Arthur entered the alley swiftly and retrieved the property papers from the box. A red card with the name 'Arthur - Hearty Lake Villa' was engraved on it.
The card felt smooth and comforting to touch. "How many years has it been since I last touched these VIP cards?" He sighed, reminiscing about the days when he talked with his dad, argued with his mom, and enjoyed his mother's home-cooked meals.
Those days felt like a distant memory. Arthur quickly lifted his head, determination shining in his eyes.
"I have no money... So I have to walk towards the villa... Well, it's better than getting beaten, I guess." He set off towards the villa, which was 20 kilometers away.
After five hours of continuous walking, he arrived at a grand gate painted white.
The gate stood three times taller than his height. Arthur, standing at 6.2 feet with a slightly handsome appearance, approached the gate.
Two security guards stood watch at the gate. Arthur walked up to them, ready to pass, but one of the guards blocked his way.
"What's the meaning of this?" Arthur asked, frowning.
"Look at your clothes and tell me," the guard retorted.
Arthur glanced down at his clothes. There were four or five holes scattered around, and his pants, which once reached his feet, now only reached his thighs.
His hair was disheveled, and his face appeared pale with dark circles under his eyes. There was no way he looked like someone who could afford even a small house, let alone a large villa in the prestigious Gentle Lake District.
Arthur remained calm. If he were to get angry over such a trivial matter, he would have already died due to rage long ago. He held the property papers in his hand, and a red card was tucked into his pants pocket.
He retrieved the card and moved to the side where a card scanner box was located. Placing the card on the scanner, he watched as the gate opened.
"..." The security guard stared at Arthur in astonishment.
Hiss!
Then they gasped for breath, their heads lowering in a bow. "Sorry for the offense!" Both guards bowed in unison, their expressions filled with extreme nervousness.
Those who could afford villas in this area were not ordinary people. Each villa cost hundreds of millions.
Even Arthur's entire family property amounted to only 10 billion. They couldn't possibly afford a villa here. It wasn't about money, but background.
Arthur proceeded inside. A pathway led to various villas scattered around. Each villa occupied a minimum of 200 to 500 square meters, with 1,000 square meters being the average.
He surveyed his surroundings and finally spotted the grand villa. A post box stood nearby, labeled 'Hearty Lake Villa.'
Without further hesitation, he approached the door and swiped his card.
Beep!
With a sound, the door clicked open. Arthur stepped into the villa, astounded by its opulence.
Every piece of furniture exuded high quality. Although Arthur wasn't particularly interested in furniture, his heart raced when he laid eyes on the enormous monitor. Various game consoles, games, and other items were neatly stored in the drawers.
The sight of the plush, oversized sofa also captured his attention. However, Arthur refrained from jumping onto it and instead made his way to the bedroom, where he checked the wardrobe.
To his surprise, he found a wide assortment of clothes in different sizes for both genders. Arthur proceeded to the bathroom and enjoyed a refreshing shower.
"This... is luxury..." he murmured, savoring the sensation of water steadily cascading over his body. He could adjust the water's temperature to his liking.
Taking a seat in the bathtub, he immersed himself, feeling a sense of bliss and tranquility.
After two hours, Arthur noticed the sun beginning to set.
*Rumble!*
Naturally, he hadn't eaten since the previous day, and the long walk had drained his energy. It had been quite some time since he had a proper meal.
However, Arthur was broke and had no money. As he made his way to the kitchen, his eyes widened at the sight of numerous ingredients.
After losing his parents and experiencing bankruptcy, he worked in various places just to survive. Through those experiences, he learned how to cook simple meals.
He prepared some rice and cooked a few vegetables, then sat down to eat. The taste wasn't exceptional, but at that moment, tears welled up in his eyes. "How much I miss my mother's cooking," he whispered, overcome with emotion.
---
Outside the villa, a conversation ensued:
"Did you hear? Hearty Lake Villa has been sold!"
"Hiss! Seriously? Doesn't it cost tens of billions of dollars?!"
"Money alone doesn't guarantee the acquisition. You need the right connections and background. Many offers were made, but the owner turned them all down. I heard someone even offered 50 billion dollars, but it was rejected."
"Damn! Who is the owner, anyway? We should try to meet them if we ever get the chance!"
"I doubt we'll have the time, and I highly doubt that the owner, who is a bigshot, would have time for us either."
---
Arthur finished his meal and entered a random room. With several rooms to choose from, he opted for the closest one.
The sight of the grand bed enticed him, promising softness and comfort. As he lay down, he fell asleep. The exhaustion that had accumulated in his body gradually dissipated.
After many years, he finally slept peacefully...
---
The next day, Arthur woke up and glanced at the clock. It was already noon, and the sun bathed the surroundings in its warm light.
After refreshing himself with a shower and having breakfast, he began exploring the vast villa.
The sheer size of the place was impressive, spanning over 10,000 square meters. The expansive garden boasted a variety of cultivated vegetables, flowers, and herbs. A heart-shaped lake added to the villa's charm, from which it derived its name, Hearty Lake Villa. There were also amenities like a gym, swimming pool, game room, movie room, and more.
Even a full day wouldn't be enough to thoroughly explore the entire villa.
Ding Dong!
Suddenly, the doorbell rang, startling Arthur. He instinctively hid behind a sofa.
"This habit of mine!" He sighed, berating himself. The sound of a doorbell always filled him with fear.
Nervously, he approached the door and cautiously opened it, only to see that it wasn't a man. Relief washed over him, quickly followed by a frown.
Standing outside the door was a beautiful woman in her twenties, dressed in a white shirt and a black office skirt. She smiled upon seeing Arthur.
"May I come in?" she asked.
"Who are you?" Arthur inquired bluntly, not letting her take a step closer.
"Um..." She appeared troubled. Arthur had grown tired of beautiful women who had caused him nothing but trouble and financial loss.
However, he composed himself and examined her once again. "What is your business with me?"
"Apologies, sir. I am the villa supervisor. I was supposed to greet you yesterday, but I didn't have your contact information. Besides, I was unaware of your disposition, so I gave all the staff a day off," she explained.
"Oh..." Arthur's expression softened, and he gestured for her to enter.
"In that case, call me Arthur. I don't like being called 'sir'," he requested.
"Sorry, Mr. Arthur. My name is Elsa. It's a pleasure to meet you," she said, extending her hand.
Arthur politely shook her hand, his face devoid of emotion.
"Shall we then discuss the business at hand?" he suggested.
"Of course," Elsa replied with a smile.