Chapter 112: Buying a House

Chapter 112: Buying a House

The Allen family's chauffeur dropped Karen and the others off at a suburban gas station, and at Alfred's urging, turned the car back toward the manor.

Near the gas station was a small supermarket and a fast-food joint; Karen chose one, and because they had a cat and a dog with them, they picked a quiet corner seat.

Four cups of coffee were brought out first, and Pu'er leaned in to take a lick before sticking out her feline tongue in profound discontent: Hmph, the taste of cheap instant.

Karen reached out and patted Pu'er on the head, saying:

"I find it hard to believe that back when you were with the Inmeles family, Dis would brew coffee for you."

Pu'er pouted her lips and turned her head away.

The young lady had just stayed at home for a while, enjoying high-grade treatment, and now it was hard to transition from luxury to frugality.

Soon, three simple meals were served.

The only difference between this simple meal and a rice bowl with toppings was that the dish wasn't actually placed on top of the rice.

There was rice, and beside it were fried chicken nuggets and a thick tomato ketchup soup.

Alfred had chosen the same simple meal as Karen, while Kevin the golden retriever was given three double-meat hamburgers to devour;

As for Pu'er, she had the eel meal, which was the most expensive among all the sets.

Only Pu'er ate in sheer agony, and this wasn't her intentionally picking faults; Karen himself could smell the fishy odor wafting from her dish, likely because very few people ordered this set, meaning the ingredients weren't fresh, or perhaps the owner had forgotten how to cook this damn eel.

However, Karen felt that the fried chicken nuggets in front of him tasted quite good, and though the rice wrapped in tomato ketchup soup had a slightly strange sweet-and-sour edge, it served perfectly to neutralize the greasiness of the chicken.

Though thinking this way might invite suspicion of affectation, Karen truly felt that this meal was far more fragrant than the exquisite Allen family dishes Alfred brought in punctually every day.

The chefs of the Allen estate made authentic Wien aristocratic cuisine, which felt like having various precious ingredients transformed into nutritional meals and placed before you;

You wouldn't get the sensation of enjoying food, but would instead have a clear realization of exactly which bodily nutrients you were ingesting during this meal.

After finishing lunch, Karen and the others walked out of the fast-food joint, and parked at the exit of the gas station ahead was a blue "Pons" sedan, an old model, likely second-hand, worth about ten thousand Reals, considered the lowest tier of business class.

"It's the agent's car," Alfred said.

Because Karen didn't want to stay in a hotel, Alfred had simply called up an agent to come and pick them up to go view houses.

The real estate agent was a middle-aged man, slightly stout, with a round face that didn't look greasy.

He first eagerly helped put the luggage into the car, then bypassed Alfred—who had contacted him directly—and handed his business card to Karen.

"It is my honor to serve you."

Karen picked up his business card and took a look; the name was Aleya Qiu.

His position was: General Manager of the York City District for Blue Bridge Real Estate Agency.

Instinctively, Karen felt that this Blue Bridge Real Estate Agency shouldn't have many branches.

"Mr. Qiu..."

"You can just call me Aleya."

"Aleya, thank you for your trouble," Karen said with a smile.

"You are too kind."

Alfred still took the front passenger seat, while Karen sat in the back with a cat and a dog.

"This is the list I compiled based on your requirements; you can take a look and see where you plan to view first," Aleya handed a printed sheet to Karen.

Karen took it and scanned it; he had a habit of looking at the largest areas first.

Unfortunately, among the seven on the list, the largest area was only ninety square meters.

Of course, ninety square meters wasn't small, but back in Luojia City he lived in a detached villa, and at the Allen estate he lived in a detached ancient castle; suddenly reverting to "normal" made it inevitable to feel a bit unaccustomed.

The seven houses on the list were all second-hand, with no new builds, and the prices were all within a specific range, showing that Alfred had already relayed all the requirements to Aleya beforehand.

Karen had no interest in renovating a new house for the time being; he hoped to move in as soon as possible.

The list also contained hand-drawn floor plans, and Karen studied them carefully once more.

"Aleya."

"Yes, sir?"

"Does this house in the Shady Lane community have an attic?"

