Raise Joan of Arc to be an empress, then discard her.

She was more concerned about other things: "Now that you've been promoted, your salary should have increased, right? How many female colleagues do you have?"

Aaron was taken aback; he hadn't noticed this at first.

Gold Flower refers to the highest denomination currency in the kingdom.

The kingdom has three currency units: gold flower, silver snake, and copper coin.

The Golden Flower is famous for bearing the coat of arms of Gregory, the royal family of the Kingdom of Dock, known as the "Golden Jasmine Flower." All Golden Flowers could only be minted with the king's authorization and were linked to gold, making them the true hard currency of the kingdom.

Silver snake refers to silver coins printed with a silver snake. As for why it is silver snake, it is said that it can be traced back to a thousand years ago. Regardless of history, silver snake was the most common currency for ordinary people.

The remaining type is the most numerous copper coins. Unlike gold and silver snake coins, copper coins are rarely issued as paper money and are mostly circulated as coins.

In Aaron's mind, one copper coin was roughly equal to one loaf of bread.

As a second-level clerk, Aaron's monthly salary was 80 silver snakes, which was considered a good income for a young man.

Aaron had inquired about Dorn's salary. The district head of Wutong District earned more than 7 yuan a month. After Aaron was promoted to office director, his salary should be similar to Dorn's, but due to seniority and years of service, it would be slightly lower than Dorn's.

But that's equivalent to three times the current salary.

“You’ve been promoted, so you can’t dress like this anymore. When you have time, you must buy a few matching outfits,” Freya said, resting her cheek on her hand.

The thought of Freya's destinations and the prices of the clothes she wanted to buy sent a chill down Aaron's spine, making him realize that his salary wouldn't be enough.

**

政府大楼

Aaron pushed open the door and walked into his own office.

The office was newly moved out and was still quite empty, with only a huge desk and no chairs. You could see the whole thing from the doorway. Directly opposite the door was a window frame, and beyond that was the busy street outside the government building.

Aaron turned around, glanced at his busy colleagues outside, and then at the large, seemingly empty office. For a moment, he felt a little dazed.

He closed the door, went into the room, gently stroked the huge desk with his hand, and then lay down on the desk.

The office is still quite empty now, but soon it will be filled with bookshelves, sofas, filing cabinets, and the bookshelves will be crammed with all kinds of files and documents, while the desks will be covered with ink and various office supplies.

Of course, his office would also be filled with his own belongings, such as potted plants, water cups, and coffee machines. He would also have his own comfortable chair, and hang a painting he liked on the wall. He could also choose the color of the curtains, the brightness of the desk lamp, and adjust everything in the room to his liking, treating the office as his own semi-private space.

These are all things for the future. Right now, things are still in a frenzy outside the government building. The buildings are still under repair, many things haven't been moved in yet, and his work hasn't been handed over so quickly. Fortunately, he can spend a few days leisurely.

This was almost the life he had always dreamed of.

Aaron lay on the table, staring at the ceiling.

He had originally intended to sneak in, since no one knew if there would be paparazzi lying in wait in the government building. However, he was caught by his colleagues when he tried to sneak in. Just as he was feeling embarrassed, his colleagues in the building suddenly put down their work and started clapping one after another. The applause quickly turned into a deafening roar. The leaders in the government building did not stop them; instead, they joined in the clapping. At the same time, his colleagues shouted "Hero!"

They considered Aaron the hero who saved Birmingham.

Even Aaron, seeing this scene, couldn't help but slightly curl the corners of his mouth, and even felt secretly happier than if he had been promoted and received a raise.

However, a promotion and a raise are still more practical.

Aaron lay on the table, many images flashing through his mind, even recalling the class reunion right after graduation.

He still remembers the graduation party that year, where he heard a senior tell the story of a successful senior, which made him very envious.

It is said that after graduation, the senior worked for a trading company, traveling between Lucerne and Docco, earning a high salary and travel allowance in Lucerne, staying at the Imperial Hotel every day, having a private car to pick him up, enjoying holidays in both countries, and having the right to take a vacation at the end of the year. He lived a life that others envied.

Furthermore, it is said that this man is handsome, tall, and dashing. During his business trip, he also fell in love with a gentle and virtuous noblewoman from Lucerne. They are now officially engaged and will soon hold weddings in both Doc and Lucerne. If they are lucky, he may even receive a noble title personally bestowed by the Queen. It is rumored that they plan to have two children and live a happy and fulfilling life.

After hearing the senior's story, all the students present were filled with envy and vowed to live such a life, including Aaron.

However, it seems that perhaps in a few years, he will have the opportunity to live such a life.

As Aaron lay on his desk contemplating life, someone knocked on the office door.

It's Franny; he's here to congratulate Aaron on his promotion.

Franny had joined the company a year earlier and was also older than Alan. Their workstations were close together, and they often chatted and ate together, so they had a good relationship.

