July 7, 1399. Fog.
Having finally left the memory world where hidden killing intent lurked at every turn, Lynch had returned to his safe, cozy nest. Falling asleep the moment he got home last night, he had slept soundly until waking up naturally at seven this morning.
Sigh, ever since he transmigrated and stopped being a corporate slave, he could only sleep until he woke up naturally every day. He didn't even get the chance to use an alarm clock anymore—thinking about it almost felt regrettable.
Letting out a melancholy sigh, Lynch changed into lightweight clothing and jogged out the door.
The main reason back in his original world that most brave souls who resolved to work out only lasted three days was simply a lack of pressure. If they were stuck in a situation where they had to build their physical fitness or face sudden death at any moment, they would guaranteed train harder than anyone.
Lynch was precisely in that boat, so on his second day back, he resumed his morning exercise, jogging all the way to the Police Club.
First, he practiced cane fighting, then marksmanship. Perhaps due to the enhanced physical control that came with his level-ups, his marksmanship had improved rapidly over the past month or so. From the very beginning when every single shot seemed to chase after the instructor, he was now able to land the vast majority of his bullets on target.
Watching this from behind cover, the instructor wept tears of relief, constantly thanking whichever major god was listening for making his student seem like an entirely different person.
Lynch was quite pleased too, which was why his final shot naturally missed the target. After ricocheting off a gas pipe several times, the bullet grazed past the instructor's head and embedded itself into the table serving as cover.
Excellent. Now that was what a complete training session looked like.
Patting the practically petrified instructor on the shoulder with complete satisfaction, Lynch carried his cane with a beaming smile as he left the Police Club, walking all the way to the front of city hall at Crown Square.
He was due to meet with President Gulman at the Arcane Tower shortly, and the agreed-upon meeting spot with the two ladies was right here.
It was a very familiar location—the outdoor cafe in front of city hall, the exact place where he had first met Miss Diana.
No matter how violently undercurrents churned in the dark, the world under the sunlight remained serene. People came and went across Crown Square, while the pricey cafe was packed with elegantly dressed gentlemen and ladies, murmuring softly and laughing pleasantly.
He pulled out his pocket watch and glanced at it. Seven-thirty. Mm, looks like this piece-of-junk watch was broken again.
It was something left behind by the body's original owner, so it seemed about time for it to retire.
Glancing back toward the Bell of Honesty at the Hall of Order, it showed nine-thirty—still half an hour before their appointed time. Lynch looked around, noting that neither lady had arrived yet.
I might as well find a seat and wait. Seeing that there weren't many open spots left, he headed toward an empty table, but stopped halfway in his tracks.
His mystery intuition relayed a distinct signal.
【Karina's Exquisite Makeup】
Hmm?
Lynch looked around. There were quite a few people within range—men and women, young and old—all attending to their own business. No one was paying any attention to Lynch in his casual clothes.
Tsk, this girl is pulling this trick again.
His gaze swept rapidly across the faces of those nearby. It took only a few seconds before he walked up to a young lady.
A girl of seventeen or eighteen, dressed like a company clerk, fitting seamlessly into the environment.
Yet Lynch walked straight up to her, bowed elegantly in front of the girl, and asked with a smile, “My lady, might I have the honor of sitting opposite you?”
“Nope,” the girl replied softly, her eyes curving into crescent moons. “Opposite, beside, behind—none of them are allowed.”
“Sigh, then I'll just have to scoop you up and sit in your seat instead.”
“Sir Lynch!” The count's daughter glared at him with a flushed face and turned her head away, though the smile in her eyes completely betrayed her. Seeing Lynch sit down of his own accord, Diana couldn't help asking out of curiosity, “How did you spot me this time? Was there something that gave me away?”
She wore a look of full curiosity, appearing eager to hear another brilliant analysis and deduction from Lynch like last time. Lynch, however, merely chuckled.
“You didn't give anything away. But after knowing each other for so long, I'd be utterly incompetent if I couldn't recognize you at a glance. Your eyes are far too familiar; it would be hard for me not to recognize you.”
The young countess froze, her gaze turning entirely gentle. She wrinkled her nose and let out a soft huff. “I suppose that passes. I barely agree to let you sit across from me, but you have to buy me coffee.”
“Hey, you ran out on the bill last time too. Are all you rich people this stingy?”
“Of course. Where else do you think our money comes from? It's all saved through frugality.”
“Frugally having veal loin as a casual meal and quenching your thirst with private-reserve wine, right?”
“Precisely.”
Free coffee really did taste better. Under the young countess's smiling gaze, Lynch ordered a second cup, finally replenishing the fluid he had lost during his workout earlier.
Miss Diana rested her chin in her hands and tilted her head, watching him until he set his cup down before asking earnestly, “My father's reply arrived a couple of days ago.”
“Huh?”
“Regarding the Bester Mountain Tunnel,” Diana explained in a lowered voice. “I passed your thoughts along to him.”
Previously, leveraging an information gap, Lynch had maneuvered between Chairman Grant, the Archaeological Association, the Duke's mansion, and the Valente family—partial owners of Bester Mountain. After setting a trap for Grant, he had smoothly facilitated both the tunnel project and the excavation of Zur-Baha-Sahr.
As for the Valente family, the tunnel required occupying part of their fief, which wasn't free. By custom, in addition to selecting an equivalent fief elsewhere, they were entitled to an extra ten percent of fief land as compensation.
For the high nobility of this world, land was what they valued most, as the vast majority of their income derived from it. But Lynch possessed the insights of his past life; he knew full well that the Age of Steam was an era of transformation. The old order of the world was breaking down while a new one took shape. Furthermore, he alone understood what a major railway in the Age of Steam truly signified.
The immense wealth it generated was merely the least remarkable aspect.
Because of this, Lynch had mentioned to Miss Diana back then that swapping for more land was actually a bad deal, and that there were far more advantageous conditions to demand. At the time, he had only brought it up casually, expecting such an established noble family to follow their own principles and considerations. He hadn't expected Miss Diana to actually pass his suggestion along.
“My father hopes to have the opportunity to meet and discuss this with you in detail; he's very interested in what you said. If you are heading to the capital, Norin, I'll return with you and take you to meet my father so you can discuss it further.”
Lady, are you sure it's just to discuss this matter in detail?
Lynch looked at the young countess with a bizarre expression, but Diana merely turned her head away, a faint flush on her cheeks. “In short, before Prince William's investiture ceremony on July 28, Sophia will definitely urge you to visit the capital anyway. When the time comes, I'll travel with you.”
“Alright, I got it. I'll go.”
Lynch sighed internally. The actions of these two young ladies were surprisingly aligned. Since he was already planning to visit the cemetery, a trip to the royal capital of Norin would definitely be necessary as well.
“Where are you going?”
Natalie's voice sounded from nearby. Lynch turned his head and saw that she had specially changed into a long dress. Her tall frame carried a unique elegance against the gown, but as for her question...
“To the Arcane Tower. Come on, now that everyone's here, we should get going.”
As he spoke, he muttered to himself inside, Am I being too much of a scumbag?
No, absolutely not.
Rate on N.U.
