Nine in the morning, in a high-end hotel in Hillston Borough.
Klein picked up a bottle of exquisitely packaged white wine and handed it to the elder with a smile.
"Mr. Asnia, thank you for coming to talk to me. This is a very small gift. Please accept it.
"I'll make a decision by tomorrow at the latest. When the time comes, I might pay you a visit."
He was using a tactful attitude to indicate that the other party had failed the selection.
To be frank, he was rather satisfied with Asnia. He perfectly matched his image of a butler — strict, proper, professional, with strong comprehension skills, and good at dealing with all kinds of troublesome problems.
As the oldest and lived the furthest out of the three butlers, he actually arrived half an hour early and waited patiently outside the door. Ribach and Walter were only fifteen minutes early.
If it wasn't for Arrodes's indication that the two of them had additional clues hidden on them, Klein believed that he would have chosen this old gentleman. After all, his main goal was to use his butler's connections to easily and naturally blend into high society and come into contact with the corresponding targets.
As for the bottle of white wine, he had specially bought it at Intis Serenzo Restaurant, considering that there would definitely be people returning disappointed today and wasting the money for a round trip by carriage. Each bottle cost two pounds.
This effectively enhanced Dawn Dantès's image as a mysterious tycoon who was extravagant and had a very elegant demeanor.
In addition, he also believed that he couldn't underestimate a butler from an aristocratic family. Such a person would definitely know a large number of people from high society, many professional butlers, and countless servants in their past careers. They covered the upper, middle, and lower classes, effectively influencing a gentleman's reputation. And this was a necessary reference to enter higher social circles.
In this era, the fifty-five-year-old Asnia's hair was already quite white. His blue eyes were filled with the wisdom that time had given him. He didn't reject Dwayne Dantès's gift and took a look at it before bowing meticulously.
After taking a look, he bowed meticulously and said, "I like this white wine from Jarod very much. Thank you for your generosity.
Jarod? Yes, the waiter introduced it to me yesterday. This is a winery in the Champagne Province of Intis. It is famous for producing high quality wines, and some of the vintages are considered top-notch. Sigh, even a butler knows more about wine than me. That's right, Mr. Asnia mentioned earlier that the wine cellars of the nobles and the rich are directly managed by their butler or an assistant butler … Does this mean that I will have to have a wine cellar in the future? The 2-pound wine is the lowest quality, and the 126 pound 1330 Aurmir red wine isn't the best … How much money would a wine cellar like this cost … As he thought about it, Klein felt his chest tighten. He suspected that the 2888 pounds he had wouldn't last much longer.
If it weren't for his experience as a Clown, he would've definitely lost his composure and wouldn't have smiled and said, "That's right.
"Your liking is the greatest compliment you can give me. Mr. Asnia, please invite Mr. Ribak from the coffee shop downstairs."
Asnia agreed without any hesitation. In less than five minutes, Ribak knocked on the door and entered the living room.
This gentleman had neatly combed blond hair. There were a few wrinkles by the corners of his eyes and mouth, but they weren't too obvious. His skin was healthy, and he had a masculine bearing. It was obvious that he was the kind of butler who could accompany his master on hunts or even resist enemies.
After exchanging greetings, Klein invited him to take a seat with a smile. He went straight to the point.
"Forgive me for being frank. I don't quite understand why you became Baron Syndras's butler. Your father was the assistant butler of the Negan family, and your grandfather was the steward of this family's manor. Many of your ancestors served the duke and his relatives until they returned to God's embrace. And you should've had such a life trajectory."
Due to Rosell The Great's influence, the various countries in the Northern Continent had a habit of using fiefdom and aristocratic title to indicate a noble, but it had changed to using a surname and aristocratic title. Of course, a small number of nobles' surnames were directly derived from their fiefdom.
Ribach answered with a standard smile.
"Baron Syndras is a newly promoted noble and a friend of the late duke, so I was sent to his house to help him and his family adapt to the life of a noble and grasp the corresponding etiquette."
The old duke he was referring to was the current Duke Of Negan's father, Lord Palas Negan, who was assassinated last year.
"Then, why did you leave the baron's family?" Klein asked after some deliberation.
Ribach said calmly,
"Although Baron Syndras obtained his title through the Conservative Party, he's one of the most famous bankers, investors, and business owners in the kingdom. He's one of the earliest multimillionaires and has a strong sense of sympathy for the New Party. He's willing to provide a certain amount of help, causing him to be in conflict with many Conservative nobles, including the young duke.
"So, in order to avoid trouble for the baron, I volunteered to leave. He actually tried to persuade me to stay. He's a very good employer."
Klein nodded and asked, "What's the matter?
"You believe in the Lord of Storms?"
Ribach replied seriously.
"Yes, the Lord gives us courage, passion, and a sense of responsibility."
Klein asked a few more questions about the butler domain and received detailed answers. He then smiled at Liebach.
He then smiled at Ribach and said, "Can I trouble you to invite Mr. Walter to the coffee shop downstairs?
"I'll make a decision after I'm done talking to him. You can wait ten minutes in the coffee shop."
"Alright." Ribach didn't waste any time. He immediately stood up, bowed, and bade farewell. He had the bearing of a soldier.
