Arthur reached the real estate agency by asking around, navigating through Brightwater’s bustling streets. 

Stepping inside, he was met with a quiet yet refined atmosphere. Several clerks sat behind mahogany desks, attending to clients in hushed discussions.

Arthur approached the reception, where a middle-aged woman with her graying hair neatly tied into a bun greeted him. Her eyes flicked to Lisa, who was clinging tightly to his coat, her fluffy ears twitching nervously.

The woman’s gaze lingered for a moment, and while she didn’t say anything, Arthur noticed the faintest hint of judgment in her eyes before her professional demeanor returned.

“Welcome to Silvercrest Realty,” she said smoothly. “How may we assist you today?”

“I’d like to buy a house,” Arthur stated plainly.

The receptionist nodded, “I see,” she said, pulling out a ledger. “Do you have any specifications in mind?”

Arthur nodded. “I need a property with enough land to house hundreds of people.”

That got her attention. Her pen paused mid-air, and she gave him a bewildered look.

“Pardon me?”

“A large property,” Arthur repeated, his tone calm but firm. “Enough to build multiple houses if needed.”

The receptionist took a second to process the request before standing abruptly. “Please wait a moment.”

She disappeared through a door at the back, leaving Arthur to glance around the office. Lisa shifted uncomfortably in his arms, her golden eyes darting toward the well-dressed people sitting at their desks.

A few moments later, the receptionist returned and gestured for him to follow. “Please, come with me. Our senior estate manager will handle your request.”

Arthur followed her through a hallway and was led into a well-furnished office. A woman in her late thirties sat behind an ornate desk. She had a sharp, calculating gaze and carried herself with the confidence of someone who knew the value of what she was selling.

“Good afternoon,” she greeted, motioning for him to sit. “I’m Vivian Hale, senior estate manager here. I was told you’re looking for a large property?”

Arthur nodded as he took a seat, shifting Lisa slightly so she could sit comfortably on his lap. “That’s right.”

Vivian’s gaze briefly flicked to the girl before returning to him. “Do you have a specific location in mind? If you’re looking for land in the noble district, I should warn you that the price will be significantly higher.”

“I don’t need it in the noble district,” Arthur said. “It just needs to be large enough to house many people.”

Vivian studied him for a moment before nodding. “In that case, there’s one available property that might suit your needs. It’s on the eastern edge of Brightwater. The land is quite expansive, about 80 meters long and 50 meters wide, but it isn’t exactly in pristine condition. There’s only a single house on it, and you’ll need to build additional structures yourself if you want more living space.”

“That’s fine.” Arthur had already expected as much.

Vivian’s lips curled into a small, approving smile. “Then we can move forward. The total cost, including all legal fees and documentation, will be 90,000 gold coins. Payment will need to be made upfront.”

Arthur retrieved a bag containing 900 platinum coins from his dimensional pocket and placed it on the desk. “Here’s the amount, you can count it.”

After the transaction was completed she pushed a stack of papers toward him, along with an inked quill. “Sign these, and the property is officially yours.”

Arthur skimmed the documents. Everything was in order, so he signed without hesitation.

Vivian took the papers and stamped them with an official guild seal before handing him a brass key. “Congratulations, Mr. Sully. The property is now yours. Here are all the necessary ownership documents.”

Arthur stored them away. “Appreciate the quick process.”

Vivian chuckled. “Money speeds up everything, Mr. Sully. Should you require further assistance, perhaps hiring builders, I can arrange that as well.”

“I’ll reach out to you if I need it.”

“Very well,” she said, standing and offering her hand. “A pleasure doing business with you.”

Arthur shook her hand before exiting the office with Lisa still clinging to him.

…

With the property secured, Arthur made his next stop, a clothing store.

He stepped into a boutique filled with neatly arranged fabrics and mannequins dressed in elegant attire. A tailor approached but hesitated when he saw Lisa, who was still in her tattered clothing.

Arthur ignored the look and said, “I need a full wardrobe for her. The clothes should be comfortable but not too flashy.”

The tailor nodded quickly and began gathering soft cotton dresses, tunics, and warm cloaks. Lisa’s eyes widened at the sight of the fresh, clean clothing.

Arthur knelt beside her. “Pick what you like, kid.”

Lisa hesitated before tentatively reaching for a soft blue dress. Seeing that Arthur was serious, she grabbed a few more pieces excitedly.

Arthur paid for the clothes and also bought silk, cotton, and wool fabrics in bulk, storing them away for future use. He then made his way to a kitchenware shop, purchasing utensils, pots, and spices before heading to a butcher and a vegetable market to buy fresh ingredients.

His final errand for the day was an important one. As they walked, he muttered under his breath:

“Guardian, prepare two synthezoid maids. Design them for childcare and household maintenance.”

[Affirmative Commander. Synthezoid units will be prepared shortly.]

A synthezoid is a synthetic being that is a replica of the human body run by an AI system. Synthezoids are made of a synthetic substance called Horton Cells, which is stronger, more durable, and much more resilient than organic tissue.

…

Arthur finally reached his newly purchased land. The lot was as large as promised, though slightly overgrown with weeds. A two-story stone and wood house stood at the center, its design simple but sturdy.

Unlocking the door, he stepped inside. The interior was relatively clean, likely maintained by the agency to keep it from falling into disrepair.

Lisa peeked around nervously, clinging to his sleeve.

Arthur set her down on a plush sofa and ruffled her hair. “You hungry?”

