Guide to the Education and Training of Girls with Mentally Abnormalities

Chapter 15 The New Landlord

"Oh, Mr. Holmes, what brings you here?"

"The wind this morning," said Mr. Holmes, the landlord, as Edmund greeted him as he entered the house. "Or perhaps the wind from last night?"

After he hung his bulky coat and cloak on the hanger and took off his narrow-brimmed hat and hung it on the hook behind the door, he smiled at Edmund, his tone carrying a hint of teasing.

"Or perhaps our seasoned adventurer, Mr. Clemons, sensed something amiss when he asked that question?"

"These past few days, your poignant story with that fallen heiress has spread throughout the community like springtime amidst the cold wind," Kane Holmes said with a smile, his hands behind his back. "Even an old man like me, a half-dead tree, has felt a long-lost vitality in this spring breeze."

Seeing the landlord directly pop the foam covering his face, Edmund coughed awkwardly.

"Esti, stop hiding."

A silver ahoge-like hair peeked out from behind the kitchen door frame, followed by Esther peeking out like a cat from the door frame.

"Mr. Clemens...? And..." Esther blinked. "The landlord?"

"Yes." Kane Holmes greeted Esther with a kind smile, then looked at Edmund, his smile exactly the same as that of Sir and Lady Ortega when they smiled at his aunt.

"That's wonderful, wonderful, wonderful."

The two chatted as they paced around the living room.

"What an amazing trophy." Kane took the black longsword from the wall and played with it in his hand.

He looked up and admired the wall full of exhibits.

"Mr. Clemens, do you remember when I rented this house to you, it was completely empty? But now, it shines like a holy light in your glory. Look, if I remember correctly, the last time I saw this well-preserved Utumno longsword was at an auction in Kalumbel, where it fell into the hands of an unknown gentleman for a regrettable price that I could not afford."

"Not to mention the enviable thick carpet and the colorful crystal lamps. To be honest, Mr. Clemens, if you hadn't said at the banquet that you were tired of adventure and just wanted to find a quiet place to spend the rest of your life in peace, I think I would have invited you to collect such a set of furnishings for me in the dungeon at a high price."

Edmund simply listened quietly.

He disliked dealing with nobles and gentlemen.

These guys always mumble a long string of irrelevant nonsense before getting to the point, and then suddenly change the subject just when the listener thinks everything is fine and lets their guard down.

After admiring the spoils Edmund had acquired from the dungeon, Kane walked naturally to the sofa with his hands behind his back and sat down, shifting his body as if trying to sink his old bones completely into the soft sofa pillows.

"Then let's get down to business, Mr. Edmund Clemens."

"Of course," Edmund said with a smile as he sat down beside him.

Following Edmund's instructions, Esther clumsily brought over three cups of black tea and then obediently sat down next to Edmund.

Kane watched Esther finish everything, and his gaze naturally returned to Edmund.

"Mr. Clemens, you should remember what our rental agreement says: My residence at 179 Green Oak Street is offered to the adventurer Edmund Clemens for rent only after the contract takes effect."

Judging from his tone, Edmund guessed that Kane wanted to raise the rent, and nodded.

"A few days ago, I heard a wonderful story about you from somewhere else, which is also the story of the nobleman beside you."

"But considering our friendship, and your trustworthy and precious heart, I haven't asked you to change the rental agreement." Kane took a sip of his tea to moisten his throat. "You know, renting for two people will cost more than renting for one person, since the wear and tear on the property will definitely be greater for two people than for one."

"But today, due to certain unavoidable reasons that even I couldn't stop."

Kane took out a bag with gold thread embroidered on the opening from his handbag.

"I regret to inform you of something, Mr. Edmund Clemens: from this day forward, I can no longer act as your landlord, providing this room for rent to you and the person beside you as before." He pushed the bag towards Edmund. "This is the rent you previously prepaid; I'm refunding it to you after deducting depreciation costs according to the original contract."

Edmund looked at Kane Holmes with a bewildered expression.

"Oh, oh, wait a minute, Mr. Holmes, do you mean you no longer wish to rent this house to me?"

"Of course I'd be happy to rent the house to you," Kane said with a smile and a shrug. "But now this house no longer belongs to me. My will has no right to decide its ownership, and naturally, it cannot decide your stay or leave."

"Not yours?"

“A very influential nobleman offered a price I couldn’t refuse and bought the house with a firm stance,” Kane said, looking at Edmund. “I recommended my other properties to her, but the nobleman seemed completely uninterested in those properties with higher location and commercial value, fixing her on this cottage on Green Oak Street like a cheetah locking onto its prey.”

"Honesty and contracts are the foundation of a merchant's business. I had no choice but to tell the nobleman: 'This house has already been rented to an elegant and distinguished seasoned adventurer who, along with his lover, is currently residing here. Moreover, this adventurer has already paid the rent two months in advance. Regardless of his motives, I cannot be the first to break the contract and allow a gentleman and his lover to be left homeless for your whim.'"

Kane shook his head regretfully.

"Then, just as I said before, she offered a price I couldn't refuse."

"However, after my reasoned argument, this noblewoman very reasonably agreed to one condition: she was willing to meet with you in person to discuss the renewal of the lease, and if possible, the rent might even be lower than the contract we previously agreed on."

"Even if the lease renewal agreement is not reached, she agrees to stay in the house temporarily until you find a new place to live—although you may have to pay an additional cost for damage to the property."

Kane put on his coat and hat, and took out his pocket watch from his breast pocket.

He checked the time.

"The new landlord will be here shortly."

"Good luck, Mr. Clemons."