Millhaven – Authorities are investigating a complex and highly unusual incident that unfolded late last night at the Blackwood estate, centering around a large-scale masquerade ball orchestrated by local resident, Linus Baker. Initial reports indicate the event, initially presented as a celebration of “community harmony,” was, in fact, a meticulously constructed deception designed to manipulate the residents of Millhaven.

The evening began as any respectable social gathering would – with a carefully curated atmosphere of polite conversation and light refreshments. However, investigators quickly discovered discrepancies in guest lists, financial records, and witness accounts. It appears Mr. Baker, a seemingly unassuming accountant, had employed a significant number of actors and hired hands to impersonate various Millhaven residents, creating an illusion of widespread support for the proposed “Interdimensional Travel Initiative.”

“It was… unsettling,” stated Mrs. Hawthorne, a longtime resident and frequent attendee of local gatherings. “I’d known Mr. Baker for years, always a quiet man. But last night… he was directing everything with a chilling precision. It wasn’t a party, it was a performance.”

The deception escalated when a series of “controlled” disturbances were staged throughout the estate, designed to demonstrate the purported dangers of the Initiative. These included a simulated “dimensional rift” – a carefully constructed projection accompanied by strategically placed smoke and strobe lights – and a staged encounter with a “demon” (an actor in a particularly unsettling costume).

Sabrina Spellman, the estate’s owner and a key figure in the Initiative’s promotion, expressed her dismay. “I am deeply disappointed by this betrayal,” she stated in a brief statement released this morning. “We were working towards a genuine solution to the town’s problems, not this elaborate charade.”

Law enforcement is currently pursuing charges of fraud and public deception. The long-term implications of Mr. Baker’s actions remain unclear, but residents of Millhaven are grappling with the realization that they may have been manipulated for an extended period. The investigation is ongoing, and updates will be provided as they become available.