As the boy marveled at the massive glass wall in the study, a voice from behind and above him caught his attention. "That glass was originally commissioned by the Supreme Consul of Yirei for the large windows of Paro Cathedral. To prevent breakage during transport, they made fifty extra panes. After the cathedral was completed, there were still over twenty panes left. I happened to want a glass wall like this, so I purchased them," said the voice, aged but authoritative.
The group turned to see an elderly man, thin and frail, with white hair and deep wrinkles etched into his face, slowly descending another staircase, clutching two thick books under his arm. The boy scrutinized the man, guessing that this must be his new employer. Despite the man's gaunt appearance, which made him look more like a withered tree branch than a wealthy individual, his attire suggested otherwise. The fine, understated clothes, the gold-rimmed glasses, and especially the crocodile leather belt all indicated a man of significant means.
"Is this the boy you found?" the old man asked Paem.
"Yes, sir. I hope he meets your expectations," Paem replied, bowing respectfully.
"Whether he's suitable or not, ask Eckert," the old man said dismissively.
Turning his attention to Fa Yinge, the old man continued, "Fa Yinge, is it? How have you been? While you were away these past three months, Paem and I discussed your progress. He believes you're ready to handle things on your own. He also mentioned that he's getting old, so you'll gradually take over his responsibilities. Make sure you work hard."
Fa Yinge could hardly contain his excitement. The old man's words confirmed what Paem had hinted at—he was on the brink of a major promotion. He felt a surge of joy and barely restrained himself from shouting out in celebration.
"Bring Eckert here," the old man ordered the butler, who promptly left the room.
The old man settled into a leather chair and began reading, while Paem, Fa Yinge, and the boy stood silently by. The boy, nervous and afraid of making a poor impression, stood still as a statue. Fa Yinge, on the other hand, felt more at ease, especially after hearing the old man reinforce Paem's earlier words.
Time passed slowly, and just as Fa Yinge began to grow uncomfortable from standing, the door finally opened. A man with neatly trimmed mustaches and a polished demeanor entered. He wore a black velvet vest over a white silk shirt, paired with loose black breeches and well-shined boots. His attire, coupled with his overall appearance, suggested he had just returned from a ride.
"I just took the new horse for a spin," the man began casually. "It's not fully broken in yet, so it might still be dangerous for learning to ride. If it doesn't work out, I'd suggest switching to the old gray mare. She's much more docile."
"You're the expert. Do what you think is best," the old man replied. "Paem has brought the boy you requested. This is him," he said, gesturing toward the boy. "You'll have six months to teach him everything he needs to know."
Turning to the boy, the old man added, "From now on, you'll be under Mr. Eckert's tutelage. You have a lot to learn, and only six months to do it. Paem mentioned you're a quick learner. Show me that he's right."
With that, the old man motioned for Eckert to take the boy away. Eckert led him out of the study, carefully closing the door behind them. He then took the boy to a secluded room in the western wing of the estate.
The room, while not as grand as the study or the main hall, still exuded elegance. Located on the western side of the building, it had windows on three sides, allowing sunlight to spill across the teakwood floor. A large, four-poster bed, the kind only the wealthy could afford, stood under the north window. The room was naturally divided in two by a rosewood screen—a piece the boy recognized from the shop where he had worked, knowing it to be an expensive import from Westbay.
Beneath the southern window sat a beautifully carved nanmu desk, and to the west, a set of French doors led out to a balcony. On one wall, opposite the bed, was a bookshelf, smaller than those in the study but much more refined. Above the bed hung a portrait of a stunningly beautiful, mature woman. The boy wondered if she might be Eckert's wife.
"From now on, this will be your room," Eckert announced.
"What? Really?" The boy was shocked, clearly not expecting such arrangements.
"For the next six months, you'll stay here and learn many things. The most important lesson is that from now on, your name is Rebo Byandit. Remember that name," Eckert instructed sternly.
"But why?" the boy asked, confused.
"Don't ask why," Eckert replied, leaving no room for argument. "When I think you're ready, I'll explain everything. But not now. Now, Rebo Byandit, let's begin your first lesson."
Eckert pulled a thick book from the bookshelf and placed it on the desk, pulling up a chair for the boy. His mind racing with questions, the boy obediently sat down, and the lesson began.
…
Back in the study, the old man reclined in his chair, lazily flipping through an old book. Paem and Fa Yinge had already left, and the warm sunlight streaming into the room made him drowsy. He couldn't remember where he had left off in the book, so he closed it and drifted into a light nap.
He wasn't sure how much time had passed when the sound of the door opening woke him. His many years on the streets had ingrained a sharp sense of awareness in him, and he was pleased that his instincts remained as sharp as ever, despite the comfortable life he now led. He looked up to see that it was indeed Eckert who had entered.
"How is it? Are you satisfied?" the old man asked with a smile.
"Very satisfied. Paem made an excellent choice this time," Eckert replied.
"Do you think you can complete the first stage of the plan within six months?" the old man inquired.
"As Paem mentioned, the boy is a quick learner. Transforming him within six months should be no problem."
"And what about Fiss? His work is just as crucial as yours," the old man continued.
"We've already secured the key witnesses, especially the captain of the guard. Fiss has significant leverage over him. For those we can't bribe or intimidate, Fiss plans to replace them gradually. He'll have the bribed butler handle the removals," Eckert explained.
The old man nodded, satisfied with the progress. Handing the book to Eckert, he said, "You should be the one reading this. I've never been much of a reader—books always put me to sleep."
"Heraldry is indeed a dry and tedious subject, and frankly, I find it rather useless. If it weren't necessary for this plan, I wouldn't bother with it either," Eckert replied as he took the book.
"And the boy?" the old man asked.
"I gave him a test to see what he already knows. It seems I underestimated him. He answered several questions with ease, indicating that he's well-educated. It seems you can learn quite a lot in Southport."
"Knowing too much isn't always a good thing," the old man remarked.
"Should we send Kaili to Southport? The boy has an aunt named Betty. If Kaili could bring back something belonging to her, controlling the boy would be much easier."
"Kaili? Is it really necessary to involve him?" the old man asked, sounding a bit hesitant.