The red moon returns

Chapter 272 Midsummer Night’s Banquet

1399年6月17日，晚7时10分。

An inconspicuous public taxi passed through the blockade on Lion Street in the eastern part of the Iris District.

Whenever a noble holds a large-scale event, the surrounding blocks will be blocked off by blue uniforms. This is a unique treatment in the Iris District, and it is different from banquets in other places. After all, the organizer and participants are all powerful nobles with status and titles. Those ordinary businessmen and even ordinary civilians are still incomparable in the heart of the Hall of Order.

The carriage drove straight to the door of the Earl's Mansion. Private detective Mr. Lynch Levy jumped out of the carriage. He turned around and stretched out his hand. A tall lady in a black dress, red feather hat, black stockings and red high heels took his hand. He also stepped out of the carriage.

Officer Natalie Angell.

His arm rested on Lynch's arm unnaturally, and the two looked at each other and walked towards the gate of the Earl's Mansion.

"Mr. Lynch Levy comes to visit with his female companion!"

Hearing this voice, there was a slight commotion from the vague figures lurking in the shadows inside and outside the gate, and then a message quietly spread out.

I'm coming.

A band of dozens of people dressed neatly in black tuxedos played a symphony in a corner of the garden. More than twenty professional security guards in black formal suits appeared neatly around the venue, working with waiters to maintain order at the venue.

"Well, so there is a high chance that they will do something at the reception." Officer Natalie held Lynch's arm awkwardly, looked around the venue, and asked without looking back, "You really brought the gems? ?”

"If we want to deliver it quietly, there is no need for this cocktail party." Lynch smiled and explained, "I am a very greedy person. When delivering the gem, I also hope to gain reputation, so His Highness Chloe held a meeting This cocktail party provided me with a stage to publicly deliver the mission items. Oh, this was proactively revealed through the informants in Mr. Lorende’s family. This is why they would use today as the date of action from the beginning, otherwise. They should have started earlier."

"Of course." Lynch patted his wrist and then patted the lining of his formal suit, "How can I tempt them to take action if I don't bring it with me."

Sixteen gas torches were like sixteen giant bonfires that reflected the faint redness of the night sky, and the courtyard of the Earl's Mansion illuminated by sixty-four gas lamps was as bright as day.

The courtyard of the Earl's Mansion has been decorated as a reception venue, and the fresh smell of flowers and grass is everywhere.

In the evening breeze of early summer, the clothes are fragrant and the shadows on the temples are singing and dancing.

On the stone floor surrounding the fountain, the guests who arrived in advance were well-dressed and laughing softly amidst the melodious music.

"According to intelligence, Prince William hopes to take the gem away before we deliver it to Princess Chloe, at least before the princess comes to do anything. And I have been hiding in the Church of the Suffering for the past two days. Today They just left with you, so tonight is their only chance."

"I don't understand. Do you want them to take away the gems? That's not..."

"I don't need you to promise these." Although she didn't understand the reason, Officer Natalie nodded and said softly: "I know what attitude I should have, but in fact, the safest way is to give the gem to Grams now. Princess Roy."

Following the loud voice of the concierge, the door to the Earl's Mansion slowly opened. Lynch straightened his unmatched bow tie, raised his cane in front of him and put it down again. He smiled at Officer Natalie beside him and stood side by side. Step into the gate of Earl's Palace.

"Of course it cannot be taken away, remember, absolutely not." Lynch said with a serious face, "We must do our best to protect the gems. Once they are taken away, we will be in an extremely passive situation. As for the reason, I'm sorry, it's not that I don't trust you to hide it from you, it's just that you are not suitable to know the inside story now. You will know everything after the incident is over. "

Seeing Officer Natalie nod thoughtfully, Lynch continued to add: "As for her coming out to contact us early, this is inconsistent with etiquette and is frivolous and disrespectful. It is a serious stigma to the nobles. As a Princess, it is impossible for her to do this, no matter how important it is, she cannot lose etiquette."

"So we have to wait until she comes out."

