Nine o'clock in the morning, in a high-end hotel in Hillston Borough.
Klein picked up a beautifully packaged bottle of white wine, smiled, and handed it to the old man opposite him, saying:
"Mr. Asnia, thank you very much for coming to meet with me. This is a small gift, please accept it."
I will make a decision by tomorrow at the latest, and then I may visit you in person.
He was using a tactful way to indicate that the other party had lost the election.
To be honest, he was quite satisfied with Mr. Asnia. The man perfectly matched his image of a butler: meticulous, proper, professional, comprehension-oriented, and adept at handling all sorts of troublesome issues.
As the oldest and the one who lived the furthest away among the three housekeeper candidates, he arrived a full half hour early and patiently waited outside the door, while Ribac and Walter only arrived a quarter of an hour early.
If it weren't for the " Magic Mirror " Arrodes's hint that the latter two contained some additional clues, Klein felt he would have chosen the old man. After all, his main purpose was simply to use the butler's connections to more easily and naturally infiltrate high society and make contact with his targets.
The bottle of white wine was something he had bought specifically at the Intis Serenzo Restaurant, anticipating that some people would be disappointed and waste their round-trip carriage fare. Each bottle cost £2.
This effectively fleshes out Dawn Dantès' image as a wealthy, sophisticated, and mysterious tycoon.
In addition, he also believed that a butler from an aristocratic family should not be underestimated. Such a person must have known a large number of people in high society, many professional butlers and countless servants in his past professional experience, covering the upper, middle and lower levels. He can effectively influence a gentleman's reputation, which is a necessary reference for entering higher social circles.
In this day and age, 55-year-old Asnia's hair had turned quite gray, and his blue eyes held the Wisdom that came with age Dawn Dantès ' gift, but accepted it, glanced at it, and bowed meticulously, saying:
"I really enjoyed this white wine from Calod. Thank you for your generosity, and I admire your kindness."
Calod? Yes, the waiter mentioned it yesterday. It's a winery in the Champagne Province of Intis, known for producing mid-to-high-end wines, with several vintages considered top-tier. Wow, even a butler knows more about wine than I do. Well, as Mr. Asnia just mentioned, the wine cellars of nobles and the wealthy are directly managed by their butlers or assistants... Does this mean I'll have a wine cellar later? The £2 range is the bottom tier, and the £126 1330 Ormir red wine isn't even the best... How much would such a wine cellar cost...? Thinking about it, Klein felt a tightness in his chest, doubting that the £2888 he had, excluding gold coins, wouldn't last long.
If he hadn't gone through the experience of being the " Clown," he would definitely have lost his composure right now, instead of smiling and saying:
"Your appreciation is the greatest compliment to me, Mr. Asnia. Could you please invite Mr. Ribac from the café downstairs?"
Asnia agreed without hesitation, and less than five minutes later, Ribac knocked on the door and entered the living room.
This gentleman had neatly combed light blond hair, and a few wrinkles were hidden around his eyes and mouth, not too obvious. He had a healthy complexion and a masculine temperament, and looked like the kind of butler who could accompany his master on hunts or even fight against enemies.
After exchanging greetings, Klein smiled and invited the other person to sit down, then went straight to the point:
"Forgive my frankness, but I don't quite understand why you became Baron Sindras's butler. Your father was the deputy butler of the Negan Family, your grandfather was the estate steward of that family, and many of your ancestors served the Duke and his relatives until their passing. You should have followed a similar path in life."
Due to the influence of Emperor Roselle, the custom of the Northern Continent kingdoms to represent a nobleman by his fiefdom and title has changed to using his surname and title, with the former only used on very formal occasions. Of course, there are also a few nobles whose surnames are directly derived from the names of their fiefdoms.
Ribac replied with a standard smile:
" Baron Sindras is a newly ennobled man and a friend of the old duke, so I was sent to his home to help him and his family adapt to aristocratic life and master the corresponding etiquette."
The Duke he was referring to was Pallas Negan, the father of the current Duke Negan, who was assassinated last year.
"Then why did you leave the Baron's house later?" Klein asked cautiously.
Ribac said frankly:
"Although Baron Sindras obtained his title through the Conservative Party, he was one of the kingdom's most famous bankers, investors, and business owners, and one of the earliest millionaires. He had a strong sympathy for the New Party and was willing to provide some assistance, which caused him to clash with many conservative nobles, including the young duke."
"Therefore, to avoid putting the Baron in a difficult position, I offered to leave. He actually tried to persuade me to stay; he is a very good employer."
Klein nodded, then asked:
"You believe in the ' Lord of Storms '?"
Ribac responded seriously:
Yes, the Lord has given us courage, enthusiasm, and a sense of responsibility.
Klein asked a few more questions about the butler's domain, receiving detailed answers each time. He then smiled and said to Ribac:
"Could you please go downstairs to the coffee shop and ask Mr. Walter to come up?"
