Not Owing Anyone A Favor

"Then I'll have to trouble you during this time, Mr. Sopea."

Iris said, "If you get any news about his identity, Mr. Sopea, you can have someone inform us."

Sopea, who was in the Void Arts Space, would come to find them. As for the real person offline, that would be left to the Dawn Council.

"Alright."

After the discussion, Sopea went straight up to the third floor, saying he would wait there.

Connie went to prepare for the Entering Dream, while Sean and the other two left the Void Arts Space and returned to reality.

At the previous book signing event, Sean and Charles had exchanged numbers. This top anti-fan who sent him razor blades was one of the few people he could now trust.

After all, Charles had risked his life to help him escape back then. If he couldn't trust someone like that, then he couldn't trust anyone. That's why Charles was the first person Sean thought of regarding the potion.

Connie was willing to help him enter the dream for free, which was already a significant favor to him. He couldn't ask her to provide the Forgetfulness Potion as well; he didn't want to owe anyone too much.

Elvily felt both admiration and a desire to complain about this.

In essence, this matter was Sopea giving face to Elvily. It had little to do with Sean and Connie, the actual parties involved. And Elvily's face was worth more than just one bottle of Forgetfulness Potion; even if Sean had gone empty-handed, Connie and Sopea wouldn't have said anything.

But Sean insisted on calling Charles, wanting to handle it himself.

Elvily couldn't help but wonder, Are all men this concerned about pride?

Meanwhile.

Charles was quite cautious upon receiving the call.

Sean's previous phone number and ID had been suspended by the Floris Family. Fortunately, he had been prepared and bought quite a few SIM cards. This time, he used one of his backup numbers to call Charles. After they confirmed their "code phrase" several times, Charles finally believed it was Sean—

"Where did we first meet?"

"Sanctuary Plaza."

"And the other first time?"

"The book signing."

"A female fan asked you to sign on her thigh, what color was she wearing?"

"?"

What the hell would he know about that?

He was a gentleman!

Elvily, standing beside him, wore an expression of someone looking at trash. "You signed on a girl's leg?"

Sean explained, "I didn't actually sign, I just wrote '正' (zhèng - correct/positive)."

Elvily: "?"

This time, Charles could confirm that it was Sean on the phone.

He had accidentally glanced at it at the time, and it was indeed a "correct".

Charles didn't ask who the pleasant female voice on the phone was and got straight to the point: "What potion do you need this time?"

He had been very busy lately. His existing orders weren't even finished. He had just received a call from his teacher, asking him to fly out of town in a few days for Ascetic Day to learn alchemy on-site and introduce him to some important figures. He definitely couldn't miss it, so he had to work overtime. He was even taking Sean's call at the kitchen doorway, with a pot of purple-smoking herbs simmering on the stove.

"Forgetfulness Potion, do you have it?" Sean asked.

Charles: "?"

"Do you think too highly of me?"

That was a Tier Four potion. Even with his genius, he wasn't that much of a genius!

Sean quickly said, "You misunderstood. I don't think too highly of you. I just wanted to ask if you have a channel to buy it."

Charles: "..."

I think it's better if you continue to misunderstand.

Look at what he's saying. What do you mean, 'I don't think too highly of him'?

"My teacher should have some. How much do you need?" Charles asked. "Full anesthetic or local anesthetic?"

Forgetfulness Potion contained neurotoxins, similar to anesthetic ingredients. Therefore, in the industry, forgetfulness was generally referred to as "paralysis." "Full anesthetic" meant wiping the brain's hard drive, forgetting everything. "Local anesthetic" was selective forgetting, the amount forgotten depending on the potion's efficacy.

The advantage of such jargon was that it made it difficult to expose one's identity when communicating externally.

"One bottle is enough, the kind used for Entering Dream," Sean said.

"You found a Wizard who cultivates dream realms?" Charles immediately understood what Sean was planning upon hearing this. Without asking further, he casually added, "The market price is fifteen. If I ask my teacher, I should be able to get it for ten."

Sean had a bad premonition: "The number you're talking about, could it be in the tens of thousands?"

Charles: "Otherwise?"

Sean: "..."

