I had thought she would dismissively say she didn't like people who were too naive and lacked capability, implying she looked down on ordinary people. Who knew, she didn't even bother to answer this question... Ah, such a strong sense of superiority is quite likely to lead to setbacks during promotions later on. Klein murmured his quiet criticisms to himself. In his view, extraordinary beings were simply humans with additional abilities—equivalent to being wealthy and well-connected—and in essence, still human, bound by society, only beginning to undergo a fundamental transformation once they reached sequence 4. Moreover, most half-gods are active within human society, even the Sequence 1 "Fated Serpent" Will Amschel, who is diligently fulfilling the duties of an unborn fetus. Perhaps only at the stage of the "Defiant Deities" like Amun can one truly observe the real world from a divine perspective. Klein thought for a moment and then spontaneously remarked, "Apologies—I was once a merchant who frequently traveled between the northern and southern continents, so I don't have much experience with formal galas, by the way, I mean these kinds of galas." "That's quite all right," Sea-Hel replied calmly, as if completely unconcerned whether the topic had been raised or not. Had someone else been in their place, they would have already been at a loss for words when trying to chat casually with this proud young lady, and could only focus on dancing. But Caine, now, had broad experience and deep insight—well-versed in the mysteries of the world and the diverse kinds of extraordinary beings. Building on the earlier apology, he smiled and said: "To me, this isn't a challenge simpler than the sea. It boasts beautiful scenery, yet hides countless difficulties. Of course, the sea is also famous for tales of treasures—some of these stories are clearly fictional, while others sound authentic but remain unverified, much like the legendary 'Key of Death,' which ranks first among them." "The Key of Death?" sea-hydra raised her head, gazing at the considerably taller Mr. D'Artagnan. Indeed, such extraordinary individuals, full of a strong sense of superiority, are always drawn to matters of mystery... Klein chuckled softly and nodded gently. "Yes, it's said that deep within the turbulent sea, in some hidden corner..." He recounted the treasure legend he first heard aboard the "White Garnet," selecting and refining the details, and added further insights gathered throughout his subsequent adventures. Throughout this, he inevitably mentioned the "Four Kings" and the seven pirate admirals. Hai Yuer clearly showed interest, responding to Klein with rare attentiveness, even occasionally asking questions, which lifted the awkwardness between them, and gradually brought their dance to a natural conclusion. With skillful grace, Klein concluded the previous topic and then asked, "Shall we return to where we just were, or go over to get some food?" After dancing, the gentleman is expected to follow the lady's preference and escort her to where she wishes to go—not necessarily to her original location. Hai Ruiu opened her mouth, as if she still wanted to ask something, but ultimately said nothing, simply nodding with grace: "That area just now." Heh, she clearly had a deep affection for the maritime tales... She's just a big kid at heart—once you understand her temperament and discover her interests, she's actually quite manageable. Kline suppressed a smile and returned Hai Ruiu to her original spot by the edge of the dance floor. As for himself, he deliberately strolled toward the long tables laden with various food items, picked up a plate, and carefully arranged a pan-seared beef rib dish with a slice of grilled sirloin served with a black pepper reduction. After all, food was truly the essence of the gathering—far more than dancing or socializing. While thinking this, he made a conscious effort to move and eat with elegance. At that moment, he noticed Madame Mary approaching, who placed a piece of red wine-braised foie gras onto her plate. Upon seeing Kline glance at her, she politely nodded and gave a slight smile in return. "How should I address you? I haven't seen you at any of the dinners or ball events hosted by Senator Mahert." Perhaps noticing that Doane Thorne's hair was beginning to gray and his deep blue eyes both captivating and distinguished, with a slightly high cheekbone and a rather ordinary appearance, Mrs. Mary took the initiative to ask. "Allow me to introduce myself," said Crane with a smile. "I'm Doane Thorne, a merchant who just moved to this neighborhood." "Madam, I'd be honored to know your name." Mrs. Mary nodded thoughtfully, now clearly recognizing him as a merchant striving to make his way into the upper echelons—much like she had once been. "With pleasure," she replied, "Mary Short, a director at Coym Company." She didn't mention that she was the largest shareholder of Coym Company, nor that she currently served on the committee investigating air pollution—an embodiment of the Roonese reserve. Mary Short—had she returned to her father's surname? Yes, she's divorced... Klein murmured quietly, smiling, "I know this company—it specializes in smoke-free coal and high-grade charcoal, and it's been expanding rapidly over the past few months. Honestly, I've been considering investing, but it seems I'm not keeping up with the competition." Since the new air pollution legislation was introduced, demand for smoke-free coal and