Eastern side of Arend Island, the residence of Viscount Arend.
Leon stood side by side with Father Auden before the courtyard’s barred gate. Father Auden rang the doorbell at the entrance and waited together with Leon.
“Is it really necessary for to show up personally for this kind of thing?” Leon cast the priest a glance.
He had originally thought that after purchasing those ships, Father Auden would go directly to negotiate with Viscount Arend about leasing the pier. Yet Father Auden had insisted that he co in person.
“You’re not planning to operate that Labyrinth for just a year or two and then stop, are you? If you’re going to act long-term within Viscount Arend’s territory, sooner or later you’ll have to deal with this family. It’s not a bad thing to get acquainted early,” Father Auden said.
Through the gate, Leon observed the mansion and courtyard. The residence was large and imposing, and it did not look old. Presumably, when the previous Viscount Arend purchased this territory, he had truly been wealthy.
However, the courtyard had clearly gone without maintenance for a long ti, and weeds overran the garden.
After waiting for quite a while, he saw the mansion door open beyond the courtyard gate. The female attendant hired by Adele stepped out of the house. Upon seeing Father Auden, she imdiately showed a guarded expression.
Adele’s attendant had no personal grievance with Father Auden. Her vigilance was purely because Adele had repeatedly instructed her to be wary.
Leon rembered that the last ti this woman had appeared alongside Adele, she had seed to be her bodyguard. Now she was also the one answering the door. Most likely, the Arend household could no longer afford a steward or servants.
Soon after, the attendant noticed Leon as well. Clearly, she did not recognize him—after all, when Leon had pressed a gun to Adele’s forehead that day, he had been wearing a mask.
“Good day, Miss Hayley. I have an appointnt with the Viscount,” Father Auden greeted Adele’s attendant, Hayley.
“My apologies, Father. Viscount Arend is not currently at the residence,” Hayley replied sternly.
“Oh, he’s often late,” Father Auden said without surprise. “That’s fine. May we co in and wait? If Miss Adele is present, I believe she’ll be interested in what I intend to discuss with Viscount Arend. Please inform Miss Adele that this Mr. Set intends to lease the pier on Arend Island.”
Hayley glanced at Leon in surprise, adjusted her expression, and replied, “Very well, sir. Please wait here for a mont.”
Not long after entering the residence, Hayley returned, walked over to open the courtyard gate, and beckoned them inside. “Please follow .”
They passed through a garden overgrown with weeds due to neglect, then through a corridor stained from lack of cleaning, and finally arrived at the mansion’s study.
“Young Lady, Father Auden and Mr. Set have arrived,” Hayley announced after knocking on the door.
“Co in,” Adele responded from within.
Hayley opened the study door and led the two inside. Adele, seated behind her desk, stood up.
“It has been so ti, Miss Adele,” Father Auden greeted first.
“Please, have a seat, Father Auden, and——Mr. Set.” Miss Adele examined Leon briefly, likewise failing to recognize him at first glance.
In fact, this was the first true “eting” between Leon and Adele.
Leon nodded to her: “Thank you, Miss Adele.”
The mont he spoke, both Adele and Hayley froze.
In an instant, the psychological shadow of that pitch-black gun barrel aid at her forehead resurfaced in Adele’s mind.
“You are——the Inquisitor from that day?” she asked, her pupils trembling as she stared at Leon.
“Yes, we have t once before. I didn’t expect you to rember my voice. I’m truly honored.”
Leon replied calmly.
“For soone who pointed a gun at my head, how could I possibly forget——” Adele said, forcing herself to remain composed.
She actually wanted to complain about it, but in Leon’s presence, she did not dare reveal even a trace of such emotion.
Father Auden observed Adele’s reaction from the side, suppressing the urge to laugh, and said, “Since everyone knows each other, business should be easier to discuss. Miss Adele has probably already heard our purpose?”
“You an——leasing that pier?” Adele quickly grasped the matter.
“Yes. Miss Adele, you should already know that the Hal Inquisition of Hal Town, South Harbor County, has applied to the Church for authorization to investigate the Arend Island Labyrinth. Recently, you must have noticed the ferries traveling back and forth from South Harbor County?” Father Auden said.
“If those are Church vessels, then the Church wants to lease the pier? Does that an the Church wants us to repair the pier first before it will conduct the Labyrinth investigation?” Adele’s expression turned grave.
Ever since learning that the Church might investigate the Arend Island Labyrinth, she had been worrying about how to pay the donation required for the Church to seal the Labyrinth. Now that the Church intended to use the pier for its investigation, logically, the local lord should cooperate.
Since the pier still belonged to Viscount Arend, they were technically obligated to repair it for the Church.
But at present, they truly could not afford such expenses.
“Please rest assured, Miss Adele. This ti, a private fleet is providing transportation services for the Church. The fleet’s owner—naly, this Inquisitor Set—wishes to lease the pier on Arend Island. The rent will be offset by the cost of repairing the pier. For you, this is an excellent bargain.”
