War on Crime #1 [ Volume 1 End ]

Arthur sighed, taking a sip of his drink and a puff out of his cigar, his fingers and mentality exhausted from the constant flipping of bills and the constant calculations. 

"It's good to be diligent, but burning the midnight oil with alcohol and nicotine is one way you can destroy your life." Sabine quipped playfully, peeking out of the staircase with messy hair and clothes barely hanging on. "You're young, don't destroy your health."

Arthur turned to her with a frown. "Maybe I wouldn't be if you and your husband kept it quiet last night, damned animals." 

Sabine went aflame with embarrassment. "a-a-ah, I- I- That's the secret to a beautiful relationship!" She said, trying to reason, with an unimpressed Arthur. 

"Sure, Sure-- whatever you say, and go get a shower, I can smell you from all the way over here." Arthur shooed, tossing the latest stack of sterling bills onto the pile.

"H-Haha-- good idea!" Sabine merrily cheers, disappearing instantaneously. 

Arthur chuckles putting the bills into separate sacks before tossing them into his inventory. "An inventory is such a privilege, I can carry my wealth with me without risking it getting stolen."

"On the topic of Wealth-- I now have a net worth of 12,107,519,454.00 Korean Won or in Isekai terms, 7.6 Million Sterlings," Arthur smirked peeking past the curtains of the bar. "It's already morning, I would've walked with Milady by now."

"Anywho, My reputation isn't taking a hit because the situation should've been handled by the Principal, because she gave her word." Arthur stretched. "Now, Since I'm going to be suspended for a month, maybe I should loosen my purse strings and splurge on necessities? That sounds smart, so I'll do that after taking a shower."

Arthur procured his duffle bag and climbed up the stairs to the study's restroom, taking a shower. filling the tub with warm water, Arthur relaxed his sore muscles. "There's going to be an auction tonight by the docks, maybe there are some artifacts on sale, but that's not very likely."

Arthur stretched his hand and stared at the callouses on it. "This is going to be a long seven years." He sighed. "Since this is technically reality, I have years even after the seven years in the academy-- and building a life for myself outside of the academy as early as possible would be a smart thing."

Exiting the bath and drying himself, Arthur puts on one of Vincent's gray business shirts and rolled the sleeves back to his elbows. Putting on Light gray pants for contrast, Arthur fixes his hair and puts on leather shoes.

"Maybe I could build up wealth enough to purchase land-- or develop land in the future's new world and become a lord..." Arthur imagines, shaking his head from side to side. "Nah, that sounds like a massive pain in the ass."

"Whoa~ aren't you dressed up!" Sabine chuckled upon seeing Arthur descend the stairs. "What's the occasion?" she asked, eating pancakes with Vincent.

"I'm going to go apartment shopping. I'll be back before dark." Arthur answers, unbuttoning his collar button. 

"Don't get scammed!" Vincent called after him, making him stop. "Use this! I set it up beforehand!" He said, throwing Arthur a wallet.

Catching the item, Arthur left the building and breathed in the clean air, he stared at the beautiful blue sky. "I have a nice feeling about today." he chuckled.

After kindly asking around Arthur was pointed to the nearest real estate sellers. Many of them pointed to the large brick and cement building in the Inner Circle's town square. Because of the red and white paint on the building, it stood out in a nice way, especially the gold sign.

"Ah, Estate Paradise." Arthur hummed. "I've heard about it before, it's a medium sized company that's well-known for good deals. Now I just feel stupid asking around for directions."

Arthur entered the building through the door, making the doorbell chime loudly. The building was beautifully furnished, not extravagantly, not excessively either.

"Welcome customer!" The concierge lady at the desk said with a wide smile. "Are you perhaps interested in buying real estate?"

Arthur turned to her and reciprocated her warm smile with his own. "That I am, who might you be, pretty miss?" 

"Fufu~ flirting is prohibited in this establishment, naughty, naughty boy~" She playfully quipped, pointing at a sign.

Arthur shrugged. "I was only trying to be polite." he chuckled, leaning onto the desk, giving the lady his best angle. "I'm interested in purchasing a home, do you perhaps have some sort of detailed list?"

"Of course!" She smiled. "My name's Samantha, but please, call me Sam."

"If you say so."  Arthur nodded. "She seems nice, and it's always good to be respectful to retail and sales workers-- since they have the knowledge on the best deals, and it's basic courtesy."

Samanta flushed under Arthur's gaze, before hurriedly procuring the list he requested. "Before I search through the available options, do you have a price range?"

Arthur hummed, thinking it over. "Does three to five million sound? Would that be enough?"

Samanta pursed her lips. "There are options, but even with five million sterling, not many would provide the best views."

