Chapter 530 - 291: Westminster Cathedral (2)

Baron silently touched the Lucky Goddess Necklace at his waist, thankful he hadn’t turned off its effect.

The Law Enforcers, unlike Baron, didn’t recognize their faces, but from the Gentiana Pattern Rings on their fingers and the iconic gold symbols on their clothes, they hazarded a guess:

"These are... people from Westminster Bank?"

The expressions of several Old Blood Clan Patriarchs darkened.

As if recalling some unpleasant memories.

"Are they really from Westminster Bank? Wait... why would people from Westminster Bank be here?"

"That Pure-blood Ancient Dragon... is from Westminster Bank? Westminster Bank actually has a Pure-blood Ancient Dragon?"

Aside from Baron, a few of the Law Enforcers did recognize the group.

Old Abraham stepped forward and said, "Governor Howard, if I recall correctly, isn’t Hoover still cleaning up that mess at the World Tree? Since when did Westminster Bank, a neutral Law Enforcement Organization, start getting involved in things like this?"

Howard sighed. "It is precisely because of Governor Hoover’s less-than-brilliant decision that Westminster Bank’s business has been shrinking across the board. So, we have to take on other jobs from time to time. I hope Chairman Abraham can understand."

"Someone hired Westminster to take Baron Constantin away?" Wilder asked.

"It’s not exactly a hiring. After all, Baron Constantin is an employee of our Westminster Bank. Though, interfering in an employee’s private life is perhaps a bit inconsiderate.

But based on the employment contract we both signed, and to ensure Baron Constantin can complete his contractual obligations on time, we cannot hand him over to you until he has fulfilled his duties to Westminster Bank."

Abraham said with a knowing air, "Westminster is a neutral organization, yet you recruit someone like Baron Constantin. Aren’t you afraid the Law Enforcers and Old Blood Clans will seize upon this to attack you?"

Secretary Stella pushed up the gold-rimmed glasses on her nose. "According to relevant reports in the Westminster Times, most of the Old Blood believe that rules are far more important than morals. And Westminster is merely making use of the rules."

’If I’m not mistaken, the Westminster Times is the newspaper managed by Westminster Bank, right? Using data from your own paper to fool people... that’s Westminster’s style, alright.’

Baron grumbled to himself.

Abraham said, "What use does Westminster Bank have for Baron Constantin?

What you guys do is contain Taboo Items, not hunt some Demon or monster.

A Dragon Knight should be fulfilling his true purpose."

"True purpose?" Howard raised an eyebrow. "Surely Chairman Abraham knows that a person’s Destiny is never set in stone?"

"You should take that up with the Goddess of Destiny, not me."

The Old Cowboy touched the brim of his hat, revealing a sunny smile. "All I know is, if we really start fighting over him, none of you will be my match."

"Including that illusion of a Pure-blood Ancient Dragon down the mountain."

Stella looked at Howard. Howard nodded. Stella took out a Holding Ring and tossed it to the Old Cowboy.

The Old Cowboy caught the ring, his shameless demeanor unchanged. "Sorry, I know you people from Westminster always like to solve problems with money.

But honestly, as the acting chairman of the Demon Hunter Association, I’m not exactly short on cash..."

The ring began to glow with a silver light. It seemed the Old Cowboy had injected his Spiritual Power into it.

"Hmm..." The Old Cowboy paused, then suddenly changed his tune. "But I think that Baron Constantin, as a Dragon Knight, might not be compatible with us Demon Hunters... Damn it, I thought Dragon Knights were pretty much the same as us Dragon Demon Hunters...

Sorry, Adam, Gold... Hurry up and make way for the people from Westminster Bank. Don’t block our esteemed Governor Howard from giving his speech to the audience."

Obscenely rich. Seeing the Golden Demon Hunter Abraham flip-flop so easily, this was the only thought that came to the minds of all the Law Enforcers present.

’They’re not going to make me pay this debt back, are they?’ Considering Westminster’s corporate culture and the capitalist-like glint Stella occasionally shot his way... Baron felt it was a distinct possibility.

