The Divination of Mr. Gal Failed

Before his transmigration, Odys had held himself to certain moral standards. But after transmigrating, his mindset changed. It felt like he had been given another life, so naturally, he wanted to experience a different way of living.

Besides, there were so many streetwalkers openly and secretly soliciting on the streets. It would have been strange if Odys, now with a little money, had not entertained certain thoughts.

But Odys soon discovered that the sex industry in this world was simply too brutal.

He had watched films about "courtesans" and heard stories of "Yangzhou Thin Horses" and certain pleasure houses.

He knew that once this line of work reached a slightly higher level, it ought to appear more respectable and cultured.

At the very least, there should have been artistic performances and opportunities to chat with the young ladies, right?

As he learned more about the industry, Odys felt the malice of the city. Many streetwalkers lived extremely miserable lives, especially those who had contracted diseases and died in the prime of their youth.

Odys had considered some solutions, such as using connections through the Church of the God of Steam and Machinery to introduce women to factory jobs.

But he found that many of those female workers returned to streetwalking after some time.

After asking around, Odys learned that most of them lost their jobs again when more advanced machinery entered the factories and workers were laid off. Others became unemployed again because factories shut down or managers deliberately dismissed them.

Only then did Odys begin seriously considering the issue. He found that this era offered ordinary people, especially those from poor families, very few choices.

Although society was developing and even creating many new professions, people from poor families lacked the knowledge and experience needed to board this rapidly advancing train and share in the benefits of the age.

In the end, they still spent their lives in poverty, sometimes even misery.

Odys finally understood deeply what the "sorrow of an era" meant. At the same time, he realized that with his status and abilities, it would be difficult to help these women through legal and proper means.

That was why he came up with the idea of reforming Backlund's streetwalker industry. While making plans, he rescued Mandy, who was about to be sold into a black dance hall over debts, and began training her as his assistant.

Once he had a detailed plan, he used mysticism to subdue the gang led by Enoch. Step by step, he pushed forward with his plans, eventually using all his savings and every loan he could obtain to open the "Nanmu Ballroom."

After the ballroom opened, Odys discovered that these streetwalkers did not ask for much. They only wanted a stable, protected place to do business.

But without Odys's efforts, even that small wish could not have been fulfilled.

Afterward, Odys spent more than half a year training a group of streetwalkers according to the standards of "courtesans," giving them a certain degree of literary and artistic cultivation, teaching them at least one musical instrument and various ballroom dances.

At that point, they truly could no longer be called streetwalkers. They needed to be called by the Loen term: socialites.

It was also from that time onward that Odys began building his own intelligence network.

Because this kind of "business" was so novel, it attracted many high-ranking nobles, wealthy tycoons, and parliamentarians. Even several princes had visited in secret.

It was equivalent to planting many of his own eyes and ears throughout Backlund's upper society.

Previously, Odys had used this intelligence network to confirm that the young nobles who had visited the Roselle Memorial Exhibition alone had displayed no abnormalities recently.

At the same time, Odys cleverly leveraged the power of several important figures, allowing the gray industry of the "Nanmu Ballroom" to exist reasonably.

The tobacco in his pipe burned down to ash. Odys cleared his throat and brought his thoughts of the past to an end.

He looked outside through the window and began pondering the new knowledge he had gained after advancing.

15 Minsk Street, Cherwood Borough.

Klein returned in the carriage hired by the reporter Mike. The moment he entered, he casually took out a coin and silently recited, "I have met Mr. Gal before.

"I have met Mr. Gal before.

"..."

As he recited, he flicked the coin into the air. It landed heads up!

They really had met before!

Klein closed the door and quickly walked to the sofa. Then he began using Dream Divination: "The scene of my meeting with Mr. Gal.

"The scene of my meeting with Mr. Gal.

"..."

After reciting it seven times, he sat on the sofa and fell asleep through meditation.

In his half-dreaming, half-waking state, a small reception room appeared before Klein's eyes, along with an expensive sofa, a tea table, and a cigar box atop it.

This was the scene of their meeting just now.

Soon, the familiar scene was covered by a layer of rolling Gray Fog, and his vision was blocked by it as well.

Klein instantly awoke from the dream. He frowned. The divination had failed.

Was it because he lacked information? Or had some high-level Sealed Artifact blocked it?

Ding-ding—

The doorbell interrupted Klein's thoughts. He returned to the entrance and found the maid of his landlady, Mrs. Starling Sammer, there to invite him to a gathering.

Only then did Klein remember that he had promised Mrs. Sammer he would attend the "matchmaking party" she was holding at her home today.

As for Mr. Gal, he could think about it when he had time, or simply leave the matter there. After all, they were not on the same path, and there was no need to go above the Gray Fog to divine him.

A little after one in the afternoon, Odys took a carriage and once again arrived at the Backlund Fighting Club in Hillston Borough.

It was still the head coach, Fedre, practicing with Odys. After reviewing and reflecting on last night's match, Odys used Tai Chi against Fedre today.

Odys had learned Tai Chi in university physical education classes, and his understanding of it was deeper than his understanding of Eight Extremes Fist.

Move after move—Wild Horse Parts Its Mane, White Crane Spreads Its Wings—he used them all, leaving the club members practicing nearby staring in stunned confusion again.

Fedre muttered inwardly, Has he learned another new fighting style? This style is extremely sophisticated in redirecting and releasing force. Why have I never seen it before? The stance is a little strange, though.

It is only that Odys has not yet fully mastered this style's combat techniques. Otherwise, he would be very difficult to deal with.

Even so, Odys occasionally found chances to strike back today.

After practicing for more than an hour, Fedre nodded in satisfaction. "Very good. I can tell you put a great deal of thought into it."

Odys thanked Fedre and, just as yesterday, began reviewing and reflecting.

As Fedre went to instruct other members and occasionally glanced this way, he sighed inwardly. Perhaps in another week, I will have nothing left to teach him.

By the time Odys left the club, it was already evening again.

Odys was not affected in the slightest by the Gray Fog outside. He smiled in satisfaction; he had gained much again that afternoon.

While heading toward the public carriage stop, he saw that somewhat shabby middle-aged man in his forties from yesterday.

This time, the middle-aged man approached with a smile. "Friend, want to make some money?"

Odys scrutinized him. "Sure. What, do you have some illegal way to make money?"

He thought, Don't tell me I've run into one of those people offering huge rewards for someone to father a child?