“Jeanne, pack your things. We’re moving.”
Yue Wu stayed at the tavern until the afternoon, ultimately deciding to purchase a house in the town.
“Alright, Brother.”
Upon hearing this, Jeanne quickly rushed to gather their belongings. In truth, they possessed very little—just a few changes of Jeanne’s clothes.
“Jeanne, what kind of environment would you like to live in? The central district of the city? Or perhaps an area with gardens and a shopping street?”
Along the way, Yue Wu continuously asked Jeanne about her preferences and requirements for a home. Yet, Jeanne consistently offered him the same simple reply.
“As long as Brother likes it, I will like it too.”
“Well then, let’s go take a look first.”
Yue Wu was unfamiliar with the residential areas available in the border town of the Fashilan Kingdom. Ultimately, they decided to visit an agency that managed town housing.
“Hello, how can I help you?”
A portly, middle-aged male official, noticing their entrance, approached them unhurriedly and greeted Yue Wu.
“I’m looking for a house.”
“Everyone who comes here is looking for a house. Do you have any specific requirements?”
“I’d like a residence near a shopping street, preferably in the central district, and ideally with a garden or a park nearby.”
“Please wait a moment. I believe I might have something that fits your description.”
With that, the plump official unhurriedly moved towards the inquiry station to check. After Yue Wu and Jeanne had waited for nearly half an hour, the official finally returned to stand before them.
“There is indeed a house matching your description, but the price is substantial.”
“Money isn’t an issue. Where exactly is this place you’re referring to?”
“It’s in the best district of Saxony City, situated on the outskirts of the town center. The scenery there is beautiful, featuring a large garden-style park. Moreover, just two streets away lies Saxony’s most bustling shopping street, which sees a high volume of foot traffic. Many of the kingdom’s nobles reside in that area.”
“That sounds quite appealing.”
“Right? Coincidentally, only one set remains there. Would you be interested in purchasing it?”
“How much would it cost to acquire?”
“Twenty thousand gold coins.”
“Er, could the price be a little lower? I currently only have around eighteen or nineteen thousand.”
“That’s truly a shame. Twenty thousand is the absolute lowest price. The homeowner also explicitly stated that twenty thousand is the minimum and cannot be reduced further.”
The plump official shook his head, offering Yue Wu no opportunity to haggle over the price.
“Then, could I pay in installments?”
Seeing that the plump official remained unyielding on the price, Yue Wu recalled his past life’s experiences.
“Installments? Payment?”
The plump official seemed utterly bewildered.
“Exactly, installment payments.”
Yue Wu nodded.
“What does that mean?”
The official listened, utterly confused, having no idea what Yue Wu was referring to.
“It means paying off the total amount in several portions within a specified period.”
Yue Wu offered the plump official a simple explanation.
“That’s an interesting concept, but it’s still not possible.”
While the idea sounded novel, it was ultimately unfeasible.
“In that case, how about this? I have something that’s also worth twenty thousand gold coins.”
Yue Wu produced a purple agate and placed it before the plump official. The rich magical aura emanating from it instantly made the official forget how to speak, his eyes fixed intently on the gem.
“Well?”
Noticing the official’s dazed state, Yue Wu quickly roused him.
“Yes, yes, absolutely! Please, follow me over here.”
The plump official snatched up the purple agate, his heart pounding with immense excitement. He had never imagined his luck would be so extraordinary today.
‘A gem with such pure magical power! If I present this to His Majesty the King first, I’m certain I’ll receive even greater rewards.’
“You just need to sign your name here, and someone will escort you shortly.”
The plump official was already growing impatient, his sole desire to quickly present the gem to the King of the Fashilan Kingdom.
“Understood.”
Yue Wu nodded, then directly inscribed Jeanne D’Arc’s name onto the scroll.
“Jeanne D’Arc?”
The plump official glanced at the name written on the scroll.
“Brother, you!?”
Jeanne was utterly stunned to learn that Yue Wu had written her name on the scroll.
“Jeanne, you know I’m not from the European Continent, right? Since I’m not from here, it’s impossible for me to buy a house on this continent.”
Yue Wu casually fabricated an excuse to answer Jeanne, casting a quick glance at the plump official.
“Indeed, it’s stipulated across all continents that non-European Continent residents cannot purchase land here, unless they possess a special permit issued by the state.”
After a moment of hesitation, the plump official chose to cooperate with Yue Wu.
“Jeanne, you heard that.”
Yue Wu nodded gratefully to the plump official, thanking him for his cooperation.
“Then, Brother, will you live with me?”
Jeanne had been hesitating, constantly worrying that Yue Wu might suddenly abandon her and leave.
“Of course! You’re my sister. I’ll always stay with you, right until you get married.”
Observing Jeanne’s flustered expression, Yue Wu couldn’t help but chuckle.
“Mar… marrying, that’s not going to happen.”
Jeanne lowered her head, her face flushed crimson, and responded in a hushed whisper. However, Yue Wu hadn’t quite caught what she said.
“Alright, let’s go. To our new home.”
