"We've arrived, sir," the coachman reminded.
Reyn and Brisset stepped out before the villa. Hearing the coachman, Brisset looked at the ancient mansion and asked in surprise:
"Reyn, is this your house?"
"Our house," Reyn corrected with a smile.
Brisset froze for seconds. He had studied at the academy nearly half a year and was no longer the naive youth who'd never left his hometown. He had learned about the outside world.
Any property in the Silver Star District cost a fortune. A simple family couldn't buy a house here even after generations of toil.
Even with his modest knowledge, it was clear that the cost of such a massive villa was unimaginable. Not to mention buying it—even just renting it would run into hundreds of gold shields a year.
"Is the Public Security Bureau paying that much? How can you afford to rent such a fancy house?" Brisset muttered in astonishment.
"I'm not working at the Public Security Bureau anymore," Reyn explained, adding, "And this house isn't rented. I bought it."
Brisset froze in place.
Reyn, seeing his reaction, knew this was exactly what he'd expected.
Acquiring this villa had cost him no small effort.
The mansion was in the eastern part of the Silver Star District, on a street called Perfume Street, roughly halfway between the Wizards' Tower and the Ferreglen river. It wasn't the most prestigious area of the Silver Star District—more like solid middle class.
About a hundred families lived on the entire street, mostly wealthy traders and merchants, with only a few nobles or holders of knightly orders.
To commoners, Perfume Street was a symbol of high society, but in reality, it was still far from Longsand's ruling elite.
Reyn had paid nearly three thousand gold shields for the villa.
The previous owner was a merchant whose company was on the brink of bankruptcy, forcing him to sell the house to pay off debts. Reyn had chosen carefully, inspecting more than ten properties over the past few days before buying this villa complete with all its furniture and furnishings, changing almost nothing.
Along with the house, he'd inherited the servants.
But the previous owner had over a dozen servants—too many. Reyn had let most of them go.
Using the Eye of the Soul, he'd selected only four: a cook who prepared excellent meals, two quick-witted maids, and one honest, simple coachman.
At that moment, a man in his early forties emerged from the house. Dressed like a manager, he bowed respectfully.
"Welcome home, sir."
Reyn nodded and introduced, "Maliel, this is my younger brother, Brisset."
Maliel immediately greeted him politely. "Master Brisset."
Brisset, who had never been addressed that way before, was flustered and mumbled something in response.
"Come on, let's take a look around," Reyn said, clapping Brisset on the shoulder to help him relax.
Maliel led the way ahead.
Reyn glanced at the manager's back and nodded in satisfaction.
This manager hadn't come from the villa's previous owner; Reyn had asked Kenji to recommend someone. Now that his family would live in the Silver Star District and enter the nobility, he'd need help with etiquette and household matters from an experienced manager.
Kenji had suggested three candidates. Reyn had met each one personally and chosen Maliel.
Maliel had worked as a manager for over twenty years, knew the rules and customs of high society inside out, was efficient, and nearly flawless in his duties.
Maliel himself was long married, owned a home in the Honiton district, and was raising two children. His family life could be called happy and stable, and his temperament balanced and calm. Most importantly, Reyn had secretly checked him with the Eye of the Soul: Maliel wasn't ambitious and was trustworthy. That sealed the choice.
Maliel's salary was three gold shields a month—a bit above average for a manager. He also got five days off per month, scheduled with his employer's approval.
But it was worth it.
In just two or three days, Maliel had brought order among the servants, given Reyn several useful tips, and made no mistakes.
As for any possible connection between Maliel and Kenji, it didn't worry Reyn.
Kenji was now fully tied to the Silver Star Company; their interests aligned, and he was unlikely to act against Reyn.
Besides, there were no secrets in Reyn's house, so even if Kenji learned something, it wouldn't matter.
Entering the villa, Reyn gave Brisset a tour.
The house was quite old, over a thousand square meters, with three floors and more than twenty rooms, but it was in excellent condition.
The previous owner had spent a fortune on renovations a few years after buying it. He had good taste: the interior wasn't ostentatiously luxurious but restrained and antique. It felt cozy and lived-in—perfect for a family.
Behind the house lay a small garden and a training ground.
Reyn had ordered only this ground reworked. As a Superhuman, he needed a place to train.
The ground was fully equipped with the necessary gear and weapons.
"Reyn, are we going to live here now?" Brisset asked, still in disbelief.
"Of course."
Standing on the training ground, Reyn pointed to several third-floor windows. "You can pick any of those rooms for your bedroom."
"Awesome!"
Brisset couldn't hold back his excitement. He'd never lived in such a wonderful house in his life.
It was close to the academy—less than half an hour on foot, even faster by bicycle.
Once the initial thrill faded, Brisset grew even more curious: where had Reyn gotten all that money?
Though he didn't know the villa's exact price, he guessed it was at least two thousand gold—not counting the manager, servants, and carriage upkeep. Only nobles could afford that life.
The servants' salaries alone were enormous.
After hesitating, he asked, "Reyn, where'd the money come from? Even as a Superhuman, you couldn't earn that much in half a year, right?"
"Don't worry about it. The money was earned honestly. You'll find out later," Reyn changed the subject. "Right now, I have a task for you."
"What?" Brisset asked.
"Go home and bring back Father, Mother, the whole family."
"Got it," Brisset agreed immediately, but added doubtfully, "Why not bring them yourself? Besides, Father works at the mill every day—he can't leave even for a day. If he leaves town, he'll probably yell that we're pulling him from work. Karlodi and Cassie are studying too. Why bring them here?"
