"They actually know me? Does this mean Mr. Isengard Stanton often mentions me as a friend, or does the Church of the God of Knowledge and Wisdom know that I was involved in the Great Smog of Backlund Incident?" Klein smiled and nodded calmly.
"Yes, I am Sherlock Moriarty."
The young man with grey-blue eyes immediately stepped aside, gesturing for them to proceed with a warm smile.
"Mr. Stanton had been worried about you, fearing something might have happened to you, but now he can rest assured."
Klein handed the umbrella to the other man, took off his hat and coat as he walked into the foyer Isengard Stanton, who had noticed him, put down his newspaper and pipe, got up from his armchair, took a few steps forward, and looked over.
"Oh, Sherlock, you're finally back! It's been a long time, my friend." Isengard, with a thin face and graying temples, smiled and came over, opening his arms as if to give a greeting hug.
Klein wasn't used to this kind of male etiquette, so he gave a forced response and said with a smile:
"Mr. Stanton, this is not something a believer in Wisdom should do."
Priests and bishops, who are considered " God of Knowledge and Wisdom," often possess a deep-seated pride and rarely use the greeting of hugging.
In fact, apart from the rugged Feynapotter Empire and the open Kingdom of Intis, this kind of etiquette is rarely seen in other countries and regions, and it only occurs among very close friends.
Isengard took two steps back and chuckled:
"No, Sherlock, we are never stingy with respect and kindness to truly Wisdom friends."
In my heart, you are one of the top five Detective in all of Backlund.
"I like hearing that!" Klein chuckled inwardly, then asked humorously in return:
"So you're one of the top three Detective?"
It is indeed pleasing to be praised as truly Wisdom by a Sequence 7 follower of the " God of Knowledge and Wisdom ".
"I hope that's how you see me," Isengard replied subtly and gently, then invited Klein into the living room and to sit on the sofa.
He leaned back in his armchair, picked up his pipe, took a deep drag, and slowly exhaled:
I'm glad you didn't encounter any accidents, and that you're in good physical and mental condition.
"How was your time at Desi Bay?"
Klein had already prepared his explanation and calmly smiled:
"Actually, I didn't go to Desi Bay. I just circled around there and then went to Constant. Haha, I got into some trouble in Backlund and had to find somewhere to hide for a while."
Sherlock Moriarty, a gentleman from the Awwa County with a barely noticeable accent, had gotten into trouble and it was only natural for him to choose to retreat back to his hometown, City of Constant, the capital of the Awwa County.
"I know," Isengard replied in a low voice.
He didn't ask Sherlock what trouble he had gotten into, but instead laughed:
"In short, welcome back to Backlund. If you need any help, please feel free to come to me."
Klein didn't stand on ceremony and immediately said:
"I've come to visit you for two reasons: first, it's been a long time since we last met; and second, I hope you can represent me in selling my shares in Backlund Bicycle Company. Hehe, all the documents are complete; no other formalities are needed."
In order to Acting of a mysterious millionaire and repay the 10,000 gold coins he owed the messenger, he not only planned to sell off his unwanted belongings, but also to give up his 10% stake in Backlund Bicycle Company, since Sherlock Moriarty wouldn't be able to appear openly for quite some time.
"Are you really going to sell it?" Isengard asked, fiddling with his pipe. "Although I've never been a businessman, I can tell that bicycles are a valuable product that can be widely promoted. Its commercial prospects are like the rising the Sun, far from reaching its peak. If you sell it now, you'll lose a lot of money."
"Therefore, buyers will certainly be willing to pay a very, very high premium for this expectation," Klein chuckled. "I believe there are quite a few people who can see the value and prospects of bicycles, and Flamie and Leppard certainly don't want to reduce any of their shares at this stage. Selling my 10% for two or three times the normal price is not a problem. Isengard, the pricing of equity transactions should not only look at the present, but also at the future."
Telling a compelling story and painting a rosy picture of the future to buyers or investors is essential! Of course, I don't need to elaborate on the value and prospects of bicycles; anyone with a business mind can see it. The only problem lies in the production of natural rubber... Klein silently added two sentences in his mind.
"Pricing equity transactions depends not only on the present, but also on the future..." Isengard repeated Klein's words in a low voice, then after a moment of sincere admiration, " Sherlock, perhaps you should go into business, but there are always many unpredictable events in the future."
"Taking risks is the chivalrous spirit of the business world. Well, I admit, I'm in dire need of a large sum of cash right now," Klein replied with a laugh.
Isengard picked up his pipe, took a satisfied puff, and said:
You convinced me.
"I will have a professional Lawyer and accountant determine the current value of Backlund Bicycle Company, and then, with sufficient expectations, sell your 10% stake, deducting the corresponding fees and taxes from the cash received."
