Chương 18: Chapter Nine 2
Most of the nobles at the dining table had held public positions in financial affairs. Even Baron Lipper had managed the national treasury before and knew the ins and outs of it well. However, these things were definitely not to be talked about openly at the dinner table.
"Those three earls might be disappointed. As far as I know, the old lord still had one last heir. Miss Bertha ran away from home because she didn't want to accept the marriage arranged by the old count for her. Soon after leaving home, she married a down-and-out noble from Xibai who lived in South Port. Before long, they had a son. Although the plague took the lives of Miss Bertha and her husband, their child survived luckily.
"A loyal butler has been taking care of that young master all the time. He even hired a team of mercenaries from Otto to protect his young master. It seems that this butler is a talented person with sharp vision, capable enough to be a chief of staff of a legion. If he joined the knight order, he would surely have a promising future.
This butler obviously foresaw the misfortunes surrounding the Medin family. He hid his young master tightly and completely isolated him from the outside world, thus protecting the only heir of the old Lord Medin.
"We are now trying every means to persuade that butler to let us meet that young master. However, it's obviously quite difficult to persuade this loyal butler. At least until now, we haven't managed to make this stubborn man compromise," Baron O'Neill said.
"You think that butler is quite loyal, but I find many things suspicious. This butler won't even let us know the real name of his young master, let alone let us meet the young count.
The surveillance reports also mentioned that there was no sign of anyone living in the young count's room. Even if a person is under house arrest, there will always be times when the window is opened or the curtain is drawn. But the window of that young count has never been touched. It's really suspicious whether there is anyone living inside," Viscount Terbor said.
"The count's mansion sent people to conduct surveillance. Why didn't we know about it?" Baron O'Neill was obviously a bit unhappy."Miss Medin ordered me to do so. Do you have any objections?" Terbor retorted.It seemed that the sister of the late Lord Medin had great authority in Luxembourg, so Baron O'Neill didn't say anything more after hearing this.
"Being able to afford to hire mercenaries as a personal guard, that noble from Xibai must be quite wealthy," Sinclair said."Indeed, he couldn't be called a bankrupt noble, but rather a playboy. He sold off all the family property and bought a ship to travel around the world. It's said that he had been to many places and met a lot of people. When he was in Otto, he used most of his assets for commercial speculation and was lucky enough to multiply his property several times.
"After meeting Miss Bertha in France, that guy settled down in South Port. He owned a fleet composed of nine large Xibai sailing ships. He had huge industries in Xibai, France, and Otto, and his assets under his name were no less than three million gold francs. That fleet alone brought him an annual income of one hundred thousand gold francs. Such wealth was second to none in South Port.
"The salary of an ordinary mercenary is about twenty-five gold coins per month, and that of a team leader is one hundred gold coins. That mercenary team has about a dozen people, and the annual salary expenditure is about three thousand gold coins. Other maintenance costs add up to about five to six thousand gold coins. For a millionaire with an annual income of one hundred thousand gold coins, this is nothing at all," Terbor had obviously investigated that family quite thoroughly.
"Three million francs, with an annual income of nearly one hundred thousand francs. If I also had such wealth, I wouldn't care about the title of the lord of Luxembourg," Baron Brown said."Maybe that's what the butler thinks too," Sinclair chimed in."But there's no sign of the young master in that villa at all. That's the key to the problem," Terbor said.
"Maybe the young count has been secretly transferred to another place. After all, considering the terrible misfortune of the Medin family, a team of mercenaries might not be powerful enough. The best way is to hide the target in a place that no one knows, isn't it?" The fat man said.
"Maybe our young lord heir didn't escape the coming of misfortune and has already been lying in the cold cemetery. However, if people knew that the young master was dead, then it wouldn't be clear who should get the annual income of one hundred thousand gold coins. Few people would be unmoved by such an income," Terbor expressed his view.
"Viscount Terbor, you really understand the dark side of human nature too well. But I think loyalty and virtue still exist. Judging from my contact with that butler, he is a respectable gentleman. And from the accounts, there are no loopholes. Except for an expenditure of six thousand francs that is a bit unclear every year, there's no sign that this gentleman has embezzled his master's property. As for that expenditure of six thousand francs, I think it's exactly the maintenance cost of that mercenary team, isn't it?" Baron O'Neill said.
