Uncle Gegil stayed behind to continue negotiating the divorce, while the sisters Jinsley and Iweni accompanied Carl to view the house.
This was a two-story structure built from a mixture of brick and wood.
The walls were specially reinforced, and most doors were arched. Flying beams lent the house an air of lightness and precision.
The upper floor served as living quarters, while the ground floor was for receiving guests. The house was divided into seven spacious rooms, including the bedrooms, which were equally large.
The kitchen and dining room were situated near the entrance for easy preparation and distribution of food and beverages.
The living room was located in the center of the house.
Aside from the bedrooms, the upstairs also housed a dressing room that could be converted into a small chapel or laboratory.
Another room served as a washroom, split into two parts: the outer for washing up and the inner for the toilet, separated by a folding door.
Overall, the house had a rational layout but lacked a lived-in atmosphere and wasn’t fully furnished. It felt quite desolate, having been uninhabited for too long.
Moreover, it possessed the typical drawbacks of wooden structures.
Due to its age and termite damage, many wooden supports were rotting. If one intended to live there, extensive repairs would be necessary, a factor that significantly lowered its sale price.
"There’s also a storage room in the basent," Jinsley explained as she showed Carl around. "Due to its design, it’s poorly ventilated. Rember to air it out before going in. What do you think?"
Carl nodded. "It’s excellent. I’m very satisfied."
More than the house itself, he was pleased with the spacious courtyard—over a hundred square ters—where he could relax whenever he wished.
Every ti he returned from the gloomy Dark City, the thing he most wanted to do was bask in the warmth of the sun.
And a separate courtyard would also make transporting goods more convenient.
As for its other flaws, they were inconsequential to him. As a Wizard Apprentice, he had nurous ways to address them.
Jinsley smiled. "Glad to hear it. Let’s sign the contract then—forty Gold Coins. I never expected you to have such a large inheritance."
Inheritance! That was Carl’s explanation for his wealth: his grandfather had left him an inheritance at the Mountbatten Bank. As for whether others believed it... well, they could believe it or not.
"After buying this house, I’ll be practically penniless," Carl remarked with feigned solemnity. "I’ll pay ten Gold Coins now, and the rest within a month."
Jinsley waved her hand dismissively. "No problem. You’re my cousin; I trust you that much."
She looked very pleased; after all, forty Gold Coins was far more than the house was actually worth.
As for the sadness that might typically accompany a divorce... She was only relieved to regain her freedom, utterly eager to escape the marriage.
"Iweni."
After signing the contract, just as the two won were about to board their carriage and leave, Carl rembered sothing and extended an invitation to Iweni. "Do you have ti this evening? A friend of mine is performing at the Vim Opera House tonight. Would you like to join ?"
"Ah!"
Iweni’s face first lit up with elation. Then, she glanced at Jinsley, hesitated for a mont, and shook her head with a look of regret. "I need to stay with my sister." Her sister was going through a divorce, and there were many family matters to attend to. Even if she wasn’t strictly needed, it wasn’t appropriate for her to go out and enjoy herself.
Carl nodded in understanding. "Alright. Then we’ll get together another ti."
「* * *」
"Pancakes! Penny pancakes!"
"Fish and chips, sugar-coated fruit, cheap to buy..."
"..."
Outside Vim Opera House, stalls jamd the pathway, and the cries of vendors overlapped incessantly.
Theater attendants maintaining order had to shout and push just to clear a narrow passage.
Stepping down from his carriage, Carl followed the flow of people toward the ticket entrance when soone suddenly grabbed his sleeve.
"Carl!"
Carl turned, his expression surprised. "Chief Dana, what... is this getup?"
As the eldest daughter of Viscount Shaxon, Dana never lacked money, and her clothes were naturally exquisite and luxurious.
Today was different. She wore a patched, dull-colored linen tunic, mud-stained fabric boots, and a remarkably plain headscarf. Her fine features were concealed by gri, and at first glance, she was indistinguishable from the lower-class won on the street.
No wonder I didn’t recognize her at first, Carl mused. This disguise is clearly intentional. He then asked with sudden realization, "Are you conducting an investigation?"
Lately, Dana had rarely been seen at the Patrol Hall; she was reportedly dedicating all her efforts to investigating the desiccated corpse case. Unfortunately, she received little support. The mbers of the Patrol Hall were all from wealthy families, never lacking food or drink. How many of them would be willing to risk their lives for a case?
"Yes," Dana said with an impassive expression. "You have tickets for the performance, don’t you? I’ll pay double. Sell them to . I need to get inside for sothing important."
Carl shook his head. "Chief, the performance requires neat attire. In your current state, even with a ticket, I’m afraid you might not be allowed in."
Saying this, he produced two tickets and gestured. "Let’s go!"
Dana raised an eyebrow, then huffed softly. She lifted a hand to wipe her face, then removed the headscarf, letting her long hair fall freely.
After these simple adjustnts, although her attire remained shabby, her entire deanor transford. The radiant glow from her delicate features, in particular, completely overshadowed her shabby clothes.
Taking a step forward, Dana took Carl’s arm, leaning into him as they walked side by side, appearing for all the world like an affectionate couple.
The ticket inspector checked their tickets, his gaze lingering on Dana for a mont before he gestured them in. "Please, co in." It wasn’t uncommon to see a wealthy man with his mistress at a high-end venue, and this one was quite a looker. It’s just that the man seed a bit stingy, not even buying her a decent dress for the theater.
The curious gazes didn’t seem to bother Dana. Once inside the theater, she imdiately released Carl’s arm and put so distance between them. The sudden separation left Carl, who had been relishing the soft warmth of her touch, feeling a pang of regret.
"Thanks for this," Dana said coolly. "I’ll treat you to a drink soti." Without waiting for Carl’s reply, she slipped into the crowd and vanished.
...
The perforrs of the Barro Troupe gave their all, their voices clear, bright, and possessing extraordinary carrying power.
The music surged like a mighty tide, each note seemingly alive, dancing and swirling through the air, striking directly at the heart.
Yet, even amidst such a marvelous performance, so people were clearly distracted.
In a corner of the theater:
"Three Gold Coins?" a beautiful woman exclaid softly. "Why has the price gone up again?"
"Supplies are tight, so a price increase is perfectly normal," a man in a long robe replied with a cold snort, his voice slow and deliberate. "Of course, you don’t have to buy."
The woman looked distressed. "Three Gold Coins—that’s really too expensive. I’ve already spent nearly fifty Gold Coins with you people. Can’t you give a better price this ti?"
"I already told you," the man’s voice was flat. "You don’t have to buy."
What choice do I have? The woman’s expression flickered as she wrestled with the decision. Finally, she sighed in resignation. "Alright, I’ll buy it."
Saying this, she took out her elegant coin purse and retrieved one Gold Coin and twenty gold pounds, handing them over. "Are you sure the goods are right?"
"When have we ever given you the wrong thing?" The man took the money, a faint smile finally touching his lips as he handed over a small porcelain vial. "The usual: three drops at a ti, once a week."
Just then, a hand suddenly shot out from the darkness, snatching the vial.
Dana’s figure erged. "So, this is the so-called ’Purity Potion’?"
The man’s face changed. "You..." Then, as if his feet were spring-loaded, he shot off.
Dana scoffed. "Trying to escape? Do you think you can get away?"
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