Did the villainous professor survive today?

boom!

Krenk stormed out of the bedroom without looking back and barged into his father Richard's study.

"Ooh ooh ooh ooh!"

Richard, who was sitting at his desk enjoying fish and chips while reviewing financial reports, was startled by the sudden commotion.

"Klenk, what's going on?! Why are you so panicked?!"

"Dad, I might know the inside story of the assassination!"

Kroenke leaned against the door, staring directly at Richard across from him.

"You found out?!"

Richard did not hide his doubt and shock.

"When?"

"Just now!"

Kroenke said.

"Dad, the assassination target was ostensibly me, but the real purpose was to force you to return to Saint Auster!"

Krenk rapidly organized his thoughts,

"The Russell family doesn't care whether the assassination succeeds or not! The outcome of the assassination is irrelevant; the assassination itself is the key!"

"Klenk, speak slowly, have some water."

Richard quickly got up and gestured to Krenk to close the study door.

Richard pulled up a chair and sat down facing Krenk.

Kroenke didn't drink any water, but went straight to his conclusion:

"The Medici family and the Russell family have joined forces."

"Have those two families teamed up?"

Richard was taken aback at first, then immediately picked up the notebook next to the desk and began scribbling things down.

"Yes, it was because of my engagement to Sistine that they had to put aside their differences and unite against the enemy."

"Kroenke, are you sure?"

Richard's pen flew across the page.

"You should know that when the relationship between the two families was at its worst, the places run by the Russell family all had signs hanging at the entrance that read 'No Medici family or dogs allowed.'"

Of course, not long after, the Russell family removed the sign.

Because they allow dogs inside.

Yes, the relationship between the two sides was that bad, which is why Richard was so shocked when he heard the news.

"I can't guarantee it, but the possibility is very high."

Kroenke raised a finger,

"At my chief professor's dinner, the Russell family did have close contact with the Medici family, but I am not aware of the content of the conversation."

Kroenke's eyes were burning.

He knew that his parents had previously worked abroad, collaborating with chambers of commerce in other countries to conduct matchmaking transactions.

The so-called pairing transaction is basically about one party taking the lead, bringing together other merchant guilds to raise money, artificially inflating the price of alchemical magical items through internal transactions, and finally selling them to others at a high price.

In modern terms, it means buying low, driving up the market price, attracting retail investors, and finally cashing out at the high price.

However, such transactions are predicated on sufficient trust between chambers of commerce.

If someone secretly sells their stockpiled goods behind others' backs for immediate profit, the market price will plummet.

In this way, the financial risks of monopolizing goods are entirely transferred to others, and there is a high probability that they will suffer huge losses.

To prevent this from happening,

The chairpersons of the matchmaking trading associations would gather together to monitor each other and prevent anyone from betraying them.

Things are going very smoothly.

Until the accident happened.

Last week, on the eve of Klenk Ludwig's inauguration as chief professor, he was assassinated by assassins from the lower city.

Regardless of whether the assassination succeeded or not, at this critical juncture, Richard and Juliana, as Kroenke's parents, had no reason not to rush back.

In other words, it was completely unknown what the other merchant guilds would do during the time the two returned to Saint Auster.

A week, a whole week.

The Medici Chamber of Commerce had ample time to contact the presidents of other chambers of commerce, promise them benefits, and win them over.

Finally, all the risks and financial pressures were transferred to the Ludwig Chamber of Commerce.

"Okay, I understand."

Richard did not question the accuracy of the source; he chose to believe his son.

Then he stood up and began to change his clothes.

"Your mother and I are preparing to return to the Duchy of Eton tonight."

"it is good."

Kroenke knew there was no time to lose.

Richard quickly changed into his travel gear, while Julianna instantly switched from beauty treatments to travel mode.

"Krenk, we're leaving. Sophia, listen to your brother at home."

After their final farewell, Richard and Juliana immediately boarded a train and headed towards the Duchy of Eton.

……

The next day, early in the morning.

