Someone else wants to sell? Kline pondered the sentence, didn't immediately ask a question, and only when the maid entered, placed the silver three-tiered tray for afternoon tea, and then withdrew, did he smile and say, "Madam, why not acquire it yourself? Even a blind person would recognize that future Roon will only place ever greater emphasis on environmental protection. Therefore, Coym's business—focused on smokeless coal and premium wood charcoal—must be exceptionally promising. A value of fifty thousand pounds, or even one hundred thousand, is no longer a fantasy, provided the company's management keeps pace with its growth. Under such circumstances, acquiring shares in Coym is absolutely a sound investment. If I were you, even with substantial debt, I would take it on myself." Mary used two fingers to pluck a small cucumber sandwich from the lowest silver tray, bit gently, chewed slowly, and swallowed it. With this buffer, she finally organized her words: "Since the air pollution control legislation was passed, Kouim Company has experienced rapid growth, and the faces of its shareholders have started changing—after all, those who pursue profits always have a keen sense of timing, and behind them often lie some powerful figures. "If I hadn't been a member of the Air Pollution Investigation Committee and hadn't thus come to know many nobles and senior government officials, I would have surely felt pressure to sell my shares at a relatively favorable price, securing a decent return and then step down from the scene. "Yet even so, a large volume of shares has been rapidly consolidating, and I'm on the verge of losing my status as the largest shareholder, no longer able to exert meaningful influence over the company." "This is the estate left to me by my father. I don't want it to simply become someone else's toy—I hope it grows step by step into the largest supplier of smoke-free coal and high-quality charcoal in Beckland, and eventually throughout the entire kingdom of Ruin. Hmm, I haven't been idle—I've pledged equity, sold off properties and estates, and poured most of my liquid assets into it. In secret, I've acquired a 15% stake, and with the help of trusted friends around me, we've secured another 10%. Combined with the 20% I already held, I now control 45%." "This time, a smaller shareholder has suddenly decided to sell their 3% stake, and we currently don't have sufficient funds to purchase it." That's the game of business—something Klein, accustomed to battles between extraordinary individuals, has only just begun to encounter, feeling both fresh and unfamiliar. He reached out again and took a sandwich with high-quality ham from the bottom of the three silver trays. After thinking for about fifteen seconds, he said, "Should the shares you're planning to acquire in the future also be eligible for pledge?" "We don't have enough time—the other side has already made an offer and trading can happen immediately," Mary said, finishing off the remaining food in her hands. Klein leaned back against the sofa with an air of ease, asking, "Why me?" "Heard your question, Mary felt a little relieved: 'First, you must have brought a substantial amount of cash with you to Bakersfield—no need to raise it through other means. Second, you're only just arriving in Bakersfield, with little or no established connections there, either personally or professionally—this is an advantage I simply can't find in anyone else. To be frank, this means I'm not afraid you'll breach the agreement, even if you choose to align yourself with them; they'd have to weigh whether it's worth it to go to legal battle for that. Third, although we've only met once before, I believe you're someone with discernment, wisdom, and genuine gentlemanly grace." "I'm quite flattered by this praise—though it does indicate that D'Artagnan has truly come across as a successful, seasoned middle-aged gentleman, one who holds a substantial amount of cash and is still uncertain about where to invest it. Indeed, my original sum of 16,943 pounds, plus the 5,000—or rather, 6,000—pounds from the Magician's lady, and the additional 48 pounds provided by Mr. X, brings my total to 22,991 pounds in cash, plus five gold coins. Even after deducting the 5,987 pounds I owe to the courier lady, I can truly claim to be a wealthy man. Many individuals with assets totaling over 100,000 pounds still lack such liquidity. Mr. Kline, unable to contain his enthusiasm, quietly reviewed his own assets and smiled, asking, 'Madam, what would you have me do?'” Mary took a sip of her black tea and said smoothly, "I will absorb the 3% stake. Before that, I will enter into two agreements with you: first, a binding agreement three months from now to purchase your shares at the highest stock price achieved during that period, with the corresponding taxes borne by me; and second, a 'consolidated shareholder' agreement... Additionally, I will make you a member of the Coym Company's board of directors, granting you the associated benefits, overseeing the company's development, and helping you better integrate into the upper echelons of society." It sounds like a sure win—essentially, I'm providing a loan to Mrs. Mary, in return for a certain interest rate and social resources. Compared to a debt agreement, I'm also holding shares in a solid-quality company, which gives me greater security, since I'm only a stranger to her. Of course, that depends on the Covey Company itself remaining stable—well, that's precisely why she invited me to join the board. As Klein carefully evaluates Mrs. Mary's proposal, he begins to feel increasingly enthusiastic. In his view, the identity of Dowen Tangtze will inevitably involve