St. George Borough, Sutch Street.
As soon as Klein and Jurgen got off the carriage, they saw a behemoth parked in front of Inventor Leppard's door.
It was iron-black in color, with three sets of twelve wheels, and a chimney towering at the top like a ship. Residual smoke was wafting out of it.
This was a steam-powered vehicle that Klein had seen in magazines and on the streets. It was described by the public as an ironclad that walked on land, with a rather exaggerated body.
If it wasn't for the streets that had been built or rebuilt in the last twenty to thirty years, it would have occupied the entire road, leaving no space for carriages. Therefore, such a vehicle could only be seen in certain areas.
At this moment, the heavy car door with the glass window opened, and two figures walked out.
One of them was the steam-powered car tycoon, Framis Cage, whom Klein had met before. He had a quarter of the Feysac Empire blood in him. His eyes were very light blue, and he was tall but fat. He had a pipe in his mouth.
The person beside him was wearing a heavy black coat and a gray scarf. His looks were nothing special. He had the most common black hair and brown eyes, but he gave off an inexplicable sense of familiarity.
"Hi, Detective Moriarty, you're on time. This is my lawyer and partner, Pacheco Dwayne."
As he spoke, two burly men got out of the steam-powered car. It was obvious that they were Framis's bodyguards.
How unprofessional. Shouldn't you come down first and then help the boss open the door? Klein mumbled, greeted him with a smile, and then introduced his lawyer, Jurgen.
While waiting for Leppard to open the door, he casually chatted.
"Mr. Cage, is this steam-powered car popular? Will there be a lot of people who like it? "
Framis Cage laughed.
"Those who think they're decent say that it's too barbaric and crude, and that ordinary people can't afford it. Only a mechanical and steam fanatic like me is willing to buy it."
"It's mainly because many of the streets are too narrow," Klein consoled.
Framis Cage was the investor he had found, not Leppard's doing.
When he was playing cards at the Quelaag Club, he had deliberately mentioned this matter. The equestrian teacher, Talim, immediately said that Flami liked similar inventions and could introduce them to each other.
This made Klein very emotional. The club was indeed a good place to develop connections. The most important thing for the members who truly joined was never the free food, drinks, and activity venues.
"Haha, that is indeed one of the reasons. As the population increases and the cities get bigger, the horse carriages will definitely be eliminated because they are too slow. Right now, the World is pursuing efficiency!" Flami said confidently.
He immediately smiled.
"And I've already received an order from the military. They want me to make certain improvements, just like what Rosell mentioned in his manuscript. They want me to add bulletproof armor and cover the tracks so that it can travel on simple roads. In addition, I want to add a thick cannon barrel. This will be a brand new weapon of war."
Rosell's manuscript … Klein sighed silently, momentarily at a loss for words until Leppard finally opened the door.
In the following discussion, the protagonists were Jurgen and Pacheco. The two lawyers would argue at times and discuss the terms with their employers. The unprepared inventor, Leppard, stood to the side in a daze. Only when someone asked him would he state his opinion.
In the end, the three parties reached an agreement. Flami would invest 1,000 pounds for 20% of the shares, and Klein and Leppard's shares would drop in equal proportions, 28% and 52% respectively.
At the same time, Flami would buy another 18% of the shares from Klein at a premium. He would spend 1,000 pounds after tax.
Similarly, he would buy 9% of the shares from Leppard for 500 pounds after tax.
After such a transaction, Flami became the largest shareholder of the newly established Baekeland Bicycle Company, holding 47% of the shares. He would be responsible for the subsequent industrialization and marketing, and the company's accounts would have the 1,000 pounds he had invested, which was the initial start-up capital.
Leppard was the second largest shareholder, with 43% of the shares. His job was to assist in the mass production of the assembly line.
Klein only had 10% of the shares left, which was purely a financial investment.
And the 1,000 pounds he received from selling the shares had increased his personal wealth to 2,235 pounds, almost enough to buy the main ingredient of a Faceless. As a private detective, he continued accepting commissions for the past month or so, so he didn't need to use his savings for his daily expenses.
I still have to pay Lawyer Jurgen 50 pounds, leaving me with 2,185 pounds … I have to thank Talim later … A thought flashed through Klein's mind as he signed and stamped it. Then, he got up and shook hands with Flami and Leppard.
"It was a pleasure working with you."
Flami took out his golden pocket watch, glanced at it, and chuckled.
"Normally speaking, we should have lunch together to celebrate the agreement, but there's an important figure waiting for me. I'm really sorry, but there will be plenty of opportunities in the future."
