Chapter 141: Borrowing Money Isn’t the Goal; Establishing a Debtor-Creditor Relationship Is
Wayne was thoroughly confused. He wondered if Megan had delivered the invitation to the wrong person. If he remembered correctly, Auston had never initiated a conversation with him. Why the sudden invitation...
Oh, right. The scum hadn’t changed his ways, but was simply making another move on him, a delicate flower, after acquiring a cement factory!
Once Megan left, Wayne darted back to the study and solemnly placed the invitation in front of Silvia.
“What do you think, Master?”
“???”
Silvia was similarly baffled. She examined the invitation thoroughly, flipping it around. “Just attend. He’s not going to eat you alive.”
Wayne’s eyes widened. Mr. Lando might not eat him, but the celebrities he sent his way might!
Seeing her student’s alert demeanor, Silvia waved her hand with a laugh. “I have an invitation, too. He won’t dare to give you trouble.”
Stockings were a booming business, and Silvia’s clothing brand, Silvia Valentine, had successfully broken into the Londan market, becoming a fashion trend that the upper-class ladies followed and lauded. The factories manufacturing stockings and the patent for nylon all belonged to the Lando family enterprise. Setting aside her marital relationship with Auston, they were still business partners. Thus, she had received an invitation.
“So, this is a legitimate business gathering?”
“What else would it be?”
“I thought the venue would be a cement factory by the River Thames,” Wayne chirped.
“It won’t be. I’ve taught him a lesson. He won’t trouble you again.” Silvia snorted. It was quite entertaining to step back and observe their fight.
“I still don’t understand, Master. If it’s a legitimate meeting, why invite me?”
Wayne couldn’t make sense of it. It wasn’t that he wouldn’t attend an actual business function, but he had no business dealings with Auston. The man would be happier to never even see him; there was no reason for him to invite Wayne to the occasion.
“Well, there may be other reasons.” After a moment of contemplation, Silvia said with a smile, “The Lando family lacks capable members. Setting aside those useless distant relatives, you’re one of the very few trustworthy people since you’re my student.”
That only confused Wayne further. He admitted that Silvia had a point. After all, he would be the one to help produce a future heir for the Lando family. Auston wouldn’t remain antagonistic with him forever since he would sooner or later have to respectfully call him son-in-law. However, hadn’t he given up too quickly? Wasn’t he going to struggle a little longer?
Auston would effectively be bringing Veronica’s eventual pregnancy forward by three to five years. That was way too soon. The nation across the ocean hadn’t even surrendered yet!
Wayne suspected foul play. Putting himself in Auston’s shoes, he concluded that there was more to the invitation. With Silvia being so confident, though, it would be inappropriate to continue badmouthing her husband, so he settled for silently raising his guard.
“Oh, Master. I have information to share with you,” he said. “A few days ago, the detective agency sent word that the Church of Moonlight is planning to build a new base. They’re desperately short on funds and looking for victims.”
Silvia’s expression darkened. “I’m aware. It’s already a done deal. The Free Mage Alliance mediated and vouched for the Church of Moonlight.”
Her expression suggested that it was a complex matter involving many factors. The big pie that was Windsor would be redistributed. With the Church of Nature suffering a serious blow from the Darkness Knight some time ago, they wouldn’t be able to hold onto their full territory. The Church of Moonlight would most likely be infringing on their interests.
“Master, it should be fine since you’re both part of the Life Alliance, right?” Wayne asked tentatively.
Silvia shook her head wordlessly. The Life Alliance was only established to fight the faiths of Darkness and Death; internally, it was each church for its own. Under the facade of harmony, competition had never gone away. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have snatched Wayne from the Church of Moonlight.
“Perhaps it’s related to the emergence of the Death Knight...” Silvia smiled bitterly. “Add to that the Darkness Knight and the increasingly active evil gods of hell, the royal family doesn’t want to exhaust their own power, so they have to delegate some power to the churches. Congratulations to the Church of Moonlight for seizing the rare opportunity.”
Wayne had another question: “Since the Free Mage Alliance played the mediator, why don’t they also provide the funding? A loan would work, too.”
As the saying went, borrowing money wasn’t the goal; establishing a debtor-creditor relationship was. Being the creditor would allow the Free Mage Alliance—no, the royal family—to dictate the Church of Moonlight.
Silvia shook her head. “Perhaps it’s due to internal factors. Their chaotic faiths inevitably lead to different goals within the alliance...”
Master, it has nothing to do with faiths. You’re pushing your own agenda again.
Look at that card before looking at your BFF, the previous Holy Maiden. While you’re both devoted to the same faith, don’t you work behind each other’s backs for your own benefits?
Wayne lost interest after getting a general understanding of the situation. He was only a Silver-rank mage, nothing but a small wave following the overall current. What good would knowing all the inside information do? He wasn’t even entitled to be worried.
***
Wayne’s residence.
