Rafina was about to take an afternoon nap in her room when a knock came at the door.
If it were Ni Wei, she wouldn’t have knocked.
Curious, Rafina opened the door.
“Eh? Young Master His…”
Rafina opened the door to see His standing there, holding her younger sister in his arms.
“She twisted her ankle. Go find the house doctor to take a look at her.”
With that, His carried Ni Wei to the bed.
“Oh… oh!”
Rafina was stunned for a moment, but quickly came to her senses, ran off, and soon returned with the doctor.
While the doctor was examining Ni Wei, Rafina took the initiative to speak to His:
“Young Master His.”
“What is it?”
“Thank you.”
“It’s nothing.”
His smiled and patted Rafina’s head.
Just as he was about to leave, a system notification suddenly appeared before his eyes.
[Today’s Flash Report! Breaking! Are the Demon Race beginning to gather forces at the border of the Two Realms? For details, please pay one thousand Gold Coins to unlock.]
‘Huh?’
‘War again?’
Thinking back to how he had made his first fortune precisely from a border conflict last time, His unhesitatingly chose to pay one thousand Gold Coins.
[The Demon Race’s gathered forces this time far exceed previous years. Considering the pressure on the border defense forces, the Kingdom Knights have now been ordered to march and reinforce the border.]
His pondered the information the system provided.
‘The Kingdom Knights have marched out?’
‘I just established contact with them. I thought the sales channel for Gray Crystal weapons would be set.’
‘But now they’ve all gone to the border. The procurement will definitely be put on hold.’
‘Oh well, what’s meant to come will come. It won’t hurt to discuss the deal when they return.’
Just then, the image of a silver-haired, blue-eyed figure flashed through His’s mind.
‘Ai Lin… is she going too?’
‘The battlefield changes in an instant. What if she…’
At that thought, His slapped his face hard.
‘What’s wrong with me?’
‘Why am I worrying about her?’
‘Don’t forget, she was originally the one who would kill you!’
His shook his head and headed toward the study.
In the following days, the Duke’s Mansion was business as usual.
A message came from the Blacksmith Shop, saying that they now had the full capacity for mass production of Gray Crystal weapons.
Upon hearing the news, His immediately sent Florin to the Royal Capital to closely monitor the movements of the Kingdom Knights, instructing her to notify him the moment the knights returned from the front.
This time, he planned to go to the Royal Capital himself to discuss pricing with the Captain.
During Florin’s absence, Rafina had almost fully taken over all daily affairs of the mansion, already showing the demeanor of a little housekeeper.
***
“I’m telling you, can’t you learn from your sister?”
His raised his head from the desk, looking at Ni Wei, who was leisurely reading a book while sitting in a chair.
“Didn’t you say I only need to tidy up the study every day?”
Ni Wei didn’t seem bothered.
She even reached for a pastry from the plate on the desk and popped it into her mouth very naturally.
It seemed she had done this more than once.
“Back then you weren’t feeling well. Now that you’re cured, shouldn’t you help your sister with the workload?”
“I… I actually told my sister, but she just won’t assign me work…”
Ni Wei mumbled while chewing the pastry.
Just as His was about to speak, Rafina’s voice came from outside the door.
“Young Master His, Lady Florin has returned!”
“Oh? Tell her to come to the study.”
Hearing this, His immediately became excited.
Since Florin was back, that meant the Kingdom Knights had probably returned to the Royal Capital.
His Gray Crystal business was finally about to make progress.
“This…”
When Rafina heard that His wanted to see Florin in the study, her tone became hesitant.
“Lady Florin… she seems to have brought a guest. Wouldn’t the living room be better?”
“A guest?”
“Yes. The guard said it’s a woman with silver hair.”
His was taken aback.
‘Silver hair?’
‘Could it be that much of a coincidence?’
“Invite them to the reception room. I’ll be right there.”
“Yes, sir.”
***
When His entered the reception room, the first thing that caught his sight was the figure he had anticipated.
The early autumn sunlight streamed through the window, draping over her. Her silver-white hair was tied in a ponytail, glinting coldly in the light.
Ai Lin was still wearing the light armor of the knights. Her ice-blue eyes locked onto His the moment he entered, her gaze cold and sharp.
“Long time no see, His Blackstone.”
Ai Lin spoke first, but her voice still carried an aloofness that kept people at a distance.
“Miss Ai Lin.”
His nodded slightly.
“I didn’t expect you to come…”
“I came for one thing only.”
It seemed this Sword Maiden of the Kingdom had no intention of exchanging pleasantries with His.
