After hearing the " The Hanged Man's" story, Klein inevitably thought of the " Red Angel " Medici and the Evil Spirit in the underground ruins.
However, he did not share the findings of this exploration, firstly because it was not necessary at the moment, and secondly because it involved Miss Sharron.
As for the other members, they already knew about the destruction of Bansy Harbor last time, and since " The Hanged Man " had not revealed any new information, they naturally had no intention of responding.
Seeing that no one spoke, Alger glanced at "the world," then looked away and calmly said:
"It's your turn."
The " The Hermit " Cattleya immediately turned her head and looked at the " Magician " Fors:
"Madam, what else do you know about Mr. 'Door'? I can pay him accordingly."
Fors, who hadn't intended to reveal his problems, hesitated and wavered upon hearing the second half of the sentence.
As for the reward, I wonder how much the " The Hermit " lady will give me... I don't know enough about Mr. "Door"... and part of it comes from Mr. " The Fool's" words... " Magician " Fors looked again at the head of the bronze table and said:
"Dear Mr. ' The Fool,' may I speak?"
Because they saw each other every Full Moon, Klein knew that Miss " Magician " wasn't in a very good financial situation, so he smiled and nodded, saying:
"Can."
Fors a silent sigh of relief, then turned to " The Hermit " Cattleya and said:
"500 pounds, you can request a private conversation."
Cattleya didn't haggle, and after thinking for a moment, she said:
"No need, just tell me."
She hoped that after hearing Miss " Magician's" story, the other members would recall more about Mr. "Door".
Fors nodded, carefully choosing his words:
"I once obtained a magical item that could help people Spirit World Traversal. However, after using it, I would hear strange murmurs during the Full Moon or Blood Moon, which would bring me almost uncontrollable pain."
"And according to Mr. ' The Fool,' this rambling came from Mr. 'Door.'"
She paused for a second, then added:
He might be asking for help.
So Fors had been silently enduring such pain... She never showed it at all, always appearing to be enjoying life... " Justice " Audrey subconsciously felt sympathy for her friend while also reflecting on her failure to effectively utilize her " Spectator " abilities to discover Fors's impropriety.
A mysterious artifact for Spirit World Traversal... murmurs during the Full Moon... seemingly a cry for help... The " The Hermit " Cattleya mentally repeated the key points of the " Magician's " words, nodding in satisfaction:
Thank you for your description.
Her gaze then swept over the other members, and she was disappointed to find that no one else reacted.
The free exchange continued and came to an end without much fanfare.
After seeing the members off and helping them complete the practical aspects of several transactions, Klein returned to the real world, relaxed slightly, and sat down in an armchair to rest for a while.
Then, he went to his desk, took out paper and pen, and wrote a letter to Sharron, telling her that the Lucky Necklace had been sold, and only the " Biotoxin Bottle " remained, along with the " Lunatic's" Beyonder Characteristic.
After folding the letter and writing down the address, 126 Garde Street, Hillston Borough, Mrs. Maria, and other details, Klein reopened the metal cigarette case, silently revealing " Admiral of Blood " Senor beside him.
The Wraith, like a personal servant, humbly picked up the letter from the table and disappeared into the room.
A few blocks away, a letter appeared out of thin air and fell into a mailbox.
Inside the Hall Family's castle in East Chester County.
Audrey stared unfocused at the mirror with her blue eyes, her mind filled with the contents of " The Book of Secrets ".
These pieces of knowledge intertwine to form an illusory book, which can be recalled and viewed to the corresponding page based on one's thoughts.
This is a product of Klein's ability to directly mobilize a small amount of power from the mysterious space above the Gray Fog, combining the information he was given with the " Seer's " dream recollection ability; it can last for one to two weeks.
This was enough for Audrey to finish reading the Book of Secrets, and if there were any parts she couldn't remember, she could continue to ask for more.
"Mr. ' The Fool ' seems to be getting better and better..." Audrey thought happily, her eyes gradually regaining their light.
She stood up, walked to the door, and smiled at the large golden retriever sitting bored outside:
" Susie, you're not acting like a lady."
Susie glanced around warily, sniffed, and then spoke:
"This is the most standard movement during hunting dog training."
"But you're not a qualified hunting dog..." Audrey thought to herself, then said with a smile:
I thought you'd answer me like this: Audrey, I'm just a dog.
Susie responded seriously:
"Repeating words too often makes it easier for others to understand one's habits and psychological state."
" Audrey, that's what the psychology book says."
... Audrey was momentarily speechless. Just then, she saw her father, Earl Hall, accompanied by a personal valet and a servant, walking up the castle stairs.
