When Klein returned to 160 Böklund Street from Saint Samuel Cathedral, he saw Walter, the butler wearing white gloves, come to greet him.
"Sir, someone just handed me a business card, saying his employer would like to visit you between 4 and 5 pm," Walter said calmly.
Klein racked his brains trying to recall which visitor might be coming, but couldn't come up with a clue. So he nodded slightly and said:
Who is his employer?
Walter glanced left and right, and seeing that the male and female servants were quite far away, he answered:
Baron Sindras.
Baron Sindras ... that multi-millionaire who gained his title through the Conservative Party and the Duke Negan, one of the kingdom's most famous bankers and businessmen? I helped Lady Mary buy shares in Coim Company, and he and his friends were the competitors... He came to visit me personally for this? It was only a transaction of about 13,000 pounds, which was unnecessary for him... Klein's thoughts raced as he walked up the stairs to the second floor.
Walter lagged half a step behind and followed beside him, saying:
"Sir, if you do not wish to see Baron Sindras, I will inform him later that you were delayed by listening to the bishop's sermon at Saint Samuel Cathedral and may not return until quite late."
The butler's implication was that Baron Sindras was a follower of the " Lord of Storms " and wouldn't go directly to Saint Samuel Cathedral to find someone.
Klein thought for a moment, smiled slightly, and said gently:
"This is a nobleman who is extremely influential in the banking industry. We will definitely have to cross paths with him in the future, and I will have to meet him."
"Hmm... we'll arrange for you to sit in the sunniest little living room on the second floor."
As far as Klein knew, Baron Sindras was the third largest shareholder of Bank of Backlund and the largest shareholder of Bank of Southville, making him one of the most influential people in the banking industry of the Kingdom of Loen.
"Yes, sir." Walter didn't say anything more.
At 4:10 p. m., Klein met the visitor who frequently appeared in the newspaper in the pre-arranged small living room.
The only difference from what he had imagined was that after three o'clock, the clouds over Backlund thickened, the sky gradually darkened, and a light drizzle began to fall, with no more sunshine to bring him joy and warmth.
Baron Sindras looked exactly like the people in the newspaper photos, with his black hair, streaked with silver, neatly combed back, revealing a broad forehead and a slightly high hairline.
His face was round, but lacked enough flesh to support it; his cheekbones were quite high, and wrinkles were clearly visible everywhere.
Unlike most Loen people his age, Baron Sindras had no beard, his cheeks were clean-shaven, and his Blue Eyes were so light they were almost colorless.
He was accompanied by a personal male servant and a bodyguard, both of whom were not particularly noticeable in appearance. The former's most distinctive feature was that his hair was already thinning, while the latter had a short buzz cut but a thick beard that extended from his ears to his chin.
"Good afternoon, Your Excellency Baron. It is an honor to have you as my guest." Klein placed his hand on his chest and bowed.
Normally, when a host greets a visitor, he would lean forward, extend his right palm, and shake hands. But at this moment, he was facing a nobleman, so he had to be even more polite.
Baron Sindras nodded slightly and smiled in greeting:
"No, you don't need to be so polite. I should have come to visit you long ago, a gentleman who has experienced much and knows the Southern Continent very well."
After exchanging brief pleasantries, the two took their seats, with their personal male servants and bodyguards standing by their sides.
Just as Klein was about to speak, Baron Sindras said in a calm and friendly manner:
" Dantès, I admire people like you. Not everyone can seize wealth from the chaotic Southern Continent. It requires enough courage, the courage to face difficulties, and amazing judgment."
"When I was on the verge of bankruptcy, I also thought about going to the Southern Continent to start over, but unfortunately, I'm not a Bravehearts."
Although Baron Sindras became a nobleman later, he was not a commoner in the true sense. His great-grandfather and grandfather made a lot of money from maritime trade thanks to the development of colonies and were quite successful merchants. His father invested in industry and accumulated enough reputation and many factories.
By his generation, backed by a substantial family fortune, he had ventured into the booming banking industry and become one of Loen's earliest millionaires.
During this process, Baron Sindras encountered three failures, but he overcame them all. The most dangerous one was when the Bank of Southville he founded faced a severe credit crisis and was subjected to a run on deposits, almost going bankrupt.
He keeps bringing up my experiences in the Southern Continent... Is he trying to tell me that he's discovered there's something wrong with my identity and background, and is using this as a warning? Ha, he probably doesn't realize that all the things he keeps mentioning about my experiences in the Southern Continent are fake... Klein chuckled inwardly, but outwardly responded normally:
That's not bravery, that's recklessness.
"Most people who go to the Southern Continent do possess an adventurous spirit, but that's about it."
