Chapter 52: Spectator

"Stop thinking about the bloody IOU. Let's discuss the ritualistic

magic." Old Neil put away the candles, cauldron, silver knife, and other

items with a relaxed expression.

Klein really wanted to shrug his shoulders like the Americans in his

previous life, but ultimately could not bring himself to do something

that ungentlemanly.

He turned his focus toward the ritualistic magic and threw out detailed

questions that puzzled him, receiving answers from them. For example,

the incantations had a particular format. As long as they were satisfied

and the key meaning was expressed in Hermes, the rest could be left to

one's creativity. Of course, blasphemy or disrespectful descriptions

were absolutely forbidden.

The mysticism class lasted until noon before Old Neil coughed twice.

"We have to return to Zouteland Street."

With that said, he grumbled in an indistinct manner, "To get these

bloody materials, I missed my beloved breakfast."

Klein looked around both amused and puzzled.

"Mr. Neil, do you have a chef? Or a maidservant in charge of cooking?"

A weekly salary of twelve pounds could hire several servants!

According to the newspapers, with board and lodging provided, hiring an

ordinary chef cost anywhere between twelve to fifteen soli a week. It

did not even need a pound. A maidservant to do miscellaneous chores was

even cheaper. Their weekly salaries ranged between three soli six pence

to six soli. Of course, one could not bear any hope of them having any

culinary skills.

*Uh, that's not right. With Mr. Neil's debt of thirty pounds, it's only

normal he doesn't hire any chefs or servants...*

*It seems I've asked another question I should not have

asked...*

While Klein regretted his question, Old Neil shook his head without

minding it.

"I often attempt ritualistic magic, research extraordinary items, and

read corresponding documents at home, so I don't nor is it possible that

I hire ordinary people as chefs, valets or maidservants. I only hire

someone to clean up the place regularly. And if they are not ordinary

people, do you think they will be willing to do such jobs?"

"I seem to have asked a silly question. It's possibly because I will not

do anything that involves mysticism at home," explained Klein in a

self-deprecating manner.

Old Neil had long stood up, wore his round felt hat, and while walking

out the door, rambled on.

"I seem to smell pan-fried foie gras... Once the IOU is completely

settled, I'll definitely have one set! For lunch, I'll definitely eat

roasted pork glazed with apple juices. No, that's not enough. I must

have a sausage infused with mashed potatoes..."

You are making me hungry... Klein swallowed his saliva as he

caught up to Old Neil and headed for the nearby public carriage stop.

After returning to Zouteland Street, Old Neil suddenly grunted after

stepping down the carriage.

"What do I see? Goddess, what am I seeing?"

He was suddenly as nimble as a seventeen or eighteen-year-old lad. He

quickly came to the roadside and picked up an item.

Klein leaned close out of curiosity and looked carefully. He realized it

was a wallet with fine workmanship.

With his lack of experience, he could barely tell if the dark brown

wallet was made of buffalo skin or sheepskin, but he noticed a small

light-blue logo embroidered on the side of the wallet---a white dove

spreading its wings as if ready to take off.

That was Klein's first impression. The second thing he noticed was the

stack of paper notes in the bulging wallet.

There were more than twenty gray notes imprinted with black ink---gold

pounds!

Old Neil opened up the wallet and pulled out the notes. When he looked

at it carefully, he immediately chuckled.

"Ten-pound notes. The honorable Founder and Protector, William I. Wow,

Goddess, there's a total of thirty notes. There's also a few five-pound

notes, one-pound and five-soli notes."

*More than three hundred pounds? That's a huge amount of money in every

meaning of the word! I might not even earn that much in ten years...

*Klein's breathing turned heavy involuntarily.

As the amount of gold pounds was immense, picking up such a wallet was

equivalent to picking up a briefcase of banknotes in his previous life.

"I wonder which gentleman dropped it... He can't be someone ordinary,"

analyzed Klein calmly.

Such a wallet was clearly not a woman's.

"There's no need to care who he is," said Old Neil with a chuckle. "It's

not like we attempted to divine and take money that doesn't belong to

us. We should wait here for a moment. I believe the gentleman will soon

be back searching for it. It's not something that can be given up no

matter who it is."

Klein heaved a sigh of relief. He had a brand-new understanding of Old

Neil's morals.

He was rather worried that he would have used the Goddess's bestowment

as an excuse and paid off his debt. He was still wondering how to

prevent it and persuade him otherwise.

Is this "do as you wish, but do no harm?" Klein suddenly

learned something new.

The duo did not wait more than a minute by the streets when a luxurious

four-wheeled carriage zoomed over. Its side had a light blue logo with a

dove spreading its wings.

The carriage stopped, and a middle-aged man dressed in a black formal

suit with a bow tie of the same color alighted. He looked at the wallet,

took off his hat, and said politely, "Sirs, that should be my master's

wallet."

"Your logo is proof of everything, but I need to make additional

verifications. This is to be responsible for all parties. Might I ask

how much money is there in the wallet?" replied Old Neil politely.

