Trafford's Trading Club

778: Chapter 22: Small Matters and Big Matters 778: Chapter 22: Small Matters and Big Matters It’s not yet evening; summer evenings naturally come later than usual.

It’s considered a well-decorated cafe, of course, the price might make the general public frown.

With Caroline’s temperament, she usually wouldn’t come to such a place.

But she had to wait for someone, and the other party designated this place.

She had no choice but to order the cheapest black coffee.

Not long after, a middle-aged man rushed into the cafe, looking around as if searching for something.

Caroline knew this was the person she was waiting for—the lawyer friend Nia asked her to contact.

6:37 in the evening, Caroline looked at the time again…

It’s too late, she wasn’t sure if she could catch the bus back.

If it’s too late, she would have to choose another route, requiring her to pass through several unfamiliar areas.

Although she was a local, there were obvious differences between districts.

“Are you Caroline?” The middle-aged man quickly found Caroline’s seat and sat down without hesitation.

Caroline sensed something called time from him—from the moment he entered, she had noticed the man, and by the time he sat in front of her, he had checked the time three times; twice with his watch and once with the wall clock inside.

In a meticulously polished formal suit, with a stern expression and deep eyes…

basically, he exhibited the demeanor of an elite, revealing everything in front of Caroline.

The man’s name was Karo.

Before Caroline could speak, Karo immediately went to the point, “Before we start our conversation, Ms.

Caroline, can you tell me what your relationship with Nia is?

Family?

Or is she your daughter?”

There wasn’t any impoliteness in the question…

Instead, Caroline felt this man probably didn’t completely remember what Nia said—he appeared because a deal might be closed.

Perhaps this man wasn’t as glorious as he seemed on the outside.

Perhaps his law firm business wasn’t good, and he eagerly needed this commission to pay for his office rent, utilities, and employee salaries this month.

That’s why he would appear more professional.

Caroline had an eye for these things.

After all, being a…

being a *****, she had encountered many types of men.

She had seen wealthy tycoons, had wealthy young men in her bed, and as for ordinary folks, social people naturally were common.

She could recognize people, but she didn’t have the confidence to handle any type of person.

She knew she didn’t have enough knowledge to face these men with a facade, knowing not what they were truly thinking inside.

Men are actually more changeable and harder to grasp than women.

“I’m Nia’s friend,” Karo gave such an answer.

Perhaps he had already guessed what kind of work she’s engaged in from this answer?

Caroline was too familiar with Karo’s current gaze.

But the men who sought her services usually had this kind of scrutinizing, evaluating gaze.

Karo nodded, “Ms.

Caroline, according to what you said, Nia intends to hire me to handle a property in the Western District, right?

Earlier on the phone wasn’t convenient to talk…

I’d like to ask you how much is the commission fee Nia had in mind?

Do you have the authority to negotiate with me on her behalf?”

“She just asked me to find you and help her.” Caroline didn’t know how to answer…

perhaps nodding would be better—yet she was clearly hesitant over the responsibilities she would bear after nodding.

No need to bear more burdens…

finding this Karo was already as much as possible, Caroline thought, and immediately said, “Maybe you should go directly to the hospital to see her; she’s in a rather poor state now.”

Karo wasn’t impatient; instead, he carefully asked about Nia’s condition, his attitude very meticulous.

Looking at him asking meticulously, Caroline was somewhat struggling to cope.

However, she couldn’t help but have another thought: maybe this man could really help Nia.

Judging by Nia’s look, the surgery was quite urgent.

However, the selling of property couldn’t be done overnight—and besides, although the house prices in the said location were expensive, finding a buyer immediately was also a severe problem.

“How about this; can you take me to see Nia?” Karo suddenly suggested, “I think it’s better if I talk directly with the concerned party about this matter.”

“I can write you an address.” Caroline remembered the bus home and politely declined.

She suddenly didn’t want to go back and watch the lifeless Nia—she previously thought about this issue: If Nia’s illness couldn’t be cured, inevitably she would face Nia’s final moments—but she didn’t know when she started making herself not think about this issue, not think about what if Nia suddenly passed away.

She…

didn’t want to bear anything.

She had fulfilled Nia’s request.

If this man could help, naturally it would be for the fee.

If he couldn’t help…

then she had no choice.

The costs of Nia’s surgery, Karo can easily bear her but would require using the hefty bank card on hand.

However, at this moment, she didn’t want to use that wealth.

She felt that among all the people Nia knew, she was the only one who would still visit her in the hospital when things went wrong; she would help her find a lawyer, which was already kind enough, as much as she could…

nothing more she could do.

Thinking this, Caroline suddenly felt at ease.

Karo didn’t insist, he simply took the address and quickly took his leave.

What angered Caroline was, although he left in haste, seeming eager to see Nia, this guy…

didn’t pay!

She indiscriminately ordered some dessert and a sandwich at the cafe, hurriedly finished them, and then left, planning to catch a bus ride back.

Before getting on the bus, Caroline received a call from Livia, asking where she went.

Caroline simply replied that she picked up a job outside, finished it now, and was planning to go home.

Livia told her, it’s best if she doesn’t come back these days; better to hide out for a few days, and she also plans to leave.

The reason being: Big Boss Neymar is dead, chaos engulfed the gang, Ronald, the second in command, and those supporting Big Boss Neymar’s son started a turf war.

Plus the unclear death of Joseph next door; the boss from the neighboring area demanded the murderer be handed over or would invade.

And during the time Caroline was away today, many had already died in the skirmish.

Caroline thought about it, then picked up the phone and called Karo who had left not long ago.

“Mr.

Karo, I changed my mind, how about I go back with you to see Nia, I’m a bit worried about her…”

…

…

“Who are you?

