Chapter 52: The Audience

Chapter 52: The Audience

"Stop thinking about those damn bills, let's discuss ritual magic." Old Neil tidied up the candles, cauldron, silver knife, and other items with a relaxed expression.

Klein really wanted to shrug his shoulders like the Americans from his previous life, but in the end, he refrained from making such an ungentlemanly gesture.

He turned his attention back to the ritual magic itself, tossing out the detailed questions that had puzzled him earlier one by one, and obtained sufficiently certain answers. For instance, incantations followed a certain format; as long as that was met and the key meanings were expressed clearly in Hermes, the rest could be improvised—though profane or irreverent descriptions were strictly forbidden.

This "occultism lesson" lasted until noon. Old Neil coughed twice and said

"We must return to Zoutland Street."

As he spoke, he muttered a vague complaint

"I missed a lovely breakfast just to collect those damn materials."

Klein looked around, both amused and puzzled, and asked

"Mr. Neil, don't you have a cook at home? Or a maid in charge of cooking?"

A weekly wage of 12 pounds was enough to afford several servants!

According to the newspapers, providing room and board, hiring an ordinary cook only cost 12 to 15 soles per week—not even 1 pound. General maids were even cheaper, ranging from 3 soles 6 pence to 6 soles per week, though one couldn't exactly expect much from their cooking skills.

Uh, wait, that's not right. Given that Mr. Neil was still in 30 pounds of debt, it was only normal that he didn't employ a cook or maids...

I seem to have asked an inappropriate question again...

While Klein was feeling regretful, Old Neil shook his head without any offense.

"I frequently practice ritual magic at home, researching Beyonder items and corresponding literature. I cannot and would not hire ordinary people as cooks, manservants, or maids. I only have people come in periodically to clean. And if they weren't ordinary people, do you think they would be willing to do such work?"

"I seem to have asked a foolish question. Perhaps it's because I don't perform mystical matters at home," Klein explained with self-deprecation.

Old Neil had already stood up and put on his round-brimmed felt hat. As he walked toward the door, he mumbled

"I feel like I can smell the scent of pan-seared foie gras... Once these bills are completely settled, I must have a proper serving! I could definitely eat a whole piece of roast pork with apple sauce for lunch. No, that's not enough, I must have a sausage with mashed potatoes as well..."

*He's making me hungry...* Klein swallowed hard and hurried to catch up with Old Neil toward a nearby public carriage stand.

Upon returning to Zoutland Street, Old Neil had just stepped down from the carriage when he suddenly let out an "Eh?"

"What did I see? Goddess, what did I see?"

He suddenly became as agile as a seventeen or eighteen-year-old youth, rushing to the roadside to pick up an object.

Klein approached in confusion. Looking closely, he found it was a well-crafted leather wallet.

With his current eye for detail and experience, it was difficult to tell whether this dark brown wallet was made of cowhide or goatskin; he only noticed a small, light blue crest embroidered on it, featuring a white dove with its wings spread as if ready to fly.

That was Klein's first impression, but from the second glance onward, his eyes were glued to the banknotes bulging within the wallet.

They were gold pounds with black patterns on a gray background—at least 20 of them!

Old Neil opened the wallet, pulled out the banknotes, and examined them closely, letting out a "Heh!"

"10-pound notes, the respectable 'Founder' and 'Protector' William I. Oh, Goddess, a full 30 of them, plus several 5-pound, 1-pound, and 5-soles notes."

Over three hundred pounds? This was a massive sum in the truest sense! *I might not be able to save this much in ten years...* Klein's breathing involuntarily grew heavy.

Because the value of a gold pound was so high, finding such a wallet was like finding a suitcase full of cash in the modern era.

"I wonder which gentleman dropped it... It certainly wasn't an ordinary person," Klein analyzed calmly.

Such a wallet clearly did not belong to a lady.

"Don't worry about who he is," Old Neil chuckled. "We aren't trying to claim money that doesn't belong to us. Let's wait here for a moment. I think that gentleman will return to look for it soon. For anyone, this is not something easily given up."

Klein breathed a secret sigh of relief, gaining a brand-new understanding of Old Neil's moral character.

He had been quite worried that the man might use the excuse of "God's blessing" to use the money to pay off his bills, and he had been struggling to think of how to stop or persuade him.

*Is this 'Do as you wish, but harm none'?* Klein suddenly had a small moment of realization.

They had waited by the roadside for less than a minute when they saw a luxurious four-wheeled carriage speeding toward them. On the light blue crest on its side was indeed a white dove with outstretched wings.

The carriage stopped, and a middle-aged man dressed in black formal attire with a matching bowtie stepped out of the carriage. He looked at the wallet and tipped his hat in greeting.

"Gentlemen, this should be my master's wallet."

"Your crest proves everything, but I still need to verify it once more; it is a responsibility to everyone. May I ask, how much money is in the wallet?" Old Neil responded politely.

