After the long journey, they finally arrived. The limousine slowed to a stop and parked in front of the estate.

  Carter was already behind the wheel by then. He jumped out immediately, walked around to the back, pulled open the door, and clapped his hands.

  “Alright, wake up—we’re here! Everyone out! Move it, move it!”

  Lyrien, Arvian, and Toma stepped out one by one, stretching their stiff limbs.

  Toma let out a long breath. “Ugh… that drive was brutal.”

  But the moment they fully cleared the limousine, all three of them froze.

  Their eyes were drawn straight to the villa towering before them.

  It was a massive, modern mansion with clean lines and elegant curves. Wide glass windows reflected the sunlight, while curved balconies wrapped around the upper floors. A crystal-clear swimming pool spread across the terrace, accompanied by a cascading waterfall that shimmered as it fell, giving the entire place an almost unreal, magical elegance.

  Toma and Arlen had never seen anything like it. They stood there, completely speechless.

  “What a—”

  Toma swallowed and turned slowly toward Carter. “Inspector… do you seriously live in a place like this?”

  To Carter, it was nothing special. He answered casually, as if they were talking about a small apartment.

  “Of course. I don’t think I ever mentioned it, but I’m a noble. This villa is part of my inheritance.”

  Toma could only stare. “We’ve never seen anything like this.”

  Lyrien, meanwhile, reacted far less dramatically, giving a small shrug.

  “We live in a similar villa on the Vandemire family’s estate.”

  Arvian couldn’t help speaking up.

  “These nobles are unbelievable. I grew up in Gorimbol—a tiny village. I never would’ve imagined I’d stay in a house like this someday.”

  Carter waved his hand dismissively.

  “Come on. Let me show you around my humble abode.”

  Toma glanced back into the limousine and pointed toward the driver, who was still asleep inside.

  “What about him?”

  Carter brushed it off.

  “Let him rest. Even if I switched with him halfway, that kind of drive still wears you out.”

  With that, he led them onto the estate.

  The first stop was the courtyard—and it was enormous. A massive swimming pool dominated the front area, surrounded by colorful flowers and carefully arranged plants that filled the garden with life.

  Toma slowly turned in place, eyes wide. Wow… these pools are so huge it feels like a private beach resort.

  “Pretty much,” Carter answered with a shrug. “Different pools, different water temperatures. Feel free to try them later.”

  Behind the villa stretched an expanse of land so vast that its end couldn’t even be seen.

  Next, they descended into the underground garage—and once again, they were stunned.

  Carter pointed toward another limousine.

  “That’s my other one. Same model—just black.”

  As if that weren’t enough, twelve sleek sports cars were parked neatly beside it.

  Lyrien raised an eyebrow.

  “Why does one person need this many ridiculously expensive cars?”

  Carter laughed.

  “Simple answer—I’m obsessed with luxury sports cars.”

  Arlen and Toma were practically glued to the sight.

  “Inspector, you have to take us for a ride in all of them.”

  Carter grinned.

  “Anytime.”

  He gestured around the space.

  “That’s why the garage is this big. Plenty of room for the limousines—and for expanding my collection whenever I feel like it.”

  Finally, they entered the villa itself.

  The entrance hall was vast and elegant. At its center stood a circular fountain, from which rose a lightning-shaped marble statue. Water flowed gently from its tip, shimmering as it descended. On either side, curved staircases ascended symmetrically, leading to the upper floor and connecting through a panoramic gallery above.

  Golden details lined the walls, a massive chandelier hung from the ceiling, and the open, brightly lit space blended modern luxury with a subtle fantasy-like atmosphere.

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  On the ground floor, an enormous television faced a sprawling, ultra-comfortable sofa. Nearby was a spacious, high-end kitchen and a long dining table that looked capable of hosting a small banquet.

  By the time Carter had finished showing everything to his guests, quite a lot of time had passed, and evening had already fallen.

  Arlen looked around one last time, still visibly stunned.

  “This house is unbelievable. Everything here sparkles.”

  “It really feels like being inside a royal palace,” Toma added, shaking his head in disbelief.

  Carter only laughed at their reactions. “Alright, up the stairs. Let’s head to the upper floor—I’ll show you your rooms.”

  Before they could move, Arlen pointed toward a door they hadn’t visited yet.

  “Hold on. What’s behind that door? We haven’t been there.”

  “Oh, that one?” Carter waved it off casually. “It leads to a separate living area. That’s where the drivers, maintenance workers, cooks, cleaners, and the butler live. It’s basically another residential section—several floors tall, but reserved for the staff.”

  “I see,” Arlen replied with a nod. “Alright, let’s keep going.”

  Upstairs, a wide circular corridor wrapped around the building, its two ends connecting to the staircases leading back down. Numerous doors lined the hallway, each one leading to a room.

  “These are all guest rooms,” Carter explained as he gestured around. “They’re empty, so feel free to choose whichever you like. Each room has its own private bathroom as well.”

  Toma picked the room at the far end, closest to the staircase. Lyrien moved into the room next to his, while Arlen settled into the one beside hers.

  Stepping inside, Toma slowly looked around. The room carried the same refined luxury as the rest of the villa—clean lines, noble materials, and a calm, modern atmosphere. The large bed, wall-mounted TV, stylish wardrobe, and elegant desk blended together perfectly.

  Without hesitation, he threw himself onto the bed.

  “Does something like this actually exist? This bed is insanely comfortable. You can’t even compare it to those hard dorm beds.”

  Opening the window revealed a spacious balcony. His attention then shifted to another door leading into the bathroom.

