Chapter 49 - Chapter 49: Chapter 48 The Gun Muzzle on the Forehead (1/2)
Chapter 49: Chapter 48 The Gun Muzzle on the Forehead
After leaving the Alchemy Council, Byrne felt an insatiable yearning within, almost addicted to the thrill of spending a fortune.
He then recalled those auctioned individuals of foreign races with a hint of sympathy but knew he couldn’t play the role of the “Savior”.
Suddenly, the image of that exceptionally beautiful elf under the moonlight emerged in his mind.
Byrne shook his head, muttering to himself, “That should have been our last meeting. I hope she doesn’t end up in those people’s hands.”
Once, in his younger years, he had harbored impractical hopes—even romantic thoughts—of reuniting with the elf.
But after marriage, only Margaret had a place in the depths of Byrne’s heart.
“That auction at the Alchemy Council… I wonder who is behind it all. I’m afraid I might have to come here again.”
Just as he was about to leave for good, he suddenly stared at the dark gold mask for a long moment, then abruptly stopped and quickly turned back into the deserted alley.
He put on the mask and re-entered the porch, facing the puzzled silver-faced attendants.
Byrne spoke in an exceedingly calm tone, “I’d like to purchase a few more alchemical masks with ‘concealment’ effects.”
The auction had already ended, so normally one would expect guests not to come back and to leave hurriedly, as if fleeing a dangerous den.
However, Byrne was one of the few guests who kept returning.
Upon his request to buy more alchemical masks, the silver-faced attendants quickly recovered.
A very tall, leading silver-faced attendant stepped forward, bowed slightly, and replied most politely.
“I apologize, but our masks are limited to one per invited guest and are not sold in surplus.”
“I see, I understand now.”
Actually, Byrne was not surprised by the answer; his sudden idea had been just an attempt.
After all, the ‘concealment’ effect of the alchemical masks was far too practical.
The leading attendant spoke with a soft voice, a hint of amusement continuing,
“Esteemed guest, there is something important I must inform you: the ‘concealment’ effect of the alchemical mask only works here. It’s best not to use it to handle matters outside.”
Byrne fell into thought, feeling a deep sense of disappointment toward the alchemical mask.
He quickly understood the reasoning behind it.
Otherwise, whenever people wanted to do something covert, they would don the mask of the Alchemy Council, and the so-called secret organization would become almost universally known.
Leaving the dark alley, Byrne got onto the prepared carriage, removing the dark gold mask and placing it in its special box.
The coachman, in charge of driving the carriage, was Theo, the captain of the guard who had worked for the Fischer family for many years and had been Byrne’s swordsmanship teacher before.
Theo had been a boatswain, working for sea merchant John for over a decade until he almost lost his life in a shipwreck and refused to set sail again.
Several years ago, as his savings dwindled, he sought new employment with the Fischer family through John’s introduction due to his skilled hand and rich experience, ultimately appointed by Lucius to be the family’s Guards Captain.
After returning to the inn, Byrne didn’t go to sleep immediately but pondered visiting Mr. Gold the next day to discuss the food processing factory matter.
The money had been spent; he needed to outright refuse the invitation to invest in the food processing factory.
The night had grown deep, and after Byrne finished thinking, he went to sleep, waking up after 8 in the morning.
However, Mr. Gold was a creature of the night, without a morning or noon to his days, rising in the afternoon, so now was not the time to visit him.
He contemplated his next steps:
“Having traveled from Nasir to Fein City, it’s been such a long journey. The guards and servants are all tired. Let’s rest another day and visit my parents-in-law and Baron Hoffman of the Hoffman family the day after tomorrow.”
Travel by carriage was indeed troublesome, and Byrne couldn’t help but think how much faster travel would be with the luxury of spells.
The expenditures of the Fischer family at the auction were significant; the goods would be delivered to Nasir within half a month.
It wasn’t until after 3 in the afternoon that Byrne, along with his guard and servants, set out by carriage to Mr. Gold’s villa in the city center.
“I am Byrne Fischer. I wish to have an audience with Mr. Gold, as there are some matters I would like to discuss in detail.”
Byrne announced his name and soon was welcomed by the steward and waited in the drawing room.
The polite steward approached and said with a smile to Byrne, who he already knew well,
“Mr. Byrne, we meet again. Mr. Gold mentioned that he could see you in the study in about ten minutes. Around five o’clock, Mr. Gold has other guests to receive, so he won’t keep you for dinner.”