Chapter 69: Switzerland

Switzerland is a small, landlocked country in Central Europe, bordered by Austria and Liechtenstein to the east, Italy to the south, France to the west, and Germany to the north. With a population of around 7.09 million and an area of only 41,284 square kilometers, it is world-renowned as a kingdom of watches. Its picturesque scenery, unique status as a "permanent neutral country," and the Swiss banking system's famous "banking secrecy" laws attract countless billionaires to deposit their money here or even settle down locally. *

According to data from agencies combating international financial crime, over a third of the world's wealth is stored in Swiss banks. The banks' specialty in safeguarding funds from unknown sources on behalf of anonymous clients further enhances their appeal. Beyond their lucrative financial services, Swiss banks also engage in profitable capital management, and with over 4.2 trillion Swiss francs flowing into their coffers, Switzerland has not only amassed a substantial management fee but has also been able to leverage these funds for various financial activities, leading this small nation to significant wealth and a prominent role in the global capital market.

When Masashi and his companions emerged from the Zurich Airport exit, it was already past four in the afternoon.

"We're finally here," Ailin murmured to herself.

"Does it feel like a fresh start?" Masashi smiled.

Ailin looked at the little girl, Amy, sound asleep in Masashi's arms, and sighed softly. "So much has happened recently. But Amy is the one who's suffered the most. Her father, the only person who cared for her, is now gone."

Masashi stroked the silky hair of the sleeping girl and said, "Let's go. This is no time to be sentimental."

After a nearly two-hour bus ride and another thirty-minute taxi ride, the three finally arrived at Montreux Defoe's residence on the north shore of Lake Zurich.

Standing by the serene green lake was a large, four-story mansion basking in the golden sunlight, resembling a picturesque oil painting.

"Mr. Montreux loved peace and quiet. Ever since Amy' mother passed, he moved here and has stayed ever since," Ailin said.

"He knew how to enjoy life. It's a beautiful place." Masashi, who also appreciated life's pleasures, felt a kindred connection.

At the front door, Ailin pressed the bell. After about two minutes, a German man in his forties, dressed in a black suit, came out. He opened the iron gate and greeted Ailin politely, "Welcome back, Ms. Rodiman. Has Miss Amy also returned with you?" he asked in fluent German.

"Hello, Mr. Bacon, it's been a while. Yes, Amy returned safely, but she's exhausted from the flight and is currently asleep. Let me introduce you: this is Mr. Lei Yin. He's a friend who helped me greatly in Nepal. Lei Yin, this is Mr. Bacon, the house's butler, who has served Mr. Montreux for nearly twenty years," Ailin said, introducing them.

"Hello, Mr. Lei Yin," the butler greeted Masashi in English, extending his hand politely.

"Hello, Mr. Bacon," Masashi replied, shaking his hand.

Seeing Amy asleep in Masashi's arms, Bacon looked surprised but quickly regained his composure and invited them in.

Between the iron gate and the front door lay a large garden, planted with various flowers, the most prominent being roses. They appeared especially vibrant under the sunlight.

Walking along the granite path, Ailin asked, "Mr. Bacon, has Mr. Montreux's body already been returned?"

A sorrowful expression crossed Bacon's face as he softly replied, "It has been. Mr. Rolando decided to hold the funeral this Sunday. None of us expected such a tragedy. Why would something so terrible happen to a good man like Mr. Montreux?"

"Please don't be too sad, Mr. Bacon. Everyone is deeply affected by this loss," Ailin said, pulling out a tissue to wipe her eyes.

In this heavy atmosphere, Masashi remained silent, as though lost in thought.

At 2 a.m., Masashi, who had been sitting on his bed with his eyes closed, suddenly opened them. He jumped out of bed, slipped on his shoes, and immediately left his room.

Moving like a ghost, Masashi quietly walked down the corridor. In the faint glow of the wall lights, the entire place was still.

He carefully listened to any sounds upstairs or downstairs but found nothing unusual.

Was it just his imagination? But how could he explain this uneasy feeling?

For a master like Masashi, whose sensory perception surpassed mere instinct, a sense of unease often signaled impending danger. This inexplicable intuition had proven true many times throughout his long life.

Even though he didn't detect anything amiss, Masashi decided to approach the room shared by Ailin and Amy.

He placed his right hand on the door, took a deep breath, and focused his mind. Moments later, countless invisible mental threads slowly emanated from his right hand, passing through the door and drifting into the room.

This was the second time Masashi had used this unique ability; the first was when he saved Ms. Naoko. This time, with the door as a conduit, the mental threads moved much faster. In less than three seconds, he had complete awareness of everything happening inside the room.

Reassured to sense both Ailin and Amy within, Masashi felt a bit more at ease.

Through these mental threads, Masashi could fully assess the condition of both women.

Although no one would know, using this method to observe two people — especially two women — in such an up-close, precise way at the dead of night left Masashi feeling somewhat awkward, as if he were some kind of voyeur. So, after confirming that they were safe, he quickly withdrew his mental threads.

As he debated whether to stay on guard outside, a sudden phone ring came from inside the room.

In the stillness of the night, the ring was jarringly loud. Thinking it might wake the little girl from her deep sleep, Masashi felt slightly annoyed.

The phone stopped ringing after the third ring, and Masashi could vaguely hear some movement inside, indicating that Ailin had answered the call.

Suddenly, a strange feeling arose in Masashi's heart, and at that same moment, a sharp "bang" sounded — a gunshot from inside the room…

* This is an old novel, so the population might be vastly different to the current year.