Enya turned her head toward the door, frowning slightly.
She rose from the wooden chair and walked over to the doorway, unlatching the iron bolt and opening the door just a crack.
Outside stood the Fat Merchant.
He took off the hat he was wearing and bowed slightly in greeting.
Enya showed no intention of letting him in, merely watching him through the narrow gap.
The Fat Merchant understood her meaning, then put on a formal, radiant smile and said,
“My daughter’s words were truly offensive. I feel that a single guest room might not be enough to express my apologies, so…”
As he spoke, he glanced over and signaled the Old Butler beside him.
The Old Butler stepped forward with both hands holding a lacquered wooden tray.
On the tray, painted a deep red, sat an embroidered cloth bag with exquisite patterns. The bag was about the size of a child’s head.
Enya immediately recognized that the bag was full of money.
The Fat Merchant continued,
“This is a small token of my apology.”
“Oh, thank you.”
Upon hearing this, the corner of Enya’s mouth beneath her helmet twitched into a smile. She wasn’t the type to be polite with visitors.
She reached out and grabbed the money bag. Yet, she still didn’t let the Fat Merchant enter.
This caused the somewhat stooped Old Butler, with his thick brows streaked black and white, to furrow his eyebrows.
But since his employer said nothing, it would be overstepping for him to speak.
The Old Butler carefully took back the tray and stepped back.
The Fat Merchant had come only with the Old Butler—he hadn’t even brought the one-eyed bodyguard with him.
This was the extent of his goodwill.
Enya simply pretended not to notice.
The Fat Merchant’s smile remained affable as he went on,
“My daughter was not by my side growing up. She was raised by the parents of my late wife. I went alone to the West Wind Empire, but didn’t get anywhere and wasted ten years.”
“Later, I started doing business in Qingshui City and became successful, founding my own large trading company. Once I had money, I began to long to return home with honor.”
“So I went back to Salt Abundance City, planning to take my daughter with me to care for her.”
“Heh, when I returned, my daughter Kalian was living like a servant in that house, enduring all kinds of grievances.”
“I had every ability to teach those cowards who trembled before me a lesson—especially that father-in-law who once threatened to break my legs—but I was no longer the reckless youth I once was. I was too lazy for such matters.”
“I silently took Kalian away. She went from a girl living under others’ roofs to becoming my lady. She got to wear beautiful dresses and the exquisite jewels she once didn’t dare to dream of.”
“Because I feel indebted to her, I tolerate all her whims. She will be my heir and will inherit my Lily of the Valley Chamber of Commerce in the future.”
The Fat Merchant finished his heartfelt speech and looked toward Enya.
“Madam, might you be interested in taking on a lucrative contract?”
“No.”
Enya said flatly, then shut the door.
Clack!
The smile on the Fat Merchant’s face froze.
The Old Butler behind him furrowed his brow deeply, but the Fat Merchant placed a hand on the Old Butler’s shoulder, shook his head gently, and turned to leave.
Inside the room, Enya weighed the money bag in her hand.
Judging by the weight, there were about 110 gold coins—a huge sum for commoners, enough to require caution against thieves.
She tossed the bag into the air; the Void opened and swallowed it, absorbing the coins into Enya’s Sea of Consciousness, within the floating Library.
She sat on the bed and sighed softly.
“Sigh~”
The Fat Merchant’s words just now had revealed his true intent. The trading company wasn’t just his; he wanted to find trusted people for his daughter Kalian, forming a base for her future.
The commission he offered was a chance to work for one of the Dragons.
Yet, Enya refused.
She had no interest in acting as a bodyguard for some brat—especially one with a problematic personality.
It was better to raise her own two adorable daughters.
“The Lily of the Valley Chamber of Commerce… is it really that wealthy?”
She thought for a moment, then quickly discarded the idea.
No matter how rich, it had nothing to do with her!
Enya sat cross-legged on the bed, drawing in the Origin Magic Power drifting through the space to feed two ravenous Fifth Tier cores.
After solidifying the cores, advancing to the next tier would require time.
And since she wasn’t inside Red Pine City, without the aid of a Grand Formation, her intake of Origin Magic Power was severely limited.
The two cores greedily devoured the Origin Magic Power like black holes.
Late at night, Enya suddenly stopped her magic cultivation.
She turned to look out the window and waited a moment before a soft knock came.
Enya chuckled lightly and muttered to herself,
“Finally, they’re here.”
She got out of bed and went to the window, unlatching it and gently pushing it open.
A gust of wind brushed past her shoulder.
Within that breeze were the figures of two cloaked girls.
Enya calmly closed the window, then turned to face them.
One tall, one short, both dressed in gray-black robes that looked brand new—precisely the two who had been standing in the corner of the hall earlier.
The petite girl turned around, holding her head high as she said to Enya,
“Hmph, Mother Dragon, behold Sophia… ah!”
“Nina, did you leave your brain behind?!”
This arrogant little one hadn’t finished speaking before the taller girl punched her in the head.
The small girl cried out, clutching her head in grievance.
“Ugh… Sophia, please don’t always hit my head.”
Sophia’s chest heaved in irritation. She had almost let Nina spill the secret just now, but luckily, she had interrupted her in time.
Enya looked at them with a puzzled expression.
Noticing Enya’s confusion, Sophia’s face beneath her hood showed a faint blush, and she glared at Nina holding her head.
With a light breath, Sophia reached out, removing Nina’s hood—and then took off her own.
Nina was very petite with delicate features, shoulder-length dark golden hair, and a pair of long, pointed elf ears poking through. Her ears drooped low with her upset mood.
Sophia’s golden hair cascaded down after removing her hood. She too had elf ears but wore a deep brown Tree-Branch Circlet on her head.
From the front of the circlet hung a Light Blue Veil—a magical tool that blurred the wearer’s face, preventing Enya from seeing Sophia’s features clearly.
The golden-haired Blood Elf spoke to Enya,
“Greetings, friend of the Dragon race. I am Sophia, and this is Nina.”
“Ain.”
Enya calmly gave her alias.