Chapter 4: The Butler Game

Casson Manor sat in Lux Estates on the outskirts of Jorwick, surrounded by mountains and water, making for a truly beautiful and scenic environment. It was hands-down the most expensive neighborhood.  An average person still couldn't afford a villa here even if they worked their asses off. The rich would do anything just to buy a place here, but money alone wasn't enough; living here was a status symbol as much as a sign of wealth. Here, nobody would dare laugh at you for riding a bike. You never know, the guy on that bike might be a major shareholder in some big company. "This place is beautiful. Can I get a house here? Didn't you guys say you'd give me whatever I wanted?" Adam leaned out of the window, admiring the tree-lined streets and the elegantly decorated villas in the distance. "Even if you added up all the salaries from everyone in Wrathscale, it still wouldn't be enough to buy a house here," Gaby said, glancing at Adam's eager expression. "Man, I always heard housing prices were high in Chiton, but Jorwick's are on another level. I never really believed it until now," Adam remarked, noticing Gaby's focused driving. He suddenly suggested, "How about you come work with me at Drakeforce? You could probably make enough in a year to buy one." "Get lost," Gaby snapped, her face darkening. This guy had to be messing with her. "Stop the car, and I will." Gaby wished she could tear into this insufferable man, who seemed to lack any seriousness. He hardly resembled a soldier at all. "You're probably thinking I don't look like a soldier, right?" Adam said, just as the Humvee suddenly lurched and rocked down the quiet street, finally coming to a stop. "Keep talking and I'll show you just how tough Chiton's soldiers can be," Gaby shot back, giving Adam, who now looked like a scared little lamb, a smug look. Adam felt a little hurt. This woman was seriously wild, actually getting physical with him. Fortunately, she hadn't gone full beast mode; otherwise, he wouldn't have withstood the fury of this tigress. "You're probably thinking I'm like a tigress, huh?" Gaby snorted. "No, really, I swear I'm not," Adam stammered, panic flashing across his face. Was she a mind reader or something? "Alright, enough messing around. We're almost there. Remember, no matter what, you have to find a way to get yourself hired as the Casson family's butler," Gaby ordered. "So you mean I have to figure out how to get in myself? You guys didn't set anything up for me?" Adam repeated the phrase, his face turning pale. "We can't help with that. It's totally up to the Casson family who they pick. We have zero say in it," Gaby replied with a slight smile, stepping on the brake as the car came to a gentle stop. "And what if I don't get in?" Adam whispered. "You'll get nothing." After Gaby said that, Adam shut up. Damn, he'd come back home hoping for a normal life, and now he was being pushed into working as a butler, and not just any butler, but one who had to use his own skills to get the job.  Living a simple life was hard enough; living a carefree, simple life seemed impossible. Was there no justice left? "Alright, get out. Walk straight for about 300 meters and you'll see Casson Manor. I'll be in touch when I can," Gaby said, basically kicking him out of the car. "Got it." Adam got out, hands empty, and suddenly remembered that his bag was still with one of Gaby's people at the airport. He yelled after her, "Hey, my bag's still with your team." Gaby, who was reversing the car, nodded and said, "I'll bring it to you next time we meet." Watching the military vehicle disappear in a flash, Adam suddenly recalled the contents of his bag. Hopefully, the woman wouldn't have the habit of rummaging through other people's belongings. Following Gaby's directions, Adam walked straight ahead. In the distance, he saw a massive, imposing villa that was even bigger and fancier than the others, just like he'd pictured it. "Stop. What are you doing here?" Two uniformed guards wearing red hats stopped Adam, their eyes filled with disdain at his shabby appearance. "Heading to the Casson Manor," Adam replied coolly, not even sparing the guards a glance. His eyes were glued to the villa. "A filthy laborer going to the Casson Manor? You must be a thief," one guard mocked. "Do I really look like a laborer?" Adam asked, genuinely curious. Overseas, his clothes were nothing out of the ordinary, but here in Chiton, people kept calling him a laborer. He just didn't get it. "Definitely. Show us your entry card, or leave immediately. This isn't a place for someone like you." "Not a place for someone like me?" Adam repeated, letting out a helpless laugh. Classic case of judging a book by its cover. "Get lost. I don't have time to waste on some stinky laborer like you." The guard waved him off.  