233-234

Chapter 233: British Newspapers

The River Thames, though not as vast and majestic as the great rivers of other nations, flows through a land that once nurtured the British Empire, the empire upon which the sun never set.

The Thames cuts through London, dividing Greater London into northern and southern sections. Along its banks stand iconic structures that embody England's rich history and culture.

At the Hilton London Paddington Hotel, a twelve-story building situated near the Thames, the western side of the hotel faces the river, separated by just a single road.

As night falls and the city lights sparkle, the neighborhoods along the Thames become the bustling core of London.

In the hotel's top-floor suite—its finest and most luxuriously appointed room, boasting the best view—a conversation unfolds.

---

“…My objective is to acquire newspapers or other media outlets. On the British Isles nowadays, only the remnants of colonial influence still hold sway.”

“I understand, Grandfather. I’ll proceed with care. This is not Japan, after all.”

“Good. That’s all for now.”

“…Understood.”

After hanging up his satellite phone, Milo set it aside, planning to take a shower.

Just then, Kenny entered, holding Milo’s fourth phone.

“Boss, someone is asking for you.”

“Hm?”

Milo owned several phones. Apart from his primary phone, which he always carried, the others were typically entrusted to his assistants or bodyguards.

For instance, his fourth and fifth phones, used mainly for personal contacts, were held by David and Kenny, respectively.

Remembering he’d recently shared his fourth phone’s number with William Booth, Milo asked, “Is it the hefty guy I met earlier this evening?”

“No, it’s a woman. She sounds young. She claims to be the Queen’s grandniece and says she has something to discuss with you.”

“The Queen’s grandniece?”

Milo raised an eyebrow, intrigued, but extended his hand to take the phone from Kenny. He pressed the answer button.

“This is Milo Blackburn. Please speak.”

“Hello, Milo. My name is Ellie Campbell. You may not have heard of me, but that’s fine. I find you very interesting. It’s not too late—how about grabbing a drink with me?”

Milo arched an eyebrow, thinking, Ellie Campbell? Never heard of her.  

“Sorry, not interested. If you have something to say, make it brief. Otherwise, I’m hanging up.”

“Ah, aren’t you supposed to be a playboy? Don’t playboys enjoy having fun?”

The woman’s tone sounded genuinely surprised.

“Lunatic.”

Milo hung up without hesitation.

He tossed the phone back to Kenny and instructed, “If she calls again, just hang up. No need to entertain her.”

Kenny nodded, and Milo headed to the bathroom.

---

The next day, after a good night’s rest, Milo felt refreshed and energized.

He made his way to the City of London.

Known simply as “The City,” this 2.6-square-kilometer area serves as London’s economic heart. It hosts over a hundred domestic banks and more than five hundred foreign banks, all clustered around the Bank of England, the so-called “King of Banks.”

Early last year, Paladin Investments had established a branch office here.

The branch primarily focused on financial transactions involving London gold, Brent crude oil, and European stocks. The office occupied two rented floors and was staffed by a dozen locals and a few American executives.

However, in preparation for Milo’s arrival, Nelson had brought most of Paladin Investments’ elite staff over ahead of time.

Additionally, Milo’s personal advisory team—comprised of top strategists from the Blackburn Foundation—had arrived in advance as well.

---

In the office:

“Boss, here are all the materials. Please have a look!”

Deputy Advisor André handed Milo a thick stack of documents.

Taking the files, Milo began to read carefully.

The materials mainly covered the current state of Britain’s media industry.

The British media industry is highly developed, home to some of the earliest modern newspapers in history.

Many of their oldest publications date back hundreds of years. Over time, the British developed a habit of reading newspapers, earning their country the title of the “Media Capital of the World.”

Even in the internet era, when newspapers in many countries faced sharp declines, British print media managed to stay afloat, albeit with some struggles. This resilience might even be attributed to Britain’s notoriously poor mobile network coverage.

Take the London Underground, for instance.

Do people read books there out of love for literature?

No—it’s because the subway has no signal. Without books, passengers are left to stare blankly into space.

Milo recalled that while 5G was already being rolled out in China, parts of London’s underground system still only had 3G coverage.

And yet, some British media outlets had managed to spin this as an achievement, temporarily driving up the stock prices of local telecommunications companies.

But back to the point—Britain’s robust newspaper industry is home to many major publications.

---

Some examples:

1. *The Times* (founded in 1785), Britain’s first mainstream newspaper, is renowned for its influence on global politics, economics, and culture. It targets an elite audience but also attracts general readers.

