With its red brick exterior, white window frames, and a small, neatly trimmed lawn in front, it appears more spacious and modern compared to the rustic townhouses and old-fashioned manors of Britain.
"We've arrived." Higgins turned off the engine and stopped the car, turning to look at the three of them. "The temporary accommodations prepared for you by Congress are fully furnished and equipped with daily necessities; you can move in immediately."
As she spoke, she handed the villa key to Draco.
Draco took the keys, glanced at the villa outside the car window, and said with some surprise, "Such nice accommodations."
"This is a small token of Congress's appreciation," Higgins said, speaking on behalf of Congress. "You are guests who have come from afar and bear the heavy responsibility of the investigation; a good rest is essential."
Draco nodded, and after a brief exchange of pleasantries and exchanging contact information, they said their goodbyes.
"Please contact me anytime if you need any further assistance. I wish you all a successful investigation." With that, Higgins drove away, while Draco and the other two carried their luggage and headed towards the villa.
The three pushed open the door and entered the villa.
The interior space is spacious with high ceilings and excellent natural light from floor-to-ceiling windows. The living room is furnished with American-style leather sofas and wooden coffee tables, and several abstract paintings hang on the walls, creating a stark contrast to the classic luxury of an old Britain house.
It lacks the oppressive heaviness of ancient castles and the old-fashioned tranquility of old manors; instead, it exudes the sophisticated feel of a modern city.
Trillian put her suitcase down in the corner, unable to contain her curiosity, and asked, "Young Master, did you come to New York to investigate those new Werewolf?"
"I suppose so. Since we're here, we should at least learn about the new things on this land. Besides, information about those new variants is also valuable for our research."
"No!" Trillian quickly waved her hand, then said confidently, "What I meant was that I know a lot about things in lawless areas!"
"Really?" Draco looked at her with interest and teased, "You're so brave? You dare to casually set foot in this high-risk area inhabited by alien races, where fighting and killing are commonplace?"
"Of course we shouldn't provoke them!" Trillian corrected.
"I don't have the ability to mess with those non-human races. What I mean is, I'm very familiar with how the underworld and the gray areas operate. How to find people, how to scout ahead, how to figure out the details of an area without attracting attention—that's my forte."
"It seems that having you as my assistant wasn't entirely useless. You can really come in handy at crucial moments."
"Of course!" Trillian raised her chin proudly, lifting her small face, and added a compliment to Draco, saying:
"Young Master's judgment is always accurate."
Hermione was too lazy to banter with the two of them, so she admired the interior design of the villa, thinking she might be able to use it when she got back.
"Pick any guest room first, unpack and put away your belongings, and then rest and relax for the rest of the time. There's no need to rush into anything," Draco instructed.
"Yes, young master." Trillian responded, picked up her light luggage, and went to the side room to settle in.
After giving the instructions, Draco carried the large suitcase into the master bedroom, then opened it and neatly arranged his clothes, personal magical items, books, and various small objects.
Then I looked around the room. There was a spacious bed with clean and tidy bedding. There was a brass lamp on the bedside table. Outside the window, you could see a small patch of lush green lawn.
After the tour of the renovations was nearly complete, Hermione followed in. Draco said to her, "Honey, let's take a nap first. You worked hard last night. We can have lunch later."
Hermione's cheeks flushed, but she nodded nonetheless. After a long sea voyage, getting up early to watch the sunrise, and running around after disembarking, both of them were a little tired. Draco drew the curtains, set his alarm for noon, and then lay down on the soft bed with Hermione to catch up on sleep.
The two quickly fell into a deep sleep.
The alarm clock rang precisely at noon. Draco reached for the alarm clock on the bedside table and turned it off.
After lying there for a few seconds to catch his breath, Draco turned his head and saw that Hermione had also groggily opened her eyes.
The two lingered in bed for a few minutes before getting up, tidying themselves up, and leaving the bedroom.
As soon as I stepped out of the bedroom, the aroma of food wafted from the living room. Trillian was sitting at the dining table, unpacking several takeout bags and placing the food containers inside one by one on the table.
Seeing the two of them come out, Trillian smiled slightly, "Young Master, Hermione, you're awake? The takeout just arrived, and I've already set everything out. Come and have something to eat."
Watching her bustling around, Draco couldn't help but tease her, "I didn't expect you to be such a competent maid."
"Of course!" Trillian placed the last box of egg tarts on the corner of the table and clapped her hands. "In order to stay by the young master's side and not be fired easily, I definitely have to perform well."
Draco and Hermione walked to the dining table and sat down. The table was laden with a sumptuous feast, the aroma of Western fast food filling the air.
American-style burgers, glistening and flavorful fried chicken, and steaming hot fries—all in extra-large portions, enough to fill you up completely.
There were also several exquisite Chinese stir-fries, rice dishes, and side dishes, offering a wide variety of Chinese and Western cuisine.
"I didn't know if you wanted something light or oily, Chinese or Western, so I just ordered a little of everything to avoid up to your tastes," Trillian explained casually.
Looking at the table overflowing with food that could barely feed three or four people, Hermione was both amused and exasperated. "You call this just ordering a little? You ordered everything edible!"
Trillian smiled without any remorse, "Anyway, the money was borrowed on the spur of the moment, so why not use it? I won't feel bad spending it."
Hermione was speechless at this robber's logic.
It wasn't borrowed; it was clearly taken...
Draco, however, found it quite amusing. He picked up a hamburger, took a bite, and said, "That's good, at least I don't have to worry about running out of money."
The three of them stopped being polite and started eating. The cheese on the pizza stretched into long strands, the fried chicken was crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, the rice in the Chinese meal was distinct, and the side dishes were also quite good. Perhaps it was because they had caught up on sleep and regained their energy, but everyone had a good appetite.
After eating for a while, Hermione put down her chicken wings, wiped her fingers with a napkin, and couldn't help but grumble, " Trillian, you shouldn't do that kind of thing again... the risks are too great."
"It's alright," Trillian said nonchalantly. "My skills, while not superb, are certainly quite proficient."
"Have you ever made a mistake?" Hermione asked curiously.
"How could there not be? Everyone gets their shoes wet eventually. Take this cruise ship incident, for example. I was extremely cautious, yet I still fell into a trap. If it weren't for Young Master's unexpected intervention, I probably would have been finished."
Draco chewed on a French fry and said:
"It's alright. You don't need to walk by the river anymore. Just stay by my side and spend my money."
Upon hearing this, Trillian's eyes lit up, filled with anticipation. "Young Master, are you... planning to take me as your sugar daddy?"