"I'll make a decision after I finish talking to him. You can wait in the coffee shop for ten minutes."
"Okay." Without a word, Ribac immediately stood up, saluted, and took his leave, displaying a very military demeanor.
After watching him leave and closing the door, Klein sat down again, picked up his black tea, took a sip, and muttered to himself:
"If he is chosen, he will likely establish connections with the current Duke Negan and the Conservative Party. Further developments might include details of the previous assassination attempt..."
Not long after, Walter arrived, knocked on the door, and entered.
Klein exchanged a few pleasantries with the other party before asking:
"What conflict do you have with Viscount Conrad's butler? You know I need to find out; I can't risk offending a nobleman."
Walter had a broad forehead, glossy black hair, and serious brown eyes, but not in a way that made him seem unapproachable. He thought for a few seconds and said:
"As the butler's assistant, I was initially in charge of the Viscount's children. During this time, due to certain events, I gained the appreciation of a certain important figure, which led to the Viscount's favor and the butler's wariness."
"Later, that important figure passed away unexpectedly, and the Viscount's attitude towards me changed accordingly. The butler was even less friendly, which made me think there was no need to wait for a change in circumstances."
The butler, who was in charge of the Viscount's children, had met a very important person... Well, Talym had also met Prince Edessak while tutoring Viscount Conrad's youngest son, and the prince had died a few months earlier Great Smog of Backlund Incident... This matched Walter's account... It seemed that this butler was a victim on the sidelines of what happened back then... He was quite cautious and professional, not revealing his employer's shortcomings, not leaking information about the prince, and not saying much bad about the Viscount's butler... If he were chosen, the extra developments would be very promising... Klein listened quietly, recalling some things.
He then turned to some professional topics, expressing his Wishes to enter high society. After receiving a satisfactory answer, he straightened his clothes, smiled, and stood up, saying:
"Let's get to know each other again, Dawn Dantès, your employer."
Walter immediately bowed and said:
"Sir, is there anything I can do for you?"
He maintained a serious, rigid, and calm demeanor throughout, seemingly believing that this was the professional quality of a butler.
"Two things," Klein chuckled. "First, please take this bottle of white wine to Mr. Ribac in the café downstairs and convey my apologies and gratitude. Second, please have a Lawyer draft a professional contract, including for you and the rest of the servants."
"Yes, sir." Walter bowed again.
As Klein handed the white wine to the other person, he casually asked:
" Walter, how many servants do you think I should hire to avoid being impolite?"
Walter took the bottle of Calod white wine and answered without hesitation:
"You should first determine where you will live; only then can you know exactly how many servants you will need."
"Hmm, what suggestions do you have? My requirements are simple: live in the North Borough. I'm a devout follower of the goddess." Klein casually drew a Crimson Moon on his chest.
Based on information I've gleaned from newspapers and magazines, a garden villa in an upscale city neighborhood would cost at least £3 per week, or £156 per year... While there's no direct figure, we can infer that a very nice garden villa in the suburbs costs around £2 per week, and a single room in a luxury apartment would be similar. This is considered quite luxurious, something only the upper-middle class can afford. So, we can use this as a preliminary estimate of the rent for wealthy homes...
It's really expensive! In Tingen City, Benson, Melissa, and I rented a townhouse without a garden for only 13 Soli a week, plus 5 pence for furniture. The house we lived in on Minsk Street before was less than 1 pound...
Oh well, £3 it is. I still have £2,888 left. It doesn't matter if I rent something better, it doesn't matter... While waiting for Walter's reply, Klein silently recalled the rental information in his mind and calculated the money he would have to pay every week and every year.
Walter thought for two seconds and answered seriously:
"Sir, you may choose 32 Böklund Street. It's near Saint Samuel Cathedral, a three-story building with over ten rooms, stables, servants' quarters, and a fairly large garden. The neighborhood is home to Baron, members of Parliament, senior Lawyer..."
"The furnishings inside are exquisite, with many famous paintings and antiques. All the furniture and utensils are more than enough to reflect your status. You can rent it for a year first, and if you are satisfied, you can then consider whether to buy the whole thing."
That sounds great... Klein asked with a smile:
How much is the annual rent?
Walter recited the numbers with a serious and practiced air:
"Including furniture usage fees, it costs £1260 per year." (Note 1)
"..." Klein was glad he wasn't drinking tea, otherwise he would have sprayed the butler's face with it.
He used almost all of the Clown's control abilities to prevent his expression from becoming abnormal.
Note 1: Housing rent information is from "How Much Money Was Worth in the Past" and "A Study of Marriage and Family Life in Victorian United Kingdom ".
The building priced at £1260 was rented by the Qing Dynasty to serve as an embassy. Whether it was overpriced, I have no idea.
P. S.: I recommend a book called "Tomorrow's Calamity". The dark and desperate world setting has a unique charm, and the protagonist's lazy system prevents the whole story from being too tense, giving it a good balance of tension and relaxation.