Chapter 129: The Auction · Intermission (Part 2)

Just as Dean had predicted, after the final auction item was sold, the attendants began to rearrange the hall. Square tables and chairs were brought in, while the guests originally in the hall moved to the side hall to rest temporarily. Dean certainly had no interest in listening to these nobles discussing the previous auction. After signaling to the young lady of the Tier Baron Family that he was going out for some fresh air, he left the side hall just like that.

Wanting to find a specific person in an Ancient Castle was naturally not an easy task.

But if that person was the owner of the Ancient Castle, it became much easier.

After all, even inside the Ancient Castle, the owner had guards by his side. Although Marquis Vauban was not a lavish person, he placed exceptional importance on his own protection.

At the very least, during the previous auction, Dean could still sense the vigilance of Baron Jandu.

Undoubtedly, at that time, Baron Jandu was acting as a guard for Marquis Vauban.

And after leaving the main hall, Baron Jandu naturally could not follow along, but Marquis Vauban would certainly not be lacking in guards by his side.

Moreover, Dean also knew the first part of the path the other party took when leaving.

“The hall has three doors: one leads to the side hall, one to the front hall square, and the one Marquis Vauban took leads to the corridor in the back courtyard… it’s here!”

Having locked onto the general direction, Dean soon made a discovery.

At the entrance of a room located beside the corridor, two fully armed guards were standing there. Their Knight-rank status indicated that the identity of the person protected inside the room was noble.

Inside Vauban Castle, other than Marquis Vauban, there was naturally no one else.

Dean stood in the shadows on one side of the corridor. The afterglow of the Setting Sun provided him with excellent cover. However, since it was not yet night, approaching them was somewhat difficult for Dean. If they were two ordinary people, he might have attempted it, but if they were two Knights, especially within Vauban Castle, Dean absolutely would not dare to take the risk easily.

“Is it Madel starting to act and shirk his responsibility? Or did the ‘Brotherhood’ release some smokescreen in advance?”

Dean stood in a patch of shadow where light and darkness intersected. His gaze did not leave that room, and in his heart, he continued his previous speculation.

Of course, before seeing who else was in the room besides Marquis Vauban, Dean could not make a final deduction.

Fortunately, Dean knew that this conversation would not last too long.

After all, Marquis Vauban, as the host, would definitely appear in the hall before the banquet began.

The Setting Sun gradually receded, and darkness began to appear in the sky.

And the door that Dean had been staring at tightly opened at this moment.

Marquis Vauban walked out, and then, the door slowly closed.

“Huh?!”

Dean was slightly stunned, unable to hide the surprise on his face. In his expectation, the person inside the room should have left together with Marquis Vauban.

But now, Marquis Vauban was leaving alone.

Watching the approaching Marquis Vauban, Dean held his breath. Only when the other party had left this place with the two guards did Dean let out a slight sigh of relief. However, his body remained standing in the shadows, and his gaze turned towards that room.

Now, far away from those two Knight-rank guards, it was naturally not difficult for Dean to approach if he wanted to.

But regarding the banquet that was about to start, if Dean did not appear there, it would obviously attract the attention of certain interested parties, including Marquis Vauban.

Dean never dared to underestimate this old fox of the same faction.

And once he aroused the other party’s suspicion, it would be quite disadvantageous for Dean. After all, before his arrangements were completely stable, some of his details simply could not withstand scrutiny.

If he was exposed, naturally, all his efforts would be in vain.

Dean would absolutely not let his entire plan develop problems because of the matter before his eyes.

Therefore, after taking one last look at that room, Dean quickly retreated to the side hall.

“Hurry up, the banquet is about to start!”

Seeing Dean walk in, the young lady of the Tier Baron Family immediately walked over.

Clearly, because of Dean’s ‘polite refusal’ towards Marquis Vauban earlier, the young lady of this Baron’s family was in a very good mood, and her impression of Dean changed once again.

Of course, this did not mean that the resentment in her heart towards Dean had disappeared; it was merely because of Dean’s performance that the young lady temporarily buried this resentment in the bottom of her heart.

As for when it would disappear?

A young girl’s heart is like a needle at the bottom of the sea; anyone who tries to guess it is a fool.

“Mhm!”

Dean nodded slightly and walked side by side with the young lady of the Tier Baron Family into the hall.

As for the jealous look from Baron Janel beside him?

Dean simply ignored it.