She cut him off before he could finish.
“The Knights need the Gray Crystal weapons you produce.”
“Oh, that. Actually, I…”
As he spoke, His quickly shot Florin a meaningful glance.
Florin immediately understood and left the room, leaving the two of them standing there in a standoff.
“Um… Miss Ai Lin.”
His tested the waters.
“Wasn’t it always the Captain who handled this matter? Why this time…”
At the word “Captain,” Ai Lin’s body visibly trembled.
Then, as if having reached a great decision, she spoke slowly:
“The Captain… he was severely injured. He hasn’t woken up yet…”
“What?!”
Ai Lin’s words struck His like a thunderbolt.
‘The Captain of the Kingdom Knights was hurt that badly in a border skirmish?’
“Th-this… how is that possible?”
His muttered.
“Miss Ai Lin, what exactly happened at the front?”
Ai Lin glanced at His, took a deep breath.
“The reinforcements… went relatively smoothly at first.
But on the second night, the Demon Race suddenly sent three Demon Generals to raid our camp.
Even though the Kingdom Knights’ soldiers were all handpicked, most of them had little chance against Demon General-level combatants.
The Captain and I could only resist the Demon Generals while covering their retreat.
The Captain… was heavily injured during that.”
His shuddered at the scene Ai Lin described.
“Then you all…”
“Fortunately, the Captain had specifically taken the Gray Crystal short sword you gave him before departure.
At a critical moment, he found an opportunity and stabbed it into a Demon General’s heart.
The short sword suppressed the Demon Race’s most proud regeneration ability. That Demon General died quickly under the blade. The other two Demon Generals saw this and immediately retreated.”
Listening to Ai Lin’s account, His fell silent.
Now it was confirmed through actual combat that Gray Crystal weapons could effectively strike the Demon Race, even killing a Demon General outright.
But for some reason, he couldn’t get excited at all.
“His Blackstone, the Knights need Gray Crystal weapons now.”
Ai Lin’s tone was still cold, but her speech was slightly faster, and her voice carried a hint of urgency.
“Given that the Demon Realm went so far as to commit Demon General-level combatants to this raid, they will definitely make an even bigger move next.
Gray Crystal weapons… are truly important to us.”
Ai Lin paused, as if choosing her words.
“But the Knights’ budget is quite limited as it is, and we’ve just lost a battle. We can’t purchase at the price you previously offered.”
At this, Ai Lin’s eyes flickered slightly.
“So now, as His Blackstone’s fiancée, I am… well… asking for your help.”
Having said that, Ai Lin took a deep breath, as if forcing herself to utter those words.
She had always been ashamed of the identity of “His Blackstone’s fiancée” and had wanted to break the engagement many times in her heart.
But now she had to use that identity to gain more chances for the Knights’ soldiers to survive in the upcoming battle.
She had braced herself for the possibility of being humiliated by the wicked young master before her.
“The price is not a problem.”
Hearing His’s calm reply, Ai Lin was slightly taken aback.
“It’s not because you are my fiancée, His Blackstone, but because…”
His paused, his eyes turning serious.
“You are the Vice Captain of the Kingdom Knights, and I will never stand by while the soldiers of my own country go to the front lines to die in vain.”
Ai Lin looked at the His before her, her ice-blue eyes seemed to waver.
“Now, tell me what equipment you need. I’ll have the Blacksmith Shop start forging today.”
“You…”
Ai Lin’s lips moved, but she found herself at a loss for words.
She had prepared various countermeasures, even including her…
But all those were for dealing with a petty person who would use this to exploit the situation.
Yet this notorious wicked young master before her seemed to have no such intention.
“Spears… and longswords…”
After a few seconds of silence, Ai Lin finally spoke, her voice much softer than before.
“Alright, you head back first. I’ll have the workers make them as soon as possible. Once they’re done, I’ll deliver them to the Royal Capital personally.”
Hearing His’s words, Ai Lin’s heart began to waver.
She had thought today would be a humiliating transaction.
But he…
“Why are you doing this?”
“Hey, the soldiers are blocking the Demon Race for me at the front. Would I try to loot them from behind?”
His shook his head with a bitter smile.
“What kind of image do you have of me anyway…”
“I…”
Ai Lin lowered her head, suddenly afraid to meet His’s eyes.
“But keep this matter confidential. I don’t want my products to never fetch a good price.”
“Of course…”
“Alright, now let’s talk about the engagement.”
“Huh?”
Ai Lin blinked, clearly not expecting His to suddenly change the subject.
“Engagement?”