Regarding the question that followed from Bishop Elektra, Caine had rehearsed his response in advance, and upon hearing it, sighed, "It was my father—truly a wise elder—who passed away unexpectedly several years ago." As he spoke, he wove in the emotions accumulated from the moment of his parents' passing, the sense of being away from home in a foreign land, and the lingering traces from his time in Tinggen, making his tone seem calm and gently smiling, yet subtly carrying an undercurrent of poignant, resilient sorrow that never faded. "I'm sorry—he must now have entered the divine realm, resting peacefully under the gaze of the goddess." Bishop Elektra said sincerely, and with a steady, clockwise motion, tapped four times on her chest, drawing a crimson moon. Before Doun Thantès could respond, she looked at him and offered, "There will be a moon mass for the deceased the day after tomorrow, to assist them in drifting into the goddess's realm and achieving eternal peace. Would you be interested in joining us?" The Night Goddess Church observes only a few feast days. The most important is the Feast of Winter, followed by the Great Mass held on full moon nights, also known as the Moon Mass. Then come the regular Sunday masses and prayers. However, each diocese and cathedral, depending on its patron saint or angel, celebrates its own unique feast day. "This is exactly what I hoped for," Caine said, rising to bow with genuine warmth. This would allow him to fully engage with the priests and bishops of the Saint Samuel Church, and even establish connections with the diocesan bishop, laying the foundation for future access to certain church areas. At the same time, he once again felt why the Path of Night could be seamlessly exchanged with the Path of Death: Both paths share powers of peace, eternal rest, and darkness—powers that embody endings and finality. Next, Morit Machet didn’t delve further into Donatien Tholot’s identity or background, as though the question had been merely a casual one. Instead, he and his wife, Liana, exchanged stories about their many years of vacationing in the Dici Gulf, responding to the local native tone with a native-like fluency, emphasizing Dici’s signature grilled fish. Throughout this conversation, he casually mentioned his hunting expeditions during his business ventures in Xibran, suggesting a deep familiarity with the region’s primeval forests. This was a deliberate setup for Donatien Tholot’s second identity—Xibran differed from Dibran in that the colonial powers of Roon and Intis were frequently at odds, with even the areas under direct control often shifting hands. Tracking the movements of a merchant or adventurer there was no simple task, especially if Donatien Tholot used a pseudonym. As for his hunting experiences deep within the original wilderness of Xibairan, Crane did not fabricate them at random nor simply copy them from a magazine or newspaper. Instead, he drew upon the outstanding feats recounted by Anderson, the foremost hunter of the Mist Sea, selecting specific details while omitting the main narrative, crafting his own version—both authentic and deliberately fictional. Whenever the massive pythons and predatory fish with sharp teeth, capable of capturing prey on their own, were mentioned, Lady Liyan, the wife of the esteemed Member of Parliament Mahet, would frequently exclaim in awe, displaying a mixture of fear and eagerness to learn more. Both the Member of Parliament and the Bishop remained deeply interested, often interrupting Don Tancred’s descriptions to ask for further details. "You are truly an exceptional hunter! When I served in eastern Bayran, I never had the chance to enter the jungle, and I never imagined it could be so perilous." "Having listened attentively to the most polished middle-aged gentleman across the table, Morrie Machet picked up a small piece of velvet cake and sincerely praised it. 'If the opportunity arises, I'd like to invite you to go hunting with me,' he said. During their conversation, the housemaid had already brought out the afternoon tea tray, with a male servant attending at the side. Hearing Machet's partly sincere invitation, Caine smiled and replied, 'I'm already looking forward to it.' They continued chatting, exchanging details about the air quality management in Beckland. As the three guests began to prepare to leave—still only recently met and not yet particularly close—Caine, not wishing to make a strong impression, did not insist on keeping them. He accompanied them to the door with his personal servant, Richardstone. Watching the bishop, the member of parliament, and his wife depart, Caine's smile gradually softened, yet it did not fully fade. He's reasonably satisfied with the current progress. The Electra Bishop's church is connected to the Night Goddess Church, which is one of his primary reasons for returning to Baelen. Morit Machet, the current member of parliament, is a retired military officer—undoubtedly a member of one or more officer's clubs—and this connection will help him continue investigating the Baelen smog crisis. Next comes gradually deepening these relationships. Returning to the small parlor, he sees the maid has removed the remaining pastries and tea. He had intended to eat a bit more—after all, the pastries and desserts from Roon, especially from Baelen, are quite excellent, and the chef brought in by Dauin Tanghès is particularly skilled in this area. Even Lady Liyan has praised them repeatedly, and Klein agrees wholeheartedly in his mind. Without