The first possibility was that he was strong, so strong that he could alter his appearance to look far younger than he was. Romund knew that only individuals of immense strength could disguise themselves in this way. If that were the case, then Kaito's true power would have to be at least greater than Tier 4. And anyone above Tier 4, if they were ever granted nobility nowadays, would normally receive a title even higher than Earl.
The second possibility was more likely that this young Viscount had a powerful backer. Someone with great influence must have arranged the title for him. Considering the structure of nobility in the Solaris Kingdom, this explanation made more sense.
And so Romund leaned slightly into this second conclusion. It was more believable than the idea of such a young man holding strength beyond Tier 4.
Even so, he kept his enthusiasm high. Whether this viscount was powerful in his own right or supported by someone else, both situations demanded respect. Nobles were not to be underestimated, and neither were those who stood behind them.
So After Vice City Lord Romund finished speaking, he seemed to feel it wasn't good enough. He took two quicker steps, and stood shoulder to shoulder with Kaito, saying,"Mr. Viscount, please come in. We can discuss anything."
Such a young viscount was truly rare!
Kaito also responded with equal courtesy, addressing the man in the manner of an upper-class noble. Laughing heartily, he said, "Mr. Earl, you are far too polite. In truth, I do have something to trouble you with."
Romund, Vice City Lord of Astralis City and bearer of the title Earl, felt genuine joy hearing Kaito call him "Earl." His face lit up as he replied, "Not a bother at all, no bother. The fact that you've come here shows that you hold me, Romund, in high regard."
At the same time, a system prompt appeared before Kaito's eyes.
[System Notification]
Vice City Lord Romund's favorability towards you has risen to 50.
The two exchanged polite words and entered the Vice City Lord's Office together. After a short conversation about trivial matters, the discussion turned to Kaito's true purpose.
"Mr. Earl, I'd like to buy some land," Kaito said directly.
Romund blinked in surprise. "Land? You want to buy land?"
It had been a long time since anyone had mentioned those two words to him. For a moment, he even wondered if he had heard wrong.
Kaito nodded. "Yes, I want to buy some land."
Romund was puzzled, but at the same time, a flicker of hope stirred in his heart. He knew exactly why so many plots in Astralis City remained unsold despite its importance. What Kaito had previously speculated that noble titles and strong backers were required to purchase land was correct, but incomplete. The true obstacle wasn't only status.
It was the price.
To Kaito, these plots seemed cheap compared to their future value. But to the NPCs of Glory, the prices were already staggeringly high. No small chamber of commerce could afford them without overextending itself. And if they somehow managed to buy a plot, they would immediately face suppression from the larger chambers that already dominated the market. The combined financial burden and political pressure were more than most could endure.
This was the second reason why so much prime land remained unclaimed.
Romund himself had considered lowering the prices many times. He wasn't blind he could see that the land was going to waste, and he knew how much more prosperous Astralis City could become if more people bought in. But no matter what ideas he had, he couldn't act on them.
The land belonged to Duke Reynard. And as the rightful owner, only Duke Reynard had the authority to set land prices. Without his approval, Romund could not alter them even by a single coin.
And he knew that approval would never come.
Duke Reynard was not the type to concern himself with market difficulties. His attention was always focused on magical experiments, not economic reforms. But for Romund, the unsold land was both a headache and a source of despair.
Adding to his frustration, his performance evaluation included one very specific and very bizarre requirement, the sale of Astralis City's unowned land. And yet, in the last five or six years, Romund had not managed to sell even a single acre.
The weight of this failure had been gnawing at him.
And now, just when he had nearly given up hope, this young Viscount suddenly walked into the City Hall and asked to buy land.
Romund's heart leapt. It was as if a blessing had descended from the heavens.
"Haha! That's easy!" Romund laughed heartily, unable to contain his delight.
He immediately reached into his space ring and drew out a massive scroll. With a practiced motion, he unfurled it across the table.
"This is the map of Astralis City," Romund explained, his tone almost reverent.
The map was enormous, covering the entire city. Only about a third of it showed existing buildings, detailed in neat outlines and markings. The rest of the map was filled with blank spaces. Each blank plot was marked with a number, some in the thousands, some in hundreds, these were their corresponding prices that were clearly written.
"These blank areas represent the vacant plots of land available for purchase," Romund said, his voice carrying a note of pride despite years of frustration.
He pointed to several locations. "This here is Astralis City's most prosperous trading district. Here you see the auction house, and here is the arena…"
Romund went on, pointing out one landmark after another, carefully explaining each as if he feared Kaito might not know the layout of the city.
Of course, Kaito didn't need the explanation. In his previous life, he had spent nearly ten years in Astralis City. He could have drawn a map of the fully developed city with his eyes closed. Every district, every street, every landmark he knew them all.
Still, he let Romund continue.
As his eyes moved over the map, memories of the future filled his mind. Those blank spaces would one day become bustling markets, towering buildings, and centers of power. The plots Romund was pointing out, the ones he described so casually, would command prices so high they would make merchants faint.
Kaito's eyes flickered with excitement. His heart beat faster as he looked at the undeveloped land.
Romund, mistaking Kaito's silence for uncertainty, leaned closer and spoke with the enthusiasm of a real estate broker. "I recommend this one here the land next to the arena. It's bound to appreciate in value. Actually, this one here is good too. Or perhaps this area over here honestly, you might want to consider it…"
He pointed out plot after plot, recommending the slightly more expensive ones, eager to finally make a sale.
But Kaito was barely listening. His gaze was fixed on the blank expanses of virgin land, his mind racing with calculations.
His eyes gleamed as he stared at the map. He could almost see the future unfolding the bustling trade routes, the arenas filled with roaring crowds, the auction houses overflowing with wealth. The thought of acquiring these lands now, at their current prices, and then watching their value multiply a hundredfold or even a thousandfold, sent waves of excitement through him.
This was his chance.
He had already decided which plots he would buy.