Reyn paused.
He'd considered fetching the family himself, but... he didn't want to return to Iglmarsh.
Last time he'd been in that town, he'd been overwhelmed by a flood of others' memories, clouding his thinking. Iglmarsh—once his home—was now the strangest place.
If he could avoid it, he'd never go back.
Reyn knew subconsciously he didn't want to meet this world's family in Iglmarsh. Longsand would be easier.
He could hide a lot.
"Brisset, you know things are tense between Father and me right now. Seeing me, he won't say anything nice," Reyn voiced his pre-planned excuse. "I don't want to argue. Better you go instead."
Understanding dawned on Brisset's face. He asked again, "What do I tell Father? You want the whole family to move to Longsand? He won't agree."
"Just tell him I'm about to be knighted as a baron. He'll come for sure," Reyn replied calmly.
"A baron!"
Brisset cried out. "Reyn, you're serious? You'll be nobility?"
"Yes," Reyn nodded with a smile. "The knighting ceremony is next week, on God's Birth Festival."
"Goddess be merciful! Oh heavens..."
Brisset jumped with excitement. If Reyn became a noble, he'd get a surname. And as Reyn's brother, so would he—entering the nobility!
"I'll be nobility too!" he muttered, recalling academy aristocrats. Just their status gave privileges. Mention their name anywhere, and everyone showed respect.
Even academy teachers treated noble kids differently.
Brisset had envied them before. He never imagined he'd become one.
After a while, he calmed down, but curiosity won: what had happened to Reyn in these six months?
Not only had he become a Superhuman, but he was about to get a baronial title!
It was like a fairy tale, hard to believe.
Reyn read his brother's thoughts and smiled. "Don't ask more. When Father and Mother arrive in Longsand, I'll tell you everything. Head back after lunch tomorrow—take the ship. I'll send the carriage to meet you at the docks."
With that, he handed Brisset a stack of banknotes for travel expenses.
"Got it—I'm off now," Brisset left excitedly.
Reyn watched him go, then boarded the carriage himself and headed to the Silver Star Academy. Lately, besides buying the villa, he hadn't neglected "copying" books from the Great Library.
Thanks to tireless effort, he'd already copied most of the library's collection onto his phone.
Mostly minor books or those unrelated to magic and supernatural powers remained. But by habit, he stopped by daily.
He had another goal too.
He'd secretly tried to learn Phyllis's whereabouts. To his surprise, she'd left a few days ago.
More precisely, three days after the Galloways' murder.
Phyllis hadn't gone alone—with her mentor and the entire delegation from the Floating City of Pallas. The magic exchange had ended, and they'd all left Longsand.
Reyn wasn't sure: had Phyllis suspected something?
What puzzled him most was the Duke of Red Stone posing as Winslow's mentor. Had he achieved his goal infiltrating Longsand? Or abandoned the plan and left early?
Still, the news relieved Reyn. Viola seemed safe, and he no longer needed to fear Phyllis's schemes secretly.
The next day at noon, Reyn waited at his villa's gates on Perfume Street.
Soon the carriage returned.
Brisset jumped out first and opened the door. A middle-aged man and woman emerged, followed by two teens—a boy and a girl.
Bad stood over one hundred eighty centimeters tall, sturdy build. His medium-length black hair was neatly combed back. He wore a well-fitted shirt, brown vest over it, black trousers, and polished leather shoes. Clearly, he'd prepared meticulously for the trip.
His face resembled Reyn's a bit, but coarser: high cheekbones and deep-set eyes disrupted the harmony.
Because of that, he wasn't as handsome as his three sons. Gray at the temples and forehead wrinkles gave him a somewhat weary look, but not without dignity.
His lively gaze marked him as perceptive.
Marinda was nearing forty. Ruddy-cheeked, with neatly pinned hair tied back with a blue silk ribbon, she wore a simple but neat black dress that lent her an air of refinement.
No longer young, with crow's feet at her eyes, her features remained beautiful and refined, her demeanor gentle. Clearly, she'd been a real beauty in her youth.
Reyn had seen them from afar at the town's edge.
Today he examined this world's parents up close for the first time. "Luckily, all three brothers take after Marinda," he thought, "especially me, inheriting the best traits from both."
Among the brothers, he was the handsomest.
Cassie, the stepdaughter, was cute but differed from the rest.
Reyn stepped forward. "Father, Mother." Then, smiling at the younger ones, "Karlodi, Cassie."
The family stared, hardly recognizing him.
Karlodi and Cassie even looked scared and hid behind their parents.
Bad and Marinda studied the tall man before them, eyes wide with amazement. Before the trip, Brisset had told them Reyn had changed.
But not this much!
Bad could scarcely believe this was his son—the once unremarkable eldest.
He eyed Reyn searchingly. Before, Reyn would've averted his gaze, but this man met it steadily, calmly, exuding extraordinary dignity.
Even as an ordinary man, Bad sensed his unique aura.
An extremely powerful Superhuman!
Marinda was doubtful too. After seconds, she whispered, "Goddess be merciful!"
"Reyn?" Bad had many questions and reproaches ready, but now managed only his son's name uncertainly.
Reyn nodded and smiled. "Don't stand in the street—come in."
The waiting manager Maliel bowed. "Master Bad, Madam Marinda, young masters, I've prepared rooms for you. Please follow me."