The Sorcerer's Handbook

Chapter 250: Harveys New Partner

"Did you really meet them online, in the game?"

"Where else? Besides the game, I don't have any other way to meet people. I'm not going to hold a meetup with other women in the Virtual World, am I?"

Couldn't you at least realize that standing in front of you is the genius fraudster ranked second on the Two-Winged Mind Class Ranking, Azura Division? Moving your eyes to the right to avoid looking at me, fidgeting with your fingers, and most importantly, that baby-level control over your expressions that completely gives you away...

The woman wasn't the real issue. The real problem was that Ashe had somehow maintained contact with the outside world right under his nose, without anyone noticing. That explained his blatant disregard for Annan's contract. He clearly had a hidden ace up his sleeve.

It made sense. After all, he was on the same level as the Everlasting Doom. If the Everlasting Doom could go toe-to-toe with a Three-Winged Sacred Realm sorcerer, there was no way Ashe could be a useless fool, or worse, naive.

Iger had long wondered how Ashe had managed to climb to the position of cult leader. Perhaps this explained it. Before, he had thought that without his intervention, Ashe and Harvey might have ended up as Pankey's successors, spending their lives devoted to Lady Annan. Or that Ashe would have been forced into a life as a doting father, serving Lys as a mere workhorse forever... But now, he realized he had been far too self-assured.

Seeing Iger lost in thought, Ashe snapped his fingers. "Hey. Have you taken your shower yet? How come you're so groggy this early?"

Iger blinked. "Shower?"

Ashe wagged a finger at him, scolding lightly. "Don't you shower every morning? You just came out of the media room. You must have stayed up all night watching videos nonstop after leaving the Virtual World. You need to pace yourself, male veela."

"You... knew?" Iger asked.

Ashe crossed his arms. "My nose isn't broken. I already noticed it back when we were in prison. I checked on you a few times in the morning, and every time I caught the scent of shampoo. Everyone has their own morning habits. I have to take a big yawn to wake up, even when I'm not tired. By the way, there's a pool and a steam bath here. Want to go later?"

Iger's eyes shifted to the right, and he tucked a strand of hair behind his ear. "I already showered... Seriously, do you only think of bonding with me when it's convenient for you?"

Ashe, caught but unashamed, grinned. "What else? Do you want me to pee with you?"

Iger shook his head. "Even middle schoolers don't make friends this way. I was just showing you a general method to soothe someone since you've never met them in person. Usually, it works on women under twenty. As for you..."

"I can do it too!"

"No, you can't."

"Yes, I can!"

"Your looks don't guarantee that success rate."

They bantered as they walked into the living room. Pankey had breakfast ready as usual, and Little Lys was already seated properly, eating with composure.

"Is the lady not here?"

"Has Harvey overslept?"

Pankey put a hand to his ear and shushed them. "Listen."

Outside the balcony, a faint buzzing grew louder. It sounded as though a machine was flying straight toward the sun.

Buzz!

A hovering car hovered beside the balcony. Pankey moved to open the railing, letting the vehicle dock.

Ashe squinted. Wait... that's not a balcony... It's a parking spot!

The door opened, and Annan leapt out in a purple mini-skirt, high boots, a vest, and a fisher's hat. As usual, purple dominated her outfit, but each day she carried herself with a different presence. It wasn't the color that made her beautiful, but the way she breathed life into it.

Harvey stepped out behind her, carrying a suitcase. Dressed stylishly with a baseball cap and his tanned skin, he looked like a sporty young man.

Once they were down, the hovering car automatically detached and lowered, and the balcony railing closed.

Annan yawned. "Enjoy your meal. I'll skip this one. I need to catch up on sleep in the Virtual World... Haven't stayed up this long in a while."

Pankey offered. "Want a cup of coffee first to wake up? Roasted from Rhodes Island beans, three sugars and two spoons of milk..."

"Alright, Pankey, since you're recommending it so enthusiastically," Annan said.

Harvey nodded to them and pushed his suitcase toward his room. As he passed, Ashe grabbed Lys's hand, holding her back until Harvey disappeared down the hallway.

Then their attention turned to Annan. She shook her head slightly. "It's exactly what you're thinking. But it wasn't a free find. It was bought. It's still a gray-area transaction, but at least it doesn't affect the Book of Gospel's credit rating."

Ashe quickly covered Lys's ears. "I thought you just randomly picked a lucky wanderer."

Annan shook her head. "There's no need for that. There aren't many buyers, but the industry is well-regulated. With some money, you can get any kind of material you want. It's much easier than searching for a suitable wanderer."

Iger asked, "But didn't Harvey lose yesterday? How did the necromancer win the lady's favor? How do you think of me, Miss?"

Annan explained, "Exactly. He lost, so last night I took him on a small mission. When we returned, I kept my promise, and along the way, I bought him a gift."

"A gift!"

Lys wriggled free from Ashe's grip. "A gift?"

Ashe grinned. "Uncle Harvey got a 1:1 scale horror doll. If you dare enter his room, I guarantee you won't be able to use the bathroom alone at night."

"I'm not afraid of dolls!" Lys protested.

"Really...?"

"Uwaa!"

Ashe contorted his face into a series of grotesque expressions, making Lys jump back, while Iger watched, slightly stunned. "You took Harvey out on a mission last night? What kind of mission?"

"You'll find out when it's your turn," Annan said, taking Pankey's coffee with a smile. "Leaving a little mystery for each other isn't so bad, is it?"

So last night, Harvey had been quietly taken aside by Annan. Iger's first thought was that she might have been trying to single him out to undermine their plans, but he quickly realized it wasn't that simple. Annan was like a bottomless pool. Maybe you had only intended to sip from the surface, but one wrong move and you ended up getting dragged under.

Should I ask Harvey about it later? But that could also be a trap. If Harvey is hiding something, my questions could easily create tension.

Annan sipped her coffee leisurely, while Iger's thoughts grew heavier. Ashe, sensing the mood, asked Lys, "Did you like that flying car earlier? You've been staring at the balcony the whole time."

"I'm waiting," Lys replied.

"Waiting?"

"It's coming!"

A cargo drone flew in through the balcony, setting down its load in the living room before buzzing away. Ashe's eyes lit up. "You shopped on the Curtain, huh?"

Lys nodded. "Yep!"

"What did you get?"

"Pretty things, fun things, interesting things, cute things, beautiful things, glowing things..."

"What could be so amazing that it has all those attributes at once?"

Lys grinned. "I didn't buy just one."

Buzz!

A swarm of drones suddenly filled the room, their buzzing sending a shiver down everyone's spines. They looked up and saw a dozen or more drones, each carrying cargo, descending into the living room.