Seeing Abraham and his Demon Hunters step aside, Howard cleared his throat and walked forward. He clapped his hands to quiet the crowd, then addressed all the surrounding high-ranking members of Law Enforcement Organizations and Elders of the Old Blood Clans who had their eyes on the Dragon Knight:

"Ladies and gentlemen, I’m sorry, but I must inform you that tonight’s banquet is over."

"You cannot take Baron Constantin. According to the ’Westminster Bank Employee Contract’ he signed, Baron Constantin is a specialist for our Westminster People’s Bank. If you wish to deal with him, you must have our permission."

He glanced at the Vacheron Constantin on his wrist and held up two fingers. "Starting now, you have only two minutes for questions and demands. I will answer you, or not, depending on my mood."

"You may begin your questions now."

He made an inviting gesture, as if he were holding a press conference.

Baron was stunned. He asked Secretary Stella, "The Governor is being so damn arrogant. Isn’t he worried about causing an uproar?"

Stella pushed up her gold-rimmed glasses. "Before any uproar can happen, Westminster would have already frozen the assets of those clans and organizations, used financial means to break their capital chains and bankrupt them, and made a fortune off their silent demise."

Kasha said, "Have you heard of the four great Wizard Academies of Britain?"

Baron nodded. "Edinburgh Wizard Academy, Britain Royal Academy, the University of Cardiff, Wales, and London People’s University."

Kasha said, "Actually, there were originally six. Two of them later went bankrupt and were acquired."

"That just proves Westminster is very rich."

"It was Westminster that made them go bankrupt."

Kasha said, "The reason Westminster Bank, as a Taboo Item containment institution, can remain neutral is not because it’s forced to be. It’s because it *wants* to be, so all the other Law Enforcement Organizations have no choice but to acknowledge its neutrality."

Baron: "..."

’Why do I get the feeling that ever since Governor Howard showed up, the whole vibe has been off? It’s like we instantly went from a firefight to corporate warfare.’

At that moment, Secretary Stella suddenly sent a message to Baron via Spiritual Power: "Where’s Jack? Where did that guy go? I haven’t seen him this whole time.

I told him to come here and assist you. Don’t tell me that guy went off to steal Taboo Items again."

Baron froze. Stella raised an eyebrow. After a moment of silence, Baron said, "Jack... is dead."

Stella said flatly, "Where is his body? We’ll take it back with us."

Baron gave her the direction, and Stella turned and left.

Meanwhile, Governor Howard’s speech had sent the Elders of the Old Blood Clans and the heads of Law Enforcement Organizations into an uproar.

Some Old Blood Elders said, "Westminster has committed countless evils. I can’t believe they’re sticking their nose into the Dragon Knight affair as well."

Other Elders said, "The Dragon Knight is responsible for multiple murders. To let him go like this, to let him escape Judgement, is a desecration of the Inner Side’s justice system."

Elder Pence stepped forward, listing Baron Constantin’s many crimes. "The only proper solution is to hand Baron Constantin over to the Prole Court for Judgement."

Finally, the representative of the Templar Knights, Celestial Horse Yisur, issued a challenge:

"Governor Howard, the Holy Hall will not accept your terms. We are taking Baron Constantin.

If this causes offense, we can only beg your forgiveness.

It is no different than when your Westminster specialists, under the guise of containment, brazenly stole Taboo Items from our Holy Hall."

"The same goes for the Holy Hall," Jiang Ge said.

"And the Holy Mechanism," Elvin said listlessly.

More high-ranking members of Old Blood Clans and Law Enforcement Organizations began to chime in, adding their voices to the condemnation and suspicion of Westminster.

Governor Howard, however, maintained a placid, scholarly smile. He waited quietly for them to finish, then ended the game with a single sentence:

"If I’m not mistaken... all of you who just spoke, your families and your Law Enforcement Organizations... you’re all in debt to Westminster, aren’t you?"