Ten thousand pounds… Audrey blinked, conveying her surprise through a subtle expression. Without needing to speak, Lord Hall sensed her query and chuckled, saying, “He’s a man of insight—his ideas have given me inspiration and resonance. Moreover, one cannot simply overlook a hardship merely because it exists objectively and remains difficult to resolve over a long period.” Audrey caught the gist of her father’s words, though she felt the understanding still somewhat vague, and nodded slightly. From her handbag, which held her dress attire, she produced her cheque book and wrote down the amount: ten thousand pounds. —This was a charitable evening held in the side hall of the church, so there would be no dancing, no elaborate arrangements, no footmen or maids accompanying them. There would simply be simple buffet service, with varying degrees of contributions. Undoubtedly, the ladies would bring their own handbags. After guests gradually deposited their checks into the offering box, they took drinks or light snacks from the long tables on either side and moved about the hall, chatting with others, without sitting down—this was beginning to resemble a reception-style buffet. Kain followed Bishop Elektra to the side of Saint Anthony, where he was introduced to a senior leader of the Church of the Night. Saint Anthony smiled in response to Donatien Tholos' greeting, then glanced at him and said: "Well, we are proud to have a believer like you. The goddess teaches us that character matters more than position—so you are indeed a gentleman of noble stature." To be honest, when facing this saint, Klein felt a bit uncertain, because divine beings or extraordinary figures connected to the domain of "Fate" are likely to detect the misty aura emanating from him—such as the entire "Beast" path, or the "Goddess of Misfortune," the "Night Goddess." If Saint Anthony were a high-ranking figure on the "Never-Sleeping" path and had already mastered extraordinary abilities related to misfortune, then it would indeed be plausible that he could perceive something amiss in D'Artagnan. For this reason, before attending the charity gala, Klein had consulted the misty realm for a divination and received a result that carried no risk. Since the goddess had said nothing, even if the archbishop truly spotted any issues, he would likely simply pretend not to have noticed. Klein responded with a warm smile: "Over the past few weeks, I've frequently come to the church to pray and listen to Bishop Elektra's sermons. It has been a spiritual renewal for me—my soul seems to have undergone a certain purification. That is why I am now able to follow the goddess's teachings and pass on beauty and hope to others." Saint Antonius nodded in agreement: "Before the goddess, all believers are distinguished solely by their character—whether noble or common, male or female, it makes no difference. 'May those living in less fortunate places find peace and be free from fear. 'Let us praise the goddess.' Klein and Bishop Elektra followed suit, gently tapping their chests four times in a clockwise motion: 'Let us praise the goddess!' As Saint Antonius turned to speak to other believers, Klein prepared to head toward the long table to fetch a glass of champagne and ease his thirst. At that moment, he saw a gentleman approaching. Though the gentleman's skin had begun to sag and his abdomen was notably distended, it was clear that he had once been quite handsome. Even now, his bright blue eyes, often smiling, and his well-groomed mustache gave him a pleasing appearance. Crane had already heard Mr. Mahert introduce him, and knew him to be Lord Hall, a member of the House of Lords and a prominent banker. Of course, for Crane, the gentleman's most significant identity was that of the father of the "Justice" lady, and Audrey stood beside him, her eyes bright and attentive, carefully observing D'Artagnan, waiting for the unfolding of the gentlemen's conversation. This made Crane feel slightly uneasy once again. I must embody the persona of D'Artagnan—someone from an ordinary background striving to enter the upper echelons of society, naturally a bit tense and awkward at this moment. A gentleman who appreciates beauty, facing the most dazzling gem in Beckland, will inevitably feel nervous and self-conscious, yet will unconsciously display his discernment, his charm, his desire to speak. Indeed, a wealthy man who has weathered chaos and upheaval carries an inner pride, confidence, and poise—regardless of his inner emotions, he strives to appear composed and respectful, never humble. Klein's thoughts raced as a smile bloomed on his face. To the approaching Count Holberg, he bowed and said, "Esteemed Count, I just happened to notice your check. Your kindness and generosity deeply impress me, yet you never boast about them—never tell others how much you've donated." "Count Hall chuckled, saying, 'No, actually, it's not as much as you—because the cost I've borne is far less than yours.' What he meant to convey was that 15,000 pounds might represent only one-tenth, or even one-fifth, of Lord D'Artagnan's total assets, while 10,000 pounds to him would amount to only one-thousandth, or even less. Clearly, the former has endured a greater sacrifice and offers a more sincere willingness to give. 