Wayne got out of the car and handed Veryl the invitation, asking the butler to arrange his schedule and remind him to attend the business gathering on the fourteenth. Since it was still early, he practiced swordsmanship with Valkyrie for a while before taking a shower and returning to his study alone.
He multitasked, reading to recharge his void while summoning fire elements to look for the hideouts of his old friends, as well as sensing the Silver Cross in his body. Silvia believed that in a Silver Cross, god was the most important component, informing faith and guiding a mage’s future path. Director Schrödinger, a free mage, disagreed, placing god last and holding the belief that faith shouldn’t be singular, or it would limit one’s future path.
Wayne claimed that he wouldn’t be biased and jump to conclusions, but he couldn’t help but lean toward Planck’s belief. From his own point of view, his life essence was so strong that one goddess wouldn’t be enough to satisfy him when pursuing balance.
He planned to have a four-way relationship with Nature, Sun, and Moonlight. He already had Nature, and Sun wouldn’t be a problem since he had worn Valkyrie, resulting in the Book of Greed storing enough of Sun’s divine power for his use. But Moonlight...
“It’s still doable. I just have to make Kristen owe me. She even tried on a short skirt for me last night. She probably wouldn’t refuse to steal a sacred artifact for me.”
He stroked his chin, having baseless dreams before the night had even fallen.
He assumed that he would be able to acquire the divine power of Moonlight, thus firmly embracing the three goddesses. He then took out the ring he stored in his drawer. Planck had said that the ring would help him gain the faith of Darkness. With the Book of Greed having tasted the ring, he should be able to add Darkness to his repertoire. And then there was Death. Death Knight’s Shadow Nightmare would only be easier to make use of for him.
On the Book of Greed, the smaller eyeballs for Nature and Death were the brightest, with the latter being the most radiant one.
“Can I handle all five goddesses at once?”
He hesitated. The Silver Cross was about balance. The more goddesses he latched onto, the higher the requirements for life, void, and self would be. Life, especially, would require such a massive amount of the four elements that his scalp tingled at the thought.
Besides, the Book of Greed’s appetite had grown larger after he became a Silver-rank mage. The elements it consumed would be astronomical.
“I can handle it, but not my old friends!”
Wayne sighed deeply. Gritting his teeth, he decided to make his friends suffer a little more. He’d do it! He was going to aim for all five goddesses. He would contact Planck another day and ask him to return the antique silver coin.
After confirming his goal, he checked the eyeballs for heaven and hell. This was purely hypothetical, but wouldn’t there be a significant gender imbalance after he embraced all five goddesses? Should he have the old men of heaven and hell balance things out?
He knew that the line of thinking was wrong, that his old friends wouldn’t be able to handle it, but he still couldn’t help himself. “It’s all the Book of Greed’s fault. I’m getting greedier.”
He suppressed his desires and postponed that agenda. First, he would acquire the antique silver coin to confirm his limits. If he could take more, it wouldn’t be too late to add heaven and hell then.
Better now than later. He picked up the phone to call Director Planck, but stopped himself last second. He shouldn’t do it. His breakthrough to Silver had shocked Silvia. While he trusted his master, he didn’t have the same level of trust in Planck.
“I have to wait a little longer. Contact him after the gathering on the fourteenth...”
He rubbed his temple. He had to keep training the next two weeks, which would require a massive amount of resources. If he kept creating No Element Zones in Londan, someone might come knocking and penalize him.
“It’s time to make a move on my old friends outside the city!”
His musings were interrupted by a knock and Vera’s energetic voice: “Wayne, it’s time for dinner!”
He realized that he had been thinking for an hour and a half, missing today’s chauffeuring duty.
“Coming!”
He called out, putting the Darkness ring away. He rose from his desk and made for the door.
“Should be okay. I’m going to lend her money.”
***
After dinner, the tutoring session began on schedule. Kristen cautiously asked for a hundred thousand sillings.
“You’re selling yourself for only a hundred thousand?” Wayne’s eyes widened. Then he noticed Kristen’s eyes widening more than his and quickly corrected himself, “I mean, who do you think you’re talking to? I’m known for being a loyal friend. A hundred thousand is too little. Make a bigger demand.”
Kristen was both annoyed and amused. She was touched by the sentiment, though, so she didn’t call him out. “Wayne, a hundred thousand is a lot. Money doesn’t grow on trees, while money used to grow trees can’t be recovered. You’ll be funding the Church of Moonlight, not me.”
“It’s fine. If the church doesn’t pay me back, I’ll seek you out.” Wayne looked unconcerned. He joked, “You’re listed as an accountant at the detective agency with a monthly salary. I’d say you’ll just about pay off the debt by working for me your whole life. And you’ll have more to pay for a coffin at the end.”