The Duchy of Eton.

"Hey, Falco, we're back! Did you miss us?"

Richard opened his arms and gave the president of the Gattuso Chamber of Commerce a big hug.

"Richard, why are you back so early?"

Looking at the person in front of him, Falco was taken aback.

"Of course, I came back as soon as my son's banquet was over."

"I thought you wouldn't be back until the afternoon."

"Sigh, let's not talk about that. Let me tell you, these days are getting more and more dangerous." Richard sighed heavily.

"Is your son alright?"

"It's alright, it's alright. Luckily, my son is capable enough, otherwise who knows what might have happened." Richard said, as if he remembered something.

"Oh, by the way, considering the current unrest, I hired a mercenary squad on my way here to act as our bodyguards. Want to take a look? If you're satisfied, I'll sign a contract and hire them long-term to provide protection for us."

"Hiring mercenaries?"

Falco suddenly felt a sense of unease.

"Yes, they're downstairs, waiting."

Richard said this, and enthusiastically pulled Falco downstairs.

Downstairs, a group of soldiers dressed in steel armor and wearing airtight helmets stood guard at the stairwell, watching Richard and Falco intently.

"How about that? Pretty professional, huh!" Richard laughed heartily.

"Haha, yes...yes."

Falco swallowed hard.

"By the way, Falco, where did you all go having fun while I was gone for a week? Can I go have some fun with you?"

Falco immediately realized something was wrong.

Richard is suspicious of me.

He knows the Medici Merchant Guild has contacted us?!

No, he doesn't have any substantial evidence, otherwise he would have taken action long ago!

"Falco, let's talk about the night three days ago. I remember that it wasn't on our itinerary."

Richard still had that smiling tiger look on his face.

However, Falco was already drenched in sweat, and his Adam's apple bobbed twice:

"Um, that morning, I remember we had a quick breakfast and then went fox hunting in the forest. Oh, and by the way, Essien even caught a snow fox!"

"Hmm, and then?" Richard hummed in agreement.

"In the afternoon, we had afternoon tea together on the hillside and basked in the sun. We didn't do anything particularly exciting."

"Oh, I see. What about that night? Tell me in detail what happened that night?"

"In the evening, I took a bath to relieve my fatigue," Falco's eyes darted around as he pondered how to make his actions flawless.

"continue."

"Then, I processed some preliminary financial statement data, and, well, the price of the spiritual quill pen fluctuated slightly."

"continue."

"Then, after dinner was ready, I went to eat, and then took a walk."

"Continue." Richard was like a relentless repeating machine, constantly applying pressure.

"Well, after that, I went to the Grand Theatre to see an opera," Falco chuckled, seemingly to relieve the pressure, and continued to fabricate his lie.

"Richard, it's a shame you didn't see that show, it's called 'Rose Romance.' Let's watch it together sometime!"

Suddenly, Richard's gaze turned cold:

"Falco, could you please say that backwards?"

"Wh...what do you mean?" Falco was stunned for a moment.

"Literally, please recount what happened that night in reverse order."

Falco's mind went blank.

"Hurry up." Richard gave Falco no chance to process what he was doing and gave the fully armed soldiers a look.

The soldiers immediately understood and made a clicking sound as their armor joints clashed.

"Um, that night, before watching 'The Rose,' I... well, I dealt with some finances..."

"Alright, Falco, that's enough."

Richard made a gesture, and the next moment, the soldiers all drew their swords and aimed them at Falco.

I know you're lying.

When a person lies, it is difficult for them to recount the events in reverse chronological order.

The reason is simple: they were all made up on the spot. When thinking about how to deceive the other party, the liar never thinks that he will have to repeat himself in reverse at the end.

The soldiers approached Richard and Falco, surrounding them completely.

Richard took a longsword from a soldier nearby and pointed the blade at Falco's chin:

"Alright, Falco, tell me what you did while I was away, who you contacted, and what you discussed. If you tell the truth, we might be able to be more amicable."