Chapter 195: The Palace of Toronto

The following morning, a luxurious black limousine departed the Grand Meridian Hotel, carrying Jet and his three companions toward one of Toronto’s most exclusive residential districts.

Unlike the bustling commercial areas they had explored over the past few days, their destination was considerably quieter. Towering skyscrapers gradually gave way to elegant residential neighborhoods, enormous private compounds, and beautifully maintained avenues lined with ornamental trees.

Through the tinted windows, Inez watched the passing scenery with undisguised curiosity.

"Big Brother, are we going to see our new house now?" she asked excitedly, hugging her stuffed rabbit against her chest.

"We’re going to look at it first," Jet replied with a smile, gently adjusting the ribbon in her hair with his gloved fingers. "If you like it, we’ll consider buying it."

Inez nodded enthusiastically.

"I’m definitely going to like it!" she declared confidently.

Frey laughed from the opposite seat.

"Little princess, you haven’t even seen the place yet," he reminded her, grinning.

"But it has a lake, Brother Frey!" Inez replied seriously, as though that settled the entire matter.

Mikhail chuckled.

"Well, I suppose that’s a convincing argument," he remarked.

Jet smiled at their conversation before glancing toward his phone.

The previous evening, Sterling International Realty had completed its preliminary verification and confirmed their private viewing appointment.

A senior representative would be waiting at the estate to personally conduct the inspection.

Approximately forty minutes after leaving the hotel, their limousine entered a broad avenue bordered by towering trees and elegant stone walls.

The surrounding properties were already impressive, with enormous mansions standing behind elaborate gates and extensive landscaped grounds.

However, as they approached their destination, even those luxurious residences began to seem modest.

An immense perimeter wall stretched along the avenue, extending so far that its boundaries disappeared beyond the distant trees.

Several discreet surveillance installations were positioned along the walls, while uniformed security personnel patrolled the entrance.

Above the enormous gates, an elegant metallic inscription displayed the property’s name.

THE BELVEDERE ESTATE

"Well, we’re here," Jet announced calmly.

Frey leaned toward the window.

"Now that’s an entrance," he remarked appreciatively. "Bellwether certainly knows how to make a first impression."

Mikhail stared at the seemingly endless perimeter wall.

"How much land does this place actually occupy?" he wondered aloud.

Jet glanced at him.

"We’ll find out soon enough," he replied.

Their limousine slowed before the main entrance, where two security officers approached to verify their appointment.

After confirming Jet’s identity and contacting the estate’s management office, the guards opened the enormous gates.

The vehicle proceeded inside.

Almost immediately, the scenery changed.

A magnificent private boulevard stretched ahead, bordered by towering ornamental trees, colorful flowerbeds, and beautifully sculpted fountains.

Beyond the boulevard lay enormous gardens, carefully maintained lawns, and distant buildings partially concealed among the trees.

Inez pressed her face against the window.

"Wow..." she whispered, her eyes widening.

Frey studied the surroundings with growing interest.

"The landscaping alone must have cost a fortune," he commented. "And they’ve maintained the natural scenery rather than covering everything with buildings. That’s impressive."

Mikhail glanced toward the distant structures.

"Are those all part of the estate?" he asked incredulously.

"Apparently," Jet answered, examining the scenery.

Their limousine continued along the private boulevard for several minutes before arriving at an enormous circular driveway.

At its center stood a magnificent fountain surrounded by marble sculptures.

Beyond it rose the estate’s principal residence.

The mansion was breathtaking.

Its enormous structure extended across several interconnected wings, with grand balconies, towering windows, beautifully carved stone columns, and a magnificent central entrance.

The building combined classical European architectural influences with the technological sophistication expected of a modern luxury residence.

Even Frey, who had grown up surrounded by wealth, paused to appreciate the sight.

"Now that’s something else," he remarked, stepping out of the limousine. "I’ve seen plenty of extraordinary residences, but the scale of this place is ridiculous."

Mikhail emerged behind him.

"You’re telling me," he muttered, staring at the enormous mansion. "How many people are supposed to live here?"

