Trier, Sauron District, outside the luxurious villa at 22 Saint Martin Avenue, a gentleman who appeared to be in his forties stood waiting to welcome his master.
With strikingly deep light blue eyes and neatly combed dyed black hair, his elegant and refined demeanor made him the type who could still turn women's heads despite his age.
This gentleman was Bowen Bennett, the butler candidate Helen had selected for Ebner based on his requirements.
Though a devout follower of the Earth Mother, Bowen had an adopted son who had joined the Church of the Eternal Blazing Sun and risen to the position of bishop. Thus, in Helen's eyes, he perfectly met Ebner's criteria of being both reliable and well-connected within the Eternal Blazing Sun Church.
—After their recent tour of the city-states within Groselle's Travels, Helen had lent Ebner this lavish mansion, conveniently located near the ancestral home of the Karon family, free of charge.
Now, Ebner entered the third-floor study of the mansion with "Chesia" and Butler Bowen in tow.
"Sir, as per your instructions, I have hired ten maids, nine footmen, one chef, two gardeners, one coachman, and a coachman's assistant...
"The weekly expenditure for these staff members amounts to 20 fer.
"Additionally, the 'Domestic Servants Assistance Association' has provided a list of candidates for the housekeeper position. You may make the final selection yourself."
With that, the butler handed Ebner a booklet. He tactfully omitted mentioning a valet—Chesia's presence suggested the master might prefer a lady's maid.
Ebner skimmed the booklet before setting it aside. On paper, the candidates seemed equally qualified.
"Do you have any recommendations?" Ebner asked with a smile.
Butler Bowen appeared prepared but still took a moment to consider. "Jennifer appears experienced, but as a follower of the Lord of Steam and Machinery, her previous roles leaned more toward mechanical maintenance. Her financial management skills are merely passable.
"Caroline's resume seems flawless, but from what I've gathered, she's more interested in seducing male employers than actual work..."
Here, Bowen discreetly glanced at Ebner's expression and, detecting no particular interest, continued, "Finally, there's Ancath. Her reputation is impeccable. She married and moved to Rite City in the east a few years ago but has since returned to Trier for unknown reasons. In terms of professional competence, she undoubtedly surpasses the other two."
Ebner easily discerned Bowen's bias but didn't mind. Even if Bowen and this "Ancath" were to collude in embezzlement later, did he lack the means to recover his losses?
Given that, he might as well choose the most professionally capable candidate.
With that thought, Ebner tapped Ancath's name on the list and declared, "Her, then."
"Very well, sir. I'll have the legal team draft the contract immediately." Butler Bowen bowed and, seeing his employer had nothing further to add, tactfully withdrew.
The moment the study door closed, Closfia materialized beside Ebner. After admiring the opulent decor, she asked with a smile, "You specifically requested this house from Helen to 'legitimately' engage with the Sauron family and ally with them to crush the Deliens, didn't you?
"However, I should warn you—the Saurons haven't been as arrogant or foolish as they were a century ago since the Roselle incident. Manipulating them won't be easy."
—Having accepted the Earth Mother's mission, Closfia had naturally moved into Ebner's residence to serve as his on-call enforcer.
"Yet the Saurons' greatest threat still comes from the Deliens. If internal cracks appear in the latter, they won't hesitate to strike... My role is merely to provide intelligence, enabling them to act swiftly." Ebner pulled out a newspaper and pointed to the headline. "Besides, the opportunity has already presented itself."
Curious, Closfia glanced at the article, which primarily detailed the romantic escapades of a Trier socialite, only briefly mentioning how she had been startled by protesters during an outing. While seemingly innocuous, the report elaborated extensively on the protest's origins and political demands.
As a former member of the Feynapotter royal family, Closfia was politically astute. After a brief contemplation, she uttered a single word: "Press censorship?"
"Exactly. Resistance to 'press censorship' is snowballing. It's clear the bill will never pass Congress... The Prime Minister won't tolerate that. Before the April elections, he'll inevitably dissolve the current Congress, reorganize it, and force the bill through." Ebner spoke with unwavering confidence.
Even if the Prime Minister didn't conceive of this himself, Ebner would ensure Seyrou Delien—whose fate had been altered—would plant the idea in his mind.