The middle-aged man was taken aback as he said in a self-deprecating

manner almost immediately, "As a butler, I do not know how much money

Master had in his wallet. Sorry. Please permit me to ask."

"As you wish." Old Neil gestured for him to do as he pleased.

The middle-aged man walked to the carriage's side and through the

window, conversed with the person within.

He approached Klein and Old Neil again and smiled.

"More than 300 pounds, but less than 350 pounds. My master does not

remember the exact number."

*Does not remember... That's really some filthy rich guy. If I had that

much money on me, I would definitely be counting it again and again...

*Klein was filled with envy.

Old Neil nodded and handed the wallet back.

"With the Goddess as proof, this belongs to you."

The middle-aged man took the wallet over and did an estimate before

pulling out three ten-pound notes.

"My master is Sir Deweyville. He wishes to commend your morals. This is

what an honest person should receive. Please do not reject it."

*Sir Deweyville? The one who established the Deweyville Trust? The Sir

Deweyville who provided cheap rental apartments to the working class?

*Klein immediately remembered the name.

He was a knight that his brother respected but did not believe was

grounded in reality.

"Thank you, Sir Deweyville. He is a kind and generous gentleman." Old

Neil did not stand on ceremony as he received the three notes.

After watching Sir Deweyville's carriage depart, he turned to look at

Klein when he saw that there was no one around. He flicked the notes and

chuckled.

"Thirty pounds. The IOU is settled.

"I said it will be settled in a reasonable manner.

"This is the power of magic."

...Holy f\\king power of magic! That actually works!? Klein

was once again flabbergasted.

A few minutes later, he entered the building's stairwell and while

heading to the security company, he asked puzzledly, "Mr. Neil, why

didn't you ask for more money?"

"Do not be greedy. One must take care not to be greedy when doing

ritualistic magic. Temperance is a critical trait needed by every

Mystery Pryer if they wish to live long," explained Old Neil happily.

In a huge ballroom, candles were burning on a few chandeliers, emitting

a fragrance that soothed the minds of people. By the sheer number of

candles, they produced a light in no way inferior to that of gas lamps.

There were long tables with pan-fried foie gras, grilled steak, roasted

chicken, fried tonguefish, Desi oysters, mutton stew, cream soup, and

other delicacies. In addition, there were bottles of Mist Champagne,

Aurmir grape wine, and Southville red wine. They were all glistening

with a tempting glow under the light.

Servants in red vests carried trays with crystal cups and shuttled

between the gentlemen and ladies dressed both elegantly or gorgeously.

Audrey Hall was wearing a collared, high-waisted, pale-white dress with

engageantes. Her corset was tightly fitted, while her voluminous layers

were puffed up perfectly with a cage crinoline.

Her long blond hair was coiled up in an elegant bun and the earrings,

necklace, and rings she wore sparkled brightly. At her feet were a pair

of white dancing shoes that were stitched with roses and diamonds.

How many petticoats am I even wearing? Five? Six? Wearing

white-silk gloves, Audrey caressed her crinoline gently with her right

hand.

Her left hand was holding a glass of clear champagne.

Audrey was nothing like her usual self, usually placing herself

center-stage of banquets and making her the focus of attention. Instead,

she avoided the bustle and quietly stood in the shadows of hanging

curtains by the French windows.

She took a sip of champagne as she watched the crowd as though she did

not belong.

*Earl Wolf's youngest son is chatting with Viscount Conrad's daughter.

He likes to move his forearm to reinforce what he says. Hmm, the bigger

the movement of his forearm, the more unbelievable his words. That is

something gleaned from experience... He can't stop trying to elevate

himself by putting other people down. However, he can't help but feel

guilty. It can be seen by the way he talks and his body

language...*

*Duchess Della has repeatedly covered her mouth while laughing with her

left hand today. Ah, I see. She is showing off her pure ocean-blue

sapphire...*

*Her husband, Duke Negan, is discussing the current situation with a few

Conservative nobles. Since the banquet began, he has searched for

Duchess Della once...*

*They almost never make eye contact. Maybe they aren't as in love as

they pretend to be...*

*Baron Larry has made Madam Parnes laugh seven times. That's very

normal, nothing strange about it, but why does she look at her husband

with guilty eyes? Oh, they have gone their separate ways... That's not

right, the directions they are headed leads to the garden...*

In the extravagant banquet, Audrey saw many details she never noticed in

the past.

There was an instant where she nearly believed that she was watching an

opera.

Everyone is a good opera actor... She sighed silently as her

eyes remained limpid.

At that moment, she suddenly sensed something and turned her head. She

cast her gaze onto a dark corner in the large balcony outside.

In the shadows was a huge golden retriever sitting there silently. She

was looking inside at Audrey while half her body was hidden in the

darkness.

Susie... The corners of Audrey's mouth twitched as her

expression instantly changed. She could no longer maintain her state as

a Spectator.