Chapter 5: The Prodigal Son

Chapter 5: The Prodigal Son

If the eastern half of Canlight City represented its bright and prosperous side, with the palace, noble districts, various church cathedrals, and commercial areas clustered in the east, then the west was where the lower classes resided, with ordinary residential areas, workshops, and dilapidated neighborhoods intermingled.

Among these, 16th Street in the west was one of the most neglected and rundown places, so much so that even the patrol officers usually couldn't be bothered to glance at it, naturally making it a gathering place for some gangs and homeless people.

However, that day, 16th Street was somewhat different. The sound of "clattering" wheels approached as a beautifully decorated four-wheeled carriage pulled by two tall horses slowly entered the street.

The low houses by the street appeared especially dilapidated, with their dark doors and windows tightly closed, seemingly expressing unwelcome to outsiders.

Even the beggars by the roadside hurriedly shrank aside, afraid to provoke the noble person sitting in the carriage.

As the carriage wheels rolled over gravel and mud, Bend disdainfully glanced at the homeless lying in the corners of the walls, flicking his whip, but feeling a bit sorry for the mud splashed on his carefully maintained horses and carriage.

Soon, the carriage stopped next to a two-story house. Bend carefully jumped down from the carriage, took out a footstool, and placed it properly before opening the carriage door.

"Master William, we've arrived. Please be careful."

"Thank you, Bend."

William stepped down from the carriage, looking around at the dilapidated streets that were exactly as he remembered them. Someone visiting here for the first time might not have recognized that this and the bright and shiny districts in the east were only half a city apart.

William looked at the brick and stone cottage and the metal door in front of him, which clearly differed from the surroundings, and smiled lightly before habitually knocking on the door loudly with a "clang clang clang."

After knocking for a long time without a response, William frowned.

That's not right. In the past, Old Man Jack would have come out to scold someone by now for such knocking. Why was there no response this time?

At that moment, a small wooden window across the street quietly opened a crack, and a timid eye peeked out, whispering to William:

"If you're looking for Uncle Jack, he's gone out and won't be back for a month."

After speaking, the window was immediately shut with a "bang," as if there were some kind of flood beast outside.

Why did they seem so afraid of me?

William felt several gazes secretly watching him, which then disappeared.

Looking down at his clothes, he suddenly realized.

In his previous life's game, he aimed for maximum profit, pinching every penny (being stingy) and not spending big money on clothes like those entertainment players, so he hadn't realized what his attire and accompanying carriage meant on 16th Street.

It seemed he needed to change into ordinary clothes next time and not come by carriage anymore.

William silently planned, though Old Man Jack wasn't there, it wasn't entirely without gain.

"So, that future Shadow Death now lived across the street!"

---

Ashley patted her chest, having finally mustered the courage to speak, only to exhaust it after a single sentence. If it hadn't been for Uncle Jack asking her to notify those looking for him, she would never have dared to speak to such intimidating-looking people.

After waiting a while and hearing the sound of the carriage leaving, Ashley carefully opened the window again, saw the carriage shaking off into the distance, and finally felt at ease.

"Ashley, you did great. The task Uncle Jack asked for help with wasn't so difficult after all!"

Was that person a noble?

He must have been, only nobles dressed so neatly and cleanly. She had never seen such a beautiful carriage before, with a silver-white eagle spread its wings on it.

But that person hadn't seemed as scary as Aunt Anna said. Did nobles really snatch girls like her to eat?

Ashley's little head was full of big questions, not thinking too much before closing the window again.

When Aunt Anna wasn't around, she always locked the doors and windows tightly. Although it made the house very dark, Ashley wasn't scared at all, even liking the quietness in the shadows. The surrounding darkness actually gave her a sense of security.

---

Cain Family Mansion.

As William got down from the carriage, he saw the butler, Joyce, already waiting by the side, dressed impeccably in a black and white tailcoat with gold-rimmed glasses, even the angle of his bow was precise, the epitome of elegance.

"Joyce, come with me to the study."

"Yes, young master." Joyce perfectly adhered to the butler's rule of asking few questions and speaking cautiously, following William to the mansion's second floor.

Sitting behind the desk, William looked at Joyce standing by, speaking with the same tone as his predecessor:

"Joyce, what was the current situation with the family's business?"

Yes, William is the only remaining member of the Cain family. His predecessor was deeply engrossed in magic and left all management of the family's assets to the butler, Joyce, asking for whatever was needed directly from him.

However, Joyce is worthy of William's trust. Since the Cain family was ennobled, only spanning three generations and belonging to the newer nobility favored by the royal family, Joyce has served as the family's chief butler since the second Viscount Cain, never making a single mistake. It could be said that he knows the Cain family better than William, the current Viscount.

Joyce also personally raised William after his parents died when he was young, so naturally, William would not doubt Joyce's loyalty.

Although William rarely concerned himself with the family's operations, Joyce, without overthinking, pondered briefly before responding:

"Currently, the family's annual income is about 7,500 gold coins, of which 5,000 gold coins are royal stipends, income from three shops in the Fis district is about 2,000 gold coins per year, and the income from planting on two estates outside the city is about 500 gold coins."

"The normal annual expenses are about 4,800 gold coins, including 1,000 gold coins for the maintenance of the mansion and estates, around 300 gold coins for servant salaries, 1,000 gold coins for food and daily necessities, about 2,000 gold coins for maintaining the Cain family's social relations with the royal family and other nobles, and other expenses amount to about 500 gold coins."

Since the Cain family's title is that of a court viscount without actual landed estates, their main source of income is the annual stipend from the royal family.

William clicked his tongue in admiration, truly noble beginnings are different. He remembered how in his previous life, when he first started playing the game, he worked hard for several days on a quest only to be rewarded with 1 gold coin.

However, with high income comes high expenditure, most of which is spent on maintaining the noble facade of the family.

But this is unavoidable. As a court noble, living like a commoner would be considered an insult to the Fis royal family, with consequences ranging from punishment to the stripping of the noble title.

The class divide is clear, with nobles indeed living in extravagant luxury and indulgence!

William savored a sip of the hot chocolate that Rosie had just brought in, internally condemning the luxurious lifestyle of the nobility.

"How much savings does the family have now?"

William estimated that after three generations, there should be a substantial amount of wealth.

"Due to your recent years of purchasing many precious materials for magic research, the family, after this year's necessary expenses, has only about 500 gold coins left."

"Cough!!! " William choked on his hot chocolate.

Well, It turns out the prodigal is none other than me