Chapter 310: Gaze
"Is that James Scott?"
Just as everyone's attention was focused on the two members of the royal family, Audrey keenly noticed Lorne in the crowd. She had seen his photo in the newspaper.
"So he's already here?"
"Hmm—very young, his looks and temperament are quite good. But he seems a bit stiff, and his expression isn't relaxed enough.
Is it because he's nervous about attending a banquet of this level for the first time?"
Just as Audrey intended to observe this "hero of the east end" more closely and try to analyze more of his personality traits, James Scott in the distance seemed to sense something. He suddenly turned his head, his gaze accurately landing in her direction.
Their eyes briefly met in the air for a moment.
"He noticed me?" Audrey was slightly startled. She immediately looked away naturally, pretending to admire the oil paintings on the wall.
"As expected of someone who could rescue a group of young girls from a gangster's villa, he's very sharp.
Since he's a friend of Fors and the others, he should also be a Beyonder. I just don't know which Pathway he belongs to."
Seeing Audrey look away, Lorne also secretly sighed in relief.
"I was observing her just now, and now she's observing me. Did she notice something?"
It's better to be careful—he cautioned himself in his heart.
This Miss Audrey didn't seem as simple as she appeared on the surface. Moreover, her gaze made him feel very uncomfortable.
Lorne first greeted Sheriff Huntington and some other high-ranking police officials he had met before, briefly confirming the upcoming process.
"Something has felt off all evening. I should try to keep a low profile and just get through the process."
Just as he was about to retreat to a corner and quietly wait for the banquet to officially begin...
"Are you Mr. James Scott?"
A middle-aged man with a kind face, wearing the black double-breasted clerical robes, suddenly called out to him.
"Yes, Your Excellency Bishop." Lorne bowed slightly in salute.
During the conversation, Lorne learned that the man was Bishop Electra of the Night Church and one of the organizers of this charity banquet. The two of them began to chat.
"I didn't expect that in Backlund, there would be such a brave and devout believer of the Goddess."
A humble smile appeared on Lorne's face. He raised his hand and tapped four times clockwise on his chest. "Everything is for the Goddess's mercy and peace. Praise the Goddess."
"Praise the Goddess," Bishop Electra replied with a salute.
They chatted briefly. The other party asked a few questions about Capine Villa, then asked curiously, "I wonder which clergyman led you into the Church?
Uh—I don't even know which way the doors of the Evernight Goddess's churches open, and you're asking me this—Lorne felt a wave of helplessness.
He quickly adjusted his expression, lowered his voice, and assumed a look of reminiscence tinged with sadness. "It was my parents—our whole family were devout believers of the Goddess. But unfortunately, they were in an accident a few years ago—"
As he spoke, he even forced out a sliver of a smile, giving off a feeling of sorrow without bitterness.
"I'm sorry. They must have entered the Divine Kingdom and are sleeping under the Goddess's watch," Bishop Electra said sincerely, tapping four times clockwise on his chest again.
Actually—if there really is an afterlife, they should be in that kingdom of roaring steam—
Lorne felt somewhat awkward in his heart.
The original owner's parents, including himself, were actually believers of the God of Steam and Machinery.
The two tactfully changed the subject. Lorne took the opportunity to mention that he personally intended to donate an additional twelve thousand pounds to this Charity Fund. This amount made even the well-traveled Bishop Electra slightly moved; he hadn't expected this young man, who looked to be in his early twenties, to be so generous.
"By the way, Your Excellency Bishop, could you help introduce me to the guests around us? I'm a bit—" Lorne's tone seemed somewhat restrained.
"Don't be nervous, child, just relax," Bishop Electra comforted him warmly, attributing Lorne's behavior to a young man's natural reaction to a grand occasion.
"It was fine at first," Lorne said with a wry smile, "but I didn't expect—such important figures from the royal family to come."
"We didn't expect it at first either," Bishop Electra nodded slightly. "But since it's a foundation initiated by the official, it's only logical for the royal family to send someone to show support."
"I always thought—members of the royal family should be more mysterious and aloof. I didn't expect to see them in person here." Lorne expressed his "awe" at the right moment.
"You don't have to think that way. In fact, everyone is human. How big can the difference be?" Bishop Electra said something very philosophical.
Everyone is human—
These words made Lorne lose himself for a moment.
He looked down at the magnificent formal suit he was wearing, then at the glamorous and high-status guests around him.
