Chapter 234: [234] "HOUSE 2 PART 3"

Hugo turned his gaze back to the massive lawn. "When I am not on that pitch, I am sitting in an ice bath recovering from the physical strain incurred on that pitch. I do not want to come home and look at a pitch again. I do not want to run drills on my days off. My days off are designated for relaxation and relaxation only."

Luc crossed his arms, biting the inside of his cheek to keep from laughing out loud.

"Furthermore," Hugo continued, dismantling the agent’s primary selling point, "maintaining two acres of grass requires landscaping contracts. It requires heavy machinery for its maintenance too. That means gasoline-powered mowers operating on the premises. That generates noise. If the landscaping crew operates on a morning, they disrupt my rest. For me, it is a liability."

The agent slowly lowered his arm, his folder resting against his side. He stared at the teenager, at a loss for words. In all his years of selling luxury real estate to millionaires, he had never encountered a client who scrutinized as much as this kid.

Hugo turned to Luc. "I will not use this grass for anything."

"I figured as much," Luc said, finally allowing a small smile to surface. "It’s a lot of upkeep for a guy who just wants to eat his meals and sleep."

Hugo turned back to the agent. He did not employ the arrogant dismissal he had used on Laurent-Pierre. He was polite, recognizing that the older man was simply doing his job and representing a genuinely beautiful property.

"The place is impressive for its era," Hugo said respectfully. "The privacy provided by the stone wall is exactly what Valérie mandated. However, the space of the interior is not entirely compatible with my daily routine, and the exterior maintenance burden is unnecessary for my lifestyle. I will not be making an offer. Thank you for your time."

The agent blinked, processing the irrefutable rejection. He recovered his professionalism quickly, offering a polite nod.

"Of course, Monsieur Blanc. It is a very specific property. It requires a specific buyer. I appreciate you taking the time to tour it."

"Thank you," Hugo said, turning and walking straight back through the house toward the front door.

Luc followed the agent back inside, shaking the man’s hand in the foyer before exiting the property.

They walked back to the black Porsche. The walls of the estate cast long shadows across the ground of the driveway as the late afternoon sun began to dip lower in the sky.

Luc unlocked the car. They both slid into their respective seats. The doors slammed shut, sealing them inside the quiet of the vehicle.

Luc started the engine, the dashboard lighting up. He shifted into drive, steering the car around the driveway and heading back toward the main gates.

"Well," Luc said, watching the gates slowly swing open to release them back onto the public road. "That was definitely not the same as that glass museum. But I see your point. That house is too big. Too segmented. You’d spend half your time just walking from room to room."

"It lacked what I’m looking for," Hugo agreed, pulling his tablet out of his bag and bringing up his list. He drew a red line through the second address on his list.

"Listing eliminated," Hugo narrated, updating himself and Luc.

Luc merged back onto the main road, accelerating smoothly. "We struck out twice. One was contaminated by a rival, the other was a museum piece for a retired duke. What is next on the list?"

Hugo tapped the screen, loading the third. He expanded a series of photographs and floor plans, his eyes scanning the images rapidly.

"The next property represents a difference between the two previous styles," Hugo explained, reading from the screen. "It is a modern construction, completed three years ago, but it utilizes natural materials. Wood, stone, and proper finishings rather than high-gloss concrete and glass. It is a single-story layout. An open-concept living area, but smaller in total square footage than the first house."

Luc nodded, navigating a series of turns that took them deeper into the residential district, moving away from the estates and toward a neighborhood characterized by private lots.

"Single-story is good," Luc noted. "No stairs to climb after a ninety-minute match when your hamstrings are screaming. What about the exterior?"

"The plot size is a quarter of an acre," Hugo said. "The landscaping is heavily wooded. Minimal grass. The property relies on natural vegetation for privacy rather than a constructed wall. It is designed to blend into the environment."

"And the agent?"

"The viewing is coordinated through an automated lockbox," Hugo stated, a hint of satisfaction bleeding into his usually monotone voice. "No agent will be present on-site. We have the access. We can just evaluate the property without enduring a sales pitch."

Luc laughed, tapping the steering wheel. "That alone makes it the best house of the day. Send the navigation to the dashboard."

Hugo swiped his tablet, transferring the route to the Porsche’s central console. The map updated, indicating a travel time of twelve minutes.

The car settled into a comfortable cruising speed. The silence in the cabin was relaxed.

"You know," Luc said, glancing over at the teenager. "When I first moved out of my country, I rented a hotel room with an elevator. I didn’t care about the kitchen layout and all that. Doesn’t really bring back good memories though."

Hugo looked up from his tablet. "That sounds like your disaster story. The story that began Luc Beaumont."

"It was a disaster, even aside from Chloé and all," Luc admitted freely. "I ate takeout almost every night, a resident played loud music, and I almost blew out my knee carrying groceries up flights of stairs once."

"You are trying to tell me that the transition to independence carries risks that can negatively impact on-pitch performance."

"I’m illustrating that you are already ten steps ahead of where I was," Luc corrected gently. "You’re analyzing the ventilation and the cost of maintenance and shit. You aren’t going to make the mistakes I made. You’re going to find the right spot."

Hugo looked back down at the screen displaying the third property. He studied the the single-story layout, and the natural privacy of the trees enclosing the lot.

"I have a good feeling about this one," Hugo said quietly.