After watching him leave and close the door, Klein sat down again. He picked up the cup of black tea and took a sip.
If I choose him, I'll likely establish a relationship with the current Duke Of Negan and the Conservative Party. The additional investigation might include the previous assassination …
Before long, Walter arrived and entered after knocking on the door.
Klein exchanged a few pleasantries with him before asking, "What conflict do you have with Viscount Conrad's butler?
You know that I have to figure this out. I can't bear the risk of offending a noble. " Walter had a wide forehead and glossy black hair. His brown eyes were stern, but they weren't to the extent that he couldn't communicate with them.
Walter had a broad forehead, lustrous black hair, and stern brown eyes. However, he didn't make others feel as though they couldn't be talked to.
"As the butler's assistant, I was originally in charge of the viscount's children. In the process, due to some matters, I received the appreciation of a certain big shot. As a result, I was highly regarded by the viscount and guarded against by the butler.
"Later, that big shot passed away in an accident, and the viscount's attitude toward me changed accordingly. Mr. Butler was even less friendly, which made me think that there was no need to wait for a turnaround."
Being in charge of the viscount's children got to know an important figure … Yes, Talim also got to know Prince Edessak while teaching Viscount Conrad's youngest son. And the prince died a few months ago due to the Great Smog of Baekeland … This matches Walter's story … From the looks of it, this butler was a peripheral victim of the incident back then … He's quite cautious and professional. He didn't expose his employer's shortcomings, nor did he reveal anything about the prince. He also didn't say anything bad about the viscount's butler … If I choose him, the additional investigation is worth looking forward to … Klein listened quietly as he made some connections.
He switched to asking some professional questions and expressed his desire to enter high society. After receiving a satisfactory answer, he straightened his clothes and stood up with a smile.
"Let me reintroduce myself, Dawn Dantès, your employer."
Walter immediately bowed.
"Sir, how may I be of service?"
He maintained a serious, old-fashioned, and calm demeanor, as though he believed that this was the professionalism of a butler.
"Two things." Klein chuckled. "First, help me bring this bottle of white wine to Mr. Ribach in the coffee shop below and convey my apologies and gratitude. Second, hire a solicitor to draw up a professional contract that includes you and the other servants."
"Yes, sir." Walter bowed again.
As Klein handed the white wine to him, he casually asked, "Walter, how many servants do you think I should hire so that I won't be rude?"
Walter took the bottle of white wine and answered without hesitation, "How many servants do you think I should hire?
Walter received the bottle of white wine and replied without hesitation, "That's right.
Walter took the bottle of white wine and answered without hesitation, "You should first determine where you will be staying.
Only then will you know how many servants you need. " My request is very simple. I want to stay in North Borough. I'm a devout believer of the Goddess. "Klein casually drew a crimson moon on his chest.
According to the information I read in the newspapers and magazines, a garden villa in a high-end district in the city costs at least three pounds a week, which is 156 pounds a year … Although there's no direct data, I can infer that a very good garden villa in the suburbs costs about two pounds a week. A high-end condominium with a few bedrooms and living rooms is about the same. It's considered rather luxurious, a place that only the upper middle class can afford to rent. Yes, I can use this to infer the rent of a tycoon's house …
Thinking about it, it's really expensive. Back in Tingen City, the gardenless terrace house that I, Baansen, and Melissa rented was only thirteen soli a week, with an additional five pence for the use of furniture. The house I stayed in at Minsk Street didn't even cost a pound …
Sigh, three pounds it is. I still have 2,888 pounds. It doesn't matter if the rent is a little better. It doesn't matter … While waiting for Walter's answer, Klein silently recalled the rental information and calculated the amount of money he had to pay every week and every year.
Walter thought for two seconds before seriously answering, "Sir, you can choose 32 Böklund Street.
"Sir, you can choose 32 Böklund Street. It's close to Saint Samuel Cathedral. It's a three-story building with more than ten rooms. It has a stable, a servant's quarters, and a rather large garden. Barons, Members of Parliament, and senior lawyers live nearby …
"The furnishings inside are very exquisite. There are quite a number of famous paintings and antiques. All the furniture and utensils are sufficient to accentuate your status. You can rent it for a year, and if you're satisfied with it, you can consider buying it as a whole."
That sounds pretty good … Klein asked with a smile.
"How much is the annual rent?"
Walter reported the figure in a serious and well-practiced manner.
"Including the use of furniture, it's 1,260 pounds a year." (Note 1)
"…" Klein was glad that he wasn't drinking his tea; otherwise, he definitely would've spewed it all over his butler's face.
He used nearly all his control as a Clown to prevent his expression from showing any abnormalities.
Note 1: The rental information is from How Much Money Was in the Past and Study of Marriage and Family Life of the Victorian Middle Class.
The one worth 1,260 pounds was rented as an embassy during the Qing Dynasty. I have no idea if it was overpriced.
PS: I recommend the book, Tomorrow's Calamity. The dark and despairing World setting has a different charm. The protagonist's lazy system makes it so that the plot isn't constantly tense. There's tension and relaxation.
You've already exceeded your reading limit for today. If you want to read more, please log in.
Login
Select text and click 'Report' to let us know about any bad translation.
