After a philosophy class, Klein felt as if he hadn't slept for three days and three nights, his mind filled with names and concepts such as skepticism, metaphysics, a priori and a posteriori, nominalism and realism, social Roselle, existentialism, and positivism.
If it weren't for the fact that the original owner of this body had learned some philosophy along the way when studying history, he even doubted whether he could have survived a single class. This was nothing like the non-one-on-one education he received when he was in university on Earth, where he could at least take a nap, daydream, read novels, or play on his phone if he didn't understand something.
"Mr. Hamid is quite different from what I imagined. He's witty, cheerful, and outgoing. His lectures aren't boring. He's neither like a philosophy teacher nor does he have the kind of ideas that followers of the ' Lord of Storms ' often hold..." Klein raised his hand to rub his temples, turned Door Opening, heading towards the stairs deep in the hall, returning to the third floor. His personal valet, Richardson, followed silently behind him.
During this process, he noticed that the male and female servants were all busy with their own tasks, and none of them were slacking off. Only when he, their employer, passed by would they stop, bow, and greet him, showing that they were very well-mannered.
Taneja is quite capable in arranging and managing family affairs... Klein stepped into the third-floor corridor and walked towards the semi-open room.
Before even entering, Klein saw the butler, Walter, hanging two double-barreled shotguns on the wall, adding a touch of rugged grandeur to the room.
This is a common feature in the homes of wealthy families. Hunting licenses are very easy to obtain, and double-barreled shotguns are quite powerful, enough for the household servants to deal with infiltrating thieves or even kidnappers.
After hanging it up, Walter took two steps back, examined the shotgun for a few moments, and then took out a gold-cased pocket watch from the inside pocket of his clothes.
Snap!
He opened his pocket watch and looked inside the lid; his serious and rigid face softened noticeably.
Klein coughed lightly to remind the butler, then pushed open the half-closed door and went inside.
Walter closed the pocket watch, put it back in its original place, and bowed slightly, saying:
"Sir, we obtained a total of six 'hunting licenses' and purchased six double-barreled shotguns and corresponding shotgun shells."
Klein, who had the " Death Knell " revolver hidden under his arm, didn't seem too concerned. He simply nodded to indicate that he understood.
He then smiled gently and asked casually:
"When I was looking at the information for the ' Help Domestic Servants Association,' I noticed that you, Walter, seem to already have a wife and children?"
The butler, or rather the head butler, is the employer's deputy and a trusted confidant who cannot be bypassed in many matters. Therefore, cultivating a relationship with the butler is something every employer does, and Klein is no exception.
Moreover, he remembered that " Magic Mirror " Arrodes had said that there would be additional developments in the story of the butler, Mr. Walter.
Walter responded in a very serious tone:
"Yes, when I was a servant at Viscount Conrad's estate, I had frequent contact with a lady due to certain business, and we developed feelings for each other. We were eventually married under the watchful eyes of the goddess, and had a daughter. She is currently attending a grammar school and hopes to pass the entrance exam for Backlund University, but that's something to consider two years from now..."
When his wife and daughter were mentioned, the usually stern butler's tone softened unconsciously.
Currently, all churches emphasize the importance of family in order to combat the life pressures and spiritual problems brought about by the technological advancements of the times. The only difference lies in the different focuses of different churches. Evernight emphasizes gender equality and mutual support within the family; Storm emphasizes men being busy outside while women manage the household and act as supportive Angel for the former; Steam emphasizes learning more skills and engaging in more labor, with each having their own strengths and complementing each other.
Klein listened with a strange sense of emotion, then said:
"Ms. Taneja appears to still be single?"
"Yes," Walter's expression turned serious again. "In modern society, male servants and female servants are still not equal. This isn't about salaries; female housekeepers, male housekeepers, and housekeeper's assistants are on the same level, earning 25 to 50 pounds a year. It's about deeper concepts and ideas, aspects that the Church is committed to changing but faces many obstacles from. After all, the goddess is not Loen's only faith."
He paused, then added:
"Male servants can marry, but if a female servant has a family, it means unemployment or becoming the lowest-ranking, temporary laundry maid who doesn't live in the employer's house. This can only be reversed when she becomes a housekeeper, but this is not something a young, inexperienced woman can handle."
Klein didn't continue the topic, nodded slightly, and walked towards the armchair.
At that moment, his gaze swept over the newspapers piled on the coffee table next to him.
A thought struck him, Klein stopped, turned to the butler, and said:
"I saw an advertisement in the newspaper about the transfer of shares in Backlund Bicycle Company. You should consult with a professional Lawyer and accountant to find out the specifics."
"Haha, I'm very interested in this industry. If the price is right, I'll consider buying it."