"Once Congress is dissolved, the accumulated tensions will likely erupt, potentially spiraling out of control... Would the Prime Minister truly go that far?" Closfia paused mid-sentence, then added, "And don't expect me to 'hypnotize' him—someone in his position undoubtedly undergoes regular inspections by the Eternal Blazing Sun Church. There's no way to deceive them."
"I understand. But this isn't about the Prime Minister lacking political acumen—he's being forced into a corner... Which gives us ample room to maneuver." Ebner rose and walked to the window, gazing toward the Sauron family's ancestral home in the distance. "Do you think the Saurons would pass up a chance at restoration?"
"They could never succeed..." Closfia shook her head.
After all, the Churches would never allow it, and the Saurons remained too weakened to oppose them.
"Which is why I need to give them an extra 'boost of confidence.'" Ebner smiled.
"What kind?" Closfia asked curiously.
"A secret." Ebner replied mysteriously, refusing to elaborate—a small revenge for her previous schemes against him.
Closfia gave him an amused look but didn't press further, instead remarking, "I recall you have a 'friend' from the Sauron family... Won't manipulating her kin cause issues?"
"Helene is just a branch family member. If we don't deal with those main lineage figures, how can she rise?" Ebner said matter-of-factly, thinking of the diligent "Scarlet Maid" managing his "film company."
Just then, a knock sounded. Closfia vanished as Fanny entered with an orange cat in tow.
—Before moving in, Ebner had instructed the staff to admit Fanny, Fors, Helene, or Helen directly to his study without announcement.
The cat—Leon the "Lion"—sniffed suspiciously upon entering, glancing around but finding nothing unusual.
Fanny, as warm as ever, greeted Ebner with an embrace before getting to business: "My father would like to invite you to dinner this Friday evening, to thank you for taking care of me during our journey..."
She handed him an exquisitely crafted invitation.
"Your father... inviting me? Is there something beyond gratitude?" Ebner feigned surprise, though he'd already guessed the reason.
Truthfully, if genuine thanks were the purpose, the invitation should've come much sooner—not delayed by a week.
Perfect timing though... I need the Surrey family's cooperation too. Even if the MP hadn't reached out, I'd have visited him soon anyway...
As Ebner mused internally, Fanny replied, "It's probably about the Suhite Bank shares..."
Just as I thought. The moment he heard this, Ebner grasped MP Surrey's mindset.
After all, in a way, the crisis threatening the Surreys' hold over Suhite Bank was of his own recent design.
Who could've guessed that Henry, the bank's second-largest shareholder, was actually an agent of the "Men in Black"?
Through Seyrou's indirect command, Ebner had instructed Henry to signal his willingness to sell shares to the Flesseys.
As for manipulating Fanny's father? Ebner felt no guilt—consider it payback for Fanny's sake!
—Only after arriving in Trier had Ebner learned why Fanny had lived with her grandfather in Backlund: after her mother's accidental death, her father remarried a widow, making Fanny increasingly alienated from the new family of four.
.....
Bayam, Governor's Mansion backyard
A Celestial Sect cadre gazed greedily at the beautiful figure encased in "crystal," asking the soldier who delivered it: 'Well done! Where did you find her?'
"Some fishermen discovered her and planned to sell her... I took her instead." The soldier grinned, counting himself lucky to have stumbled upon such a prize while visiting that fat apothecary.
"Excellent! Name your reward," the cadre said.
The soldier stared at the slender silhouette in the crystal, swallowing hard. "I... could I have her for one night after you're done with her?"
The cadre nearly laughed aloud. A mere mortal daring to touch a Demoness? Does he want to die of plague?
Outwardly, he smiled and nodded: "Granted!"
The soldier practically danced with joy.
Meanwhile, Klein—pretending to be sealed and unconscious—fought waves of nausea. Though he knew the soldier's desires targeted Tracy's body, not his true form, goosebumps still erupted across his skin.
This... definitely reinforces my self-awareness.
Elsewhere, after dismissing the soldier, the cadre urgently directed subordinates to transport the crystal to the dungeons while sending word to the "Apostle of Procreation."
(End of Chapter)