Chapter 1315: Caitlin
This charity banquet was quite interesting, though it had little to do with Dutch Vandelind, who had neither wealth nor status. He was a new face. Simply being able to come to this floating island was already a stroke of good fortune.
Thus, Qi Xuansu had come mainly to broaden his horizons. His role was to watch quietly and applaud along with the crowd.
All the various deals and conspiracies took place privately in separate, secluded rooms, none of which involved him.
If he wanted to gather information, aside from taking some risky measures, Qi Xuansu would have to rely on Strauni.
However, Strauni was merely a newly appointed young councilman, unlike veteran figures such as Leopold. Their networks and political backing were not even comparable. Whether Strauni could enter the inner circle and obtain useful intelligence remained uncertain.
Once the donation segment of the banquet concluded, the atmosphere shifted, becoming more relaxed. It was the social hour. Guests gathered in small groups of two or three, forming distinct circles. Some remained in the magnificent hall, though scattered about. Others moved to the balconies, terraces, or gardens, while some went into private rooms or lounges.
Qi Xuansu and Strauni belonged to the group that stayed in the main hall. They formed a small circle with Archbishop Swanson. Although the banquet was quite prestigious, neither the Patriarch nor the Cardinal Bishop had appeared. Only a Cardinal Priest attended. It seemed the Holy Court was not particularly interested. Swanson was not especially close with that Cardinal Priest, so he did not involve himself deeply in those discussions.
Qi Xuansu looked around and saw nothing but tailcoats and evening gowns. His thoughts drifted. Notably, men’s tailcoats were completely uniform, while women’s evening gowns were all unique. They were two absolute extremes.
At that moment, a beautiful lady approached the three of them. She wore a deep purple evening gown. Her enchanting face carried a touch of melancholy yet shone with brilliance. Her golden hair was arranged elegantly, and she had bright blue eyes like the sea, along with plump lips. Her voice carried a unique intensity that made it unforgettable. Her radiance resembled the moon in a dark night, surrounded by stars. Wherever she went, she captured every gaze.
Strauni’s reaction was exaggerated. He stepped forward and kissed the back of the married lady’s hand. His lips did not actually touch it, though the standard was not particularly strict. Western customs were simply far more open.
Qi Xuansu was unimpressed. He disliked Western etiquette because it involved physical contact with unrelated people.
Both Qi Xuansu and Zhang Yuelu were conservatives in their attitudes toward Western customs, though to different degrees. Zhang Yuelu believed Qi Xuansu was still not conservative enough.