Chapter26-The Treasure Hunter

"One hundred gold coins?"

Alan blinked in surprise. Just one gold coin could cover a family's monthly expenses.

A hundred was no small sum, especially for a rainbow stone that was more decorative than practical.

However, recalling the black-robed woman's interest, Alan nodded and said, "I don't have enough gold coins on hand, so I'll pay with mana stones."

The attendant's eyes sparkled—after all, paying with mana stones usually meant the customer was a powerful mage.

Alan had limited savings after paying for his sister's treatments, but the three noble families had gifted him valuable items when he left.

Among these were mana stones, ensuring he wouldn't worry about money anytime soon.

He took out a level-1 mana stone, ready to hand it to the attendant, when a clear, bell-like voice interrupted.

"Hold on. I've decided I want that rainbow stone."

A small girl in a luxurious Lolita dress approached.

She wore a pink beret, her pale skin almost translucent, like a delicate, finely-crafted doll.

But her expression was serious as she gazed at the attendant.

The attendant was about to decline politely when the girl extended a gloved hand, presenting a level-2 mana stone. "I'll take it."

A level-2 mana stone!

It was worth three times that of a level-1 mana stone.

The attendant's face showed her interest as she glanced apologetically at Alan, clearly tempted by the offer.

"My brother already agreed to buy it!" Isabella protested, her face stern.

The attendant hesitated, torn between Alan's prior claim and the girl's enticing offer.

The girl glanced at Alan, her eyes flashing with a hint of surprise. "Tier-iron level 10?"

But she quickly regained her composure, casually handing Alan a level-2 mana stone. "Take this as compensation."

Alan studied the girl, surprised by her ability to gauge his power level at a glance. This girl was no ordinary child.

But he shook his head and said, "Little girl, I'm afraid I won't be letting anyone else take this."

"Little girl?" The girl chuckled as if she'd heard something amusing.

Her expression returned to seriousness as she said, "I like this stone. Maybe you should go find another. I'll give you ten more level-2 mana stones as compensation."

Isabella was stunned, her eyes wide as she murmured, "So generous… Does your family know you're spending like this?"

The girl cast an annoyed look at Isabella before her expression shifted, her eyes narrowing as she slowly approached, a hint of astonishment and delight in her gaze.

Alan frowned, stepping protectively in front of his sister. "What do you want?"

The girl's tone turned serious. "Do you often have headaches, sudden mental disruptions, feeling as if your head is splitting, with no way to cure it?"

Alan's suspicion grew, and he was about to respond when the girl continued, her excitement rising. "Amazing! I didn't expect to find someone with such a unique bloodline in this remote place."

Reaching into her dress, she pulled out a crystal radiating a cold aura and handed it to Isabella. "Take this essence stone—it will stabilize your spirit for three months."

"I have pressing matters to attend to, so I can't take you with me now. But before the essence stone's energy is depleted, I'll come back for you."

"As for this stone, I'll let you have it, out of respect for Isabella." With that, she turned and walked away without a backward glance.

Alan looked at Isabella, who held the essence stone. Isabella felt its soothing energy stabilizing her spirit. "Brother, I feel much better already."

…

Outside the shop, the girl prepared to vanish into the void when a shadow appeared from her own.

"Miss, should we assign someone to watch over that girl?" asked the shadowy figure.

"Your abilities are too conspicuous. Just send a few minor agents to protect her in secret. Make sure not to draw attention," the girl replied.

The shadow nodded and then asked, "Her brother has reached tier-iron level 10. Should we protect him as well? He could join our ranks later."

"No need," she replied. "His mana core is shattered; he has no hope of advancing further."

She then continued, "Any leads on Nicolas's staff?"

The shadow shook his head slightly.

Nicolas, the infamous Forbidden Magus of the Eldritch Continent, had recently opened a hidden dimension.

However, a forbidden array within it could only be bypassed using his staff, yet Nicolas himself had vanished without a trace.

"No matter. We can still break the array with the combined efforts of the top experts, though it may take longer." The girl's face showed curiosity and anticipation.

She, like many others, was eager to uncover what treasures lay hidden within the Forbidden Magus's dimension.

…

Meanwhile, the steward, covered in festering wounds, staggered back to House Blackwood's hideout, reeking of rot like a ghoul from hell.

The sight shocked the other members of House Blackwood, who had recently heard about the second wife's death and the theft of the Snow Lotus by a young talent from House Roan.

Seeing the horrified looks directed at him, the steward snarled, "Summon the core members now! Those two are still near White Steed City. This time, we'll make them pay in blood!"

The shocked members scrambled to follow his orders, while the family's apothecaries began treating his wounds and administering antidotes.

"What is going on here?"

As the members of House Blackwood gathered, the head of the family, a bald elder, entered the hall, coldly glaring at them.

"Head, those two deceived me and used poison—"

Before the steward could finish, the elder slapped him hard across the face. The resounding slap echoed through the hall, and all eyes turned to watch in astonishment.

"How many times have I told you?" the elder hissed, his voice ice-cold. "In our line of work, it's the result that counts. You got outwitted and still have the nerve to whine?"

They were thieves. When facing stronger opponents, they'd use stealth. Against weaker ones, they'd rob outright. It was kill or be killed, with no room for excuses.

The members of House Blackwood quickly grasped his meaning, nodding solemnly. They weren't noble families bound by etiquette. A failure was a failure, and nothing else mattered.

Seeing their comprehension, the elder continued, "More importantly, doesn't this make them even more terrifying?"

"Such young siblings, with these skills and temperaments, managed to injure a half-step tier-gold mage. What would they be capable of with greater power?"

The others nodded grimly, understanding the elder's point. Even with all the tricks in the book, they doubted they'd have the courage to confront the steward as those siblings had.

"And you should know," the elder added, "that the boy who killed my wife isn't William, the one everyone's talking about. His name is Alan, also of House Roan."

The steward and the others looked confused, unfamiliar with the name Alan.

"It's understandable that you haven't heard of him yet. But soon enough, this name will be known across the Plantagenet Kingdom."

"What? That can't be…" The others exchanged skeptical glances, finding it hard to believe.