Under the dark green cloth tent, a satisfied Benjamin crushed the last empty crab claw. With a soft clicking sound, Alpha raised his head comfortably and stared at the cloth tent above his head. Then he threw away the fragments in his hand and patted his stomach. The abdomen of the foot.
Zach looked at the crumbs on the floor and the messy table. This was why there were few seafood items on Grande’s dining table. Benjamin’s meals were always too extravagant, and he was only suitable for eating food that could be stuffed into his mouth, otherwise he would have to clean it up. It will be a very uncomfortable process.
Zach looked at Mike who had been in a daze, "Is it done over there?"
Mike seemed to be awakened and adjusted his posture, "It will take a while, it will be a bit long."
Zach tilted his head and waved to the waiter. He waved his fingers on the table and motioned for the waiter to clear them away, "Beer, thank you."
They are waiting.
Since Zach asked Anthony for his opinion, he had no choice but to adopt it. Now Yuri is adding tapes in his manor in the West District without anyone noticing.
After Crowley completes the frame-up operation, Zach will go directly to Smith to put an end to this commission that has been circling since the beginning.
As for Smith's possible revenge on Yuri? We can only hope that Laura can separate friendship from adult business so as not to affect Alice.
The beer glass in front of him was covered in foam and overflowing, and the scene on the table became even more chaotic. The waiter gave a look of disgust and ignored Zach's request to clean up. The vampire pushed helplessly for a long time before moving out a small clean area.
Waiting was boring. After Anthony left, the three of them had nothing to talk about. Zach tapped the cup boredly, looking for a topic, "When we pass all the responsibilities to Yuri, how will Crowley continue to threaten Smith?"
Although as Zach saw. The dealers on the outskirts have been replaced with demons, but obviously that's nowhere near Crowley's standards. What she needed was a way to influence Smith's core decisions.
"The tape that was put in Yuri's place is not complete." Mike's answer was unexpectedly quick, leaving Zach helpless, which meant that Crowley had already thought of a countermeasure, "She is also waiting for your decision, Quess Te or Yuri. After you decide, she will arrange for someone to do the rest."
"The back one?" Zach became curious. Smiling and asked, "Crowley, do you allow you to tell me these?"
Crowley had already made it clear that she would not give up her control over Smith, but Zach didn't ask how to do it. After all, everyone had different purposes. All Zach needs is to find the person behind the scenes. As the person behind the scenes, Crowley needs to stay behind the scenes, but with a coexistence agreement, the two parties can only compromise with each other. Zach needs a scapegoat, and Crowley has one more trouble.
"Okay." Mike smiled. "She said that since you have already discovered it, there is no point in hiding it."
Zach raised his eyebrows, "So, if Smith didn't entrust us, is she going to hide it all the time?" He smiled and looked at Mike, "What else have you done where I can't see it?"
Mike looked a little embarrassed and thought for a while. "What places will you look at?"
Zach recited Mike's rhetorical question in his mind and understood the meaning. He shook his head helplessly. What to see for a funeral home on the edge of Barton? Crowley, who came up from hell, lived in Barton City with a purpose, while Grande's purpose seemed to be just like other ordinary citizens, a better living environment. That's all.
"Does Crowley have anything to explain?" Zach returned to the original topic. Since he already knows that Crowley has follow-up arrangements, necessary cooperation must be done. Otherwise, if there is a loophole in the commission, he will be required to provide after-sales service. It's still Grande. Zach didn't want to follow behind Smith. Make up for him.
Mike's expression became slack, and the darkness in his irises rolled. Occasionally, red light flashed through, but in the noon sun, it was difficult for people to notice.
After a moment, Mike's expression returned, "Crowley said that everything has been arranged, but if you are willing to mention in front of Smith that you discovered Yuri through someone trading tapes, then she would be very grateful."
Very grateful? Zach smiled, but don’t expect much sincerity in his words.
But Mike's words were straightforward enough, and he could already tell what Crowley was doing. 'Trade Tape' means that the tape in Yuri's possession is open to the public. Even if the commission ends, Smith's crisis has not been resolved. There are still people who hold his secrets!
Zach thought for a while, raised his eyebrows, and said with a deliberately playful tone, "But Grande's rules are not to disclose the process, I'm sorry."
Mike looked at the vampire seriously, "I'm very grateful."
Zach smiled helplessly and didn't answer any more.
Crowley didn't let the three of them continue to enjoy the wind by the harbor for too long. After both sides were ready, Zach squinted and looked at the gray sky in his sunglasses. The light spots slanting from the center to the side still made the vampire a little uncomfortable, "Let's go to Smith Manor."
The truck drove out of Port Martha, headed west along the Charles River connecting the two districts, and entered the West District.