"Yes, in forty-five minutes, that is, at eight o'clock, she will give a speech. After five minutes, she will end her speech and begin to welcome the most important guests. At this time, there is room for maneuver, so from now on, insist on five In ten minutes, everything can be over, but within these fifty minutes, we must be vigilant at all times." "I understand, that means these fifty minutes are their time window, and they will use all their means to take it away. Gem. I know the style of the Rangers and the Hall of Order very well. They are not very effective against external enemies, but they are very capable when causing trouble internally.”

Officer Natalie looked around. Guests who had arrived early, servants coming and going, and security personnel dressed in black, more than a hundred people had gathered in the courtyard:

"There must be a group of their people ambushing in this courtyard. These people will blend in with the guests in various identities, so everyone around us may be an enemy."

Lin Qi's eyes flashed and he whispered: "Including those noble guests?"

"Well, including." Speaking of her professional field, Officer Natalie answered in detail, "In this kind of situation, they can't attack us with too conspicuous means, otherwise it would be rebellion, so they must choose those Concealed methods. There are not many professionals who actually perform these methods, but they require the cooperation of many people, just like the hounds they train to track. So the guests you mentioned are probably the ones who cooperate, and the real professionals are hidden. among them."

"Haha, Mr. Leviv, we meet again."

Before Officer Natalie finished speaking, a man's voice came from the side. Looking back, two detectives from the Hall of Order were sitting in the corner smoking, surrounded by several guests dressed as civilians. They saw the two He walked over and immediately waved with a smile on his face:
"Mr. Detective, I heard that your mission is progressing well. The news has come out in just a few days. You are worthy of being a famous detective in Rhine City. You can make progress so quickly. Our entire Hall of Order is following... Hey, Officer Angel is here too, I thought it was the Valente family."

"There are other things at the church, and Miss Valente can't attend. I can only ask Ms. Angel to accompany me."

Just as Lynch was about to say hello, Officer Natalie's signal came from the arm he was holding. He knew something was wrong, so he smiled and said a few perfunctory words and left several people. The two detectives did not stop them, but glanced meaningfully at them. After glancing at Natalie, the two parties said goodbye to each other amicably.

As soon as he left, Lynch immediately asked: "Is there a problem between the two of them?"

"They may be fine, but the people around them have problems. One is a well-known jewelry appraisal expert in the black market, and the other is a tracking rat, which is a profession that specializes in tracking treasures and is usually active in a group of thieves. These two people are also It’s not dangerous, but with them here, it cannot be ruled out that there are other ‘talents’ that I don’t know.”

Lynch nodded and said: "I understand. It's no wonder. They are not necessarily controlled by the Rangers, but they are definitely influenced by the city government and Mayor Howard. It seems..."

"Mr. Detective, nice to meet you."

Another greeting interrupted the secret conversation between the two. Looking over, it was a nobleman who attended the cocktail party last time. He seemed to be Baron Duren from the Finance Department. He was accompanied by several noblemen and their servants.

"Be careful. The gray-haired one is a famous master in Rhine. It's best not to get close to him easily."

Lynch frowned and said distressedly: "But on this occasion, it is impossible for me to find a place to hide and not socialize, especially if everyone knows that I have arrived, otherwise the impact on my reputation will be too great. "

"That's right. I'll listen to you on this matter, so go ahead, but wait a moment."

Officer Natalie bit her lip and thought for a moment, then suddenly waved to a waiter and took a glass of champagne from his hand.

A waiter with a thick face and a big beard.

"Such a lively cocktail party cannot be enjoyed only by the Rangers."

Taking the wine glass, Natalie winked at the bearded man, who smiled, turned around and disappeared into the crowd. Officer Natalie sneered softly and put the wine glass into Lynch's hand:
"It is indeed inconvenient for us Watchers to determine our position, but there is no psychological burden to cause trouble for the Rangers in private. Besides, this is to help Princess Salt escort mysteriously related stolen items, which is the duty of the Watchers."

So, as the bearded man left, many people in the venue quietly started to move.

(End of this chapter)