On the small balcony of the master bedroom, Klein, in the image of Dautremer Tangyse, stood quietly behind the railing, watching the noble's luxurious carriage slowly recede. The words the baron had just spoken still echoed in his mind, making him feel that the acquisition of Coym's shares had always carried a hidden scheme: While Coym was indeed promising and held bright prospects, its current value was still largely confined to Beckland, constrained by various conditions, and thus not particularly compelling to a major banker to treat with such determination—especially to insist on maintaining control, since even if the deal failed, the outcome would merely be a matter of profit or loss, not a significant setback. For seller Karon, selling shares for cash under external pressure was entirely normal, and being reluctant to sell to the Conservative Party's financial backer, Baron Sindlas, was equally understandable. The real issue, however, was that as a businessman, when faced with a business of moderate importance, he could reasonably consider political alignment—especially when a significant premium was possible—yet it made no sense to reject such an opportunity. Instead, he had hurriedly finalized the deal with Doun Tanthas just before Baron Sindlas presented his final offer, as if harboring a deep resentment toward the pound or an outright hostility toward the Conservatives—an attitude that didn't align with the current political climate, one that had not yet fractured to such an extent within the realm of Luon. It seemed someone was pressuring Baron Sindlas to act, while simultaneously setting a trap, using Karon’s 3% stake as bait, with me as a shield to draw Sindlas into the deal, with the intention of achieving a specific objective. Klein gazed at the rows of gas streetlamps beneath the night sky and murmured a quiet reflection to himself. According to his assessment, if he failed to identify the issue tonight and did not personally dispatch someone to seek out Lord Sindralas, he would inevitably become entangled in a web of seemingly solid clues, ultimately ending up imprisoned. By the time the military or the Night's Church intervened, the evidence would undoubtedly shift, pointing squarely against Lord Sindralas. Throughout this process, as long as Lord Sindralas made even a single misjudgment—viewing Doane Thonathas as a co-conspirator and treating him with more forceful measures—the outcome for Sindralas would be sealed. As for who the true mastermind is and what their actual intentions are, Caine has no way of knowing. He can only be certain that Lady Mary is likewise unaware of the truth. She has merely been exploited, driven by her urgent need to preserve the control of the Coym Company. In short, she still lacks the standing to engage deeply in such high-level conspiracies. Environmental protection... the New Party... the Conservative Party... bankers... acquisitions... sabotage... one after another, these terms surged through Klein's mind, as if he were peering through Beckland's current calm and seeing hidden whirlpools beneath the surface. They had always existed, not alleviated by the great smog, and in fact, some of them were even extensions of that event. Interwoven and layered against an increasingly tense international landscape, Klein suddenly thought of a single word: "change!" In that very moment, Klein seemed to smell the approaching storm. Plus the apocalyptic prophecies, there seems to be no telling how much chaos and madness is brewing in the shadows... My current priority is to start with the military, uncovering the truth behind the great smog event in Beckland. If I get drawn into this whirlpool, I'm likely to face unwelcome complications—perhaps even exposing my Sequence strength, making it impossible to continue playing the role of D'Artagnan de Tancrède. Klein withdraws his gaze, now resolved: He must get out as soon as possible! As for the safety of Baron Sindralas, he has no concerns. First, the Baron is backed by the Conservative Party and has his own network of influence; once alert, he would be hard to discredit. Second, Klein and the Baron have no close ties, so simply offering a courteous reminder is already a mark of high character. As for the truth behind Caron's death, he lacks the standing to investigate it personally and can only rely on the experience and resources of the Night Watchers, hoping they might uncover the real facts. How, then, can he extricate himself from this situation? As long as those 3% shares remain in my hands, I will always be at the center of the stage... Having Mrs. Mary repurchase them early? Difficult—she likely hasn't the funds yet... Selling them to Baron Sindras? That would breach our promises and contracts... As克莱恩's thoughts flowed and took shape, a clear idea began to form. A slight distortion appeared in his facial muscles, which then smoothed out as he realized that what he was about to do was something he had always wanted to achieve but had previously lacked the means to do—and that it would also enhance his image, helping him better integrate into the upper echelons of society. "I could hire a capable housekeeper, a professional lawyer, and a competent business secretary to help," he said. Fothering didn't press further, but instead smiled and added, "If I were you, I'd convert everything into bank deposits, government bonds, and real estate—relying on the annual income they generate to maintain a dignified lifestyle." As soon as she finished speaking, she noticed that Hugh had slightly furrowed his brow and was now focusing on the ground floor of the house. "What's wrong?" Fothering's spirit suddenly