“Great news Mr. Kanehiro. I got the mansion’s price down to eighty thousand.”

Elly said as they went to the mansion owner with a giant bag of Tal on their shoulders. Something like that would surely attract attention and paint a target on their back. But it wasn’t the case for Elly and Karl.

The reason was simple.

“Thanks for the help guys,” Elly smiled with such innocence that Karl thought this was her twin sister.

Hit by the light of innocence, the five tall, muscular, dark, hairy, ferocious-looking adventurers all acted like they were shot in the heart by the most devastating weapon in history.

Recovering from the nosebleed, the pervert gave Elly a thumbs up, “Anything for you Miss Elly.”

“That’s two hundred off the original price,” Karl commented. “As promised, half of it is yours.”

“Half?” Elly jumped, and so did her lion tail. It was quite adorable, Karl got to admit.

“Yes. Half.” He smiled.

“Yeahhhhhhhh,” Elly raised her hand like she had just won the lottery.

The five perverts surrounding Karl and Elly all looked at her with warm eyes. But when one of them saw Karl, his face twisted into that of a B-rate thug that could be found in any anime. The kind of face that no mother could love. “What you looking at, punk.”

As if they were a domino, when one pervert said that, all five of them made the same face and antagonized Karl.

“Don’t do that guys. He’s my client.” Elly reminded the perverts.

Once again, their face, tone, and even aura shifted. “Ok, we’ll do whatever you say, Elly.”

Tch. Simps. Karl might be a dedicated fan, but he was never a simp like this.

Soon enough, they arrive at the current owner's house, a different mansion that was twice the size of the haunted mansion Karl was buying.

The mansion stood at the edge of the city, almost blending into the white background on the other side of the city array with its gleaming white marble walls that shimmered in the sunlight. The walls were spotless as they were infused with arrays to remove dirt and dust. A useless array with more appearance value rather than practical value.

A grandiose entrance built from a pair of seven-color light crystals, craved into intricate images of heroic sages from the past. The kind of crystal that was mainly used to make chandeliers. Beyond the crystal was an emerald garden that sparkled like jewels and an equally sparkly pond.

Statues of Rank 8 or 9 mythical monsters made with the same marble as the walls stood as if they were protecting the mansion, letting no one pass through its garden. But of course, they were nothing more than motionless statues.

“Welcome, guests. The Lord is waiting for you inside.”

An old butler with spotless hair and clothes without a single wrinkle on them spoke as two knights opened the door. Even the fact that the door opened without sound thanks to arrays was useless as the owner who ordered this gate would be sleeping soundly wide his door was kicked open and his head rolled to the ground.

The more Karl saw this mansion, the more ridiculous it was.

The butler led Karl and Elly inside their guest room while the five perverts had to place the money bags down before leaving the room with dissatisfied faces. Karl looked around their guest room. His opinion of the owner only got worse.

Floor polished into a mirror, wasteful crystal light instead of using the blessing the sun gave the world, walls lined with all kinds of distasteful pictures of some overly exaggerated guy who acts as if he was a hero in legends. The furniture was overly decorated with useless pure gold and fabric that was too delicate to touch.

It was fine to flaunt your wealth. But it was not fine to flaunt your wealth just for the sake of it. At least this mansion owner should hire some world-famous interior designer to help with creating a symmetrical design that was both pleasing to the eye wide also showed the owner's wealth like how his father did with the Kanehiro’s mansion.

But not here. Everything was simply put there because it had high price tag on it. There was no coordination.

“The Lord will be here shortly.” The butler said as he closed the guest room door.

“Hey Elly, you know this guy?” Karl asked.

“Of course I do, he is one of the newly rich that came out of nowhere and overtook all of Mr. Forgefire’s business. I might not know much about that in detail but I do know this man has a lot of lands and stores that sell magic items.”

“I see,” Karl nodded. “Tell me more.”

“He bought his way into nobility and is now a Baron. He’s also one of the richest men in NorthStar.”

“I see, and what’s his name?”

