After a brief silence, Klein picked up the cup of black tea and took a sip.
"This is a choice, and we can consider it. However, Rosell The Great once said that we should never rush to make a decision. Only through repeated comparison would we be able to obtain the best answer.
"Is there any other choice?"
The white-gloved Walter's expression didn't change in the slightest.
"Phelps Street can also meet your requirements. I remember that the house at No. 9 is looking for tenants. It's a villa type, two stories, a dozen rooms, with stables, servants' quarters, and a small garden. The furniture and utensils are relatively old, but decent. The annual rent is 220 pounds."
This price is rather reasonable … Reasonable … However, 9 Phelps Street means that I'm less than 100 meters away from Saint Samuel Cathedral. Although this is in line with the theory that it's dark under the lights, there will definitely be many Nighthawks among the passersby. When I want to leave and return in secret, it'll be very inconvenient. It'll be easy for problems to arise … Klein, who originally estimated the rent to be 150 to 160 pounds, suddenly felt that 220 pounds wasn't bad after the price of the garden building in front of him.
This made him suspect that Butler Walter had purposely mentioned expensive first.
Klein thought for a few seconds.
"Anything else?"
Walter replied without the slightest bit of impatience, "That's right.
"160 Böklund Street is also for rent. It's also a three-story building with a garden, stable, and servants' quarters. It has a total of more than ten rooms, but its location is inferior to Unit 32. The furnishings, furniture, and utensils can only be considered decent. The annual rent is 315 pounds."
315 pounds … The rental price flashed through Klein's mind in a somewhat numb manner as he pondered.
"What do you suggest?"
At this moment, he already had an answer in his heart. However, as the employer, he could not rush to express his opinion. If there were any flaws in his decision, it would be easy for others to look down on him.
Walter seriously thought for a moment.
"160 Böklund Street.
"Comparatively speaking, the neighbors here are more helpful for you to enter the upper class. Number 32, on the other hand, is too extravagant. Renting it directly will make the neighbors think that you lack the necessary self-restraint and propriety."
To put it simply, renting a house that costs 1,260 pounds a year when he just arrived would make it easy for his neighbors to label him as a nouveau riche eager to show off … For a tycoon who strives to enter high society, such a reputation isn't good … Klein took a sip of black tea and asked with a smile,
"Then why did you mention 32 Böklund Street?"
Walter calmly bowed and said,
"Sir, I'm just a butler. My responsibility isn't to make decisions, but to present all the appropriate options and give you some suggestions for your consideration.
"Since I don't know your specific preferences, I have to give you as many choices as I can."
Very professional … He's likely worried that Dawn Dantès is a nouveau riche who likes to show off. Therefore, he chose 32 Böklund Street as a test to a certain extent, allowing him to adjust the direction and management style of his suggestions … Klein chuckled.
"Eliminating the house at 32, we'll choose one of the two.
"Before making a decision, I have the habit of visiting the site. We'll set off after lunch."
"Yes, sir." Walter remained as solemn and inflexible as ever.
…
South of the Bridge, inside the Harvest Church.
As Emlyn White wiped the silver candlestick, he thought about the clues provided by Miss Magicians.
A secret Beyonder gathering … This is equivalent to not providing any clues. It'll be rather difficult to investigate further. Besides, I won't be able to join that gathering anytime soon … Emlyn looked at the surface of the silver, examined himself, and raised his hand to comb his hair.
Then, he put down the rag, retreated to the first row of pews in the cathedral, and sat down. He watched Bishop Utravsky seriously pray in front of the altar with an unfocused gaze.
Thoughts popped up in his mind one after another, sparks flying from time to time. Emlyn suddenly grasped a detail.
"Why did a puppet that piqued the interest of the Primordial Moon's believers coincidentally appear?
Moon puppet, Moon puppet … This feels like bait for fishing. Could it be a trap designed by Rus Báthory and company? Emlyn's eyes lit up as he suddenly stood up.
Rus Báthory was a Sanguine Baron who participated in the hunting competition, and he was viewed by Emlyn as his strongest competitor.
The more Emlyn thought about it, the more he felt that it was possible. This was because he remembered that Báthory was an antique enthusiast, especially one who liked to collect all sorts of strange items from the Southern Continent!
After pacing back and forth, the corners of his mouth curled up bit by bit.
He chuckled and muttered to himself silently, I can't enter the Beyonder gathering to investigate the whereabouts of the Primordial Moon believer, Windsor, but I can monitor Rus Báthory and finish off the target before he does!
Haha, I'm looking forward to seeing his expression.