Yue Wu took Jeanne’s hand, and together they followed their guide towards their new residence.
Upon their arrival, the surrounding environment immediately made Jeanne’s eyes light up. As it was already evening, the streets were bustling with pedestrians and carriages, mostly carrying elegantly dressed nobles.
However, these sights weren’t what truly captivated Jeanne. What genuinely made her eyes sparkle was the new home they were about to move into. The house was only two stories high and not particularly spacious, yet it was more than enough for both Yue Wu and Jeanne.
Outside the front door, a small courtyard bloomed, its edges overflowing with various flowers and plants. An oval-shaped swing stood invitingly, and opposite it, a set of pristine white outdoor table and chairs awaited. In a corner, a small fountain gently sprayed water, completing the picturesque scene.
“Let’s go inside and have a look.”
Yue Wu gently patted Jeanne’s shoulder, a set of keys jingling in his hand. He playfully dangled them before her, producing a crisp metallic clinking sound.
Once Yue Wu and Jeanne had stepped inside the house, the person who had guided them there quietly departed.
“Wow! The view here is absolutely wonderful!”
From the second-floor balcony, Jeanne pushed open the French doors and stepped out. She gazed down at the bustling street below, a scene of carriages and pedestrians, and further ahead, the shopping street that was beginning to buzz with activity.
“Do you like it? This will be your room.”
Leaning against the doorframe, Yue Wu looked ahead. He resolved that whatever Jeanne desired, he would provide, even if her requests seemed a little extravagant.
“Yes!”
Jeanne turned around abruptly, embracing Yue Wu and burying herself completely in his arms.
“Brother, thank you. Thank you for giving me a home, for giving me a family.”
“I should be thanking you too.”
Yue Wu poured all the love and responsibility he had never given his own younger sister onto Jeanne, atoning for his past mistakes.
The evening sun gradually dipped below the horizon, and simultaneously, the streetlights flickered to life. More and more pedestrians began to pass by, as the bustling night street awakened to its full vibrancy.
“This place is so lively, it’s like paradise!”
Walking along the vibrant street, Jeanne continuously gazed around, her head turning from side to side. The sights and wares here were entirely new to her, and her fascination with these novelties was utterly natural.
“Is there anything you want?”
Yue Wu had witnessed far more prosperous shopping streets than this one; in his eyes, this street hardly compared. Although he did possess some money, it was specifically earmarked for buying Jeanne things and for her future academy enrollment fees.
“No, really, it’s fine.”
Jeanne quickly shook her head, declining. She knew that the items sold here were quite expensive, and even if purchased, they might not be useful. It was better to save, as she didn’t wish to burden Yue Wu financially.
“Then let’s go eat first. In this vast world, eating is the most important thing.”
“Oh, oh.”
“After dinner, we’ll go buy you some new clothes.”
“Do we really have to buy them?”
“Yes! We’ll buy Jeanne all sorts of clothes. You’ll look absolutely beautiful then.”
“No, no such thing.”
“Jeanne is shy.”
“I am not!”
“You are too! Look, your face is as red as a ripe apple.”
“It is not!”
“Jeanne, when you get mad, you’re unexpectedly adorable.”
“Really?”
“Guess.”
Along the way, Yue Wu and Jeanne laughed and teased each other playfully. Jeanne’s initial nervousness vanished instantly, replaced instead by a profound sense of contentment.
Finally, Yue Wu took Jeanne to a high-end music restaurant with exquisite decor. As Yue Wu pushed open the door and stepped inside, Jeanne stood at the entrance, hesitating.
In Jeanne’s eyes, the prices here would be exorbitant; a single meal would likely cost a fortune in gold coins. The thought made her reluctant to enter, yet Yue Wu was clearly going in, leaving her torn.
“Silly girl, come on in.”
Noticing Jeanne’s renewed hesitation, Yue Wu walked over, took her hand, and led her directly into the restaurant.
“Waiter, what do you recommend for tonight?”
Once they were seated, Yue Wu, quite accustomed to such establishments, immediately called for a waiter to place their order. Jeanne, however, kept her head bowed, too timid to even glance at the prices on the menu.
“We’ll have these then. Thank you.”
After placing the order and the waiter’s departure, Yue Wu leaned back against the table, propping his chin with his hand. He looked at Jeanne and chuckled.
“Silly girl, you can lift your head now. You need to get used to this, or people might laugh at you.”
“But I still can’t adapt.”
Jeanne cautiously glanced around. Everyone else was dining with such grace, which made Jeanne feel a sense of inferiority due to her humble origins.
“No rush. We can take our time.”
Yue Wu took out the wolf tooth necklace and presented it to Jeanne.
“Brother, this?”
Jeanne didn’t quite understand the meaning behind Yue Wu’s gesture.
“Take this. If you encounter danger, it can protect you. I’ve also enchanted it with several spells.”
It was clear that Yue Wu had made extensive preparations for Jeanne’s sake, fearing she might get hurt while out alone.
“But I have Brother with me.”
Jeanne smiled, for having her brother’s care was a truly blissful thing.