Colin's Surprise

The Russell family had a visitor as well—the Private Investigator who rode a purebred horse.

After inviting John Lorraine inside, Colin went to the kitchen to brew two cups of Duke Black Tea and prepared two plates of Linda's small biscuits to entertain his guest.

John looked as he always did, a faint smile on his face and two dimples showing. He took a stack of papers from his coat and placed it on the coffee table, then dropped two sugar cubes into his tea and stirred it with a small spoon before lifting it to drink.

"This time, my fee was a little steep. This man was utterly unscrupulous, full of holes like a sieve. I collected plenty of dirt on him without much effort."

"First, murder cases. Eight years ago, five years ago, and three years ago, maids disappeared from their household. They were suspected of being **ING abused to death."

"Second, tax evasion. Too many cases to count. These are the materials I found."

"Third, bribery."

A trace of apology appeared on John's face as he spoke.

Colin ignored him and reached out to pick up the papers John had brought, reading through them. Gradually, a satisfied expression appeared on his face.

He really was full of holes like a sieve. Kebir had behaved so recklessly for so many years not because he was impressive, but because no one impressive had ever dealt with him.

Colin read through the papers one by one. Suddenly, he paused at one sheet, surprise appearing on his face. "Both father and son are bisexual?"

"There are reliable witnesses who can confirm it. Do you need me to bring them here?" John winked at Colin, then added, "And Kebir is the top, while Brian is the bottom."

"No need. Those are private matters, not legal matters." At the thought that the powerfully built Brian was actually the bottom, Colin shuddered. You really didn't look like that kind of person.

"Your professionalism truly satisfies me. Here is the remaining payment. Thank you." Colin took five Gold Coins from his coat and placed them on the coffee table. He had previously paid John ten Gold Coins. Then Colin said, "If you return to Kent City, please give Mr. George my regards."

"Certainly." John happily accepted the five Gold Coins and slipped them into his pocket. Rising to his feet, he gave Colin a slight bow. "Mr. Colin, it was a pleasure working with you. If there is another opportunity in the future, please be sure to patronize my business."

As he spoke, John took an exquisitely made business card from his pocket. It bore the words "Lorraine Office," along with an address in Kent City.

"I will." Colin politely accepted the card.

After seeing off the somewhat strange knight detective, Colin returned to the living room and carefully reviewed the incriminating evidence once more.

"Find the victims' families, hire lawyers, combine the murder cases, tax evasion, and bribery charges, and petition City Hall to establish a temporary court to hear these cases." After reviewing the evidence, Colin organized it and planned to go find Knight Victor to proceed with the matter.

These matters carried more weight when handled by an Imperial Knight.

Just as Colin stood up, someone knocked on the door.

"Is Mr. Colin home?" Kebir's voice rang out. Colin frowned slightly, organized the documents and put them away, then went to the door and opened it.

"Kebir?" Colin recognized him. Although he had not met him many times, Brian had left a deep impression on him.

Colin held the door and showed no intention of letting Kebir inside. He asked coldly, "What do you want?"

Kebir was left standing outside, unable to enter, and felt rather awkward. He could not help thinking fondly of Victor. At least that man had let him in.

Kebir looked around, afraid of running into an acquaintance. He quickly said, "I visited Lord Victor, and he directed me here."

As he spoke, Kebir explained the entire matter in detail.

Colin understood at once. That fellow Victor is tempted. He can obtain part of the benefits without confronting them head-on, so why wouldn't he?

Colin looked up at Kebir and smiled faintly. "I refuse to negotiate with you. I intend to burn all the wealth your family has accumulated over generations to ashes, then drive you out of Will City. Just as you drove Smith out of the Ministry of Finance with a few casual words."

Bang! Having said that, Colin rudely slammed the door shut, giving Kebir a genuine door slammed in his face.

Kebir was dumbfounded. He opened his mouth but did not know what to say. He had come prepared to kneel and beg for negotiations, yet he had never expected this outcome.

Kebir stood there awkwardly for a while. Just then, he caught sight of an acquaintance passing by. In embarrassment, he hurriedly climbed back into his carriage and had the coachman take him home.

"What should I do now?" Kebir touched the sapphire ring on his left hand and began to think of a solution.

"The negotiations have failed. We can only fight it out. But they have five Imperial Knights on their side, while I... If the other wealthy merchants learn that this incident happened because of me, they will hate me to death. What exactly should I do?"

Kebir was at his wits' end. When he returned home, he happened to see Brian coming back from outside. He immediately ordered the servants to beat his foolish son. If this brat had not acted so arrogantly at the academy, how could such a disaster have happened?

Afterward, Kebir returned to the living room and explained the situation to the wealthy merchants from the Grain Association who had been waiting there. As expected, when they learned that Colin Russell had been orchestrating everything from behind the scenes, they were all shocked. Upon hearing that this had happened because Kebir and his son had offended Colin Russell, they were nearly beside themselves with rage. But in the end, they had no choice but to sit together and discuss a countermeasure.

The matter had already happened. The key now was not to find the main person responsible, but to figure out how to drive out Colin Russell, that vicious wolf who refused to negotiate.

However, what happened next caught the wealthy merchants of the Grain Association completely off guard and caused the nobles and those merchants to hurriedly distance themselves from one another.

The incriminating evidence Colin had found was sent to City Hall, and Victor had also found the families of the dead maids, who began bringing accusations against Kebir.

Murder, bribery, and tax evasion—when such matters remained unspoken, no one cared. But once they were brought into the open, with five Imperial Knights fanning the flames, the Kebir family immediately became the center of a storm.

Kebir was not thrown into prison, but a large number of the Kebir family's properties were frozen, and Kebir himself was ordered not to leave Will City by even a single step.

Under such circumstances, the wealthy merchants of the Grain Association collapsed like a routed army. Noah Company began buying up the wheat in the farmers' hands on a massive scale.

As for the pre-purchase contracts Kebir had previously signed with the farmers, they naturally became worthless scraps of paper due to the trouble Kebir had found himself in.

However, Noah Company did not immediately make a profit, nor did Kebir immediately collapse.

The grain still had to be harvested, dried, and transported to Kent City for sale. And after all, the Kebir family had been entrenched in Will City for many years and possessed a certain foundation.

This matter was not really that serious. It only required someone willing to step forward as a mediator.

At last, Kebir and his son found a mediator.

Lyon Brown.