The Allen family's driver dropped Karen and his party off at a suburban gas station, and at Alfred's urging, drove back to the manor.
Near the gas station were a small convenience store and a fast-food diner. Karen chose the diner, taking a booth in the corner because they had a cat and dog with them.
Four cups of coffee were brought over first. Purr leaned forward to take a lick, then poked out her little cat tongue in disdain. "Hmph. Tastes like cheap instant."
Karen reached out and patted Purr on the head. "As if Diss ever brewed coffee for you back at the Inmerlais house."
Purr pouted and turned her head away.
The young miss had just stayed in her ancestral home for a stretch, enjoying royal treatment, and now found it hard to step down from luxury to frugality.
Soon, three set meals were served.
The only difference between this meal and a rice bowl was that the toppings weren't piled directly over the rice.
It was white rice served alongside fried chicken nuggets and a thick tomato sauce soup.
Alfred had ordered the same meal as Karen, while Kevin the golden retriever was given three double-patty hamburgers to devour.
As for Purr, she had the eel meal, the most expensive item on the menu.
Yet Purr ate with sheer misery—and not because she was being deliberately fussy. Karen could smell the fishy stench wafting from her plate as well. Most likely, very few customers ever ordered that set, so the ingredients weren't fresh, or perhaps the cook had forgotten how to prepare the damned eel properly.
Still, Karen found the fried chicken nuggets before him quite tasty. The rice coated in the thick tomato soup had a peculiar sweet-and-sour flavor, but it cut through the greasiness of the fried chicken just right.
Though it might sound pretentious, Karen genuinely felt this meal was far more satisfying than the exquisite fare Alfred had brought him like clockwork every day at Allen Manor.
The chefs at Allen Manor cooked authentic Wien aristocratic cuisine, which essentially meant dressing up all sorts of precious, expensive ingredients to look like nutritional rations set before you.
You never felt like you were enjoying food; rather, you were acutely aware of which bodily nutrients you were absorbing with every bite.
After finishing lunch, Karen and his companions stepped out of the diner. Parked near the gas station exit ahead was a blue Ponce sedan—an older model, likely secondhand, worth around ten thousand riels, representing the absolute bottom tier of executive cars.
"That's the agent's car," Alfred said.
Because Karen had no desire to stay in a hotel, Alfred had simply called an agency to arrange for someone to pick them up and show them properties.
The agent was a middle-aged man, slightly chubby, with a round face that didn't look unpleasantly greasy.
After attentively helping them load their luggage into the car, he bypassed Alfred—the one who had contacted him directly—and handed his business card to Karen.
"It is my honor to be of service to you."
Karen took the card and glanced at it. The name read: Alaye Qiu.
His title was: General Manager of the York City District, Blue Bridge Real Estate Agency.
By intuition, Karen sensed that this Blue Bridge Real Estate Agency probably didn't have many branches.
"Mr. Qiu..."
"You may call me Alaye directly, sir."
"Thank you for your trouble, Alaye," Karen said with a smile.
"You are too kind, sir."
As before, Alfred sat in the front passenger seat, while Karen sat in the back with a cat and a dog.
"Based on your requirements, I've compiled a list. Please take a look and see where you'd like to view first." Alaye handed Karen a printed sheet.
Karen took it and scanned the entries. He had a habit of checking the largest floor areas first.
Unfortunately, out of the seven listings, the largest was only ninety square meters.
Of course, ninety square meters wasn't small, but in Rojia City he had lived in a detached villa, and at Allen Manor he had stayed in a standalone castle. Returning to "normal" all at once inevitably brought a bit of an adjustment.
The seven properties on the list were all preexisting homes, none brand-new, and their prices all fell within a specific range. Alfred had evidently communicated their criteria to Alaye beforehand.
Karen had no interest in renovating a new house for now; he wanted to move in as soon as possible.
The sheet also included hand-drawn floor plans, which Karen examined carefully.