tightened. After concentrating for a few seconds, Hugh said, "My intuition tells me something magical—something related to black magic—is present." One of the key traits of a "constable" is the ability, when close enough, to detect unshielded elements of evil, disorder, or madness. "Black magic?" Fothering, being a seasoned extraordinary, wasn't unfamiliar with this concept. Strictly speaking, any magic that does not involve the seven principal deities is black magic, including ritual magic directed toward hidden entities. In a more general sense, black magic specifically refers to unusual spells performed using flesh, hair, and various odd materials—some involving infernal deities, others stemming from extraordinary innate abilities, and still others relying on the spiritual qualities of the materials and the correct symbolic signs or magical inscriptions. Housset nodded emphatically: "Yes, right on the first floor—I intend to take a look there. You stay here and protect Monsieur Thénardier." Foulis remained silent for two seconds, then simply nodded: "Agreed." Once Housset had left the semi-open room with the large balcony, she drew forth from her inner pocket the volume titled "Leymann's Travel Notes," ready to act immediately should anything go wrong. On the other side, Housset moved with agility and lightness, descending to the first floor and reaching the outer door of one of the rooms, following his intuitive sense. Once she had confirmed the destination was within, Hou paused, his expression gradually growing somber: "If she hadn't forgotten, this room should have belonged to the butler who had hired her—Walter!" During that brief moment of stillness, the black magical object or event that had stirred her inspiration vanished, and the room settled into quiet, as though nothing out of the ordinary had ever occurred. Hou quickly pressed her ear against the door, listening carefully to confirm that human breathing still persisted inside. After waiting a while and seeing Walter take no action, she returned to the third floor, where she shared her observations with her friend, Folsy, and concluded: "Did he simply have no awareness of what was happening, or did he attempt to alert Monsieur Thénardier?" Folsy thought for a moment and replied: "Perhaps the butler had no ill intent at all. Let's just observe further." After expressing her opinion, she sighed and remarked, "One must admit that Mr. D'Artagnan is truly unfortunate. Not only has he been exploited to frame Baron Sindrelas, nearly ending up in prison with his reputation ruined, but he's also been surrounded by a housekeeper who studies dark magic—whose motives remain unclear. Oh, I hope he doesn't lose his life because of this. In this regard, he's just an ordinary, helpless man." Huxton nodded in agreement: "Once these three days pass, if we still can't confirm the housekeeper's intentions, we'll simply leave him a note as a reminder." ………… The next morning, after breakfast,克莱恩 looked at the housekeeper Walter with his usual composure, took his personal servant Richard with him, and boarded the carriage for Saint Samuel's Church. After listening to the sermon and offering prayers,克莱恩 made no donation and went straight to Bishop Elektra. "Is there anything I can assist you with?" Although the Bishop was under significant pressure due to the recent breach at the Charnes Gate, he remained remarkably kind and approachable to his congregants. Cain smiled and said, "I've recently gone through some experiences that have deepened my understanding of myself." Before Electra Bishop could ask a question, he continued on his own: "I'd like to establish a scholarship fund specifically for the poor, and I hope the Church can support this initiative. I will contribute my current shares in the Coym Company to this fund, using the full amount I am entitled to under the contract to launch it." Electra Bishop was nearly stunned—this was no small sum. While the exact cost of Downe Thantès' purchase of the 3% stake remained unknown to outsiders, there were widespread rumors suggesting it exceeded 10,000 gold pounds, with strong expectations for solid returns. When Mary first entered the scene, her total assets had only reached a few thousand pounds when she was being pursued by numerous gentlemen of standing. Therefore, Donatien Tholos's donation of over ten thousand pounds is truly a generous gesture—among all single contributions received by the entire night church, excluding those specified in the will, only a handful exceed this amount, and one could easily count them on a single hand! "Such an act truly deserves every commendation," said Bishop Elektra sincerely. "Yet, I must remind you not to go beyond your own capabilities." Klein responded with a smile: "For me, this is indeed a substantial sum, but one I can manage without compromising my lifestyle or business." Bishop Elektra's smile grew warmer, and she nodded: "The goddess will surely watch over you." Upon hearing this blessing, Klein's expression nearly stiffened. Bishop Elektra continued, "I will report to the Archbishop and strive to organize a charity gala for this fund. We will invite goddess devotees from various fields, including several noble families and their relatives, to see if there are still others willing to join." She was well aware that Daven Tan-Tsai had been consistently striving to enter the upper echelons of society, so she deliberately mentioned the noble families. PS: Back in the country, adjusting to the time difference; this chapter is being posted first and will be revised later. I'll fly back to Hangzhou today and return to my regular two-installment schedule tomorrow.