The Young Master in the Shadows

The car took ten whole minutes to reach the top of the hill, where the main building was built in renaissance-style architecture. After the car stopped, Hilda quickly got out with Leo who went and gracefully opened the door for Victor, allowing him to swagger out of the car, with Lily, who quickly thanked Leo with a little bow.

Leo seemed interested in coming along for a tour of this fancy mansion but Victor quickly sent him away.
“You return to the company for today, and make sure to be here at 8 am tomorrow to pick me up,” Victor said to the dejected Leo who could only drive the car back to the company. He had to think of a good way to get into this young master's good book.

After watching the car leave the gate down the hill, Hilda Looked at Victor and introduced herself again with a deep bow,
“Hilda greets the young master. I have been instructed by the master to take care of all your needs, now let’s head inside.” Hilda said as she started to walk towards the door.

“I have no interest in old women.”, replied Victor arrogantly while following with Lily, who could barely contain her laugh.

Hilda stumbled a little, but quickly adjusted her steps and acted as if she did not hear anything.
“What’s wrong with this guy? and am I really that old?” she asked herself.
She has heard rumors about him being a pervert, but no one said anything about him having something wrong with his head,
“There seems to be a red bump on his head though,” she thought.

Entering the villa, they were greeted by a big entry hall floored in black and white marble tiles, and two symmetric flights of stairs heading towards the upper floors.
Hilda quickly began to introduce the villa to this young master. She started to walk through the rooms one by one. The more rooms he walked through the more satisfied Victor became.
This mansion was built sparing no luxury, It had three stories. containing 5 bedrooms with their baths, and a special grand bathroom located in the first basement, In addition to that, there is a grand hall for parties and many unused rooms. The interior was decorated heavily with expensive antiques, like ancient vases, wool carpets, and baroque paintings. Giving it an aura culture and deep heritage.
It was built about 25 years ago by his father, who did not live in it in the end, due to him having been gifted a better place by the family for one of his accomplishments.

When they reached the garage, Victor was surprised to find it empty.
"Where are all the cars, I didn’t see any outside, what way of transportation do you use here?” He asked as he didn’t want to use the company’s car all the time.
“There are no cars here, young master, there was no need to until now. The bus stop is right down the hill,” she answered.
Victor nodded his head and decided to go buy a few cars later, but he might need a trusty driver, as he didn't have his driving license yet and driving was not good for the image he wants to build.

"Do you know how to drive," he asked Lily

"Yes, young master. But I don't have a license," she answered truthfully, she has been trained to use many kinds of combat vehicles, including helicopters.
"Hilda, contact the administrative officer in this city and ask him for driving licenses for us, understood" he ordered Hilda, who quickly nodded her head, then took a small notebook and recorded his instruction so she does not forget.

After that she took him to tour the two adjacent buildings, they were relatively new, they seemed to have been built about four or five years ago in a full expansion project.
According to Hilda, The separate servants’ resident building contains a dormitory and a dining room for the maids and some empty apartments for the employees. As for the Gym and the indoor swimming pool they were in a separate domed building.

There was another unused 4 story building a little further from the other three. But Victor was not interested in touring it, as according to Hilda it was completely empty.

Hilda also informed him that each building has an additional three floors underground as per family regulations. The bottom basement was designed as a nuclear shelter.

There is also an outdoor pool and a prepared martial arts training ground. As for the lush forests surrounding the villa, they are also a part of the mansion, in fact, this entire hill is one complete property.

Victor was quite satisfied with this, it was perfectly suited for his plans, as he intends to build his future base here.

He looked at Hilda who seemed to have ended their tour.

“Who do you report to?” He asked her.

“I report to young master Nick usually,” She answered.

Nick was his illegitimate half-brother, although he had no pureblood, he was quite talented and brave, choosing to attend the ceremony despite its dangers.
There he was able to awaken as a semi-Player, so his father let him take care of the business here in Vein City.
He should have been the caretaker of this mansion before it was granted to Victor, the new buildings are probably his idea, maybe he thought that one day he would inherit it.

In his past life, He did not meet this half-brother, as he died a few days before Victor got here. Victor didn’t care back then, but later when he read the records he discovered that this guy was not a good thing. It was all thanks to his mysterious death when this mansion was burned that all the dirt on him was discovered. The family didn’t know who killed him, but they had a few suspects, and he knew one of them very well.
“I have to be careful,” He warned himself.

“You will be reporting to me from now on. Where is that bastard Nick, why don't I see him? Doesn't he want to come and welcome this young master?” He asked arrogantly.

“He is out of contact since last week, Every month, young master Nick has such times where we can't reach him,” she answered.

“I see,” He said, trying to remember what he read about Nick back then,

“Don’t worry young master, as soon as I can contact him I will inform him of your arrival” Hilda said.

“That’s fine, Are you the only servant here?” He asked her,

“No, not anymore, I used to be alone here, but now there are two others, but..” she hesitated a little then continued,
“About two years ago two intruders broke into the mansion, but when I caught them, they turned out to be two twin sisters. Apparently, their parents were killed by some loan shark, and the said man wanted to take them and sell them to some brothel, so they escaped here. After I interrogated them, they told me their story, and the loan shark seemed to have followed them here, so I took the liberty to have him in too, for a round of interrogation. And their statements matched.” She paused a little,
“I am sorry young master, When I found out that these two were very talented, I could not bring myself to kill them according to the protocol, so after I did a background check on them using the family’s network, I offered them a choice, either death or becoming slaves to the owner of the mansion and serving as maids here. They argued and tried to escape first but after some ‘convincing’ they agreed as they had no money and no place to stay, but with one condition, that we allow them to finish school, so I took the liberty to accept their condition. I am very sorry.”

She bowed down to Victor, who looked at her with a piercing gaze, bringing outsiders to the family without a family member’s approval is not a small offense.

“Does my father or Nick know?” he asked.

“The master has not called here for the last 5 years, not until yesterday when he informed me of your arrival, As for young master Nick, I may have forgotten to tell him about them,” she said with sweat beads falling through her white hair.

“How much do they know about the family,” He asked as if he didn't care about her misdemeanor.

“I didn’t tell them any secrets, They only know that this house master belongs to a very rich and powerful family who seems to have some weird hobbies. but don’t worry master, I have been training them well. they should know their place.”

“How did you put the family’s tattoo on them?” he asked, this tattoo requires special artifacts to be branded.

“I took them to a certain establishment in the downtown, it is run by the family. the owner there owes me a favor,” she answered,

“Oh, Interesting, Where are they now?” he asked as she just got him interested.

“I ordered them to prepare dinner for you, they should be waiting for us in the dining room by now,” she replied,

“Fine, let’s go see them then. What are we waiting for?” he said.

But Hilda did not move, after some struggle, she said in an anxious voice “It’s just..., Young master, these two girls are really talented, I hope you don’t be too hard on them, maybe they would have a chance to awaken someday, they might be of great use to you.” she said before turning around and start walking towards the dining room.

Victor looked at her back chuckled, then followed “Looks like she treats them like her own daughters, but can they be trusted?” he thought.