This is a private box, no unauthorized entry allowed!”

In the upper-level circular corridor of the municipal theater’s concert hall, there were separate boxes—VIP rooms for wealthy individuals or those of significant status to watch performances.

Of course, usually, you can pay to sit in… but today’s event was held in friendship with foreign consuls, so it’s naturally different.

The one shouting seemed to be a bodyguard, very tall, with a somewhat iron-blooded aura, possibly a former soldier… or perhaps still a soldier.

It was apparent that the people in this room were not of simple identity.

As for why the bodyguards initially chose to shout instead of using force to expel, on one hand, they didn’t want to draw attention, and on the other, they were naturally unclear about the origins of the two intruders.

The woman was very beautiful, and the man beside her had an Eastern face.

At a concert like this, those who could enter were either wealthy or noble; the background of this young couple couldn’t be simple.

“May we borrow this place for a moment?”

The beautiful woman in a black evening gown smiled slightly and gently clapped her hands — because she wore gloves, the sound was not very loud.

Yet, the bodyguards heard the sound clearly and their awareness immediately turned foggy.

Their eyelids felt immensely heavy, and after a few breaths, they all fell to the ground.

Simultaneously, several other sounds echoed in the room — all from people falling down.

This was evidently some kind of transcendent power.

Actually, Luo Qiu had intended to take action himself, but the maid Ms.

Ren was always a step ahead of him… In truth, Luo Qiu rather enjoyed this feeling of sitting back and reaping the benefits at such times; needless to say, having such a lovely maid handle all trivial matters for him was truly a delight to the eyes.

Another delight was the orchestra entering the concert hall below.

Whether one knew how to appreciate the sounds these instruments would soon produce or not, watching the orderly entrance was bound to evoke a sense, a so-called attitude of professionalism.

Luo Qiu appreciated seeing people arrange themselves in such regularity, which made him think of all things neat and tidy.

Neatness, naturally, was the most pleasing.

The VIP room, of course, had no windows; it was merely a separate viewing box.

Divisions existed between the boxes, but from the front, one could see the opposite box across the circular corridor.

However, wasn’t the number of bodyguards in this VIP box a bit excessive?

“Master, it seems we’ve encountered something interesting.”

You Ye was arranging the people who had fallen — rather than letting them lie haphazardly on the floor, here and there, it was naturally more pleasing to have them arranged neatly.

Having long been accustomed to encountering incidents whenever he went out, Boss Luo was evidently not overly surprised and simply looked at You Ye curiously.

Of course, even in such an open VIP box, from the outside it appeared as if nothing had happened here — casting an illusion that prevented outsiders from seeing what occurred inside was the simplest method.

“What interesting thing?”

You Ye pointed to the man obviously being protected by several bodyguards, then reached into this middle-aged man’s shirt pocket and fished out a pen.

Boss Luo didn’t notice anything particularly special about the pen… if forced to say, perhaps it was the very attractive emblem on its shaft — though you needed to look closely to see it.

“Is it because of this emblem?”

The maid Ms.

Ren nodded and softly said, “It’s an internal mark of the ‘Lomonsk·Layton’ company.

This company’s headquarters are in Americana, and its main business is the production and launch of military satellites.”

Boss Luo had heard that the country was currently quite unfortunate, never managing to effectively develop its satellite industry.

Apparently, some time back, there was a massive explosion due to a rocket launch accident, wiping out a large group of aerospace elites.

“Check the invitation.” Luo Qiu suddenly said.

You Ye quickly retrieved an invitation card and brought it to Luo Qiu.

After glancing at it, Boss Luo calmly said, “It’s under the name of a wine distributor, seems like the identity was hidden.”

“Need to retrieve memory?” You Ye suggested.

If they could obtain ready intelligence, there naturally was no need to purchase it at the altar… in this regard, it aligned well with Boss Luo’s principle of self-reliance and constant renewal.

So Boss Luo nodded without pressure and ceased paying attention to the businessman’s matter, as soon enough, all the details behind it would reach his ears through Ms.

Ren’s narration.

“Speaking of which, if there really are any remarkable transactions going on, why do they always prefer places like this?”

The lights began to dim… the performance was officially starting.

Schubert, Symphony No.

9, “The Great”.

…

…

“Compared to ‘The Great’, I prefer Symphony No.

8, ‘The Unfinished’; a few years ago in Vienna, I attended a performance, and I still remember it now.”

Seated in the ordinary seats in the hall, Song Haoran spoke by Lluvia’s ear, simultaneously holding Lluvia’s hand, appearing just like lovers to onlookers.

Feeling the warmth from Song Haoran’s palm, Lluvia seemed in good spirits and curiously asked, “Why is it called ‘The Unfinished’?”

“Because he only wrote two movements and then stopped.” Song Haoran shrugged, following which he gazed obsessively at the orchestra on the stage of the concert hall, “But because it’s unfinished, not knowing what follows or what could have been, it captures the imagination, much like the goddess of beauty losing her arms.”

Lluvia blinked, utterly baffled as to how a woman without arms could be considered beautiful.

But since the strategist said so, she supposed it must be the case.

During the middle of the concert, Song Haoran glanced at his watch, and at this moment his phone buzzed with a message.

——Terminate operation.

This was a message from “Iris” headquarters.

Song Haoran frowned slightly, Lluvia keenly caught his change.

Song Haoran said nothing and only angled his phone’s screen for Lluvia to see the content.

“This…”

Song Haoran, however, nodded indifferently, “Looks like we can stay and listen to the entire concert.”

Lluvia quietly made a hand gesture — a gesture sufficient to halt Oni, who was lying in ambush, provided he wasn’t using his scope to stare at those women in low-cut evening gowns’ chests.

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