"This isn't a discussion about human nature. I just have enough evidence to show that there isn't a fifteen-year-old boy in that manor. That's all," Viscount Terbor said."Alright, alright. Don't have this meaningless argument at the dinner table. Let's enjoy our dinner happily. You two are making the atmosphere worse and worse," Baroness Samson stopped the further argument.
"Yes, let's bless the young lord and wish him good health. As for whether there will be a new lord in Luxembourg, it doesn't bring us any benefits or disadvantages. The work in the Finance Department and the Tax Administration Office won't become easier or heavier, and our salaries won't increase or decrease either," the fat man said casually."Indeed. But it's not the same for our Lord Kewell Egrete Juan," Baroness O'Neill said with a smile.
However, her husband obviously didn't want his wife to offend a young man who would become a magician in the future. He said, "For Lord Kewell Egrete Juan, there won't be any problem either. Lord Kewell Egrete Juan's property is scattered in France, Xibai, and Otto. He just needs to transfer his wealth a little bit. Whoever becomes the lord has nothing to do with the lord at all. Besides, who would want to go against a magician? The lord wouldn't, the prince wouldn't, and our respected King wouldn't either, right?"
Baroness O'Neill clearly understood her husband's implication. Although quite reluctant, she had to admit this fact. The young baroness lowered her head and started eating and drinking on her own, not saying a word anymore.Without the noisy people, the banquet became rather peaceful and quiet. In the following hour, apart from chatting about daily life and some rumors, they didn't talk about those sensitive topics anymore.
The dinner was quite pleasant for Ivan. The baron's daughter had been attentively taking care of him as a guest all the time. Since she knew that he was extremely picky about food and liked oysters, lobsters, and sea crabs the most, although she was too embarrassed to take others' portions, she could definitely give her own portion to Ivan, which made Ivan feel flattered.In fact, Baroness Lipper also intentionally or unintentionally left some of her own food. There was no doubt that Ivan became the favorite at the dinner table.
As for the small talk that followed, Ivan didn't have a chance to chime in at all because those were affairs from a completely different world to him. In fact, up to now, the only nobles he really knew quite well were Mr. Juan and Baron Lipper. His understanding of the noble social circle was also limited to this banquet and the knowledge taught by Odrie.Ivan still couldn't fully adapt to this strange world.
However, although Ivan remained inconspicuous in the following hour, he had already become the star of the banquet. He was the most eye-catching person at the dinner table.The old couple sitting on the other side of the table would look at him from time to time with gentle and kind eyes, which made Ivan feel rather uncomfortable. On the contrary, the half-smiling gazes of Sinclair and the fat man across from him made him feel a bit better.
But what really made Ivan unbearable were the furtive glances from the young ladies at the table.These glances not only made Ivan feel uncomfortable all over, but even the baron's daughter beside him inexplicably became nervous.The dinner ended in a pleasant yet awkward atmosphere. Most people were not interested in the desserts after the meal, and they started discussing the activities after dinner.
It was rare for so many people to get together. Naturally, the men proposed to play cards. Although the fat man and Baron Brown were eager to take a ride on Ivan's purebred horse, it was already dark outside, and this villa didn't have a dedicated racecourse. So this wish could only be fulfilled tomorrow morning.In fact, these two people couldn't wait to make an appointment with Ivan that they would borrow the purebred horse from him for an hour tomorrow morning.
Ivan wasn't interested in playing cards. There were always some bets in card games. Although for Baron Lipper, it was absolutely unacceptable to have too high bets, it was also impossible to play cards without any bets at all.Ivan wasn't worried about losing money. He originally had a good foundation in arithmetic, and after Odrie's special training, he could be said to be quite proficient in playing cards. Even without using any tricks, it would be easy for him to win against the people present.
However, Ivan didn't like gambling.When he was in South Port, Ivan had the idea that gambling was the root of all evils, a trap leading to sins, and a symbol of degeneration.Aunt Jenny never gambled, and no one in the store gambled either. Even the owner regarded gambling as the most serious stain on one's character.In fact, among the merchants in South Port, very few people went to casinos. Once it was discovered that someone had such a hobby, that person's good reputation would be greatly damaged. No one would be willing to do business with a gambler, and no bank would be willing to lend money to a merchant who liked gambling.
