17 Ch. 17 – Jade's Storage Space Ring

As Yves watched Jade effortlessly administer the healing elixir, he remained outwardly unfazed, his expression revealing nothing. However, inwardly, he was impressed. The fact that she had access to such powerful potions hinted at considerable wealth or connections.

Though Yves didn't show it, he couldn't help but wonder about Jade's background. Her ability to wield these resources with ease suggested she was no ordinary individual. It left Yves curious, wondering about who she really was.

Despite his interest, Yves understood the importance of respecting others' privacy. Just as he wouldn't want someone prying into his own affairs, he knew it wasn't right to pry into hers. Besides, he reasoned, everyone had their reasons for keeping certain aspects of their lives private.

After finishing her task, Jade straightened up and looked up at Yves, a faint smile gracing her lips.

"Thank you for your help." she said, her voice soft but sincere.

"I couldn't have managed without you and your pet monster."

Yves met Jade's gaze, returning her smile with a nod of acknowledgment.

"Glad we could be of assistance."

Turning slightly, Yves glanced at Taro, who stood beside him. "Right, Taro?"

Taro let out a squeak in response, his eyes bright with satisfaction.

As Yves and Taro chatted, Jade couldn't help but find them cute. They seemed to understand each other without words, showing a strong connection.

With a soft laugh, Jade nodded. "You guys are great together." she said, smiling warmly as she watched them interact.

Jade couldn't deny that she had a good impression of Yves. It wasn't just because he had helped her in a tough situation, but also because she observed something different about him.

Unlike many men she had encountered before, Yves didn't ogle at her or make her feel uncomfortable. In fact, he appeared genuinely uninterested in her appearance, focusing instead on the task at hand.

This was a refreshing change for Jade. In a world where she often felt objectified, Yves stood out as a rare exception. She found herself drawn to his demeanor and the way he treated her as an equal. It was a feeling she hadn't experienced in a long time, and it left her feeling more at peace and comfortable in his presence.

Thinking about her time with Yves, Jade noticed he didn't look like someone from a high-society background or a big shot. He dressed modestly and had a humble manner, but there was something intriguing about him.

Jade considered the possibilities. Perhaps Yves was simply a special individual from an ordinary background. Or, he could be a person with a hidden background or identity. His attire didn't scream wealth, yet his handsome showed a certain charm and charisma. She found herself drawn to the mystery surrounding him.

Moreover, Jade couldn't ignore the fact that Yves appeared to be around her age, based on his youthful looks. His pet monster, the adorable small tanuki, was also another aspect. Despite its size, the tanuki had demonstrated surprising quickness and skill during the battle, even managing to claw out the grizzly bear's eyes effortlessly.

Recognizing the tanuki's impressive abilities, Jade compared it to her own companion, Coco, the Giant Glacial Terra Panda. She acknowledged that the tanuki likely matched, if not exceeded, Coco in terms of potential.

It was exceptionally rare to encounter such a powerful pet, even for someone like Jade, who had access to extensive resources and connections. Despite her wealth and influence, finding monster pets with such high potential and extraordinary skills was challenging, showing how special Yves' situation was.

Jade cleared her throat, drawing Yves' attention. "Um, about the payment..." she began, her voice trailing off hesitantly. "I don't have any materials or money on me right now to pay for your help."

Yves maintained a neutral expression, but inside, he was dying. He had expected some form of compensation for their actions, and Jade's words left him dumbfounded.

"No payment? Are you serious?!" Yves thought. "I didn't sign up for this! Where's my reward? My treasure? My bags of gold? I can't survive on gratitude alone!"

Amidst his internal chaos, Yves couldn't help but sneak a glance at Jade. "Sure, she's pretty, but beauty doesn't pay the bills!"

Yves was about to protest when Jade interjected, catching him off guard. As she removed one of the rings she wore, Yves watched in surprise. She gently placed it in her palms and then extended her hands towards him.

"Here's my payment." Jade said firmly.

Yves hesitated, his words catching in his throat. He had been about to propose the idea of Jade repaying him at a later date, but her unexpected gesture left him momentarily speechless. His gaze shifted from the ring she held to her face and then back again, uncertain of what to say.

"Do you know what this ring is, Crow?" Jade asked.Yves didn't say a word. Instead, he simply nodded in response to Jade's question. Of course, he knew what the ring was. It was one of the items he had always wished to have—a storage space ring.

Jade took a step closer to Yves, her expression warm and sincere. "Here, accept it." she said softly, gently pushing the ring towards him. "Consider it my payment for your help today."

She then added. "And don't worry about the rest. Once I get back home, I'll transfer you the money." Jade paused for a moment before asking, "Do you have a virtual market account?"

Yves blinked, still trying to process the absurdity of the situation. He couldn't quite believe that this girl he had just met was now offering him a storage space ring. And it wasn't just any storage space ring.

Yves noticed that this one was different, likely customized and crafted to her specifications. That meant it was far more expensive and high-quality than the common ones.

Despite his shock, Yves managed to calm himself down and respond. "Are you sure about this, miss?" he asked. "I know this ring is quite valuable and it might be important to you. You could just pay me later. I don't mind waiting. And yeah, I've got an account."

Jade smiled warmly at Yves, her eyes reflecting sincerity. "I'm sure." she replied. "Consider it a token of my gratitude. Besides, I trust you'll take good care of it."

As she finished speaking, she winked at Yves, causing him to nearly blush. However, he managed to hold back the color rising to his cheeks, partly due to his disbelief that this was real. It all felt too good to be true, like he was living in a dream.

Caught in the surreal moment, Yves felt slightly nervous as Jade reached out her hand to him. "Give me your hand." she muttered softly.

Yves, still grappling with the strangeness of it all, found himself complying almost automatically, his hand moving to meet hers without conscious thought.

With a grin, Jade handed the ring to Yves, guiding his fingers to enclose around it. "All good. That's yours now, treasure it."

"About the virtual market account, Crow. Can I have your ID so I can add you?" she followed up.

Yves' mind was elsewhere, lost in the sensation of Jade's silky and delicate hand touching his own. It wasn't that he was a pervert or anything, but it was just the first time a girl had ever touched him like that, and it was throwing him off balance in the midst of everything else.

"Sorry, what is it again?" Yves finally managed to utter, snapping back to the present moment.

"Your virtual market ID, so I can transfer the money." Jade answered.

Yves scratched his head, a sheepish grin spreading across his face. "Oh, right. My ID," he mumbled, feeling a bit embarrassed for not knowing it. "Um, I'm not sure I remember it."

He glanced around, hoping for some divine inspiration to jog his memory, but none came. "Sorry, I don't remember it." he admitted, his cheeks turning slightly red.

Jade found Yves' embarrassment cute. She liked how he honestly admitted that he didn't remember his ID. At first, she thought Yves was just very mature and not much of an expressive guy. Yet, his genuine reaction showed a different side to him, which Jade found appealing.