Hands-On (First Update)

After pressing the doorbell, Stephanie waited. She was no stranger to New York Penthouse Apartment, but this was her first time visiting Salomon's residence in New York. The last time, she had merely arrived in Salomon's walk-in closet through a portal. That earlier decision meant Salomon would have to spend even less time at university, but it did not mean he could pull away from the affairs of the City of Immortals. Stephanie had brought many of the documents he had requested, all of which he needed to work from home.

Dinah, dressed in a short dress, opened the door for her. Rather than the oil paintings hanging in the corridor or the seemingly casually placed marble sculptures, Stephanie silently examined the figure and attire of this first-created Artificial Human, trying to gauge Salomon's true tastes. Dinah did not say a word as she led her straight down the hall—Stephanie glimpsed two beautiful, scantily clad women in a room with its door open, while a vinyl record played music from the 1950s. Another room was packed with equipment found only in a chemistry lab. Some rooms were larger than the entire apartment, while others remained untouched by sunlight even with their curtains open. Faint cries cold enough to freeze the blood drifted from the shadows. Stephanie hurried to keep up with the maid. After passing several tightly shut doors and stepping over a fat gray cat sprawled arrogantly in the middle of the hallway, Dinah brought her to the study, where Stephanie found the Arcanist in pajamas.

Stephanie quietly took a deep breath.

"You came at just the right time, dear Stephanie." Salomon spun the fountain pen in his hand, and the energetic corners of his eyes narrowed with delight. "I spent the entire morning studying financial matters, and I