Kristen shot him a reproachful look for his obvious intention. Again, she found his relationships already too complicated. Veronica and Vera were both nice girls. She didn’t want to make their love triangle a square. Moreover, she would advise Wayne to quickly settle for one of them, or he would lose both in the end, not even having them as friends.
After some negotiation with Wayne raising the amount and Kristen bargaining for a smaller loan, Wayne settled on an investment of one hundred and eighty thousand sillings.
“Once I tell the priestess, she’ll draft an agreement. I’ll have to trouble you to go to the library to sign...”
“No need. There will be too many eyes and ears. I’m an archdeacon of the Church of Nature. I may be suspected of consorting with the rivals if someone sees me. You can sign on my behalf.” Wayne made the decision for both of them.
The church of Moonlight was too powerful for him to hold them accountable, but things would be different if Kristen signed the deal. It would even be a good thing if he didn’t get paid back; one hundred and eighty thousand for a baby mama was a great bargain. Neither he nor the children would starve.
Kristen opened her mouth, but couldn’t find the words. The situation was trickier than she thought. After a moment of consideration, she agreed. If he lost money with his investment, she would just work to pay him back.
With the discussion completed, they began today’s lesson. Wayne looked at the textbook for seventh graders rather than third graders before looking at Kristne in surprise. Her smile was gentle, but the amusement in her gaze made him blush slightly.
He’d been exposed.
Senior Kristen learned the truth but still continued to teach him. That definitely had nothing to do with her owing him a debt. From a detective’s perspective, the truth was often the least likely possibility, so his senior had to be lusting after his body!
What a coincidence. He felt the same way. Theirs was a mutual relationship.
The lesson that evening was relaxed. Wayne continued to excel, and midway through, Kristen switched to textbooks for eleventh graders. Even before she taught him anything, he could answer every question smoothly.
He was already at university level!
“How foolish of me...” Kristen leaned against the desk and propped her head up with one hand, resigned. “Wayne, time is the most precious thing. You shouldn’t waste your time on meaningless matters.”
“I didn’t. You’re not meaningless at all.”
“...”
Kristen blushed. That was too direct. She suggested he take his words back.
“Besides, I wouldn’t trust you so much without the tutoring sessions, and then you wouldn’t have managed to complete the church’s mission, right?” Wayne quickly forced a conclusion. “Looking at it this way, I haven’t wasted precious time, and you’ve helped the church through its difficulties. We both profit.”
Kristen’s blush was interrupted. She pondered his words and found them reasonable... bah, it didn’t make sense at all!
She glared at him and packed up the textbooks. “No classes tomorrow and the day after. I’ll prepare university-level courses. Don’t ever lie to me like that again. You’re a genius. You shouldn’t waste an hour and a half every day for nothing.”
“You’re the best.”
“Um, and don’t speak like that anymore. During our classes, I’m the teacher, and you’re the student. Understood?”
“Why are you blushing?!”
Wayne wasn’t embarrassed, so Kristen was. Her face reddened again as she grabbed the books and fled the study.
***
Wayne’s Detective Agency, Commercial Street.
Wayne conducted his routine inspection, reviewing the paperwork of the past two days and signing the documents one by one.
Kelly, the assistant, handed him a notebook with a phone number recorded. “Detective Mona called hastily this morning, saying that she encountered a small problem while investigating the missing pet. She didn’t specify the details, but asked you to contact her when you have time.”
Wayne’s official assistant was Veronica, but the young lady only paid for her job title and didn’t show up at work unless she was bored. Thus, he hired an actual assistant.
Kelly had just graduated and hadn’t yet seen the ugly side of society, so she worked overtime every day with full passion. She was always the one to lock up the office after work and the first to arrive and open the door, no matter the weather. Wayne elected her the employee of the month and promised to make her a permanent assistant after her three-month trial.
“What trouble could she possibly encounter...” Wayne frowned. How could a missing pet case stump two of his capable subordinates? “Kelly, how many days has Detective Mona been on the missing pet case?”
“Five days.”
Wayne fell silent. Mona was no ordinary person. A member of the Church of Heavenly Father’s tactical unit failing to find a dog after five days? Could she have encountered another demon? Again? What, had hell arranged a team-building retreat?
He picked up the phone and dialed the number. As expected, no one answered. After two attempts, the innkeeper said that the bespectacled woman with long legs had hastily checked out as if she were running from loan sharks.
“She’s outside Londan and getting chased away...?”
“Seems like real trouble.”
Since they were butt buddy, he couldn’t possibly ignore her plight. He made another call. “Kael? It’s me, Wayne.”
“Remember your older sister?”
“How would I know how many sisters you have? I’m talking about Mona, the detective you introduced to me. She’s in trouble.”
“While her body’s still warm, someone from her family should rescue her.”
“Not me. I’m busy making money and don’t have the time. That’s it for now. Treat me to dinner another day.”
Wayne hung up. Don’t worry, Mona. I’ve overcome great difficulties to call for reinforcements. The church will go to your rescue soon.