Chapter 76: He's My BoyFriend

"Senior Brother Lawrence, come with me, I'll give you the items you need!" Phoebe said to Lawrence, seemingly a bit bored after Han Shuo made no response to the round of sarcasm directed at him. Han Shuo just drank sip after sip of tea with a wry expression on his face.

Before she left, Phoebe's clear eyes glared viciously at Han Shuo as her body stopped, "If you're not in a hurry, wait a while."

Han Shuo lifted his head to look at Phoebe, clearly sensing her suppressed anger. Remembering that the materials for his Demonslayer Edge were still in her hands, he immediately nodded in resignation.

Phoebe led Lawrence to the side. After they had gone, Fabian looked at Han Shuo with an extremely strange expression and asked in surprise, "Bryan, to think that you're just an errand boy at the Babylon Academy of School of Magic. My goodness, but you're so strong, what's going on?"

"Nothing much. Oh, right, this Lawrence is part of the warrior academy at our academy, a very ordinary sergeant knight, but Miss Phoebe has the strength of a swordmaster. How could they both have the same master?" Han Shuo was quite perplexed as he asked Fabian.

Although knights and swordsmen could train the same combat aura, Lawrence was only a sergeant knight, while Phoebe had the strength of a swordmaster while training under the same master. The gap between the two was simply too great, especially when Han Shuo had clearly heard from their mouths that Lawrence was the senior student brother and Phoebe was just the junior sister. This made Han Shuo feel even stranger.

"I'm not too clear about the young lady's situation either. I was just a minor figure in the Boozt Merchant Guild before. I'd only heard that the young miss had gone abroad to study before the Guildmaster died, and only came back once or twice a year. If the Guildmaster hadn't died suddenly, Miss Phoebe probably wouldn't have stayed.

Lawrence has only recently arrived. Their relationship is indeed quite close, but I have no way of answering your questions either. Fabian looked at Han Shuo apologetically as he explained.

Han Shuo didn't ask any more questions after this explanation, just nodded and frowned thoughtfully.

After a while, Phoebe and Lawrence stood at the door again. Phoebe looked at Fabian and instructed, "Fabian, show Senior Brother Lawrence to the door for me. I have a few words to say to Mr Bryan in private!"

"Yes, Miss!" Fabian stood up, knowing how to behave in a delicate situation, and walked outside.

"Bryan, I'm very glad to see you here. If you'd like to earn some more gold coins in the future, you can always come to me. But I don't think you'll need it anymore. Well, see you later Bryan, I think we'll have plenty of opportunities to meet in the future. Lawrence looked meaningfully at Han Shuo, laughed lightly and followed Fabian out.

When the two had left, Phoebe walked in with a cold face, glancing at Han Shuo after sitting down and snorting lightly, "How dare you come back here again!"

"And why wouldn't I dare?" Han Shuo's eyebrow raised, not taking anything lying down as he stared back into Phoebe's eyes. "I haven't done anything against my conscience, not to mention that you still owe me from the last time. As long as you give me the promised materials and the black gold ore, I'll leave immediately and never do business with you again!"

Phoebe slammed her hand down on the table and glared at Han Shuo angrily, "You, how dare you demand things from me! Damn it, you violet me and I was nice enough not to kill you!"

"Bullshit, both you and I were under the influence of the aphrodisiac back then. I was the one who dragged you out of the guild, otherwise you'd be dead by now. Not to mention, I didn't really do anything to you, otherwise I wouldn't have taken you to the river." Han Shuo was really angry now. He'd toiled all night and not only had he gained nothing, but he'd taken a beating at her hands. This Phoebe wouldn't let go of this matter, was she really trying to avoid paying?

Phoebe drew her long sword with a clang and glared at Han Shuo angrily. Han Shuo also slammed the table down abruptly and stood up immediately, glaring at Phoebe as if he was about to start a fight as soon as the two of them disagreed.

The two glared at each other and held this position for almost a minute. Phoebe pursed her lips and returned her longsword to its scabbard with another clank. She turned her head, no longer looking at Han Shuo, and said coldly. "Just what do you want?"

"Very simple. I'll buy the other materials according to your estimate and give you the black gold ore you owe me. Our debts will be settled and we won't have anything to do with each other again. I won't make any more stupid deals with you." Han Shuo sat down with a darkened face, drained the water from the glass in front of him in one gulp, and said firmly.

"You damned profit-seeking idiot. Here, take it all and get out of here!" Phoebe felt an involuntary surge of anger at Han Shuo's words, as uncontrollable rage showed in her expression. Rather irritably, she pulled a large bundle of items from her space ring and slammed it down on the table, throwing it in front of Han Shuo and casting a harsh glare at Han Shuo.

"Eh, you prepared everything, why didn't you say so? We have damaged our kindness for nothing." Han Shuo had planned to take the items and leave, but he saw that the bundle of items was neatly wrapped. There was a strange looking piece of ore in a clear vial with the words 'Black Gold' written on it. It looked like Phoebe had been preparing for his arrival for a long time and wasn't going to go back on her word.

But what Han Shuo could not understand was, if Phoebe had no intention of going back on her word, why did she come in with such an explosive temper and say that she had no intention of giving him anything? It was rather puzzling, and Han Shuo couldn't make any sense of it.

"Give me your crystal card, and I'll transfer the appropriate amount of gold coins onto your card. Heh heh, I actually didn't have any other meaning and just wanted to take back what was owed to me." Han Shuo smiled awkwardly, but put the bundle of items into his space ring anyway, and then talked to Phoebe, somewhat embarrassed.

