The butler replied, "Just now, the Chief Perfumers from Aurelian and Valois simultaneously received a phone call. They looked very grim and asked me to bid you farewell on their behalf. They've already departed."
The Lowell Family and the other two super-powerful perfumery families were geographically distant, but as rivals who had competed for years, they always paid close attention to one another's movements. The slightest stir from one side could create a butterfly effect, bringing unexpected consequences for the other two.
Adeline Lowell took this very seriously. "Go inform the department heads. Find out what happened to them immediately."
The butler took his leave to carry out the order.
A few minutes later, the butler returned with news that could be considered neither good nor bad:
