to occult practices and mystical rituals. Havelock hoped that they contained information that could shed light on the reasons and motives for the murder of Lord Livingston.
The detective paid special attention to one book, on the cover of which was depicted an intricate symbol similar to the one found on the lord's ring. The book was worn out, the pages were yellowed with age, and the text was written in ancient Latin. Havelock understood that in order to study it, he would need the help of an expert in ancient languages and occult practices.
Havelock contacted a local historian and ancient texts expert, Dr. Philip Grace. Grace, known for his extensive expertise in the field of occult texts, agreed to meet with the detective at the mansion.
Dr. Grace arrived at the mansion around noon and immediately immersed himself in studying books. He examined them with respect and care, considering their historical and mystical value.
"These books contain information about rituals that were once forbidden by the church and considered dangerous to the public,— Grace explained, flipping through the pages. — They can talk about ancient practices that include elements that may be related to your investigation.
One of the key books was The Secrets of the Ancient Mysteries, which described rituals related to sacrifices and protection from evil spirits. On one of the pages, Havelock noticed a mention of the "Ring of Darkness", which had the ability to attract dark forces and symbolized power over the invisible world. This matched the description of the ring found in the lord's study.
"This ring," Grace continued, "was probably part of some kind of ritual. It could be used to achieve certain goals related to magic and secret powers. Perhaps Lord Livingston was involved in this ritual, and this could have been the reason for his murder.
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Havelock was amazed by this discovery. He began to realize that not only financial fraud could be the reason for the murder, but also something much darker and more mystical. Soon after, Grace revealed another important detail: the book contained a list of names associated with these rituals, among which were mentioned several famous occult figures who could possibly be associated with Lord Livingston.
After working with Grace, Havelock discovered that more and more facts indicated that the murder of the lord could be connected not only with internal family conflicts, but also with more global and dangerous circumstances. The details found in the books about rituals and mystical practices became key to his further investigation.
He began checking the names mentioned in the books, contacting historians and experts in the occult sciences to see how they could be related to the murder. It turned out that some of the individuals mentioned had close ties to circles that engaged in prohibited practices and could be involved in something more sinister.
In addition, Havelock began to wonder how Lord Livingston became involved in these circles and what forces or interests could have caused his death. He understood that the disclosure of these secrets could be the key to understanding the motives of the crime and its possible perpetrators.
After studying the banned books, Havelock began to realize that the investigation was taking on even darker and more complex forms. He met with members of the Livingston family to discuss the new findings.
In particular, Havelock talked to Victoria, who looked even more nervous after studying the materials.
"This ring and these books," she said, "are not just a game of magic. They could be related to some ancient curse or power that shouldn't be awakened.
In addition, Havelock drew attention to a certain strangeness in the behavior of Robert Livingston. It seems that he has avoided talking about his actions in recent days and has often changed the subject.
Havelock soon came to the conclusion that every member of the family could be involved in Lord Livingston's mystical and financial environment. Secret agreements, mystical practices, and hidden interests created a complex web of suspicions and secrets.
Based on the new discoveries, Havelock developed a plan for further action. He needed to delve deeper into the study of occult practices, contact those who might have been involved in the rituals, and continue to search for additional evidence that could confirm his theories.
The detective was determined to solve not only the mystery of the murder, but also the dark forces behind it. He understood that this path would be full of dangers and difficult trials, but he was ready to continue his investigation in order to finally get to the truth.