Mystery: A Spark

You have to tip people when you watch street performances. They put in so much effort, and you want to get away without giving anything in return?

There's no such thing as a free lunch.

Given the current situation, they must make concessions.

Is it better for one family to cry than for the whole family to cry?

Besides, it's not like we're sending them to their deaths, it's just making them earn a little less.

Evan was already covered in sweat. He looked at the other factory owners, but found that they were just keeping their heads down and not saying a word.

He glanced at the high-ranking officials and nobles in front of him, but only received cold stares in return.

He lowered his head, his lips moved slightly, and he managed to squeeze out a few words:

"As you command, Your Excellency the Prime Minister."

……

Late at night, in a first-class cabin on the White Agate.

At this moment, Klein was already holding little Horus and had peacefully fallen asleep.

After accumulating a net worth of nearly 10,000 pounds, Klein splurged a little when choosing his ship ticket, opting for a more expensive first-class ticket.

First class offers spacious rooms, waiters who have received etiquette training, specially selected chefs with excellent skills, quiet restaurants with scenic views, private rooms for smoking cigars, and places to gather and play cards.

With so many advantages, it has only one disadvantage.

That's because it's expensive.

A second-class ticket costs only ten pounds, while a first-class ticket costs thirty-five pounds.

The problem with the high price wasn't the rooms, but the passengers.

Therefore, with his considerable wealth, Klein naturally wouldn't want to suffer.

The first-class luxury room was undoubtedly comfortable, so Klein slept very well for the first two days.

But today was different, because he had a strange dream.

In his hazy dream, Klein saw a stone tablet with inscriptions on it.

It stood silently among its kind, bathed in moonlight with a crimson hue.

This scene shattered instantly, and Klein suddenly regained his senses.

A tombstone? What does this dream mean? He frowned and fell into deep thought.

……

Friday.

"Backlund Daily News headline: A disgraceful political assassination. When did our kingdom become so despicable?"

"Tassok newspaper headline: A Kingdom spokesperson claims that yesterday's assassination attempt was carried out by the Aurora Society. The Kingdom has been committed to solving the difficulties of its people, and a new labor law will be promulgated soon."

……

"It's only a matter of time before they back down, and then we will have the discretion to deal with factory owners who violate labor laws, and we will no longer be a civil society organization."

In the living room of No. 7 Townsend Street, Arthur said this to Hugh, who had come to visit him.

"Put those aside for now, the main thing is your injury. Are you alright now?" Hugh asked with concern.

“She’s almost fully recovered. Miss Audrey’s magical item is quite impressive,” Arthur replied with a smile.

"That's good. Speaking of which, what exactly happened in this assassination attempt..." Hugh observed Arthur's expression.

She wasn't stupid, of course. After realizing what was going on, she also noticed the suspicious aspects of the matter.

Arthur smiled, but didn't respond to that question. Instead, he said:

"I should be leaving Backlund around next week, and you will be in charge of the Association's affairs after that."

"Let me take charge? I... I'm not capable," Hugh said in astonishment, caught off guard by the question.

"We had to take this step eventually, Hugh. We've already gotten through the hardest part. Even if I'm not here, I believe you can handle things well from here on out."

“Moreover, the next stage after the interrogators is the judge. When the Assistance Association tries those illegal factory owners for their crimes, it will naturally be most appropriate for you to do it. There’s not much point for me to stay here,” Arthur said, looking at Hugh.

“But…I…” Hugh scratched his blond hair, looking somewhat troubled.

In the past, she was just an executor, only needing to focus on how to complete the tasks assigned to her by Arthur.

But now Arthur says she needs to start thinking about some more complicated things, which leaves her somewhat bewildered.

"Why don't you find someone else?" Hugh said with a wry smile.

She felt she was really not cut out for it; if she were to take the job, she might just lead the Confederate Party astray at any moment.

"Who else? Who do you think can take over the Confederate Association besides you? Are you suggesting we let those guys from the security forces take over?" Arthur asked Hugh with a leisurely air.

Xiu rubbed his face with his hands and didn't say anything.

She recruited most of the security team members; how could she not know what kind of people they were?

