Chapter 126: A Grand Gesture

Chapter 126: A Grand Gesture

On the small balcony of the master bedroom, Klein in Dawn Dantes’s appearance stood behind the railing, quietly watching Baron Syndras’s luxurious carriage slowly fade into the distance.

The other man’s words from just now still echoed in his mind. He felt that the Coim Company share acquisition had hidden a conspiracy from the very beginning.

To Baron Syndras, although Coim Company had great potential and bright prospects, its present value was still limited to Backlund and restricted by various conditions. It was not worth a great banker attaching so much importance to it, nor adopting an attitude of refusing to give up control at any cost. After all, even if he failed, it was only a question of earning more or less. It was not enough to result in a loss.

As for Caron, the seller, selling shares under external pressure in exchange for cash was normal. Not being especially willing to sell them to the Conservative Party’s “moneybag,” Baron Syndras, was also normal. The problem was that, as a businessman facing a transaction that was not especially important, one could indeed consider political leanings when the prices were roughly equal. But when there was a possibility of obtaining an extremely high premium, there was no reason to refuse. Yet Caron had deliberately rushed to complete the transaction with Dawn Dantes before Baron Syndras could make his final offer. He looked as though he had a grudge against gold pounds, or as though he hated the Conservative Party to an extreme degree. That did not match the current political climate. The interior of the Loen Kingdom had not yet fractured to such an extent.

It seems someone was forcing Baron Syndras to do this, while someone else used it to design a trap, using Caron’s three percent of shares as bait and using me as cover to draw Baron Syndras into the game, hoping to achieve some purpose…

Klein looked at the gas lamps under the night sky and sighed inwardly.

According to his guess, if he had not discovered the problem tonight and had not directly sent someone to look for Baron Syndras, then afterward, he would certainly have fallen into prison due to various seemingly conclusive pieces of evidence. Once the military or the Evernight Church intervened, the evidence would undoubtedly reverse and point toward Baron Syndras.

During this process, as long as Baron Syndras made even one mistaken judgment, treating Dawn Dantes as an accomplice of the mastermind behind the scenes and adopting relatively forceful methods against him, the final nail in his coffin would be driven in.

As for who was behind the curtain and what their true objective was, Klein had no way to guess. He could only confirm one thing: Madam Mary should likewise be unaware of the truth and had merely had her urgent desire to preserve control of Coim Company used by others. In short, she did not have the qualifications to deeply participate in a conspiracy of this level.

Environmental protection… New Party… Conservative Party… banker… acquisition… frame-up…

One term after another leapt through Klein’s mind, making him feel as though, through Backlund’s present calm, he could see one dangerous whirlpool after another hidden beneath the water.

They had existed long ago. They had not been smoothed over by the Great Smog. Some of them even belonged to its aftermath.

All these things intertwined, mixed together with the increasingly tense international situation, and naturally brought one word to Klein’s mind:

“Change!”

In that second, Klein seemed to smell the approach of a storm.

Adding in the prophecy of the apocalypse, who knows how much chaos and madness is brewing in the dark… My current focus is to start from the military and investigate the truth behind the Great Smog of Backlund. If I get drawn into this whirlpool, I will very likely encounter unnecessary trouble. I might even expose my Sequence strength and no longer be able to continue acting as Dawn Dantes…

Klein withdrew his gaze, having already made his decision:

He had to extricate himself as quickly as possible!

As for Baron Syndras’s safety, he was not worried. First, the baron had the Conservative Party behind him and possessed his own influence. Once he became vigilant, it would be very difficult to frame him again. Second, Klein did not have any friendship with him. Being able to take advantage of the situation and offer one reminder already counted as noble character.

As for the truth of Caron’s death, he did not have the qualifications to investigate it. He could only choose to trust that the Nighthawks were experienced and had many methods, giving them a chance to uncover the real clues.

How should I extricate myself from this matter? As long as that three percent of shares remains in my hands, it means I will always be at the center of the stage… Have Madam Mary buy it back early? Difficult. She probably does not have the funds yet… Sell it to Baron Syndras? That would violate my promise and the contract…

As various thoughts flashed through Klein’s mind, an idea gradually formed.

The muscles of his face inexplicably twisted a little, then relaxed again, because what he wanted to do was something he had previously wanted but lacked the ability to accomplish. Furthermore, it would likewise help him establish his image and better enter high society.

…

In the neighboring room with a large balcony, Xio watched the street and garden while Fors looked at the red moon half-hidden behind layered clouds. For a long time, neither of them spoke.

Only after the lights in Dawn Dantes’s room were extinguished did Fors turn to her friend and say with obvious interest and emotion, “Being a millionaire is not easy either…”

“If it were you, you might go bankrupt in three days and be sent to prison,” Xio said, glancing at her.

“I could hire an excellent butler, a professional lawyer, and a capable business secretary to help me,” Fors replied.

