Chapter 784 ARRIVAL AT MAGNOLIA MANOR

Chapter 784 ARRIVAL AT MAGNOLIA MANOR　　LUO YAN glanced outside the window of the car. They had now entered a mountainous area. He could barely maintain the gentle expression on his face because how bumpy the ride was. 

They were travelling on an unpaved road. So, the journey wasn't exactly smooth. And because this car wasn't exactly from the 21st century, it made the ride even more uncomfortable. The only thing he was thankful for was the weather. It's not hot and humid, just the perfect temperature of Spring. If this was Summer, he would be sweating buckets already.

"This is quite the long journey, isn't it, Saunders?" he commented. The hidden meaning was – 'how long until we arrive at our destination?'.

From what he knew, nobles loved to talk in circles. Meaning they wouldn't directly say what's on their mind but instead say it in a roundabout way. Even though the power of nobles had had already declined at this time, there were still things that were engraved in them since childhood. Talking in 'riddles' was one of them.

How did he know? Because he had read a lot of Western historical fiction set in Britain in his last life. It's not because he's particularly interested in it. It's simply because there were a lot of those kinds of books at the director's office and he spent a lot of time at her office when he was in high school. 

At that time, he was helping the director a lot with the orphanage's paperwork that's why he spent a lot of time there. Whenever he had a break, he would take a book and read it. The genre itself was quite fascinating. Not because of the romance but because of the way the people in that time period behaved.

He understood that there's a lot of embellishment in the way the authors wrote their characters to make things more interesting. Still, if a lot of them were doing it, then there must some sort of basis for it. 

Those books were not only entertaining, he also learned a lot from it. Like noble etiquettes, the way they spoke and moved, and their attitudes towards those they considered lower than them in station. Although it's probably not the most accurate historical source, it would probably do in this situation.

"Don't worry, sir. We're near the manor," the driver said.

Luo Yan didn't reply and just looked once again outside the window. The sky was bright blue when they left the station, not it was slowly starting to turn orange. Evidence of how long they'd been travelling. If this continued on for another hour, his ass would be flattened. 

Good thing Saunders seemed to not just be giving lip service. A few moments later, he could already see a huge manor from afar. From his vantage point, he could easily tell that the manor was almost near the top of the mountain they're travelling on. 

It took a full 15 minutes before the car finally stopped at its destination. Saunders parked the car and got off first before opening the door of the backseat. Luo Yan walked out of the car and finally had a good look of the Magnolia Manor. 

He didn't notice it earlier when he saw the manor from afar but the house looked like it was newly built. With such a name, he thought that the place would be very old. But the curious thing was, the design was completely 17th century. It just had that unique Baroque architecture popular at that time. Known for its grandeur, many nobles during that time built their country houses in such a manner.

How did he know? Well, because of his interest in historical romance novels back then, he would sometimes search things on the internet just so he could have a better image of the things being described on the book he's reading. When he read a book that was set during the 17th century, that's when he came into contact with Baroque architecture. 

"You must be Lord James Payton," a voice said from the front.

Luo Yan took away his gaze from the manor and looked down. He saw a young man, must be in his late teens. He had dark red hair and a pair of green eyes. Just like any redheads, he had pale white skin. There were freckles splattered across the bridge of his nose. 

"Yes, I'm James Payton," he responded, confirming the other's call. "Please, forego with the 'lord'. It's much too formal for my taste," he continued with a playful grin.

"Sir, then. I'm the butler, Gilmore," the young man continued. "Welcome to Magnolia Manor, sir."

Luo Yan was surprised after hearing that the other was the butler. Weren't butlers usually old? At the other's age, this Gilmore should just be a valet or something. Should he be considered as a genius among servants that's why he was quickly promoted to a butler? In any case, this was definitely not normal.

[Ding! Your detective talent is telling you that the circumstance behind Gilmore being the butler is suspicious.]

Luo Yan blinked and his expression almost collapsed after he heard that in his head. What the heck was this detective talent? Then, he remembered the last 'rule' – that they could use the talent possessed by the NPC they're impersonating. 

So, since James Payton was a detective, he inherited the other's detecting talent? And it literally manifested as a notification in his head. Did this mean that every time he found something suspicious, the same notification would ring inside his head?

Luo Yan slightly shook his head. No, let's not think about this right now. There would be plenty of time to test it later. Right now, he should first meet the person who sent him the letter inviting him here.

"I will take you to your room, sir. A servant will send your luggage later," Gilmore said.

Gilmore walked inside the house, gesturing for him to follow. Instead of following, Luo Yan said;

"Rather than that, I'd very much like to meet Mr. Harcourt. Should you take me to him first?"