2. *The Guardian*, aligned with liberal values, is popular among young readers and intellectuals across Europe. It appeals to middle-class readers with its progressive and peaceful tone.

3. *The Independent*, notable for its neutrality, refrains from endorsing any political party.

4. *The Financial Times*, a premier publication in finance, wields significant influence in British politics and society.

5. *The Daily Telegraph*, once the leader in British journalism, caters to the middle class with its neutral political stance.

6. *The Daily Mail*, aimed at middle-class readers, leans slightly toward female audiences and features a high percentage of women readers.

7. *The Daily Express*, concise and straightforward, attracts the average citizen and lower-tier intellectuals.

8. *The Daily Mirror*, focusing on entertainment, gossip, and sports, steers clear of politics but enjoys mocking political figures.

9. *The Sun*, rooted in working-class readership, is infamous among the elite yet boasts massive sales figures.

Interestingly, *The Sun* was acquired by Rupert Murdoch in 1969.

Murdoch, originally from Australia, had clearly long planned his foray into British media—and succeeded spectacularly.

Today, his News Corporation has cemented itself as a global media powerhouse, with considerable clout even in the United States.

These national newspapers have circulations ranging from several hundred thousand to millions.

Beyond print, Britain also has major television networks, including the globally renowned BBC, as well as ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5, and Sky TV.

---

Additionally, UKTV, a commercial division of the BBC, is also one of the major television networks.

In this world, having a voice is an extremely important right. Throughout history, those in power have understood that this is a force capable of influencing governance.

Milo arrived in London with numerous ideas and ambitious goals.

However, as an American, pursuing these goals could easily raise the suspicions of the British.

Moreover, at this point in time, Britain, to be honest, had little left to exploit.

Its heavy industry had declined, and its light industry was largely reliant on Europe and the rising global manufacturing powerhouse.

The service sector's share of GDP had been steadily increasing, and the inevitable outcome of losing all its colonies was that the old colonial empire had reverted to what it once was.

Apart from finance within the service sector, Britain no longer had any dominant global industries.

After careful consideration, Milo decided to enter the media industry.

As long as he could control a certain amount of influence, the fiercely competing political parties would likely reach out to him, hoping for his support.

Of course, this required that his influence be significant enough.

Fortunately, due to Britain’s former global colonial empire, English-speaking descendants were spread across the world. Compared to the United States, Britain's media industry had fewer external restrictions.

Rupert Murdoch, for example, held Australian citizenship, and since Britain is Australia's constitutional monarchy, Murdoch was eligible to purchase The Sun and later acquire The Times, the nation's largest newspaper, as well as Europe's largest broadcaster, Sky TV.

As an American, Milo faced minimal legal restrictions on investing in Britain, similar to how British investments in the U.S. were relatively unrestricted.

With the necessary demand, qualifications, and capital, Milo was ready to carefully choose acquisition targets.

After reviewing all the information, Milo deliberated for a long time and selected two key targets: The Financial Times and The Daily Telegraph! These two were the most suitable newspapers for acquisition.

The Financial Times, established in 1888, is Britain’s finest and most globally renowned business and financial newspaper.

At this time, its global daily circulation had dropped to just over 800,000 copies, down from its peak of over two million.

Seventy percent of its circulation came from overseas. In later years, The Financial Times would be sold to the Nikkei Group for £844 million.

Although the newspaper's later embrace of the digital age shifted most readers to online subscriptions, reducing physical circulation to just a few hundred thousand copies, its digital readership grew to six to seven million subscribers.

Currently, the Financial Times Group is owned by Pearson Education Group, which holds 71% of its shares.

The Financial Times Group also owns 50% of The Economist company, the publisher of The Economist, one of the world’s four leading financial magazines.

Thus, by acquiring the Financial Times, Milo could also acquire The Economist magazine.

In one stroke, Milo could establish the largest financial news company in Britain, becoming the uncrowned king of financial journalism—a role with considerable influence.

At that point, with the U.S. having The New York World and U.S. News & World Report, and Britain possessing The Financial Times and The Economist, Milo would control at least 40% of the financial media voice in both countries.

Considering the combined financial industries of the U.S. and Britain make up much of the global financial sector, such an acquisition would solidify Paladin Media's dominance in the field.

However, acquiring The Financial Times would be challenging.

Its parent company, Pearson Education Group, is a giant in the cultural, media, and education sectors, both in Britain and globally.