"Yes, sir, the attic is a bonus area, but that attic isn't large; it can only fit a desk for someone to sit at, and when walking, you have to bend down, which gives a rather oppressive feeling.

So I don't highly recommend you choose this one, because you don't have children; if you had children, this room would be very suitable to use as a child's bedroom first."

"Indeed."

Upon learning it wasn't a duplex, Karen's interest in this house waned.

"Are you looking for something with a greater sense of space?" Aleya asked, observing Karen's expression through the rearview mirror while driving.

"Yes, I hope for something spacious, even if it's just in terms of feeling."

"If that's the case, then the ones on my list will find it hard to meet your requirements; their areas aren't very large, mainly because these houses are all within high-end communities, and as you know, house prices are clearly linked to the quality of the neighborhood.

However, some communities are actually quite clean and tidy, with very good public security and high-quality residents; though they can't compare to high-end communities and the commute time is a bit longer, I think the cost-effectiveness is excellent, the prices will be cheaper, and there's a wider range of choices.

I misunderstood your previous requirements; I thought you intended to invest, but now it seems you want it for your own residence, since you brought along your luggage and pets."

"Yes, I want it for my own residence; as for investment, I don't intend to consider it for now."

"Do you need to commute to work? I get the feeling your job doesn't carry a particularly heavy commuting burden."

"No such pressure for the time being."

"Then let me recommend another one to you..." Aleya pulled the car over to the curb, took out another sheet from his briefcase, and tucked inside the sheet were photographs.

Karen took it and glanced over, finding that it was a five-story apartment; according to the hand-drawn blueprints, this flat was on the third floor, and it was a typical duplex.

Aleya turned around, looking at Karen as he introduced it:

"The single-floor area of this flat isn't particularly large, but it has two floors, upper and lower; the public staircases are on both outer sides, and the flat is right on the corner, so entering and leaving is very convenient, and both the third and fourth floors can be turned into open layouts.

In addition, the balcony has your own exclusive area, which is allocated by default by the residents living on the top floor; the previous owner built a flower terrace on the top floor and also set up a sunroom, all of which will be preserved.

Furthermore, look at the photos; though the furniture isn't new, it is well-maintained, and all this furniture can be negotiated down to a very good price to be bought and kept, making it convenient for you to move straight in.

The layout is also excellent, lighting is not a problem, and regarding the internal structure, the first floor has a kitchen and a room, while the second floor has a study and a room; there is plenty of surplus area, and if you need, you can completely partition off another room for yourself upstairs or downstairs.

And it's not far from the large supermarket, the pedestrian street, and the cinema; the only issue is that there is no tram station nearby."

"So what you mean is, the short distance to places like the supermarket and pedestrian street refers to driving?"

A smile appeared on Aleya's face, and he nodded, saying, "Yes, you are quite right; driving is very convenient, but public transport is not perfect due to some issues left over from history."

"The name of this community is... Blue Bridge Community?"

"Yes, exactly, my company is in this community, just across a small road from this apartment building you are looking at."

"What about the price?"

"You don't need to worry about the price; according to the budget you gave beforehand, it can be reduced by a full half, and that is still on the basis of keeping the furniture.

The son of the previous owner works in a colonial development company and now has his own small estate in the colony; the elderly couple who owned it have already gone to join their son, and they entrusted me to sell the house."

"They trust you that much?"

"Of course, if you ask around the Blue Bridge community, you will find my reputation and character are completely beyond reproach."

"Let us go and have a look, then."

"Splendid."

Aleya restarted the car with renewed enthusiasm.

Alfred, harborings some doubt, turned to him. "Which agency do you actually belong to?"

"It is like this, sir. I have a small agency of my own, but I often take on work for the larger firms because they hold the high-end listings.

When you called for them to receive you, they likely found it too much trouble, so they passed the assignment along to me."

Upon hearing this, Alfred immediately turned to Karen, who sat in the rear seat.

"Young Master, it was my oversight."

Aleya maintained his pleasant smile despite hearing the remark.

Karen shook his head and said, "I find Aleya to be quite meticulous."

"Thank you for your kind words, Young Master," Aleya replied, immediately adopting the new form of address.

