103 was thrilled right now.
Everything was just as Lady Jetis had foreseen!
Master had indeed found his way here, and the focus of his next phase of expansion was truly in the south!
“Master, do you have instructions for me?”
103 looked up, gazing eagerly at Li Xiuman.
It was such an honor to serve Master!
Following Lady Jetis to Dawn City was definitely the right decision!
Li Xiuman looked at 103.
I really am a genius.
If he were not a genius, how could he have recognized Rorona’s talent and had Rorona plant a spy inside the White Feather Merchant Association?
And today, this spy operation would play an unprecedented role!
Li Xiuman suppressed his excitement and tried to project an air of calm, composed mastery over the situation.
After all, a master’s dignity had to be maintained!
This was very, very, very important!
“Do you know where all the currency in this place is kept?”
“Or any other valuables?”
Li Xiuman asked.
However, Li Xiuman did not actually hold high expectations.
After all, how much could a mere low-level spy know?
Meanwhile, 103’s mind was racing. He was utterly baffled as to how Master could have guessed—he had only been appointed accountant and assistant vault manager yesterday.
How had Master guessed it?
But then again, this was Master. If it was Master, then everything made sense!
“To answer Master, I know exactly where everything is!”
“This is the detailed ledger of all goods and finances currently held by the White Feather Merchant Association!”
He actually knows?
Li Xiuman took the ledger and glanced at it.
My god!
He nearly lost his footing.
Gold coins alone—a whole fifty thousand!
Just how much money did this lousy White Feather Merchant Association have?!
In reality, back in White Crystal City, no fewer than several major merchant associations had approached the White Feather Merchant Association with acquisition offers.
The highest bid among them was two hundred and ninety thousand gold coins.
If all liquid funds of the White Feather Merchant Association were pulled together, it would amount to roughly seventy thousand gold coins.
“Ha... hahaha!”
Li Xiuman wanted to laugh out loud.
However, with a subordinate present, he had to maintain his majestic dignity.
In the end, he forcefully choked it back, letting out only a few deep, subdued chuckles.
Yet those deep chuckles sent shivers down 103’s spine.
Has Master... discovered something?
“It’s mine!”
“It’s all mine now!”
“White Feather Merchant Association, you never expected this, did you?!”
“Ransacking! This is what true ransacking looks like!”
Li Xiuman suppressed the surging thrill in his heart.
With these fifty thousand gold coins, he could genuinely become an undisputed tycoon.
Even hearing the name of the White Feather Merchant Association didn't feel as repulsive anymore.
“Take me there.”
“Yes!”
Without a moment's hesitation, 103 led Li Xiuman straight to the heavily fortified vault.
Click.
The heavy vault door swung open.
Chests upon chests of gold coins gleamed with an irresistible allure.
Fifty thousand gold coins—what did that even mean?
Put into perspective, sitting here was the equivalent of the wealth of fifty red dragons, or five Viscount Fanteses!
It was enough to purchase a sizable fief and a noble title, allowing one to become a lord and live life at the top of the social ladder.
Li Xiuman stored every single gold coin into his storage space without hesitation.
His breathing turned shallow with matchless excitement!
Standing beside him, 103 did not dare to say a word.
Although he had no idea why Master was robbing his own vault like a highway bandit...
...It would be stranger if he could understand Master's actions.
Not understanding meant Master was operating normally!
After all, even Lady Jetis could only comprehend ten or twenty percent of Master's wisdom.
“You will continue your mission after this.”
“However, there might be danger shortly. You can consider your mission complete and leave if you wish.”
“I will remember your service.”
Li Xiuman patted 103 on the shoulder.
His meaning was crystal clear.
The vault being robbed was a massive incident. As an assistant vault manager, 103 would surely be held accountable.
Therefore, he shouldn't stay on as a spy and should just go home.
However, in 103’s ears, it sounded completely different.
He keenly sensed that something huge was bound to happen tonight.
Master was being considerate of him, urging him to hide quickly.
“Master, I understand!”
“Mm.”
