Chapter 440 Baron Farrow

Humans were inherently social creatures. Within complex social networks, people maintained an unspoken, mutual understanding to preserve relationships, exchange resources, and achieve their goals.

No matter the country or the world, as long as the concept of "society" hadn't completely vanished—or evolved to some absolute extreme—worldly wisdom and social tact would always exist.

The Aifala Continent was no exception.

Baron Farrow was the patron of Hein's work with the Coral Society. His financial backing saved her a great deal of trouble. In turn, Hein's status as a professional Spellcaster led the baron to recognize her potential, prompting an early investment in hopes of future returns.

Through this back-and-forth, that so-called worldly wisdom and social tact took root.

Baron Farrow occasionally paid to rent out a tavern for Hein's adventurer crew. Between quests, Hein would bring back rare trinkets from her travels as gifts for Lady Ellie.

Founded on mutual benefit and carefully maintained through unspoken agreement, their connection extended outward like a spiderweb. From Baron Farrow and Hein, the ties stretched to the Baron Mansion, the adventurer crew, and even the Coral Society, growing stronger through their complexity.

Under these circumstances, even though she wasn't exactly a regular visitor, the baron's old butler, Grace, certainly recognized the adventurer who so often brought gifts for the young lady.

The moment he spotted her on the street, he took the initiative to greet her and welcomed Hein into the Baron Mansion.

Following behind Hein, Xia Nan naturally enjoyed the convenience of her connections, trailing after her through the crowd and passing unhindered through the estate's gates.

Xia Nan wasn't sure if this house had been passed down from the baron's ancestors or built with wealth accumulated through his position as a Charter Approval Officer, but there was no doubt about it—this was a mansion.

Pushing open the main doors revealed a spacious, imposing atrium. Spotless marble floors reflected bright light from the glass windows on either side, and a miniature stone fountain sat in the center, its babbling water bringing bursts of coolness to the air.

Various oil paintings rich with artistic flair hung on the walls. Paired with dark walnut paneling and velvet curtains swaying lightly by the windowsills, the space exuded a classic, opulent elegance.

As he followed the others into the house, Xia Nan's expression remained as calm as still water, but his heart couldn't help but stir.

'How much did all this cost...'

Land in the White Cliff District was worth its weight in gold. Never mind the interior furnishings; the price of the plot alone was a number ordinary people wouldn't dare imagine.

Perhaps it was an obsession lingering from his past life before he transmigrated, but even now, he still harbored a certain fixation on real estate.

If he had sufficient funds, a good location, and a pleasant surrounding environment, Xia Nan wouldn't mind buying a small house of his own.

He enjoyed the process of designing and arranging everything himself, filling an empty room with traces of his own existence.

Truth be told, however, ever since he entered this line of work, his funds had never been abundant.

Even with over three thousand gold coins currently sitting in his account, it was nowhere near enough.

Forging enchanted equipment, refurbishing the pirate ship... Being naturally cautious, he even had to consider extreme worst-case scenarios. If he met with an accident during a quest and all his gear was ruined, he would need a sum of money set aside as starting capital to begin again.

There were far too many things that required money!

Not to mention, he was in a completely different world now. Xia Nan was no longer a single, white-collar office worker who only had to bury his head in his job and worry about nothing else. He had become an adventurer walking a tightrope, responsible for his own life with every move he made.

Even if he had a massive sum of money right now, rationally speaking, he absolutely couldn't use those gold coins to purchase real estate. He would be far more likely to invest in himself, buying equipment, supplies, and combat techniques to improve his strength.

Naturally, no one knew what Xia Nan was thinking. Walking at the front of the group, Hein was conversing with Grace, the baron's butler, who was leading the way.

Having worked in the Baron Mansion for many years, he had practically watched Lady Ellie grow up, and their relationship was akin to that of a grandfather and granddaughter.

Facing such a sudden tragedy, even Grace's typically robust body couldn't help but hunch over slightly. He was forcing himself to keep working.

"My poor little Ellie... She wouldn't even dare kill a fish! The Goddess... how could the Goddess bear to..."

