Chapter 1244: Victim Candidate

"First target."

Xia De thought in his heart.

Young Philip walked straight towards the three people at the door. After the handsome young gentleman greeted Princess Angelina with a smile, he asked in an exaggerated tone:

"Oh, is it Hamilton? What you brought, what is this gift? Did Miss Galina help you pick it?"

This was a very obvious provocation. Unexpectedly, when he finished this sentence and looked at Xia De again, he found that Xia De was not angry, but instead his eyes were shining, looking a bit excited.

【What kind of mood is this?】

"She" asked in Xia De's ear with a light laugh.

"I've been in this world for so long, and finally encountered this kind of low-IQ person! I just said, how could everyone in this world be so rational! Finally encountered this kind of person."

The outsider immediately felt it. Although he knew that the other party was provoking him because of Miss Galina, he was still willing to give a response:

"This is..."

He pretended not to know and asked hesitantly, noticing that the people who noticed the movement at the door immediately gave the answer:

"Hamilton, this is the eldest son of Marquis Philip, Daniel Philip."

Xia De nodded, pretending he just understood the reason for the other party's provocation

"So it is... Then this gentleman, what did you send out?"

Xia De himself has a knight title, so he can be called "Your Excellency", while young Philip has not yet inherited the title, so he was called "Mr." by him.

The young man with brown hair also heard the meaning in his words, but still answered with a smile:

"I just returned from the New World last month and brought a top-grade ruby mined from the New World. I asked a craftsman to polish it and dedicate it to Her Highness Angelina."

He could perfectly reveal eight teeth when smiling. As he spoke, he took out a red velvet box from his pocket. After opening it, it was indeed a ruby of quite good quality.

Angelina intended to say something for Xia De, but Dorothy, who saw Xia De's slightly abnormal excitement, gently pulled her. The little princess looked at Dorothy suspiciously, not surprised by her behavior, but feeling that she was a bit like her sister.

"It's a truly beautiful gemstone, but it seems that it's not as big as the pearl I gave Wang Hou Diana last year."

Xia De also replied with a smile, noticing the people who noticed the "conflict" here immediately said:

"Yes, the shape of the pearl Hamilton brought out at the banquet last year was a perfect sphere, as big as half a fist. Wang Hou Diana often takes it out to appreciate it."

This is an acquaintance Xia De met playing Rod cards.

"I think always sending things like gemstones and diamonds is a bit too old-fashioned, so I brought this this time."

Xia De said, pointing behind him.

Daniel Philip blinked. He had been in the New World for many years and didn't know much about the banquet last year, so he decisively pulled the topic back:

"Hamilton, why don't we see what Miss Galina picked for you?"

"No, no, I swear in the name of Mr. Dawn, I found this myself."

Xia De said, and then asked the little princess:

"Your Highness, look..."

"Then let me see what Hamilton of Leger brought as a gift."

After Angelina's permission, the wooden box containing the statue was quickly opened. Thus, the armless statue with a slightly twisted posture, making the half-naked body form a very harmonious and graceful spiral upward posture, was presented in the brightly lit banquet hall, displayed to everyone under the illumination of crystal chandeliers and gas lamps.

"It is said that this is a statue unearthed from ancient ruins. Although it looks a bit old and there is no master's name to accompany it, I think its artistic level is enough to match Her Highness the Princess."

He said softly, and the people around lowered their voices and discussed the statue. Angelina looked at Xia De's birthday gift with a flushed face. Dorothy pursed her lips and examined the statue. She actually wanted to keep it, but she couldn't grab her sister's birthday gift.

As for Daniel Philip, he opened his mouth slightly looking at the statue. The only direction worth attacking for this gift was that it was a nameless statue without a creator, but this point had already been raised by Xia De himself. People with appreciative taste would not doubt the artistic sense of this statue, so he pursed his lips and said to Xia De:

"It's a truly good gift."

Then he offered his birthday gift and turned to leave.

"I thought he would talk to me for a few more words, I was ready to throw out the white gloves."

A moment later, Dorothy walked into the banquet hall arm in arm with Xia De. The statue that caused people to discuss was temporarily moved to a separately set gift storage room. Listening to Xia De's words, Dorothy looked at Xia De like a big boy:

"I really don't know why you are so excited today. Angelina turning seventeen, is it worth being so excited?"

