Chapter 49 - Chapter 49: Chapter 48 The Gun Muzzle on the Forehead (2/2)

Half an hour would likely be enough for the conversation, Byrne reasoned.

Due to the profitable collaboration with the Fischer family, both parties naturally found each other more and more agreeable to the eye.

Over the course of four years, his relationship with Mr. Gold grew stronger.

Byrne was well aware that much of the money Mr. Gold had made for the Fischer family had actually gone to Viscount Bast.

Viscount Bast Leone was the head of the “Lion clan,” Mr. Gold’s brother-in-law, and also the lord of Fein City, who had just turned fifty-three this year and was still in a very vigorous stage.

He had long since reached Level 2, and was even a powerful Knight of the Transmutation elite, although it was virtually impossible for him to advance to Monarch in his lifetime.

The Leone family’s stable inheritance of two Extraordinary bloodlines, “Bronze Lion” and “Graystone Giant Ape,” both stemmed from the power of high-level magic beast Bloodlines.

Also, the Leone family had a seventeen percent chance of inheriting a “protect” type spellcasting talent.

The entire Lion clan had been operating in Fein City for over a hundred years, and the core family members had branched out to nearly a hundred.

In comparison, the foundation and influence of the Eagle clan were much weaker. It could basically be said that on paper, their strength was no match for the Leone family.

Their biggest trump card was the backing of Earl Hovern, the East Coast Governor.

Although at banquets, Earl Hovern always seemed chummy with Viscount Bast, and on the surface, even longtime intimate friends for many years.

However, in the upper circles of the East Coast, it was clear to everyone that the sparks of tension between Earl Hovern and Viscount Bast had long since exploded everywhere, and nowadays the various industries owned by the Lion clan were being eroded step by step.

So far, Viscount Bast and the family behind him had not been seriously hurt, as Mr. Gold’s ability to do business and amass wealth was extremely strong, always handling the main business deals of the Lion clan.

Ten minutes later, Byrne looked up at the naval clock on the wall; it was just past four o’clock.

He made his way familiarly to the villa’s second floor and gently knocked on the study door, but he did not hear Mr. Gold’s voice calling “come in” with its usual low timbre.

Byrne paused, “Profound Memory” showed that Mr. Gold always called “come in,” today was different.

Then he heard a “crack” as something shattered, sensing something was wrong, he pushed the door and entered.

“Mr. Gold…”

Byrne was about to speak but stopped short, his gaze gradually turning somber as his eyebrows slightly knitted together.

Something was wrong.

The massive body, weighing hundreds of pounds, lay supine on the floor, the bald man’s eyes staring fixatedly at the ceiling, his gaze filled with intense anger and lingering immense fear, as if he had seen the most terrifying thing in the world.

There was a clear bullet hole at his temple, and plasma was oozing out.

An incredibly exquisite alchemical flintlock lay fallen beside Mr. Gold’s hand, with the residual smell of smoke still hanging in the air.

Dead!

“Damn it!”

Byrne took a deep breath, not wanting to touch anything, he cautiously moved back, suspecting the murderer might still be nearby.

“Mr. Byrne, what are you doing here?”

The sudden appearance of a voice nearby made Byrne flinch, and he immediately turned to see two people.

One was Mr. Gold’s butler, and the other was the local sheriff of Fein City, an Extraordinary Exponent Knight of the Transmutation class from the Lion clan, Viscount Bast’s third brother, Renzo.

Sheriff Renzo, clad in a black leather jacket and sporting a two-pronged mustache, looked quite stern.

Wondering why they had suddenly come here, Byrne said after a moment of silence, “Mr. Gold is dead, the murderer might still be nearby.”

Both the butler and Sheriff Renzo were completely stunned.

“Mr. Gold is dead? What on earth are you talking about!” Sheriff Renzo roared.

The two of them hurried into the study and were shocked at the sight before them.

Mr. Gold’s hefty corpse was right in front of them; everything was too shocking!

The butler began to cry, shaking his head continuously, “Oh Lord of Salvation, why has this happened! Impossible!”

Byrne paused a moment, then reminded again, “The murderer might still be nearby, we must be careful, they may attack again.”

“Nothing will happen, Mr. Byrne, with me here the murderer won’t succeed,” Sheriff Renzo quickly regained his composure, and then his voice confidently reassured him.

Just as Byrne was about to nod, he saw Sheriff Renzo decisively and swiftly pulling out the alchemical flintlock from his waistband and, without hesitation, pressed it against his head, the icy-hard sensation chilling to the bone.

“Don’t move!”