He murmured as if speaking to himself, having repeated these words who knew how many times.

"Rest assured, Mr. Grace. Ellie will return safely," Hein comforted him with a concerned look, falling half a step behind.

"Apologies, Miss Hein. I shouldn't be saying these things." The butler shook his head, briefly composing his expression.

He reached out and pushed open a door, leading the group of four into a reception room adjacent to the main hall.

"Please wait a moment, everyone. The baron hasn't slept all night. I'll go call him." Grace lowered his head and dropped his voice. "Please... please understand the feelings of a father who has just lost his daughter."

With that, he left the reception room.

Xia Nan sat on a small sofa in the center of the room, taking in the environment.

It was similarly luxurious and steeped in art. Silk brocades embroidered with exquisite patterns hung on the walls, and the furniture was soft and comfortable. A fireplace sat against one wall, while a harp rested in the corner alongside a few coral and seashell ornaments.

However, there was no firewood burning in the fireplace, and the harp stood silently in the corner, unplayed.

Just like the servants they had seen on the way in—shuttling silently between the pillars in twos and threes—the air in the Baron Mansion was suffocatingly oppressive.

Clearly, the baron had yet to close his eyes, just as the butler had said.

Xia Nan and the others didn't have to wait long. A few minutes later, hurried and somewhat erratic footsteps rang out from outside the door.

"Creak!"

The door to the reception room was pushed forcefully open.

Baron Farrow stood there.

Any semblance of dignity as a noble and a Charter Approval Officer had entirely vanished.

His medium-length curly blonde hair, usually combed meticulously, now hung messily over his forehead. His azure eyes were completely bloodshot, filled with a pervasive gloom and anxiety. Even his coat and shirt were severely wrinkled.

"Hein?" He walked in slowly, casting a weary gaze toward the Druid. "Did your quest go smoothly? Don't worry, nothing has happened over at the Coral Reef. It's the same as always."

As he spoke, his eyes swept across the room. He paused briefly when he saw Xia Nan, finding him vaguely familiar, as if they had met somewhere before.

But he didn't dwell on it. The mental burden of his daughter's disappearance left him with absolutely no energy to try and recall the connection.

"Baron, I heard about what happened to Lady Ellie."

Not wanting to waste any more time, Hein skipped the excessive pleasantries and cut straight to the chase.

Given their arrival at the Baron Mansion at such a specific time, Farrow naturally knew why they were here.

Yet, when he heard the name "Ellie" from Hein's mouth, his body still couldn't help but tremble slightly.

"It was yesterday afternoon."

Even though he didn't know how many times he had repeated it to how many people, Baron Farrow tirelessly explained everything he knew to the group before him, not daring to omit a single word.

"Every week, Ellie goes to the equestrian grounds on the edge of the city for riding classes. She has loved riding since she was a child. I even bought her a pony in the past..."

Halfway through his words, Baron Farrow suddenly caught sight of a wine stain he had left on the carpet earlier. His brows knitted fiercely as he shouted toward the door, "Grace! Clean this up!"

His voice carried a trace of uncontrollable anger.

But just as his voice faded, he seemed to realize something and took a sharp breath. "Never mind, never mind. Leave it for later."

The rapid footsteps approaching from outside the door instantly halted.

Collapsing into a small sofa by the window, the baron waved a hand at the group watching him.

"I'm sorry, I... It's very difficult for me to stay rational right now."

"Let's continue."

"The class usually ends three quarters before sunset, and the estate's groom goes to pick her up on time." Baron Farrow picked up where he had left off.

"Logically speaking, even if she got distracted on the way back to watch the street jugglers, or browsed in a flower shop for a bit... at the latest, at the very latest, she would definitely be back before it gets completely dark."

"That's for certain. She's always been very obedient."

"Not to mention, the kitchen specially prepared her favorite blueberry jam muffins last night. She had specifically asked Grace to instruct the head chef to make them before she left for class, saying..."

Baron Farrow abruptly lowered his head, hiding his eyes deep within the shadows cast by his brow bone, making it impossible for the others to see them clearly. His voice, however, carried a slight tremor.

