A few minutes later, a large group of people emerged from the manor.
Most of them looked fearful and uneasy; only a few wore expressions that could be called hostile.
Yet even those few hurriedly lowered their heads when they met Qin Ran's gaze, not daring to look up again.
The scene before him told Qin Ran that the Wayne Family's decline was inevitable.
And that was indeed the case.
When Sheriff John announced that he intended to search Wayne Manor, not a single person among them dared object. They simply allowed Qin Ran and John to enter the manor openly.
Moreover, as soon as they entered the spare hall, the middle-aged man pushed over a cart.
The cart resembled a dining cart, but it did not carry food.
Instead...
It carried gold and money.
Once the cloth covering it was removed, solid gold bricks and thick stacks of banknotes filled Qin Ran and John's view.
The sheriff froze.
Qin Ran remained calm.
When he had been brought here and everyone else had been dismissed, leaving only the three of them, Qin Ran had already guessed what the man intended to do.
The Dawn Church had once done the same.
Facing the Wayne Family's vast allied army, the old nun had pushed a cart loaded with gold and Gems into the military camp.
And in return, they had gained "peace."
Now, it was happening again.
Only the roles of the two sides had been switched.
It should have been an extremely amusing sight.
Yet Qin Ran could not muster even the slightest interest.
That was especially true when faced with gold and banknotes that were completely useless to him.
So, he shook his head.
But the middle-aged man had clearly misunderstood Qin Ran's meaning.
"Y-Your Highness, please grant us a