"Hmm... how can I contact you? Your lease on that house on Minsk Street seems to have expired a long time ago."
Klein, of course, wouldn't reveal his current identity, and said in preparation:
"You can publish the news of the share transfer in newspapers such as the Tussock Times and the Backlund Daily to let more people know. Competition creates better room for negotiation. Once the shares are sold, publish another announcement to indicate that the matter is settled and there is no need to disturb us further."
"After I see this announcement, I will come to visit you directly."
Isengard was no stranger to communicating remotely through newspaper advertisements, and nodded, saying:
"No problem, of course, all expenses will be deducted from the final profit."
Having achieved his main objective, Klein stood up and extended his hand, saying:
"Thank you for your help, Isengard."
"I should go now. We can talk about some things later."
Isengard did not try to stop him, and saw him all the way to the door.
Klein wandered into the nearby streets, took a horse-drawn carriage, and enjoyed the night view of Backlund in the light drizzle as he headed to the " Bravehearts Bar."
He plans to reopen Sherlock Moriarty's access to information and resources tonight!
Upon entering the noisy and chaotic bar, he didn't go to the bar to order drinks or ask questions. Instead, he circled the boxing ring once before preparing to leave and wait for Miss Sharron to appear in the carriage outside.
Just then, the door to the billiard room creaked open, Ian, wearing an old overcoat, came out holding a newspaper.
His bloodshot eyes swept across the room casually, then suddenly spotted a familiar figure. He opened his mouth, but didn't utter the person's name. Instead, he exclaimed with delight:
"Good evening, sir. Is there anything I can help you with?"
"Not for now, I just came to see an old friend," Klein said with a warm smile.
As they spoke, he noticed that the newspaper Ian was holding was the " Sea News," and the exposed content had a rather eye-catching headline:
Shocking! The mad adventurer has become a wanted criminal!
Crazy adventurer... Klein instinctively felt this was related to him.
Ian noticed his gaze, smiled, and held up the newspaper, saying:
"This is a rare timely report from Sea News, because reward notices have appeared in various places."
"The mad adventurer Gehrman Sparrow plotted an incident that threatened the ' City of Generosity ' and was confirmed to be a member of an evil organization. Thanks to the protection of the Church of Storms and the Kingdom's military, no one in Bayam was injured in the incident, but ' Admiral of Blood ' Senor, who was involved in the incident, went missing as a result, and it is initially suspected that he was killed by Gehrman Sparrow."
"How much do you think they offered for Gehrman Sparrow?"
£50,000!
"This surpasses ' Admiral of Blood ' and is close to 'Admiral of Hell '!"
£50,000... Klein's heart skipped a beat.
He calmed the ripples in his heart and responded with a smile:
Unfortunately, very few people manage to claim such a bounty.
He pointed to the bar's entrance and said:
I'll come see you again when I have time.
"Okay." Ian didn't ask any further questions, but instead asked, "Is Mr. White of Harvest Church your friend?"
Emlyn actually went out? For those followers of the Moon Primordial? Klein nodded and said:
"Right."
After saying that, he squeezed through the crowd, pushed open the door, and left the " Bravehearts Bar ".
After boarding a horse-drawn carriage, Klein turned his gaze to the window, waiting for Miss Sharron to appear.
Of course, he couldn't guarantee that the other person was still there; several months had passed, and the woman and Maric might have changed their usual haunts.
Without a sound, Klein was suddenly struck by Spirit Intuition. He turned his head to look out the window and saw the clear reflection of a young woman wearing a small black soft hat and a Gothic court dress on the glass, which was so dark that it reflected the night.
Turning around, Klein saw Miss Sharron sitting opposite him, her light blonde hair, azure eyes, and pale face no different from usual.
"Good evening," Klein, who didn't need to Acting Gehrman Sparrow, greeted him.
Sharron rose slightly, lifted her skirt slightly, and returned the greeting.
Thinking that the other person might have already read the " Sea News," and finding himself unable to find a topic for small talk, he cleared his throat and said directly:
"I killed Senor."
"Hmm." Sharron nodded slightly, indicating that she understood.
Klein continued with a smile:
"If Maric still needs the Beyonder Characteristic of ' Wraith,' he can wait and raise the funds. Once I find a replacement, I will sell Senor to him."
Sharron didn't ask what "alternative" meant, and simply replied:
"After seeing that news, he's been waiting for you to come back."
"Very good." Klein chuckled, reaching into his collar and pulling out a silver necklace. " Senor's lucky charm; you should know its details, right?"
Sharron hummed in agreement, waiting for Klein to continue.
"I'm planning to sell it, along with one of the ' Biotoxin Bottle.' Are you, or your circle, interested?" Klein asked.