Jet stepped out last, wearing his usual fully covering black clothing, gloves, and dark bandana.

Before they could continue their conversation, a professionally dressed man approached with a welcoming smile.

"Good morning, Mr. Saint-Clair," he greeted politely. "My name is Adrian Bennett, senior property director at Sterling International Realty. It’s a pleasure to welcome you to the Belvedere Estate."

Jet shook his hand.

"Good morning, Mr. Bennett," he replied. "Thank you for arranging the viewing."

"The pleasure is entirely ours," Adrian answered, turning toward the others. "And welcome to your companions as well."

After exchanging introductions, Adrian gestured toward the enormous mansion.

"Shall we begin with the principal residence?" he suggested.

Jet nodded.

"Please, lead the way," he replied.

The group followed Adrian through the grand entrance, where enormous double doors opened into a breathtaking reception hall.

A magnificent chandelier hung from the vaulted ceiling, illuminating polished marble floors, sweeping staircases, and beautifully decorated walls.

The hall alone was larger than many ordinary houses.

Inez stared upward in amazement.

"Big Brother, it’s so pretty!" she exclaimed, clutching his hand.

Jet smiled.

"It certainly is," he agreed.

Adrian began explaining the residence’s features as they explored.

The mansion contained numerous luxurious bedrooms, private suites, enormous dining halls, entertainment lounges, libraries, offices, and several beautifully designed reception rooms.

There were also indoor swimming pools, wellness facilities, private theaters, and an extensive underground parking complex.

Frey examined the interior with obvious appreciation.

"The craftsmanship is excellent," he remarked, running his gaze across the elaborate ceiling. "They’ve clearly invested heavily in the materials rather than simply making everything look expensive."

Adrian smiled.

"Indeed, sir," he replied. "Bellwether commissioned several renowned architectural firms and master craftsmen to complete the residence."

Mikhail glanced down a seemingly endless corridor.

"I think I’d need a map just to find my bedroom," he commented dryly.

Frey burst into laughter.

"Don’t worry, Mikhail. We’ll tie a bell around your neck so we can find you whenever you get lost," he joked.

Mikhail gave him an irritated look.

"Very funny," he replied.

After touring the principal residence, Adrian led them outside to inspect the surrounding grounds.

A fleet of small electric vehicles waited near the entrance.

"Given the property’s size, I believe using our internal transportation would be more convenient," Adrian explained, gesturing toward the vehicles.

Mikhail raised an eyebrow.

"You need vehicles just to travel around your own house?" he asked incredulously.

Adrian chuckled politely.

"Many visitors have the same reaction," he admitted.

Once everyone was seated, their tour continued.

The first destination was an enormous landscaped garden containing decorative ponds, winding pathways, elaborate fountains, and several secluded pavilions.

Beyond the gardens lay a magnificent artificial lake surrounded by carefully maintained lawns and flowering trees.

The moment Inez saw it, her entire face brightened.

"BIG BROTHER! THE LAKE!" she exclaimed, nearly jumping out of her seat.

Jet laughed.

"I can see it, Inez," he replied, helping her down after the vehicle stopped.

She immediately hurried toward the lakeside, stopping near a beautifully constructed wooden pavilion.

Several colorful fish swam beneath the clear water.

"Look! There are fish!" Inez exclaimed happily, pointing toward the lake.

Jet walked beside her.

"Do you like it?" he asked gently.

Inez nodded repeatedly.

"I love it, Big Brother!" she declared, smiling brightly. "It’s so beautiful!"

Watching his sister’s delighted expression, Jet felt his determination to purchase the estate strengthen.

Adrian allowed them a few moments to enjoy the scenery before continuing the tour.

They subsequently visited the recreational district, which contained tennis courts, basketball courts, indoor sporting facilities, several swimming pools, and an enormous entertainment complex.

There were also beautifully maintained riding grounds, private walking trails, and additional gardens scattered throughout the property.

Frey examined the facilities with growing enthusiasm.

"Bro, this place has practically everything," he remarked. "You could spend weeks here without needing to leave."

