Chapter 1017: Maygur Manor

Backlund, Empress Borough, in the outskirts towards the northwest. This

was a place that needed more than an hour via horse carriage. Maygur

Manor was built by the side of the Tussock River, so it had beautiful

scenery around it with flourishing vegetation within its confines.

Strangely enough, Backlund's city areas had perennial rain with

relatively few sunny days. However, in the outskirts, the clouds tended

to be thin, and the sun was always bright. Despite the short distance,

the two places had completely different weather. It was most obvious

within the northwestern outskirts. It was even a rather famous grape

plantation in the Northern Continent. And by following the Tussock River

from this region northwest for another fifty kilometers, one would again

encounter weather similar to Backlund's city area.

Such situations left meteorologists puzzled. They couldn't find any

suitable theories to explain the reason. However, Klein had a vague

guess.

In the Fourth Epoch, this was the capital of the Tudor-Trunsoest United

Empire. It was also here that Blood Emperor Alista abandoned "His"

humanity and became a crazy deity. Therefore, it was normal that the

weather and terrain had changed forever in those very small confines.

Leonard Mitchell had once mentioned information about this during one of

the free exchanges.

Furthermore as an area with a long history and signs of early human

activity, this "Land of Hope" buried countless ancient ruins. It was

very possible that they could have an influence on the weather.

The carriage drove into Maygur Manor, passing by the fountain pond and

small garden that was surrounded by the main building. Finally, it

stopped outside the main door.

Just as Klein got off the carriage with Butler Walter, he saw the land

steward, Richardson, lead two rows of male and female servants by the

door, awaiting their employer.

Compared to 160 Boklund Street, there were more servants here, but they

were mainly lower-class servants.

Looking at Richardson wearing a spanking new suit, Klein nodded with a

smile.

"Well done."

Without waiting for Richardson to reply, he took off his hat and handed

it along with his cane to his valet, Enuni, while asking, "Have you

prepared the activity room for the ladies to chat and for men to play

cards in?"

丨Yes, sir. I've placed poker cards, tarot cards, and some board games.

The piano, violins' and other common musical instruments have also been

moved inside," Richardson answered eloquently.

Klein passed through the door and nodded.

"Where's the smoking room for the gentlemen?"

"Like the ladies, it's all on the second floor. They're separated by

five rooms." Richardson didn't need the servants in the manor to remind

him. He didn't even need to recall to give an answer.

To ensure that his employer's first hunting excursion was flawless, he

had taken note of every nitty-gritty detail. Although it exhausted him

physically, he was excited mentally.

Klein asked about dinner and the guest rooms and confirmed that

everything was in place.

Before long, he received the first batch of guests after Maygur Manor

had a change of name---now known as Dantes Manor.

Member of Parliament Macht and his family!

"This place is much bigger than my Moose Manor." Macht took off his coat

with a smile and handed it to a servant while praising, "I've always

heard of Maygur's wine being of excellent quality, but I've never had

the chance of tasting it. I can finally have my curiosity satisfied

today."

"I hope you won't be disappointed." Klein smiled modestly.

As a famous area for grape plantations in the Northern Continent,

champagne, red wine, and white wine were considered the finest in

Backlund's northwestern outskirts. But with the manor here mainly owned

by the nobles, self-brewed alcoholic beverages were typically not sold

to the public. Therefore, it was almost unheard of. Only people from

high society or those related to them would know of this.

Maygur was one of the most iconic manors. The wine that it brewed was

widely praised by people in the know. Red wine of certain years was even

offered at more than a hundred pounds a bottle by collectors.

However, for Klein to be able to buy this manor for 20,000 pounds, he

naturally had to agree to certain conditions. All the wine from certain

years were to be taken away by Duke Negan's servants.

Macht was rather clear about this and didn't expect to drink famous wine

commodities. He said with a laugh, "You can open a few bottles and pour

a small glass of each for me. Let me decide which of the remaining wine

is most spectacular."

As a member of high society, he had never tasted the wine of Maygur

Manor. The reason was simple: he was a member of the New Party, and the

previous owner, Duke Negan, was the main sponsor of the Conservative

Party.

"No problem," Klein immediately agreed as his gaze swept across Hazel's

face.

Compared to July and August, this girl had clearly cheered up. She no

longer felt apprehensive when facing strangers. Previously, it was as

bad as not willing to participate in any banquets or balls. This made

those familiar with her think she was sick.

And this was all thanks to Audrey. Whenever she met Dwayne Dantes at the

Loen Charity Bursary Foundation, she had mentioned that she had recently

met Miss Hazel Macht twice.

Such communication didn't seem problematic at first glance since Hazel

was a common acquaintance of Audrey and Dantes. Finding a topic about a

common friend was common in idle chatter. However, Klein could read Miss

Justice's hints and understood that she had met Hazel twice at different

balls and banquets and had treated her twice.