"That's even better, I prefer it slightly secluded," Arthur answered.

Samantha brightened up. "Then there are a handful of properties on a rush sale-- Oh! there's a new list of properties that recently joined the lists. Would you like to see them?"

Arthur nodded. "Why don't we go to the Lounge and discuss the details there." Arthur pointed to the right, where the lounge with tables should be. Looking around the store, Arthur smiled at Samantha. "It seems like a slow day."

Samantha sighed. "That's true, the demand for properties had significantly declined and the properties available for sale have increased-- hah~" She brightened up, slapping her cheeks. "I'll gladly discuss the details with you." 

"Perfect, fire sales and rush sales-- good deals galore." Arthur smiled. "That'd be great, I'll get us a coffee, my treat." he winked, turning away to the lounge's small coffee store. 

Samantha made her way to the lounge sofas, where Arthur patiently waited, sipping on a cup of coffee. In her hands was a thick folder filled with property details. Sitting down, she took a breather and watched Arthur slide her a cup of a large coffee.

"I wasn't sure how you liked your coffee so I got creamers and sugars just in case." 

"How thoughtful of you because I like my coffee creamy." Samantha beamed. "Here's a list of properties that you might like. They're either old, in a rush to be sold, or discounted deals under five million sterling."

"Thank you." Arthur nodded, taking the folder and unloading its contents. Taking the list of about twenty properties, Arthur began to sift through them while Samantha watched him with interest.

"What a handsome customer-- No! I shouldn't think such things... but does he perhaps have a girlfriend? he seems to be on the young side."

"If I'm not mistaken, photography technology hasn't been invented yet, but these drawings are impeccable." Arthur sipped on his coffee sifting through the available options before stopping on one that caught his eye. "Most of them are pretty small or either on loud highway roads."

"Let's be smart about this. This is too far from the academy and the bar, This is too expensive for what your getting, This is too closed to the police station and is highly patroled, this is too secluded with not enough stores and natural light around-- Wow, no wonder why no one wants these, they're all terrible."

Arthur sighed, tossing the latest one he viewed onto the table, leaving only one in his hands. "Oh Whoa~ this one is good," Arthur smirked, finishing the last gulp of lukewarm coffee. "1,400 square feet, 30'8'' by 72'6." Apartment property. It's rectangular, spacious enough for two stories and a bit more, it's equidistant from the Academy and the Bar, and it's next door neighbors to breakfast shops and shopping centers with fresh imports-- how perfect can it be?"

"All this for the price of 2.7 Sterlings? What a steal!" Arthur smiled as his eyes trailed down the file. "Although it has suffered from a disastrous fire, thus exposing the bricks on the side and scorching much of the metal-- it can be restored."

"Sam, this property, How fast can I view the property?" Arthur asked, showing her the file. "I can't let anyone else have this."

"Are you sure? This property is quite old, about ten years old to be exact." Samantha hummed. "Then again, it can be restored and the location is good..."

"Oho, she noticed it too-- no wonder she works in real estate. " Arthur smirked. "So, it's up for grabs right?"

"Absolutely!" Samantha grinned. "Do you want to view the property right away?" She asked, putting the contents of the folder back inside. 

Arthur rose from his seat, taking both of the carton coffee cups and throwing them in the trash. "I would love to."

Vincent, Sabine, and Alexander grumbled in frustration. The evening had come and Arthur still hasn't arrived. They were gathered in the study around a large whiteboard full of the details of their next hit on the gangsters.

"What's taking him so long." Sabine frowned, looking at the wall clock. "He's not late, nor is he early either-- it's not just his style."

It was now 5:47 p.m, a few minutes from 6:00 p.m, the called time of the meeting. 

"Now, now-- let's relax." Vincent tried to quell the situation. "Arthur is a responsible young man who can handle himself, I'm sure he's up to something responsible."

"Yeah, the boy is tough as nails-- no need to be so on edge, Sab'!" Alexander added, drinking from a glass. 

Ding!

"Ah! there goes the entrance bell!" Vincent chimed, heading towards the door. 

"Hey! I'm coming too! that brat's going to have a piece on my mind."

Both Sabine and Vincent descend the stairs to the bar to see Arthur downcast and holding onto the bar for support. Sabine frowned and crossed her arms. "And where have you been?!"

Arthur looked up at them to reveal his bloodied face. Blood trickled from his head to the floor. Vincent flinched. "Arthur! What happened?" he asked, rushing over.

He looked at both of them, pursing his lips to say something, and then collapsing in the man's arms, his consciousness fading away.

"Arthur! Stay awake! Sabine! fetch me the emergency kit! He's bleeding! Hang on, Arthur! You'll be fine! stay awake--"