investment activity, otherwise it might raise suspicion. Therefore, the choice of investment becomes a crucial issue, especially considering that Dowen Tangtze might need to abandon everything and leave Beckland at any moment, depending on whether his endeavors succeed or fail. At that point, the money can be taken away—shares can be set aside for later. This kind of investment that allows for quick cash recovery perfectly aligns with my needs. Maybe I’ll even make a decent profit. After thinking it over,克莱恩 smiled gently and said, "Helping a lady resolve her difficulties is something I should do." Mrs. Mary immediately felt at ease. Just as she was about to speak, Daven Tantris, with his rich, resonant voice, continued, "However, I am quite cautious about any investment. I'll hire a lawyer and an accounting team to investigate the condition of Coym Company and reach a conclusion as soon as possible. If everything checks out, we'll proceed with the partnership." Besides this, I'll also do a divination—Clayen silently added to himself. "That's entirely appropriate," Mrs. Mary smiled. "I'll cover the costs for this." Clayen didn't hesitate, simply nodded and asked, "What is the current value of the 3% shareholding?" "The standard valuation was £9,600, but that shareholder believed, given Coym's growth prospects, it shouldn't be less than £12,000." Mrs. Mary provided specific details. Huff... Cline smiled calmly and composedly. "Well, that's good." Dowen Thant was indeed quite wealthy... Mrs. Mary thought to herself and then offered, "Dowen, would you like me to invite you to visit Coym Company tomorrow?" "That would be exactly what I'd like to do," Cline replied with a smile. At the same time, he found himself thinking of something: Previously, Mr. Staline Summer, the landlord, had actually been serving as manager at Coym Company. Another acquaintance—though not Dowen Thant. Cline felt a quiet sense of nostalgia. ... By 8 p.m., the streets entering the eastern district were still bustling, with a clear sign of fatigue. This situation would continue until nearly 10 p.m. Emlyn White changed into a gray-blue workman's outfit, donned a baseball cap, and tucked himself into the narrow streets of the Beckland Bridge district, observing the poor pedestrians going about their daily lives. Though he had no experience in disguise, he was clearly observant and thoughtful—after just a moment of watching, he quickly realized several shortcomings in his own presentation. Most notably, compared to the poor people whose clothes were worn and patched, his newly purchased work attire from the store appeared too fresh and immaculate, drawing immediate attention. Emlyn thought it over, then returned to the shadowed alley, reaching out with his fingers and deliberately tearing at the parts of the clothing most prone to wear and tear, as he had observed during his earlier watch. He then scanned the surroundings, his facial muscles gradually tightening. With a look of distaste and resistance, Emlyn approached the wall, closed his eyes, and rubbed the soiled items onto his clothes and trousers. The smell of coal ash... the smell of decaying mud... urine, the smell of urine... Emlyn instinctively reached out, cupping his mouth, nearly retching. At that moment, he realized that extraordinary sense of smell wasn't always a blessing. After several minutes of endurance, Emlyn finally managed to mask his scent, and even his once-pleasant face was now streaked with coal ash. With this disguise, he slightly bent his back and followed the crowd, moving swiftly into the eastern district without drawing any attention. As he walked, however, Emlyn noticed a problem—he didn't know his way around! He had no idea where the Gray Rock Street or the White Whale Street were located within the eastern district, and most of the street signs had been deliberately damaged. Assassination was indeed a troublesome affair... Emlyn muttered under his breath, and began asking people for directions. After nearly an hour of effort, he finally reached Graystone Street—a narrow avenue where buildings are closely packed, making the area seem dim and heavy even during the day, and profoundly eerie and shadowed at night. While such an environment is ideal for the vampires, the only drawback is that it's terribly dirty and disorganized. After spraying a fragrance-neutralizing agent, Emlin entered the apartment building on number six, making his way up to the third floor, and approached the public restroom, standing just outside the room of Argos, a devoted follower of the "Primordial Moon." Emlin listened intently, then gently released his fingers from his nose. At that moment, he was nearly overcome by the foul odor emanating from the restroom, and only managed to refocus his attention on the room itself. His sense of smell confirmed that no one was present and that there were no bodies inside. "Has someone moved out? Has anyone left and not yet returned?" Emlin murmured silently, stunned. He hadn't expected this hunt to unfold so poorly. Concentrating hard to steady his thoughts, Emlyn left the apartment and hurried toward 19 White Whale Street. This time, he was delighted to find someone inside—Galiss Kevin was at home. At that moment, Emlyn detected another scent, one very similar to the one he had noticed in Argos's room on Gray Rock Street. Two people…there were two people in the room! Argos must have come here to visit Galiss Kevin…two people…Emlyn's expression suddenly grew momentarily still. A one-on-one situation never troubled him at all, but if it were two-on-one—despite having the "Leymann's Travel Notes"—he felt a touch of apprehension. After all, these were two strong vampire warriors.