The study in Wendell Castle was on the east side of the second floor.
The heavy oak door stood wide open.
Outside the door was a small lounge.
Isabella sat by the fireplace with black tea at her side.
Chen Qian sat at another small table, organizing the records of asset losses she had noted down during afternoon tea.
Martin stood by the window.
Irene stood guard at the door.
Victoria personally placed a thick file in front of Jiang Lin.
"This is the Wendell Family's major expenditures over the past five years."
Jiang Lin turned to the first page.
Castle maintenance fees.
Woodland management fees.
Private legal fees.
Artwork restoration fees.
Additional investment in the Wendell Football Club.
Charitable foundation donations.
Every item was respectable.
Every item was very expensive.
He flipped to the third page.
"Artwork restoration fees, one point two million pounds spent within three years."
Victoria said, "On the books, it's for restoration."
"And in reality?"
"At least six paintings, three pieces of silverware, and a batch of jewelry left the castle and never returned."
Jiang Lin continued flipping through.
"The signatory is the Count."
"Yes."
"Who is the auditing lawyer?"
"Harold King."
"Is he on the Count's side?"
"He takes money from the Wendell trust, yet he has long been handling private affairs for Edward."
Jiang Lin circled the lawyer's name.
"We'll start with him."
Victoria sat opposite the desk.
"How do we start?"
"Have Irene notify him to arrive at the castle before eight tonight, under the pretext of signing supplementary confirmation documents for the restoration of the old collection."
"He will be alert."
"That's why the file name must be mild."
Victoria looked at Irene.
Irene recorded it immediately.
Jiang Lin flipped to the page for the football club.
"Wendell Football Club, the family holds an eighteen percent stake."
"The actual controller is the board of directors."
"The Count is preparing to sell it to Hall Capital."
"The price?"
"Two point eight million pounds."
"Too low."
"It lost four hundred thousand pounds last year."
"What about the property rights for the Training Ground?"
"The club owns an old Training Ground on the outskirts of the city, and it's quite large."
"Is that bundled in too?"
"Yes."
Jiang Lin pushed the paper to her.
"They aren't buying the club; they're buying the land."
Victoria's eyes darkened.
Jiang Lin continued.
"Once Hall Capital gets the shares, they will push for debt restructuring. The Training Ground will be stripped, mortgaged first, and then transferred into a real estate project."
Victoria looked at Irene.
"Check the planning around the Training Ground."
Irene nodded.
"I've already arranged for people to investigate."
"Also check the local councilors, planning consultants, and construction companies Hall has been in contact with recently."
Victoria said.
"Do you suspect they already know the land value will appreciate?"
"They specialize in making money off this."
Outside the door, Chen Qian looked up.
"Mr. Jiang."
"Speak."
Chen Qian walked to the door with her notebook but did not enter the study directly.
"There is an item of seven hundred and sixty thousand pounds in the maintenance fees, marked as structural maintenance for the East Tower's roof, but in the asset list, the East Tower was compensated once by an insurance company last year."
Victoria's expression turned cold.
"How much was the insurance payout?"
"Four hundred and twenty thousand pounds."
Jiang Lin said, "For the same repair, they took insurance money and also drew from trust expenditures."
Victoria looked at Irene.
"Find the East Tower maintenance company."
"Yes."
Chen Qian continued.
"Also, there are stable maintenance fees. Last year, only nine horses were actually registered, but the expenses for feeding, medical care, and training were calculated for eighteen."
Isabella, outside the door, set down her teacup.
"Miss Chen, come in."
Chen Qian was stunned for a moment.
Isabella said, "You are already discussing official business; there is no need to stand at the door."
Chen Qian walked into the study, clutching her notebook.
Victoria looked at her.
"Mrs. Montclair, the assistant you brought is more useful than my accountant."
"She is just willing to look at the numbers seriously."
Jiang Lin handed over the Wendell Football Club form.
"Keep looking. Focus on investigating the source of the debt, the ownership of the Training Ground, and the basis for Hall Capital's offer."
"Okay."
Chen Qian sat to the side and began flipping through the files.
Victoria looked at Jiang Lin.
"You want the club's right of first refusal, yet you had me investigate its problems first."
"The more problems there are, the more anxious the Count will be to sell."
"Will the price be lower?"
"Yes."
"How much money do you have on hand?"
"Not enough for now."
"You are very honest."
"I have buyers, stories, and judgment; I just lack capital."