Even though the sun was shining brightly outside, the place remained dim and gloomy, with some candlesticks already lit and embedded in the walls, illuminating the steps.
"This castle is so old, I think it needs a major renovation," Earl Hall casually complained to his daughter.
Audrey nodded demurely and said:
"Yes, my dear Earl, that is precisely why I dislike this place; it makes me feel like I'm slowly rotting away."
"But actually, I spend £13,000 every year to maintain this place," Earl Hall remarked with a smile.
Audrey glanced at Susie, then smiled at her father and said:
"Dad, what did you want to talk to me about?"
Earl Hall pointed to the papers in the servant's hand and said:
"A telegram from Backlund: someone's selling a 10% stake in a bicycle company, honey. Interested? I think this industry has a very bright future, and it's far from reaching the bare minimum."
"Bicycle?" Audrey was quite unfamiliar with the term, her eyes darting around, her expression puzzled.
Earl Hall smiled and looked at his daughter, saying:
"A two-wheeled machine for people to ride; you can think of it as a horse-drawn carriage for ordinary people."
"In Loen and Backlund, the largest group of people are not nobles or merchants, but ordinary people engaged in manual labor. The next largest group is the more skilled and higher-status individuals among them. This is the target group for bicycles. They constitute the vast majority and have considerable purchasing power. Even if only 10% of them are willing to buy bicycles, the company can still achieve very good development."
"Yes, they have the relevant patents."
Audrey trusted her father's judgment and understood the prospects Earl Hall described, so she nodded gently:
"Approximately how much is that 10% stake worth?"
"According to preliminary investigations, Backlund Bicycle Company is currently only worth £50,000. This is because the promotion of the products and the explosive growth in sales still need time to develop. Therefore, it cannot be simply assumed that 10% of the shares are only worth £5,000. My suggestion is to offer £8,000 in the first round, with a bottom line of £15,000. I will send someone to handle this matter for you," Earl Hall said succinctly.
Around £10,000... I've almost used up all my cash this month... "Audrey said, slightly embarrassed.
"Dad, I can't come up with that money right away, and selling stocks, real estate, or mines, or waiting for the returns, will all take time."
Earl Hall laughed heartily:
"It doesn't need to be that complicated. You can pledge your shares in Backlund Arms Group or Pritz Commercial Shipping Company to the bank for a short period to get enough cash. Once things are settled, you can pledge your shares in the bicycle company to the bank for a long period to repay the previous loan."
"This way, you only need to pay a higher interest rate for one to two weeks to complete the transaction, while the bicycle company's annual dividends are enough to cover the interest on the long-term loan, allowing you to patiently wait for appreciation, which is highly probable."
Although Audrey hadn't received a full-fledged business and finance education, she had a father who was a prominent banker, so she wasn't unfamiliar with such matters. After a moment's thought, she understood the whole process and asked in confirmation:
"So, I only need to pay two or three hundred pounds to get a 10% stake in the bicycle company?"
"Perhaps even less," Earl Hall said with a smile.
Audrey understood her father's meaning. As the largest shareholder of Bavant Bank and the fourth largest shareholder of Bank of Backlund, he had the ability to secure a short-term loan with a reasonable interest rate for his daughter.
"Thank you, dear Earl." Audrey smiled, lifted her skirt, and curtsied.
Under the Moonlight, the sea was a deep, almost black blue Alger Wilson stood at the bow of the ship, watching the quiet, crouching silhouette of Passo Island.
This is the headquarters of the Church of Storms, a place blessed by the true God!
As a mid-level member of the church, Alger remembered that he had only been there three times. Once was after he found the Blue Avenger " and was promoted to " Navigator ". Another time was last year's performance review. And the last time was a long time ago, when he was a mixed-race boy with dark blue hair who was selected to join the headquarters and become a member of the children's choir. However, he had no talent for singing and was quickly sent away to return to the small chapel on his birth island to work as a servant. The priest there was a very rude person to his subordinates.
Whenever he recalls this experience, his expression becomes quite solemn, yearning to rise to a higher position.
Amidst the whistling wind, the Blue Avenger " sailed silently toward the port.
Also in the Evernight of Backlund, Emlyn White, crept to the mansion of another Sanguine Baron Ruth Báthory.
He believed the other side would soon take action and retrieve the bait, and for a Sanguine, a night with a red moon was perfect for hunting.
After an unknown amount of time, Emlyn's eyes suddenly lit up as he saw a figure leap out of the back window of the house and land silently.