high-grade charcoal has surged, and Coyum has achieved growth surpassing its previous years of steady efforts. Its overall value is reportedly now over 250,000 gold pounds. Klein's intention to invest isn't just casual—it's genuine, as he believes this sector will remain critically important for years to come, until humanity discovers viable alternatives. Mary, proud of how her investigation into air pollution has propelled Coyum's development, smiled warmly, "That's because people are increasingly concerned about the quality of their living environment." "Having said that, she gave a slight sigh, saying, 'It's getting better and better, yet the troubles are multiplying.' Since they had only just met, Klein didn't press for details about the troubles. Relying on their prior acquaintance with Mrs. Mary, he effortlessly found topics of interest to her, making the conversation quite pleasant. Ah, how different her attitudes are toward Sherlock Moriarty and Daven Tancred! With someone familiar, when they step into a new face and a new identity before her, she treats them entirely anew—without a single hitch. Such a feeling is truly remarkable. As the conversation unfolded, Klein found himself deeply moved, sensing that the 'Faceless' potion he had been drinking was being rapidly absorbed. A few minutes later, a handsome man with bright golden hair approached, holding a glass of red wine, and smiled warmly at Mrs. Mary, saying, 'Mary, what are you two discussing?' "Hibert, this is Mr. Daven Thompson from Dicsy—his experiences at sea in the western bay are truly quite fascinating," Mary introduced the two immediately. "Daven, this is Mr. Hibert Hall, the eldest son of the Earl of East Chester. Oh, we should technically address him as Lord, but he prefers we call him simply 'Mr. Chief Secretary'—Chief Secretary of the Atmospheric Pollution Investigation Committee." I've heard you speak of it, of course, in your capacity as Sherlock Moriarty... The Earl of East Chester—what a distinguished noble, truly at the very pinnacle of society... Caine bowed with respectful yet unassuming grace. "Allow me, as a regular member of society, to express my sincere gratitude—the work of the Atmospheric Pollution Investigation Committee has certainly improved our living conditions." Hibert Hall was delighted by this heartfelt thanks and smiled warmly in response. "It's the result of everyone's dedicated efforts." "Dawn, please don't mention this again—it would make Hibernat proud. No, I was joking just now. He's actually more humble than any of the noble gentlemen I've known. He should be enjoying his summer vacation at the family estate in East Chester, hunting with a group of friends, but as soon as I sent the telegram from Mahert the Member inviting us to the ball this week, he came back immediately." "It's not just for the ball. There are many matters I need to attend to. My father, Lord Holber, has also been making regular trips between Beckland and the family estate before June." Hibernat explained seriously. A man who values his social image... that was Clare's initial judgment. Upon hearing this, Mary casually asked, "What else do you have going on? When will you leave Beckland?" "Everything else has been taken care of, except for one final matter—ah, my sister Audrey is particularly interested in a 10% stake in the Beckland Bicycle Company. She's hired a professional team to negotiate on her behalf, and I'm handling the coordination." Hibern said casually. A 10% stake in the Beckland Bicycle Company? Quite coincidental... Indeed, one couldn't help but notice that the upper circles aren't very large. Klein murmured to himself, deliberately adding, "I've also brought in a team to acquire that 10% stake, and we've offered 9,000 pounds—unfortunately, that wasn't competitive enough to stand out against others, so I've had to withdraw." Hibern glanced at him with mild surprise, "You have good judgment." He didn't mention his own specific offer, not wanting to invite further competition. 9,000 pounds... Mary silently remarked, realizing she had underestimated the financial strength of Daven Tante. At that moment, the melody of the third dance began, and Hallett Horst turned to Mary and said, "Would it be a pleasure if I asked you to dance?" "I've been waiting for your invitation," Mary replied, immediately extending her hand. This prevented Caine from immediately exchanging business cards with them, but he didn't mind, as the ball still had a long way to go. After serving another course of food, he enjoyed his meal while observing the dancers in the ballroom, admiring the grace of the ladies and matrons. During this time, he noticed that Mr. Machet and Lady Lianna were engaging in lively conversations with various guests, chatting warmly with everyone, and even dancing several times. "Walter says that after the guest list is finalized, the host must carefully summarize each guest's tastes and experiences, then design tailored conversations or jokes so that every guest feels individually attended to... The social interactions in the upper circles are truly cumbersome... Heh, perhaps that's why the gentlemen of Roon often have slightly higher hairlines..." Klein sighed, muttering under his breath. He turned his gaze away, now looking at the now-empty plate, pondering whether to invite a lady to dance next or to take another bite. At that moment, his peripheral vision caught sight of Hayouer Machet, the young woman hurrying toward the third floor.