"That’s one of the reasons I’m interested," Jet replied.

Their next destination was considerably more important.

Located away from the principal residence was a large training complex surrounded by reinforced walls.

Adrian introduced the facility with evident pride.

"The estate’s private training center was designed to accommodate both ordinary residents and Awakeners," he explained. "It includes multiple training halls, reinforced practice grounds, fitness facilities, and specialized recovery rooms."

Frey immediately became interested.

"Now we’re talking," he remarked, stepping inside.

The complex contained several enormous indoor training halls, equipment rooms, and spacious outdoor practice grounds.

However, after examining the facilities, Frey folded his arms thoughtfully.

"The foundations are impressive," he observed. "But we’d need to upgrade some of the reinforcement systems if we intend to conduct serious Awakener training here."

Jet nodded.

"I was thinking the same thing," he agreed.

Adrian smiled professionally.

"Additional modifications can certainly be arranged, provided they comply with the property’s structural requirements," he explained.

Mikhail glanced around the enormous training hall.

"At least this part makes sense," he admitted. "If we’re going to be training regularly, having a dedicated facility would be useful."

Their tour continued through several additional residential buildings, each large enough to accommodate numerous occupants independently of the main mansion.

The estate also possessed private transportation infrastructure, including extensive internal roads, underground parking facilities, and a private aircraft landing area.

By the time they finished inspecting the principal sections, nearly three hours had passed.

The group eventually returned to a beautiful terrace overlooking the gardens.

Adrian presented them with refreshments before summarizing the property’s specifications.

"The Belvedere Estate occupies approximately seven hundred thousand square meters," he explained. "To put that into perspective, its grounds approach the scale of Beijing’s historic Forbidden City."

Mikhail nearly choked on his drink.

"Seven hundred thousand square meters?!" he exclaimed, staring at Adrian.

"That’s correct, sir," Adrian confirmed.

Frey let out an impressed whistle.

"No wonder we needed vehicles to get around," he remarked.

Mikhail shook his head.

"Jet, I have to ask," he said, turning toward his friend. "Do we really need somewhere this enormous? There are only four of us."

Jet smiled faintly.

"Who said it’ll always be just the four of us?" he replied mysteriously.

Frey raised an eyebrow.

"Oh? What exactly are you planning, bro?" he asked curiously.

"Nothing you need to worry about right now," Jet answered with an amused expression. "I’m simply thinking ahead. Besides, wouldn’t it be better to have more space than we need instead of discovering later that we don’t have enough?"

Mikhail considered his words before glancing toward the enormous gardens.

"I suppose that’s reasonable," he admitted. "But there’s a difference between having extra space and owning a property large enough to accommodate a small town."

Frey chuckled.

"He’s got a point, bro," he remarked. "Although I can’t exactly complain about having an entire training complex, private recreational facilities, and a lake practically in our backyard."

Jet smiled without offering any further explanation.

Seeing that their friend had no intention of elaborating, Frey and Mikhail exchanged glances before deciding not to press the matter.

Jet chuckled before looking toward Inez. She was sitting beside him, happily admiring the distant lake.

"Inez, what do you think?" he asked gently. "Would you like to live here?"

The little girl immediately turned toward him.

"Yes, Big Brother!" she exclaimed without hesitation. "I love this house!"

Jet smiled warmly.

"Then I suppose that’s settled," he replied.

Across the table, Adrian maintained his professional composure, although his interest had clearly sharpened.

"Mr. Saint-Clair, may I ask whether you’re seriously considering purchasing the estate?" he inquired politely.

Jet looked toward the magnificent mansion standing beyond the gardens.

After everything he had seen, the property satisfied nearly all his requirements. It offered privacy, enormous living space, excellent facilities, and sufficient room for his future plans.

Most importantly, Inez loved it.

Jet turned back toward Adrian.

"Yes," he answered calmly. "I’m very interested."

Adrian smiled.

"Wonderful, sir," he replied. "In that case, I’d be delighted to discuss the next steps whenever you’re ready."

Jet nodded.

"Let’s discuss them," he answered.