"Where will the capital come from?"
"French wineries, Asian channels, artwork mortgages, or local British partners."
Victoria picked up her tea.
"You want me to pay to buy my own club and then give the priority earnings to you?"
"You don't have to pay."
"What do you want to do?"
"First, stop the Count from selling to Hall Capital, lock the equity into a new entity, you take control, and I take the future subscription rights and revenue sharing."
"You really know how to take things from women."
Isabella, outside the door, gave a soft laugh.
Jiang Lin looked at her.
Isabella said.
"Continue your discussion; I just find that sentence familiar."
Victoria looked at Isabella.
"Mrs. Montclair was also taken from like this by him?"
"He wanted thirty percent of the winery."
"Did you give it?"
"I gave it in stages."
Victoria turned back.
"Then how much should I give?"
Jiang Lin said, "Thirty percent of the revenue rights for the Wendell Football Club."
"You are quite persistent with the number thirty."
"Anything less wouldn't be worth my trip."
"You've been in the castle for less than three hours."
"I've already helped you force the Count to hand over a family ring and exposed the club transaction."
Victoria set down her teacup.
"What else?"
"If you want to formally confront him, you need evidence, lawyers, media, and external buyers."
"Can you provide these?"
"The evidence is in these files; Chen Qian can help you organize it."
Chen Qian looked up at him for a moment and then continued to work with her head down.
Jiang Lin continued.
"We can start with Harold King for the lawyer, use Claire and the British art circle to bridge the media, and I can act as the external buyer first."
"You don't have any money."
"I have that painting."
"The painting hasn't been authenticated yet."
"That's why we need to make it a topic of conversation first."
"Do you want to publicize the loss of the old collection?"
"Not yet, just let the Count know you have the ability to make it public."
"Threaten him?"
"Negotiate."
Isabella walked in from outside.
"This kind of negotiation is usually very effective."
Victoria looked at her.
"Have you experienced it yourself?"
"I've watched banks experience it firsthand."
Irene stood at the door.
"Mrs. Wendell, Mr. Harold King has arrived."
Victoria glanced at the time.
"So fast?"
"It means the Count has already notified him."
Victoria said, "Ask him to come to the study."
A few minutes later, a British lawyer around sixty years old walked in.
Harold King.
"Mrs. Wendell, I heard you need to verify a few old documents."
Victoria said, "Sit."
Harold sat down.
Jiang Lin pushed three files over.
"Old collection restoration expenses, East Tower maintenance fees, and the Wendell Football Club equity sale proposal."
Harold did not take them.
"Mr. Jiang, the affairs of the Wendell Family are highly confidential; you have no right to view these documents."
"You can answer questions first."
"I only answer Mrs. Wendell's questions."
Victoria spoke up.
"Then I will ask: where are the six old paintings that left the castle three years ago?"
"Some were sent to restoration institutions, and some are currently undergoing valuation."
"The names of the institutions."
"I need to check the records."
"Check them now."
"Mrs. Wendell, I didn't bring the complete files with me today."
Jiang Lin placed a photo in front of him.
The photo showed the old collection tag on the backboard of "the lady in the grey dress by the window".
"Have you seen this painting?"
"No impression."
Jiang Lin took out a second one.
It was an old photo from the Wendell old collection catalog.
Harold's eyes flickered slightly.
Jiang Lin said, "Do you have an impression now?"
"Mr. Jiang, you are leading me."
"You are cooperating quite well."
Harold looked at Victoria.
"Mrs. Wendell, this kind of meeting is meaningless; you are being used by an outsider."
Victoria did not get angry.
"When Edward transferred the old collection, did you sign for it?"
"I was only handling family trust affairs according to the Count's instructions."
"The trust beneficiaries include me."
"Of course."
"Why didn't I receive a report?"
Harold was silent.
Chen Qian suddenly spoke up.
"There are two East Tower maintenance fees: one insurance payout of four hundred and twenty thousand pounds, and one trust expenditure of seven hundred and sixty thousand pounds. The recipients are related to the same construction company. Is this a normal process?"
Harold looked at Chen Qian.
"And who is this young lady?"
"The Financial Assistant for Montlais Winery, Chen Qian."
"An assistant is not suitable for intervening in British trust affairs."
Just as Isabella was about to speak, Jiang Lin pushed the file toward Chen Qian first.
"Keep asking."
Chen Qian took a deep breath.