Historically, even American media conglomerates had to tread carefully around Pearson.

Fortunately, thanks to Britain’s current economic conditions, Pearson’s financial situation wasn’t very strong.

Since Pearson primarily focused on the education sector, Milo believed that if the price were right, Pearson might be willing to sell The Financial Times.

After all, Pearson had only owned the newspaper for a little over 20 years, and a "stepmother" selling off her "stepson" to nurture her "biological child" was not out of the question.

Compared to The Financial Times, acquiring The Daily Telegraph was less challenging.

At this time, The Daily Telegraph had a daily circulation of about 800,000 copies and was only distributed within the UK. Its political stance was not prominent, aligning well with Paladin Media’s politically neutral positioning.

The newspaper held significant acquisition value.

After multiple changes in ownership, The Daily Telegraph was currently owned by Canadian businessman Conrad Black, who had bought it at a low price 14 years ago.

Black’s motive for purchasing the newspaper was clear: he saw it as a profitable opportunity.

Milo was confident that money alone would be enough to secure the deal.

For now, Milo planned to focus on acquiring these two newspapers.

As for television stations, he decided to proceed more cautiously to avoid drawing undue attention from the locals.

Having made his decision, Milo handed the documents to Andre and instructed, “Andre, do everything you can to acquire these two newspapers, and then acquire The Economist magazine afterward.”

Pausing for emphasis, Milo’s eyes burned with determination as he added firmly, “I don’t care what methods you use—I only care about results. I authorize you to offer double the price if necessary!”

Andre was startled, his expression growing serious. He sensed the boss's resolve—such that he even permitted a potential overpayment.

Still, if Andre actually paid double the price, it might reflect poorly on his capabilities, even if Milo didn’t say anything.

This was the first task his boss had entrusted to him; he needed to prove his competence.

The pressure weighed heavily on Andre, but he was not afraid. On the contrary, a surge of ambition filled his chest.

A boss with such grand ambitions was exactly what he needed to showcase his talents!

Andre nodded resolutely and promised, “Don’t worry, boss. I’ll get it done!”

Milo gave a slight nod and said, “If you encounter any difficulties, report them to me immediately. I’m looking forward to your good news!”

“Yes!”

Andre responded loudly, then left with the documents to start drafting an acquisition plan.

---

Chapter 234: A Chance Meeting That Wasn’t Quite Coincidental

Milo spent the entire morning working.

Since he was already in London, the financial heart of the UK and famously open to American influence, he couldn’t miss the opportunity to make some moves. It would feel like a wasted trip otherwise.

Historically, London had been the world’s financial center during the British Empire’s peak—a time when Britain ruled global trade with an empire so vast that the sun never set on it. The empire's colonies supplied raw materials, and its factories churned out industrial goods, cementing London as the global hub of finance and commerce.

But those days were long gone. The sun had set on the British Empire, and deindustrialization had further diminished its power. Truthfully, if not for the legacy of the Commonwealth and the influence of its long-standing wealth, London might not even qualify as a branch of New York’s financial operations—let alone as a shadow of Wall Street.

Now, London was effectively an extension of Wall Street, serving as the perfect gateway for American financial interests to penetrate Europe.

Milo had his sights set on several French luxury goods companies, a Franco-Italian semiconductor firm, and some noteworthy German industries. Being based in London allowed him to make early preparations, paving the way for future business ventures.

By lunchtime, Milo had wrapped up all the work that required his direct involvement, thanks to his efficient team handling most of the groundwork. After lunch, he decided to explore London further, immersing himself in the city that was once the center of a vast colonial empire.

He began a leisurely stroll along the Thames, eager to soak in the iconic sights along its banks. This area represented the essence of London—its past industrial might concentrated along the river. It reminded him of the days when he first roamed New York, exploring every corner with curiosity.

Traveling, as he saw it, was simply visiting a place where others were tired of living. Today’s light rain added a uniquely London touch, making the experience even more charming.

Landmarks such as the Nelson statue, Westminster Abbey, St. Paul’s Cathedral, the Tower of London, the Tower Bridge, and the Elizabeth Tower (housing Big Ben) lined the Thames, each with its own historical and cultural significance.

The river’s bustling estuary stood in contrast to its serene upper reaches, known for their tranquil beauty. Following advice from a British-born consultant at the Blackburn Foundation, Milo decided to start his walk upstream, enjoying the scenery and stopping wherever his whims took him.

