Mystic Overlord: Reading Gives Strength
Chapter 153 - 152: Introduction to Negotiations

Chapter 153: Chapter 152: Introduction to Negotiations

The final result was, naturally, that both parties solidified their commission relationship.

However, aside from the official work, which entailed security tasks two days a week, Ronald also made a request to Everton.

—Out of necessity for the security work.

—He hoped to receive intelligence support from the merchant’s side to some extent.

Given that this requirement was related to work, Everton naturally had no reason to refuse.

The merchant understood that Ronald was a mysterious practitioner acting alone.

To improve the efficiency and reliability of the security work, it was undoubtedly a beneficial choice for him to share the movements of suspicious mystical personnel with Ronald.

It made perfect sense and was expected.

After discussing work-related matters, Mr. Merchant personally escorted Ronald to the door.

Taking the initiative to open the door for Ronald, Everton said politely,

"Then, Mr. Ronald,"

"Shall we meet again next weekend?"

Ronald immediately nodded and replied,

"Of course, see you next weekend."

They nodded to each other as a farewell.

Ronald then walked down from the second floor alone.

As soon as he stepped out of the Floral Hotel, he saw the figure of the old butler by the roadside.

The upright old man was standing beside a carriage.

—It was a high-end black carriage.

Unlike the common rental carriages seen on the streets, a professionally dressed driver sat in front pulling the horse’s reins, and behind was a fully enclosed carriage capable of accommodating four people.

Seeing Ronald emerge from the hotel doors, the old butler also immediately came forward.

"Mr. Ronald, please come this way."

"The carriage is ready."

Ronald instinctively shook his head and started to decline,

"No, no, that’s too kind."

"The place I need to go isn’t too far from here; I’ll walk."

Faced with Ronald’s polite refusal, the old butler stepped back familiarly and then placed his right hand on his chest and bowed slightly,

"Mr. Ronald, you are an important guest of the master."

"If some ill-intentioned folks knew that you were not treated well here, it would be a significant damage to our merchant association’s reputation."

"Please accept this small favor."

"..."

Faced with such a reason, Ronald was really unable to refuse.

He could only agree to follow the old butler to the carriage:

"If that’s the case, then I appreciate your trouble."

Hearing Ronald’s response, the old butler straightened up and walked alongside, respectfully continuing to speak,

"Not at all."

"This is my duty."

He then walked to the carriage, opened the door for the guest, and at the same time asked Ronald,

"It’s getting late."

"Mr. Ronald, are you planning to go home, or do you need to go somewhere else?"

After pondering for a few seconds, Ronald seriously replied,

"..."

"Let’s go to Long Beach Street first, I need to report a work change at the Investigator’s office."

"Take Mr. Ronald to Long Beach Street."

The old butler first instructed the driver, then addressed Ronald,

"Then Mr. Ronald, I wish you a smooth journey."

Ronald nodded and answered,

"Thank you."

Snap—

The butler gently closed the carriage door from the outside. Before the carriage moved, the old man stood quietly in place.

The driver drove the horses onward from the front.

He then turned around and walked back into the hotel.

On the other side—

Sitting comfortably on the soft cushions of the carriage, Ronald Adler took in the surroundings of Blenheim City as the scenery swiftly passed on both sides of the road.

It was the second half of the second month of winter, and the weather in Blenheim became increasingly harsh.

It was almost the coldest time of the year.

Even the edges of the roads in the city began to show signs of icing.

Passersby, while breathing, would exhale a noticeable white mist.

Yet, this degree of cold no longer affected Ronald’s physical constitution.

He could feel that the temperature was low.

But the sensation of shivering and rubbing hands due to cold was nearly imperceptible to him now.

Just like that, quietly observing everything outside, the dress of the pedestrians in Ronald’s view gradually became more solemn as the street changed.

—This was Long Beach Street.

Once the carriage came to a steady stop outside the police station,

without waiting for the driver to speak, Ronald opened the carriage door and hopped out.

"Thank you."

"I have quite a few things to take care of later, sir. You go ahead with your own matters."

"Very well, sir."

The driver nodded amicably to Ronald and then drove away into the distance.

And there, left at the roadside, Ronald once again stood in a place familiar to him.

It hadn’t actually been too long.

Less than a month ago, he used to come here for work frequently.

However, these mere two weeks had brought considerable changes to his state of mind.

His relationship with Patricia, his relationship with the Investigation Bureau, the Magician, the warden...

After such changes occurred, everything had become drastically different from before.

It was as if...

It was as if the Investigation Bureau building in front of him.

In the span of half a month, the building had been swiftly repaired; the climbing plants on the side of the building were completely cleared, and the building itself was repainted in a brown hue.

Ronald took a careful sniff of the air.

Given his enhanced physical condition, he could not detect the scent of paint in the air.

Needless to say, it must have been removed by the Investigation Bureau themselves.

"..."

"The repairs aren’t bad."

He murmured softly and then pushed open the grand doors of the Investigation Bureau.

He looked around.

Except for the heating items still hanging from the beams,

the hall and decorations of the Investigation Bureau had undergone very evident changes.

The wooden flooring was relaid, a new reception desk was purchased, and even the connecting wooden staircase was redesigned.

Even the number of staff working in the hall was not as sparse as when Ronald used to work there.

Just behind the reception desk stood two elegantly dressed young women.

Meanwhile, probably in charge of security, an investigator was sitting in Patricia’s favorite spot reading a newspaper.

It was only when Ronald entered that he slightly lowered his paper to glance a few times.

However, for Ronald...

The scene before him was rather regrettable.

At the reception, he did not see Nicole.

After all, with Blenheim’s order restored and sufficient staff, an elite investigator like Nicole naturally wouldn’t be substituting at the reception during her spare time.

With a slight sigh in his heart, he approached the reception and gave a gentle smile to the young women responsible for hospitality before finally speaking:

"Hello, I am Ronald Adler."

"I was just employed by the ’Ginkgo Leaf Business Alliance,’ so I came to register."