Mystery: The Traveler Who Holds the Star Key

Dead silence.

Master Hagar stood frozen in place, his arrogant mask shattered completely.

"Found it... really found it!!"

Ignoring the filth, Viscount Grelint grabbed the pocket watch, which was covered in cold fireplace ash.

He then abruptly turned his head, his eyes bloodshot as he stared at the master whose face was covered in paint:

"Liar! You just said it sank to the bottom of the garden fountain?!"

Count Hall didn't speak, but merely glanced at Hagar with a cold and disgusted look.

That one glance was enough to sentence him to death.

Amidst a flurry of activity, Grelint chased Hagar out of the side hall.

The room returned to silence.

Earl Hall turned around and looked at Orion, who was slowly taking off his white gloves, and his expression changed completely.

It's no longer about looking at intruders, but about looking at "rare talents".

"Wonderful."

The count turned slightly to the side, pointing to the sofa in front of the French windows, which was reserved for important guests:

"Sir, this way please."

We need to switch to a tea that's more suitable for conversation.

……

The aroma of tea wafts through the air.

"To be honest, you're the first person to turn the occult into mathematics, and with precision down to the centimeter."

Earl Hall set down his teacup, leaned forward, and switched his tone to a business-like one:

"Since your algorithm is so accurate, I happen to have a troublesome 'mess' here."

Regarding the rubber plantations in East Bayron.

The board made a huge additional investment, and the financial statements were perfect, but I still felt uneasy.

Could you help me calculate the risks?

coming.

The real test.

Orion did not answer immediately, nor did he take out a map.

He simply held his teacup, gazing through the rising steam.

Their gaze turned toward the direction where Grelint had just rushed off to.

He asked a question that seemed casual:

"Your Excellency, that Viscount Grelint."

Have you recently received a batch of "special products" from East Bailang?

For example, spices, or tobacco?

Earl Hall paused, then nodded, looking somewhat surprised.

"That's right. To celebrate the additional investment."

The governor there specially sent over a batch of top-grade 'golden tobacco leaves'.

Grelint just took two boxes from me yesterday...

But what does this have to do with rubber plantations?

"This is a 'sample' of risk."

Orion put down his teacup, tapping his fingers lightly on the table, his tone as calm as if he were analyzing a virus slice:

"During the 'finding the table' process just now."

I observed that the Viscount's mental state was in a highly unnatural state of "restlessness."

"He is irritable, forgetful, and has mild paranoia."

Earl Hall frowned: "Young people are always so impetuous..."

"No, that's 'emotional pollution'."

Orion adjusted his glasses and delivered the fatal blow:

"Objects are carriers of emotions."

"Those tobacco leaves are covered with an extremely strong, still lingering sense of 'fear' and 'hatred'."

Orion's voice was low, carrying a chilling undertone:

"Count, please use your merchant's intuition to think about this."

"If even the 'top-tier gifts' shipped across the ocean to Backlund are imbued with such a high concentration of negative emotions..."

He raised his eyes and looked coldly at the count through his glasses:

"So, the plantations that produce these tobacco leaves..."

What kind of hell on earth must that 'source' be now?

A deathly silence.

Earl Hall's fingers unconsciously tightened around the walking stick.

No map or divination is needed.

This logical loop is flawless.

If even the gifts given to nobles are "dirty," then the place of origin must have been rotten long ago.

"Looks like we don't need to look at the reports anymore."

Orion then opened his briefcase and took out a map of the Southern Continent, laying it out flat.

By pressing the pure gold slide rule onto the "Eastern Bayron" position, the final verdict was delivered:

My advice can be summed up in just two words: short sell.

"The anger index has exceeded the critical value."

Within 72 hours, it will transform from a gold mine into a volcanic crater.

a long time.

Earl Hall took a deep breath, pulled out his checkbook from his pocket, and quickly wrote down a number.

His movements were elegant, yet they revealed the decisiveness of a great banker.

"This is £50, as a fee for a 'simple consultation'."