The Blue Bridge community was not particularly remote; by the standards of Karen’s previous life, it would roughly equate to a location within the third ring road.

For the third ring of an imperial capital, it was respectable enough.

The only slightly awkward aspect was that York City did not expand outward in concentric circles; its most prosperous district—the so-called downtown commercial hub—lay beside the harbor, bordering the sea.

The third ring where the Blue Bridge community sat happened to be on the westernmost fringe, making this particular "third ring" rather inflated in value.

As the vehicle rolled in, Karen observed numerous shantytown street vendors lining the roadside. The scene was lively, yet because each stall had been planned and designed, it did not appear chaotic, possessing instead a certain sense of order.

Furthermore, Karen noticed many men and women dressed in laborers' attire walking along the streets.

"Are there factories nearby?" Karen inquired.

"Young Master, there are several textile mills in the vicinity. Rest assured, there is no chimney pollution here; this place can rightly be called the area with the cleanest air in York City."

As they ventured deeper, many pedestrians began greeting Aleya of their own accord. Aleya rolled down the window to return their greetings; evidently, his local popularity was genuine.

At last, the car pulled up before a storefront bearing a sign that read "Blue Bridge Real Estate Agency."

The door was unlocked, and inside, a woman was helping a child with his schoolwork—presumably Aleya's wife and son.

Alighting from the car, Aleya waved to them but did not step inside to speak, choosing instead to lead the now-dismounted Karen and his companions across the street.

The luggage was left in the vehicle for the time being; since it contained precious notebooks, the golden retriever remained behind to keep guard.

Karen, cradling Purr alongside Alfred, followed Aleya across the avenue toward an apartment complex that exuded an air of exclusivity relative to its surroundings. It comprised six buildings, with a security guard posted at the entrance.

Aleya went ahead to speak with the guard, then returned to usher Karen’s party inside. The landscaping was decent, and though it lacked an underground parking garage, the ground-level open space was vast enough that parking presented no difficulty.

"The developer of this apartment complex is the Allen Consortium. While they are not the largest developer in York City, they have always placed great emphasis on their brand and reputation."

At the mention of the "Allen Consortium," Karen and Alfred instinctively exchanged a glance.

Yet it was likely a mere coincidence; Karen had cautioned Bede, and Bede had promised not to surreptitiously arrange the gift of a house, nor would he be so foolish as to perform a favor to the point of provoking distaste.

It could only be said that the Allen Consortium’s enterprise was so vast that, by pure happenstance, he had crossed paths with it.

Ascending to the third floor via the side staircase, Aleya produced a key and unlocked the door. Stepping inside, they found the interior spotlessly clean, with the decor and arrangement of furniture imparting a deep sense of comfort.

Purr even gave a wag of her tail, evidently finding the place unexpectedly agreeable.

The first floor consisted of a small kitchen, a modest sitting room, a bedroom, and a washroom.

The utensils in the kitchen and the linens in the bedroom had not been removed; everything remained intact.

"I suggested to the original owner that they leave as much as possible. After all, they could not take it with them, nor would it fetch much of a price if sold. It was better to leave it all to give prospective buyers a finer impression, making price negotiations smoother later on."

Karen nodded, carrying Purr up to the second floor.

The staircase was spiral; upon reaching the top, they found a small tea area furnished with chairs and a low table. Further in lay the master bedroom, which faced south, spacious and decorated primarily in warm coffee tones.

Stepping back out, Karen entered the study opposite. Its window faced north, and the room was excellently appointed with a desk, bookcases, a floor lamp, and a sofa bed.

It was clear that the original owner had been a person of considerable taste.

"Are the books included as well?" Karen asked.

"The original owner took the volumes he wished to keep; the remainder were left behind. As you know, old books... do not fetch much money, heh."

Karen pulled out the chair behind the desk and sat down.

Instinctively, he opened the central drawer beneath the desktop. It was empty save for a single letter.

"Is this a letter left by the original owner?" Karen inquired.

"Yes, left for the next master of the house."

Karen picked up the envelope, which had long since been unsealed. Upon opening it, he realized it had likely been read by several people before him—presumably previous prospective tenants.