'In my view,' he continued, 'as long as my donations can help the poor who aspire to change their lives through knowledge, any contribution is truly kind and generous. From that perspective, the difference between 10,000 and 15,000 pounds is merely 5,000 pounds.' Crain made a sincere effort to appear genuine, and subtly glanced at the blonde woman listening nearby. He knew that, to the audience, a 'subtle' glance would be interpreted as 'very obvious.' Audrey smiled gently, listening quietly to the conversation between her father and Daven Tancourt, as though she hadn't noticed the gentleman's attentive gaze—this lack of immediate feedback left Craine feeling a bit less confident in his performance. Count Holbe smiled and said, "Then let's each keep our own views; that's not at all a bad thing. At least we're both praising one another." "I can see you've faced difficult times and lived through the life of the common people," he added. Craine nodded. "I don't shy away from those past experiences—they are among my greatest assets." "And that's precisely what I and my friends have been lacking," the Count remarked with a smile. "Because of that, you possess a unique insight and perspective. I look forward to the opportunity to work with you in the future." "That's exactly what I hope for," Craine responded warmly and sincerely. The Count gestured toward the side. "Some friends are waiting for me to join them. May your good deeds grow, and may your wealth continue to increase." Klein didn't waste any more words—he drew the Crimson Moon on his chest: "Hail the goddess." "Hail the goddess." Both Count Holber and Odile simultaneously tapped four times in a clockwise motion on their chests. Watching them pass by and move toward other areas, Klein unconsciously exhaled a sigh of relief. Suddenly, however, he stiffened, naturally scanning the hall and taking in the shadows at the entrance. The golden-haired dog remained there, still and silent. …… On the return carriage to the Queen's Quarter, Count Holber, who had seemed to be dozing, suddenly turned his head to look at his daughter: "Odile, you mentioned earlier that you wanted to work with a charitable organization within the Church, didn't you? Would you be interested in joining this charitable scholarship fund?" "Oh?" Odile had already sensed her father's intention during their time in church, and now responded appropriately with a look of surprise and bewilderment. "This is merely a small charitable fund." "My brother, Herbert Hall, spoke up for his sister. Lord Hall shook his head with a smile. "I've asked several bishops, and the total donations for tonight have already reached 100,000 gold pounds. 'What do you think accounts for this surge?' Herbert Hall slightly furrowed his brows, pondering. 'Is it bribery?' At the same time, Audrey offered her own perspective: 'Is it the downward movement of knowledge and electoral eligibility?' Lord Hall nodded, then sighed. 'Nothing is necessarily enduring—neither human nature nor the aristocracy itself.' He glanced at Audrey and smiled. 'You don't have to force yourself. I can find others to join this scholarship fund. All I hope is that you'll come to see that certain things aren't inevitable, that they never change—ah, well, there are plenty of other charitable organizations after all.' 'Father, I'll think about it,' Audrey replied seriously. After hearing the stories of the working-class people told by Doun Tanats, she had actually already decided to join the scholarship fund, ready to contribute her efforts in fundraising, government liaison, and event organization—though her hesitation stemmed from the feeling that the middle-aged gentleman had certain issues. Back home, Audrey immediately called for Suzy and closed the door. "What do you think of Mr. Doun Tanats?" Audrey asked directly. The golden retriever sat opposite, thoughtfully, and replied: "He seems to know you or recognize something about you, and often he's performing—there's a clear trace of that. He appears somewhat cautious of me, very perceptive." "Indeed, I've noticed that too. He might be someone special—his performance is excellent, yet it still feels like performance. That's quite normal, though. In social settings, when we interact with different people, we naturally adopt various roles and engage in corresponding performances." "Audrey mused, 'The biggest issue remains—why does he seem surprised, even a bit startled, when he sees me? And how has he been involved in two cases in a row, especially the one involving Baron Sindras, which seems to have some extraordinary elements, as if guided by a clear intention...' Suzy opened her mouth, struggling to find a sufficiently certain explanation, and simply gave a soft 'woof.' Audrey then shifted her focus: 'Hmm... I should investigate Doun Thantès. Once I've confirmed there's no serious issue, I'll proceed with joining the scholarship fund... Ah, yes—Monday's coming up. I can arrange for Firth and Mr. Moon to handle it at the Tarot meeting. They're both in Beckland...'... Monday afternoon, exactly three o'clock. One by one, deep red beams surged through the grand palace, stabilizing into blurred human silhouettes.