Before Baron Sindras could speak, he turned and smiled:
"I almost hired Mr. Ribac as my butler before; he said you were a very good employer."
Baron Sindras listened quietly, then sighed and said:
"This is something I find very regrettable."
"I so sincerely hoped that Ribac would continue to be my butler, but he couldn't overcome the conflict of opinion."
At this point, Baron Sindras looked at the refined and handsome middle-aged gentleman Dawn Dantès, picked up the black tea brought by a servant, took a small sip, and said:
"I sincerely hope we can become friends, and I hope you can transfer your 3% stake in Coim Company to me."
"I will offer you terms you cannot refuse."
"Here it comes... However, there's a contract between me and Mary..." Klein paused for two seconds, then sighed and smiled:
"I value my reputation very much."
Upon hearing this answer, Baron Sindras showed no outward anger, but rather smiled with a mixture of surprise and curiosity:
"Aren't you going to listen to the conditions I'm offering?"
Klein, resembling Dawn Dantès, deliberately shrugged with a wry smile and said:
I'm afraid I won't be able to refuse.
"Haha." Baron Sindras chuckled, slowly rising to his feet. "You're as witty as the rumors say, and possess a resolute will that those rumors don't mention."
He glanced at his bodyguards and personal valet, then smiled at Dawn Dantès and said:
"Being your partner is definitely better than being your competitor. Alright, I should take my leave now; I still have a lot of things to take care of."
Was this a sincere compliment, or a veiled threat? Klein wasn't part of the " Spectator " and couldn't decipher such subtle nuances, so he could only brazenly reply:
"I share similar feelings and look forward to the opportunity to collaborate with you, Baron, in other fields."
Baron Sindras, dressed in a formal suit and bow tie, smiled and nodded without saying anything more, and was escorted out the main gate by Dawn Dantès, his butler, and valet.
Watching the ornately decorated carriage disappear into the distance, the butler Walter suddenly spoke:
"Sir, would you like to hire a few bodyguards temporarily?"
Huh? Klein almost didn't realize what his butler meant.
Seeing that the employer's expression did not change, Walter added:
"Sometimes, competition in the business world can also lead to personal safety issues."
Did the butler also sense the underlying threat in Baron Sindras? Klein slightly curled the corners of his mouth and said:
"I'm not worried about that, because this is Backlund."
Because I've already registered with the Church of Evernight, and because I'm preparing to cooperate with the military... that's why I'm not worried about retaliation from the supernatural realm, or that things will develop like they did with Intis. Besides, Baron Sindras is a successful person of status and position; he wouldn't be so reckless... Klein thought to himself.
When Walter tried to say something more, he chuckled again:
However, caution is always a good habit.
"Hmm... we can hire two bodyguards to provide covert protection, trying to avoid being discovered by the servants."
"Yes, sir," Walter replied immediately.
Klein thought for a moment and then said to him:
"Go to Congressman Macht's house and invite him, his wife, and daughter to dinner at Intis Serenzo Restaurant tomorrow. If they are unavailable, we can postpone it."
He was telling Senator Macht that he was prepared to be tested by the military and complete a small arms deal.
The most convenient way would have been for him to visit Councilor Macht directly and casually mention it, but considering that there might be a Demigod of the " Marauder " pathway around Hibbert, who might discover the Gray Fog aura on him in close contact, Klein changed his mind and set the meeting place at the restaurant outside.
In that case, according to Klein's judgment, the one who failed to " Parasitism " Hibbert would not be able to act together.
Hugh hid in the shade of the trees, watching a brown carriage slowly drive by and turn onto a street in Queens Borough.
The carriage bore a distinctive coat of arms, featuring a flower and two rings, belonging to Viscount Stratford, the chief of the royal guard of the Kingdom of Loen.
Finding nothing, Hugh left his hiding place in frustration, took a public carriage nearby, and returned to the Backlund Bridge Area, then walked into the East Borough.
Arriving at the pub on Dharavi Street, Hugh managed to reach the bar after being shoved aside by a group of drunkards, and went straight to ask the bartender wiping the glasses:
"Any new requests?"
The bartender immediately laughed:
"Yes, the butler Walter, who previously offered a 200-pound reward for a few swindlers, has given me a new commission. It's simple: secretly protect his employer for a few days. The reward is negotiable, but it's sure to be generous."
He was very satisfied with your efficiency in completing the task last time and specified that we should ask you first.
"So, are you interested?"
Hugh was quite impressed with the butler and his employer, because they spent a full £200 searching for a conman who had only swindled £1,000 worth of fabric.
Very generous, paid very quickly... After a brief moment of reflection, Xiu nodded and said:
"OK."