Decision

Chapter 55: Decision

"Oh? Magic Crystals?" Count Andres grabbed the two crystals first and inspected them closely.

"One is Rank-1 life magic crystal while the other is Rank-1 poison magic crystal; both are rare to get in the market. How much is the market rate of a Rank-1 Magic Crystal, Bryce?" Count asked.

Meanwhile, Bryce thought for a moment and soon spoke.

"It ranges from 3000 to 5000 gold coins, my lord."

"Hmm, there should be around 2000 gold coins in the chest, too. The total worth of this chest should be above 10,000 gold coins. Who would send this as a gift to my office?" His attention was slowly drawn to the notepaper in Butler Bryce's hand.

Count Andres hurriedly grabbed the paper and unfolded it.

"It looks like it ripped off from a notebook used for writing. The sender must be in a hurry to write this letter." As he spoke, he looked at the content and started to read.

"Good day, Count. I hope this small gift is your liking. I know you have been aware of the kidnapping of Thomas Holmes. I'll wait for three days. I hope you arrest all the Gold Thieves and put them behind bars for kidnapping a Fallen Noble. Although I do want you to take care of Inspector Bennett and his backer Falcons, that would be too much to ask for. As long as you help me rescue Thomas, I'll give you five inferior versions of the 'Potion of Insight' at the end of this year. If you cooperate with the Holmes family further, we might maintain a good and long relationship.

By-…."

"No name…"

Count furrowed his brows as he read the letter and soon asked.

"What is this 'Potion of Insight?'"

Butler Byrce recalled something and responded.

"I read some news about the 'Potion of Insight' in the Legacy news yesterday, My Lord. It was said to have been created by the famous Alchemist Johnathan and allows even Legendary Walkers to experience 'Enlightenment.' There are also rumors that it could even allow a Legendary Walker to improve their strength further."

"But this guy dared to say he will give me an inferior version of the 'Potion of Insight'? Ridiculous." Count Andres crushed the paper and threw it in the nearby dustbin.

"Find out anyone who entered Bristol Street yesterday night and get this thief at all cost. Just because he sneaked into our mansion and put this chest, he dares to order me around? I'll let him know who the power of the Lord is." A cold look appeared on his face.

Butler Byrce nodded stiffly and hurriedly dashed out of the study.

Meanwhile, Count Andres moved towards the wooden chair placed behind the table and sat on it.

"This is troublesome. If the news of Thomas being kidnapped by some local thugs reaches other nobles' ears, it might end up affecting my reputation in the Nobles' Circle." A frown appeared on his forehead.

"Another thing is the Chest itself. Although it is a chest used for giving out rewards, its shape strangely represents a coffin." As he spoke, he touched his silver ring and took out a bundle of cards with different images drawn on them.

He shuffled the cards and soon took out the card with the symbol of a coffin engraved on it.

He also saw words written below the coffin image and started to read.

"Signifies endings, closure, and transformation. It can represent loss, grief, or the need to let go of something in order to make room for new beginnings… What does it mean? The Holem Family's reign has already ended, though." His eyes sharpened.

"It will end but rise again? And the one who put the reward seems to be an Alchemist. Does that mean he possesses the 'key'? Maybe he knows a thing or two about that mysterious place. Should I intervene or not?" He looked at the card deeply and soon inhaled.

"The Oracle Lore's prediction is always accurate. If I don't intervene, there is a high chance Thomas will escape on his own and rise." 

And Count Andres was sure that if he didn't take any action against the Gold Thieves within three days, the sender of this gift might reveal this information to other nobles or even the press.

"I should at least do the work for the money I got as a gift."

A few minutes later, Butler Byrce returned and made a report.

"I already sent out Paul and Wyatt to gather information about the people who entered this street yesterday night, My Lord."

"Good. Also, send someone to the RA-02 Police station and tell Inspector Bennett to come here. Tell him that it is related to 'Gold Thieves,'" Count Andres said, and then he stored the cards in his spatial ring.

"Yes, My Lord." Byrce nodded hurriedly and once again left the study.

Meanwhile, Count leaned on the chair and fell into deep thought.

An hour went by, and soon, Byrce entered the study again. But this time, he was accompanied by a young man in his twenties. He was around 6 feet tall and had amber eyes, an oval face, and also had unique red hair. He wore a dark blue uniform with three chevrons on his sleeve and also held a long black-coated rifle on his back.

As soon as he entered the room, he straightened his back, moved two steps forward, and gave Count a salute.

"Good morning, Sir. I heard you summoned me to discuss the 'Gold Thieves.' May I know the reason?"

Count Andres shifted his gaze from the papers placed on the table and looked at Inspector Bennett.

"Bryce, you can go back now." He ordered.

"Yes, My Lord." The butler bowed his head and quietly walked away from the study after closing the door.

Meanwhile, Inspector Bennett lowered his hand, took off his top hat, and started walking towards the study table.

"Did something happen, Lord Count?" He asked.

"I'm planning on taking action against the 'Gold Thieves' by today evening." Count Andres said calmly and soon added coldly.

"The information has been leaked. If I don't take action sooner, my reputation will fall again. Kill him before things get worse."

His words caused Bennett's expression to turn grim.

"If you give us one more week time, the Falcons will definitely break that sealed door and find out its secret, sir."

"Using Thomas's blood to open that door is already a dumb idea. I don't even know where the Falcons get such information about the 'Holem Family' possessing a treasure to change one's destiny within that mysterious place. Even if such a mythical treasure happens to be there, why didn't the Holmes Family use it all this time and rise in power? In my opinion, this whole kidnapping became an utter waste of time." Count Andres paused for a moment and soon added.

"Tell the 'Falcons' to withdraw from Azmar too."

Inspector Bennett tried to say something, but Count Andres raised his hand and cut him off.

"Don't make me repeat myself. You may go now."

"Yes, My Lord." Inspector Bennett stood up from the seat, turned around, and slowly left the study.

But as he reached the wooden door, Bennett stopped his footsteps and said.

"We also have an Expert Walker here, My Lord. I hope you don't underestimate us too much and think of us as pushovers."

Count Andres raised his eyebrows and soon shook his head before speaking in a deep tone.

"Leave."

Without even saying a word, Bennett opened the door and walked out.

Watching Inspector Bennett leave the study in disappointment, he couldn't help but snort.

"I know they must have already made much progress in breaking the array. Hmm, there is a high chance that Bennett will eliminate the Gold Thieves by himself and bring Thomas somewhere else." Although he couldn't gauge Inspector Bennett's true strength, he suspected that he should be a peak-level 'Radiant Walker.'

'And I can't take his warning lightly, too. They have an Expert Rank Walker, huh?'

Count Andres tapped the wooden table and then took out an empty paper scroll from the drawer.

Then, he picked a black pen from the table and started writing. After writing for a while, he took the family seal from the side and pressed it on the right corner of the letter.

After that, he folded the scroll paper, put it in a cover, and sealed it with wax.

 Count Andres finished the preparation and soon shouted.

"Bryne!"

As soon as he shouted, the young butler hurriedly opened the wooden door from outside and walked in.

"Yes, My Lord."

"Send a letter to the Branch Office of 'Vipers.' I need them to get a job done before evening." Count Andres said and gave the sealed letter to Bryne.

"Also, invite Aunt Leah to the main house and let her stay here for a while." After Raven sneaked into the mansion without alerting anyone, Count Andres was concerned more about his safety.

Butler nodded his head and left the study, leaving Count alone in deep thought.

…