Chapter 313: Mr. Fool, Are You Considering a New Job?

Chapter 313: Mr. Fool, Are You Considering a New Job?

Puning Port.

Hastur, who had been patiently waiting, finally welcomed the visit of Crestet Cesimir and Klein.

When he saw Klein, a delighted smile appeared on his face. "Mr. Klein, I didn't expect us to meet in such a small port in Southwell County."

"Earl Campbell, I didn't expect this to be your territory either."

"You should call me Mr. Hastur; it sounds more pleasant."

After exchanging a few pleasantries, Hastur invited them to sit and have tea. Then, he turned his gaze to Crestet Cesimir. "Are you here because of the notice and the news in the newspapers?"

"The church asked me to thank Earl Campbell for his help this time. Without your intervention, they couldn't have escaped their predicament so quickly and returned to Backlund," Crestet Cesimir said, seemingly implying something.

Hastur deliberately ignored the insinuation in his words and smiled. "I just provided what help I could. They were tourists from Backlund, my fellow countrymen, so naturally, I should help."

Crestet Cesimir smiled and said, "Meeting Earl Campbell was their good fortune."

Hastur also smiled. "Your arrival is also my good fortune. It's a pity Leonard isn't here."

"He has returned to Backlund."

"Sigh, he left without even saying goodbye. Next time I return to Backlund, I must have a good chat with him."

The three of them had a rather pleasant conversation. After discussing the main matters, Hastur naturally shifted the topic to Klein.

"Mr. Klein, what is your current job?"

"I assist the church with some matters, so I'm an unofficial member of the church. I also work at a security company," Klein answered naturally.

Yes, their Night Watcher team in Backlund still had the facade of a security company.

Hastur nodded and asked casually, "You look more like a university professor, scholarly and refined. I always thought you worked at a university."

"I only do clerical work at the security company, usually looking up information and handling some documents."

Hastur's eyes narrowed slightly. "May I ask, how much is the weekly salary for a clerical worker at a security company?"

"5 pounds 10 shillings, six days a week, with four days off a month. The work is relatively light."

Klein answered seriously but added in his mind, "Actually, my current weekly salary is exactly 12 pounds, not including overtime pay and some housing subsidies and work benefits. Last month's total income was nearly 60 gold pounds. With the year-end bonus, the annual salary can approach 800 gold pounds!"

That was last month. In another month or two, his salary level would continue to rise. Next year, he could have at least 20 gold pounds weekly, and his annual income might break the 1,000 gold pounds mark!

With such an income, even in a high-cost city like Backlund, he could live a decent life.

At least he could eat braised beef with potatoes every day and buy Melissa a small cake.

"Why is the weekly salary so low?" Hastur's slightly shocked words attracted the attention of Crestet Cesimir and Klein. He explained, "I have always thought highly of Mr. Klein and believed he deserves a salary that matches his abilities."

"The basic monthly salary should exceed 100 gold pounds!"

Hastur offered a salary far higher than Klein's current 5 pounds 10 shillings weekly.

Klein was slightly stunned, feeling a bit dazed. Being valued like this was a strange feeling.

A monthly salary of 100 gold pounds was twice his current salary.

In Backlund, jobs with an annual salary exceeding 1,200 gold pounds were mostly in the banking and financial sectors.

Was his work ability really worth that much?

Crestet Cesimir, standing nearby, sensed something different. Could it be that Earl Campbell wanted to poach Klein from the Church of the Evernight Goddess with a high salary?

Sure enough, his worry came true in the next moment.

"Mr. Klein, have you considered changing jobs?"

"..."

Klein looked at Hastur in surprise, not understanding what aspect of his ability the other valued.

"If you are willing to leave Backlund and come to Southwell County to help me, I can pay you 200 gold pounds a month, no, 300 gold pounds," Hastur offered a high salary that was hard to resist.

300 gold pounds a month?

That would be 4,200 gold pounds a year!

