Chapter 197: Framy Cage

Chapter 197: Framy Cage

Saint George Borough, Satch Street.

Klein and Jurgen had just stepped down from the carriage when they saw an enormous object parked outside the inventor Leppard’s door.

It was entirely iron-black, with three groups of twelve wheels. At its top rose a smokestack like the funnel of a ship, from which remnants of smoke still drifted.

This was a steam-powered vehicle Klein had seen before in magazines and on the streets. The public described it as an ironclad warship walking on land, and its body was indeed absurdly exaggerated.

On streets that had not been built or rebuilt over the past twenty or thirty years, it would take up the entire road and leave no room at all for carriages. Because of that, this form of transport could only be seen in certain areas and certain places.

At that moment, the heavy door with glass windows opened, and two figures stepped down.

One was the steam-powered vehicle tycoon Klein had met before, Framy Cage. A quarter of his bloodline came from the Feysac Empire. His eyes were a very pale blue, and he was tall, though already growing fat. A pipe was clenched between his teeth.

The man beside him wore a heavy black wool coat and a gray scarf. His appearance had no distinguishing features, merely the most common combination of black hair and brown eyes, yet for some reason he gave off a sense of friendliness.

“Hi, Detective Moriarty. You’re right on time. This is my lawyer and business partner, Pacheco Dawn.”

As he spoke, two burly men with broad shoulders and thick waists emerged from inside the steam-powered vehicle. One glance was enough to tell that they were Framy’s bodyguards.

Not very professional. Shouldn’t they get out first and open the door for their boss? Klein muttered inwardly. Outwardly, he smiled and greeted them, then introduced his own lawyer, Jurgen.

While they waited for Leppard to open the door, Klein chatted casually.

“Mr. Cage, are steam-powered vehicles like this popular? Are there many people who like them?”

Framy Cage laughed.

“Those who believe themselves respectable say they’re too barbaric and crude, while ordinary people can’t afford them. Only fanatics of machinery and steam like me are willing to buy one.”

“The streets are also too narrow in many places,” Klein offered in consolation.

Framy Cage was an investor Klein himself had found, not the result of Leppard’s efforts.

When playing cards at the Krag Club, Klein had deliberately mentioned the matter. The equestrian teacher Talim had immediately said that Framy liked similar inventions and could introduce them to one another.

This left Klein deeply moved: a club truly was a good place to develop connections. For those who truly joined, what mattered most was never the free food, drinks, or activity venues.

“Haha, that is indeed one reason. As the population grows and cities grow larger, carriages will definitely be eliminated, because they’re too slow. What this world pursues now is efficiency!” Framy said with great confidence.

Then he smiled.

“And I’ve already secured an order from the military. They hope I can make certain improvements, just as the Roselle manuscripts mentioned: add iron plating for bulletproofing, cover it with tracks so it can travel on rough roads, and add one thick cannon barrel. It will become a brand-new weapon of war.”

Roselle manuscripts… Klein sighed soundlessly, briefly unsure what he should say. Fortunately, Leppard finally opened the door.

In the discussion that followed, Jurgen and Pacheco took center stage. The two lawyers alternated between clashing with each other and consulting their employers on the terms. Leppard, the utterly unprepared inventor, sat to the side in a daze, only expressing his opinion when someone asked.

In the end, the three parties reached an agreement. Framy would invest 1,000 pounds for 20 percent of the shares, causing Klein and Leppard’s shares to decrease proportionally to 28 percent and 52 percent, respectively.

At the same time, Framy would purchase another 18 percent from Klein at a certain premium. This would cost him 1,000 pounds, after tax.

Likewise, he would buy 9 percent from Leppard for 500 pounds, also after tax.

After this transaction, Framy would become the largest shareholder of the newly established Backlund Bicycle Company, holding 47 percent. He would be responsible for subsequent factory production, promotion, and sales. The company’s accounts would also contain the 1,000 pounds he had invested as initial startup capital.

Leppard would be the second-largest shareholder with 43 percent. His job would be to assist in completing mass-production assembly-line work.

Klein would be left with only 10 percent, becoming a pure financial investor.

The 1,000 pounds he earned from selling the shares caused his personal wealth to surge to 2,235 pounds, enough to give him some confidence in purchasing one of the main ingredients for the Faceless potion. As a private detective, he had also continued accepting commissions over the past month, so his daily expenses had not required touching his savings at all.

I still have to pay Lawyer Jurgen 50 pounds, leaving only 2,185 pounds… I’ll have to thank Talim later… The thought flashed through Klein’s mind. He signed his name, stamped the seal, then rose and shook hands with Framy and Leppard.

“To a pleasant cooperation.”

Framy took out his gold pocket watch and glanced at it. With a chuckle, he said, “Normally, we should go have lunch together and celebrate the agreement, but an important person is waiting for me. I’m truly sorry. There will be many opportunities in the future.”