Ten thousand for one bottle of potion? If he drank a few more, wouldn't he be able to afford a sea-view apartment?

Seemingly guessing Sean's difficulty, Charles said generously, "I can front you the money."

Alchemists were already a very profitable profession during the Scholar Era, and it still was. With his teacher recommending orders, he had saved quite a bit of money this year. He wouldn't dare say more, but ten thousand was something he could afford.

"No need, I have a way to get the money. I'll send you an address later. It's best if it can be delivered within two days," Sean said.

Charles: "Okay."

Elvily watched Sean with a playful look.

Ten thousand yuan for a Forgetfulness Potion was already quite cheap. Charles was a good partner and didn't rip Sean off, but it was still a considerable sum.

The main thing was that Sean didn't want to owe anyone a favor, and he also wanted to make money. Elvily wanted to see where this guy would get ten thousand yuan in just one day.

Then, Sean hung up the phone and reached out to her. "Can I borrow your phone?"

Elvily: "You want to find Kate?"

"No," Sean shook his head. "I promised you I wouldn't hang out with Kate."

Besides, if he wanted to find Kate, he wouldn't need Elvily's phone. He remembered Kate's private number.

Elvily asked curiously, "Then why do you need my phone?"

Sean: "You'll know if you give it to me."

"You're really not looking for Kate?" Elvily, half-believing, handed him her phone.

The next second, Sean called Iris.

"Hello, Miss Iris?"

"It's Sean. Lend me ten thousand."

Iris: "?"

She didn't react immediately.

It wasn't that she couldn't afford the money or was unwilling, but the request came too suddenly. There was no preamble, no sweet talk, just a demand for ten thousand yuan. Anyone would be stunned.

The most crucial point was, hadn't she hinted that Sean should find Elvily?

Could it be that this writer gentleman was too embarrassed to ask directly?

Sean truthfully said, "Miss Elvily asked me to find you. She said you're very rich."

Elvily: "..."

Iris: "..."

Understood. These good sisters were using her as a shield again.

No wonder this call was made from Elvily's phone.

"Alright," Iris said with a smile. "Are you trying to buy something? Do you want cash, or should I transfer it for you?"

"Transfer," Sean replied. "I'll send you my account number."

"Okay, remind the recipient to check their account in three minutes," Iris said.

Elvily remained silent the entire time. She didn't explain to Iris, nor did she stop Sean from borrowing money from Iris.

This was something she had promised, and she wouldn't go back on her word. It was fine even if she just gave the money to Sean. For her... no, for Iris, ten thousand yuan was nothing. The potions they used to increase their Magic at their level cost much more than that per bottle.

However--

"Didn't you say you didn't want to owe anyone a favor?" Elvily said, deliberately with a hint of mockery. "What, my favor doesn't count as a favor?"

"Of course it does."

Sean took the girl's hand, returned the phone to her, and looked into her eyes gently. "But you're not just anyone."

Elvily: "...?"

"Beep!"

The kettle boiling water on the table suddenly whistled.

"The, the water's boiling. I'll go pour some water..."

Elvily retracted her hand as if electrocuted, avoiding Sean's gaze, and reached for a cup.

The hospital room window, left open for ventilation, was half filled with the beautiful sunset scenery outside. The mountains and water in the distance, painted by the afterglow of the setting sun, looked like an exquisite oil painting. The other half was glass, reflecting the slightly flustered figure of the girl busy inside. Sean felt that this scene was no less beautiful than any oil painting.

So... why did this girl dislike him in the past?

He was clearly someone who knew how to please girls.

He hoped Connie could help him find the answer.

Void Arts Space, Hall of Truth, Holy See Saintess, Elvily's sisters... four keywords, not too many. It shouldn't be difficult to construct a dream with them.

Charles's efficiency was as high as ever.

The next afternoon, the newspaper delivery boy coincidentally brought the Forgetfulness Potion back for him.

After a simple dinner, Sean went to the town's church.

Connie was already waiting for him with the dream potion.

"Mr. Sean, are you ready?"

The girl blinked and said, "You might sleep until tomorrow."

"Let's do it."

Sean downed the potion in one gulp, took off his shoes, and got into bed.