The Moretti Family (Part One)

After leaving Altair's room, Old Clayton went straight to the castle's telegraph room.

Not long after, Amos Clayton, who lived in Tingen City, received a telegram from his father:

"Go to the Import-Export Company, find Benson Moretti, and tell him to come to Morse Town tomorrow. Count Altair wants to see him."

After reading it, Amos's face showed an expression of disbelief. He put down the paper, rubbed his eyes, picked it up again, and looked at the contents of the telegram.

After confirming that he was not hallucinating, he could only shake his head helplessly, get up and go to the dressing room to change his clothes, and then take a carriage to the Import-Export Trading Company.

Amos knew perfectly well who Benson Moretti was, but his philosophy on raising Benson Moretti differed from his father's.

Old Clayton believed that although Benson Moretti came from humble beginnings and had a less-than-ideal education, he was hardworking, honest, kind, and polite, and as a descendant of soldiers, he deserved a chance.

Amos Clayton, on the other hand, believes that Benson Moretti is already a "former talent" and has lost his value for development.

Even if the training is successful, there's no guarantee that the investment will be recouped, especially since Benson himself is far too inefficient at "developing himself" and improving.

If it were just his father inviting him alone, Amos's carriage would be traveling back to the Morse Town, not to any Import-Export Company.

But the telegram had already stated that it was Count Altair who had summoned him, so he had no choice but to go to the company to inform Benson Moretti.

When the carriage arrived at the company gate, Amos, carrying his Cane, went directly into the Chairman's Office and then instructed someone to call Benson Moretti into his office.

Not long after, Benson Moretti knocked on the office door. Amos looked up and said, "Come in."

When the door opened, following Amos's gaze, one would see a person entering through the door. The person was simply dressed, but clean, neat, and appropriate. They had black hair, brown eyes, and regular features, but perhaps due to their receding hairline, their face looked older, appearing to be almost 30 years old.

Amos casually pointed to the seat next to him and said, "Sit anywhere. Coffee or tea?"

Benson paused for a moment, then instinctively replied, "Black tea is fine, thank you sir, no sugar."

After pouring the tea, Amos handed it to Benson, sat down, and asked, "Benson, you've been with the company for over a year now, haven't you?"

"Yes, sir." After saying that, Benson thought for a moment and added, "It's been a year and nine months."

Looking at the person in front of him, Amos chuckled and said, "Benson, don't be nervous. I've called you here today mainly because of some personal matters."

"You are well aware of my position. In addition to our own family property, my family also manages some assets for the House of Earl Sheffield."

"You may not know this, but since the death of Baron Sheffield earlier this year, his youngest daughter Altair Sheffield, has inherited the noble title and gone on to become Earl."

"Count Altair has returned to Morse Town for the winter this year. Just now, she saw your family's file and asked me to inform you that she wants to see you tomorrow."

After saying that, Amos took out his wallet and pulled out a 10- Gold Pound note... but after glancing at Benson, he thought for a moment and then pulled out two more 10- Gold Pound notes.

Amos then handed Benson 30 Gold Pound and said, "Your work for today is done. Take this ' Clothing Subsidy ' and buy yourself a decent outfit and a small gift. Head straight to Morse Town tomorrow to see Count Altair."

After leaving the Chairman's Office, Benson returned to his workstation, briefly handed over his work to his colleagues, explained the tasks that needed to be completed that day, and then left the company.

After leaving the company gate, he did not choose to take a public carriage, but walked and thought, as if he was pondering something.

When he looked up again, he saw "Crawford Gentleman's Clothing Store," and he chuckled to himself, "I never imagined that the reason I got my first high-end formal suit would be just to meet someone younger than me."

So he shook his head, didn't linger, and walked straight into the clothing store.

As soon as Benson entered the clothing store, a male sales clerk in a white shirt and red vest greeted him and politely asked, "Sir, what would you like to buy?"

Benson looked around and found that there were not only complete suits, but also shirts, trousers, vests, ties, and other clothing displayed separately. Even the glass cabinets were filled with pairs of high-end leather shoes and Leather Boots.

After confirming that the suit met his requirements, Benson responded to the sales clerk's question, saying, "I need to buy a proper formal suit."

Upon hearing Benson's answer, the sales clerk in the red vest smiled and gestured for him to enter, then led him inside the store to begin selecting clothes.

A shirt, trousers, waistcoat, and tailcoat cost £6; Leather Boots soli 8; Top Hat made of silk, worth soli 6; a soli 3; and a silver-inlaid Cane soli 8.

The clothes, which originally cost nearly £8, were reduced to just soli 7.50 thanks to Benson's amazing bargaining skills.

As for the gentleman's other personal items, such as watch chains, pocket watches, and wallets, he did not choose to buy them, and the shop assistant did not offer them to him.

Benson then, based on his memory, chose to buy a men's suit and a women's dress.

After leaving the clothing store, Benson gripped the bag of clothes he was carrying. He had bought two men's suits and one women's dress, spending a total of £21.

Spending so much Gold Pound at once made him feel as if he were still asleep.

But he knew clearly that this was reality. Of course, if it were really a dream, he would be willing to never wake up again as long as he could be with his family and live such a good life.

Benson, carrying the clothes he had just bought, waited by the roadside for a while before a public carriage arrived. He then took the carriage back to Iron Cross Street.

Before passing "Slin Bakery," he stopped and, smiling at the baker, Wendy Slinn, said, "Mrs. Slin, eight pounds of dark bread... and three servings of Tingen Cake and lemon cake, please."

Mrs. Slin, carrying the items Benson had bought, asked with a smile, "Benson, why are you off work so early today? I rarely see you unless it's your day off... But you've come at just the right time; I have some freshly baked bread here."

Benson replied with a smile, "The company wasn't very busy today, and the boss assigned me other work, so I'm leaving work so early."

After Mrs. Slin had prepared the weighed sixteen loaves of rye bread and three desserts, she looked at Benson and said, "You didn't forget the bag again, did you?"

Upon hearing this, Benson touched his forehead and sighed helplessly, "I forgot again."

"Alright, I'll find you a bag. You, how come your memory is even worse than mine?" Mrs. Slin teased Benson humorously.

Benson, listening to her complaints, could only awkwardly scratch his forehead.

Before long, Mrs. Slin handed Benson the packaged bread and dessert, saying, "That'll be 22 pence."

After paying, Benson said goodbye to Mrs. Slin, picked up the paper bag of bread, and headed to the "Lettuce and Meat" market across the street.

I bought a pound of good quality lamb for 10 pence at the market, along with some tender Pea, Onion, potatoes, and other items, for a total of 20 pence.

I bought three ginger beers for three pence from the vendor and then headed to my rented house. After saying hello to my landlord, Mr. Franchi, I went into the kitchen to prepare dinner before Melissa and Klein returned.