Despite London’s stricter gun laws and generally safer environment compared to many parts of the U.S., Milo wasn’t taking any chances. He had brought over thirty bodyguards, leaving some at the hotel while the rest accompanied him. Five or six guards stayed close, while others, dressed in plain clothes, discreetly monitored the surroundings. Thanks to Ambassador Berkeley, some of these guards held official military attaché status, allowing them to legally carry firearms in the UK.

Unless the London authorities themselves intervened, even a determined group like the IRA would find it hard to breach Milo’s security.

As he strolled along the Thames, Milo felt relaxed and carefree, stopping occasionally to enjoy interesting sights.

When he exited Westminster Abbey, he noticed a temporary covered stage set up in the spacious Parliament Square. A small crowd had gathered around it, and someone was playing the piano onstage.

“A street performance? Or maybe a flash mob?” Milo mused. He noticed a few London police officers maintaining order nearby and decided to take a closer look.

After just ten seconds of listening, Milo could tell that the piano itself was of exceptional quality, but the young performer’s technique left much to be desired. Judging there was no danger, he observed the scene with casual interest.

The young man on stage finished his piece, earning only sparse applause. He looked visibly disheartened as he stepped down. A host then took the stage, explaining the purpose of the event.

It turned out to be a promotional activity by a local music store showcasing the latest Steinway grand piano. Anyone could volunteer to play the piano, and a decibel meter placed at the center of the stage measured the audience’s applause.

If the applause exceeded 90 decibels, the performer would win the piano. However, since there was only one piano, if multiple participants surpassed the threshold, the loudest applause would determine the winner.

Given the five-meter distance between the audience and the decibel meter, achieving 90 decibels was no small feat. Factors like the size of the crowd and timing could significantly influence the results. A lucky performer with a larger audience would naturally receive louder applause, while someone equally skilled might fall short with a smaller crowd.

But luck was also a part of skill, wasn’t it? A confident and talented performer could seize the right moment, ensuring their performance drew a crowd.

“Ladies and gentlemen, what’s going on? It’s been two minutes, and no one has volunteered! Who will bravely take the stage and dedicate a song to their special someone?” the host encouraged through the microphone, his gaze subtly shifting toward a particular spot.

Milo, with his keen observation skills, noticed that the host was glancing in his direction—or, more precisely, at a nearby group of five or six attractive young men and women.

Among them, a strikingly handsome blond-haired, blue-eyed young man spoke to a tall, elegant brunette with cascading waves of hair.

“Irene, you’re the piano princess of Cambridge University. If you perform, I’m sure you’ll win the loudest applause,” he said, his voice filled with admiration.

“Yeah, Irene, I’d love to hear you play a piece that sounds like it came straight from heaven,” another young man chimed in, his gaze betraying his infatuation.

It was clear that all three young men in the group harbored feelings for Irene, but her impressive background and poise made them vie for her favor rather than compete openly. Irene’s charm extended beyond their circle—at Cambridge, her admirers could form a line stretching from the campus gates to the dormitories.

The young men had managed to invite Irene and a few other women out under the pretense of a club gathering. Now, they hoped to make the most of this rare opportunity.

However, they all recognized that Irene’s piano skills far surpassed their own as fellow members of the university’s piano club. While tempted to showcase their talents, they opted for gentlemanly deference, encouraging Irene to perform instead.

Irene, with a subtle smile, shook her head slightly, politely declining their suggestion.

At that moment, a beautiful girl standing beside Eileen gave one of the blond boys a subtle glance. Though she felt deeply jealous, she didn’t show it. Instead, she encouraged them, saying,

"Three handsome gentlemen, don’t you all admire the beautiful Princess Eileen? Seize the opportunity now!”

Hearing her friend’s words, Eileen’s expression shifted slightly. She gave her a reproachful glance and said, somewhat displeased,

“Martha, what are you doing?”

Eileen’s friend Martha, despite her inner discontent, quickly smiled and said,

“Eileen, if I didn’t say that, they probably wouldn’t have the courage to step forward.”

Martha’s sudden interjection surprised not only Eileen but also the other boys.

However, one person was an exception—the young blond-haired, blue-eyed man who had spoken earlier.

Before the other two could react, he placed a hand on his chest, bowed slightly to Eileen, and said,

“Eileen, I’ve long wanted to play a song for you. Would you honor me with your critique?”

Before Eileen could respond, he strode toward the stage, leaving the other two boys stunned.

