Seeing there was still some free time, Ciel requested a 2-pound advance on her weekly salary from Avena—thanks to Adele, her salary had also increased—and prepared to go look at houses near Gem Avenue.

Adele received a salary of 15 pounds per week, almost the top rate for a private doctor. Ciel, as Avena’s assistant, received 2 pounds per week. Both salaries were unattainable for ordinary people.

However, neither Adele nor Avena seemed concerned about the amount. After all, in their view, transcendents had plenty of ways to earn money; this salary was merely a formality.

As for the potions, Ciel left them all at Avena’s manor, which was as safe as putting them in a vault.

Ciel walked along the afternoon street, clutching the two one-pound gold coins and several half-crown silver coins in her pocket, feeling slightly conflicted.

Based on total assets, including the potions the divine servant gave Amy that she was temporarily holding, she already had a net worth of over ten thousand pounds.

Why was she still so poor?

Simply because the potions she possessed were from unsaved simulations and couldn’t be sold yet.

“Sigh...” Ciel sighed.

After renting the house, she had to quickly find an opportunity in a simulation to digest the potions she had on hand.

A newspaper boy ran past Ciel, interrupting her thoughts.

She stopped the boy, spent 2 pence on the latest local newspaper, skipped the popular fiction, horror stories, and crime reports, and looked at the rental information on the side.

If she didn’t want to run around everywhere, the most suitable way was through the small ads in the local newspaper, checking if any landlords were currently renting out properties.

Finding a real estate agent would definitely not be as affordable.

Landlords in Clock Tower Alley mostly relied on writing flyers or word-of-mouth to rent out houses, as few workers could read the newspaper.

Therefore, housing information published in the newspaper was likely mostly in the Gem District or nearby areas. Occasionally, one or two listings for the Sir’s Bridge District could be seen, but those prices were enough to make Ciel flinch.

After roughly scanning all the rental information in the newspaper, Ciel found one that caught her eye.

【For Rent: A two-bedroom row house on Gem Avenue, Gem District, Berren City. House well-maintained, spacious living room. Rent: 1 su pound per month. Suitable for small families or professional couples. Inquire with Mrs. Jameson at 23 High Street, Gem District】

Roughly equivalent to 5 shillings per week... and this was just for a very small unit.

Is this the cost of living near the city center?

It’s hard to imagine how expensive renting in Ansu would be.

Ciel noted down the landlord’s address. Upon arrival, she met the landlord, a very humorous old lady. The property was an inheritance from her deceased husband; managing it alone was difficult, so she decided to rent it out.

She seemed very interested in Ciel, the prospective tenant. After learning Ciel was a doctor’s assistant, she eagerly consulted Ciel about her own health problems.

Unfortunately, Ciel had zero medical knowledge and could only feign social anxiety to evade the conversation.

After viewing the house, Ciel was quite satisfied. The rent was affordable, and although the house wasn’t large, it was fully equipped. With some furniture changes, it would be sufficient for her and her sister.

Most importantly, it was very close to Avena’s clinic and her sister’s workplace at the jewelry store. The location couldn’t be more suitable. The landlord was also easy to talk to. Ciel decided on the spot to rent the house.

Rental contracts were rarely used here; agreements were usually verbal. Ciel directly paid one gold pound and immediately received the key to the second floor of the house.

For the next month, this house would be Ciel’s new home.

Ciel checked the system time. It was almost time for Amy to head to Avena’s house. She also started heading towards Avena’s place.

She didn’t go find her sister directly, planning instead to surprise her sister at night after handling matters at Avena’s.

Walking back, Ciel idly scrolled through the system functions out of boredom. Without a computer or phone, browsing the system served as entertainment.

Ciel also mentally asked and reconfirmed something with the system.

“System, if I switch from second-tier ‘Judicator’ to second-tier ‘Missionary’ and save it in another slot, does that count as collecting first-tier ‘Ascetic’?”

【Of course. Possessing a higher-tier save file naturally counts as completing the collection of all lower tiers preceding it... Haven’t you asked this before? ^^】

Ciel certainly knew she had asked; she was just confirming again.

But calculating this way, she didn’t need to collect the “Ascetic” potion. Simply converting the “Judicator” save file to “Missionary” would naturally count as collecting first-tier “Ascetic.”

This meant that for each pair of adjacent paths, she actually only needed to complete one Reconstitution Ritual, whichever was easier.

Switching paths within the same tier was much simpler than completing a ritual, just requiring enduring double the whispers, unlike Sherlon who had to switch paths while simultaneously completing a higher-tier Reconstitution Ritual.

Ciel wasn’t worried about double whispers at all; those whispers wouldn’t carry over into reality.

Instantly, Ciel felt the pressure regarding potions lessen considerably.

Arriving at Avena’s gate, Ciel saw armed guards already standing there. After a few minutes of troublesome reporting, Ciel was finally allowed into Avena’s estate.

Ciel was about to close the system interface, but before doing so, she subconsciously clicked on the simulation interface she hadn’t opened earlier and glanced at the simulation time.

【Future Days: 96 Days (Saint Year 741, September 27, 7:00) (Cost: 100 Fate Points)】

【Past Days: 7 Days (Saint Year 741, June 16, 7:00) (Cost: 10 Fate Points)】

【Old Days: ***, ***Day (???) (Cost: 10000 Fate Points)】

【Dice Quantity: 1】

Hmm... Past Days simulation changed from five days ago to seven days ago. After all, the last time she checked was the 21st, and today was already the 23rd.

Ciel casually closed the simulation interface, but the next second, a thought struck her. The system panel reappeared before her and quickly opened to the simulation interface.

Ciel’s expression changed slightly, looking at the number of days for the Future Days simulation with uncertainty and doubt...

Past Days simulation increased by two days, Future Days simulation... decreased by four days?

If she remembered correctly, the last simulatable date was September 29th...

【Future Days】 were closing in on her...

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by lotustale.com