"'Ice Sea Shipwreck' earns 3,000 pounds at the box office in Backlund alone on its first day of release!"
"Lead actor Mr. Jack Parson and lead actress Miss Palan Doin both become instant sensations. Countless fans seek autographs but cannot obtain them."
"Rumors claim that Miss Doin once worked as a call girl. Braine Film Company denies the allegation and announces it will pursue legal responsibility against those spreading false rumors."
"Bryan Film Company's legal team sues multiple film companies for copyright infringement."
As Ebner read the news in the newspaper, he spread jam over a slice of bread—though he didn't particularly like eating it that way.
At that moment, a sleepy-eyed Xio also came downstairs. After entering the dining room, she sat directly beside Ebner and put the jam-covered bread into her mouth, chewing.
Mm, just the right level of sweetness… Xio narrowed her eyes in satisfaction, then picked up the prepared milk beside her and took a sip.
"Up so early—does the military have a mission?" Ebner asked with a smile.
Xio knew he rarely used his "Insight" ability on people he was familiar with, so she wasn't surprised. She simply replied with a somewhat strange expression, "Since I successfully advanced to demigod, this morning is the promotion ceremony. As for the afternoon… It's playing cards."
"Playing cards?" Ebner was first surprised, then seemed to recall something and asked with a smile, "Looking for a sucker to send you money?"
"Exactly!" Xio nodded. "It's also a military tradition. Every senior officer has this kind of 'entertainment activity' before assuming a new post."
Hopefully the "sucker" isn't someone I know… Ebner silently mocked, then put the bacon he had just finished frying into his mouth—he had always been a carnivore.
...
In the North Borough, inside the bedroom at 160 Böklund Street.
Having just sold those ships yesterday and made a large sum of money, Klein slept until he woke naturally. He felt relaxed, calm, and a quiet joy slowly blossoming within him.
After sensing his mental state, Klein abruptly flipped over and got out of bed, pulling open the curtains.
He leisurely admired the scenery outside and the sun scattering golden light, suddenly feeling full of motivation as he began drafting plans for the coming months—even the next year:
"First, find a demigod-level marionette to enhance my combat strength… Although Ludwell and Enyuni are quite good, and after reaching 'Miracle Invoker', they can already use my abilities… their methods are still not diverse enough.
"Second, create bizarre legends in various places, direct frightening incidents, then have people spread them to accelerate potion digestion;
"Third, strive to accumulate 500,000 pounds to buy the 'Pulverized Heart of the Fog Demon Wolf' from Mr. Tower… As for the 'Eye of the Hound of Fulgrim,' I can solve that myself;
"Fourth, continue investigating the Backlund Great Smog incident and the human trafficking cases, find key evidence, and hand it to the Church to stop 'George III' from becoming a god. There are two breakthroughs here. One is 'Arrogance' from the Psychology Alchemists, but his strength far surpasses that of ordinary Saints, and he has angels behind him who can provide support at any time. Even Mr. Tower is unwilling to act rashly, so it's best to take a long-term approach…
"The other breakthrough is Major General Qonas Kilgor of the military. I need to find a way to approach him, become friends with him, and then make plans."
After organizing thoughts he had partially considered before, Klein's ideas gradually became clearer. Although he still felt worry and fear in his heart, when he glanced at Sharon, who had already gotten up and was sitting at the dressing table, he felt fully motivated again.
Withdrawing his gaze from Sharon, Klein stepped into the washroom to handle personal hygiene.
Soon, refreshed, he opened the door and saw the butler, Athenia, waiting outside.
The gentleman, wearing white gloves, bowed respectfully and said:
"Good morning, sir. You have only one arrangement today: at three in the afternoon, you will go with Councilor Macht to the 'Veterans' Club' to participate in an activity.
"He is a New Party councilor. Accepting his invitation in this regard means you are preliminarily declaring your political stance. You still have the opportunity to reconsider."
As a supporter of the Conservative Party, Mr. Athenia couldn't help but offer this reminder.