“Listen well peasant, my name is Baron Borish Hudson. You’ll do well to remember my illustrious name. A poor peasant like you should be grateful for my magni…fi…”

Karl gazed at the opened door. A chubby, well-rounded man stepped in. He wore the finest clothes of the finest quality switched with a thin layer of magic crystal that could be used as a feature that drew in looks from others and as protective Runes that would create a spell whenever he received an attack. His fingers had more rings and jewels than Karl was bothered to count, as if he was trying to prove something to others or just to convince himself of something.

His round face had red hair almost like Eldrin, but darker, with high cheekbones and a strong jaw. His face reminded Karl of his adopted son. But their eyes couldn’t be more different. The ocean-blue eyes couldn’t hide how they shifted and shook whenever he looked at Karl. A look that Karl was too familiar with when he acted as the Heavenly Demon.

The man, Borish Hudson, shallowed hard before breaking into a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. The kind of smile anyone could wear.

“Isn’t it the Young Master of Duke Kanehiro from Blue Dragon Country,” The fake bowed in submission, “How may this humble one help you this fine morning, Young Master?”

For someone bold enough to challenge and take things away from Eldrin, the man before Karl didn’t look the part.

He was sweating too much in Karl’s presence, his fingers trembled too much, his heartbeat was too fast. If this man could fake all of this to hide his true self, then he was one hell of an actor. Whether real or fake, it worked just as well for Karl. He just needed to act like the dominating side for this.

“No need to be like that Baron Hudson. I’m but a buy looking to get rid of something undesirable for you.” Karl smiled as he sat down on the coach first. “Please, have a seat.”

Elly looked at Hudson, then at Karl, then Hudson, then back to Karl.

“Eh? You’re a noble Mr. Kanehiro? Why didn’t you say so? Are you planning on cheating with my rate?” Elly eyed him. Karl liked that, fearless and direct.

“Insolence,” Hudson shouted, making Elly flinched. “How dare a mere Beast folk clerk talk to a Duke’s son like that. You…”

He shut up right away when Karl looked at him.

“Have a seat, Elly,” Karl said as he patted the seat beside him. “Please, have a seat too, Baron Hudson.”

“Yes, of course, thank you for your kindness, Young Duke.” Hudson took out a handkerchief embroidered with gold and jade to wipe his face and neck.

Elly sat next to Karl, looking even more confused.

“As I said earlier, I’m just here as a buyer to take something bothersome off your hands.”

Hudson nodded, “Yes, of course. The ownership transferring documents have been finished. Please see the details yourself.” He snapped his finger and the butler gave him a piece of contract. “This is it, Young Duke.”

Karl took the contract and read it carefully. Since he was Eldrin’s enemy, might as well take everything Karl can get.

“This part here, Baron Hudson. Why did it state that the rebuilding fee isn’t included in the sale? That’s strange, isn’t it? I’m taking a burden off your hand, shouldn’t you be helping me and making my life easier instead of harder?”

Hudson sweated like waterfall as he smiled like a cornered bug.

“Haha, what was I thinking? Of course, I’ll have someone rewrite the contract and…”

“Not only that but since this is my first property in NorthStar, shouldn’t I throw a welcoming party? The grander the better. No offense Baron Hudson, but I would very much like a grand party according to my wishes. A party so grand, everyone in NorthStar will talk about for decades to come.” Karl threw his hand in the air in an exaggerated way and a fake excited face.

“Yes, yes, of course. That is to be expected from a Duke’s son. I’ll…”

“No. Baron Hudson. You’re wrong.”

Hudson’s face paled.

“Not as expected of a Duke’s son. As expected of me. The best and greatest star that would ever grace this pitiful city with his present.” Karl stood up and sang his own praises. “Can you not see how magnificent I am Baron Hudson? Can you not see this beautiful body? Can you not see my talent that will eclipse even ten thousand years genius? I, Karl Kanehiro, am the only one. Throughout heaven and earth, I alone, am the honored one.” Karl raised one hand over his head while pointing the other at Hudson.