"Dear Unknown Friend,

Thank you for being willing to continue warming this house with your life. I hold a deep affection for this place, for it holds the most beautiful memories of life for myself, my wife, and my son..."

Much of the middle section consisted of the original owner describing his history with the house, along with details of daily life and furnishings, which Karen skimmed through quickly.

His eyes lingered, however, upon the closing blessing at the very end.

Karen's gaze narrowed slightly.

For the blessing left by the original owner read:

May the Light forever imbue your life and safeguard your faith.

Mr. Hoffen's notebooks contained numerous accounts regarding the Church of Light, all of which were forbidden material.

Karen recalled that, much like the incantation he used before employing the arts of the Church of Order: *O Great God of Order...*

The incantation style of the Church of Light contained a similar passage, which ran: *O Great God of Light, may You send down Your light to imbue my life and safeguard my most loyal faith to You...*

Following that, one could initiate rudimentary arts.

Thus, had the original owner simply come across similar words somewhere, taken a liking to them, and adopted them for use, or was the original owner himself a believer in the Church of Light?

At the very least, this confirmed that the house had nothing to do with the Allen family; they would never dare touch the taboo of the Church of Light, let alone jest with it.

Any other clergyman might have found this deeply unsettling.

But Karen was an exception; after all, his own household included a grandfather who enjoyed cursing the God of Order as the offspring of a harlot.

Whether the original owner was a follower of the Church of Light mattered little; what mattered was that Karen favored this layout and took a liking to the decor.

As for the matter of transport, he could simply have Alfred purchase another vehicle from the used car market; it would not be expensive anyway.

"I should like to look at the rooftop."

"Of course, of course, right this way, please."

Karen walked up to the roof. The unauthorized constructions on the rooftop were extensive; nearly every top-floor resident had enclosed a plot of land, which consequently afforded excellent privacy. Karen's section of the roof was separated from the neighbors by a brick wall.

To the north stood numerous potted plants.

"The potted plants were also left by the original owner. My wife and I have been responsible for watering them of late."

Karen nodded and opened the door to the sunroom. The space inside was not large, containing a small tea table and two wicker chairs, while in the southernmost corner sat a rocking horse that children enjoy playing on, designed to swing back and forth when a child sat upon it.

This must have been the elderly couple's son's childhood toy, for the paint on the little wooden horse had long since faded away to almost nothing, leaving only a few mottled patches behind.

It was plain to see that the former owners had once loved lying here, basking in the sun while watching their child play upon the horse; however, the sunroom's roof was currently draped with a black cloth, rendering the interior somewhat dim and gloomy.

Alfred, meanwhile, brushed his hand against the glass door, a note of perplexity in his voice:

"Young master, this glass material... it seems a bit peculiar."

Pu'er then leapt up from Karen’s embrace, unsheathed her claws, and gave the glass above a quick scrape before landing, looking at her own paws with a touch of bewilderment.

"Is there a problem?" Karen asked, implying whether there was any danger.

"None," Alfred replied.

"Meow," Pu'er agreed, giving her tail a flick.

"Young master, shall I pull the cloth down so you can see for yourself?" Alaye asked.

"If you wouldn't mind."

"It's no trouble, young master. Look, there are four hooks on the outer wall of the sunroom where this cloth is usually secured. There are two ropes here; pulling one draws the cloth away, while pulling the other unfurls it back over."

As Alaye spoke, he tugged on one of the ropes, and the black cloth slid down.

The soft afternoon sunlight poured inside, but filtered through the refraction of the glass, Karen felt as though the piercing glare of early dawn was striking him directly. Caught completely off guard, his vision blurred momentarily, forcing him to instinctively raise his arm as a shield.

Beneath the shadow of his arm, Karen looked toward the wooden horse resting in the distant corner. Under this particular angle of light, the remaining color of the horse was entirely wiped away, leaving nothing but a stark, dark silhouette.

It looked precisely like a person, kneeling prostrate before him.

The Age of Light—An Overview of Mythology, Volume I, Chapter III: 【The darkness before one's eyes kneels in welcome to the approaching, dazzling light.】