  “I’ve never seen a bathroom like this before… everything is shining.”

  His gaze drifted toward the bathtub.

  “Wow, this is a jacuzzi, and the shower cabin can fit up to ten people at once.”

  But what surprised Toma the most was the toilet.

  “Whoa… this toilet has everything. Heated seat, built-in cleaning system—and the best part is, it flushes itself!”

  After admiring the room for a while longer, Toma stepped out onto the balcony and breathed in the cool evening air.

  I never would’ve imagined living in a place like this one day. But I can’t just take advantage of Carter’s kindness… I don’t want to be a freeloader.

  ***

  It was the next day that life truly began.

  After breakfast, Carter gathered everyone in the library. A long table dominated the room, where Lyrien, Toma, and Arlen took their seats.

  “Wow, I didn’t even know there was a library like this here,” Toma muttered, glancing around with interest.

  Carter paced slowly in front of them as he spoke.

  “This room holds the records of my family’s ancestors, passed down from generation to generation. Of course, there are plenty of books as well. But more importantly, this is where you’ll be studying from now on.”

  He stopped, then smiled slightly.

  “And now, let me introduce your teacher—the one who’ll be working exclusively with you every single day from now on.”

  Turning toward the door, he opened it.

  “Please, come in, Master.”

  At that moment, a tall, gray-haired old man stepped inside. A neatly kept gray goatee framed his face, his long mustache drooped at the sides, and thick eyebrows gave him a sharp, imposing presence.

  “Greetings, children. My name is Iseon. From today onward, I’ll be your private tutor.”

  The old man’s calm, steady voice filled the library as he clasped his hands behind his back.

  “I’ve served several noble families over the years, but I spent most of my time here. I was also Carter’s teacher. My task is to prepare you for your graduation exams in every subject. Today, we’ll begin with revision and the basics—but before that, I’d like you to introduce yourselves. Let’s start with you,” his gaze settled on Toma, “the blue-haired boy.”

  Thus, the three friends spent the entire morning studying.

  After lunch, Arlen and Toma headed straight for the pools.

  “Summer break, sunshine, relaxation, and swimming,” Arlen stretched his arms lazily. “Do you really need anything more than this?”

  Toma nodded in agreement while floating on his back.

  “Honestly, I could get used to this life. But did you hear what Master Iseon said after today’s lesson? Seven hours of studying every day. Every single day, except Sunday.

  Arlen scratched the back of his head with an awkward smile.

  “Yeah… that’s going to be rough. Still, the goal is to graduate next year.”

  Just then, Lyrien arrived at the poolside.

  The boys’ attention snapped toward her instantly.

  Toma whistled playfully. “Wow, Lyrien—”

  Before he could finish, a wave of water slammed straight into his face.

  “That’s embarrassing!” Lyrien snapped, cheeks slightly red.

  Suddenly, someone flipped cleanly into the pool with a loud splash.

  “Inspector Carter!?” “What are you doing here!?”

  Carter surfaced, shaking water out of his hair as if nothing had happened.

  “I’m swimming. In my own pool.”

  Toma barely heard him. His eyes were glued to Carter’s upper body.

  “Whoa… Carter, those tattoos are insane.”

  Dark ink covered his arms, chest, and even stretched across his back.

  Carter grinned. “Thanks. You want one too? You already had the guts to get earrings last time.”

  “I would,” Toma admitted, “but my mom would kill me. She thinks tattoos are ugly.”

  Carter burst out laughing.

  “Alright, then let’s not mess with your mom. How about a swimming competition instead?”

  Toma’s grin widened instantly.

  “Not just one—let’s do several!”

  “Then, come over to the swimming pool.”

  The swimming pool was the largest pool, situated in the middle of the courtyard.

  The atmosphere was intense. The competitors were already on standby.

  Before starting, Carter raised a finger.

  “One important rule. Actually, the most important rule.”

  Arlen tilted his head. “Look out for each other?”

  Carter shook his head firmly.

  “No. Much more important than that. Do not pee in the pool. There are toilets a few meters away. These pools are smart pools; they have built-in sensors that show the cleanliness of the water!”

  Toma blinked.

  “Relax, relax. We’re not five years old.”

  “I just wanted to make it absolutely clear. Now let’s start.”

  The afternoon passed pleasantly. After swimming, they chatted a little while drying off.

  Carter leaned back on the bench, crossing his arms. “Iseon is an excellent teacher. He’ll prepare you well. There’s also a warrior exam as part of the graduation, but don’t stress over it. The written part is basically a formality, and the practical exam won’t be an issue for you. Still, if you ever want extra training, just tell me. I’ll help.”

  Toma nodded without hesitation.

  “Thanks, Carter. We’ll need you. And we will train.”

  Carter smiled knowingly. “I thought you’d say that.”

  Then his attention shifted to Lyrien.

  “As for you, I’ll train with you every day—until you reach the same level as these two.”

  “Thank you very much,” she said sincerely.

  Carter tilted his head. “By the way, your cousin is the captain of the Water Division, right? That pretty woman.”

  Lyrien hesitated. “Uh… yes?”

  “I heard she’s single, and since you’re her relative anyway, you could introduce me to her.”

  Lyrien’s gaze turned ice-cold.

  “You’re not her type. And I’m not bothering my sister with something that awkward.”

  Carter shrugged, completely unfazed.

  “Worth a shot.”

  He stood up and stretched.

  “Get ready. This won’t be a relaxing summer break. Starting tomorrow, things get serious. Give it everything you’ve got.”