I control the AI ​​empire thanks to the geniuses in my group.

Su Zhou subconsciously turned his head to the side, glancing at Charona out of the corner of his eye.

Charona was tidying up the documents on the table, his back straight and his movements composed, looking no different from a noble gentleman.

Charonna, the head of the largest counterfeit currency empire in the UK, deliberately used this proposal to put him, a foreigner with no connections, directly in opposition to all the criminal forces!

Earn a high salary?

You have to be alive to enjoy it!

Seemingly noticing Su Zhou's gaze, Charona stopped what she was doing, turned around, and gave Su Zhou a flawless smile across several rows of empty seats in the council.

He even walked over to Su Zhou and Newton, stopped in front of them, and slightly removed his hat in greeting: "Congratulations again, Mr. Su, no, I should now address you as Your Excellency the Supervisor."

"London's weather is always unpredictable, especially at night. There is often heavy fog along the Thames. If you are new here, be very careful when going out at night. Some unfortunate accidents can easily happen in those dark alleys."

The tall senator wearing a wig, named Hawkins, happened to walk over at that moment. Hearing Charona's words, he laughed and said, "Mr. Charona, don't frighten our supervisor."

"London isn't nearly this chaotic!"

Charona, seizing the opportunity, pressed his top hat to his chest and gave an impeccable aristocratic curtsy.

"Congressman Hawkins is right, perhaps I'm worrying too much."

Charona smiled and gave Su Zhou one last look: "I have a meeting to attend, so I won't disturb you any longer."

Having said that, he put on his top hat and turned to leave the hall without any hesitation.

Hawkins shrugged, straightened his slightly exaggerated white wig, and muttered, "Mr. Charona is exaggerating. Mr. Sue, don't worry, London is perfectly safe under His Majesty's rule."

Su Zhou sighed silently to himself.

Very good?

This is London at the end of the 17th century!

With no streetlights, no surveillance cameras, and gangs running rampant, Jack the Ripper's predecessors are probably strolling around the streets right now.

Can the security situation there compare to that of our country, China?

Before Su Zhou could finish his complaint, Hawkins started speaking again: "Mr. Su, oh no, now I should call you Your Excellency the Supervisor!"

Hawkins's chubby face contorted into a wide grin: "Your performance at the hearing today was simply breathtaking! An Orientalist appointed Superintendent of the Royal Mint—this is absolutely sensational news in London's social circles!"

Hawkins leaned closer, his tone becoming unusually warm: "It's like this, to celebrate the smooth progress of the National Rebuilding Project, I'm hosting a small dinner tonight at my mansion in Mayfair, with only some key friends from Parliament and goldsmiths and bankers from the City of London invited, and I've prepared the finest French Burgundy wines and roast venison."

With expectant eyes, he said, "If the newly appointed superintendent and the great Mr. Newton could grace us with their presence, it would be a tremendous honor for the Hawkins family! What do you two think?"

Su Zhou hesitated.

He's barely even participated in school field trips, yet he's already expected to be involved in high-end political and business dinners in 17th-century England?

"How is it, Mr. Newton?"

"Mayfair is not far from here. My carriage is ready. Lord Montagu mentioned you a few days ago, saying that the Royal Mint has finally found someone who can actually get things done. Tonight's guests are all our own people."

Newton's job at the mint was actually recommended by Montague, so upon hearing the name, he asked, "How long will the banquet last?"

Hawkins perked up and quickly said, "It won't be too late, at most until midnight. It's just a small gathering to talk about the recasting plan, chat about recent interesting news in London, and let everyone get to know our new supervisor. You know, Mr. Newton, many people want to meet you."

Newton nodded.

Hawkins immediately turned to Su Zhou, his face beaming, "And what about the supervising officer?"

Su Zhou thought to himself that since Newton had gone, he should naturally go and see him too. He imitated Newton's tone and said, "Since it is Congressman Hawkins's kind invitation, it is certainly not appropriate to refuse."

Hawkins was overjoyed: "Great! Great! Excellent! Tonight will surely be a delightful evening for all!"

……

As darkness fell completely, the Hawkins mansion resembled a golden flame floating in the Mayfair night fog.

The wide stone steps were filled with four-wheeled carriages, and the drivers, wearing thick woolen cloaks, huddled in the cold air and stamped their feet.