Humans—are they and the people in the East Borough really the same kind of creature?
Lorne thought of Old Kohler, of Liv and her daughter, and of the workers in his factory who struggled to make a living.
A strong, absurd sense of weirdness welled up in his heart.
He didn't seem to belong here.
Sigh—
Next, under Bishop Electra's introduction, Lorne greeted Marquis Lott, Earl Sibeth, Viscount Loveland, and other nobles. Of course, most of those introduced were believers of the Evernight Goddess.
"That one is Councilor Macht. He is—" Bishop Electra pointed to an acquaintance in the distance.
"I know Councilor Macht," Lorne interjected, his tone carrying appropriate respect. "He is a respectable elder who gave me valuable help during the early stages of my business."
Hearing this, Bishop Electra's expression became a bit subtle. He looked at Lorne, then glanced at Councilor Macht, who was talking to Earl Hall in the distance, a thoughtful look flashing in his eyes.
After some more time.
A Superintendent of the Backlund Police Department stepped onto the stage.
"Thank you all for coming." He started with a few pleasantries, then publicly disclosed Capin's crimes and the plan to establish a foundation using his assets.
Then, he invited Lorne onto the stage, telling everyone that the management of the fund's affairs would be handled by this "hero of the east end," and asked him to give a short speech.
—
Sigh—I hate these public occasions—sensing everyone's gaze focused on him, Lorne gave a wry smile in his heart.
He quietly activated some of the "luck" he had accumulated recently, silently praying that the next part wouldn't go wrong.
He bowed slightly to the crowd, walked to the front of the stage, and said in a steady and infectious voice: "Ladies and gentlemen..."
"Perhaps many people are curious why I would do such a dangerous thing. In fact, the reason is very simple. Because in my factory, there is an old employee whose child went missing."
"When I saw a father's despair on his sorrowful face, I knew I had to do something. Driven by a sense of responsibility, I began to investigate. In the end, I was lucky enough to find those poor girls."
"I must admit, my strength alone was far from enough—"
"I feel deep sympathy for what those girls went through. I am willing to do everything in my power to help them, so they can have a bright future once again!"
After the speech, Duke Henry was the first to applaud. Then, Prince Edessak beside him followed suit. Soon, the applause from others grew more enthusiastic, echoing throughout the hall.
Are the people from the royal family being this supportive? Lorne was a bit puzzled, but remained outwardly unfazed.
Once the applause died down, the police Superintendent announced loudly: "In addition, our 'hero of the east end,' Mr. Scott, will also donate ten thousand pounds of his own for the foundation's initial operations! Ladies and gentlemen, if you also feel sympathy for those poor women and children, you can lend a helping hand to this foundation!"
Ten thousand pounds! What a generous gesture! The same thought occurred to many people at the same time.
One must know that even among nobles and wealthy merchants, the number of people who could produce more than ten thousand pounds in liquid funds at once was definitely not large. For a moment, many people had the idea of wanting to make friends with this young "hero."
Sigh, ten thousand pounds. Fortunately, Queen Mystic sent the money through legal means; otherwise, I really wouldn't be able to explain the origin of the money.
The money given by Queen Mystic was all laundered. In a way, it was thanks to the financial crisis; this money had been cycled through the stock market once and became legal income.
—
Although he had decided to donate, Lorne still felt a bit of heartache.
This amount of money could buy another factory—
Forget it, my industrial chain won't be built in a short time anyway, and ten thousand pounds wouldn't be enough for that. It's fine to use this money as a political investment; at the very least, it can help people in need. It can be considered an act of charity—Lorne comforted himself.
Next was the donation phase. Both members of the royal family generously donated over ten thousand pounds each, followed by Earl Hall, who donated eight thousand pounds. Other nobles and wealthy merchants also responded with varying amounts.
Just as Lorne secretly breathed a sigh of relief, thinking the process was about to end smoothly, his spiritual intuition was triggered again. A gaze that wasn't simply curious or admiring, but carried a certain investigative meaning, fell upon him.
He calmly turned his head slightly, following the feeling.
He saw a fairly good-looking young man with black hair and deep green eyes standing not far away, sizing him up with a hint of scrutiny and—confusion?
To Lorne's surprise, he actually knew that person!
This—isn't this that showy policeman I met back in Tingen?
Why is he here?!
Is he going to haunt me like this—