Lisa eagerly nodded, her fluffy ears twitching with excitement.

Arthur smiled. “Alright. I’ll make you something delicious.”

He moved to the kitchen, which was functional but bare. Taking out the utensils and ingredients he had bought, he quickly set to work.

He opted for a nutrient-rich stew, easy on the stomach yet packed with everything a malnourished child would need. As the broth simmered, the rich aroma of meat and vegetables filled the house.

Lisa sat on the sofa, hugging her new dress to her chest, watching with wide eyes as Arthur cooked.

Minutes later, Arthur set down a bowl of steaming stew in front of her. “Eat up.”

Lisa hesitated for a second, then picked up the spoon. The moment the warm broth touched her tongue, her eyes lit up. She began eating in earnest, small happy noises escaping her as she savored each scoop.

Arthur chuckled. “Slow down, kid. There’s plenty.”

As Lisa ate, the Guardian informed him that the two synthezoids were prepared, and Arthur took them out. As Lisa saw two women suddenly appear she was startled and had stopped eating to stare at the androids with wide eyes.

Arthur smiled and patted her head, “Don’t worry they are friends, they are going to take care of you from now on.”

Dressed in simple black-and-white uniforms, the humanoid figures bowed.

“Awaiting your orders, Master.”

“Your duty is to take care of her from now on. Make sure she’s comfortable.”

“Understood.”

…

Lisa’s golden eyes flickered up toward Arthur, hesitating for a moment before she shyly tugged at the sleeve of his coat.

Arthur, who had been cleaning up the dishes, turned his head toward her. “What’s wrong?” he asked in a calm and patient tone.

Lisa fidgeted, twirling a loose frill from her new dress between her tiny fingers. “Umm…” she murmured, her ears twitching slightly. “M-Mistah… I… I forgot to ask… what’s your name?”

Arthur blinked before letting out a quiet chuckle. He hadn’t even realized she hadn’t asked before. The situation must have been overwhelming for her, finding food, getting a warm place to stay, and being taken in by a stranger.

He crouched down so they were at eye level and gave her a reassuring smile. “You can call me Arthur.”

Lisa nodded quickly, committing the name to memory. “Awu-thur…” she repeated softly, testing the name on her tongue. Then, as if satisfied, she gave a small, sleepy smile.

Her eyes began to droop, her body swaying slightly. Arthur could tell that exhaustion was finally catching up to her. It wasn’t just the food, Lisa had likely been running on empty stomach for days maybe, and now that she felt safe, her body was demanding rest.

Arthur reached forward and gently picked her up. She barely reacted, only curling into his chest as if it were the most natural thing in the world. Her tiny hands gripped onto his coat, and within moments, she was asleep.

He carried her upstairs to one of the bedrooms. Arthur pulled back the sheets of the bed and tucked Lisa in, making sure she was comfortable. Her ears twitched slightly as she snuggled deeper into the blankets. For a brief moment, he just stood there, watching her breathe evenly.

He exhaled softly. Lisa was just one child, one orphan left to fend for herself. But there were many others out in Brightwater, children who had no family, no home, and no one to look after them, much less in the whole of Arkanis, he thought he would move forward and see where this leads to. The city was large, and while the streets seemed prosperous, poverty and war had left many abandoned.

Arthur felt he needed to do something about it.

If he wanted to house more children, he needed to build more homes. The land he had purchased was large, but it was mostly barren aside from this single house. He would need resources, and plenty of them.

Stepping back, he cast one last glance at Lisa before turning to leave the room. He closed the door behind him quietly and made his way downstairs.

Once in the main hall, Arthur wore his armor, letting the sleek metal encase him. His form shimmered before vanishing completely.

Moving silently, he exited the house and left Brightwater behind, heading toward the wilderness.

…

Arthur’s boots barely made a sound as he moved through the darkened forest outside Brightwater. The towering trees loomed overhead, their thick trunks rich with sturdy wood. 

Arthur tapped the side of his helmet. “Scan the vicinity for high-quality building materials.”

A soft chime echoed in his earpiece as the AI responded.

<Scanning…>

<Analysis complete. Identified multiple resource nodes. Primary targets: Ironwood trees, granite deposits… >

Arthur nodded.

Raising his hand, he took out a swarm of nanobots, sending them toward a cluster of massive Ironwood trees. The selected trees vibrated for a brief moment before their bases split cleanly, severed in an instant. Arthur guided them down with precision.

As the trees landed, Arthur put them in his dimensional pocket. Within moments, the massive logs disappeared into his inventory.

Next, he moved toward the stone deposits the AI in his suit had marked. These stones were mana-infused and were particularly valuable; it was not only sturdy but also held minor magical properties that could help reinforce structures.

Arthur directed the nanobots towards the deposit. The ground trembled as chunks of stone were lifted from the deposits, shaped into blocks before being stored away.

After nearly two hours of gathering, Arthur checked his inventory. It was more than enough to begin construction of the houses and high walls to surround the orphanage.

Satisfied, Arthur turned back toward the city. The sky was already darkening, night had fallen over Brightwater. He had only a few hours left before he needed to return to the academy, but that was plenty of time to get started on the construction.

…

Arthur landed quietly on the property, his form shimmering back into visibility. The house was still and quiet, Lisa was likely still asleep.

Now, it’s time to build.

***

Become a patreon member and read 30 Chapters ahead!

You can join my discord channel to discuss my novel and find artwork of this novel!!

.gg/PmkQsrAdMY

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep