A Pawn's Passage

After Qi Xuansu officially began impersonating the Baron, the first visitor he received was the Baron’s mistress.

However, it was not the “chief mistress,” Susan Grim, but rather the Baron’s most favored mistress in recent years. She was Monica Samos, the youngest and most beautiful one among the Baron’s many mistresses.

By both Eastern and Western standards, this woman was indeed stunning, with black hair and dark eyes like an Easterner and an exotic Western charm.

However, Qi Xuansu had no desire to have any physical contact with this woman. Aside from fighting, killing, and Zhang Yuelu, he disliked physical intimacy with others and felt an instinctive aversion. Even with Little Yin, he usually just grabbed the little imp by the back of the collar rather than carrying her in his arms.

So Qi Xuansu wrapped himself tightly in the cloak like a cocoon, feigning weakness to prevent the woman from getting close.

Meanwhile, the woman fussed over him with tender concern and affectionate words.

Qi Xuansu responded perfunctorily, only hoping she would leave soon. His reason for impersonating the Baron was to understand the inner workings of St. York from a different perspective, perhaps even uncovering unexpected information, not to enjoy the Baron’s women.

After about an hour, the old butler finally spoke. “Miss Samos, the Baron needs to rest.”

Only then did Monica reluctantly get up, casting an annoyed glance at the butler, as if to say that once she became the true lady of this house, he would regret it.

The old butler ignored her completely, paying no attention to this woman who had risen from the bottom to a position of privilege.

Qi Xuansu avoided Monica’s farewell kiss. He spoke, imitating the Baron’s tone, “Monica, is there anything you need my help with lately?”

“No, my dear Ramon. You’ve already done enough for me. I don’t need anything,” Monica said tenderly. “I’m with you because of love. I love you so much!”

Madam Wu appeared nearby and sneered coldly. “When a woman says she doesn’t need anything, it usually means she wants everything.”

“Insightful,” Qi Xuansu agreed. “But what does that have to do with me? I’m not actually the Baron.”

After Monica left, the old butler said with mild dissatisfaction, “You should have responded to Monica. Don’t you like women? Even if you don’t, you should learn to overcome it.”

Qi Xuansu said calmly, “I don’t like the tone you’re using.”

The old butler froze for a moment. Then his eyes sharpened, revealing a hint of killing intent. Had this adventurer forgotten his place? Had he really started to believe he was the Baron?

Qi Xuansu paid no attention to what the old butler was thinking.

Although the butler possessed considerable strength, roughly equivalent to a Xiaoyao-stage Heavenly Being, it was utterly insignificant before Qi Xuansu. Neither he nor the Baron realized that they had invited a dragon into their home.

“Don’t forget your place,” Qi Xuansu continued. “A proper butler should never speak to his master like this, nor stare at him so brazenly.”

The old butler’s chest visibly rose and fell once. He then lowered his gaze and returned to his usual respectful demeanor. “Yes, Baron. I apologize.”

Next came the Baron’s trusted subordinate, Micah Burr.

Qi Xuansu no longer wrapped himself in the cloak. Instead, he sat naturally and comfortably in the center of the long sofa, clearly not intending to share the space with anyone.

When Micah entered, Qi Xuansu fixed his gaze on him. “Micah, you’re here. As the Easterners say, one never visits the temple without reason. Tell me, what good news or bad news have you brought this time?”

Quoting Eastern sayings was one of the Baron’s habits, making the performance quite convincing. Taking the initiative was also a deliberate tactic. As long as he maintained an aggressive stance, others would be busy responding rather than pausing to question whether he was the genuine Baron.

Micah had an exaggerated mustache, like two crescent moons hanging from either side of his lips. He casually sat down on a nearby armchair and said, “My lord, Sean is dead.”

According to the information provided, Sean was a small factory owner who had a business dispute with the Baron. The conflict began when the Baron took an interest in a piece of land under Sean’s ownership and wished to purchase it, but Sean refused to sell. Their relationship quickly deteriorated. The Baron had instructed Micah to handle the matter, and clearly, this was Micah’s solution.

Qi Xuansu said nothing and merely stared at Micah coldly.

Micah had originally been lounging with his legs crossed and a cigar in his mouth. But under Qi Xuansu’s gaze, he gradually felt an inexplicable pressure. First, he lowered his leg, then he extinguished the cigar. Finally, he straightened his back, no longer leaning against the sofa.

“Is this your way of handling the matter?” Qi Xuansu captured the tone of someone in authority perfectly—not harsh or loud, yet filled with pressure. After all, he himself was accustomed to power.

Micah lowered his head slightly. “I simply didn’t want you to stain your gloves over something like this.”

Qi Xuansu replied indifferently, “Is there a difference?”

Micah fell silent.

“You know what you should do,” Qi Xuansu said.

Micah suddenly raised his head and looked at him.

Qi Xuansu did nothing and merely looked at him coldly, without the slightest emotion.

In the end, Micah backed down and lowered his head again. “Yes, my lord.”

Qi Xuansu said coolly, “We’ll let it pass this time. Next time, you won’t be so fortunate.”

Micah stood up and left.

After a long while, the old butler spoke softly. “My lord, your performance just now was flawless. However, there was a slight risk. What if Micah had resisted? You don’t have enough power to suppress him. After all, that cloak can only imitate an aura.”

Qi Xuansu replied casually, “How do you know I don’t have the power to suppress him? Besides, aren’t you here as well?”

The old butler stiffened slightly, sensing that something was amiss.

Qi Xuansu had already stood up. “Is there anything else?”

The butler gathered his thoughts and replied, “Miss Molly caused a bit of trouble while visiting the Central District. She accidentally drained the son of a councilman. The Enforcers from the Central District will arrive shortly.”

Molly Oxley was the Baron’s daughter. The “draining” here literally meant draining every drop of the victim’s blood.

The Baron had already planned to clean up after his daughter. He had smoothed over connections and arranged for her to temporarily leave St. York and return to their old homeland on the Old Continent. He had also prepared a large sum of compensation and intended to hand over a few scapegoats.

But the councilman was not satisfied. He loudly demanded that the murderer be brought to justice, which led to this visit from the Enforcers.

Qi Xuansu said, “Let them come.”

The old butler hesitated as if wanting to say something, but in the end, he merely gave Qi Xuansu a long look before turning and leaving.

This time, the meeting did not take place in the small private parlor on the second floor but in the large reception hall on the first floor.

The Enforcer brought along 5 steam-powered Enforcers from the Colt Company, lined up behind him as if preparing to search the Baron’s residence.

The Enforcer, Ross, said as he sat opposite Qi Xuansu. “Baron, let’s get straight to the point. I previously proposed a deal to you, which you should have accepted.”

Based on the information provided by the Baron, Qi Xuansu replied, “An illegitimate son isn’t worth that much money, unless you’re hoping to gain more from this.”

Ross said, “If you don’t want to pay, then hand over Miss Oxley.”

“You know that’s impossible.” Qi Xuansu leaned back in his chair as if he were truly the Baron. “You’re wasting your effort.”

The old butler seemed about to speak, but Qi Xuansu cut him off immediately. “This isn’t your place to speak.”

The butler swallowed the words he had been about to say and once again gave Qi Xuansu a long, searching look.

Ross seemed to notice something suspicious and suddenly stood up.

A powerful aura rushed forward—it was Arcane Alchemy.

Qi Xuansu remained unimpressed. “What do you intend to do on my territory? Fight me?”

For the moment, the old butler forgot his irritation with Qi Xuansu and instead faced the enemy with vigilance. The Baron’s subordinates also appeared outside the hall.

Ross sneered. “Baron, it seems your illness is quite severe.”

Qi Xuansu remained seated on the sofa. “Even so, it’s not something your pile of scrap metal can handle.”

Ross smirked. “Oh? I don’t think so. Ramon, I’ll give you one last chance. Do you think that just because you call yourself a baron that you’ve become a true noble? Everyone knows your money is filthy. You’re nothing but a stinking rat hiding in a filthy gutter. Who do you think you are? You’re just a peasant.”

Qi Xuansu scoffed. “My money isn’t clean? Is yours any cleaner? That prosperity built upon piles of bones and rivers of blood is just as filthy. What right do you have to mock me, oh noble Enforcer?”

Ross’s amused smile turned to anger. Sensing that the Baron before him might be bluffing, he threw a punch straight toward Qi Xuansu’s face.

The old butler was about to intervene but realized in despair that he was too late. The likely outcome was that the clumsy adventurer would have his head smashed apart by Ross, turning into a headless corpse, which meant that the Baron’s plan would be exposed.

But in the next instant, the butler’s regret turned into shock.

Ross’s fist stopped about a dozen centimeters from Qi Xuansu’s face. Qi Xuansu’s fingers had clamped firmly around Ross’s wrist, rendering that modified mechanical arm completely immobile.

Qi Xuansu’s Liberation Method had brought the manmade Banished Immortal traits into Madam Wu’s body, including the Martial Arts Practitioner’s strength.

The five mechanical Enforcers Ross had brought immediately stepped forward.

With a flash of fire, the five mechanical Enforcers melted into molten metal under the intense heat. Yet the flames did not affect any part of the hall. Such precise control was truly astonishing.

These flames came from Madam Wu herself.

At this time, Madam Wu appeared beside Qi Xuansu, clapping her hands with delight. “Amazing! Burn five first, then burn another five!”