“Oh~! A young, handsome gentleman has taken the stage! Let’s look forward to his performance,” announced the host.

“Sir, may I ask you to introduce yourself?” the host inquired.

“Of course!”

“I’m Alexander, a student at the University of Cambridge. My friends and I are out enjoying the day, and I’m honored to participate in your event.”

Alexander spoke politely, his manners impeccable, energizing the audience. His demeanor suggested he came from a noble background.

“What gave you the courage to take the stage and perform?” the host asked curiously.

“It’s the most beautiful goddess in my heart who gave me endless courage. Today, I want to play a piece I’ve prepared for years just for her,” Alexander said with a gentle smile, his gaze directed toward Eileen.

Following his gaze, the audience also turned to look at Eileen.

Immediately, the two boys who had come with Alexander clenched their fists tightly.

Eileen, standing out among the crowd with her striking presence, maintained a polite smile as a result of her noble upbringing. But Milo, standing nearby, caught a glimpse of calmness and even anger in her eyes.

Next to her, Martha, her friend, also seemed to have an unusual expression. Though well-concealed, it didn’t escape Milo’s keen observation.

“Interesting... what a carefully crafted scheme,” Milo murmured with a faint smile.

Milo had figured it out. The host, along with Eileen’s friend Martha, was clearly working with Alexander. This entire event was likely orchestrated on purpose. Milo had initially wondered why the piano vendor was so generous, but now he understood the reason—it was all for Eileen.

To go to such lengths for Eileen was somewhat understandable. Even with Milo’s discerning eye, Eileen’s beauty was breathtaking—her jet-black hair, fair skin, and elegant demeanor were rare in England. She reminded him of Snow White.

Her refined aura was unmistakably the result of a noble upbringing.

As the host stopped chatting, Alexander, the blond, blue-eyed student, sat down at the piano bench and began preparing to play. The crowd fell silent.

“Dun, dun, dun, dun…”

“It’s Mariage d’Amour!” whispered Martha enviously as Alexander began to play.

“If only he were playing this piece for me…” Martha thought wistfully.

Eileen, however, remained unmoved.

She had been deeply influenced by her grandfather, Duke Carter Campbell, who detested rigid traditions and championed freedom. His status as a prominent British noble prevented others from openly criticizing his unconventional views.

Eileen shared a similar mindset, disliking being coerced into anything.

At this moment, she felt a tinge of coercion, which made her impression of Alexander worsen.

Under normal circumstances, she wouldn’t tolerate even the slightest compulsion.

But today…

As Alexander passionately performed on stage, his gaze filled with love directed toward Eileen, she subtly glanced seven or eight meters away at Milo, who was surrounded by a group of people.

If she hadn’t known he’d entered the church earlier, she wouldn’t have stayed to watch this ridiculous charade! Did they think she couldn’t see through the schemes of her schoolmates and their club?

Raised under the careful tutelage of a duke, Eileen had been both doted on and rigorously educated. Her upbringing included lessons on human nature and social interaction.

Coincidentally, she had been called “crazy” by someone last night.

In a bad mood and needing club credits for her academic record, Eileen decided to attend today’s activity, something she hadn’t done in two years.

She hadn’t expected such theatrics, nor to encounter the person who’d insulted her the previous night.

Taking advantage of the situation, Eileen decided to play along. Naturally, she wanted to see his reaction.

When she glanced over and noticed he was watching her too, she averted her gaze with perfect nonchalance, as if her glance had been purely accidental.

This subtlety was a skill taught in British aristocratic education—Visual Etiquette. The course instructed nobles on using eye contact to command subordinates, encourage servants, or interact as equals with other nobles.

Europe’s aristocracy, having mastered this art, often displayed acting skills rivaling Oscar winners—but only among their peers.

Toward commoners or those of lower status, they maintained polite decorum in public and superiority in private. Only those of equal standing could experience the nuanced performances.

Eileen felt she had played her role well today, aided by chance and her quick thinking.

Had it not been for her innate perceptiveness, Milo might have missed the aristocratic grace she exuded.

But her fleeting glance gave him a clue.

“Fascinating…” Milo thought, watching Alexander finish his performance and resemble a preening rooster. Milo clapped along with the others, smiling.

As the applause quieted, Alexander turned to Eileen and confessed,

“Dear Eileen, from the moment I first saw you at school, I knew I would be captivated by you for the rest of my life. Mariage d’Amour has been my dream because I dream of walking into a wedding with you. I love you. Would you do me the honor of becoming my girlfriend, the esteemed Miss Eileen?”