According to the plan, the two were going to find Ricia directly. Neither of the girls wanted to waste a minute or a second of the Red Butterfly Day. But when they saw Ricia, she was accompanying Wang Hou Diana, in front of that huge oil painting of the previous King, talking with two noble ladies, and standing beside her was Raphael Birmingham, the son of the Duke of Birmingham, whom Xia De had seen in Director Director Anluosi's photo.

"Oh, look who's here? Hamilton of Leger, it seemed very lively at the door just now, what were you doing?"

Wang Hou Diana smiled and let Xia De come over, then took the initiative to explain:

"Xia De, this is the Duchess of Birmingham."

The noble lady with snow-white chest and pearl necklace nodded slightly, examining Xia De.

"This is Raphael Birmingham, the eldest son of the Duke. Speaking of which, your ages are about the same, maybe you will have common topics."

Raphael Birmingham also had red hair, but the color was far less conspicuous than the Cavendish family. Their family had a distant relative relationship with the royal family, and it is said that the hair color was red because of this.

"Second target."

The quite gentlemanly young Birmingham shook hands with Xia De, and Xia De also introduced his female companion tonight, Dorothy. People had heard of the reputation of this female writer. With the publication of the Carstenrik version of "Hamilton Detective Stories" in the Southern Kingdom, Dorothy might not be the most famous female writer, but she was definitely the fastest-earning female writer of this century.

The Duchess of Birmingham took Mr. Birmingham away temporarily, while Wang Hou Diana continued to talk with Dorothy. Ricia gave Xia De a helpless look. It seemed they would still be delayed here for a while.

The atmosphere of the banquet was quite lively. Although the King did not attend, people could still feel the royal family's importance to this birthday banquet. A nine-layer cake was placed in the middle of the banquet hall, and the champagne tower was dotted with "scenery" around it. By the time the guests had almost arrived, Miss Galina also appeared here, and together with Wang Hou Diana, Ricia, and several other princesses, surrounded Angelina, letting the little princess thank the guests for coming.

At this time, Dorothy finally said goodbye to the Wang Hou and stood by Xia De's side. Xia De wanted to say a few words to Dorothy, but someone behind him called Xia De's name softly:

"Hamilton."

Turning his head, he saw it was the third contact target tonight, Mr. Henry Mafal, the son of the Duke of Mafal. The young man who was a bit short lowered his voice and said to Xia De:

"Sorry to disturb, may I ask if you want to play Rod cards in a while?"

"Hmm?"

Xia De was stunned for a moment before shaking hands with him, catching a glimpse of Dorothy looking at him with a scrutinizing and "warning" look, and immediately indicated:

"I won't play tonight, I have other things to do."

Little Mr. Mafal was a bit disappointed, but nodded:

"That's really a pity, but it's right, business is important. Looking forward to having the chance to meet you at the card table in the future, then I won't disturb you."

He said goodbye politely and left

, and up to this point, Xia De had also contacted all three marriage candidates of Angelina and had an initial impression. Daniel Philip was arrogant and hostile to Xia De because of Miss Galina; Raphael Birmingham was humble and amiable, looking like a qualified gentleman; Henry Mafal seemed a bit introverted, but liked to play Rod cards, and...

Xia De looked at the direction Mr. Mafal left and found that he had met with a beautiful girl with brown hair, and the two seemed very close.

"And suspected of already having an object of admiration."

Of course, no matter what the three of them were like, the most important thing tonight was Red Butterfly Day.

After Angelina thanked the visitors for coming, as the melodious sound of the violin played, this quite grand birthday banquet officially began.

Xia De took Dorothy to find Angelina again. Taking advantage of Wang Hou Diana's temporary absence, Angelina led the two away from the banquet hall and turned into the lounge area above the banquet hall. According to Ricia's request, she arranged the innermost room for them. At this time, Ricia hadn't arrived yet, and Xia De and Dorothy came a step earlier.

Angelina fumbled with her key to open the door for them, but blocked the door without letting the two walk in, but turned and said softly:

"Xia De, thank you for your birthday gift, I like it very much."

Dorothy watched this scene with a smile on the side, she actually had no thoughts. Xia De shook his head, looked left and right, confirmed that there was no one in the corridor, and then stated the task from Director Director Anluosi more than an hour ago.

The little princess nodded to indicate she understood. She really took on the errand of writing the investigation report for Xia De. And at this time, another door diagonally across the corridor also opened.

Tifa, wearing a black and white maid dress, walked out of the room:

"Mr. Hamilton, is it convenient to delay some time? The young lady has something to tell you."

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