Just then, a Mercedes S600 rolled up, and a successful-looking man in a suit rolled down the window to swipe an entry card. As the gates opened, the guard who had mocked Adam put on a sycophantic smile. "Mr. Warth, off work early today, huh?" The man in the Mercedes merely smiled and rolled up the window, leaving the guard looking thrilled, as if the man had praised him. "Stop daydreaming. He ignored you," Adam commented. "What do you know? That's Mr. Warth. I would get a massive pay rise if I got on his good side," the guard retorted. "Why bother? He didn't even say a word to you. That means you're not in," Adam said, ignoring the daydreaming guard and heading through the gate. "I said you can't go in, you filthy laborer." The two guards blocked Adam again, batons in hand, glaring at him. "First, I have to go to the Casson Manor. Second, I'm not a laborer, so stop calling me that. Laborers are people, too, and need to eat. Unlike your fawning, begging face toward Mr. Warth, laborers rely on their skills, not disgusting flattery," Adam retorted with disdain. "You've got a death wish," the guard who had been fawning moments ago was now provoked and swung his baton at Adam without hesitation. Adam dodged and kicked back, only using a fraction of his strength, just enough to teach the guy a lesson. No point in going overboard and getting himself wanted in Chiton. The thought of that tough female major from earlier still gave him chills. "Ouch, get this guy," groaned the guard, who was now lying on the ground. "I'm just here to apply for the butler position at the CassonManor, nothing else. You can come with me if you don't believe it," Adam said calmly to the other guard, who had remained composed and not mocked him. "Leonardo, hit him for me." "Go ahead. The Cassons said anyone applying for the butler job gets in today," Leonardo said, stepping aside to let Adam through. "You're a good guard, really responsible," Adam said, ignoring the dirty looks from the guy on the ground as he headed for Casson Manor. As Adam got closer, he noticed more and more people crowding around, all buzzing with conversation. Although the conversations were chaotic, the topic was consistently about the Casson family's search for a butler. "Hey, is it normal for the Casson family to do such a big butler recruitment? There are so many people here. Is being a butler really that popular?" Adam asked, approaching an ordinary middle-aged man. The middle-aged man glanced at Adam's clothes, figured he didn't stand a chance, and started chatting, "You must be fresh out of the countryside, huh? You see, finding a job is challenging these days. Good jobs aren't for us, and bad jobs are tiring with little pay. They are Jorwick's wealthiest. Although economic crises and fierce competition have diminished their fame in recent years, no one can shake their status. With the Casson family selecting a butler today, the job involves simple tasks like cleaning, cooking, and laundry. It's easy work with a good salary, more relaxed than working outside, so naturally, many are applying." "What kind of people are here?" Adam asked, pointing to the diverse crowd. "There are white-collar workers, students, even government employees- folks from all walks of life. But I gotta say, I've never seen anyone dressed quite like you," the man said. "Even government workers are applying?" Adam frowned. These days, being a government worker was like having a golden ticket. It didn't matter if you were good or not; just having that title makes you the envy of everyone. It was the best way to impress girls or future in-laws. "But why are there students and white-collar workers?" Adam couldn't understand why a butler position attracted students and white-collar workers. Was there a hidden agenda, or was it open to anyone? The man looked around, then leaned in and whispered, "You probably don't know the inside scoop. Their oldest daughter is 25, runs one of Jorwick's top three companies, and is drop-dead gorgeous. She's about to hit the age for marriage, but she's still single, so all those white-collar types are hoping to get lucky." Before Adam could ask further, the man continued, "The students are here because the Casson family's second daughter just turned twenty and attends Jorwick University. These student applicants are targeting her." "What about you? Are you applying for the butler position? Who are you aiming for?" Adam asked, scrutinizing the middle-aged man. While the students and white-collar workers had clear targets, what about the middle-aged applicants? Were they also after the Casson daughters? The man looked embarrassed, scratching his head and checking the surroundings before speaking, "Me? I'm going for Mrs. Casson. The old man died ten years ago, and she's never remarried. She's running everything herself. The family is now just three women. I figured I'd try my luck. Who knows, maybe something will happen." "Oh, I see," Adam finally understood why there were middle-aged applicants. "You know how it is. No matter how tough a woman is, she still wants a man who cares about her. Mrs. Casson's been widowed for ten years now. If I get the butler job, I'll be around the house all the time. Who knows, maybe I'll get lucky," the man said, rubbing his hands together and grinning, barely hiding his excitement. "Are you also applying for the position?" the man asked Adam. Adam nodded. "Listen, kid, if you want to apply for a job like this, you gotta dress sharp. First impressions matter. A look at you and you'll be out before you even start," the man advised. "Clothes are just for show. What really matters is what you can do. If you've got real skills, you won't get cut," Adam replied, not bothered at all. He figured landing this butler job would be a piece of cake. They chatted as they walked toward the square in front of Casson Manor.  When Adam saw the crowd, like a busy farmers' market, he couldn't help but frown. For just a butler job, there had to be at least a thousand people there. With competition this tough, Adam started to wonder if he'd actually succeed.