Chamber of Secrets

"As for this partnership plan, let's hold off for now. Otherwise, Adrian Law Firm will become a prime target, just as Emperor Roselle warned, which could hinder our future development. However, if you become a judge or if something happens to the firm, this plan could prove useful."

Huang Tao, why do you always show up everywhere? No wonder Klein complains about you so much. You seem to have installed every possible gadget for travelers. What should people do after that?

"Alright." Rawls can only agree. It seems this plan can only be put into action once he officially enters the world of Beyonders and is no longer able to manage the office. However, he has never managed an office before!

"Okay, let's wrap it up for today." Edmund picked up the walnut cane that was leaning against the wall, stood up, and walked towards the door.

"I'll accompany you to the door," Rawls quickly got up, feeling uneasy being in the presence of such an old gentleman and elder.

"No need," Edmund walked towards the door, turned around, and said, "Remember to network with other law firms during your break and build good relationships with the barristers in our own firm. You can't do everything. Let me, a sixty-year-old man, handle it for you!"

"Okay, okay." What else could Rawls say? He could only nod in agreement.

"Also, attend more balls, banquets, salons, and the Adrian family wants you to represent them!"

Edmund smirked at Rawls, paused his cane, and said with annoyance, "I'm leaving! You go back!"

Rawls could only watch Edmund leave, unsure of what Edmund would say if the conversation continued.

...

Rawls hired a nearby two-wheeled buggy and returned to his residence on Gatton Street in the West End. It was a two-story garden villa with over a dozen rooms, including stables and servants' quarters.

Perhaps it was because he had spent his early years renting a floor to sleep on, which had given Mason a deep desire for owning a house. That's why he chose to buy a house instead of renting. Even when Rawls rebelled and went to Tingen to study for seven years, Mason purchased a small villa worth around 1,500 pounds in Tingen.

Since Rawls returned to Tingen, the small villa has been rented out, much like the other two properties owned by the Adrian family in Backlund. After deducting the taxes, the three properties generate an income of about 800 pounds per year.

The current garden villa where Rawls resides is valued at approximately 7,000 pounds. However, he is the sole occupant of this luxurious villa. After Mason's death, the previous owner dismissed the housekeeper and servants and returned to Tingen to complete his studies for half a year. Upon returning to Backlund, he became even more focused on work, spending most of his time resting in the office lounge, and only hiring people to clean the villa regularly.

Rawls chose not to re-employ servants. He carried too many secrets and was an Extraordinary individual. The existence of the Law of Aggregation of Extraordinary Characteristics made it possible for Extraordinary individuals with similar paths to approach him at any time. Moreover, being situated at the junction of the affluent and noble districts of Backlund, there were plenty of Beyonders from the "Arbiter" pathway who might be keeping a close eye on him.

In case, similar to "The Return of Mr. Klein " he had hired a group of servants with various issues. He's not like Klein. Klein is a cat raised by the goddess of the night, with a sephirah castle, and he might come across as instantly cold and cool.

Rawls speculated that Mason lived here to gather intelligence more effectively. The West District is home to many wealthy individuals, and Queens, which is preferred by nobles, is just one street away, passing through Williams Street next door. However, the housing prices here are too high, and Mason's identity doesn't quite fit in this area.

Nevertheless, Mason has managed to live here for nearly 30 years, and his identity is likely verified by the "Night Watchers" team in the West District. It remains unclear whether it was "Viscount Fear" Bird Mustang who helped cover up Mason's past, or if Mason himself has the ability to conceal his own history.

In the original book, Raft Pound, a descendant of the Tudor family, was able to deceive Klein's psychic and hypnotic abilities, despite Klein being only a Sequence 8 "Clown" at the time. If Klein hadn't shown restraint in the end, the true identity of the Sephirah Castle's major killer would have remained completely hidden.

Mason is a "lawyer"! His expertise lies in finding loopholes in language and revealing truths while skirting around the important points. Every word spoken by a lawyer is true, but it doesn't mean that lawyers always tell the complete truth. It's their skill to mix lies with the truth.

With a creak, Rawls opened a utility room in the villa, revealing an abandoned underground storage room. When the previous owner discovered it, it became their secret room.

"Cough... cough..."

Rawls coughed for a while. The secret room hadn't been opened for nearly a year, and with poor ventilation, the air inside hardly circulated.

After waiting for a few minutes, Rawls felt that he had almost finished and proceeded to enter the secret room. He turned on the gas light, and the warm yellow glow instantly spread across the long underground stairs, illuminating the dark chamber below.

The secret room was not particularly large, with only one oak bookcase against the wall. Next to the bookshelf was a dark red desk, cluttered with several books. The table, books, and the glass of the bookcase were covered in dust.

"It seems studying won't be possible today."

Rawls sighed, but there was a burst of excitement in his heart. After all, any form of studying was a mental exercise. Moreover, because his predecessor didn't take these matters seriously, Rawls couldn't take shortcuts and had to relearn everything from scratch.

Wait, when did I start thinking this way?

Rawls furrowed his brow. This wasn't in line with his usual character. While he might delay less important matters for a few days in his past life, he would never delay anything important, let alone something that could impact his life.

And during noon, when he was contemplating future plans, it was the same. He thought he wouldn't be outdated in the future, so he peacefully lay on the sofa for a few hours. If Uncle Robert had visited, he would probably still be lying there in the office.

Could it be the influence of the potion? But both the predecessor and I have almost fully digested the potion, and it would only create a suitable opportunity for promotion to Sequence 8.

Or is it the influence of transmigration? But I don't feel anything wrong with myself! It's a shame that lawyers don't possess the ability to see, and can only perceive each other's emotions through their expressions.

Could it be due to my predecessor losing control or the reason for my own transmigration?

"How long have you been here?"

A man's voice suddenly echoed!

Rawls turned his head in horror towards the entrance of the secret room at the top of the stairs.

Who could it be?