"For the same project, simultaneously using insurance payouts and trust expenditures—if the expenses are real, where are the invoices? If one of them is falsified, who is the signatory?"
The study fell silent.
Victoria looked at Chen Qian, a hint of admiration in her eyes.
Harold's face turned ugly.
"I need time to verify."
Jiang Lin said, "You just said there were no complete files today."
Harold said, "Correct."
"Then why did you come so quickly?"
Victoria said coldly, "Harold, I will give you two choices."
"One, before eight o'clock, hand over the files related to the restoration of old collections, jewelry disposal, castle maintenance, and Wendell Football Club equity transactions from the past five years to Irene."
"Two, tomorrow morning, I will change the trust's legal counsel and demand an audit of all documents you have signed in the past."
"My Lady, there is no need to make things this ugly."
"When you helped Edward transfer assets, it was already very ugly."
"I need to communicate with the Earl."
"You may communicate, but the documents must arrive before eight o'clock."
"My Lady, I must remind you that once internal family disputes become public, the reputation of Wendell Castle will be damaged."
Jiang Lin said, "The reputation has already been used by the Earl as collateral for debts."
Harold glanced at him and picked up his briefcase to leave.
Victoria said.
"He will tell Edward."
Jiang Lin said, "Perfect."
"Perfect?"
"The Earl will get anxious."
"What will he do if he gets anxious?"
"Find Hall Capital to sign early, transfer the old collection files, contact the media to claim you are mentally unstable, or use scandals involving lovers and jewelry to bite back at you."
"You speak very proficiently."
"It was just performed once over in France."
Isabella said, "And he is very good at making his opponents anxious."
Victoria looked at her.
"Mrs. Montclair, it sounds like you are already used to this."
Isabella said, "Still adapting."
Victoria smiled.
"I think adapting to him will be very tiring."
Isabella replied, "Indeed."
The two women looked at each other.
Chen Qian lowered her head to write, not daring to participate.
Jiang Lin said, "Now let's talk about the next step."
Victoria returned to the table.
"You speak."
"First, Irene will keep an eye on Harold and get the documents."
"Second, Chen Qian will organize the three types of recurring expenses for Wendell Castle: maintenance, stables, and artwork restoration."
Chen Qian nodded.
"Okay."
"Third, Mrs. Wendell, citing the protection of castle assets as the reason, will demand a suspension of the club's equity sale."
Victoria said, "Edward will not agree."
"So the fourth step is to release the news that you are already re-examining the loss of old collections."
"Release it to whom?"
"The British art circle; do not give it to financial media."
Isabella continued.
"First make it look like a dispute over the provenance of artworks, do not let it turn directly into an internal family feud."
Jiang Lin nodded.
Victoria looked at the two of them.
"You two work together very smoothly."
Isabella said, "Forced out by necessity."
Jiang Lin continued, "Fifth, I want to meet the current chairman and youth training director of Wendell Football Club."
"You really intend to touch that team."
"Tonight."
"Tonight?"
"The Earl is anxious to sell, and Hall Capital might also be near the castle; the sooner we meet, the better."
Victoria looked at Irene.
"Contact the club chairman."
Irene nodded.
"I will arrange it immediately."
At this moment, a sound came from outside the door again.
This time, it was the castle butler who came.
"My Lady, the Earl invites Mr. Jiang to the stables."
Isabella's eyes went cold.
"Alone?"
The butler lowered his head.
"The Earl only invited Mr. Jiang."
Victoria did not speak.
Jiang Lin stood up.
"I will go."
Isabella also stood up.
"I will accompany him."
The butler said with difficulty, "The Earl said..."
Isabella interrupted directly.
"Tell the Earl that Mr. Jiang is currently representing Montlais Winery, and I have the right to accompany him."
Victoria looked at Jiang Lin.
"Edward probably won't be inviting you for tea."
Jiang Lin straightened his cuffs.
"Perfect, I've had enough afternoon tea."
Chen Qian suddenly looked up.
"I will go too."
Several people looked at her.
Chen Qian hugged the folder tightly.
"If they talk about the club and expenses, I need to record it."
Isabella looked at her.
"Are you sure?"
Chen Qian nodded.
"Sure."
Victoria laughed.
"Very good. It seems the stables will be very lively tonight."
Ten minutes later, the group arrived at the stables behind the castle.
Edward stood at the entrance of the stables.
Besides two attendants, there was also a middle-aged man in a black overcoat.
