Chapter 216: Being in Prison is Also Fate
Alexander looked up, meeting Vincent's calm gaze that carried a hint of coldness.
"Catherine probably didn't tell you, but we people from Galactic Aurora Collective care a lot about our territory. Even if a place is no longer useful, you still shouldn't go there."
Alexander didn't flinch at the warning. He looked up at Vincent, his voice calm and low.
"No offense intended, but I have things I need to investigate. I hope you understand."
Master Vincent looked at Alexander for a moment, then suddenly laughed!
"It's only because of Catherine that you can talk to me like this, right? Your reputation at the border isn't exactly great!"
"You're Catherine's elder, so it's only proper."
As for reputation, Shadow Syndicate's methods had always been swift and decisive. In places filled only with killing and bloodshed, a good reputation wasn't needed!
Vincent could well believe that if he weren't Catherine's teacher, Alexander definitely wouldn't be this polite to him.
Alexander was being so tactful simply to make Catherine happy. From this perspective, Vincent was quite satisfied!
Alkaid chimed in: "What's wrong with a bad reputation? Blackfire's reputation isn't exactly great either."
Catherine said flatly: "Rumors. Both our organization and my reputation are excellent."
"That's true. Our organization has achieved zero negative reviews on all missions. Whether it's clients or mission targets, everyone gives us super positive reviews!"
After all, those who couldn't give positive reviews were dead.
After dropping Vincent off at the hotel, he turned to look at Catherine. "Catherine, I'm going to visit an old friend for the next couple days. I'll come find you when I'm done."
"Alright, we'll follow your arrangements."
Alkaid pouted. "I just sneaked a peek at Vincent's phone, but he wouldn't let me see. So mysterious. Let me tail him for a couple days!"
"Do what you want. If you get caught, I won't save you."
If Vincent discovered her, Alkaid's days wouldn't be easy for a while.
"Don't be so heartless. I saw that Vincent seems to be going to Imperial University."
Imperial University?
Could the person Vincent was meeting be Franklin?
Catherine quickly changed her mind: "Follow him. If something happens, come to me and I'll bail you out."
"Great!"
The car stopped in front of the music store. Catherine pressed her lips together, looking at Alexander beside her.
"Your body needs rest more. There's no need to come here with me."
"It's fine. I want to come to work with you. I won't disturb you. Besides, you promised to spend the whole day with me on a date. You can't break your promise again."
Catherine's slender, cool fingers rested on Alexander's wrist. He looked haggard, but his pulse was steady.
Since he didn't have any major problems, Catherine didn't insist further and stepped into the music store.
Store manager Gabriel hurried over.
"Ms. Windsor, the music store across the street has also finished renovating recently, and I've placed our store's business report in your office!"
"Thank you for your hard work."
The music store across the street was bought by Esme to provoke Catherine, but fortunately it became Catherine's property before the Hughes family went bankrupt.
The gallery and music store were next to each other. For Catherine's convenience, Charles simply connected the two offices and added a small rest room.
The entire office had excellent natural lighting. Standing in front of the full-length window, one could clearly see the street scene across the way.
Entering the office, Catherine picked up the report from the desk.
Violin sales had skyrocketed recently, especially vintage violins. Several violin masters' instruments had been hyped up to astronomical prices, and the store was holding onto them without rushing to sell.
"This price is good. Why not sell?"
"Ms. Windsor, we're planning to sell those violins through auction. The price should double by then."
The main feature of those violins was that they used warm jade.
But the warm jade on the violins was just a tiny bit, already processed into components, not even the same variety as the real medicinal warm jade.
Catherine said flatly: "I remember when I came last time, the store didn't have these violins."
Gabriel smiled. "You must be mistaken. These violins are our store's treasures!"
"Take me to see them."
Meeting Catherine's calm, composed gaze, Gabriel didn't panic.
Even if Catherine could play the violin, she surely couldn't make them, right?
Violin craftsmanship was complex. Unless you were a veteran, most people couldn't even identify the components.
"Please follow me."
Catherine stood up, and Alexander followed behind her.
He quietly squeezed Catherine's hand, his voice carrying a seductive, low magnetic quality. "Last time I didn't get to see you paint. Can I hear you play the violin this time?"
Since Catherine was Vincent's student, her violin skills should be quite impressive too!
"I'm not in the mood to play right now."
Alexander acknowledged, "Mm, the financial report just now looked abnormal. Looks like you'll be busy at the music store today."
While she was reviewing the financial report, Alexander had also glanced through a few pages.
Many figures looked wrong at first glance. Alexander, having navigated the business world for years, immediately spotted the irregularities, but he hadn't expected Catherine to also need just one look to find where the data problems were biggest!
Sometimes Alexander felt that Catherine was just too perfect. The more he understood her, the more he wanted to get closer.
Gabriel led Catherine to where the violins were displayed. Several instruments were maintained excellently, with the inlaid warm jade glowing with a lustrous sheen.
"Ms. Windsor, these violins are very popular right now. Once we hold the auction, we'll definitely get a considerable income!"
"Ms. Windsor, this one was personally carved by Ryder. The warm jade parts are top quality, and it's the highest-priced violin in our entire collection!"
"This violin also had its strings personally tuned by the violin master Vincent. You'll know it's a masterpiece as soon as you play it!"
The violin Catherine was examining used quite a bit of warm jade. Even lightly plucking the strings seemed to evoke the magnificent momentum of thousands of troops charging forward, majestic and imposing.
It was a good violin.
But the problem was, how come she didn't know she had carved a violin?
Not to mention Vincent personally stringing it. All the violins he worked on had names, and Catherine could recognize any of Vincent's works at a glance.
Catherine's gaze turned cold as it fell on Gabriel Lewis before her.
"Are you and Elijah Lewis twins?"
"No, I had no idea about those terrible things he did at the gallery!"
Gabriel was obviously worried about being implicated.
Catherine's eyes carried a hint of contempt.
"If you're not relatives, then how come you're doing the same kind of things?"
"Looks like sharing a name is fate, and going to prison together is fate too!"