Frost Household

"Thank you," Leon replied before standing up so Richard could register for his own account.

About thirty minutes later, they were done, and both boys were now holding small envelopes containing their new debit cards.

The nun had acted as their guardian and even set up spending limits on the cards—they couldn't spend more than $500 per day. Future limits, though, would be up to them once they reached legal age.

"Ma, can we stop by a phone store? I want to buy a phone," Leon said, pointing toward a store in the distance.

If he wanted to expand his business, this was necessary—and besides, he needed it today.

"Just don't get addicted to it," the nun said, not bothering to ask why he needed it.

Leon scoffed at her remark. There was no way he'd use the phone enough for anyone to call him obsessed.

Entering the phone store, Leon was greeted by a modern setup. The phones here resembled those from Earth—touchscreens, sleek designs, cameras—though the timeline here seemed slightly behind.

"They have superpowers, of course their technology level would be a bit higher," Leon muttered under his breath before selecting a basic model.

Paying for the phone and a plan cost him around $300 in total, thankfully.

"Is that all you need?" the nun asked as they stood at the bus stop, ready to return to the orphanage.

"Yeah, I can receive calls now," Leon replied, raising the phone in his hand.

Richard, who would soon start his piano tutoring job, nodded in agreement. The pay might be modest, but it was enough for now.

With that, the two boys boarded the bus with the nun and began their journey back.

Halfway through, Leon got off, having another destination in mind.

"Ensure you return before 5 p.m., understand?" the nun said, listing safety rules one last time.

"I know. I'll see you all soon," Leon replied, waving goodbye before heading toward the Frost household.

He carried the dried, neatly wrapped painting. He'd considered hiring a delivery service but decided against it—why miss a chance to interact with a telepath?

Thirty minutes later, Leon stood in front of a sprawling manor. The girl hadn't exaggerated her father's wealth.

"Hey kid, who are you here to see?" a security guard asked, snapping him out of his trance.

"Oh, sorry. I'm here to deliver this. I called ahead," Leon said.

"You're the orphan painter?" the man asked, then winced at his own phrasing. "My apologies. Should I call to confirm, or would you prefer to leave it here?"

"Just call. If they don't want to see me, I'll leave. Take advantage of the situation—he might be an art enthusiast or have friends who'd appreciate my work," Leon replied honestly.

"Smart," the guard said before picking up the phone in his booth.

Leon turned back to admire the manor. Though he couldn't see much, its grandeur spoke volumes about the Frost family's wealth.