Kerry had not yet figured out how to get along with the Archmage, but he knew that if the other party was actually willing to work as a griffin keeper, then he must have been trying to conceal his identity. Now that his identity had been exposed, the next time he came looking for Kerry would very likely be the time he left.
So Kerry had Butler Carson keep him well supplied with good food and drink while desperately trying to think of a way to keep him there. In the end, he came up with one possibility: perhaps the Dimensional Exchange had something that could make Gandalf stay on South Australia Island.
As for Carson, he paid special attention to Emma. Every time, he claimed that Kerry had prepared the gifts especially for her, all to try to bring the two of them together.
This had also contributed to Gandalf coming to see Kerry now, since he had misunderstood Carson's behavior.
"Archmage Gandalf, I wasn't deliberately avoiding you."
"Kerry, did you have a fight with Emma?"
The two of them spoke at the same time when they met. Kerry wanted to explain first that he had been avoiding Gandalf lately because he really had urgent matters to deal with, not because he was delaying the other man to stop him from leaving.
Gandalf, meanwhile, had seen Butler Carson constantly bringing things to Emma while Kerry never came in person. After all, when couples gave each other gifts, it was better for them to deliver them personally. A situation like this most likely meant that Kerry had upset Emma.
Kerry did not dare admit his mistake to Emma in person and was clumsily trying to win her favor. Having the butler deliver things instead explained the situation perfectly.
Neither of them had expected the other to speak at the same time, but Gandalf had clearly misunderstood why Kerry had been avoiding him.
"I know you weren't deliberately avoiding me. It's fine; I don't mind. But you haven't seen Emma for several days now. That won't do." Gandalf assumed Kerry was avoiding him because he was embarrassed to admit that the two of them had quarreled.
Kerry, however, was completely baffled. What does he mean? What does Miss Emma have to do with this? Is he talking about that bet from last time? But the deadline is still a long way off. Why would I fight with her? And what's wrong with not seeing her for a few days?
Wait, I've got it. We made a bet, and we won't see the result for another six months. You two have to stay and watch me train these City Guards until then.
So Kerry said, "Miss Emma and I have had a bit of a misunderstanding, but our disagreement will be settled in six months. I'll have to trouble you and Miss Emma to wait patiently. I'll make sure Miss Emma is thoroughly convinced."
What Kerry really meant was that he wanted Emma to accept her loss in the bet wholeheartedly. But now that Emma was the Archmage's granddaughter, he could not very well make her fulfill her promise to work as a maid for a month. However, if he suggested changing the maid service into staying here for a while longer, she would probably agree.
Kerry believed that he would not need the Archmage's protection for much longer. He would soon grow strong himself, so all he wanted was to buy a little more time.
"What sort of disagreement needs to wait until six months from now? Still, that's a matter for you young people. Having half a year to spend together and resolve your differences is a good thing. I was simply too young and impulsive back then. Some matters are best left to settle over time."
Gandalf was straying farther and farther down the path of misunderstanding. But when he heard that the disagreement would be resolved in six months, he suddenly remembered that Emma would only be fourteen after her birthday the day after tomorrow. In another six months, she would be nearly fifteen, while Kerry would be nearly eighteen. That was a more suitable age for marriage.
The two of them were indeed a little young right now, especially Emma.
Although commoners on the continent generally married early, and there were plenty of girls who married at twelve or thirteen, Gandalf had even heard that in certain places in the central and eastern regions, nine-year-old girls were sometimes forced into marriage.
Still, Gandalf himself was more accustomed to girls marrying after they turned fifteen or sixteen.
Kerry did not dare ask how impulsive Gandalf had been when he was young. In any case, their conversation seemed to be happening on two entirely different tracks. But Kerry could tell that Gandalf agreed to let him spend six months with Miss Emma to resolve the matter of the bet, so he felt relieved.
Thus he said, "Just wait and see, old man. When the time comes, you'll definitely be satisfied with what happens between Miss Emma and me." Kerry was still thinking that he could magnanimously let Emma off from serving as a maid. Surely the Archmage would be very satisfied with that, right?
"Mm. That's enough for now. Oh, right—Emma will be turning fourteen the day after tomorrow. Don't forget, will you?" After saying that, Gandalf left.
Young man, this old man can only help you this much. He turned around with a carefree flourish. Sunlight streamed through the castle windows and shone on his snow-white hair, giving him an indescribably holy and imposing air, full of an elder's dignity.
Gandalf felt that he was like a kindly elder helping a lost young man save his love.
"What does he mean? He wants me to curry favor with Miss Emma?" So Gandalf was the sort of expert who did not care whether he himself was fawned over, as long as his relatives were properly looked after, at which point he would lend a hand. As the many transmigration predecessors had said, experts really did have strange personalities.
It would soon be dark. Kerry ordered his men in the capture team to work overtime today and try to catch more jellyfish before the market opened tomorrow. The only regrettable thing about the Dimensional Exchange was that each opening had a time limit. It would be wonderful if it could remain open all the time.
At noon the next day, the jellyfish-catching team that had worked through the night did not bring Kerry much of a surprise. In fact, because of the powerful move he had unleashed at the docks last time—the One Strike of Heaven and Earth jellyfish massacre—many jellyfish had been lost this month.
The projected income had been around ten thousand Points per day on average, but after thirty days, the old Baxia had calculated that the total came to only 280,000 Points, 20,000 less than expected.
"Old Baxia, you're doing this again? We've traded more than once. Give me an honest price." Kerry naturally suspected that old Baxia was cheating him behind his back. After all, the old turtle's character could hardly be trusted.
"Kerry, we're old acquaintances. Would I cheat you? With such a huge quantity, I can hardly supply you fast enough. If I drove you away, my losses would be enormous. This time, I even charged full price for some that weren't particularly fresh. That's already the most honest price I can offer."
The old Baxia already knew that this troublesome customer was named Kerry Raynor, and the two had introduced themselves to each other. Since Baxia's name, Ao Naorao, was so awkward to pronounce, Kerry had always called him old Baxia.
Kerry did not trust old Baxia's character. Their relationship as old customers had only begun last month, after all. He immediately connected to the Hawksbill Shop.
The Hawksbill Shop only offered a five-percent discount. After receiving the quote, Kerry discovered that it was actually even worse than old Baxia's, so he awkwardly reconnected to old Baxia.
"Sorry about that. The trading machine just malfunctioned and disconnected. Let's continue now. 280,000 it is, but throw in some freebies, too." Kerry shamelessly asked for gifts even after getting a discounted price.
"I'm telling you, Kerry, you should know when enough is enough. Across the entire dimension, no one is giving you a better price than I am. Don't assume I'm really afraid to lose a customer like you." Old Baxia was angered again, and a chill leaked from him as the objects around him suddenly became covered in white frost.
"No freebies, then no freebies. Why are you losing your temper? Hurry up and complete the handover. I'm in a rush—I still have to buy Secret Manuals." Kerry knew that he had truly reached the other party's limit this time, so he hurriedly changed the subject.
Before you continue