"Saying, 'It's been a long time since I've had dinner with Papa. We must have something delicious today.'"

He shook his head.

"So when she didn't show up at dinner time, I knew something had happened."

"Did you send people to look for her right then?" Hein asked.

"Of course!" the baron replied immediately. "Even though there was a chance it was just a minor issue with the carriage, like a stuck wheel."

"But I immediately had Grace take a few servants and ride along the route to search, while also sending someone to the equestrian grounds to ask."

Not long after sitting down, Baron Farrow stood up again. He stared out the window, his eyes unfocused.

"The riding instructor, Madam Ravel, confirmed that Ellie left at the normal time. The other students in the class, including Viscount Bertrand's daughter and the tax officer's nephew, can also attest to this. They all saw Ellie get into the carriage with their own eyes and wave goodbye."

"What about the carriage? Did anyone see where it went?" Hein asked.

The baron nodded, pulling out a piece of parchment covered in scribbled notes from his breast pocket.

"I had Grace question every resident along the route. The baker who lives on the corner of Emerald Road said he saw a carriage bearing our family crest heading straight east."

East?

Xia Nan recalled the map of Barracuda Bay he had largely memorized, comparing the directions.

"That's the direction toward Rose Park," the baron continued.

"More importantly, old Cole, a sailor who was passing by after his shift, said he personally saw a 'tall and strongly built' man driving the carriage into the park. He thought it was very strange because noble carriages don't usually enter the park at that hour."

"And Thomas, the groom our family has employed for over ten years, went by the nickname 'Shorty' in the estate. His build had absolutely nothing to do with being 'tall and strongly built.'"

At this, the baron couldn't help but close his eyes, seemingly unable to bear the memory.

"Later, we found Thomas's body inside the carriage parked in the park. Someone brutally murdered him and changed into his uniform."

"And my Ellie simply vanished without a trace."

That was the entirety of the incident.

Baron Farrow stopped talking. He turned around, silently looking at the group in the reception room.

Xia Nan knew it was time for them to state their purpose for coming.

He had expected Hein to take the initiative and pick up the conversation, but when he turned his head, he found the Druid looking right at him, gesturing for him to take over.

It was a gesture of goodwill.

After all, Xia Nan was the one who had discovered the clue involving Jerry, the Bloody-Nosed Rat. Now, in front of Baron Farrow, Hein was handing the initiative over to him.

Giving a slight nod, Xia Nan briefly organized his words in his mind before speaking up.

"Baron, we've found some clues that might be useful."

Since it was ultimately just a guess and there was a possibility they were off track, he phrased it somewhat vaguely.

But even so, Baron Farrow's exhausted, anxious pupils noticeably shrank at his words.

"Go on."

"When I was visiting a friend this morning, I ran into a gang. The leader was a thug nicknamed the 'Bloody-Nosed Rat'..."

Xia Nan's response was concise. Without omitting any key information, he informed the baron of what they had encountered and his own speculations.

"The Horned Shark Gang!?"

Baron Farrow growled, pacing rapidly around the room, his leather boots letting out muffled thuds on the carpet.

"If I may ask, have you ever offended them?"

"No, I haven't!" The baron shook his head vigorously. "I've only heard the name of this small Saltwater District gang. I have absolutely no dealings with them in my daily life or my work."

That was incredibly strange, then.

The problem once again returned to Xia Nan's initial doubt.

If it was truly as Baron Farrow said and he had no contact with the Horned Shark Gang, then why would such a small gang take such a massive risk to kidnap the daughter of a baron and Charter Approval Officer?

If it was for money, there were countless better and less risky targets in Barracuda Bay. Wealthy merchants without such high status were everywhere.

If it was for fame, Farrow was ultimately just a baron, not exactly famous in the entirety of Barracuda Bay. Not to mention, if they lost their lives, what use would fame be to these gang members?

Regardless, for Baron Farrow right now, this was one of the few leads he could get that was actually enough to push the search forward.

Stopping in his tracks, his bloodshot, azure eyes stared dead at the group in the reception room.

"Whether it's gold coins or anything else, whatever it takes!"

"As long as you can help me find my daughter..."