The servants carried lanterns back and forth, and the brass handles at the door were polished to a shine, reflecting the faces of the people coming and going. The women wore crinolines supported by whale whiskers, while the men all wore wigs of varying heights, with lace necklines piled up like a peacock's tail.

When Su Zhou got off the carriage, the moment his foot stepped onto the stone steps, his first thought was, "This place is really expensive."

No wonder so many people are desperate to climb into high society.

The door opened, and a rush of heat and peculiar food aromas immediately wafted out.

Roasted venison, butter, nutmeg, honey, mulled wine, and a faint aroma of wax.

Copper candlesticks hung from the ceiling of the hall, oil paintings and antlers adorned the walls, and long tables were filled with silver platters and crystal glasses. Servants, dressed in neat uniforms, moved about among them with their heads bowed.

This place is a completely different world from the small restaurants Su Zhou had been to.

The small restaurant is all about bread, the docks, making money, and family.

The evening's conversation revolved around Burgundy, the hunting grounds, women, gambling, and who had made a name for themselves before the king.

As soon as Hawkins entered, he was all smiles and gestures of goodwill.

"This is Mr. Su Zhou, the soon-to-be-appointed Superintendent of the Royal Mint."

"The scholar from the East, whom Mr. Newton greatly admires, was praised even by Mr. Charonna at today's hearing. He is truly remarkable."

"This is Mr. Newton, I don't need to introduce him, do I?"

Suddenly, their gazes pierced over me like needles.

Curious, tentative, calculating, dismissive, ingratiating.

Hawkins was clearly pleased with the atmosphere. Under the watchful eyes of others, he led Su Zhou and Newton inside, past the fireplace, past the card table, past a group of bankers discussing colonial trade and the gold-silver ratio, and finally stopped at a small round table near the window.

Three people were sitting at the table.

One was a goldsmith banker with a goatee, another was a freckled Member of Parliament, and the last was dressed in a dark blue suit with exquisitely tailored cuffs, a high nose bridge, and the thin lips typical of Londoners.

Hawkins smiled and introduced, "Ladies and gentlemen, these two are my most distinguished guests tonight."

The man in the dark blue suit stood up first and raised his glass in a toast.

"I have long admired your names, Mr. Newton, and Your Excellency the Supervisor."

"I am Fairfa. The Finance Committee often deals with Lord Montagu and has heard of Mr. Newton."

Hawkins chuckled, "What were you two talking about just now, having so much fun?"

"Of course it's Mr. Charona. Besides the remodeling project, he's the hottest topic in London lately."

Su Zhou's eyelids twitched slightly.

Is Charona your top star?

So many people are talking about him?

Hawkins chuckled and replied, "Mr. Fairfa has always admired capable people."

Fairfa nodded, his tone even carrying a hint of admiration: "Shouldn't we admire him? A man of humble origins, relying on his own intelligence and courage, has risen from the streets to where he is today, even managing to help with the Bank of England case. Many self-proclaimed nobles are not even half as capable as him."

Su Zhou glanced at Newton out of the corner of his eye.

Newton took a deep breath in frustration.

Fairfa continued, "I've always believed that this is exactly the kind of person the country needs—someone who knows the ropes, is bold, and dares to do dirty work. The recasting plan is such a mess; without a few people like Charona clearing the fog for us, many things really wouldn't have been accomplished."

Su Zhou had already begun to silently mourn for him.

Dude, you're jumping around on Newton's grave... no, Newton himself is still alive, you're literally jumping on Newton's face.

Hawkins, oblivious to anything amiss, chimed in, "Exactly! I've said it before, Mr. Charona possesses a rare talent. Despite his humble origins, no one in London has the foresight to detect counterfeit money."

"Even in the case of counterfeiting when the Bank of England first issued its first banknotes, he was the first to step forward and assist."

"assist?"

Newton spoke somberly.

Fairfa paused for a moment, seemingly not expecting Newton to pick up on this topic, then smiled and said, "Of course, Mr. Newton, this happened before you took office. Mr. Charona did a great job at the time. If it weren't for him and the help of that Whitehall Palace doorman, the case of that batch of counterfeit banknotes might not have been solved so quickly."

Su Zhou immediately perked up.

The doorman at Whitehall Palace!

That was a key figure in the counterfeit currency case.

"Is that Whitehall Palace gatekeeper here?" Su Zhou asked hurriedly.