"Alaye."
"Yes, sir?"
"Does this house in Linyin Community have an attic?"
"Yes, sir. The attic is bonus space, though it isn't very large. It only fits a desk to sit at, and you have to stoop when walking around, which feels quite oppressive.
"So I wouldn't strongly recommend it for you, as you don't have children. If you did, that room would make a very suitable nursery."
"Indeed."
Upon learning it wasn't a proper duplex, Karen lost interest in that property.
"Are you looking for a greater sense of space, sir?" Alaye asked, watching Karen's expression in the rearview mirror as he drove.
"Yes. I'd like something more spacious, even if only perceptually."
"If that's the case, the ones on this list will hardly meet your expectations. None of them are very large, mainly because they are all located in high-end neighborhoods. As you know, property prices are closely tied to the caliber of the community.
"However, there are other neighborhoods that are quite clean and tidy, with good security and respectable residents. While they can't rival luxury districts, and the commute takes longer, I believe their value for money is outstanding. Prices are much lower, and there are far more options.
"I misunderstood your initial requirements. I thought you were looking for an investment, but seeing that you've brought your luggage and pets along, it seems you want a home to live in yourself."
"Yes, I intend to live in it. I'm not considering investments for now."
"Do you need to commute to work? I get the impression your work doesn't carry heavy commuting pressure."
"No pressure of that sort for the moment."
"Then let me recommend another one..." Alaye pulled over to the side of the road and retrieved another sheet from his briefcase, with photographs tucked inside.
Karen took it and looked. It was a five-story apartment building. According to the hand-drawn sketch, the unit was on the third floor and was a classic duplex.
Alaye turned around and explained to Karen, "The floor area per story isn't exceptionally large, but it spans two levels. The common staircases run along the exterior walls on both sides, and because the unit sits on the end, going up and down is very convenient. Both the third and fourth floors can also have their own separate entryways.
"In addition, you have a private section on the rooftop terrace, tacitly divided among the top-floor residents. The previous owner built a flower planter and a sunroom on the roof, both of which will remain.
"Also, looking at the photos, while the furniture isn't brand-new, it's very well maintained. You can negotiate a very favorable lump-sum price to keep all of it, making it convenient to move right in.
"The layout is great too, with excellent natural light. Inside, the lower level has a kitchen and one bedroom, while the upper level has a study and another bedroom. There's plenty of extra space; if needed, you could easily partition another room on either floor.
"What's more, it's not far from a major supermarket, a pedestrian shopping street, and a cinema. The only drawback is that there's no tram stop nearby."
"So what you mean by 'not far' from the supermarket and pedestrian street is by car?"
Alaye smiled and nodded. "Yes, exactly, sir. It's very convenient by car, but public transit isn't well developed due to historical legacy issues."
"And this neighborhood is called... Blue Bridge Community?"
"Yes, that's right. My agency is in this very neighborhood, separated from the apartment building by just a narrow road."
"What about the price?"
"You needn't worry about the price at all. Compared to your original budget, this will cost less than half, even with the furniture included.
"The previous owner's son works for a colonial development company and now has his own small estate in the colony. The elderly couple has already moved out to join him, and they entrusted me to sell the property."
"They trust you that much?"
"Of course. Ask around Blue Bridge Community—my reputation and character are beyond reproach."
"Let's go have a look, then."
"Right away, sir!"
Alaye restarted the car with enthusiasm.
Alfred asked him with a note of skepticism, "Which agency do you actually work for?"
"It's like this, sir: I run a small agency of my own, but I also do contract work for the big agencies because they hold the high-end listings. When you called asking them to assist you, they probably found it too troublesome and passed the job to me."
Hearing this, Alfred immediately turned to Karen in the backseat. "Young Master, it was my oversight."
Alaye kept his polite smile throughout.
Karen shook his head. "I think Alaye is very attentive."
"Thank you for the compliment, Young Master," Alaye said, promptly adopting the new form of address.