The middle-aged man froze for a moment, then gave a self-deprecating smile.

"As a butler, I should not be aware of exactly how much remains in my master's wallet. My apologies, please allow me to go and ask."

"That is your freedom," Old Neil made a gesturing motion for him to proceed.

The middle-aged man returned to the side of the carriage and exchanged a few words with someone inside through the window.

He approached Klein and Old Neil again and said with a smile

"More than 300 pounds, but less than 350. My master does not remember the exact amount."

*Doesn't remember... what a true big spender. If I had that much money, I'd definitely count it over and over...* Klein was filled with envy.

Old Neil nodded and handed the wallet back.

"The Goddess bears witness; this belongs to you."

The middle-aged man took the wallet, did a rough count, and then pulled out three 10-pound notes.

"My master is Sir Deville. He says your character earns his admiration. This is the reward an honest person deserves; please do not refuse."

Sir Deville? The Sir Deville who established the "Deville Trust Company" to provide cheap rental housing for low-income workers? Klein remembered the name instantly.

He was a knight whom his brother Benson both respected and thought was not practical enough in his dealings.

"Thank you, Sir. He is a kind and generous gentleman," Old Neil did not stand on ceremony and accepted the three banknotes.

After watching Sir Deville's carriage depart, seeing no one around, he turned to Klein, lightly flicked the banknotes, and laughed.

"30 pounds. The bills are settled."

"I told you, they would be settled in a reasonable manner."

"That is the power of magic."

*...Magic my ass! That works too?!* Klein was dumbfounded once again.

After calming down for a few minutes, as he entered the stairwell and climbed toward the security company, he asked in confusion

"Mr. Neil, why didn't you pray for a larger amount?"

"Do not be greedy. Especially when performing ritual magic, one must not be greedy. Temperance is the key element for every Seer to live long enough," Old Neil explained lightheartedly.

...

Inside the massive banquet hall, rows of burning candles stood atop several chandeliers, emitting a pleasant fragrance and accumulating a light that was no inferior to gas lamps.

Long tables were laid out with delicacies such as pan-seared foie gras, roast beef, roast chicken, fried sole, Dieci oysters, stewed lamb, cream soup, and more. Additionally, there were bottles of Mist Champagne, Ormir wine, and Southwell red wine, all emitting an enticing luster under the lights.

Servants in red vests carried trays of crystal glasses, weaving between gentlemen and ladies dressed in either elegant or magnificent attire.

Audrey Hall wore a pale white long dress with a standing collar, high waist, and leg-of-mutton sleeves. Her upper body was tightly cinched, her waist extremely slender, and the multi-layered cake silhouette was perfectly supported by a crinoline.

Her golden hair was elegantly pinned up, her earrings, necklace, and rings all shimmering with bright light, and on her feet were white dancing shoes inlaid with roses and diamonds.

"Are there four, five, or six petticoats inside?" Audrey touched her crinoline with her right hand, which was clad in a white gauze glove.

Her left hand was holding a glass of crystal-clear champagne.

Audrey did not place herself at the center of the banquet to become the focus of everyone as she usually did; instead, she avoided the bustle and stood quietly in the shadows of the floor-to-ceiling window curtains.

She took a sip of champagne and, with a posture that did not belong here, watched the people ahead with a detached gaze

The youngest son of Earl Wolf was chatting with the daughter of Viscount Conrad. He liked to emphasize his points by waving his forearms. Hmm, the wider his gestures, the less credible his words—that was a verified conclusion... He always couldn't help but elevate himself and belittle others, yet he couldn't control his guilt, which manifested through his way of speaking and his body language...

Lady Della used her left hand to hide her laughter repeatedly today. Hmm, I see, she is showing off that pure aquamarine on her left hand...

Her husband, Duke Nigan, was discussing the situation with several conservative nobles not far away. From the start of the banquet until now, he had only proactively sought out his Lady Della with his gaze once...

They had almost no real eye contact... Perhaps, hmm, they aren't as affectionate as they appear...

Madam Panis was made to laugh by Baron Larry seven times. That was normal, not strange, but why was she looking at her husband with such guilty eyes... Oh, they separated... No, the places they are going both lead to the garden...

...

In this extravagant banquet, Audrey noticed many details she would normally never pay attention to.

For a moment, she almost truly believed she was watching a play.

"Everyone is a decent actor..." she sighed silently, her gaze cold.

Just then, she felt something. She suddenly turned her head, looking toward the spacious balcony outside the floor-to-ceiling window, and toward the dark corner of that balcony.

In that shadow, a large golden retriever sat quietly, looking inside with serene eyes, watching Audrey, with half its body hidden in the darkness.

*Susie...* Audrey's mouth twitched, her expression instantly collapsing, unable to maintain her state as an "audience" any longer.