Chapter 48

“Well, this should be the place, but…”

I compared the surrounding scenery with the map in my hand as I drove.

Before me stood a magnificent monochrome mansion.

It was three stories high and boasted a sprawling garden.

It had an air about it that allowed it to be called a palatial estate.

One wouldn’t doubt it if they were told a high-ranking noble lived here.

That was the kind of mansion it was.

This was the northwestern district of the Black Wall City—Dorgu’s headquarters.

It was located in an area quite close to the outer wall.

Having finalized my contract with Dorgu, I was immediately granted this villa as a residence.

This monochrome mansion was it.

The features matched those described on the map perfectly.

There was no doubt that this was the building.

Dorgu had ordered me to live here for the time being.

He told me he would contact me as soon as work was ready for me.

It seemed I would have to remain on standby for at least a few days.

I folded the map and tucked it away.

“He’s certainly quite generous.”

“It’s incredible. Though I think it’s far too large for just the two of us to live in.”

Alice was also looking at the mansion with admiration.

I certainly felt the size was more than we could handle alone.

Was he suggesting I host home parties or something?

According to Dorgu, once things settled down, I was free to return to the Fortress City to live.

Being away from my primary base was a bit of a nuisance, but as his direct subordinate, it couldn’t be helped.

I suppose it fell within the range of tolerance.

With a mansion like this, there would be no lack of comfort.

Besides, I could make the trip back to the Fortress City within a single day.

In reality, it wasn’t much of an issue.

“Shall we head inside for now?”

“Yes, let’s do that.”

I got out of the golem car and opened the main gate.

I drove the vehicle onto the premises and parked it in a brick-paved space.

Standing at the entrance of the mansion, I suddenly tilted my head.

“Hmm?”

I sensed a human presence from within.

Someone was there.

I didn’t feel any murderous intent, however.

Resting my hand on the hilt of my knife, I gave the door a light knock.

In less than a few seconds, the door opened from the inside.

“Welcome. Please, do come in.”

What appeared was a woman dressed in a maid uniform.

She offered a soft, gentle smile.

Having confirmed there was no immediate danger, I took my hand off my knife.

“I appreciate the welcome, but who are you people?”

“We are the servants. By Lord Dorgu’s command, we have been assigned to look after your daily needs, Lord Jack and Lady Alice. We look forward to serving you.”

Behind the woman in the maid uniform stood others dressed in the same fashion.

The men were wearing suits.

They stood at attention, forming two rows to the left and right.

‘I see. So they’re the monitors.’

I understood the situation instantly.

“Looking after our needs” was merely a front.

In reality, I assumed they had been tasked with keeping an eye on my movements.

It was a logical decision.

He was taking a “Bomber” like me into his fold, after all. I had fully expected him to have countermeasures in place, to one degree or another. Besides, the presence of these servants was not that of amateurs. Their true identities were likely spies or assassins. They hid their true nature skillfully, but they couldn’t deceive my eyes.

Even so, I hadn’t expected preparations to be this thorough. Even if they were monitors, I had been given a villa with a full staff of servants. He must have prepared all this on the assumption that I wouldn’t refuse the offer to become an executive.

“I see. I look forward to working with you as well.”

While perceiving the underlying circumstances, I responded cheerfully. I stepped into the house, watching the servants as they bowed.

“Could you give us a tour of the mansion?”

“Certainly. I shall guide you.”

The servant who had opened the front door responded to my request. She moved in front of us and began to lead the way with elegance.

The first room we were shown was close to the entrance. A fire crackled in the hearth, and a sofa and table were placed in the center. The garden was fully visible through the windows.

“This is the living room. By using the magic tool installed here, you can have a remote conversation with Lord Dorgu at any time.”

There was a crystal at the edge of the table. That was apparently the magic tool with the communication function. What’s more, it was a hotline to Dorgu.

“It’s certainly convenient to be able to contact him immediately.”

“Notifications from Lord Dorgu will also primarily be sent through this magic tool.”

“I see.”

I’d have to be careful about wiretapping. There was a possibility it could be activated unexpectedly. Since tampering with it might draw unwanted attention, I’d ask Alice to at least check it later. Even though I’d officially become an executive, there was plenty of information I didn’t want to disclose. Since I didn’t know how long this cooperative relationship would last, negligence was forbidden.

Moving on from the living room, we were led to a room with a long table. Candles were lit at intervals across its surface. It was a space that looked like it could seat about thirty people at once.

“This is the dining hall. We have a wide variety of ingredients in stock. We will prepare meals according to your requests.”

“Do you have alcohol?”

“Yes. We have famous liquors from various regions. If you inform us in advance, we can even procure items that are not currently on hand.”

“Marvelous.”

I clapped my hands and offered sincere praise. To have ingredients and alcohol already stocked showed excellent preparation. I no longer needed to go out shopping. According to the servant, they would even handle the cooking. It was a welcome reduction in effort.

‘Truly, they’ve thought of everything.’

Dorgu’s power and wealth, being able to provide this level of treatment so easily, were immeasurable. It made sense that he reigned at the top of the country. At this point, there likely wasn’t anyone who would pick a fight with him—except, perhaps, the other three Representatives. I might need to look into the power dynamics between the Representatives as well.

Afterward, we were shown the other facilities and rooms. A needlessly spacious bathroom, a garage stocked with maintenance supplies, and private rooms like those of a luxury hotel—it was a parade of extravagant spaces. There was even a living area for the servants. A warehouse had been built in the garden, and while not as large as the underground space at our base, it was of a respectable scale.

Judging by the interior, it looked newly built. He might have constructed it knowing we used such facilities. Dorgu was thorough in his information gathering. He had likely sensed our presence early on and observed us from there. No matter how much of a “muscle-head” he might seem, he was a standout individual standing at the pinnacle of a nation. I should remain wary of his shrewdness.

“This concludes the tour of the interior.”

“Thank you. That was a big help.”

When we returned to the living room, tea and cookies had been placed on the table. Another servant must have prepared them. They were attentive. I sat down heavily on the sofa and spoke to the servant in charge of our tour who was standing nearby.

“Could you give the two of us a moment alone?”

“Understood. If you require anything, please do not hesitate to ask.”

The servant bowed and left the room. I nibbled on a cookie while watching her retreating figure.

“This is quite the treatment. I’ll have to be grateful for these executive privileges.”

“It looks like we can move forward with our experiments and development here.”

“What are you making next?”

“I want to add new functions to the golems. They aren’t yet capable of indoor combat. I’m currently at the stage of testing several ideas.”

Alice smiled as she moved her pen across some documents. It was a list of requested supplies. Apparently, if we wrote down what we wanted—not just alcohol and food—it would be delivered within a few days. It was a service beyond reproach. Instead of paying money for this, I was actually receiving it. It was nothing short of a good life.

“Once it’s finished, I’m sure you’ll be surprised, Jack.”

“Hahaha, I’m looking forward to it. I’ve got high expectations.”

I sipped my tea while watching the quietly enthusiastic Alice.