Yes, Miss Magicians, this clue is indeed worth 100 pounds.
Just as Emlyn was feeling abnormally excited, Father Utravsky ended his prayer and walked over. He looked down at him and gently said,
He looked down at him and gently said, "Our piety isn't in words, but in every detail. You weren't focused enough today.
"Wipe the candlestick again."
"O-okay," Emlyn suddenly replied, feeling ashamed.
When the priest turned around and walked to the confessional, he came to his senses and whispered, amused and annoyed,
"I'm not pious at all. I don't need to show my piety!"
…
Rows of Intis Parasol Trees stood tall on both sides of the street, making the street seem quiet and secluded. Klein carried his gold-inlaid cane and slowly walked out of the house at Unit 160.
He took a silent breath and turned his head to Walter.
"Tell the master of this place that I'm satisfied.
"Let's just rent it for a year. We might move to a better place, like Queens."
His words implied his ambition to get a title, because Empress was a place where the nobles gathered.
As for why they didn't just rent it for half a year to save money, it was because these high-end houses only accepted long-term leases, and one year was the shortest term.
Frankly speaking, if he was not worried about money, Klein would have liked this house. Its lawn was clean, the garden was beautiful, the house was well-furnished, and the utensils were exquisite. There were many bedrooms and enough furniture. Each floor had multiple bathrooms, and the stables and servants' quarters at the back had not been skimped on. It was the best place Klein could imagine.
Walter immediately replied,
"I'll hire a solicitor later.
"Sir, do you have any specific requirements for your servants?"
Klein strolled under the Intis parasol tree and smiled.
"I want to hear your advice first."
Walter thought for a moment.
"Sir, no matter what, you still need a housekeeper."
During the interview, Klein mentioned that Dawn Dantès was unmarried and did not have a lover in Baekeland, so he did not need a maid.
Seeing that Dawn Dantès only nodded slightly without expressing his stance, Walter continued.
"Her job is to manage the maids and the family's financial expenses. Sir, you can't hand over everything to the same person. Checks and balances are an art in politics and a good way to manage a family. Rosell The Great once said that absolute power leads to absolute corruption.
"In the face of money, I am very confident in myself, but that is all."
Hmm, very honest … A housekeeper is still necessary. The annual salary is about thirty to forty pounds … Klein nodded.
"Alright."
At that moment, Walter was walking behind Klein with his back straight, reaching out his hand to stop a rental carriage for him.
After boarding the carriage, he continued to speak.
"I will get the Family Servant Assistance Association to provide a list of candidates for the housekeeper. You can choose them yourself. I won't provide any suggestions.
"Based on your current living situation, you will also need a family property manager. It can be a man or a woman, a valet, two first-grade maids in charge of the bedroom, two second-grade maids in charge of the living room and living room, two male servants in charge of receiving guests, a storeroom maid, a kitchen maid, two cleaning maids, and two menservants.
"Apart from these, you will also need a chef, two gardeners, two carriage drivers, or a carriage driver and a carriage driver assistant. If necessary, you can add an attendant, a laborer, a home nurse, and a chef assistant.
"You don't have a carriage yet, but you will need two in the future. A four-wheeled sedan will cost about 300 pounds, and a two-wheeled sedan will cost about 100 pounds …"
As he listened to the butler's detailed introduction of the servants he needed, Klein's mind turned numb. He didn't wish to calculate how much it would cost him. After all, it would be paid on a monthly or weekly basis. There was no need for him to pay them for a year.
Excluding the attendants, laborer, home nurse, and chef assistant, I will need ten to eleven male servants, and nine to ten female servants and housekeepers … It's almost double what I expected. I will need to spend more than ten pounds a week … This can only be confirmed after all of them are hired and their salaries are negotiated … There's also the carriage … Klein watched Walter's mouth move as his thoughts involuntarily drifted.
When Walter saw the calm, elegant, and extremely gentlemanly Mr. Dawn Dantès nod repeatedly, he subconsciously expanded the topic.
"You will also need to rent a manor in the suburbs in the future and entertain some friends to spend the weekends there. There's no rush. You can hold a few balls and banquets at Number 160 …
"Sir, don't mention the maidservants in front of the neighbors on this street. Only families with an annual income of less than five hundred pounds and are unable to hire enough maidservants to do different things would hire a maidservant …
"…"
Klein listened numbly as he reflexively put on a warm smile.
When he returned to the inn and watched Butler Walter leave, he sat down and lost all expression.
When it was forty minutes to two, Klein rubbed his temples and slowly got up. He entered his bedroom and prepared to gather this week's Tarot.
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