After coming out of his thoughts "This land," Kaito said slowly, pointing it out, "I'd like to know its price."
Romund leaned back slightly. His gaze shifted to the marked area, and for a moment he seemed hesitant. "Ah, that land." He gave a small sigh before answering. "Mr. Viscount, the regulations on those plots are strict. You can only use them to grow plants or raise livestock. Construction of restaurants, houses, or any profit-making structures is strictly prohibited. I can't change those regulations."
It was clear Romund thought Kaito was just another businessman looking for commercial expansion. His tone carried the faint awkwardness of someone expecting disappointment.
But Kaito only smiled. "Don't worry. I'm buying it for non-commercial purposes."
Romund blinked, taken aback. "Truly?"
"Of course."
A hint of relief crossed the Vice City Lord's face, and he chuckled. "That's excellent, then."
"Good. Can you calculate the price?" Kaito asked directly.
Before Romund could even speak, Anna, who had returned with her usual efficiency, answered at once. "Based on its valuation, 40% rounded off would be 34,328 gold coins."
Kaito's eyes lit up slightly. What a bargain.
He remembered very well from his previous life that the grain harvested from that very field alone had been worth more than that price. And that wasn't even counting the far more valuable resource hidden there the mana fields. Thousands of square meters of fertile spiritual land stretched across that region, capable of supporting the growth of magical herbs. These herbs were classified into levels, with their potency increasing as they aged. Older herbs became increasingly rare and harder to secure, and yet countless high-ranking potion formulas required them. Because of that, demand for such herbs never fell in his previous life.
With this land under his control, he could support lifestyle players who specialized in farming and alchemy, ensuring a steady supply of rare ingredients. It would complete the missing link in their industrial chain. His Second Uncle could be tasked with managing it directly, weaving it seamlessly into their family's growing foundation.
But for now, he needed to secure the purchase.
"Wait a moment," Kaito said calmly. He opened his inventory to check his funds.
After paying 89,000 gold coins for the city lands, his balance had dropped sharply. His current total stood at only 16,446 gold coins and it was still increasing.
Not enough.
He fell silent, thinking of alternative ways to raise the remaining gold quickly. Time was crucial he couldn't afford to delay this opportunity.
Just as the thought settled in, another prompt appeared in his vision.
[Mailbox: You have received mail from Steady Stone.]
His eyes brightened slightly. Opening the mailbox, he found four separate messages waiting. Each one contained 5,000 gold coins.
Attached was also a short note from his Second Uncle. He had purchased every available batch of gold coins on the market, paying even higher rates to secure them. The message explained that this had completely emptied the current supply, and buying more would take additional time.
Kaito smiled faintly. His Second Uncle's efficiency always impressed him. Without hesitation, he sent back a quick reply. "That's enough. Uncle you can stop the acquisition for now."
With that, he retrieved the four mails. His balance rose again.
[Gold Coins: 36,446]
Enough to cover the planting field.
Turning back to Romund, Kaito spoke steadily. "Let's start the trade."
Romund couldn't hide his surprise. This Viscount had astonished him time and time again. Every step that had seemed impossible, Kaito handled with a calm ease that left others scrambling to catch up. Even now, the young man acted as though nothing could shake him.
Anna placed another contract on the desk. Without a word, Kaito paid the amount and signed it. The million-square-meter planting field was now his.
But Kaito still wasn't done. His gaze shifted once more to the map spread across the table. Several remaining plots of land caught his eye. They weren't particularly valuable small, scattered pieces not particulary good and because of their flaws, their prices were also extremely cheap.
Yet Kaito didn't hesitate.
"I'll take these as well."
One by one, he marked more than ten additional plots. Though they lacked immediate appeal, Kaito knew that land was land. In the future, even these neglected pieces would hold value. And for now, their low prices meant he could sweep them up without worry.
In the end, he spent every last coin in his inventory, securing all the plots he had selected.
As soon as Kaito finished purchasing the lands, a new system prompt appeared.
[Romund's favorability towards you has increased to 95.]
Ignoring the notification, Kaito felt a rush of relief. Looking at the map, nearly a third of the marked land was now circled in his name. From this moment onward, these places officially belonged to him.
But even with this much secured, Kaito wasn't finished. He looked up from the map and said slowly, "Can you still leave me some land? I'll buy it within this month."
He didn't want to let go of even a single piece of Astralis City's land. To him, every plot here was fertile ground where gold would grow.
Romund, who hadn't seen such large-scale land transactions in five or six years, was caught slightly off guard. Yet looking at Kaito the biggest benefactor he had ever dealt with he answered without hesitation, "No problem. Within my authority, I will reserve up to three hundred thousand square meters of land for you."
Hearing this, Kaito finally let out the breath he was holding. That promise was enough. He didn't believe he would ever encounter another person as generous and straightforward as Viscount Raen again. And in truth, he knew Romund wasn't taking on much burden. The remaining land had been lying unsold for years. The chances of anyone else suddenly stepping forward to purchase it were close to none. In other words, the promise was more symbolic than anything, but to Kaito, it meant security.
"Then let's sign the agreement," Kaito said quickly, his tone filled with delight.
Romund didn't hesitate. "No problem," he replied, waving a hand as if the matter was simple. In his view, whether they signed or not made little difference. But since Viscount Raen placed such importance on it, there was no harm in going through the motions.
Kaito wasted no time. He selected a plot on the map just the right size, a little over 290,000 square meters, brushing close to Romund's guarantee of 300,000 square meters.
Ten minutes later, the two of them signed the land retention agreement through the contract system which was overseen by the God Of Law.
Another prompt appeared.
[Romund's favorability towards you has increased to 100.]
Romund's respect for Kaito had reached its peak. For him, it was more than a deal. Looking at Kaito, he saw something he hadn't felt in years hope. Hope of promotion, of recognition, of proving his worth as a noble.
Though he held the title of Earl, Romund knew deep inside that many other nobles didn't truly respect him. They smiled on the surface but mocked him behind his back, whispering that his title was only thanks to Duke Reynard's influence. To them, he was little more than a figurehead. But today, as he watched this young Viscount make bold moves and pour wealth into the city, Romund felt that his years of stagnation might finally change.
The two chatted for a while longer, their conversation lighter now. Eventually, with some reluctance, Romund bid Kaito farewell.
Kaito left the city hall soon after.
The moment he stepped outside, the restrained joy he had been holding back finally broke free. He couldn't contain himself and burst into laughter. His laughter echoed down the marble steps, startling passersby. NPCs walking by gave him strange looks, but Kaito didn't care in the slightest.
From today onward, he was the real estate tycoon of Astralis City. The thought alone made his chest feel lighter than ever before.
He laughed until his sides ached, and only after several minutes did his joy finally subside. Straightening himself under the curious gazes of the NPC's, he calmed down and refocused.
The next step in his plan was clear he had to seek out the woman and complete his class change quest.
With that thought, Kaito's eyes sharpened once more. His business in the city hall was over. Now it was time to move forward.