The manors in the West End are arranged in the same way as their owners' status and power. From west to north, that is, from Quinn, Barton, to Quest. How realistic.
Zach tilted his head. As soon as he entered this extremely realistic place, Quest's manor was hidden among the faint shadows of the trees, and disappeared from sight for a moment. Zach didn't know what he was thinking, he pursed his lips and urged Benjamin to hurry up.
Smith's manor is neat and orderly, with a simple and smooth front lawn, and neat low trees dividing the driveway from the edge. There is no tribute to Indian culture like Quinn, nor is there such gorgeousness as Patton that one can only sigh. Of course, there is no modern art like Quest and James that is difficult for Zach to understand.
The butler at the front door bowed politely and led Grande's brother inside. Along the way, there were no famous paintings, no statues, and no decorations. There were only exquisite wall lamps and brown wood floors full of textures. Footsteps were heard in the corridor. Sound softly. It felt strange, like this was a castle that had been emptied out.
Not even a few servants were seen.
It reminded Zach of the lonely nobles of distant times. But judging from the deposit left by Smith when he visited yesterday, he is still very, very far away from being lonely.
Passing through the corridor without any bends, the wide door was pushed open from the middle. Behind the open door, Smith's desk was directly in front of his sight.
Smith sat behind him, put down his pen and looked up with a smile. Looking at the two people who came in, "You are here."
Apart from being spacious, this is an office that seems to have no other adjective that can fit the Smith surname. Behind the desk in the center is a wide window sill, and on both sides are the only filled bookcases. The only things in this space that are not symmetrical are the circular sofa on one side, the glass round table next to it, and the metal wine barrel. A bottle of champagne on ice.
"Tell me. We have a reason to open this bottle of champagne." Smith took out the champagne and smiled at the two of them.
Zach smiled and nodded, "We do."
Smith raised his eyebrows and smiled even more. After the crash, the sound of liquid being poured into the wine glass was heard. Zach and Benjamin followed Smith's instructions, sat down on the sofa, and took the wine that was handed to them.
Smith walked towards the opposite side of the two men, raised his glass, and smiled sincerely. "Please understand how I feel." He drank it all in one gulp. Zach naturally wouldn't mind. If you think about it from Smith's perspective, you can see the pressure the whole thing has put on him.
What's more, Zach now knows that this happened before he was about to clear his name.
Zach took a sip of interest, put down the glass, and looked at Smith with a smile as well. "Let me tell you directly. Maybe you won't be surprised by the result." The vampire has already begun to pave the way.
"Aren't you surprised?" Smith repeated with an empty glass in his hand and sat down in front of the two of them. He made a serious expression and said, "Please tell me."
"Yuri." Zach said simply.
Before Smith's expression could change, Zach continued, "We didn't move anything, but you should pay attention to the things here." Zach took out a piece of folded paper, which was written by Mike. of. Zach didn't even bother to look at the location of the tape where Crowley framed Yuri, and now handed it directly to Smith.
Smith opened it, took a look, and moved his lips. Apparently he had noted down the address.
Smith looked unable to judge. He quickly stood up and walked outside the office, and began to explain to the housekeeper who had been waiting outside. The sound was naturally not loud, but for two people in the office, it was really meaningless. Zach and Benjamin exchanged helpless glances. Smith really didn't waste any time. Listening to his explanation, he seemed to have the momentum to crush Yuri.
When he came back again, Smith's face was full of relief, and he walked towards the sofa with a smile.
"If you want to say thank you." Zack stood up with a smile, "Not yet."
Smith's smiling face did not change, but he raised his eyebrows. After thinking about it, he shook his head helplessly and walked quickly to the desk. He signed a check very quickly and turned to look at Zach again, "Now, I can say Did you say thank you?" Apparently he misunderstood something.
Zach laughed at Smith's understanding, but he shook his head. However, the vampire took the check very consciously, "I should be the one to thank." Zach handed the check to Benjamin who was curious about the amount, "You didn't show any desire to know the details like your previous employer. means. I’m grateful for the trust.”
Smith's smile became heavier, he nodded slightly, and still made a gesture of thanks, "In this case, I can also say it to you."
Zach tilted his head and accepted the thank you, "Before I leave, I wonder if you would like to hear my reminder?"
Smith's expression froze for a moment, but he immediately shook his head and smiled, "I heard Mrs. Barton said that you have this habit. Just tell me."
Zach raised his eyebrows. This was true. Zach also reminded Kyle like this.
"Check whether all the tapes are complete." Zach looked at Smith sincerely as if he was in trouble. "This is the only thing I can say."
Smith's face really changed at this moment. He opened his mouth, and finally adhered to Grande's rules, "Thank you for reminding me, I will."
Since Mike emphasized that he was 'very grateful', Zach accepted the offer happily. (..)