CWMBR 72

Chapter 72

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*Present

After saying it aloud, it only made him more puzzled. Declan turned his upper body toward Ain.

"Aren't you busy? Didn't you say something about a ship sinking before?"

Declan was Ain's legal representative, but he didn't know the ins and outs of Ain's business. His role was strictly to handle the matters Ain entrusted to him. Even so, he knew Ain had recently made a major investment and was now facing trouble. Given that Ain had been triumphant in everything he touched, this news had particularly caught his attention. He watched with equal parts concern and curiosity, wondering if this time, Ain – who had managed to pull off anything with uncanny ease – was finally going to stumble.

Declan spoke, and Ain replied in a tone that suggested it was no big deal.

"It wasn't sunk, just temporarily out of contact. And the merchant ship arrived safely. Don't you read the papers?"

Declan's jaw dropped at Ain’s exasperated expression.

"That article that made such a fuss a few days ago? That trading ship is the one you invested in? They said it pioneered a new route this time!"

 "That's right."

How could he not know? The major papers had been trumpeting the news for days! Not only did it bring profits from the cargo, but it also pioneered a groundbreaking, stable, and fast new route. He heard the people involved were in an uproar. Declan had long since heard that the investors in that ship had instantly become sitting ducks. Though he hadn't realized the man who made the biggest killing was right in front of him.

"Some investors must have pulled out when contact was lost, right?"

"Yes."

"Did you hold out?"

"Yes."

As if hitting the jackpot wasn't enough, the number of people to split it with had decreased. Declan's eyes glazed over.

"Just how many times did the profits multiply……?"

"Well, Fergus would know the exact figure. He won't tell you, though."

Honestly, Declan earned enough money that he never felt short, and his family itself enjoyed wealth beyond want. But wasn’t it true that money was always better when there was more of it? What's more, Ain had just sat back and earned several times what Declan had painstakingly scraped together over months of poring over legal texts and scratching his head! Of course, Ain had put in the effort too, but still, still...

Declan was simply, purely jealous of Ain. What kind of blessing did that guy receive that everything he touched turned to gold?

"Honestly, your luck is unmatched."

"That's a rather belated compliment."

Declan's expression instantly turned sour. Honestly, if that guy didn't have that attitude, he could genuinely congratulate him wholeheartedly. But the way he acted like this was just how things were supposed to be made Declan unwilling to offer a sincere round of applause. He muttered to himself as he glanced at Ain with a sour expression.

"So that trade ship made a killing, and that's why you've been wasting time here in Glynford so leisurely."

He wondered why he'd suddenly abandoned his duties when he'd been goofing off all day.

Just as he was about to accept that explanation, Ain flatly denied his words.

"I don't waste time needlessly."

"But you are right now."

"Seems you've forgotten I have an office here."

Come to think of it, did he tell Fergus to set up an office? There was no need to establish an office in a place he was merely passing through. While Ain did travel to quite a few cities personally, he didn't set up offices just anywhere. That meant, aside from his connection with Bridget, he had some business-related reason to be in Glynford.

"Ah, so you have another scheme up your sleeve. Well, of course you do, Lord Wise."

Declan chimed in with a half-mocking tone, then muttered under his breath.

"God is unfair."

Ain glanced at Declan, who sat sulking like a child, and said indifferently.

"God is neither fair nor unfair."

After confirming the lights on the third floor of Bridget's mansion had gone out, Ain straightened his slumped posture.

"He just doesn't do anything."

It was truly a statement that would make clergymen gasp. Declan stared at Ain with eyes full of horror and shook his head.

"It's truly unfair. To bestow all the world's fortune upon such an unbeliever. Oh, my God."

"So not praising God makes me an unbeliever? How narrow-minded."

Ain snorted. Declan shot him a resentful look before waving his hand dismissively.

"Who do I think I'm arguing with? Let's get moving. We need to hurry if we want to rest."

A moment later, the car standing in the darkness drove off.

***

The next day, Declan brought the contract to the Grand Theater and formally became Bridget’s legal representative.

It was a fixed-term contract, but regardless, being able to appoint him as her representative, even briefly, was a huge deal for Bridget.

Watching Declan walk away with the papers through the window, Bridget rested her chin on her hand, lost in thought.

No matter how she thought about it, Declan wouldn't help her for no reason. Though he often appeared to be led around by Ain, appearing weak and indecisive, Bridget knew he was far from an easy target.

The Rogers family was renowned as a legal dynasty. It was only natural for them to consistently produce central judges. Even when practicing as private lawyers, they didn't take just any client. Their clients were the elite few, the noble 'blue bloods' with royal ancestry or the qualifications to associate with royalty.

The royal investigator said there was an intersection between their litigation issues and other cases.

The incident Gilum had been investigating with particular intensity was that night's affair. Could it be connected to the party held at the Grand Theater? What on earth had Ronan done?

Thud!

"Miss, you were here."

The door burst open without a knock. It was Donna. She entered the office without asking permission, acting as if this wasn't the first time she'd done so. Then again, hadn't she been told to leave the mansion, yet she'd stubbornly refused with a brazen expression? When asked for lodging and meal costs, she'd consistently played dumb. When given a bill, she'd routinely treat it like trash and toss it aside. She was utterly confident no one could force her out.

Her confidence wasn't entirely unfounded. Donna's contract explicitly stated that the Grand Theater was fully responsible for her housing and other living expenses. The contract had been drawn up when Ronan first brought her in and had been renewed ever since. In short, it was an officially agreed-upon matter.

However, since Bridget intended to terminate the contract with Donna, that clause would soon lose its effect.

Bridget stared coldly at Donna as she strode toward her. Donna seemed slightly startled by Bridget's icy demeanor, but quickly adopted a pouting expression and spoke urgently.

"Miss, I need your help."

Donna narrowed her brows, fluttering her long lashes as she looked at Bridget with moist, teary eyes.

"The Grand Theater is in danger. If things continue like this, it will be shut down."

Bridget, who had thought nothing she said could surprise her, frowned at those words. Even though she knew full well it was meant to provoke her, Bridget couldn't help but react to the mention of the 'Grand Theater'.

"What are you talking about?"

"You have to protect the Grand Theater. Right?"

"Donna, speak plainly."

Bridget’s cold reply made Donna look at her with betrayed eyes. Then she sighed dramatically.

"I got information from a reliable source. There are suspicions that an illegal gathering is being organized at the Grand Theater."

"Illegal gatherings?"

"Oh, don't play innocent! Gatherings where they share unlicensed drinks and engage in illegal entertainment!"

Donna scolded Bridget with an exasperated expression and continued.

"Lord Wise is suspecting the Grand Theater because of that incident where he was drugged that night! If it's deemed a dangerous facility, the Grand Theater will have to shut down!"

Bridget's eyes widened slightly. She recalled the information Gilum had wanted to verify first when he came to the Grand Theater. At the time, Gilum had said he wanted to check the list of suppliers who had delivered goods over the past few years. Bridget hadn't questioned his request at all.

While Bridget recalled the past, Donna's words continued.

"So I've been thinking, and I really think we need Lord Wise's help. He's the one who could clear this ridiculous false accusation in one go. Remember how last time, just one word from him saying he didn't want any trouble, and the whole situation ended?"