In South Port, only when dealing with tax collectors would merchants play a couple of rounds for the sake of socializing. However, this was obviously a means of bribing tax officials, and everyone knew it without saying it.Influenced since childhood, Ivan didn't like gambling, so he declined Baron Lipper's invitation.As for the ladies, chatting in the lounge was the only way for them to kill time. However, this was also their preference.Ivan had neither the interest nor the nerve to join them.
"By the way, Ivan, didn't we agree just now? Let's go to the study together and have a look. Maybe you can find something," Baron Lipper said.This suggestion immediately got a response from everyone.Everyone left the dining table one after another. Baron Lipper held a candlestick in his hand and led the way in front.They went upstairs. The room at the north end on the west side was the study.Opening the door, Baron Lipper casually placed the candlestick on a desk.
The candlelight wasn't very bright, and the study was still rather dim. There were two rows of bookshelves placed against the walls. The bookshelves obviously had some history. The paint had peeled off in many places, revealing the base of red sandalwood inside.This was a kind of high-quality wood with extremely hard texture. That's why these bookshelves were still so sturdy and reliable after several centuries.
That desk and the chair placed beside it obviously didn't have such a long history.The desk was of the most common kind, made of red pine wood, with a thin layer of paint on the outside and rows of drawers underneath.The only advantage of this kind of desk was its practicality, great practicality. These drawers could not only hold a lot of things, but also the top two drawers were equipped with locks, making it quite safe to put some important documents in them.
Against the northern wall was a fireplace, and embedded in the wall above the fireplace was exactly that statue of a book.This statue was originally supposed to be an independent one. Baron Lipper dug a hole in the wall and buried most of the statue in the wall, leaving only the surface of the statue exposed outside.
Everyone wanted to squeeze into this small study, but the space here obviously couldn't accommodate so many people.At this moment, all the children were driven out of the room. They were the weakest group with the least power. The old couple, obviously not as curious and impulsive about life as they were in their youth, also went to the lounge to rest under the service of the maids.
All the ladies, except Baroness O'Neill, consciously withdrew from the study, leaving the place to the men.Although most people were standing outside the door, for such a small study, there were still a bit too many onlookers inside. Through the layers of people, the weak light from the candlestick on the desk became even dimmer.However, for Ivan, this didn't matter.
He slowly walked up to the statue, raised the ring he was carrying in his hand, and carefully approached the statue.Ivan was also extremely nervous and uneasy in his heart.Although Magician Lavash said that he had the talent to become a magician and that he was very likely to become a magician as long as he practiced, he was still a complete novice who didn't know anything at present.
Whether this statue really had magic power or not, he had no idea at all. Everything was just speculation.What's more, he didn't know whether this mysterious magic power was dangerous for him or not.After all, his knowledge of the magical world was no more than that of the people behind him.Despite still being extremely nervous inside, Ivan still raised the ring in front of the statue.
Before he could get closer to the statue, the clear and transparent sapphire on the ring emitted a faint purple light.Although this purple light was so weak, everyone in the study clearly saw this miraculous scene for them.To be honest, Ivan was also filled with excitement and intense nervousness at this time, as if he was creating a miracle with his own hands.Maybe it was really a miracle.
The first contact with this mysterious power was an indescribable feeling.Fortunately, Ivan still remembered what Magician Lavash had told him about the usage of this ring.The purple light, if he remembered correctly, represented the magical energy of the spiritual system.It was exactly this kind of power that killed the magicians who participated in the excavation and all the unfortunate workers around them back then.
It was precisely to resist this power that the magicians made this ring.However, was the power of the later magicians enough to resist that legendary strongest magician?Ivan had no certainty about this at all.Ivan clearly knew how dangerous the work he was doing was.However, curiosity prevailed over everything.
The mysterious power, the treasure left by the strongest magician, the unknown danger, what could be more exciting than this?Ivan had longed for adventures since childhood. He yearned to roam on the vast ocean like those sailors and to see more and newer things.Now, the adventure he was having was something he had never imagined and something that ordinary people could hardly encounter.
Whether the end of this adventure led to the gateway of the city of doom or the glittering treasure house left by the strongest magician, no one could answer this question.Driven by curiosity, Ivan gently pressed the sapphire face of the ring against the surface of the statue.Suddenly, the purple light became dazzlingly bright, and the weak glow of the candles was instantly overshadowed.
This change was so sudden that a cry of surprise broke out in the study, and everyone hurriedly took a step back.Ivan was also quite frightened in his heart. Fortunately, during the days when he stayed with Herbert, Herbert had used various methods to train Ivan so that he wouldn't panic no matter what happened.
