Chapter 135: Meeting an Old Friend on a Snowy, Wind-Lashed Night

Number One Saint Glory Street was truly worthy of being the premier residence in the Imperial Capital. The sprawling estate housed three massive buildings, their exteriors both ancient and imposing, yet imbued with a vibrant and luxurious grace. From afar, the trio of structures resembled three small hills resting silently amidst a grove of ancient trees. But as one drew closer, the light spilling from within revealed immense floor-to-ceiling windows lining the facades, interspersed with ornate carvings of mythological figures.

The central main building was adorned from top to bottom with over a hundred statues of gods and goddesses, their forms modeled after the members of the Dawn Pantheon, led by the God of Dawn. The left wing was occupied by the deities of the Fate Pantheon, while the right wing belonged to the Pantheon of the Goddess of Victory.

Hundreds of divine statues lurked in the darkness, gazing down from on high. Each figure emanated a faint magical glow, dissolving the snow and wind dozens of meters before they could make contact. Even the lawns surrounding the three buildings remained lush and emerald green, indistinguishable from the fields of early spring.

In front of the buildings lay a flower garden where pearly-white lilies were in full bloom. Three fountain ponds were arranged in a row; in them, statues of three towering male gods of the War Pantheon, surrounded by a throng of beautiful female warrior carvings, reclined lazily as fountains erupted several meters high from their sides.

More than ninety percent of the floor-to-ceiling windows were obscured by heavy curtains, with only a few on the third floor of the central building emitting a bright, warm light. The glass was the magical variety produced by the Vias Commercial Federation; those outside could see the light, but could discern nothing of what lay within.

Yet, according to Lin Qi’s keen intuition, someone behind one of those windows was watching them. The aura was as sharp as a needle’s point—a sensation Lin Qi had only previously felt from Enzo when he was drawing his blade to strike. It was the aura of a master swordsman; clearly, the building housed formidable experts.

It was not just behind that window. Within the side wings, there were also presences as heavy as mountains and as fierce as beasts. At least ten high-level warriors were concealed in the shadows. Having grown up in the Black Tiger Family, constantly mingling with thugs and ruffians, Lin Qi was all too familiar with that scent. It was the bloody, murderous aura possessed only by seasoned veterans who had ground men into pulp and been critically wounded in battle themselves.

"Oh, what a grand display!" Lin Qi, his face masked by solid gold and his eyes hidden behind pale gold crystal lenses, murmured in admiration. "Number One Saint Glory Street—is it true that the entire botanical garden is its backyard? Hmm, how much would such a property be worth?"

Tixian nodded thoughtfully. "So, those two little beauties are not short on money? A pity. I had intended to use wealth to make them crawl into my bed obediently. It seems that unless I tap into the family trust, my own pocket change will hardly catch their eye."

Ticking off the numbers on his fingers, Tixian sighed with a touch of sentiment. "Thirty years ago, when the Century-Long Land-Island War ended and both sides signed the peace treaty, construction on this residence began. Its first owner was the then-Minister of the Interior."

As Lin Qi listened, he learned that Number One Saint Glory Street had taken eight years to complete, with a construction cost rumored to exceed ten million gold coins. At the time the war ended, the wealth and resources of every nation on the continent had been exhausted, and the economy was on the brink of collapse. Back then, a single gold coin could buy several beautiful young women to be kept in a private mansion to do with as one pleased. To spend ten million gold coins on a single estate at that time spoke volumes of the decadent, unrestrained luxury involved.

The good times did not last. The Emperor began a sweeping reorganization of state affairs. The Minister of the Interior who had spent ten million on the mansion was found guilty of colluding with foreign races, embezzling treasury funds, and misappropriating royal assets. Three years after the estate’s completion, the unfortunate minister was beheaded, and his wife and children were exiled to the Black Spirit Continent.

An anonymous buyer with vast resources purchased the sprawling, extravagant estate from the Imperial government. That payment provided the post-war government with a massive infusion of funds, which were eventually used to build the First and Second Universities.

As for what the mansion was worth now, no one even dared to speculate.

Setting aside everything else, the ten thousand rare trees and flowers in the garden alone were worth a fortune. A single thousand-year-old Copper Mountain Peony had once attracted a million-gold-coin offer from a wealthy merchant, only to be flatly refused by the estate's mysterious owner.

When the war had just ended, the people of the continent were still concerned with filling their bellies and supporting their families. The Minister of the Interior had used a pittance to scrape together those thousands of ancient, rare plants from across the land. Perhaps a thousand-year-old tree was only worth a dozen silver coins back then, but today, their value had skyrocketed millions of times over.

"A wealthy family, truly affluent twin sisters!" Tixian stroked the inner pocket of his chest and groaned softly. "Very well, getting them into bed will surely be a great accomplishment. Mr. Lin Qi, will you help me realize this wish?"

Draped in a black cloak with only his golden face exposed, Lin Qi nodded slowly. He chuckled, "For the two million gold coins you’ve offered as a reward, I shall certainly do my utmost. Hmm, the flora here is truly magnificent."

Tixian waved a hand dismissively. "If I succeed, you may dig up whatever plants you like."

Lin Qi smiled. According to Tixian, some of these ancient specimens were worth a million each. In Lin Qi’s eyes, these thousand-year-old trees were no longer green; they were coated in a captivating, golden hue.

As the two whispered, the carriage rolled onto the gentle slope before the main entrance. Two male servants in pale white uniforms emerged silently to open the door for them.

Standing at the entrance was Alham, dressed in a black robe, devoid of any adornments, as clean and tidy as a mysterious winter night. He bowed slightly to Tixian, who had stepped out of the carriage, with a demeanor neither servile nor overbearing. "Your Excellency, it seems you are not the esteemed Head of the Imperial Heraldry College, Elder of the Imperial Aristocratic Council, and former Chancellor of the Empire, Lord Huali."

Following the script Lin Qi had provided, Tixian held his pale, porcelain face high and replied with arrogant poise, "Of course I am not. But I am fully qualified to represent his will."

Alham’s eyes flickered. He glanced at the haughty Tixian, taking in his pale complexion and slender frame, then nodded with a smile. With a solemn expression, he invited Tixian and Lin Qi into the main building.