He handed over the check, his eyes deep and thoughtful.

"If your calculations prove correct three days later..."

The doors of the Hall family will always be open to you.

At that time, several zeros will be added to the consultation fee.

Orion took the check, didn't even glance at the amount, and casually tucked it into the pages of his book.

His indifference to money further enhanced his image.

You will see.

Just then.

Light footsteps sounded outside the door, accompanied by a girl's clear, melodious voice, breaking the heavy atmosphere inside.

"Dad? I just saw Grelint rush out like a madman..."

"And I think I heard something about... 'volcano' and 'investment'?"

The door to the side hall was pushed open again.

The afternoon sun streamed in through the open door, and the air seemed to be instantly filled with the fragrance of flowers.

A blonde, blue-eyed girl wearing a light green dress walked in.

Her features were exquisitely perfect, and her temperament was noble yet lively.

That was Backlund's most dazzling gem, and also Audrey Hall's original form.

Orion turned around.

Through the cold reflection of his gold-rimmed glasses, he looked at the person who had finally made his appearance, and who would also be his biggest benefactor in the future.

But he did not stay.

As a top-tier consultant who charges by the minute, maintaining an "expensive distance" is the best form of marketing.

"It seems I have the honor of seeing the Hall family's true treasures."

Orion politely stepped forward.

Under Audrey's somewhat surprised gaze.

He leaned down slightly, took her right hand, which was covered in a lace glove, and gave it a perfect kiss.

The lips pause about one centimeter from the back of the hand.

He looked up.

Through the gold-rimmed glasses, those deep eyes met Audrey's for a moment.

He was a gentleman, aloof, yet with a smile that seemed to see right through her soul.

"Nice to meet you, Miss Hall."

I am Rosago Zangwell.

Orion straightened up, let go of his hand, and picked up the suitcase full of props.

He nodded slightly to Earl Hall, his tone reverting to its usual businesslike indifference:

"Your Excellency, I look forward to the next 'audit'."

After saying that, he turned and walked out the door without any hesitation.

Only a tall, aloof figure, as if holding the truth of the world in his hands, was left behind, disappearing at the end of the corridor.

Count Hall was still engrossed in his astonishing deductions about the "rubber plantation riots."

They were calling the housekeeper to prepare to go to the telegraph office to verify.

No one noticed the strange look in the girl's eyes.

"Dad, I'm going back to my room now."

Audrey lifted her skirt, gracefully curtsied, and left the side hall with her ever-present golden retriever.

She walked through the long corridor and returned to her absolutely private living room on the second floor.

The heavy oak door clicked shut as it was locked from the inside.

The perfect noble lady finally breathed a sigh of relief and dropped her impeccable smile.

Audrey walked to the window and gently stroked the back of her right hand, which had just been bowed to.

In their emerald green eyes, the eager, inquisitive light that belonged to the audience was finally no longer concealed.

"Susie".

Audrey tilted her head slightly and looked at the silent golden retriever at her feet.

Whisper in a voice only they could hear:

What do you think of him?

"I observed that when Dad gave him that £50 check..."

He tucked it into the book without even glancing at it...

That indifference to money was all too natural.

"Although his expression remained cold, the moment he turned around..."

He put a bit more force into his steps than before...

That's a signal that the body wants to run, but reason is forcibly holding it back.

"What a contradictory and enigmatic gentleman."

Susie, who was standing at her feet, twitched her ears.

It withdrew its gaze from the doorway, and a trace of extremely human earnestness appeared in its clear golden eyes.

It opened its mouth and spoke directly in its gentle voice:

"Audrey, my intuition tells me..."

"Although that guy looks dangerous, he has a very strict sense of order."

"If it were him... I would even be willing to give him my savings to invest."

Audrey's serious expression instantly crumbled.

She looked down in surprise at her own Golden Retriever, her tone shifting from analysis to astonishment and amusement:

"Wait, Susie?"

"When...did you start saving money on the side?!"