Autrus's Gift
Zhang Heng was still investigating Autrus's true identity when he received a gift from Autrus first.
Autrus had promised him this gift when they first met.
But nothing happened for some time afterward, and Zhang Heng had assumed that Autrus had forgotten about the gift. After all, Autrus had also said that after drinking that glass of wine containing scopolamine alkaloid, Zhang Heng would most likely forget what happened afterward.
So theoretically, even if he failed to fulfill his promise, no one would know.
However, someone of Autrus's stature clearly did not like breaking his word. Even if the person he had made the promise to might not remember it, Zhang Heng received a card one noon two weeks later. It bore no signature, only the cryptic words: "Your gift has been delivered. I hope you like it."
Then, that afternoon, shocking news suddenly broke from the Senate. Senator Divorbraie was suspected of accepting bribes, and the sums involved were far from small. Bribery was a serious crime in Rome, punishable by death or exile depending on the amount involved, though such crimes generally appeared among lower-ranking officials.
The truly powerful nobles usually had ways to wash themselves clean after taking money, let alone someone as important as Divorbraie. He would never personally accept bribes; even if something went wrong, the investigation could only lead to those beneath him. Otherwise, Lockeide and the Jewish Gang would not have had to worry about Divorbraie's growing greed. They could simply report it to the Senate, and both sides would go down together.
In truth, Lockeide had no way to deal with the vampire latched onto the Jewish Gang. Otherwise, he would not have made an agreement with Zhang Heng, offering the Patrol Team, Soap, and the others room to grow