New house

As they traveled through the outer city, they eventually arrived at their first destination—an old three-story building, with one house on each floor. The building looked aged, and as Ryan and Jacob stepped inside, the creaking of the wooden stairs confirmed its old condition.

Jacob, being professional, immediately began his introduction.

"Sir Ryan, this is the first house I'll show you. It's in a good neighborhood, and the residents maintain a friendly relationship with each other. Though the building may appear old, the owner recently renovated it, so you don't have to worry about its condition. The rent is 1 silver coin per month."

He then led Ryan to the third floor, where the available unit was located. The house consisted of a single bedroom, a small hall, a kitchen, and a bathroom.

Ryan carefully examined the space but wasn't entirely satisfied. He decided to look at the other options before making a final decision. Jacob, having experience with clients, could tell that Ryan wasn't impressed.

Next, they visited a house near the slums, only two streets away. However, Ryan immediately declined this option due to its unsafe and unhygienic surroundings.

Finally, they arrived at the third house—a two-story building with a restaurant on the ground floor, owned by the building's landlord. As soon as they entered, an elderly woman, who was at the restaurant's cashier desk, recognized Jacob. She was the landlord, Prim, and she had hired Jacob to find a tenant for the house.

Since there weren't many customers at the moment, Prim personally guided them upstairs to the available unit on the first floor.

As they walked through the house, Ryan observed the surroundings carefully. Unlike the previous options, this house was well-maintained. Prim enthusiastically introduced the property, proudly mentioning that her husband had built it himself.

The layout was similar to the first house, with a hall, a kitchen, a bedroom, and a bathroom. However, this place was much cleaner and even came with a few basic pieces of furniture, including a bed, chairs, and a table. Ryan felt satisfied with what he saw.

Turning to Jacob, he asked, "I like this house. How much is the rent?"

Jacob glanced at Prim before replying, "The rent is 1 silver coin per month. However, if you opt for a meal plan—three meals a day—it will be 1.5 silver coins in total, as the landlord will provide the food."

Ryan considered his options. Cooking for himself would be troublesome, and the total cost of groceries would be around 50 to 60 copper coins. Eating at restaurants would be even more expensive. The meal plan seemed like a good deal.

"I'll take the option with meals included," Ryan decided.

Prim nodded and added, "You'll need to pay two months' rent in advance as a security deposit. This ensures that if you cause any damage or fail to pay rent, we have the amount to deduct from."

Ryan quickly calculated—3 silver coins for the deposit, plus 1 silver coin for the housing administration fee. In total, he would have to spend 4 silver coins upfront. He realized he needed to find a job soon to sustain his expenses.

After finalizing the deal, Ryan paid Jacob 1 silver coin as his commission, which made the agent visibly pleased. He then handed 3 silver coins to Prim in front of Jacob, ensuring that the transaction was recorded with the housing administration. This way, if any major disputes arose between him and the landlord, the housing office could mediate.

As Jacob prepared to leave, he turned to Ryan and asked, "Would you like me to help you move your belongings from your previous house?"

Ryan shook his head. "I don't have anything left there to move."

"In that case, would you like to buy some essentials for your new place? I can take you around the market, and don't worry—I won't charge anything extra for it."

Ryan thought for a moment before deciding. "I'd appreciate that. I need to buy clothes, a mattress, bedsheets, pillows, and a few other things."

Jacob grinned. "Hop on,Sir Ryan! I'll take you to the market and get you a good deal."

They rode the carriage to the market, where Jacob expertly navigated through the streets, taking Ryan to the best shops for clothes and household essentials. Thanks to his familiarity with the merchants, Jacob managed to get discounted prices on everything Ryan needed.

Ryan was pleasantly surprised. He realized that Jacob had strong connections in the city and could be a valuable ally. He decided to befriend him.

As they finished shopping and Jacob prepared to take him back to his new home, he said, "Let's go, sir Ryan. I'll drop you off."

Ryan smiled and replied, "You don't have to be so formal anymore. Just call me Ryan—the deal is already done."

Jacob chuckled. "Alright, Ryan. So, have you decided what you'll do next in the city?"

"Not yet," Ryan admitted. "The viscount paid me enough to last for about two months. In that time, I'll have to find a job."

Jacob nodded thoughtfully. "Well, if you need any help, just let me know."

Ryan appreciated the offer. He had settled into

his new home, but now, he needed to figure out his next steps.

Ryan said to Jacob, "Sure, I'll let you know if I need help finding a job. First, I'll try to get one on my own, but if I need assistance, I'll ask you."

As they continued talking, they soon arrived at Ryan's newly rented house.

Jacob bid Ryan farewell and waved to Old Lady Prim before setting off.

Ryan made his way upstairs, as the staircase was located outside the restaurant. As he was about to enter his new home, Prim called out, "Lad Ryan, would you like some help?"

Ryan quickly shook his head and replied, "Thank you, Mrs. Prim, but I can handle it myself. It's just a few mattresses and clothes—nothing major."

With that, he headed upstairs to settle into his

new home.