Lord of the Mysteries

Audrey stopped writing after she finished sharing some interesting news and scandals about aristocrats. She then adopted a serious pose as she recalled something.

With her exceptional memory as a Spectator, she arranged the information that she had received from her father’s teachings, as well as the news she heard during banquets and salons into paragraphs.

After creating a draft in her head, Audrey penned, “As for the political situation in Backlund you asked about, it’s not within my area of interest. I can describe it to you only based on my own impressions and the details that I happen to know.

“Some time ago, Father told me that after the abolishment of the Grain Act, the prices of crops were declining rapidly. The rent of farmland and pastures were also plunging, but I don’t know the exact magnitude. I can only explain it to you with this example.

“As you know, Duke Negan is an aristocrat who owns the most land outside of the royal family. It’s said that he owns more than 12,000,000 pounds worth of farmland, pastures, and forests. Last year, his land earned him a historic 1,300,000 pounds in rent. But this year, it’s forecast that his rent will only be 850,000 pounds, a whole 450,000 pounds less. That’s more than the entirety of the assets that I’m entitled to.

“Without any further explanation from me, I’m sure that my dear brother will understand the behavior of most old-fashioned nobles. They’re proud of being landowners, and their income is derived mostly from rent. They place a heavy emphasis on their appearance and would maintain their current lifestyle even if they have to go into debt. They spend tens of thousands of pounds on the upkeep of their castles each year, many more thousands on clothes and jewelry, as well as their persistent hunting activities, social banquets, and the occasional lavish weddings and funerals, etc, etc.

“With the decrease in rent, according to my knowledge, a good portion of the nobles have met with financial difficulties. Because of this, Count Wolfe has sold 84,000 ares of land in the countryside and gotten 29,000 pounds in return. Viscount Conrad has also sold his art collection worth 55,000 pounds to a national art gallery.

“Other than a few visionary nobles who had long shifted their focus to steel, coal, railroads, banks, and rubber industries, the rest of the nobles have been severely affected by the Grain Act. Let us praise our dear Count Hall!

“Father told me that the financial distress will loosen the control the nobles have over politics. As you can imagine, the number of ministers with blue blood will decline from the next year onward.

“In a bid to secure funding, the Conservative Party and the New Party have promised to confer upon anyone the noble titles as long as they donate a sufficient amount of money and lack any criminal records. Of course, the caveat is that the person who donated the money must own an amount of land befitting of a noble.

“One example is the rich Mr. Syndras. He purchased the lowest area of land expected of a baron, 60,000 ares, then donated 100,000 pounds to the Carleton Club and 400,000 pounds to the Conservative Party, and donations to charity amounting to 300,000 pounds. Finally, he succeeded in receiving conferment from His Majesty and became a highly-regarded baron. I’ve heard that there’s a price list to this, 300,000 pounds to become a baron and 700,000 to 1,000,000 pounds for a hereditary baron. There is no clear price for the title of viscount or count, but I’m sure those are sufficiently ridiculous.”

…

“This year, many nobles who are facing financial difficulties are starting to seriously consider the possibility of marriages with wealthy merchants. There have already been three marriages like this over the last two months. The betrothal gifts the noble women received are something to be envied.

“Also, the workers who protested the Grain Act did experience a decrease in the cost of living, but the quality of their lives has not improved. Instead, it seems to have deteriorated as the bankrupt farmers have entered the city and stolen their jobs by requesting lower wages. Thus, the wages of the laborers are dropping rapidly.

“I remember the day when Father asked me who I felt was the winner of the Grain Act.

“My dear Alfred, you must know the answer. You would definitely be able to obtain a hereditary baron title through your own efforts.”

…

Xio Derecha and Fors Wall were returning to the Backlund Bridge borough after they received Audrey’s reply.

Xio, with her messy blonde hair, was looking out the window of the carriage, her eyes were bright like two burning balls of flame.

She muttered the term “450 pounds” to herself repeatedly, as if reciting an incantation. Her strength and courage grew every time she repeated the term.

hasn’t reported the status of the investigation today. Let’s make a trip to his house!” Xio

the leader of a triad in the Backlund East Borough and had control over many

very friendly with his chubby face that was perpetually adorned with a warm and amiable smile—Xio knew that he was a merciless scoundrel. He once broke the arm of a

necessary, Xio was unwilling to meet Darkholme, but Darkholme was one of the few people who were most familiar with

pushed her slightly curly hair back behind her

as it

an

I thank God?” Fors asked as she

a moderate believer of the God of

conversed, the two ladies switched to another public carriage and arrived at the Backlund East Borough, and arrived

narrow alley. There were

walked to the door, raised her right hand and knocked in a

door opened with a creak following her

apparently confused expression immediately turned stern, like

a bayonet she carried with her and

nonchalant, having produced a dagger of

scents, but their rich experience told

steps, three steps. Xio and

lamp, internal organs on a coffee table, as well as strips upon strips of flesh strewn on

had been stripped clean

bones was a head, its vacant eyes open. It was none

if everything was normal. Furthermore, there was no stench of blood in

has seen many death scenes more disgusting than this. She patted the tense Xio, who was on the brink of vomiting, as she

Admiral

realized that Darkholme was investigating the missing vagrants and tracked him back to his

it be said that Darkholme had tracked him down, but ended

said with a serious expression, “He sure lives up to his name as a merciless and crafty pirate admiral. The strangeness

as she blurted out, “Could he be waiting nearby in

answering in

was a Sequence 6 Wind-blessed, a powerful pirate with

was an extremely simple

…

unique broad chin and dark green eyes in his thirties

none other than

twitched as if it were alive. A layer of dull gold scales

a cruel and joyous expression as his dark green eyes turned