Blue Bridge Community was not particularly remote. By the standards of Karen's previous life, it sat roughly around the Third Ring Road.
For the Third Ring of an imperial capital, that was respectable enough.
The awkward part was that York City had not expanded outward in neat concentric circles. Its most prosperous quarter—the downtown commercial core—sat right beside the harbor, along the sea.
Meanwhile, Blue Bridge Community's "Third Ring" location lay on the westernmost edge, which meant its status as a "Third Ring" property was heavily inflated.
As the car drove in, Karen noticed many small street vendors operating from stalls, giving the area a bustling, lively air. Because each booth had been planned and designed, the street did not appear chaotic; on the contrary, it felt orderly and regulated.
In addition, Karen saw many men and women dressed in workers' clothes walking along the street.
"Are there factories around here?" Karen asked.
"Young Master, there are several textile mills nearby. Rest assured, there is no chimney pollution. You could say this is where you'll find the cleanest air in York City."
As they ventured deeper, many passersby actively greeted Alaye, and he rolled down his window to wave back. Clearly, his local rapport was indeed excellent.
Finally, the car pulled up before a storefront bearing a sign: "Blue Bridge Real Estate Agency."
The door was unlocked. Inside, a woman was helping a child with schoolwork—presumably Alaye's wife and son.
Alaye got out, waved to them without stepping inside, and led Karen and the others across the street.
Their luggage remained in the car. Since it contained valuable notebooks, Kevin the golden retriever stayed behind to guard it.
Carrying Purr, Karen crossed the street alongside Alfred behind Alaye. In this neighborhood, the apartment complex projected an unmistakable air of quality. It comprised six buildings, with a security guard posted at the entrance.
Alaye went over to greet the guard, then returned to usher Karen and his group inside. The landscaping was decent. There was no underground garage, but fortunately, the open ground space was generous, so parking would be no trouble.
"The developer of this complex was the Allen Consortium. While they aren't the largest developer in York City, they have always placed great emphasis on brand reputation and word of mouth."
Hearing "Allen Consortium," Karen and Alfred instinctively exchanged a glance.
Yet it had to be a mere coincidence. Karen had cautioned Bede, and Bede had promised not to intervene secretly or gift him a property; Bede wasn't foolish enough to force a favor to the point of causing disgust.
One could only say that the Allen Consortium was a vast enterprise, and purely by chance, Karen had crossed paths with one of their projects.
Taking the exterior side stairs up to the third floor, Alaye took out a key and unlocked the door. Inside, they found the apartment spotlessly clean, its décor and furnishings creating a very comfortable ambiance.
Purr even swished her tail, visibly finding it unexpectedly agreeable.
The lower level held a small kitchen, a cozy living room, a bedroom, and a washroom.
The kitchenware and the bedding in the bedroom had not been cleared away; everything remained in place.
"I suggested to the former owners that they leave as much as possible," Alaye said. "They couldn't take it with them anyway, and selling it wouldn't fetch much. Leaving it behind gives prospective buyers a much better impression, which makes negotiating the price far easier."
Karen nodded, carrying Purr up to the second level.
The staircase was spiral. At the top was a small sitting area furnished with a coffee table and chairs. Further in lay the master bedroom. With south-facing windows, it was spacious and decorated primarily in coffee tones.
Stepping back out, Karen entered the study opposite. Its windows faced north, and the desk, bookcases, floor lamp, and sofa bed were all tastefully arranged.
It was evident that the former owner had been a person of refined taste.
"Are the books included as well?" Karen asked.
"The gentleman took all the books he wanted with him and left the rest behind. As you know, old books... don't bring in much money either, haha."
Karen pulled out the chair behind the desk and sat down.
Subconsciously, he pulled open the center drawer beneath the desk. It was completely empty except for a single letter.
"Is this a letter left by the previous owner?" Karen asked.
"Yes, for the next owner."