Fors did not continue attacking her friend. Instead, she smiled and said, “If it were me, I would convert everything into bank deposits, government bonds, houses, and shops, then rely on the annuity income they bring to maintain a sufficiently respectable life.”

No sooner had she spoken than she saw Xio faintly frown and turn her gaze toward the first floor of the house.

“What is it?” Fors suddenly grew tense.

Xio concentrated and sensed for several seconds before saying, “My inspiration tells me that an item or matter related to black magic has appeared.”

One major trait of a Sheriff was that when the distance was close enough, they could detect and sense unshielded things connected to evil, chaos, and madness.

“Black magic?” Fors could be considered a seasoned Beyonder and was no stranger to this.

Strictly speaking, anything that did not go through the seven orthodox gods counted as black magic, including ritual magic that prayed to hidden existences.

In the general sense, however, black magic referred specifically to strange spells using flesh, hair, and all kinds of bizarre objects. Some involved evil gods, some originated from one’s own Beyonder abilities, and some relied on the spirituality of the materials themselves together with the correct symbolic signs and magical marks.

Xio nodded solemnly.

“Yes. It is on the first floor. I plan to go take a look. You stay here and protect Mr. Dantes.”

Fors was silent for two seconds, then nodded without any fuss.

“Alright.”

After Xio left the half-open room with the large balcony, Fors took Leymano’s Travels from her hidden pocket, ready to act immediately if something went wrong.

On the other side, Xio moved nimbly, her footsteps light, and descended to the first floor. Following her induction, she arrived outside one of the rooms.

After confirming that the target was inside, Xio froze briefly, and her expression gradually sank.

If she remembered correctly, this room belonged to Butler Walter, the very man who had employed her!

During that brief daze, the black magic item or matter that had triggered her inspiration vanished. The room became calm, as though nothing abnormal had ever appeared.

Xio hurriedly pressed her ear to the door and listened carefully, confirming that there was still human breathing inside.

After waiting for a while and seeing Butler Walter take no action, she returned to the third floor with a puzzled expression and described her discovery to Fors. At the end, she asked, “Should we pretend we know nothing, or find some way to warn Mr. Dantes?”

Fors thought for a moment and said, “Perhaps Mr. Butler does not have malicious intentions.

“Let us observe for now.”

After stating her opinion, she clicked her tongue and sighed.

“I have to say, Mr. Dawn Dantes really is a pitiful fellow. Not only was he used to frame Baron Syndras, nearly imprisoned unjustly, and nearly had his reputation ruined, but beside him is also a butler researching black magic whose intentions and nature are unknown. Sigh. I hope he does not lose his life because of this. In this regard, he is only a helpless ordinary person.”

Xio nodded in agreement.

“After these three days pass, if we still cannot confirm Mr. Butler’s intentions, we will leave him a note as a reminder.”

…

The next morning, after finishing breakfast, Klein looked calmly at Butler Walter once. Then, with his personal valet Richardson, he left the house and took the carriage to Saint Samuel Cathedral.

After listening to the sermon and completing his prayers, Klein made no donation. Instead, he directly found Bishop Elektra.

“Is something the matter?” Although this bishop was under considerable pressure due to the infiltration behind Chanis Gate, he remained quite kind when facing a believer.

Klein smiled and said, “I have experienced some things recently, and I have come to understand my own heart more and more.”

Without waiting for Bishop Elektra to ask, he continued on his own.

“I wish to establish an educational assistance fund for the poor, and I hope to receive the Church’s help.

“I will place my Coim Company shares into this fund and use all the funds they can obtain according to the contract to launch this undertaking.”

Bishop Elektra nearly froze upon hearing this, because this was absolutely not a small sum.

Although outsiders had no way of knowing exactly how much Dawn Dantes had spent to purchase that three percent of shares, they had all heard the relevant rumors and believed it to be over ten thousand pounds. Moreover, the subsequent returns would not be low!

As for Madam Mary back then, when she had been pursued by quite a few gentlemen of status, her total assets had only been tens of thousands of pounds.

Therefore, for Dawn Dantes to donate more than ten thousand pounds in one go was absolutely a grand gesture. Across the entire Evernight Church, aside from donations designated by wills, among all single donations they had received, the number higher than this could be counted on one hand!

“This is an act worthy of any praise,” Bishop Elektra said sincerely. “However, I must remind you not to do something beyond your means.”

Klein answered with a smile, “To me, this is indeed not a small sum, but it is still bearable. It will not affect my life or my business.”

Bishop Elektra’s smile gradually grew warmer. He nodded and said, “The Goddess will surely watch over you.”

Hearing that blessing, Klein’s expression nearly stiffened.

Bishop Elektra continued, “I will report this to His Grace the archbishop and strive to hold a charity banquet for this fund. At that time, we will invite believers of the Goddess from every field, including several great nobles and their families, and see whether anyone else is willing to participate.”

He was well aware that Dawn Dantes had always been trying to enter high society, so he deliberately pointed out the great nobles.