The gilded pocket watch chain was tangled with the pen, and Lan'erwusi, cigar in mouth, spread three ledgers on the mahogany desk.
"Dear Mr. John Corson invested 1500 pounds…"
This was already the third "investment" this week; that fool in the top hat dared to sign a check without even touching a mine blueprint.
"As expected, greedy people are always foolish."
He sneered at the empty office, his fingers, stained with cigar ash, making a mark in the ledger.
The dividend slips on the corner of the desk bore various signatures and seals, the bottommost one even smudged with lipstick.
This reminded him of the easily coaxed Baroness from last week.
"Huh?"
The knocking on the Door was like a heavy hammer, and the cigar in Lan'erwusi's hand nearly burned his wool shirt, simultaneously interrupting his thoughts. His brows furrowed slightly.
"Come in."
His secretary pushed the Door open, revealing half his body.
It would be too strange for a company to have only the boss, so he specifically hired a secretary for himself.
He was a capable but inexperienced university graduate, very hardworking, and most importantly, easy to deceive.
His only flaw was occasionally being clumsy and not knowing how to prioritize.
"Sir, a gentleman says he wants to make a large investment and is currently in the reception room…"
"Tell him I'll be there shortly." Lan'erwusi listened to his secretary's report while tidying up the documents on his desk.
Photos with the mayor, various forged signatures and contracts, some half-true exploration certificates…
Believing another gullible person had arrived, Lan'erwusi was in a good mood. He organized the documents in his hand and mentally reviewed his deceptive pitches.
Just then, a dog bark suddenly echoed from downstairs. Lan'erwusi subconsciously pulled back the curtain, the reflection from a silver-plated carriage making him squint.
"Something's not right!"
Lan'erwusi's spiritual intuition was slightly stirred.
Ever since completing a certain ritual, he had received some blessings, and his perception ability had been greatly enhanced as a result.
"Sir?" The secretary was knocking again, "That gentleman asked if he could see the ore samples first…"
So impatient?
Lan'erwusi stood up and looked at his secretary, a smile playing on his lips. He said unhurriedly, "I'm still organizing the materials, I'll be right there. You go to the storage room first.
My treasured coffee and tea leaves are on the very end shelf. For honored guests, we must offer the best.
Please ask him to wait patiently for a little longer."
After temporarily dismissing the secretary, Lan'erwusi closed his eyes, sensing the surrounding spirituality.
Something's not right!
He stood up and moved into the shadows on the second floor, observing the scene outside.
Thanks to the Swindler's excellent observational skills, he noticed several suspicious individuals around the company.
Police? No… if it were just the police, the surrounding spirituality would definitely not be like this. There must be Beyonders.
Could it be that the Church people found out? It shouldn't be, my disguise should be perfect.
Lan'erwusi was somewhat surprised. There was still a lot of time before the planned "net closing" moment of his scam. If he stopped now, the profits would be greatly reduced.
As Lan'erwusi hesitated, he noticed the group downstairs suddenly gathered together. Judging by their aggressive demeanor, it seemed they were preparing for a forced entry.
So impatient, and that attire… could it be the Punishers?
If it were the Nighthawks or the Machinery Hivemind, Lan'erwusi wouldn't mind trying to negotiate, but if it were the Punishers…
As a group of "saw-men" in action, the Punishers, who adhered to the principle of acting first and talking later, were someone he absolutely did not want to provoke.
As long as there was suspicion, few could escape unscathed in front of them.
Anyone involved in the Beyonder domain knew that the Punishers were individually hot-tempered, and they had the highest proportion of private executions among all Official Church Beyonders.
Listening to the unusual commotion outside the office, Lan'erwusi went to a nearby bookshelf, pushed aside the outermost books, revealing a hidden lever.
Moments later, a secret passage entrance appeared directly on the office wall.
This office had been specially modified by him during renovation, with a hidden compartment deliberately left to deal with such emergencies.
Without thinking much, he quickly packed the money from the safe and directly slipped into the secret passage.
"How unlucky…" Covered in spiderwebs from the secret passage's iron ladder, Lan'erwusi's mood became even more depressed.
… …
Inside a small hotel.
Luo En was performing a divination with a pendulum.
"I will encounter danger when I go out today."
"I will encounter danger when I go out today."
… …
After asking seven times in his mind, Luo En slowly opened his eyes.
The pendulum rotated slightly counter-clockwise, indicating a negative.
"Does that mean there's no danger?"
The report letter had been sent out a few days ago. Due to concerns about potential accidents, Luo En had chosen not to go out, to avoid encountering any inexplicable incidents again.
At least for now, the situation was calm.
He had not been investigated by the Official, nor had he felt any strange gazes. It was as if everything had returned to normal.
"It should be fine, right? I've already divined it."
Originally, he wanted to wait a few more days until things were completely calm before going out, but he suddenly remembered that he had an appointment with the Diviner named Grassias to discuss investing in Lan'erwusi's mining company.
And the appointed time was today.
He was not someone who liked to break appointments.
Seeing that the divination result was fine, after a brief thought, Luo En decided to keep the appointment.
Arriving at the familiar building by carriage, Luo En, familiar with the route, went to the Divination Club on the second floor.
"Hello, I'd like to see Mr. Grassias. I have an appointment with him today." Luo En politely greeted the receptionist.
The receptionist looked Luo En up and down, then picked up the list book on the desk and flipped through it a few times. After a few seconds, she gently shook her head.
"I'm sorry, sir, Mr. Grassias is not here today."
"Not here?" Luo En was a little surprised. He had clearly made an appointment with him! Could it be that he stood him up?
Seeing Luo En's confusion, the receptionist continued to add.
"He hasn't been to the club for the past few days."
"Why?"
"Hmm…"
The receptionist recalled for a few seconds and replied.
"I heard that Mr. Grassias suddenly fell seriously ill and is currently receiving treatment in the hospital."
"But I'm not very clear on the specifics."
Sick? What a coincidence?
Hearing this, Luo En felt a little confused. Even if not a Beyonder, a Diviner should be very sensitive to these matters.
He should be able to detect if there's a problem with his own body, right?
However… that Grassias was indeed just a new Diviner, so it's not impossible that his skill level isn't high enough.
Or, does divination in this world require something like lifespan?
Many thoughts appeared in Luo En's mind.
But the only thing certain was that his investment discussion today was forced to be canceled.
Unlucky, my investment plan fell through again…
A chance to get rich was right before my eyes, but…
Seeing that staying longer would yield no further results, Luo En could only choose to leave with disappointment.
Downstairs from the club, he was somewhat depressed. He had finally made up his mind to come out, only to find nothing.
He hailed a taxi carriage parked by the roadside, intending to return to the small hotel.
Feeling the jolting of the carriage, Luo En grew increasingly annoyed. At the same time, he vaguely felt that something was not right.
"Speaking of which, ever since I arrived in this city, it feels like strange things keep happening one after another."