Letting them act as henchmen and do some simple chores isn't a big problem.

But to expect them to engage in any kind of struggle is simply wishful thinking.

Because the only way they know how to fight is to use their fists to crack open someone's skull.

"Is there... really no other way? You have to leave Backlund?" Hugh asked, clinging to his last shred of hope.

“Yes, because my next role isn’t suitable for Backlund.” Arthur nodded.

Seeing that Hugh's face visibly fell into pain, he smiled and comforted him:

"Actually, you don't need to worry too much. Anyway, you have Arthas's summoning spell. If you encounter any tricky problems, you can write to me for help."

"That's right, I can ask you for advice then." Hugh's eyes lit up, and he slammed his fist into his palm, instantly feeling refreshed.

"Also, we have a lead on your potion recipe, Judge, but you'll have to figure that out yourself," Arthur continued.

"Isn't it MI9?" Hugh asked curiously.

“No.” Arthur shook his head, then asked, “You should have some impression of that Mr. Goebbels, right?”

"Hmm, that's quite a vivid impression. I've seen you chatting with him quite often." Hugh said with some doubt, "Does he have the Judge's potion recipe? But shouldn't the Judge's Path be controlled only by royalty and a few nobles?"

"Hehe, you don't need to delve into that. Just know that he has the Judge's Formula." Arthur didn't mention Duke Negan to Hugh, nor did he intend to let her know.

Even Williams, who was driving for them at the time, was unaware that the person sitting in his car was none other than the supposedly dead Duke Negan.

Only Arthur, Arthas, and Pallas himself knew about this; no one else knew.

After all, the waters here are too deep for others to handle.

"Hmm, I understand." Seeing that Arthur didn't intend to explain, Hugh didn't press the matter further.

Afterwards, the two talked about the working society's operations after Arthur left.

After they had finished talking, Hugh got up to say goodbye.

Just then, the bell on Arthur's front door suddenly started ringing.

"You have guests?" Hugh asked in surprise.

“This guest…I’m afraid he’s not here to catch up with me,” Arthur chuckled dryly.

He arrived at the gate and reached out to open it.

Standing outside the door was Leonard, his handsome face expressionless, radiating a low-pressure aura that clearly indicated he was in a very bad mood.

However, the fact that he chose to ring the doorbell instead of breaking down the door shows that he was still able to barely control his anger.

"Oh my, what brings our poet here? Come, come, please come in." Arthur, with an exaggerated smile, welcomed Leonard in under Hugh's curious gaze.

"Hugh, let me introduce you. This is my good friend, Leonard."

"Leonard, who is this..." Before Arthur could finish speaking, he saw Leonard throw a punch at him.

He quickly stepped back, dodging Leonard's sudden attack.

However, the next second, Leonard, whose attack had missed, pulled out a pistol from his pocket and aimed it at Arthur.

"What are you doing?!" Hugh shouted in surprise, and without hesitation, he pulled out a pistol from his pocket and pointed it at Leonard.

Arthur remained completely calm despite Leonard pointing a gun at him.

He calmly asked:

"What do you want to do?"

“I want answers,” Leonard said through gritted teeth.

"Don't you already have your answer?" Arthur looked at Leonard with a calm expression. "You dare point a gun at me? Do you dare to shoot?"

"Do you think I wouldn't dare to shoot?" Leonard retorted angrily.

"Put the gun down!" Hugh shouted at Leonard at that moment.

"Why should I give up?!" Leonard was now somewhat enraged.

"Put the gun down first," Arthur said to Hugh.

“If he lets me go, I’ll let him go,” Hugh said, staring intently at Leonard.

"If I don't let you go, do you dare to shoot?" Leonard's anger was about to burst.

"How do you know I wouldn't dare?" Hugh was already getting a little angry.

"Put the gun down!" Arthur said to Hugh once again.

"Let him release it first!" Hugh's tone also became sharp.

"Do you think he'd dare to shoot?" Arthur wasn't worried at all that Leonard would shoot him.

However, his attitude instantly enraged Leonard.

How do you know I wouldn't dare to shoot!?

Leonard flicked his wrist, and then a gunshot rang out.

"boom!"