Reward

At 10:30 a. m. the next day, Baron Brignais met Lumian on the second floor of the Breeze Ballroom.

Lumian was dressed very simply today, in a Linen Shirt with Black Waistcoat and brown trousers, the sleeves rolled up high above the elbows, and a wide-brimmed brown hat.

This made him appear both casual and rude.

Baron Brignais scrutinized him for a few seconds, said nothing more, only offering a single instruction:

"When you see the Boss, try not to speak if you can avoid it."

"Okay." Lumian raised his hand and pressed down on the wide-brimmed hat on his head.

Baron Brignais did not bring Louis and the others this time. He led Lumian down to the first floor and into the four carriages that were already waiting at the door.

Less than a quarter of an hour later, the carriage turned into the Memorial Hall District and stopped on a rather quiet street.

The terrain here is higher than the surrounding area, and the houses are all detached Villa, mainly in colors such as white, beige, and gray-blue. There is Lawn in front and a garden in the back, and the whole area is surrounded by iron fences with spikes.

Lumian glanced at the street sign and discovered that this place was called "Springwater Street".

Baron Brignais led Lumian to Number 11 Springwater Street and pulled the rope hanging beside the iron gate.

Before long, a male servant with obvious Southern Continent blood came over and opened the iron gate.

"Mr. Martin is waiting for you in his Study," the Deep Brown -skinned valet said with a slightly arrogant air.

Without giving Baron Brignais and Lumian a chance to respond, he turned and stepped onto the concrete road between two green Lawn, wide enough for three carriages to travel side by side.

Crossing the Lawn, Lumian and Baron Brignais arrived at the grayish -Gray-White three-story Villa.

The Villa's gate was already open, and a man dressed in a black suit and a dark bow tie, looking like Butler, was waiting there.

Baron Brignais quickened his pace and said with a smile, "Good morning, Faustino."

"Good morning, Brignais," Faustino, who was over fifty, replied with a smile.

"This is Mr. Martin's Butler, Mr. Faustino," Baron Brignais introduced to Lumian.

Lumian greeted everyone like a normal person would, without doing anything out of line.

Faustino nodded without saying much, leading the two through a hall with ornate Crystal chandelier that could double as a dance floor, and into a room filled with bookshelves.

Along the way, Lumian kept observing his surroundings and noticed that in addition to various Oil Painting, there were also weapons such as one-handed swords, two-handed greatswords, Hammer, spears, and short bows hanging on the walls. The half- Wooden Stage that should have been used to display vases and sculptures was now occupied by Silver-White Full-Body Armor, stirrups, breastplates, and other items.

A fanatical enthusiast of cold weapons? Lumian withdrew his gaze and followed him into the Study.

Behind the Desk, by the floor-to-ceiling window, stood a man who was nearly 1.8 meters tall.

His hair was the most common black in Intis, with a few strands of silver at his temples. He looked to be in his early forties, with deep-set features and Eyes that were a little redder than normal brown.

The man had fleshy cheeks but well-defined features, and no obvious wrinkles yet. He had a friendly demeanor, like the kind of businessman who would smile even before he spoke.

At that moment, he was wearing a white shirt and a black suit, without a bow tie or necktie.

"Good morning, Mr. Martin." Baron Brignais's expression became quite respectful.

After Lumian greeted him, Gardner Martin smiled and remarked, "So young!"

"I'm increasingly understanding what Emperor Roselle once said: Heroes often show something different from others in their youth."

Should I call you Lumian, or Charles?

"Charles," Lumian replied, seemingly obediently.

As Gardner Martin walked back from the French windows to the center of the Study, he praised in a warm tone, "In just one week, you killed two Sequence 8 Beyonder and severely injured a Sequence 9. I couldn't have done that at your age."

What Sequence number do you have?

"Sequence 8, ' The Provocateur '," Lumian replied calmly.

Gardner Martin was very satisfied with his honesty and nodded, saying, "What I said just now wasn't quite right. Even when I was at Sequence 8, I couldn't have accomplished what you did."

"Excellent, our Savoie Gang needs outstanding young people like you."

Before Lumian could respond, he turned and asked, "Did you find anything special on ' Hammer ' Ait?"

This person knows the "Law of Conservation of Beyonder Characteristics"? It seems that even if he doesn't understand conservation, he's certain that human Beyonder, like superhuman creatures, release Beyonder Characteristic after death, or leave behind a part or material that can be used to concoct Potion... Lumian pondered briefly, then, without hiding anything, took out the fist-sized Orb resembling morning clouds or evening glow from his pocket:

"Found this."

Gardner Martin showed an approving expression:

"Very good, sell it to me. You don't really need it. How about 18,000 Felkine?"

This is significantly more expensive than the 15,000 Felkine at Mr. K's party... Lumian it, and I don't know if this is Beyonder Characteristic or what the exact price is.

