VOL 2 Chapter 42: Don’t make me laugh.

Upon hearing Laura's words, Arcane Sardas did not speak immediately. Instead, he sipped his tea in silence, discreetly studying the woman in front of him. After a few seconds, he set his cup on the table and began to explain in a serious tone.

"As Sage Sánchez well knows, my family has been part of the health and potion industry for a long time. Seeing the great innovation of Direct Disciple Erik—the healing pills, which can help countless people across the galaxy—we couldn't stay idle. Therefore, we want to contact him and offer all our help and support."

An unperturbed smile could be seen on Laura's face as she listened attentively to Arcane Sardas's speech, even nodding a couple of times—not only as if she understood him but even supported him. But inside, she was maliciously laughing at the man.

(Hehehehe, so you're afraid of losing your market share, and since Erik has two immovable titans behind him in the form of Master Silverwood and Master Eldurdóttir, you can't play your usual dirty tricks and want to try appealing to Erik's naivety due to his youth by bringing a cheap speech about helping the people of the galaxy. Hahaha, you're really funny, Sardas, and too naive...)

"I understand—a noble cause your family wants to undertake, Arcane Sardas. But I really have no idea how to help you. My contact with Direct Disciple Erik was just a brief conversation before the auction, and nothing more." Laura commented with a calm smile as she looked into the eyes of the man in front of her, who responded with a similar smile.

"I see, that's a shame. But perhaps you could help me by giving some advice to avoid making mistakes when I manage to contact Direct Disciple Erik. Although it was a one-time conversation, I heard that the disciple had a very good impression of Sage Sánchez."

(Hehehe, you want to know weaknesses to exploit—naive, very naive, Sardas.) Laura couldn't help but laugh mockingly at the man, but her expression remained as calm and elegant as ever, not changing for a single second. She replied in an almost contemplative tone.

"The truth is, it's hard to think of something like that. I can only tell you that he is a serious person and that it's best to treat him with due respect."

Arcane Sardas's smile couldn't help but turn into an ironic grimace upon hearing Laura's generic words, as she was basically telling him nothing. Who would dare treat a direct disciple without due respect? Which direct disciple wasn't 'serious' or rather liked to put on airs? But as an experienced man, he quickly hid it and commented with a dignified smile.

"Your information has been very useful, and it's truly a pleasure to converse with such a charming lady as Sage Sánchez. But I have an appointment later, and I must go."

"Of course, Arcane Sardas. It was a pleasure talking to you, and I won't take up more of your time."

As Arcane Sardas rose from his seat, Laura commented with a smile as she also stood up, which led to a brief, more formal farewell. After that, Arcane Sardas left the room guided by the butler. At that moment, Laura returned to her seat and took a good sip of coffee while watching the door close, at which point she couldn't help but whisper to herself, looking truly amused.

"Hehehe, Erik really hit these old bastards where it hurts. They're desperate to contact him. I suppose today will be a long day..."

Just as Laura expected, she spent the rest of the day receiving 'unexpected visits' from a bunch of old men who sought to establish a connection with Erik through her, using all kinds of excuses. Apparently, contacting him was not easy, and any other route besides the diplomatic one was absolutely sealed. After all, he was a direct disciple, which in itself was quite problematic. But with the two youngest Masters of the galaxy behind him, it was better not even to consider doing anything other than negotiating, or losing money would be the least of their worries.

"Fufufufu, I just came up with a good business idea."

After the hectic day full of incessant visits, an excited Laura commented to herself while her butler served her more coffee. After a couple of sips from her cup, a beautiful golden card appeared in Laura's right hand, from which a hologram was emitted. After manipulating it a bit, it changed to become a call icon, with the name Erik at the top.

[Hello, Laura. To what do I owe the call?] Erik's voice was heard from the golden card, sounding a bit tired, which led Laura to ask in a serious and somewhat worried tone.

"Hello, Erik. I was calling to greet you and also to discuss with you a small idea I have. But is it not a good time?"

[No, I'm just testing a couple of things, so I'm a bit tired. But tell me, what is the idea about?] Erik spoke after a small sigh, with a somewhat strange tone of voice, as if he were stretching, to which Laura commented seriously.

"Well then, I'll try not to take too much of your time."

[Don't worry. Tell me, it's rare for you to call me, so I'm curious.] With a much more comfortable and calm voice, Erik responded, to which Laura replied in a friendly tone.

"Well, I would like us to meet so we can talk more calmly."

[Fine by me, as long as the place isn't your auction house.]

Erik responded calmly, although his tone couldn't help but show some wariness when he mentioned the auction house, which worried Laura, as she feared that the star-haired boy had gotten a bad impression or that something had bothered him. So she quickly asked.

"Did something bother you? If so, tell me, and I'll do my best to improve it."