When Franny came in, he was also very amazed. It was truly a twist of fate. His rank was originally one level higher than Yaron's, but after just a few days, their ranks had completely reversed, and Franny had reached a position that even with good luck, he would have to work hard for decades to achieve.

Aaron also sighed. The two sat down and talked about what had happened in the past two days. As they talked, they decided to go to the scene of the incident together.

The roof and walls of the interrogation room were not yet repaired, and there was still a large hole in the exterior wall of the government building. It is worth noting that the police had withdrawn from the case, and the Kingdom's MI7 and the Trial Church had taken over the case.

MI7.

Thinking of this department, Aaron subconsciously swallowed.

Even in the Kingdom of Dok, MI7 is the most disliked department.

Hidden behind the scenes, they possess both the iron will of the military and the secrets and darkness of the counter-espionage department. Especially after the enactment of the Kingdom's Counter-Espionage Law, their power has expanded to an unprecedented level. They have the authority to deal with any dangerous elements who threaten the Kingdom of Dok, making them a fearsome presence in the Kingdom of Dok.

There have long been rumors in Lodoren that MI7 possesses the most terrifying interrogation facilities and the most extensive interrogation experience in the entire Kingdom of Dork. It's said that if you were captured by them, the best outcome would be to swallow a poison pill before being caught. Of course, this is a slight exaggeration, but MI7's remarkably high interrogation success rate is a fact. To this day, the methods they use remain unknown…

Eclair is a Lusset spy, and the case should rightfully be handled by MI7.

During this period, the thing that worried Ariel most at night was whether MI7 would uncover some clues and point the finger at him.

Just thinking about this possibility sent a chill down Aaron's spine.

The good news is that Eclair's physical body has completely perished, and what happened in the room can only be based on Aaron's side of the story. So far, MI7 has not shown any particular interest in him, only taking his statement. When passing by the scene of the incident, the MI7 officer who knew him even greeted him warmly.

Barring any unforeseen circumstances, this case will most likely be dropped and become a cold case buried in piles of documents, so Aaron won't have to worry.

At five o'clock in the afternoon, Freya suddenly found him and said that the Countess wanted them both to go home, as there was a surprise waiting for them there.

Aaron was already somewhat absent-minded. After greeting Dorn, he got into the carriage with Freya.

*

As they approached the door, Aaron and Freya decided to get out of the car and walk home.

There is a special tree-lined path in front of the villa, with lemon and orange trees on both sides. Walking along the narrow cobblestone path, you can enjoy the scenery along the way.

This grove remains evergreen all year round. A gentle breeze blows by, and warm sunlight filters through the leaves, giving Freya a sense of security.

When they finally caught sight of the villa's silhouette, they noticed a man in black standing at the entrance. He wore white gloves, sunglasses, and had a blank expression.

Not only was there a stranger at the entrance, but a conspicuous black steam car was also parked outside the villa.

Steam technology had become somewhat widespread in this era, and steam-powered vehicles and horse-drawn carriages could be seen crisscrossing the streets of Birmingham. However, in the eyes of most commoners, steam-powered vehicles were still the vehicles of noblemen, especially small cars equipped with small steam engines, which were the elite in the city.

For a long time, miniaturizing the steam engine was an insurmountable problem. Therefore, when this technology was finally mastered, it naturally became a collectible for the elite to flaunt. This not only showed that the collector was knowledgeable about technology and had good taste, but more importantly, new technologies often represented the most cutting-edge technology and the most expensive prices. Those who could collect them were naturally the most privileged.

The Earl of Iron was a top-tier privileged individual, but he had no interest in collecting steam cars.

Look at that gleaming black sedan. Both its exterior and interior are as beautiful as a hand-carved work of art. Just by looking at its curved lines, you can imagine what it would look like when it's in motion. But what's even more intriguing is the owner of this car. Who is this person who has the right to sit inside?

As they curiously approached the doorway, the tall man in black looked at them through his sunglasses, neither bowing nor nodding, but silently stepping aside.

This was the first time they had ever seen a bodyguard with such an attitude, but what was even more surprising was the noisy living room.

The drawing room is rarely this lively. Count Iron dislikes parties, and the drawing room is usually elegant and quiet, but today is clearly an exception.

Silvery laughter echoed from the room, and the atmosphere in the hall was quite lively. A beautiful girl sat on the sofa, surrounded by a group of people. A boy next to her kept telling jokes, making the girl giggle and clap her hands.

When they arrived at the door, they could see more clearly. Several men and women were not only chatting and laughing, but also playing drinking games. Now it was the girl's turn to drink. The boy next to her poured her a full glass of wine, while the other boys smiled and cheered. Amidst the enthusiastic cheers, the girl picked up the glass with both hands and drank it down in small sips. The whole table was filled with enthusiastic cheers.