With Hastur Campbell's wealth, there would definitely be other sources of income, possibly breaking the 5,000 gold pounds mark annually!

Working here for a few years, he could return to Backlund and buy a large house of his own.

Maybe even buy a farm and become a free and easy farm owner.

Klein silently did the math in his mind, feeling that it was indeed a tempting offer.

Based on his understanding of the Church of the Evernight Goddess, even Archbishop Anthony of Saint Samuel's Cathedral didn't earn more than 5,000 gold pounds a year.

Of course, the power represented by that position was the most important, and how much money one earned annually was no longer a concern.

After a long silence, Klein smiled bitterly. "Mr. Hastur, you flatter me. I don't think I can perform a job with such a high salary."

"Ability is one aspect. Character and personality are also plus points for me. I really think you shouldn't stay in Backlund as an ordinary clerical worker at a security company. It's a waste of your talent. You are more suited to venture out."

Klein admitted he was tempted but still chose to refuse.

He was quite satisfied with his current job. Staying in the Night Watcher team meant staying within the system, ensuring stable income regardless of circumstances.

If he chose to work here, he would have to act according to Hastur Campbell's whims. If he got fired or forced to leave in middle age, there would be no guarantee for the future.

Moreover, with the extraordinary factors in this world, staying in the Church of the Evernight Goddess was more suitable for him to utilize his abilities.

"What a pity." Hastur showed obvious disappointment, then asked Klein to convey a message to Leonard, asking if he would be willing to come to Southwell County.

"I will convey your kind offer to Leonard," Klein agreed to pass on the message.

Hastur sighed. "Sigh, everything here is in ruins, and I really lack trustworthy people to help."

"It's getting late. We've disturbed you long enough and should leave," Crestet Cesimir said, fearing that if they stayed longer, Hastur Campbell would target him.

"Stay for dinner; let me fulfill my duty as a host."

Faced with Hastur's enthusiastic invitation, both Crestet Cesimir and Klein chose to refuse.

Crestet Cesimir didn't want to continue the conversation, and Klein felt it was too painful to refuse such a large sum of money, preferring not to see it.

After seeing them off, Hastur laughed.

Klein's expression had been interesting when he offered the olive branch. At least for a moment, Klein had been tempted, possibly even calculating in his mind.

"What a pity, Mr. Fool just won't switch to a new job."

Hastur still felt it was a pity. If he could keep Klein by his side, occasionally stimulating the poor man with money, it would be quite amusing.

He suddenly thought of Miss Audrey back then. When his financial situation was at its worst, Audrey had also taken pleasure in his poverty.

"I suddenly miss life in Backlund."

...

On the street, Crestet Cesimir and Klein walked slowly, trying to calm down.

Crestet Cesimir joked, "Tsk tsk, a monthly salary of 300 gold pounds. That's an incredibly generous offer. Even in Backlund, it's hard to find such good treatment. Weren't you tempted at all?"

An annual income of 5,000 gold pounds. Do you think I wasn't tempted?

Working for a few years could buy a big house and a farm in Backlund. Do I look like someone who isn't short of money?

Klein wanted to throw these words at Crestet Cesimir but quickly restrained his bleeding heart and smiled. "I still prefer staying in Backlund, even though the weather there is much worse than here."

Crestet Cesimir laughed twice, somewhat relieved. "It's a good thing you didn't agree to work here. Otherwise, I wouldn't know how to explain it to the church."

Klein thought for a moment and said, "Maybe you could suggest that the church increase my salary. It would give me more resistance to temptation."

"A very reasonable suggestion. I'll mention it to Archbishop Anthony when I return."

"Could you not say it was my suggestion?"

"Of course, it's entirely my own idea."

They chatted and laughed for a while. When they reached the gate of the house, they suddenly remembered another matter.

After today's events, how were they supposed to investigate Earl Hastur Campbell?

In every aspect, they had no evidence of any possible issues with him, and without substantial evidence, a noble like an earl was quite untouchable.