In that instant, Klein realized something: a wealthy man who came to Backlund with a large sum of money seeking further opportunities would surely be interested in the transfer of shares in Backlund Bicycle Company.
Even if "he" doesn't see the future of this industry, he would normally ask someone to look into it; otherwise, it wouldn't fit his persona.
Of course, I could also raise the price and sell that 10% stake for more money... Hmm, I must remember, just raise it a little bit, don't be too greedy. If I keep raising it and it gets stuck in my hands, I'll be crying. That would trap all my working capital and make it impossible to maintain my daily expenses... Klein was having a wonderful fantasy while reminding himself of these words.
"Yes, sir." Walter agreed without asking any further questions.
At 4:35 p. m., Richardson, the personal valet, knocked on the door and entered the room, addressing Dawn Dantès, who was leisurely reading a book:
"Sir, Mr. Mauri Macht and his wife, Lady Liana, along with Bishop Electra of Saint Samuel Cathedral, have come to visit."
Mauri Macht? That member of the House of Commons? And why is the bishop of Saint Samuel Cathedral here too...? Klein thought for a moment, then asked with a smile:
Is this such a courtesy?
He had only attended two etiquette classes so far, and he knew that visits between people of this social class were not so direct. Instead, a butler or servant would be sent to deliver an invitation or arrange a time for the visit.
Richardson habitually lowered his head and said:
"Have.
"Because when the housekeeper delivered the business cards and gifts, he informed the neighbors that you had been at home for the past week in the afternoons."
"In this situation, after the neighbor who received the business card has inquired about your situation and observed the relevant details, they can not only send their servant to invite you to visit, but also make a semi-formal visit between 4 and 5 pm, ostensibly while out for a walk and passing by. The lady will wear appropriate attire for the walk; otherwise, it would be considered inappropriate. You can then invite them to afternoon tea."
As Klein walked toward the door, letting Richardson take off his coat and put it on, he casually asked:
"Then why is there Bishop Electra?"
This is what he cares about most; the question he asked earlier was just a prelude.
Richardson replied as if he had been prepared:
"Bishop Electra was visiting Councilor Macht this afternoon, and it seems they mentioned you during their conversation, prompting him to decide to come over for a walk and a visit."
His hands moved without being affected by his words, skillfully adjusting Dawn Dantès's clothes.
Klein grunted in response, and only left after Richardson opened the door.
Soon, he met the three visitors in the small living room on the second floor.
Mauri Macht is a typical Loen gentleman, in his forties, with black hair, brown eyes, a sharp profile, a high hairline, and a slightly long and thin face. He once served in the army and, after retiring, entered politics, starting from the outskirts of Backlund and working his way up to become a member of the Kingdom's House of Commons. He is a follower of the Evernight Goddess, a member of the New Party, and supports improving the atmospheric environment.
His wife, Liana, came from a family of Lawyer and provided her husband with considerable resources for his political career. She was also a believer in the Evernight Goddess.
Electra wore a double-breasted black priest's robe and looked to be only about forty years old. She had deep blue eyes, a thin face, and features that, while not particularly beautiful, gave her a strangely pleasing appearance. She was a bishop whom Klein had seen when he put money into the offering box.
Seeing Dawn Dantès enter, Mauri Macht stepped forward and chuckled, saying:
"I've been hearing these past few days that a devout follower of the goddess has moved into number 160 in the neighborhood, and I thought I should definitely pay her a visit. I just happened to be passing by today, so I took the liberty of coming over. Please forgive our rudeness."
Klein smiled and tapped his chest four times clockwise, saying:
"At times like these, all you need to do is praise the goddess."
"Praise be to the goddess!" Electra and Liana nodded silently, then drew a Crimson Moon on their chests.
After exchanging pleasantries, Klein invited the three guests to take their seats, and the maid promptly served them black tea and coffee. The housekeeper, Taneja, had already asked them what they would like to drink.
"Mr. Dantès, I heard you're a businessman from Desi. May I ask what trade you were in before?" Mauri Macht asked casually, adding with a joke, "Your surname always reminds me of many things."
This refers to the surname of the protagonist in one of Emperor Roselle's bestselling novels.
Klein chuckled and asked in a humorous tone:
Which industry does finding a treasure belong to?
This is also the content of that bestselling novel.
Before the councilors could respond, he began to recite the prepared statement:
"I once owned my own mines, but as you know, they will eventually run out, and the city that thrived because of them will eventually decline."
He was alluding to several resource-rich cities in Desi County where he was born, places rife with gangs and numerous reclusive millionaires, where it would take an ordinary person at least six months to investigate Dawn Dantès.
Bishop Electra nodded thoughtfully and said:
So, you chose to come to Backlund to look for new opportunities?
"I wonder who introduced you to the church?"