Inside, everything was covered in dust, but it was livable with a quick cleanup.
'Despite the dirt and overgrown bushes, am I really going to live here from now on? This is beautiful compared to my previous apartment, which I had to rent for almost my entire monthly salary.'
He was suddenly filled with joy and began to look around the mansion.
It had eight bedrooms, four bathrooms, two living rooms, and a dining room. The backyard was quite large and featured a fruit tree, although it hadn't borne fruit in a long time.
'It makes sense, with the living conditions in this place, it's difficult to grow anything.'
After doing some light cleaning, which took him 30 minutes using the tools from the System Kit he had bought earlier, Louis looked out onto the balcony.
"The Southern Capital, Velharthe, huh?"
A city ruled by the R Lockward family, it is quite large and home to many wealthy people. This would be his new home... temporarily.
'What should I do from now on? I need to create missions,' he thought.
He didn't even know this city. How was he going to find places to create worthwhile missions? Until now, the basic missions had given him very little, and he didn't want to waste the few attempts he had left to receive 10 times the amount for the first 10 missions.
That made him think he needed high-level missions, at least ones that paid a few hundred coins, if possible, 1,000. But seeing that the one that activated for 1,000 was only because he had to shoot a god, he didn't think he would find that kind of mission here.
But that was the least of his worries. If he could devise a way to create multiple missions, he would gain both power and wealth.
Speaking of money.
'I still don't know how much 100 million Jens is. Should I go to town to find out?'
It was now four in the morning, and if he traveled back to where he had come from, everything would surely be open.
As he thought about doing so, he frowned and looked down at the garden.
A man was walking there, approaching the gate.
When Louis saw him, he looked back.
For a brief moment, they stared at each other.
Then Louis went into his room and went downstairs to the first floor.
He opened the door.
The man on the other side was wearing dark brown, loose-fitting pants, an elegant yet discreet black jacket, and a white linen shirt with a high collar under the jacket. A sword hung at his waist, and he wore a top hat the same color as his cotton garments.
He looked at Louis and smiled under his hat.
"Young Master," he said, greeting him.
He was also one of the three men who had welcomed him, the only one who hadn't said a word.
Naturally, he knew him.
"Uncle Dan." Louis let him in. He hadn't expected visitors at this hour, let alone someone who hadn't said a word to greet him, but Dan R Lockward always treated him very well whenever he saw him, so he respected him.
He quickly sat down and stared at him for a long minute.
"Young Master... May I ask why?"
Louis smiled.
"I was deemed unworthy, like you, Uncle."
"Like me, you awakened a poor ability?"
"No." Louis shook his head. "I also awakened to be God."
Dan looked at him, confused. "Then...?"
But Louis didn't want to talk about it. "They simply considered me unworthy, and that's why they expelled me. But I'm not like you, Uncle. At least you were allowed to lead this family and continue using the family name. They erased me directly from the family books."
Dan's eyes widened. "My brother?" he asked, and when Louis nodded, he frowned.
"...He's changed since he became the most powerful God." He clenched his fists tightly, his knuckles turning white.
Unfortunately, that was all he could do.
A few minutes later, he looked at Louis again. "What do you intend to do, Young Master? If you can't use the family name, I'm afraid... You could be in danger if they discover your former identity."
"Haha. As long as no one from the Clan says anything, there shouldn't be a problem. There are only three who know, right? You can handle it, can't you? I'll pay you when I can. Just don't let my identity come out."
Dan stared at him and sighed, shaking his head.
"Things aren't that simple here, Young Master. I was sent here to lead, but did you see those two? They were also sent here with the same idea, and I don't understand why. They belong to the Earthly Beast God faction and have very strong backing. My hands are tied."
"Is it that difficult?" Louis asked, puzzled.
Why would they send three people to lead a single small clan?
'The family is divided, more than I thought,' Louis thought before hearing Dan's answer.
"Yes. Right now, I only run a few family businesses and a small part of the navy. Those two didn't come here with good intentions; something bigger may be going on behind the scenes. That's why I came here, Young Master." Dan stared at him.
"To ask for my help?" Louis asked.
But Dan shook his head and took out a money card.
"Young Master, I have been unable to marry and discovered that I am sterile, so I will not be able to have children. The medicines to cure sterility with magic are very expensive and are only sold in the Great Capitals of the world or in the Land of God, but my brother refused to give me the money for it. That is why I have no children, but you are my nephew."
"Although we haven't seen each other much, your mother is a great woman who would surely help me if she knew my situation. She's like an older sister to me. That's why I can't let you get involved in this family's problems. If you don't want to come back, then take this money and go east. You'll be able to live in peace there. Things are simpler. But here... you won't have any peace."
The card was one of those that could hold up to 300 million Jens, and Louis could tell at a glance that it was full.
But he didn't expect that response from this uncle, whom he had seen no more than four times, according to his inherited memories.
That's why he was in a state of shock.
"Young Master?" Dan pressed the card into his hand.
Louis finally reacted, smiling a little. He took the card.
Finally, Dan relaxed. He drew the sword at his waist and removed it, also taking off some items from the system. Suddenly, there was a complete set of high-quality armor on the table between them, with a sword on top.
"Young Master, this is my special armor. Take it; it will serve you well in protecting yourself on your journey."
He then gave him a ticket for a flight leaving in an hour. "At the flying ship station, the first ship in the morning will leave for the East. I reserved a ticket for you before I came. With that..." Dan suddenly froze, staring at what Louis was doing.
After grabbing the card, Louis made sure to check the amount inside.
'300 million Jens.'
Somehow, he immediately realized that... he had a massive fortune in his system right now, just a few days after being reincarnated.
'I should help him...' he thought, looking at his system.
[New Main Branch Mission Issued]
[Help Dan R Lockward]
| Dan R Lockward, your exiled uncle, has been given your father's back, and the mission entrusted to him cannot be fulfilled as another family branch is hindering him and does not have the support of the God of Thunder.
| Help him regain control of the Family once again.
| Long-term mission, no expiration date.
| Previous reward: 1,000 System Coins.
| New reward: 10,000 System Coins.
[Things done well receive divine rewards. Things done poorly receive misfortune, dishonor, and disgrace.]
Inside, a smile blossomed.
A long-term mission that offered a good reward on its own. Additionally, it provided him with a path to follow, just when he was wondering what to do next.
That's why he smiled, moved the card between his fingers, and suddenly five more cards, of the same amount, appeared in his hand.
He then handed six cards to Dan.
"Uncle, if you treat me with sincerity and consider me family, then I'll return that kindness to you many times over. Are you afraid of those guys? Do you want to regain control of the family?"
"I can see in your eyes that you don't want to give up, and neither do I. I won't return to the family, but I'll make you the next head of R Lockward."
"Prove to me that you're worthy of my help, and I'll help you achieve what you want." Louis smiled magnanimously and self-sufficiently.
"Don't forget. I'm a God too."