Mystery: But the Witch's Path

Chapter 142 Returning to Tingen

As he walked, Altair soon arrived at a lavishly decorated and spacious carriage.

After she walked to her seat and sat down, Vivian, who was sitting next to her, couldn't help but ask about Altair's hometown.

The two chatted freely about everything from the founding of Morse town to its development to the present day, including its local delicacies, unique culture, family customs, and the nearby city of Tingen, known as the "University City."

When the university town was mentioned, Altair paused slightly, inexplicably recalling his past life.

"A city that dares to call itself a university city needs to have at least dozens of undergraduate institutions, while Tingen only has two well-known universities. The gap seems quite large."

However, after considering the differences between the two eras, she could accept it. After all, literacy rates were still low in this era.

Illiteracy is prevalent, so college graduates are still quite valuable, unlike in her previous life when inflation had taken hold.

Moreover, in this life, she has never even attended middle school, let alone obtained a university degree.

Several hours later, as the steam train gave its final whistle, slowly slowed down, and pulled into the Tingen station, the passengers disembarked and saw Amos Clayton standing not far away.

Upon noticing the group, he quickly directed his servants to come over, removed his top hat, bowed, and said, "Good afternoon, Count Altair."

Altair nodded slightly and asked in return, "Where is old Clayton?"

Amos straightened up, placed his top hat in front of his chest, and explained, "My father stayed in Morse town. He's busy with land management and can't come to greet you in person. I'm truly sorry."

"Before I departed, my father sent me here with my apologies, Earl—"

"I understand." Before Amos Clayton could finish speaking, Altair interrupted him, adding, "I was just curious; I didn't mean to blame him."

"Let's go straight back to our territory."

Upon hearing this, Amos Clayton quickly stepped forward to lead the way and gestured for him to bring his servants to carry the luggage.

Before long, Altair and the others arrived at the castle in Morse town.

Looking at the magnificent castle before her, Vivian couldn't help but sigh, "Although I was somewhat prepared, seeing this building now, I realize I still underestimated your family's wealth and resources."

"How is its light transmittance?"

Altair, who had been all smiles, instantly changed his expression upon hearing the last sentence and replied, "It's alright, I guess. A few years ago, my father hired an architectural expert to renovate it and improve its light transmission a little."

"But don't get your hopes up too high. After all, the main framework hasn't changed; they've just added a few more windows."

After explaining, Altair pulled Vivian along, preparing to enter the castle. But before they reached the gate, old Clayton came out from inside.

Before he could even bow, Altair introduced the two to each other: "Vivian, this is old Clayton, the father of Butler Hahn, and the old butler of my father and grandfather. He has worked for our family for many years —"

"Old Clayton, this is Vivian Sheffield, from the Intis Laurent family. She is my chosen partner and the mistress of this Sheffield neighborhood."

Upon seeing this, old Clayton quickly bowed to Vivian and greeted her, "Madam."

Upon hearing this, Vivian quickly gestured for Eileen to bring the prepared gift, handed it to him, and said, "Nice to meet you, this is a gift I prepared for you."

After receiving the gift, old Clayton looked at Altair with a blank expression, as if asking, "Isn't this a bit impolite?"

2

Altair, who had witnessed the whole thing from the sidelines, nodded slightly, indicating that old Clayton should just accept it.

Upon entering the castle, Altair was pulled into the study by old Clayton before he could even rest, and was introduced to the current state of his family's land.

Based on the Sheffield family's unique "humanitarianism," old Clayton did not, like other nobles, suddenly raise rents and plunder farmers' wealth at the end of last year and the beginning of this year. Therefore, this year's land income, like in previous years, still "didn't make much money."

But that doesn't mean old Clayton was stupid; he was very clever. Last year, after he learned that the Grain Act would definitely be repealed, he took advantage of the information gap to extend the lease term and agreed to installment payments. This resulted in the Sheffield family receiving their land rent ten years in advance.

Even if food prices are low, it has little to do with land costs.

Of course, to prevent these farmers from actually going bankrupt and being unable to pay their rent, old Clayton also used some extraordinary means to "guide" and "bewitch" these farmers into merging lands to expand their farms.

After explaining his plan, old Clayton was about to leave the study to arrange dinner, but he stopped when he saw the gift box next to him.

"Vivian is from Intis. After what happened with Roselle, their thinking has become much more open. This is the first time I've met her—"

"It's normal to receive gifts from strangers; you can just accept them," Altair explained casually.

After listening, old Clayton nodded, picked up the gift box, and left the study.

During this period, Rue was like Victorian England, with relatively conservative thoughts and behaviors and an emphasis on etiquette.

A normal lady of the house would not give a gift when she first meets the butler, no matter how senior he is.

Vivian's actions this time are like "an American rich girl marrying into a conservative British aristocratic family during the Victorian era," which would be criticized as being too casual.

The following day at noon, in a mid-range restaurant on Zotland Street in Tingen, Altair had just finished ordering when he saw a familiar figure enter through the restaurant door.

At the same time, Vivian put down the menu and followed Altair's gaze to the opposite side, where she saw a girl with exaggerated blue eyeshadow and a pair of bright green eyes, beautiful yet eerie—well, she could be considered a young girl, because her makeup was really old-fashioned.

Vivian glanced at it casually and then teased, "Honey, when did your taste become so bad?"

"Although she has a great figure and a pretty face, I have to say I can't agree with her appearance."

-

Altair didn't respond to these teasing remarks, but continued to look at her. Less than a minute later, a man with short black hair, a slightly high hairline, gray eyes, and a calm face walked in and started talking to the girl.

Altair chuckled twice, then looked aggrieved and said to Vivian, "Darling, do you really think I'm that indiscriminate?"