After getting Macht's family settled in, Klein welcomed the second batch

of guests for the weekend hunting trip:

Brigadier General Qonas Kilgor who had come with a friend that he had

previously mentioned.

Klein knew this friend, but he didn't know Dwayne Dantes. He was a steam

car mogul, Framis Cage. He was one of the main investors of the bicycle

project. He had relied on a lawyer suspected to be a Beyonder with the

Lawyer Sequence and had bought the 10% shares from Sherlock Moriarty at

a cheap price.

Since he's related to a Lawyer, it can be explained how he's an Earl of

The Fallen's friend... Klein went forward with a smile and hugged

Brigadier General Qonas and Framis Cage.

"Welcome."

He then stepped back and said to the portly, light-blue-eyed Framis who

was a quarter Feysac, "I heard your steam car is very famous. Why didn't

you drive it over?"

Before Framis could answer, the manly Qonas Kilgor said with a smile,

"No, you don't understand him. He will never give up the chance to

showcase his steam car.

"However, the car's too heavy. On the way here, it fell into a ditch and

couldn't be pulled out. Thankfully, I never believed his claims and rode

on a carriage myself, following behind him. Otherwise, he would've had

to cover the remaining distance on foot."

"The main problem is that our roads are terrible. They need to be

renovated and rebuilt. They need metal tracks to be paved, just like

steam locomotives!" Framis retorted and threw his hands up. "I was

planning on seeking some investments from you. Haha, we can talk about

it later."

You were the one who invested in us previously, but now you're asking me

for an investment... Only then did Klein realize that he was a rather

famous tycoon in the upper class of the kingdom!

He had donated shares worth more than 10,000 pounds and had purchased an

expensive manor. He had also established connections with the military,

so it was obvious he was rich!

But in fact, my current net worth is only fifty to sixty thousand gold

pounds, perhaps a tenth of Miss Justice's wealth... I wonder when I can

really become a tycoon with a net worth of a million pounds... Klein

thought in a self-deprecating manner. After some thought, he said, "It's

fine. I'm very interested in the fusion of machinery and steam. When I'm

free, I can take a look at your steam car."

"Spectacular," Framis immediately said with a smile. "If I didn't know

that you had donated a large sum to the Church of Evernight, I might

even think of you as a believer of the God of Steam."

I've drawn the triangular Sacred Emblem on my chest in the past after

all... Klein didn't continue on this topic, afraid that Qonas would

discover his intentions.

He pointed to the staircase and said, "Why don't you head to the smoking

room to try some of the prized cigar collections here?

"It wasn't until I bought this manor that I learned that there was a

room specially for storing cigars. Its temperature and humidity are

maintained, but as you know, I can smoke, but I don't like it."

"Not bad. Do you have Chieftain?" Qonas Kilgor's face suffused a smile.

"Of course." Klein gave a positive answer.

There was only one goal in organizing this hunting trip. It was to hunt

this brigadier general, deputy director of MI9. Therefore, he had taken

into consideration all his preferences.

However, Klein wasn't in a hurry to take action for this hunting trip.

This was because he still lacked an understanding of Qonas Kilgor's

actual strength as a hidden demigod. He needed more gatherings and hunts

to figure out his preferences, level of alertness, and the items he

brought with him.

As a Magician, Klein didn't perform unprepared!

In an apartment in Cherwood Borough.

Fors put down the book in her hand and looked at Xio who was pacing

around the activity room. She couldn't help but ask, "What are you

troubled about?"

Xio shot her a glance and said, "I'm frustrated over whether to inform

MI9 about Viscount Stratford's close relationship with an unknown woman,

or to keep it from them until there's further development."

"Why are you keeping it from them?" Fors first asked in return before

giving her answer. "Viscount Stratford is related to your father's

death, but you normally lack the opportunity or strength to confront

him, afraid of being exposed and affecting your mother and brother. And

now, he might encounter an accident because of that unknown woman. He's

in a relatively easy to deal with state. This is your opportunity, so

you're being hesitant, right?"

Xio fell silent for a moment before saying, "Yes."

Fors closed the book, stared at her friend, and said in a serious

manner, "Since you're hesitating, it means you're already inclined

towards one option."

Xio slowly nodded and said, "Yes."

Fors fondled her slightly long curly hair and stood up, extending her

right hand, and said, "I already know your decision. Well, do you need

help?"

Seeing Xio hesitant to give an answer, she laughed and said, "I'm a

Sequence 6 Beyonder!"

Without waiting for Xio to answer, she looked around.

"If you're worried, we can still seek additional help."

She was implying that they could get help from the members of the Tarot

Club.

Xio thought about it and exhaled.

"Not for now. Let's try it first. Uh, let's head out now and continue

monitoring Viscount Stratford."

"Now?" Fors was taken aback. "Alright. But before that, let me use the

crystal ball to do some astromancy to confirm the level of danger."

After some work, she held the pure crystal ball in one hand and said,

"There's a certain level of danger."