“This vault door is quite nice—just as luxurious as the one at Fantes’s estate.”
“Dismantle it as well.”
After that, Li Xiuman continued diving deeper into the underground of the White Feather Merchant Association.
Having no need to breathe, he didn't have to worry about air supply and could continuously dig downward using Earth Magic.
Today's fortune was great! If he managed to dig up the Crystal Hero's grave, great prospects awaited him!
...
Meanwhile, in Dawn City, a grand ball was taking place at the estate of Count Hatton.
Jetis had also been invited.
However, Jetis smelled a plot in the air.
She wanted to leave, but was unable to do so.
She couldn't even send messages outside.
Then, as expected, she was surrounded by a group of guards right in the middle of the ball.
“Miss Jetis.”
Count Hatton approached step by step.
Clina stepped forward, shielding Jetis behind her.
“Good evening, Count Hatton.”
“Is there some misunderstanding between us?”
Jetis greeted him calmly.
In her mind, she had already simulated several possibilities.
“Oh, it’s no misunderstanding at all.”
Count Hatton licked his lips and continued.
“It's just that a certain sum of funds belonging to your merchant association has a very suspicious origin.”
“I suspect it is the funds stolen from me some time ago, so an investigation is required.”
Jetis immediately understood the scheme.
The fact that she had brought a massive amount of funds south to expand operations had been leaked.
Her rivals back in White Crystal City had seized the opportunity and leaked the news to this bastard in front of her.
Investigating the gold?
Laughable!
This was an attempt to freeze her liquid capital.
Once her funds were controlled, other merchant associations in White Crystal City would undoubtedly launch targeted sanctions against the White Feather Merchant Association.
Without sufficient cash flow, the White Feather Merchant Association would suffer a devastating blow.
By the time the investigation into the funds' origin concluded, the merchant association would have shrunk drastically.
When that time came, these colluding scoundrels would pounce like hyenas to tear apart and devour the corpse of the White Feather Merchant Association.
She had been careless.
But what about Master? The strategy to move south, the plan for Dawn City—Master laid out all of it.
Could Master's judgment ever be flawed?
Impossible! Jetis, calm down!
“Please, go right ahead.”
Jetis suppressed the anxiety in her heart.
With that, the ball was brought to an abrupt end.
Count Hatton escorted Jetis, sitting leisurely inside the carriage as they traveled toward the White Feather Merchant Association.
“Miss Jetis.”
“Rest assured, I have always conducted myself with absolute fairness and honor.”
“I will certainly investigate those funds thoroughly.”
Jetis remained silent throughout the entire journey.
The guards stationed by Count Hatton kept a strict watch over Jetis’s attendants, constantly vigilant to prevent any message from leaking out.
They arrived at the White Feather Merchant Association.
Count Hatton stepped out with a smile, opening the carriage door with gentlemanly flair.
“After you, Miss Jetis.”
“Begin the search.”
“If memory serves me right, the gold coins stolen from me totaled exactly...”
“...fifty thousand gold coins.”
Jetis’s breathing hitched slightly.
Time ticked away slowly.
Until a guard sprinted out frantically and whispered something into the smiling Count Hatton’s ear.
Count Hatton’s expression froze, the smile stiffening on his face.
“Not even a single copper coin?!”
“Signs of violent destruction?!”
“How... How is this possible?!”
The air froze.
Inside her heart, Jetis praised Master a thousand times over!
Everything!
Was within!
Master's!
Expectations!
Master's sublime wisdom and foresight were truly breathtaking at all times!
Suppressing her excitement and joy, Jetis spoke in a furious and stern tone:
“It appears that Lord Count is not the only one whose gold coins were stolen.”
“My place wasn't spared either.”
“Lord Count, I can fully understand your feelings now.”
"..."
“Let's go!”
Gritting his teeth, Count Hatton spat out a single word before leading his guards away without looking back.
Jetis let out a long sigh of relief.
If not for Master, a catastrophe would have occurred.
She had to reflect on this near-failure and ensure such a thing never happened again.
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