"The door's unlocked. Come in." Su Li reclined on the lounge chair without moving.
Only then did Elonore hug a heavy, long rosewood box and dawdle into the courtyard.
She first gave Saina an exceptionally obedient bow.
"Hello, Sister Saina."
"Don't call me sister. I haven't lived as long as you have." Saina folded her arms, her tone stiff.
She had never shown a pleasant face to women who coveted Su Li, even if the other party was an underage elf.
Elonore was choked by the remark, but she did not dare talk back. She could only lower her flushed face and hurry over to Su Li.
"Um... Master Su." Even the tips of Elonore's ears had turned crimson. She offered him the rosewood box in her hands. "Chief Talia asked me to bring this. The merchant guild unearthed a fourth-rank Ice Soul ore from the ruins yesterday. The Chief said you've recently been studying high-level formation diagrams, and this material would be perfect for practice."
Su Li glanced at the box.
An ore of this grade could fetch at least two thousand Gold Coins on the black market. There was no way that tightfisted woman Talia would willingly give it to him for practice.
He could figure it out with his toes—this little girl had definitely sneaked it out of the Grand Elder's private treasury, then come over to curry favor under Talia's name.
"Put it on the table." Su Li did not take it, merely pointing at the stone table nearby.
Elonore hurriedly set the box down. She twisted her hands together and stood there awkwardly, without leaving.
The second-floor window was pushed open. Elena, now dressed in a bright red long gown, leaned over the sill and watched the little performance below with great interest.
"Oh? The