Fredrick gave Nigel another fake smile as he responded.

"I can assure you that leaving the Lucas would be a very big mistake. There are already plans in motion to change the landscape of this city, and there's only one family that can guarantee your investments into the future. I hope your family stays with us for many more years."

This time, it was Nigel's turn to frown when he noticed the underlying threat in Fredrick's words. Although Fredrick never mentioned hurting anyone and didn't even try to raise his voice, it was obvious that Fredrick was telling Nigel to be careful which side he chose in the future. Nigel couldn't forget that although the Lucases were businessmen, they were first and foremost gangsters. Trying to get on the bad side of a family of gangsters was the worst thing you could ever try to do! Nigel coughed into his arm before he smiled and nodded at Fredrick, and he put his hand out towards his date and told her to come along as he continued moving up into the building. Fredrick watched him go for a few seconds before he clicked his tongue and decided to let this go. It was pointless getting annoyed at someone like Nigel.

Fredrick walked up the stairs, and the guards and servants there all bowed to him respectfully as he made his way inside and looked around at the brightly lit hall. There was a large space at the center of the hall where various people were mingling and speaking in hushed voices, and there was a balcony on the higher level where you could go to get a better view or to sit down. A bar on the left side had enough drinks for an army, and a live band played soft classical music that served as background noise for the conversations. This was how the members of high society carried out their own celebrations. Very classy. Very boring.

"Fredrick Lucas, I presume."

A voice came from the side, and Fredrick turned to see a strange man standing there. He was a handsome man wearing a white suit that fitted well to his body. He had blond hair that was slicked back and red eyes that made him look like some sort of vampire. What the hell? Fredrick frowned slightly, but he managed to school his features back into a regular look since he had no idea who this was! He didn't want to get on the bad side of someone important before he was even introduced! The man brought his hand out for a handshake, and Fredrick took it as the man spoke.

"My name is Harold Rogue. I'm sure you've heard of me."

Fredrick's eyes widened in shock when he heard that name! Of course, he had heard that name! Even though Fredrick had never seen Harold Rogue before, the Rogue name was so popular in the affluent circles that they were treated as some sort of myth by those in power! The Rogues were a very powerful family that hailed from East London. They had gained most of their fortune from their dealings in the stock market as well as various business acquisitions during various lifetimes, but it was their ties to the royal family that made them even more popular! There were rumors that the Rogue family had direct ties to the Queen herself, and they were the ones who were handling the Royal Family trust fund as well as their pensions! That was hundreds of billions of pounds in hard cash, and the Rogues were in charge of every single penny of it! After calculating all of their various businesses, no one would be surprised to find out that the Rogues as a family were worth at least half a trillion dollars! What in the world was he doing here!?

"Mr. Rogue. I didn't know you would be attending. We would have made provisions to receive you specially."

Fredrick immediately turned on his etiquette training from when he was younger and spoke in a very respectful tone. Harold Rogue smiled at Fredrick's action, and he just waved away his concern before speaking calmly.

"I had actually planned to make it to the burial earlier, but I was occupied with other things, so I sent gifts and flowers instead. I hope you understand."

Fredrick nodded.

"They were well received. Thank you for your concern."

"Not at all, George was a great man and his death was a loss to us all. Now, pardon me for asking, but are we going to be graced with his presence tonight?"

Harold had said this last part with a smile, and it didn't take a genius to figure out exactly who it was that Harold was talking about! Fredrick should have known that Harold had also come here to see Dante, but for the life of him, Fredrick couldn't figure out what Harold could want with Dante! The Rogues had never gone into business with the Lucas before! The closest that they had come to each other was when they would meet at various parties or events around the country! The fact that Harold was so interested in meeting with Dante that he would even come to Fredrick like this meant that there was something serious going on! Fredrick nodded to Harold and said:

"He's being held up by some work, but he'll be here long before the party is over. In the meantime, can I interest you in something to drink?"

A waiter came up to the gentlemen once Fredrick said this, and he presented them with champagne bottles on a tray. Harold smiled and took a glass with Fredrick before he raised it to him.

"Very well then, Mr. Lucas, I'll be patiently waiting. But please let him know that I want to speak with him before the night is over. There is much to discuss."

Fredrick smiled at Harold before he watched as Harold walked off to mingle with the other partygoers. Once Harold was far enough, Fredrick handed his wine back to the waiter and grabbed his phone before making a call to Dante. The phone rang for a few seconds before someone picked up.

[Hello, this is Risa.]

Risa was the one who spoke up, and Fredrick quickly told her to give the phone to Dante.

"I need to tell him something. Pass the phone to Dante."

[Of course, Master Fredrick, one moment.]

On the other side of the phone, Risa and Dante were sitting in the back of a black Range Rover as it made its way to the mansion, and Dante had been on the phone with someone else when Risa turned to him and whispered that Fredrick was trying to reach him. Dante took the phone from Risa, and he told the person he was speaking with to hold on before he answered Fredrick.

"What is it?"

[A Rogue is at the party. I don't know what they want, but he asked for you specifically. I'm sure it's related to business.]

Dante immediately frowned once he heard this, and he spoke up quickly.

"Did you say anything to him?"

[Just pleasantries. I'm not an idiot, Dante. You can never be careful with these English bastards. I might not be part of the underworld, but I know better than to give out anything about the family to people like them.]

Dante scoffed in mild amusement. Fredrick was right about the Rogues being more than what they appeared. Just like the Lucas family, the Rogues also had ties to the underworld, and they had been in business with the Lucas family before whenever they had an interest in Stockham. But Fredrick didn't know about this since he wasn't that deep in the underworld system. Dante spoke seriously.

"Forget about the rest of the guests, stay close to the Rogue and try to test him for any clues about what he came for. I'll be arriving soon, so keep him busy and make sure no one bothers him, you understand?"

[Hmm.]

Fredrick gave a hum in response before he clicked off the phone, and Dante handed it back to Risa before going back to his other call.

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