533 Abrupt Change (2/2)

David had the typical look of the Hoffenberg family. His face was contoured shenke, but his silver grey eyes emanated certain coldness. He replied with a smile, ”Mr. Evans, thank you for your approval of my father.”

He was neither cold nor warm, as he recalled his late father.

Very soon, the few of them entered the main house and stepped on the stairs. As the queen's knight, Lucien naturally stayed behind and 'protected' Natasha with Camil, one on the right and the other on the left.

Right when Duke James and the rest of them were about to turn, Lucien suddenly sensed something soft in his left hand.

”Natasha's hand?” Lucien turned his head in surprise, only to catch her delightful eyes.

Natasha's right hand had taken off the silk glove. The warmth of her palm was a major contrast to the courtesy a moment ago.

Lucien understood her heart. He couldn't help but hold it more tightly. Lucien felt indescribably satisfied by the secret movement. The warm feeling seemed to have made his heart peaceful again.

As they held hands, Natasha looked at the front, but the smile on her face couldn't be covered.

After they passed the corner, they loosened the hold on each other's hands as if it were nothing and followed Duke James to enter the chamber.

Inside the secret chamber, a tray with wines, champaign and 'Sky Blue' on it had been placed.

After checking the drinks, they each picked up a cup and looked at Duke James, waiting for him to speak.

”In fact, I only mean to ask Your Majesty's opinion on the alchemical workshops and the promotion of magic items. Honestly, a lot of our wealth has been invested in it.” Duke James spoke rather straightforwardly, as he felt that he had grasped Natasha's tendencies.

Natasha kept the solemnity of the queen. ”My attitude is the same. All the magic items that benefit the kingdom and the people will be encouraged, and those which are evil and corrupting will be forbidden.”

”You are truly not one of those conservative people, Your Majesty.” Duke Russell said with a smile. ”I'm hoping to invest in something, but I don't know if it could make profits. Mr. Evans, do you have any suggestions?”

”What investment?” Lucien suddenly felt that he was in a business meeting.

Russell sipped the champaign and said, ”Radio stations, like 'Arcana Voice' or 'News of the World', rather than a few simple news programs or music episodes.”

He keenly sensed the value in it, but he did not know how to make money from it.

Natasha looked at Lucien curiously. He seemed to have talked about it before in private.

Lucien smiled. ”The main problem is that magic radios are still expensive. Although they have been simplified, only the people above the middle class can afford them. The popularization of the item means that the radio stations wouldn't have great returns.”

”Do you have any suggestions? Further simplification?” Count Henson was quite interested in it, too.

Lucien looked at them and said thoughtfully, ”I suggest that the radio station should also publish newspapers. Whoever subscribes to the newspapers for one year will be given a magic radio. Then, the radios will be popularized soon enough.”

”But there will be heavy losses!” As the Minister of Finance, Count Henson was very sensitive about losses. One magic radio was much more expensive than a year of subscription.

Lucien looked at Natasha and said, ”There will be losses, but it's a necessary price for promotion. The revenue, however, will come from advertisement. I'll ask my companies to give the radio stations tremendous advertisement fees”

”Wouldn't you lose money?”

Lucien smiled, ”Advertisement is investment and will pay off later. We can afford the wait.”

Even though he lost money, it would be worthwhile if he could control the public opinion of the radio stations of Holm through advertisement.

Duke James was about to talk, when his face was darkened. He crumbled the cup in his hands into pieces. ”It's poisoned!”

It was not until he heard poison that Lucien felt a corrupt, terrifying poison bursting out inside his body, but it was eliminated by the Congus Ring immediately. However, below the poison was a weird curse that made him unable to focus his spiritual power as he were drunk!

Were the wines in the secret chamber all poisoned?

Why did he fail to notice it?

In his anxiety, Lucien looked at Natasha and immediately felt that his heart was heavy, because her face was also dark and her hands were shivering.

Duke James roared, ”Who poisoned the wine?”

His voice was so loud that the glass was almost shattered, as he tried to draw the attention of the nobles outside.

He knew very well that, as long as the criminal was not an expert above legendary, they would've raised his wariness if they approached him, who was a gold knight, and they poisoned the wines within the range of his consciousness.

That was, of course, if they did not have the cooperation of spies!