An important person. Again, an important person… Is it the one behind Talim? The one whose money I’ve been reimbursing with false leads pointing toward the Aurora Order? Klein suddenly felt slightly guilty. He quickly smiled and said it was nothing, that there was no need to mind.

After leaving Leppard’s house and boarding a carriage, Jurgen suddenly frowned slightly.

“Sherlock, you agreed too readily.”

“Why do you say that?” Klein asked back in confusion.

He did not even know which matter Lawyer Jurgen was referring to.

Jurgen said with considerable seriousness, “When we were negotiating the share transfer.

“Based on your description, as well as Framy’s behavior, I can imagine the bright market prospects for bicycles. Although it is currently only an invention, and its overall valuation would not be especially high, 5,000 pounds is a good price. But you should have retained more shares so you could obtain greater returns in the future.

“I originally thought you would only sell 8 percent, and I was confident I could negotiate that for 500 pounds. In the end, you actually agreed to 18 percent. Even if it were only 500 pounds, you would already have earned several times your initial investment. There was no need to be so hasty.”

Because I need money urgently… But I really did agree too readily just now. I didn’t hesitate at all. This was a large transaction, and that wasn’t like my usual self… Klein recalled the earlier scene, and doubt gradually rose in his heart.

Could I have been unknowingly influenced by Framy or that lawyer Pacheco? Is one of them a Beyonder? Fortunately, the price was still more or less normal… As Klein thought, he spoke to Jurgen, who was waiting for an answer.

“The New Year is approaching…”

He had not thought of how to explain at all, so he simply found a random opening.

If the other party was intelligent, he would follow that opening and imagine and complete the reason on his own, sparing Klein from any need to say too much.

Of course, this was a tactic meant for smart people. Ordinary people would only press with questions like “So?” or “What exactly?” or “What happened?”

Lawyer Jurgen was clearly an intelligent person. Seeing Klein fall briefly silent, he nodded.

“I understand.”

What do you understand? I haven’t even thought it through myself… Klein pointed at the steam subway station ahead.

“I’ll get off here. I need to find an informant.”

…

Inside the rumbling, imposing steam-powered vehicle, Framy, who sat in the front row, rolled down the window and blew out a smoke ring. He turned to the unremarkable Lawyer Pacheco beside him and asked,

“Did you use your abilities just now?”

“They were merely triggered passively to a small degree,” Pacheco said with a smile. “My abilities aren’t best suited to that kind of scene. I prefer facing government employees or company staff.”

Framy nodded lightly.

“I’m only reminding you.

“There was no need to use abilities in that situation. Don’t delay the important matter.”

“I understand,” Pacheco replied in a low voice.

…

The East Borough, inside a cheap cafe.

When Klein arrived, Old Kohler was already waiting there.

He removed his scarf and hat, sat across from the old man, took out a stack of one-soli notes, and handed it over.

“Next week’s activity funds, along with the reward for the last piece of information. One pound in total.”

Recently, he had been quite generous with rewards, because he had already found someone to reimburse him.

Old Kohler’s complexion was noticeably rosier than before. Somewhat embarrassed, he accepted the cash and said, “The information I gave last time didn’t seem very important…”

“No. Whether something is important depends on who is looking at it. Many things you consider insignificant may be the source of someone else’s profit,” Klein explained with a smile. “What has happened this week?”

Old Kohler held the stack of notes, stuffed it into his pocket while thinking, and said, “Same as before. Many people are still looking for believers of the Fool. Haha. Who would believe in the Fool? That isn’t exactly a good title.”

…The corner of Klein’s mouth twitched slightly.

“Have they made any progress?”

The Aurora Order really is persistent… Klein thought helplessly.

“No. None at all. There simply aren’t any people like that.” Old Kohler shook his head, then said, “Recently, some people have been organizing a strike. They’ve come to me several times, saying they want to fight for more reasonable working hours and wages.”

A normal thing for this era, but also something that might lead to rather serious consequences… Klein said thoughtfully, “Pay attention to who is organizing it, but don’t be too eager. Safety first.”

“All right.” Old Kohler cleared his throat. “Over the past few days, many gang thugs and bounty hunters have been looking for someone. I don’t know why. Someone must have put up a bounty.”

“Who are they looking for?” Klein felt the weather’s cold and lifted his coffee for a sip.

The warm liquid slid down his throat and warmed his stomach.

Old Kohler thought for a moment and said, “A man named Azik Eggers.”

Azik Eggers… Azik Eggers? Klein lifted his gaze from the coffee cup and looked at Old Kohler across from him.

Isn’t that Mr. Azik’s full name? Why would someone suddenly place a bounty on him? Ince Zangwill? Relying on his Clown abilities, Klein asked as though casually,

“Did they say what kind of person he is?”

Old Kohler recalled and said, “Apparently he has Balam blood and was once—once a university lecturer.”