Arthur discreetly declined Malinda's proposed deal.
Arthur did not particularly value 44 Whitebird Street, but selling it just as its price was about to soar would clearly mean taking a terrible loss.
And the credit for this affair?
That was even less negotiable.
Arthur knew full well that only by claiming all the credit could he earn a real reward from the Countess, rather than an empty promise.
Not that the Countess would stop wanting to offer empty promises simply because he deserved all the credit.
Rather, with more of her subordinates watching, she would have to reward him to demonstrate her "fairness," "impartiality," and "noble honor"-after all, he had prevented a plague!
But if the credit were shared...
Then she would have room to make excuses.
The cunning of nobles went hand in hand with their greed, etched into their very bones-just as the human heart was unfathomable.
So Arthur would never share his credit, even though the information and secrets Malinda promised were tempting. He longed for War Elephant's invulnerable body and immense strength. With a physique like that, everything would become so much easier.
But he knew even better that while Malinda might know the secret, that did not mean she could give him such a physique outright.
The Countess's reward, on the other hand, was something he could receive directly.
Naturally, Arthur knew which to choose.
"Doesn't the secret of War Elephant's physique tempt you at all?
He could shrug off cannon fire and lift a carriage with one hand!"
Malinda had not given up and continued trying to entice him.
"Edwin must be invulnerable and immensely strong by now, then?"
Arthur asked with a smile.
Malinda froze, then curled her lip.
Without a doubt, War Elephant's physique was either some special, impossible-to-replicate innate gift, or