Chapter 124 The Prince and Princess's Party

At first glance, it's just an ordinary drinking party, with everyone playing their respective roles. Such parties are common in Birmingham's bars and are familiar to every Doc. However, when the person responsible for creating a lively atmosphere, drinking, and telling jokes becomes Lord Iron's second son, Young Master Zain, it inevitably attracts his attention.

Zain Jagger is someone Freya and Aaron know very well. As the second son in the family, he is probably the least respected person in the family. However, being disrespected does not mean he has little presence. As the most disliked person in the family, his high presence is a characteristic of him.

In fact, he was the one who least needed to be recognized at the party. Young Master Zane always managed to make his presence felt in a special way. After all, his voice that told jokes and his quirky personality were unique among the noble young masters.

But to think that Master Zain is a clown just because of that would be underestimating him. That's only because of his home life. When Master Zain is out, he's a completely different person. Aaron has personally witnessed how arrogant and domineering Master Zain is among the young masters of Lodoron.

However, it would be an underestimation of Young Master Zain to think of him merely as a spoiled nobleman. His domineering behavior does not mean that he can only play one role. For example, when entertaining important guests, he can always quickly find his place and cooperate seamlessly with his brother.

Naturally, since the second son of the Iron Earl was in charge of creating a lively atmosphere, the protagonist of this party must be the eldest son of the Iron Earl, the future heir to the Iron Earl, Simon Jagger.

Aaron indeed found the handsome and refined young man on the sofa. He had inherited his mother's blond hair, his father's green eyes and tall stature, as well as his father's handsome appearance and calm personality when he was young.

He sat on the sofa, mostly smiling gently, but just sitting there, he exuded an aura of power. He controlled the rhythm of the party, drawing everyone's attention to him, and his every move captivated the minds of the partygoers.

But the usually dignified older brother's expression was surprisingly gentle at this moment. Of course, he wasn't always like this. Aaron and Freya noticed that it was because that delicate girl, as beautiful as a flower, was sitting next to him that Simon became like this. Men will show their softest side in front of the girl they like. This saying is indeed true.

She looked only nineteen years old, wearing a plain white dress, with curved eyes and a smiling expression. She was surrounded by people, enjoying the treatment of being the center of attention. She clapped her hands freely while drinking and singing, like a little princess having a blast.

She was a pure golden jasmine, with a smile so beautiful that people would be willing to die for her. But she seemed to have gotten used to being surrounded by people, used to being the center of attention, as if she was born to be the most popular girl at a party.

Therefore, when she was willing to pick up a wine glass bigger than her hand, tilt her head back, and drink it all in one gulp, the atmosphere at the party was naturally stirred up and pushed to its climax.

After finishing her drink, she exhaled slowly, opened her beautiful eyes, covered her chest with her hand, and let out a soft burp. Her eyes shone brightly under the light, displaying a beautiful sea blue hue that exuded a unique charm. Her face was flushed from the alcohol, and her fair skin was as delicate as rose petals covered in dew. The princess was a little drunk, and Simon gently put his arm around her shoulder.

But Aaron wasn't paying attention to the girl's stunning beauty; rather, he was noticing the color of her eyes. Not only that girl, Aaron was also keeping an eye on the other two boys sitting at the bar.

They maintained a somewhat distant relationship with the party, neither too close nor too far away, enjoying themselves most of the time, but occasionally becoming part of the party. Clearly, the girl in the center was their link.

Simon didn't seem to mind, even though he was the host of the party.

But Aaron's attention went beyond that.

He noticed it from the very beginning: the girl sitting in the center had beautiful sea-blue eyes, as did the two flirtatious boys behind her; their eyes were the same beautiful sea-blue as those of the previous king, Richard VI, in the portrait on the hall wall.

Aaron froze at the doorway.

Not only their eyes, but if you look closely at the two boys' appearances, you'll find that they even resemble Richard VI on the wall.

In particular, the leading boy's rugged face and deep blue eyes were practically a carbon copy of Richard VI in the portrait. The difference was that he didn't have Richard VI's serious mustache, and he had a frivolous smile that was the complete opposite of the serious Richard VI. Compared to the man in the portrait, he was obviously more handsome and energetic.

With all these conditions combined, there is only one possibility.

At this moment, the people in the living room finally noticed them.

"Aaron, Freya, you're back." Simon stood up and introduced the guests behind him first: "Let me introduce you to my sister, Freya, and my sister's fiancé, Aaron."

He then turned his head, smiled, and said, "As for these two, please allow me to introduce them—"

He pointed to the first boy sitting at the bar: "This is Prince Leopold Gregory of the Kingdom of Dok."

He pointed to the second boy sitting at the bar: "This is the third prince of the Kingdom of Dok, His Highness Lord Gregory."

As Aaron had predicted, the two boys were indeed princes of the Kingdom of Dok.

"As for this one..."

“Besides Mr. Aaron, everyone here knows me, right?” Helena giggled, her voice as sweet as honey.

"That's true, it was basically introduced to Aaron." Simon smiled wryly.