He was slightly chubby and held a cigar in his hand.
When Victoria saw him, her face turned cold.
"Mr. Hall."
Jiang Lin looked at the middle-aged man.
The founder of Hall Capital.
Richard Hall.
Hall smiled and reached out his hand.
"Mr. Jiang, long time no see."
Jiang Lin did not shake his hand immediately.
"You know me?"
"I just got to know you this afternoon."
Hall withdrew his hand, not feeling embarrassed.
"Young buyer, new partner of the French winery, the new owner of that painting from Drouot, and also interested in Wendell Football Club."
He smiled and looked at Victoria.
"My Lady, the consultant you found this time is very ambitious."
Victoria said, "More polite than you."
Hall smiled.
Edward said coldly.
"Jiang Lin, do not interfere with the Wendell Family's transactions; the football club equity will be signed tonight."
Victoria said, "I do not agree."
Edward said, "You have no decision-making power."
Jiang Lin said, "She does."
Edward sneered.
"What you say doesn't count."
Jiang Lin looked at Hall.
"Mr. Hall, what you are buying is Wendell Family equity, but now the Countess is publicly opposed to it. The loss of old collections, trust expenditures, and asset transfers are all under review. If you sign tonight, you might be embroiled in a lawsuit tomorrow."
Hall took a puff of his cigar.
"Risk has a price."
"Your offer is too low."
"For a loss-making club, the price is very fair."
Jiang Lin said, "How much is the Training Ground plot valued at separately?"
Hall's eyes flickered.
Edward said immediately, "This is not a place for you to speak."
Jiang Lin said.
"Mr. Hall, do you want the club, or do you want the Training Ground?"
"Mr. Jiang, that is a commercial secret."
"Then let me ask a different way."
Jiang Lin stepped forward.
"What if Mrs. Wendell freezes the equity sale and hires a consultant tomorrow to re-evaluate the Training Ground plot?"
"Are you driving up the price?"
"I am telling you that you cannot buy meat at bone prices."
Victoria walked to Jiang Lin's side.
"From now on, the club shares held by the Wendell Family are suspended from sale."
Edward said angrily, "You have no right to do that!"
Victoria looked at him.
"Then let the lawyers and the court decide."
"Mr. Jiang, are you sure you want to snatch this from Hall Capital?"
"Snatch? You haven't even gotten your hands on it yet, so it's not a snatch."
"Do you have the funds?"
"There will be soon."
"Relying on that painting that hasn't finished appraisal yet?"
"The more you want to sign tonight, the more it shows that the club cannot be sold."
Victoria turned to Irene.
"Notify the club chairman; we are not seeing Hall Capital tonight, change it to see me and Mr. Jiang."
Irene said, "Yes."
Edward said angrily, "Victoria!"
Victoria turned her head to look at him.
"Did that slap this afternoon not wake you up?"
The people around them froze.
Hall glanced at Edward.
Edward's face turned purple with rage.
Jiang Lin said, "Mr. Earl, it is best to speak less; every time you get anxious, the price jumps up."
"You will regret stepping into this castle."
Isabella spoke up.
"Many people have said that to him."
Victoria added, "And the result?"
Isabella said faintly, "They usually end up regretting it."
Hall stubbed out his cigar.
"It seems it cannot be signed tonight."
Jiang Lin said, "You can stay for dinner."
"Thank you, no need."
He turned and got into the car.
The motorcade soon drove away from the stables.
Edward stood where he was, his face terrifyingly gloomy.
Victoria said.
"From now on, no asset documents of the castle are allowed to leave the main building. Irene, arrange for people to guard the archives."
"Yes."
Edward sneered.
"Do you think you can win this way?"
"Edward, I used to save face for you, but now I don't need to."
After speaking, she turned and left.
At eight o'clock in the evening, the lights in the castle study were turned back on.
The club chairman was on his way.
Victoria had changed into a long black dress, stood before the fireplace, and was holding the old ring that had been returned that afternoon.
She looked at Jiang Lin.
"Mr. Jiang, after dinner, I will give you the first reward you want."
Isabella sat to the side and looked up at her.
"What is Mrs. Wendell referring to?"
Victoria smiled.
"The first letter of introduction to the British old aristocratic circle."
She walked closer to Jiang Lin.
"As for the rest, it depends on whether you can convince the club chairman."
Jiang Lin took the club documents handed over by Irene.
"Let him in."