[Not at all; it was great, and that's precisely the problem. That is a devilish place full of irresistible temptations for a good and hardworking man like me. Last time I spent a fortune, so I won't go back to your auction house even if I'm tied up.]

At the unexpected response, Laura couldn't help but blink, speechless. Even the expression of the professional butler couldn't help but tighten a bit. After all, although the young man spent quite a bit at the last auction, he only bought three items out of the ten high-value ones that were auctioned. They even were the least coveted of all, so his spending wasn't as exaggerated as he said.

Moreover, if one took into account the young man's identity—not only was he the disciple of two of the most important Masters in the galaxy, but now he himself was the sensation of the galaxy thanks to his recent publications—his response directly entered the realm of the ridiculous, which inevitably led Laura to ask with a hint of incredulity in her voice.

"Are you serious, Erik?"

[Very serious. I won't go back to that devilish place until I become a billionaire.]

Through the hologram, Erik responded in a serious and cautious tone, as if he were really talking about a terrifying place, which inevitably made Laura laugh out loud. It was really one of the best jokes she had heard in a long time—the disciple of some of the richest women in the galaxy talking about becoming a billionaire was too hilarious, so much so that even the butler had to discreetly pinch his hand to contain himself.

"Hahahahaha!"

[What are you laughing at?] Upon hearing Laura's melodious laughter, Erik couldn't help but ask, sounding genuinely confused, to which Laura replied cheerfully, still amidst laughter.

"Hahaha, it's just that it's funny to hear you talk about becoming a billionaire. You're quite the joker."

[Why? It's normal for people to want to become billionaires, and I'm just one more.] Erik asked, sounding even more confused than before, only making Laura's laughter worsen, to the point where she had to hold her stomach while responding between laughs.

"Hahaha, that's for those who aren't 'billionaires', Erik."

[Exactly like me—a poor man seeking wealth.]

Erik replied, half serious and confused, as if he were stating an irrefutable fact, which caused Laura to laugh like a little girl, to the point where she let herself fall onto the couch while holding herself and spinning. This inevitably disheveled her beautiful black dress, revealing one of her incredibly attractive legs, although curiously, the professional butler didn't even give a glance at such an incredible spectacle.

After a moment, Laura was finally able to calm down enough and lay face up on her couch, looking disheveled and happy, as if she had just come out of a wild romp. She then commented in a pained tone between sporadic laughs, a cheerful smile occupying her face.

"Hahaha, no more, Erik. Don't make me laugh anymore."

[What are you laughing at? I really am a poor man.] Erik asked in an already helpless tone, to which Laura replied between sporadic laughs while she sat back on her couch.

"Hehehe, sure you are. If the disciple of two of the most important Masters in the galaxy is poor, what remains for the rest of us mortals?"

[What does it have to do with my Masters having money and me having it? I don't know what you think of me, Laura, but my personal creed is that only money earned with honest work is good money; everything else only brings problems. So I'm just another poor man seeking wealth.] Erik responded in a more serious tone, which finally managed to control Laura's laughter, although a different kind of smile could be seen on her face as she responded and adjusted her dress.

"That's a very interesting mindset you have there, Erik."

[Hehe, what can I say? I was raised well.] Erik responded in a more cheerful tone, which for some reason widened Laura's smile. She received a mirror from her butler and began to fix her hair while commenting.

"I can see that, but if you're a poor man seeking wealth, then you'll really be interested in the proposal I have for you."

[You've managed to pique my interest, but I don't know if you know, but soon there will be a tournament at the university, so I'll be busy.] Erik commented, evidently interested, which pleased Laura, who asked in a calm tone while returning the mirror to her butler, now looking perfectly neat and elegant again.

"Yes, I heard something about that. Does it sound good to you if we meet after the tournament ends?"

[Fine by me. I should be back on the planet by then...]

Quickly, Laura and Erik agreed on a meeting at a luxurious restaurant, to which Erik agreed because, although he wasn't rich yet, he had his own income sufficient to afford a meal. So after warmly saying goodbye to Laura, he hung up the call to continue with his experiments.

"Hehehe, Erik is really an interesting person..."

While drinking one last cup of coffee, Laura commented to herself, having a curious sparkle in her eyes. After that, she got up from her chair and left the lounge with the intention of making the necessary inquiries to organize and plan her new business proposal for Erik. She already knew this would not only be incredibly profitable but would also be an important opportunity for the recently stagnated growth of her beloved auction house. Something that would undoubtedly lead to the name Aetherion's Hall resonating powerfully throughout the galaxy.

"Fufufufu, I have a lot of work to do, but... how long has it been since I felt so excited...?"

While walking down the corridor that led to her personal study, Laura couldn't help but comment with a beautiful smile on her face—a genuine smile that hadn't graced her hectic life in quite some time.