"Miss Audrey is here in the East Borough?"
Silas frowned slightly.
"Yes, she said she wanted to see the factory she invested in."
Charles replied.
That made sense.
The textile factory's primary investor was Audrey Hall, so wanting to inspect the factory was not only understandable but completely reasonable.
However, she was still a wealthy young lady, and coming directly into the dangerous East Borough like this seemed somewhat too rash.
But when Silas actually saw her in person, he felt somewhat more at ease.
Because Audrey hadn't come alone.
She had brought two bodyguards, Xio and Fors.
Including herself, a configuration of three Beyonders would have a certain deterrent effect even in the East Borough.
After that, Silas took them to the textile factory grounds as requested.
"This is so grueling."
This was the first time Audrey had seen with her own eyes how a factory operated.
When she saw a worker having to simultaneously oversee four textile machines without a moment's rest, she couldn't help but exclaim in astonishment, "Mr. Anderson, isn't this a bit too harsh on the workers?"
"This is already the best treatment among textile factories of this type."
Silas couldn't help but sigh, lamenting that Audrey Hall was truly too well-protected and still somewhat naive about how this world really operated.
"You should see what other factory owners do.
One worker watches 8 textile machines, working 12 hours straight. The beds are right under the looms.
When their shift comes, workers wake up whoever's sleeping above them and swap places.
Workers getting their arms ripped off by belts because they're so exhausted they doze off during work is quite common."
Silas's words left this pure-hearted young lady feeling quite uncomfortable.
Originally, she had come with curiosity about inspecting her first investment product, but the scene before her left too deep an impression.
And yet, even treatment like this was already considered overly generous.
All the factory owners in Backlund were mocking her, saying that the Hall family's daughter was truly naive, pampering the East Borough riffraff like precious treasures and such.
She left Silas with an almost heavy heart and returned to Queens Borough.
Along the way, the scenery changed. The streets outside gradually transformed from filthy and muddy to clean and tidy.
But just as the carriage entered a certain street in Queens Borough, they were suddenly stopped.
"What's going on?"
Audrey asked.
"Seems to be a routine inspection."
Xio said, looking out the carriage window.
"Routine inspection? Oh, right..."
Audrey quickly remembered that today was the day the House of Lords held its regular session.
Whenever that happened, security on this street would be heightened.
Because the House of Lords was on this street.
Although the House of Lords sessions themselves had no real value (in her father's words, they were just "a bunch of pitiful fellows finding something to do to maintain their laughable dignity"), out of the dignity befitting nobility, they would still abuse their authority to deploy large numbers of personnel for guard duty.
"What do we do? Will we have trouble?"
Fors asked quietly, her voice somewhat nervous as a wild Beyonder.
"Don't worry, it's just routine. Besides, you're my escorts now. They won't target you."
Audrey said.
"Alright, please step out of the carriage and cooperate with our inspection... This emblem, are you from the Hall Earl family?"
The inspector was a middle-aged man who spoke in a languid tone, looking quite unmotivated.
Halfway through speaking, he seemed to notice the Hall family crest on the exterior of the carriage and asked.
"Yes."
The coachman answered.
"Kons."
Audrey heard him call out, summoning someone from behind. When she saw the person clearly, Audrey couldn't help but pause slightly.
Kons Lierson, one of her friends from the noble circles.
Since she'd run into a friend, even out of courtesy she should chat for a bit.
Audrey maintained her poise as she stepped down from the carriage and smiled slightly at Kons, "I didn't expect to run into you here, Kons."
"Audrey, is that you?"
The latter first showed surprise for a second, then revealed a delighted and eager smile, "Are you here for something?"
His behavior completely matched Audrey's expectations. Perhaps even a bit too much.
"Just had some minor business, passing through."
Audrey said briefly.
After all, she could hardly tell him she'd just been to the East Borough to see the [Blood Reverend] that MI9 had been tracking, and that she needed to check on the results because she'd given him an investment...
"I see."
"Kons" didn't press further but nodded and said, "Isn't today the House of Lords session? So we were called in for guard duty."
Following his words, Audrey looked toward the magnificent building in the center of this avenue, where the House of Lords met to discuss "national affairs."
The white building was quite spectacular, with pillars supporting a dome that also seemed quite imposing.
The towering steps descended level by level, and at intervals along the stairway stood guards.
"Must be tiring. Well, I won't disturb your work then."
Audrey came back to herself and said, "Please inspect according to regulations."
"Since you're Kons's friend, that won't be necessary."
Levi said casually, his gaze sweeping intentionally or unintentionally over Fors and Xio's faces.
"Just be careful when you pass by, don't make any dangerous moves in front of the House of Lords main entrance."
He spoke half as advice, half as warning.
"Thank you for the reminder."
Audrey smiled and expressed her thanks, then returned to the carriage.
After settling into the soft seat, her expression became slightly puzzled.
For some reason, she felt that today's Kons was a bit off.
Of course, his attitude, tone, way of speaking... everything was completely consistent with the person she knew, but it just made her feel somewhat out of place.
As if standing before her was some kind of bizarre existence wearing her friend's skin.
"Hiss..."
Audrey was startled by her own conjecture.
No, she was probably just overthinking it. After touring the factory, her mood was heavy, and even her perception was confused...
She consoled herself internally.
But just then, Audrey looked far off to one side of the street at the white House of Lords building, and her heart suddenly stirred, then tightened!
The House of Lords session... Wait, Duke Negan would definitely be attending too.
He wasn't about to be assassinated again, was he?
Previously at the Tarot Club, Mr. Temperance had already raised this issue.
The people behind it were determined to see Duke Negan dead, and the rewards they offered were increasingly valuable each time.
And her friend Kons just happened to undergo this strange transformation at this very moment...
Audrey suddenly felt that her guess might be true.
What should she do? Should she pass the message to her father like before and let him decide?
If this Kons really was an assassin, by the time she got home and her father contacted the authorities, would there be enough time?
While Audrey was still hesitating, she suddenly felt a gaze.
It turned out that her friend Kons was looking at her through the glass window while showing a meaningful smile.
He's noticed!
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~ Push the story forward with your Power Stones