As Father Auden spoke, he took out the prepared contract and stepped forward to hand it over.
Hayley took the contract from Father Auden and turned to pass it to Adele.
Adele first cast Leon a surprised look, then cautiously reviewed the contract. “A provisional lease term of three years? In a personal capacity?”
Since the ships had beco Leon’s assets, the contract naturally listed him as the individual leasing the pier.
Father Auden knew the case Leon and Rena had experienced and knew Leon’s true na and identity. But in front of Leon and his recruited subordinates, he still addressed him as Fenrir—partly out of habit, partly out of caution, to prevent unnecessary listeners from overhearing Leon’s real na.
However, in a business setting—especially one involving money laundering—Leon had to use his real identity so that the laundered funds could rightfully be attributed to the na Leon Set.
“Yes. It is this Mr. Set who wishes to lease your pier. Today, he is not here as an Inquisitor, but in a personal capacity. Mr. Set serves in the Church and is willing to use his own assets to provide services for the Church.
The Viscount’s pier has gone unrepaired for years; even the Watcher rchant Consortium considers it to have no collateral value. But if you sign the pier over to Mr. Set for three years now, you will gain a fully repaired, usable pier. It is a very favorable arrangent,” Father Auden explained.
“In other words, you personally own one cargo ship and two ferries, lease them to the Church for use, and also pay to lease the pier for the Church?” Adele sought confirmation from Leon.
“Yes,” Leon replied.
“Inquisitor Set is young and promising. Outside of his duties, he has invested and accumulated certain assets, and he is well regarded within the Church. He is willing to make so contribution,” Father Auden added. “If this cooperation succeeds, he may consider further investing in this island in the future. Miss Adele, haven’t you been searching everywhere for soone willing to invest?”
Adele stared at the priest, frowned deeply, and pondered for a mont before speaking. “Father Auden, what role are you playing this ti? What sche are you laying against our family now?”
Her suspicion toward Father Auden was anything but light. After all, he had been one of the main culprits who had pushed her family into the fire pit.
“The one leasing the pier this ti isn’t —it’s Mr. Set. I’m rely here as a representative of the Watcher rchant Consortium. If Mr. Set repairs your pier, you can either operate it or mortgage it. That benefits the healthy recovery of our loan,” Father Auden said.
“Stop trying to toy with !” Adele’s expression grew stern. “Last ti at the mine, you led the way for him. This ti, you accompany him to visit my ho. Do you really think I can’t see that you’re working for him? He’s your client, isn’t he? And these ships—they’re assets you helped him launder money through, aren’t they!”
Leon silently glanced at the priest.
The trick Father Auden had devised to deceive the Viscount’s daughter had been seen through at once. Clearly, Adele possessed considerable professional knowledge in this area—she even understood the concept of money laundering.
Last ti, Leon’s gun had prevented her from thinking calmly. But this ti, Adele was not so foolish.
Leon was in no hurry. Resolving this issue was Father Auden’s responsibility. If mishandled, Leon had ample grounds to hold him accountable.
Father Auden, however, did not appear flustered. He replied evenly, “You must understand, Miss Adele, that accusations without evidence are slander. You are defaming a gentleman who has generously offered to invest in your family. Do you truly wish to repay your family’s debts?”
“This isn’t a courtroom. You have no right to interfere with my personal views,” Adele retorted firmly. “And what kind of benevolent gentleman could possibly be your client? Don’t joke with ! I don’t care whether you intend to use the repaired pier for money laundering or to set another trap for our family—abandon that thought!”
From the outset, she had held no good impression of Leon, who had once threatened her with a gun. Now, because of his connection with Father Auden, she despised him all the more.
She did not know Leon’s rank among the Inquisition, but if he could associate with Father Auden and possess assets tied to money laundering, he must be corrupt and unscrupulous!
“Don’t overestimate your family, Miss Adele. With your current debts, there is virtually no hope of full repaynt. Who would expect to squeeze money out of a pauper? Your assets don’t even qualify as collateral—let alone as instrunts for laundering money.
Mr. Set is willing to pay to repair the pier. That brings you nothing but benefits, and it even cos with the Church’s backing. What exactly are you worried about? If you can’t even weigh the pros and cons, I’m afraid repaying your debts will be quite difficult,” Father Auden said sarcastically.
“The operating rights of the pier are still in our hands. We don’t need your concern!” Adele replied seriously.
“And if the Church needs to use the pier for its investigation, do you not intend to cooperate?” Father Auden asked.
“If the Church truly requires it, I will find a way!” Adele said earnestly.
“Find a way? Hah. You said you would ‘find a way’ for the more than thirty million in debts your family owes as well. Do you really have a way?” Father Auden shook his head. “If you even reject this thod, then I suppose there is only one way left for you to repay the money—marry a wealthy man!”
User Comments
0 comments from readers