The banquet was as boring as ever, just like a replay of yesterday. In fact, most banquets attracted people’s attention the first time.

But the second time, the third time, only boredom remained.

After all, no one wanted to experience the same old thing over and over again.

Therefore, everyone attending the banquet formed their own circles, chatting with each other to pass the time.

Of course, in the view of some people with special purposes, this was the best opportunity. Whether it was joining a certain circle or using a certain circle to inquire about some things, it was extremely convenient.

Dean watched the Lord Marquis’s Aide, Madel, walking through various small circles holding a wine glass, and subconsciously thought of the term ‘social butterfly’.

The other party obviously possessed quite good knowledge and upbringing. He could smoothly integrate into whichever circle it was and drive the overall atmosphere, creating bursts of laughter.

Of course, what Dean noticed was not this point!

The other party seemed to have entered the hall even earlier than him!

After all, before he entered the hall, the other party was already standing there. Even though he did not know the other party’s name just now, because the position the other party stood was not far from Marquis Vauban, Dean had already memorized his appearance. Afterwards, the other party’s wandering and pleasantries let Dean know his name.

“He couldn’t be faster than me, unless…”

Dean concentrated on guessing.

Dean knew the route from the room in the back courtyard corridor back to the hall clearly; after all, it was obvious at a glance. On such a route, other than Marquis Vauban, he had not seen anyone else. Therefore, if Madel was in that room, it was impossible for him to be faster than Dean.

Unless the other party could turn invisible!

However, this was obviously impossible.

Although Wizards were very good at this, they would absolutely not use Spells without a reason. Especially in that situation, leaving together with Marquis Vauban was clearly the most correct choice for the other party.

As for a Secret Passage?

There were definitely Secret Passages inside Vauban Castle. In fact, every Ancient Castle had Secret Passages.

But they would absolutely not connect to a crowded place like the hall.

The meaning of a Secret Passage’s existence was secrecy, and secret places were places ordinary people could not reach. For example: the master’s bedroom, Study, and the like.

“The person in that room wasn’t him!”

Finally, Dean reached this conclusion.

“Who was the person talking to Marquis Vauban in that room?”

Naturally, following the previous conclusion, this conclusion appeared in Dean’s heart.

However, that broad scope made it impossible for Dean to get an answer.

What’s more, not far away, Madel holding a wine glass had already walked over.

“Baron Jandu, good evening… Baron Janel, it is truly a pleasure to see you again… Miss Lily Tier, you are becoming more and more beautiful and moving… And this, this must be Regiment Commander Dean Ken, right? Your recent reputation is truly thunderous to me!”

Madel smiled and greeted Dean’s group.

It was hard to imagine that in such a short sentence, this Lord Madel managed to cover everything, and all based on the different individuals.

Undoubtedly, such greetings were extremely easy to gain the goodwill of others.

At the very least, Baron Janel was already smiling continuously.

And the young lady of the Tier Baron Family also responded with a smile.

As for Baron Jandu with his serious face?

The fact that he didn’t frown already indicated that the other party hadn’t caused him to feel disgusted.

And Dean?

With a specific, slightly reserved humility on his face, he smiled and responded to the other party, just like those Noble descendants.

“I am equally happy to see you, Lord Madel!”

“Regiment Commander Dean Ken, your Strength is truly admirable. There are rarely young people like you in Vauban County! Where is your hometown?”

“Katyu County!”

“So it is the Three Southern Counties! It is under the Grand Duke’s jurisdiction, no wonder…”

“The Grand Duke is a person worthy of respect!”

…

Simple communication started from such pleasantries.

And Dean obviously noticed that this Lord Madel was very interested in him, constantly probing for something. Of course, it was all very subtle.

One only needed to look at the oblivious appearances of the other three people present to know.

Regarding the other party’s suspicion, Dean also gradually shifted from guessing to being certain.

The other party had a scent he was extremely familiar with.

That kind of hypocritical scent of walking in the Shadow wearing a mask!

Marquis Vauban’s Aide, yet having the scent of someone walking in the Shadow… the other party’s identity seemed self-evident.

Of course, Dean did not skip the small steps in his original plan just because of this.

In fact, precisely because he was certain, Dean felt the necessity of such small steps.

After all, he had to control Goth’s entire spy network in Vauban County.

And to control the entire network, naturally, he had to get rid of the originally deep-rooted second-in-command. Only in this way could he, the ‘leader’, appear!