Klein thought for a moment and said,
"No need. This is my choice."
He paused, then asked in the tone of a consultant,
"This is my first visit to the 'Veterans' Club.' What should I pay attention to?"
"Bring sufficient funds. 500 pounds is an appropriate amount," the butler offered his advice.
500 pounds… Honestly, no matter which circle you want to enter, you have to spend heavily… Sigh, that's also because Dwayne Dantes has no background. Although his wife is mid-level in the Church, she doesn't have much in the way of connections. Money has to pave the way… Klein nodded lightly, accepting the butler's suggestion.
After breakfast, Klein returned to the bedroom. While helping the doll-like Sharon change her hairstyle, he waited for Councilor Macht's arrival.
The councilor, unaware that Klein intended to engineer an accident to tactfully decline tomorrow's ball, enthusiastically made introductions for him.
...
In the afternoon, in Hillston Borough, outside a distinctive building.
Dwayne Dantes and Councilor Macht stepped down from the carriage separately and entered the foyer together.
After warmly introducing a military officer named Galvin to Klein, the latter immediately assigned him a task.
"You need to accompany an important figure in playing cards. Texas Hold'em," Galvin pointed upstairs.
Roselle was truly obsessive-compulsive. He even found a strange reason to keep naming this poker variant "Texas."
"Which important figure?" Klein asked with interest.
Galvin's expression grew slightly more serious, a faint smile on his lips as he said:
"Lieutenant General Xio Derecha. She is Princess Vera's confidant. Today, she was just promoted to Director of Military Intelligence, ranked sixth… That ranking is very high—she is truly a major figure."
Klein almost failed to maintain his expression, but fortunately, his "Clown" abilities were strong enough to prevent his mouth from twitching on the spot.
"So from now on, our cooperation will be under this Lieutenant General's supervision?" Klein asked as if enlightened.
On the surface, he had joined this club to smuggle arms and make money. Without approval from the intelligence department, success would be difficult.
"That's right." Colonel Galvin nodded, pointing to the staircase leading to the second floor. "Let's go up."
Arriving on the second floor and stopping before a pair of dark red double doors, Galvin turned his head to look at Dwayne Dantes:
"Your task today is to lose money."
Lose money? Klein looked Galvin up and down, the corners of his mouth gradually lifting.
"I only brought 500 pounds in cash. Will that be enough?"
"Certainly not." Colonel Galvin chuckled. "We've already exchanged 1,000 pounds in chips for you. Just remember to settle it afterward."
The top barristers of Loen, on the surface, only earn about 1,000 pounds a year… You corrupt bunch…
I wonder if Mr. Tower will reimburse the money I lose to Miss Judgment?
After mocking himself a few times, Klein followed Galvin into a hall covered with thick, soft carpets and immediately saw Miss Xio Derecha seated at the main position of the table.
—To highlight this newly promoted Lieutenant General, her chair had been specially elevated… though Xio was not pleased with this design.
At that moment, Xio also saw Dwayne Dantes walking in, but she was not surprised. She had clearly known in advance that today's "sucker" would be this "public" Blessed of Mr. Fool.
After letting his gaze rest on Xio for a moment, Klein's eyes swept toward another "acquaintance" beside her:
He had thick but orderly black eyebrows, short and stiff black hair of the same color, deep blue nearly black eyes, a nose high as a mountain peak, and a large beard extending around his mouth. His features were sharply defined, his face long, with cold lines—very much the look of a tough man.
This was the Deputy Director of the Ninth Intelligence Division, Qonas Kilgor—the greatest reason, besides making money, for Klein's joining the Officers' Club.
...
That night, after listening to Xio recount the joke about three demigods secretly cheating at the card table, Ebner took the "body" he had crafted and teleported to Kabas Town at the border between Winter County and East Chester County. Soon, using the black gemstone inlaid in his chest by the Goddess, he slipped into the deepest layer of dreams.
(End of Chapter)