Karen picked up the envelope. It had already been unsealed, and once opened, the letter showed signs of having been read by several people—presumably prior house-hunters.
"Dear unknown friend,
"Thank you for being willing to let your life continue warming this home of mine. I have deep affection for this house, as it holds the most beautiful memories of my life with my wife and son..."
Much of the middle section consisted of the former owner's reminiscences about his time in the home, along with details regarding daily life and the furnishings. Karen skimmed through it.
Until he reached the closing blessing at the very end.
Karen's eyes narrowed slightly.
For the blessing left by the previous owner read:
*May the Light forever imbue your life and guard your faith.*
Mr. Hoffen's notebooks contained numerous records concerning the Church of Light—all of which were taboo material.
Karen recalled that, similar to his own incantation before casting Church of Order spells—*O great God of Order...*—the chanting style of the Church of Light held a similar passage:
*O great God of Light, may You bestow Your light to imbue my life and guard my most devoted faith in You...*
After which a basic spell could follow.
So, had the previous owner simply read those words somewhere, taken a liking to them, and adopted them, or was he himself an adherent of the Church of Light?
At the very least, it proved this house truly had nothing to do with the Allen family. They wouldn't dare touch the taboo of the Church of Light, let alone joke about it.
Other clerics might have found this utterly repulsive or forbidden, but Karen was an exception—after all, his grandfather back home was fond of cursing the God of Order as a whore's bastard.
Whether the former owner was a Church of Light devotee mattered little; what mattered was that Karen liked the layout and the interior decoration.
As for transportation, he could just have Alfred buy another car from the secondhand market. They weren't expensive anyway.
"I'd like to check the roof as well."
"Of course, of course. Right this way, please."
Karen went up to the rooftop. Unauthorized structures were rampant up here; almost every top-floor resident had fenced off a patch of territory. Consequently, privacy was excellent. A brick wall separated Karen's section of the roof from the neighbor's.
To the north sat numerous potted plants.
"The potted plants were left behind by the former owner as well. My wife and I have been taking turns watering them lately."
Karen nodded and opened the sunroom door. The space inside wasn't large, holding a small tea table and two rattan chairs. In the southernmost corner stood a child's wooden rocking horse that swung back and forth when mounted.
It must have been a childhood toy of the elderly couple's son, as the paint on the little horse had largely faded away, leaving only patchy flecks behind.
It was easy to picture how the couple had once loved lounging here in the sun, watching their child rock on the wooden horse. However, the sunroom's glass roof was currently covered with a black cloth, making the interior somewhat dim.
Alfred touched the glass door and remarked with confusion, "Young Master, this glass seems rather unusual."
Purr leapt from Karen's arms, unsheathed her claws, and scratched at the glass pane above. Landing back down, she looked at her paws with a puzzled expression.
"Is there something wrong?" Karen asked, inquiring whether there was any danger.
"No," Alfred answered.
"Meow." Purr also swished her tail.
"Young Master, shall I pull the cloth back so you can experience it?" Alaye offered.
"If you would, please."
"No trouble at all, Young Master. You see, there are four hooks on the exterior wall of the sunroom holding the cloth in place. There are two ropes here—pulling one rope draws the cloth down, and pulling the other pulls it back over."
As Alaye spoke, he pulled one of the ropes, drawing the black cloth aside.
The gentle afternoon sunlight streamed in, but refracted through the glass, it struck Karen like the piercing morning sun blazing straight at him. Caught off guard, Karen's vision blurred under the intense glare, and he instinctively raised an arm to shield his eyes.
Beneath the shade of his arm, Karen looked toward the rocking horse in the corner ahead. Under this angle of light, the lingering paint on the horse vanished entirely, leaving only a pitch-black silhouette.
It looked just like a figure kneeling in prostration before him.
*Light Era: Overview of Mythology, Volume I, Chapter 3:*
"[The darkness before your eyes kneels to welcome the arrival of the dazzling light.]"
Chapter 113