It was a direct confession, delivered in front of a large crowd.

Before Eileen could respond, voices erupted:

“Oh, so romantic! Say yes, miss, say yes!”

“This will be a memory to cherish forever! Why are you hesitating, beautiful lady?”

“If only someone confessed to me like that…”

“Wow, just say yes already!”

Milo suspected the loudest voices were from hired supporters, though some might simply enjoy the drama.

He turned his gaze to the girl resembling Snow White, watching as she raised her hand slightly to calm the surrounding noise.

She looked at her slender, fair hand, suddenly raised it in his direction, and said:

“Do you see that guy over there, Alexander Rubin? The tallest one, with golden hair? Go and knock him down, and I’ll agree to be your girlfriend.”

As soon as she said this, the cheerful atmosphere around them came to an abrupt halt, and the teasing voices quieted.

Alexander stood there, stunned.

Without looking at Milo, Irene spoke:

“I’m serious. Go on, prove your masculinity to me. If you can’t even do this, how are you going to protect me in the future? With your father’s real estate fortune?”

“Irene, did he offend you?” Alexander gritted his teeth.

It wasn’t the reaction he had imagined.

Nor was Irene’s response anything he had expected.

But at this point, Alexander felt like he was stuck. He just wanted to go with the flow.

“Yes,” he said.

This time, Irene turned to look at Milo, noticing the amused expression in his eyes, accompanied by a faintly mocking smile.

“He called me crazy last night,” Irene added fuel to the fire. “So, if you want to be my boyfriend, go give him a beating.”

Hearing that Milo had called Irene crazy last night, the other two boys who admired her couldn’t take it anymore.

Perhaps they also wanted to overshadow Alexander, who had been in the spotlight just moments before.

Before Alexander could act, the two of them stepped forward.

“Irene, are you serious? Then he definitely deserves a beating!”

“Daring to insult our Cambridge Princess—I’m going to teach him a lesson!”

As they spoke, they moved toward Milo.

At the same time, Alexander snapped out of it. Worried that Irene might favor someone else, he followed the two boys, shouting, “This doesn’t concern you! Irene asked me to do it, not you guys—ah!”

“Ow, why are you hitting me?”

“Ugh…”

But before the three of them could get close, they were taken down by a group of men in black suits who had been nearby.

Shaking his head, Milo glanced at the approaching London police officers in the distance.

“No need to kill them. Breaking a hand or a leg will do,” he said casually.

After speaking, he walked toward Irene, who was glaring at him stubbornly, surrounded by David and Kenny.

“So, you’re the ‘crazy person’ from last night?” Milo asked.

“It was me, but I’m not crazy!” Irene replied.

“Trying to get my attention?”

“Yes!”

Milo hadn’t expected this girl, who looked like Snow White, to be so straightforward.

He turned to glance at the scuffle behind him, where the London police had already stepped in. Shaking his head again, he said, “Congratulations, you’ve succeeded, Irene…”

“Irene Campbell, granddaughter of the Duke of Argyll, daughter of the Marquis of Harwich, and Lady Irene!” she interrupted.

“Haha, I’m Milo Blackburn, just an American commoner. Nice to meet you.”

Milo extended his hand, and the two shook hands.

Then Milo nodded slightly toward the three Cambridge students writhing in pain and Martha, the girl who had run over screaming earlier.

“Are you not going to do anything about them? My men are professionals. When I say to break hands or legs, they’ll break hands or legs.”

“They’re just a few delusional idiots,” Irene said, her eyes fixed on him as she shook her head. “Their lives have nothing to do with me. But your men—aren’t you worried about doing this in front of the London police? Don’t worry, though. I can help you. My father has a good relationship with Director Charles at Scotland Yard.”

“Hahaha… No need to worry. The American Embassy staff are already on their way. I don’t think London would shield attackers who randomly assault foreign embassy personnel, would they?”

Irene pursed her lips, about to say something.

Before she could, Milo spoke again: “Shall we go have a coffee together? How about it, dear Lady Lorne?”

Irene looked surprised. “Didn’t you say I’m crazy?”

“That’s because, at the time, I didn’t know you were such a beautiful and elegant crazy person.”

A curse stuck in Irene’s throat. She wanted to shout it out, but her aristocratic upbringing made her hold back.

Taking a deep breath, Irene smiled. “I’d be delighted to have coffee with you, Mr. Blackburn, the playboy.”

“What an honor.”

---