Ignoring how dumbfounded Elly, Hudson, and the butler were, Karl sat down and drank his tea like nothing just happened.

“So,” He put his teacup down, “You get what I’m saying, right?”

Pulled back from his shock, Hudson rubbed his hand with a sleazy smile. “Of course, Young Master.”

“Good, then prepare everything right now.”

“Right now?”

Karl raised one of his eyebrows, “What? You want me to wait for this worthless thing?”

“Of course not, Young Duke. It will be done in ten, no five minutes.” Hudson shot up and dashed out of the room with his butler following him.

Sitting alone in the guest room by themselves, Elly looked at Karl and tried to say something. But he just put his index finger on his lips and gestured her to be silent. Nodding her head, Elly sat still.

Exactly four minutes and fifty-two seconds later, Hudson went back with a newly drafted contract and a small box made of some kind of reflective black steel with golden edges.

“Sorry for the wait Young Master, this is the newly drafted owner shifting transferring contract.”

Karl read the new contract and raised his eyebrows again, “The cost of buying the mansion is one hundred Tal?”

“Yes yes, it’s just a mansion. Please consider it a first meeting gift from me.” Hudson rubbed his hand. “And, this is a thank-you gift for gracing this little mansion of mine with your illustrated presence Young Master.”

Karl opened the box. Inside were two bank notes that stated five hundred thousand Tal each. Alongside the notes were jewels and gems that filled the box to the brim.

Seeing what was inside, Karl tilted his head at Hudson. “That’s it?”

For a moment, Hudson looked like the veins on his forehead were about to burst as he grinned his teeth. But it disappeared as fast as it appeared and was replaced by a smiling mask.

“Of course not, Young Master.” Hudson took out an item that looked like a badge.

“This is a treasure that has great importance to me. It can one attack up to Rank 7. But as I see it, no amount of importance can an item be more than you, Young Master. Please, accept this gift.” He bowed and gave the badge to Karl.

“Since you ask me so nicely, don’t mind if I do Baron Hudson.” Karl took the badge without hesitation.

He should give this to Eldrin and Nanok. If they could replicate this thing, then they would have another source of income. If they can’t, well, he could just give it to Sera. But he had to get the two craftsmen to check if this was indeed just a protective item or if there was a hidden trap inside first.

Skipping out of Hudson’s mansion with light steps. Karl could feel the bastard’s gaze lingered on him until he was out of sight.

But once he did, Karl put away the mask he wore inside the mansion and spoke.

“Miss Elly, I apologize for the discomfort I put you through.”

“Eh? No, I wasn’t in discomfort at all.” Elly shook her head quickly.

“You see, that guy is someone who took things from my people. Precious things. So I won’t let him die a quick and painless death.” Karl turned and looked directly at Elly. “That’s why I’m suggesting you cooperate with me and take from him everything.”

Elly froze like she was hit by a dantian blocking attack. “Everything?”

“Yes, everything.” Karl nodded. “Imagine it, you, not him, have that kind of wealth. Would you not be able to do whatever you want to your heart desire?”

“I can eat any kind of ice cream and gamble all day?”

“Of course, you can. Look at that guy. He doesn’t look like someone who lacks ice cream, does he?”

“…But it’s not going to be that easy. He’s a Baron. And one of NorthStar's wealthiest men. It’s too risky.”

Karl smiled. “How about this, I’ll lay the groundwork. And you can come join me at any time you want. And as long as you join, half of all his fortune can be yours.”

Elly shallowed, hard. “…I’ll think about it.”

“Take your time,” Karl said and walked away.

Being left alone, Elly couldn’t stop thinking about all the things she could do with Hudson’s wealth.

“Huh?” Elly stopped walking all of a sudden. “I think I’m forgetting something.” She thought about it but couldn’t remember what it was. So she shrugged. “If I don’t remember it. It must not be important.”

She told herself as she returned to the Adventurer Guild.

Back at Hudson’s mansion gate, the five perverts who escorted Elly were left behind.

While they were standing at the side gate, one of them said. “I wonder when Miss Elly will come out.”