Although Herbert couldn't completely eliminate Ivan's fear of danger, he successfully made Ivan's body not be controlled by the fear in his heart, at least not be affected by sudden scares.Therefore, Ivan was the only one among all the people present who looked relatively calm.Although he was also nervous and uneasy in his heart, although his whole body was trembling slightly, although Ivan knew very well that it was only his body that had been strictly trained by Herbert that remained calm, driven by his strong curiosity, he slowly turned the movable sapphire face of the ring with his thumb.
His free hand had already reached into his pocket and taken out the talisman given to him by his teacher.Everything was ready.Ivan didn't dare to make any mistakes. His life depended on the effective use of these two magic tools.One circle, two circles, three circles...Although the people beside him didn't know what Ivan was doing, they believed that Ivan was an expert in dealing with this kind of thing.
After all, he was a magic apprentice, and after all, he was holding a magical ring in his hand.Everyone waited uneasily and quietly. In the study and in the corridor, there was not a sound. Even the servants and maids knew that a magician was performing wonderful magic in the study.The night sky was silent.Ivan cleared his chaotic mind and slowly chanted the incantation taught to him by Magician Lavash.
Each note seemed to be filled with infinite magic power, draining Ivan's strength and courage bit by bit.Finally, the long incantation was finished.Suddenly, Ivan felt a strong sound wave piercing through his eardrums, and it was like a silver needle deeply stabbing into his brain.
That sudden blow made Ivan unable to feel the pain for a moment, but then the intense stinging sensation deeply spread to every nerve ending of his body. It was a burning pain.If it hadn't been for the fact that Herbert had given him lessons on how to endure pain and used various punishments that wouldn't leave permanent marks to make his body learn this cruel lesson over and over again, this attack would have completely destroyed Ivan long ago.Fortunately, Ivan survived this most difficult moment.
Just as the pain had come extremely suddenly, its disappearance was also extremely sudden.Everything returned to calm, as if nothing had happened. There was no stinging sensation at all, as if the intense pain that had once been inflicted on Ivan had never occurred.Everything became peaceful again.
Just when Ivan guessed that everything had been resolved, suddenly, a change took place on the wall.A thick cloud of smoke rose from the statue.It didn't look like ordinary soot. It was thick and seemed almost solid, rushing towards Ivan.In the face of this sudden situation, Ivan didn't have time to think. His left hand instinctively raised the talisman he was holding.
All of a sudden, golden light sparkled all over the sky. The talisman suddenly spread out and turned into a mass of shiny golden filaments.These golden and silver filaments fluttered wildly in the air and filled most of the study in an instant.Countless metal threads formed airtight spider webs one after another.
The wisp of smoke hadn't fully taken shape yet. It looked a bit like a ball of soft and sticky dough that had been kneaded, or like a rain cloud in the sky that had fallen to the ground.The metal spider webs stretched all around made a pleasant buzzing sound. The sound was like the strings plucked by an angel's hand, and also like the alluring song of the legendary mermaid.As the sound fluctuated, these metal spider webs suddenly wound around the smoke, layer after layer, tightly wrapping the smoke inside.
The smoke ball shrank smaller and smaller until finally, with a clang, it dropped onto the floor of the study.When everyone came to their senses, they saw that where the statue had been embedded on the wall, there was now just a big empty hole.The floor was scattered with pieces of plaster debris and broken bricks.Among the debris and bricks lay two things.
One of them was clearly a thick notebook at a glance. On its bluish-gray cover were written several mysterious characters that no one knew. The thick notebook was tightly tied with a golden silk ribbon. On the ancient and rough cover, strange and mysterious patterns were printed with the technique of dark blue silk embroidery. The pattern on the back was obviously a magic array.
On the palm-sized magic array were engraved countless magical symbols. It was the most complicated thing Ivan had ever seen. There were so many engraved characters and symbols, dozens of times more than the incantations engraved on the ring in his hand.Presumably, this was the magic notebook left by the great mage Aubrey Dee.
Beside the notebook lay a square metal block, two inches long, one inch wide, and half an inch high. Its surface was glittering with gold, dazzling like a pure gold block.Although Ivan didn't know what it was, since it was placed together with the great mage Aubrey Dee's notebook, it surely couldn't be an ordinary thing.Ivan carefully picked them up from the ground.
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