Important figure, another important figure … The one behind Talim? The one whose expenses were reimbursed by me using some fake information about the Aurora Order? Klein suddenly felt a little guilty as he hurriedly said with a smile that it was nothing and that there was no need to worry about it.
After leaving Leppard's house and getting into a carriage, Jurgen suddenly frowned.
"Sherlock, you agreed too readily."
"Why do you say that?" Klein asked in puzzlement.
He didn't even know what Lawyer Jurgen was referring to.
Jurgen said in a rather serious tone,
"When we were discussing the transfer of shares.
"According to your description, as well as Flami's performance, I can imagine the bright market prospects of the bicycle. Although it's only an invention now and the overall valuation won't be too high, 5,000 pounds is a good price, you should keep more shares so that you can have better returns in the future.
"I originally thought that you would only sell for 8% and have the confidence to negotiate for 500 pounds, but you actually agreed to 18%. Even if it's only 500 pounds, you've already recovered your initial investment several times over. You shouldn't be in such a hurry. "
Because I'm in urgent need of money … But I did agree too readily just now. There was no hesitation at all. This is a huge transaction, this isn't like me … Klein recalled the previous scene and gradually had some doubts in his heart.
Had I been unknowingly influenced by Framey or Pacheco? One of them is a Beyonder? Thankfully, the price is still relatively normal … As Klein pondered, he said to Jurgen, who was waiting for an answer, "That's right.
"It's almost New Year …"
He didn't know how to explain it, so he just randomly started with an opening.
If the other party was a smart person, they would follow the beginning and make their own connections to perfect the reason. There was no need for Klein to elaborate further.
Of course, this was a trick targeted at smart people. Ordinary people would ask, "So?", "What is it?", "What happened?"
Lawyer Jurgen was clearly a smart man. Seeing Klein's brief silence, he nodded.
"I understand."
What do you understand? I haven't even thought about it myself … Klein pointed to the steam train station in front of him.
"I'm getting off here. I need to find an informant."
…
Inside the powerful steam-powered car that rumbled forward, Framey, who was sitting in the front seat, rolled down the window, blew out a ring of smoke, and said to the inconspicuous Lawyer Pacheco beside him.
"Did you use your powers just now?"
"It was just passively stimulated." Pacheco smiled. "My powers aren't most suitable for such situations. I prefer to face government employees and company employees."
Framey nodded slightly.
"I'm just reminding you.
"There's no need to use your powers in such a situation. Don't delay the important matters."
"I understand," Pacheco replied in a low voice.
…
East Borough, a cheap coffee shop.
When Klein arrived, Old Kohler was already waiting there.
He took off his scarf and hat, sat opposite him, took out a stack of one-soli notes, and handed it to him.
"The expenses for next week's event, plus the reward for the previous information, comes to a total of one pound."
Recently, he had been giving out rewards quite readily because he had already found someone to reimburse.
Old Kohler's face was clearly much rosier than before. He took the cash with some embarrassment.
"The information I gave you last time didn't seem too important …"
"No, whether it's important or not depends on who sees it. Many things that you think are trivial might be the source of money for others," Klein explained with a smile. "What's going on this week?"
Old Kohler took the stack of notes and stuffed them into his pocket as he said in thought, "It's the same as before.
"Just like before, many people are still looking for believers of The Fool. Haha, why would anyone believe in The Fool? That's not a good title. "
"…" The corners of Klein's mouth twitched slightly.
"Have they made any progress?"
The Aurora Order sure is persistent … Klein thought helplessly.
"No, there's no such person." Old Kohler shook his head and said, "Recently, someone has been organizing a strike. They've approached me several times, saying that they want to fight for more reasonable working hours and pay."
It's a very common thing in this era, but it can also lead to rather serious consequences … Klein said thoughtfully, "Pay attention to who's organizing this.
"Pay attention to who is organizing this, but don't be too impatient. Safety first."
"Alright." Old Kohler cleared his throat and said, "These past few days, many gangsters and bounty hunters have been looking for a person. I don't know why, but it's likely that someone has offered a bounty."
"Who are they looking for?" Feeling the cold weather, Klein picked up his coffee and took a sip.
The warm liquid slid down his esophagus and warmed his stomach.
Old Kohler thought for a moment.
"A man named Aztec Eggers."
Aztec Eggers … Aztec Eggers? Klein raised his gaze from his coffee cup and looked at Old Kohler opposite him.
Isn't that Mr. Aztec's full name? Why would someone suddenly offer a bounty on him? Ince Zangwill? Klein relied on his Clown powers and pretended to ask casually.
"Did he say what kind of person he was?"
Old Kohler recalled.
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