After everyone had obtained their identities from the Maslow Alliance, the convoy soon entered Ellendal Harbor. The streets were clean and peaceful, while guards patrolled back and forth with eyes like torches. Anyone caught littering was punished with severe fines and flogging, to serve as a warning to others.
Shops lined both sides of the streets. Even Allendale, located on the outskirts of the City District, displayed an extraordinary level of prosperity. Most stores sold handicrafts, specialty foods, and various kinds of seafood shipped in from the harbor. Green even noticed a shop specializing in pearl mystery boxes. From time to time, customers could be seen haggling fiercely with shopkeepers over prices.
The members of Green's convoy gazed at everything with fresh curiosity. Following the guards' directions, Green decided to hire a guide. In Allendale, guides were everywhere, and they had even formed an organization similar to the travel agencies of his previous life. Green deliberately chose a guide officially organized by Ellendal Harbor. The price was slightly higher, but the service was honest and reliable.
Under the guide's direction, the convoy traveled along winding roads. After roughly half an hourglass, they arrived at a spacious open area. At the far end stood a massive six-story ash-gray stone building. A small road branched off beside it, leading to an expansive lot. A few carriages were parked there, and with one sweep of his eyes, Green noticed that most of them bore the insignia of the Lodin Kingdom.
When the convoy entered the road, someone emerged from the stone building carrying a sign and guided Green's convoy into a parking spot.
The level of commercialization really is impressive. They even have dedicated greeters.
Following the greeter's instructions, Green's carriage soon came to a stop in the open area. The greeter approached the convoy with a smile. Seeing this, Green also climbed down from the carriage.
"Sir, welcome to the Ellendal Trike Guild. My name is Enfia, and I'm an employee here. I'm sure this place will make you feel the warmth of being treated like an honored guest. How may I be of service?" After introducing himself, Enfia bowed to Green, his face wreathed in smiles.
Green looked at the handsome man before him, with his golden hair, green eyes, black tailcoat, and eyes brimming with amusement. He could not help but marvel. The man truly made others feel as though they were basking in the spring breeze.
"Enfia, it's a pleasure to meet you. I'm Green. I need a manor, preferably somewhere secluded. Do you have any available?"
"Sir, a request like yours is no difficult matter for the Trike Guild. Please, follow me," Enfia replied respectfully.
Green gestured for the convoy members to wait there while he followed Enfia into the stone building. The interior was extravagantly decorated. Crystal chandeliers glittered dazzlingly overhead, the stair railings were made of pure silver and carved with exquisite patterns, and the chairs were crafted from precious wood that gave off a faint fragrance.
People came and went throughout the stone building, all led by employees like Enfia. Enfia brought Green to a massive sand table.
"Mr. Green, according to your requirements, there are currently three manors available for you to choose from. All three are located along the inner edge of the urban district of Ellendal Harbor. They have beautiful surroundings and pleasant scenery. Most importantly, they won't be disturbed by the outside world." Enfia deliberately emphasized the words "won't be disturbed by the outside world."
After the warning from the guards at the city gates, Green naturally understood what those words meant.
After Enfia finished explaining the environments of the three manors in detail, Green ultimately chose one east of the city. The main reason was that it was closer to Allendale's public Library, making it more convenient for him to gather knowledge.
"Mr. Green, this manor costs approximately 2,500 gold coins. Have you made your decision? We also offer rental services."
A small manor costing 2,500 gold coins was indeed expensive. But considering the invisible benefits the guards had mentioned, it was still worth the price.
"This is the one. Please lead my convoy there," Green decided without hesitation.
"Of course, sir." A flicker of excitement passed through Enfia's eyes. Clearly, selling a manor would make his income quite substantial.
Although the stone building was bustling with people, few ultimately purchased manors. Most chose to rent instead. Despite the many restrictions, renting was relatively cheap. The overwhelming majority of merchants and nobles chose to lease their residences.
After Enfia escorted Green back to the carriage, he immediately led out a horse and walked ahead of Green's convoy to guide them.
After traveling for some time, the convoy soon reached the target manor under Enfia's guidance. The carriageway leading to the manor was rather narrow and unsuitable for the convoy's large wagons. Enfia and the convoy members all climbed down and proceeded on foot along the road leading to the manor.
Green stepped down and looked around. Although it was only a small manor, its grounds were not small at all. Perhaps because it was located on the edge of the urban district, the estate was quite vast. The first thing that caught his eye was the wall surrounding the manor. It stood roughly two meters tall and had been painted white. In the middle was an iron gate that opened inward. A little dust had gathered on it, but not much, showing that someone cleaned it regularly.
Inside the manor was a huge pool, with a fountain standing in its center. Apart from that, the most eye-catching feature was the manor's core—a magnificent seven-story villa.
Green sensed the surroundings and nodded in satisfaction. The 2,500 gold coins had not been wasted. After having Ashlyn hand the 2,500 gold coins to Enfia, he instructed everyone to begin cleaning the castle and familiarize themselves with its surroundings.
Everyone in the convoy was extremely excited. This manor meant they would no longer have to sleep rough in the streets; they finally had a place to shelter from the wind and rain. Even more people gazed at Green with feverish fervor. In their eyes, Green was practically their savior. Without Green, if they had been driven into the slums, they might not even have had corpses left behind. As for the women, whenever they thought of the conditions in the slums, fear surfaced in their eyes, and the reverence with which they looked at Green grew even deeper.
As for Green himself, he also felt a certain burden suddenly vanish, leaving his heart at peace. Perhaps it was because the farming instincts from his previous life had flared up. Now that he had a piece of land of his own, that agitation had finally found effective relief.
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