They all call me Great Master

Arthur was aware of the cheque fraud case.

He also knew about the rumors that the Grand Duke of Yan Fort seemed to have died of melancholy because of it.

But, Arthur didn't take it seriously.

There were just too many such rumors every year.

Everyone treated them as jokes at the dinner table.

However, from Delong's suicide note, it appeared that the Grand Duke of Yan Fort really did die because of the "cheque fraud case"!

What exactly happened at the time, Arthur didn't know.

But he was aware that one of the former financial advisors to the Old Lion of Inner Bay intended to drag Yan Fort into the vortex of strife.

To this end, the other party did not hesitate to sully the name of the Old Earl of South Los with his own life!

Just think about it!

What would happen after the suicide note was exposed?

Yan Fort would most likely cut off trade relations with South Los first.

For South Los, which highly depended on the port, this would be a bolt from the blue, and then, with the slightest misstep, war could break out—and the Old Lion would certainly make sure it did.

Because Yan Fort did not belong to South County.

But South Los did belong to South County.

Once Yan Fort and South Los went to war, the Old Lion would have too many ways to deploy troops to South Los.

By that time, everything would be doomed.

'Does the Old Lion really have such great charisma?'

'To actually make people willing to give their lives?'

'Or has he used some unknown methods?'

Arthur was filled with suspicion and couldn't determine which possibility it was.

However, there was one thing that Arthur could be certain of.

That is—

Elron and Delong were connected, and there must have been secret dealings between them.

Only in this way could Delong have timed things so precisely!

Even...

Today's deathtrap was a continuation of yesterday's Pine Street incident!

The two were just too similar, and could be said to follow the same vein, both beginning with distorting the facts and then using public opinion to build momentum, pressing the Countess of South Los—such a proficient method made Arthur suspect it was the work of the same person.

This person could be Delong.

Or it could be someone behind Delong.

But no matter who, they harbored malice against him. Enjoy more content from empire

Because he had disrupted their Pine Street plan.

Imagine it—if the Pine Street plan had succeeded, coupled with today's "false cheque case," South Los would likely be plunged into domestic and foreign troubles instantly.

And it was precisely because he had disrupted Pine Street that Jenkins was lured to No. 2 Cork Street—the other party wanted to draw him into the game again, to put him in mortal danger.

The invitation from Delong to play cards just now naturally contained a hidden threat!

And as for Elron, who had dealings with them?

In their eyes, Elron was a piece that had to be sacrificed, the beginning of this incident, so they completely ignored him, allowing him to be captured.

'Is this what it means to play finance?'

'Such filthy hearts!'

Arthur's brows furrowed slightly, and as his mind began to organize the information he knew, he started to analyze the pros and cons.

The focus, of course, was still on Delong.

As one of the financial advisors to the Old Lion of Inner Bay, even though he had retired, if he entered South Los, he would be watched closely by the Mother Tigress.

Delong was very aware of this.

Thus, if Delong wanted to truly implement the deathtrap, he had to find a way to hold the Countess back and delay the South Los Family and all of the Countess's support.

Only in this way could the deathtrap be smoothly executed and fermented.

This was the best news for him.

Because if Delong wanted to hold these people back, he would have to give it his all, probably even exhausting all the spies he had placed in South Los over the years.

Only when these spies in South Los were exposed one by one could they genuinely attract the Countess's attention.

Beyond that, there remained only the remnants of the Mouse Council.

But a person of Isidore's stature wouldn't be used against a small fry like him; they would likely be reserved for a more crucial position.

Therefore, those who were sent to deal with him must have been some expendables.

For example, the Mystic Side Person he had encountered yesterday.

At most, a few more assistants or one or two more Mystic Side Persons might be added.

With this thought, Arthur heaved a slight sigh of relief.

He could still handle them!

Immediately, Arthur collected his thoughts and looked towards that room once again.

At that moment, the middle-aged butler was about to enter it while forcibly suppressing his disgust—

"Wait!"

Arthur called out to stop him, his face showing a serious expression, and he stepped ahead to stand at the doorway.

"Be careful, 'Anna' warned me about an Evil Spirit!"

As Arthur said this, he was already silently chanting in his mind.

'Hei!'

Immediately, vague footsteps sounded within the room.

The blood-soaked room, aside from a corpse, suddenly echoed with the sound of footsteps, startling everyone around.

The middle-aged butler who had led the way turned pale.

So, when Arthur gestured for everyone to move back, the middle-aged butler was the first to retreat.

Scott followed.

Then Malz.

Everyone moved from the doorway of the second-floor guest room to the first-floor hall, and Malz swiftly directed the flustered servants and housekeepers to quickly distance themselves.

Arthur took a quick glance behind to confirm that everyone had gone downstairs, then he looked back to the room once again.

The person behind Delong or Delong himself must have taken a long time to prepare, and they certainly wouldn't allow anything to go wrong with the initial scene, which meant that the first scene must have been normal, worth everyone's inspection, and devoid of traps.

And this emboldened Arthur's actions.

He first used the "Hand of Void" to fold the suicide note and placed it into "Atos's Box."

Then, he turned his attention to the blood-drenched corpse.

If the other party was harboring murderous intent, Arthur was naturally not going to be polite.

A person with a kind and forgiving heart might choose to forgive completely.

Someone who was simply kind might also choose to send the other party before God, to let God forgive them.

But Arthur was different.

He chose to dispose of the other party.

The "Hand of Void" took out two bundles of Explosives from "Atos's Box" and placed them behind Delong's corpse. Arthur's face was solemn as his right hand skillfully and rhythmically drew an unknown pattern, his left hand held up with the forefinger and middle finger at the forefront, while he chanted low and swiftly.

"Stars eternal, Eternal Night's repose, the darkness that wanders ceaselessly, the red Blaze that ascends to the heavens, resounding among the departed—begone, Evil Spirit!"

Timing the fuse, Arthur retreated while pointing into the room.

Boom!

In the Explosion, flames burst from the windows of house No. 14 on White Bird Street, and amidst the blazing inferno, most of the wall where the window was situated was obliterated.

Wood chips, bricks, and bloodied flesh scattered in all directions.

When the dust settled, the black silhouette gazed at the ruined room.

Everyone held their breath, watching the dark figure, and not until they saw the weight lift from his face did they let out a sigh of relief.

"Arthur, what just happened?"

"Jenkins's Evil Spirit!"

"Because of the 'False Cheque Case' years ago, Jenkins was already resentful towards Lord Delong, and when Elron lured him into a trap using Lord Delong's name, his hatred reached its peak—why did Jenkins unusually leave his hideout yesterday?

The most likely reason is that Elron informed him that Lord Delong was still investigating the old case and was close to finding him or something along those lines.

Indeed, Lord Delong came because of the old case.

If not, it wouldn't have incited Jenkins's resentment, or even led to the formation of the Evil Spirit."

Arthur turned to the young journalist, providing a plausible explanation.

"So that's what happened!"

"No wonder Lord Delong, after retiring in Inner Bay and rejecting the Grand Duke's entreaty, returned to South Los once more. It was for the old case."

The young journalist had an epiphany, then began to write quickly.

As a journalist, he had to report properly on Lord Delong, who embodied such devotion to duty.

Yet Arthur discreetly gestured to Malz.

Malz was startled.