"It's worth 18,000 Felkine?"

Baron Brignais, standing next to Lumian, clearly couldn't quite understand what that strangely shaped Orb was, that his Boss was willing to buy it for 18,000 Felkine.

What was on "Hammer" Ait? The materials he used for his advancement? Or, were Beyonder like supernatural beings? Baron Brignais instantly had many guesses.

He suddenly regretted agreeing last night to give all of "Hammer" Ait's belongings to Charles in order to maintain Dignity.

"Haha," Gardner Martin laughed, feigning magnanimity. "It is indeed very valuable, but I've given you a premium; it's a reward you deserve."

He then turned his head and said to the Butler Faustino, "Go and get 18,000 in Cash, but don't pick the ones with large denominations."

Lumian didn't mind selling the "Pugilist" Beyonder Characteristic to Martin; he had originally planned to sell it at Mr. K's party anyway.

He hoped to raise money to buy a Mystical Item with Negative Effect that he could bear, in order to compensate for his lack of Mysticism skills or his insufficient ability to disguise himself.

After taking the "Pugilist" Beyonder Characteristic from Charles and playing with it for a few seconds, Gardner Martin said to Baron Brignais, "Although Charles is young, he has already made enough contributions to our Savoie Gang and has outstanding strength. It's time for him to take on more important responsibilities."

"Hmm... You're already working hard enough managing the loan business and the other shops on Market Avenue. Let Charles help you manage Breeze Ballroom. Leave some staff for him so he doesn't have to rely solely on himself."

Baron Brignais's facial muscles twitched slightly as he suppressed his dissatisfaction and disappointment, saying, "Yes, Mr. Martin."

Breeze Ballroom is a golden goose, and he has no intention of giving it away.

If Mr. Martin hadn't given the order directly, he would have chosen to hand over the other businesses on Market Avenue to Charles and suggested transferring some Thug from "Giant" Simon and "Blood Palm" Black to the other side.

Lumian sensed that Baron Brignais was somewhat agitated and realized that their relationship had developed a rift, making it impossible for him to trick Baron Brinell as naturally as before.

There may be friction and conflict in the future!

Gardner Martin then said to Lumian, "You manage Breeze Ballroom well. If you do a good job, I'll give you some more important business."

"Thank you, Mr. Martin," Lumian replied, bowing his head and feigning cheerfulness.

On the way back to the Honest Market District, Baron Brignais seemed to have returned to normal, chatting with Lumian from time to time about the Savoie Gang, polite, courteous, and refined.

Lumian was more concerned with the 18,000 Felkine that filled a small cloth bag.

That's enough to buy a small Apartment in the Observatory District!

In the Dalege Region, this would be almost equivalent to a Villa in a fairly good location.

Upon entering the Breeze Ballroom, Louis and the others greeted them.

Before they could speak, Baron Brignais took a puff of his Peach Wood Pipe and said, "Louis, Sakota, from today onwards, you will follow Charles. He will now be in charge of the Breeze Ballroom."

Louis, whose bruises on his forehead had mostly faded, and Sakota, whose hair was naturally wavy and reddish-brown, both wore expressions of astonishment and bewilderment.

They knew Charles would be rewarded this time, but they never imagined he would take over Breeze Ballroom and even assign them to him.

He is now the true leader of the Savoie Gang!

Baron Brignais ignored his Subordinate's reactions and said to Lumian with a smile, "Reserve an office for me on the second floor; the lending business needs it."

"Fine." Lumian didn't care at all.

After a brief handover, Baron Brignais took two Thug to deal with some troubles in the loan business, while Lumian went upstairs to inquire about the specific operations of the Breeze Ballroom.

Louis leaned closer to him and said in a low voice, "Charles, no, Boss, ' Red Boots ' is in your office."

"I don't know if she's here to see you or the Baron. Do you want to go and meet her?"

"Red Boots" Franca Lumian nodded slightly:

Where is my office?

Louis quickly led the new Boss through the Café, into the second-floor corridor, and to a room near the bottom.

"This is it." He pointed to the dark red Wooden Door.

Lumian nodded, turned the Handle, and pushed open the door.

The first thing that caught his eye was a pair of bright red boots, which were placed on the brown wooden desk.

Above the boots was a pair of Ivory riding breeches, and above that, a white Lady's blouse with numerous Flowers and vine embroidered details on the cuffs and collar, and a black tweed jacket with white checks.

Above them are smooth, slender necks, rosy, thin lips, straight, delicate noses, brown eyebrows that fly into the temples, bright, smiling Lake-Colored Eyes, and long Linen-Colored hair simply tied into a high ponytail.

"Red Boots" Franca sat in the swivel chair that originally belonged to Baron Brignais, with her feet propped up on the edge of the table as if it were her Territory.