After sending Carlos, Wesley, and Fox on their way, Sunday reported, "Sir, Sloan's account has been successfully hacked. It contains $340 million in cash. However, I suggest you avoid using this account unless absolutely necessary, as a review of its transactions shows dealings with various special agencies and underground organizations worldwide."
"Hm," William mused. "Let's leave it untouched for now, just like the $200 million account from the Russian oligarch Pushkin. I'll save it for when I want someone to get into trouble or for special financial needs."
"Understood, sir."
Following Sunday's guidance, William entered Sloan's vault. He transported all the antiques, paintings, and valuable collectibles through a portal to the underground vault in Oxford Castle. Based on Sunday's rough estimate, these over one hundred artifacts were worth around $400-500 million. He also had Sunday scan all documents related to assassins, packed them into two large boxes, and briefly considered sending them to Winston, the manager of the New York Continental Hotel.
But the idea lasted only a moment before he dismissed it, opting instead to toss the files into the fireplace, burning them completely.
As William exited Sloan's office, Sunday had already instructed the intact spider robots to gather the damaged or destroyed ones. They were then sent through a portal to the smart production workshop in Oxford Castle's basement.
Though this mission had required effort and planning, it was well worth it. William gained two subordinates nearly as skilled as Carlos and amassed a fortune worth $700-800 million. Feeling good about his success, he realized he was hungry.
Checking his watch, he saw it was only 10:30 p.m. He asked Sunday to locate an upscale restaurant still open and decided to have a late-night meal before heading home.
Following Sunday's directions, he drove to Elegie, a Michelin one-star restaurant. As his car stopped at the entrance, a man in a suit quickly approached and opened the car door.
"Good evening, Mr. Devonshire. I'm Kyle Grammer, the manager of Elegie. It's an honor to serve you."
"Thank you," William replied, shaking the hand of the slightly dashing middle-aged man. "I hope I'm not keeping your staff late."
Kyle smiled politely. "There's no need to worry, Mr. Devonshire. Elegie is located in one of New York's prime business and nightlife districts. Officially, we're a blend of fine dining and a relaxed bar for discerning guests. Our hours are from 4 p.m. to 1 a.m. Please, follow me."
"Thank you." William followed Manager Grammer into the restaurant. Along the way, people occasionally recognized him, and William responded with polite nods.
By the time he entered, most patrons were aware of his presence. Some even waved cheerfully at him. After sitting down, a strikingly beautiful woman at the bar shook off a middle-aged man who had been pestering her and directly seated herself next to William.
"Darling, why are you so late?" she said sweetly.
Her words left Kyle Grammer and the other patrons momentarily stunned. Grammer immediately frowned, realizing the woman wasn't William's date. Staring sternly at her, he said, "Miss, please leave."
"Wait, Mr. Grammer," William interrupted, raising his hand to stop him. Looking at the beautiful woman, who now covered her mouth in shock upon recognizing him, William glanced briefly at the man she had left at the bar. Smiling, he asked, "Were you being harassed?"
"Yes, oh my God, I'm so sorry, Mr. Devonshire," the woman stammered, waving her arms nervously. "I told him I was waiting for my boyfriend, but he wouldn't leave me alone. When I saw someone come in, I didn't pay attention to who it was—I just came over to ask for help."
"If I'm intruding, I'll leave immediately," she added, embarrassed, as she tried to stand.
William didn't believe her entirely, but the woman bore a striking resemblance to Harley Quinn, albeit with softer features and more delicate eyebrows. "Wait."
"What?" she froze, her hands gripping the armrests as she prepared to leave. Then, with visible delight, she sank back into the chair, blinking at William.
"If you're not really waiting for a boyfriend, how about keeping me company for a late-night snack?"
"No, no, I'm single," she quickly clarified, extending her hand toward him. "Nice to meet you, Mr. Devonshire. I'm Jessie—Jessie Barrett."
"Barrett?" William chuckled. "That Barrett?"
"Hey, do I have to keep holding my hand out?" Jessie retorted, slightly annoyed. "Be a gentleman, Mr. Devonshire—you're a duke."
Looking at her slender hand, William smirked. "Oh, my apologies." He shook her hand lightly. "I may be a duke, but I'm probably the least aristocratic noble in England. At royal banquets hosted by Prince Philip, I'm the last person he wants to see. I never bow to him, and I constantly prank his eldest grandson, Wilson."
The surrounding diners, who were eavesdropping, chuckled softly. Many recalled Wilson mentioning in interviews how William loved to play tricks on him.
Jessie, meanwhile, laughed so hard she covered her mouth with her left hand. After a moment, she glanced shyly at her hand, still held by William, and gently tugged her wrist. William released it, as if just realizing he was still holding on. "Sorry."
"It's fine." Jessie blushed slightly, covering her face. "It's a pleasure to meet you."
"The pleasure is mine, Miss Barrett."
As he let go, William's heightened mental awareness, always active as part of his training, detected a subtle lightness on his wrist. He instantly realized the beautiful woman in front of him had swiped his watch.
Intrigued rather than offended, William gave Jessie a knowing look. For the first time, he'd encountered a pickpocket. While her skills weren't extraordinary, her boldness and charm intrigued him. Sometimes, people with unconventional talents could prove unexpectedly useful—and it didn't hurt that she was stunning.
Grinning, he pulled out his phone. Unlocking it with his fingerprint, he placed it on the table. "Sunday, bring up Elegie's menu."
"Yes, sir," Sunday's voice replied from the phone. Before anyone could marvel at the 5.9-inch full-screen device or the AI's capabilities, a beam of light projected a half-meter-tall holographic menu above the table.
The restaurant's patrons gasped audibly, staring in disbelief at the glowing image.
"Oh my God, is this real?" Jessie, sitting closest, instinctively leaned back in shock. Then, curiosity overtook her as she reached out to tap the holographic image. The menu expanded, zooming in on the dish she selected.
"It's real—it's really real!" She turned to William, eyes wide with excitement. "I'm not dreaming, am I?"
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American Detective: From TV Rookie to Seasoned Cop (Chapter 1316)
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I Am Hades, The Supreme GOD of the Underworld! (Chapter 570)
Reborn as Humanity's Emperor Across the Multiverse (Chapter 660)
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