Chapter 27: It’s a Misunderstanding!

Thinking of this, Xisi’s gaze darkened.

“Li Nuo Er.”

The silver-haired emotionless girl appeared again in the study.

“During this time, your task is to secretly investigate and see if there are any newly established merchant associations in the town or surrounding areas, especially those mainly in the mining industry.”

Xisi paused.

“It would be best if you can find out which organizations actually control these new merchant associations.”

Li Nuo Er tilted her head, her silver short hair swaying slightly.

“Okay, Young Master Xisi. Do you have any other orders?”

Xisi pondered for a moment.

“Also, help Florin keep an eye on the mining affairs. If any suspicious people appear, you don’t need to report to me; just handle it directly.”

“Understood.”

Li Nuo Er nodded expressionlessly, then vanished from the study in a flash.

Xisi sat in his chair, looking at the flickering text before him.

‘Isn’t it just twenty thousand gold coins?’

‘Buy!’

[The specific operating method of the Grey Crystal Refining Technique is as follows: …]

Before he knew it, time had reached late at night.

Rafina Falier stood at the study door holding a plate of desserts, hesitating.

For some reason, today Young Master Xisi had shut himself in the study all day, not even coming out during meal times.

Maybe he was thinking about something very important.

‘Would she be disturbing him?’

But today, aside from the pot of tea she had sent in the afternoon, Young Master Xisi hadn’t eaten or drunk anything all day.

If this continued, his body would wear out.

After a fierce mental struggle, Rafina Falier finally gently knocked on the study door.

“Young Master, I’m coming in.”

Since she had not received any response from Xisi, Rafina Falier pushed the door open and entered the study.

“Young Master Xisi.”

Hearing the girl’s voice, Xisi finally snapped back from his study of the Grey Crystal Refining Technique.

“Hmm? Rafina, what are you doing here?”

Xisi looked up at the little maid before him, then turned to look out the window, only then realizing that the sky had completely darkened at some unknown time.

“Is it already this late?”

Xisi rubbed his temples.

After leaving that highly focused state, the feeling of hunger began to gradually surge up.

“Um… Young Master Xisi hasn’t eaten yet today. I brought you some desserts. Is there anything else you’d like to eat?”

Rafina Falier placed the tray on the desk.

Xisi picked up a piece of pastry and took a bite, immediately feeling much more comfortable.

“Did you make this?”

“Mm…”

“Not bad, not bad. Your skill is getting better and better.”

“Really?”

The girl’s eyes immediately lit up.

“If you like it, I’ll make it for you every day from now on!”

“That’s not really… ah… okay then. Thank you for your hard work.”

Seeing the girl’s somewhat eager expression, Xisi, who had originally wanted to refuse, nodded repeatedly in agreement.

As for Rafina’s requests, he’d better try to satisfy them.

After all, this little maid’s happiness directly affected his own life and death!

“Mm!”

Rafina Falier nodded vigorously, revealing a happy smile.

***

One morning a few days later, as soon as Xisi opened his eyes, he saw the silver-haired girl lying beside him, staring at him sideways with an expressionless face.

“Whoa!”

This scene immediately woke up Xisi, who hadn’t been fully asleep yet.

“Li Nuo Er?! When did you return?”

“Early this morning.”

“Then you could have rested first.”

“No, there’s an important matter, I need to report to Young Master Xisi as soon as possible.”

“Then why didn’t you just wake me up?”

“At that time, Young Master Xisi looked like he had just fallen asleep not long ago. I was worried that given your mental state at the time, you wouldn’t be able to make an accurate judgment.”

“…”

Xisi rubbed his face.

“I’m awake now. Speak, what’s so urgent?”

“According to my investigation, there is indeed a new trading company recently opened in the town, called the ‘Dawn Trading Company,’ but since it opened, it hasn’t conducted any business.”

Xisi frowned slightly.

It should be noted that many of the merchant associations in the town had been acquired by him due to the previous big leverage.

Under these circumstances, being willing to invest capital here to open a new merchant association was already very suspicious.

Moreover, during this golden period right after opening, they actually didn’t conduct any business.

“Indeed… it’s a bit suspicious.”

“So I followed some of their core staff and found that they often went near the mines. Remembering that you specifically emphasized that I should pay attention to merchant associations in the mining industry, I hurried back to report to you.”

“Hmm… the Dawn Trading Company…”

‘Wait!’

Xisi suddenly remembered something.

In the original game, there was a religious organization called the Church of Light, which could be said to be the largest religion in this world.

If he remembered correctly, whenever this religion wanted to expand some business, it would use the name ‘Dawn.’

So that ‘Dawn Trading Company’ in the town…

It shouldn’t be a coincidence, should it?

“Good, I understand. This information is very important. Li Nuo Er, you’ve worked hard.”

Xisi smiled and ruffled the emotionless girl’s silver hair.

But soon, he felt some regret for this action.

Because he noticed that the girl before him, who was almost always expressionless, had just shown a hint of enjoyment on her face!

‘Hey, hey, hey!’

‘That’s a bit wrong, you know!’

Xisi subconsciously wanted to pull his hand back, but found that Li Nuo Er actively chased his hand and rubbed against it.

Moreover, the girl seemed not satisfied with just her hair; by the end, she even grabbed Xisi’s hand and pressed it against her face.

“Um… Li Nuo Er… what are you doing?”

“Receiving Young Master Xisi’s reward.”

“This is not a reward, hey!”

Seeing that the girl seemed beyond saving, Xisi had to use his other hand to hold the girl’s shoulder to forcibly pull his hand back.

“Does Young Master Xisi not wish to provide a reward?”

“Of course I’m willing to give you a reward, but it certainly can’t be this.”

Xisi let out a heavy sigh.

“How about I give you some gold coins? You can see what you want to buy and just buy it?”

Li Nuo Er blinked her eyes and extended both hands toward Xisi.

“What does this mean again?”

“Hug.”

“?”

“Want a hug as a reward.”

The girl’s actions made Xisi at a loss for words for a moment.

Although her behavior just now was really a bit strange.

But a hug… didn’t seem like a particularly excessive request.

“Alright, just one.”

After a mental struggle, Xisi still opened his arms and hugged the emotionless girl.

“Hey! What time is it and you’re still not up? The housekeeper is gone, so you’re starting to slack off, huh? Big sis has already made breakfast. You go quickly…”

A familiar voice came.

Xisi turned his head and looked at Ni Wei standing at the bedroom door, revealing a stiff smile.

“This… this is a misunderstanding…”