speaking, he calmly turns and heads up the stairs toward the third floor. Before dinner, the butler Walter finally returned home to report on the matter of the 10% stake in the Beckland Bicycle Company: "Mr. Kline, we've been fortunate enough that prior to the advertisement, professional lawyers and accountants had already investigated the company's situation and submitted their offers to the seller. However, during the subsequent negotiations, higher-bidding buyers entered the scene, and the original bidder was unable to sustain the competition and had to withdraw. This means we no longer need to wait for the investigation reports—we can directly engage the original team." Kline nodded, asking without hesitation: "What's the current offer?" "The withdrawing buyer offered £6,000, with a psychological floor of £7,000. The other buyer's details remain undisclosed by the seller, though all available information suggests the offer is at least £8,000." £8,000—that's quite solid... Should we raise our bid a little further? If I raise my price just a little, the other side will simply walk away—how awkward would that be? Klein nodded gently. "Send me the relevant reports, and I'll think about it." After reviewing the reports and having dinner, determined to project an image of both generous and shrewd, practical leadership, Klein turned to Richardson and said, "Arrange for two-wheeled carriages—I'm going out for a while." He had expected Richardson to be surprised that two-wheeled carriages were sufficient, not befitting a dignified visit. Yet the close personal servant only registered a brief moment of hesitation before respectfully responding, "Yes, sir." Obedience without questioning—this, too, is a strength. Klein silently remarked to himself, waiting for Richardson to return and help him put on his coat. Once aboard the two-wheeled carriage, he immediately instructed, "Take a circuit through the Beckland Bridge area and the eastern edge." Richardson didn't ask why—only ensuring the horses were carefully guided. The carriage passed through the Joewood district, under the glow of row upon row of gas lamps, and arrived at the Beckland Bridge area. Caine said nothing about where he was going, merely allowing the driver to meander through the nearby streets. Leaning against the carriage wall, he gazed out at the streets, where pedestrians in worn clothing walked with tired faces, as though just concluding their day's work and hurrying home to enjoy dinner. Occasionally, a bicycle with a bell would pass by, swiftly heading off toward the distance, its rider displaying a more vibrant spirit than the others—radiating a sense of pride that was hard to describe. A clear hierarchy was evident, though it was merely a distinction between technical workers and ordinary laborers—differences in weekly wages of just £1 to £2 versus less than £1... Caine exhaled slowly, instinctively lifting his gaze to the sky. By now, Beckland was fully immersed in night, though the fog was not severe, allowing the stars to shine through clearly, revealing a number of bright, twinkling ones. After the major smog event, environmental governance has indeed been improving steadily—yet the living conditions of the lower-tier laborers in the eastern district seem to have changed only marginally. Although their salaries may have increased and working hours have seen some improvement, the rise in living costs due to population influx has largely offset these gains, and the reduction in working hours has been quite limited, merely shortening from the original 15 to 16 hours down to about 11 to 12 hours. It appears that problems are addressed only when they arise, and issues that haven't erupted are simply treated as if they never existed. Indeed, the kingdom is still undergoing internal reforms, and many aspects remain uncoordinated. Klein's thoughts drifted as he gazed out, until the carriage departed the Jowood district. He's been studying plant growth in dark environments lately... How did he suddenly become normal? Gauthierya furrowed her brows in puzzlement, always worried that Frank Lee was preparing something big—an invention. She'd just thought of sending Nina to find out, when inspiration struck, and she turned to see a letter placed on her desk. A gentle smile naturally formed on her face. Gauthierya walked over, opened the letter, and quickly scanned it: "There are two Obrinis not belonging to the Storm Church near the 'Deep Vortex,' to the north of Sunia Island. We've found the direct descendants of the Abraham family. Well done." The "Deep Vortex" was the name of a hazardous sea region, not actually a deep abyss. The Abraham family... Gauthierya thought for a while, but couldn't recall any clues. She'd ask about it at the next Tarot gathering. The next morning, after carefully divining whether to raise the price, Caine told the butler Walter, "We'll hire that team, continue negotiations—my bottom line is nine thousand pounds." "Very well, sir," Walter replied with a touch of apology. "Something has come up at home; I'd like to take a half-day leave early." "No problem," Caine said gently. "Do you need any assistance?" "Thank you for your kind offer," Walter said sincerely. "I can manage it myself, and it's not urgent. I'll first attend to the equity negotiations." Caine didn't press further, simply nodded and approved his leave. Only after Walter had left the room did Caine turn to Richardson and say, "Did Walter see anyone this morning?" "The butler received a letter," Richardson answered without hesitation.