Michael stood in the doorway, his eyes fixed on Ace and Lia. "I have a task for you both," he said, his voice firm but controlled.
Ace and Lia exchanged a brief glance before nodding in unison. "Yes, sir?" Ace asked, his voice bright and attentive.
Michael's gaze narrowed slightly.
"I'm interested in purchasing a house in the outer city. Can you tell me more about the available options?"
This idea had come to Michael earlier in the day.
One should not forget that, thanks to the bandits, Michael was far from broke.
The thought had first crossed his mind in a funny way—he had realized that not only was he wealthy in Aurora, but his wealth seemed to follow him in the Land of Origin as well. And when he considered that he was moving to another area in Aurora, the idea naturally followed:
Why not get his own place?
Michael wasn't sure how much houses cost in this world, but the chests of silver, along with one containing gold coins, made him confident.
He doubted he could afford anything in the inner city—where a single meal likely cost a commoner's monthly income—but getting a place in the outer city should be possible.
As for why the bandits had so much money yet still looked poor, Michael suspected they had only recently acquired their wealth. The existence of the health potions in their stash seemed to hint at that.
Lia's expression remained cold and distant. "There are a few areas in the outer city where nobles can purchase houses, sir. The Golden District, the Silver District, and the Copper District are the most popular areas."
Ace added, his eyes lighting up with enthusiasm, "But, sir, the Golden District is the most expensive area. The houses there are luxurious and well-maintained, but they come with a hefty price tag."
Michael's eyes flicked to Ace, his expression unreadable. "What about the Silver District?" he asked, his voice neutral.
Lia's voice was detached, but informative. "The Silver District is a bit more affordable than the Golden District, sir. The houses there are still well-maintained, but they're not as luxurious. It's a popular area for nobles who want a comfortable but not overly extravagant lifestyle."
Ace chimed in, his voice full of excitement. "And the Copper District, sir! It's the most affordable area, but the houses there can be a bit... rough around the edges. However, it's a great option for nobles who want to invest in a property without breaking the bank."
Michael's gaze lingered on Ace and Lia, his expression thoughtful. "I want you both to look into these areas and find suitable properties for me. Report back to me tonight or tomorrow morning at the ground floor of the inn."
Lia nodded, his expression still cold and distant. "Yes, sir. We'll take care of it."
Ace responded too. "Don't worry, sir! We'll find the perfect property for you!"
As they turned to leave, Michael's eyes narrowed slightly, his gaze lingering on the two youths.
He could sense the difference in their attitudes - Lia's cold detachment and Ace's bright enthusiasm. It was an interesting dynamic, one that Michael did not intend to explore further.However, before the two could get further away, Michael stopped them.
As he spoke, he reached into his coat and retrieved two silver coins from his storage space.
Unlike before, he was no longer spending what Mage Lian had given him—this was his own earnings from the bandits.
"You take this, and you take this." He handed each of them a coin, his tone firm but calm. "I know you still have plenty left from the supplies we gathered, so keep it. This is your reward for your obedience, which has satisfied me. Continue , and there will be more in the future."
Michael believed in the stick-and-carrot approach.
From what he understood about this world, there was little chance they would try to escape, but people didn't always stay just because they were forced to. Sometimes, even in unfavorable situations, they remained because they believed it was worth it.
It felt manipulative—maybe even toxic—but Michael didn't feel guilty. He knew he hadn't mistreated them.
If anything, this was just ensuring that their loyalty—or at least their efficiency—remained intact.
After giving them their reward, Michael dismissed them with a casual wave of his hand.
Ace bowed deeply, a smile stretching across his face. "Thank you, sir! We'll make sure to find the best options for you!"
Lia nodded with a complicated expression on his face. "Understood."
Michael watched as they turned and disappeared down the hallway. Once they were gone, he closed the door and exhaled, rubbing his temples.
With that matter settled, he shifted his focus back to his main priority for the day—his meeting with Mage Lian.
According to Mage Lian, all Michael needed to do was visit any noble house with the token, and they would arrange for him to meet with Mage Lian.
A moment later, he stepped out of his room, descending the staircase of the inn and heading straight for the entrance.
The streets outside were already bustling with life. Merchants called out their wares, commoners hurried about their daily tasks, and the occasional armored patrol moved through the crowd, their presence maintaining order.
Michael's pace remained steady as he navigated through the streets, heading toward the gate of the inner city.The inner gate wasn't hard to locate, and with the token in his hand, gaining access inside wasn't difficult for Michael either.
However, once inside, he found himself a little lost.
He knew he needed to head toward a noble house, but the issue was that he didn't know any.
Ace and Lia wouldn't have been able to help either, as they had never stepped into the inner city in their entire lives.
In the end, Michael decided to try his luck by going deeper into the city, searching for the large houses with insignia flags.
During his last visit, he had taken note of a few.
If anything could be called a noble house, it had to be these establishments.