Still not really looking at Han Shuo, Phoebe had a face of cold arrogance and said stiffly, "No need. I'm not as stingy as you. It's only thirty-five hundred gold... treat it as a gift. Don't let me see you again, just get out!"

Seeing her being so sarcastic and mocking, Han Shuo's face froze and he nodded, slapping down the piece of black iron ore he had mined the day before. He also said coldly, "I don't like to owe favours to strangers. Consider this ore as compensation for my purchase of your other ores. Goodbye Miss Phoebe, I won't be doing business with you in the future."

Just as Han Shuo was about to leave the room, Phoebe suddenly lost her composure and stood up, looking at Han Shuo with a lost expression. Her wise eyes were full of weakness and fatigue. She said with a desolate voice, "Are you going to treat me like a stranger from now on?"

Shrugging his shoulders, Han Shuo said naturally and unrestrainedly, "Since you won't treat me as a friend, of course I won't shamelessly force myself on you."

Han Shuo smiled naturally after these words and started to walk out, but Phoebe suddenly called out lightly before he walked out the door, "Wait!"

Turning his head to look at Phoebe, Han Shuo asked calmly, "Miss Phoebe, what else is going on?"

Phoebe's expression was a little strange. She lowered her head and thought silently for a while, but when she raised her head, a good half of the weakness and fatigue had actually disappeared. Her direct gaze at Han Shuo made him feel very strange. In the end, she even pursed her lips, revealing a trace of a smile, and asked, "Bryan, you mean you already consider me a friend?"

Astonished, Han Shuo nodded and replied matter-of-factly, "Of course, we've had two life-or-death experiences in the Boozt Merchant Guild, not to mention you've helped me on several occasions. I already consider you a friend, but you're not ready!"

"Who says I'm not willing, huh? Apart from financial transactions, are you so heartless towards all your friends?" Phoebe's expression had returned to normal by now, showing a few more traces of human interest compared to her usual distant aloofness, and she used the same attitude she had just used towards Lawrence when talking to Han Shuo.

"Of course not." Han Shuo replied.

Han Shuo could clearly feel that Phoebe's words were filled with sincerity and concern. He felt a little touched inside and his facial expression became more tender. After careful consideration, Han Shuo felt that Phoebe's words should be fine. He frowned and said to Phoebe, "So what do you think I should do?"

"Eliminate Grover with me, otherwise we will never have days of peace!" Phoebe's charming face went cold as she bit off her words.

Thinking for a moment, Han Shuo suddenly felt that perhaps a life hidden in danger would be better for him to break through. His life had been too simple and monotonous before, perhaps an additional stimulus would make it more interesting. Add to that what Phoebe had said, if the threat of Grover wasn't eliminated, he might indeed be faced with endless troubles.

After thinking for a while, Han Shuo said resolutely, "All right, I promise you!"

"Then accompany me to the Guild's personal banquet tonight. Several of the founding elders will be present at this banquet." Phoebe's charming face lit up when she saw Han Shuo's agreement, and she immediately opened her mouth to ask.

"Eh, a banquet hosted by your guild? What am I supposed to do there?" Han Shuo began and asked.

"Gain the goodwill of the other founding elders and take precautions against the plans of that old thing. Bryan, I need your help, you just said we're friends, right?" Phoebe looked directly at Han Shuo and asked.

Suddenly feeling like he'd boarded a pirate ship and was about to be taken advantage of, Han Shuo felt a little strange. But he had indeed admitted that the two of them were friends earlier, according to Phoebe's intentions. Unable to back out now, he could only grit his teeth and agree.

Exclaiming softly, Phoebe said happily, "Wonderful, wait a moment and I'll have someone make you a tuxedo that fits you. I also need to teach you some basic manners. I've already heard from Lawrence that you're from the Babylonian Academy of Magic and Strength. Eh... I think you're probably not too well versed in such things."

Giving her a sour look, Han Shuo said, "I was an errand boy, but that was in the past. There's nothing untoward about it and nothing that can't be talked about!"

"Sorry Bryan, I didn't mean anything by it, really!" Phoebe was a little upset and rushed to apologise with sincerity.

"No worries, tell me, I'll listen carefully!" Han Shuo waved his hand indifferently and motioned for Phoebe to begin.

"This, this is black iron ore!" It was as if she'd just discovered it when Phoebe looked at the black iron ore that Han Shuo had placed on the table. She looked at Han Shuo in amazement. "You actually have black iron ore, it looks like you really want to forge the best weapon!"

"Absolutely!" Han Shuo replied firmly.

Phoebe gave Han Shuo an overview of the basic courtesies of nobility. Han Shuo understood that in order to rise to a higher level in this world, he must indeed have a grasp of such mannerisms. So he listened obediently to Phoebe's descriptions and even tried to make some of the basic gestures of courtesy according to Phoebe's demands.

By nightfall, Han Shuo had already changed into the tuxedo that Phoebe had specially prepared for him, and was actually looking good. He followed Phoebe and rode in a carriage to arrive at the Boozt Merchant Guild for the third time.

Many luxurious and opulent carriages were parked outside the doors and the guards had been changed. They were two unfamiliar faces to Han Shuo. When Phoebe and Han Shuo both got out of the carriage, they walked in with the ease of experience without having to greet the guards. Phoebe led the way through two corridors and appeared at the entrance to the banquet hall.

"Niece Phoebe, this is a private banquet of our guild, doesn't it seem inappropriate that you brought him?" Grover's hand was holding a glass of fine wine in front of the door, and he happened to be chatting merrily with a couple of obviously wealthy guild elders. When he saw Phoebe and Han Shuo come in, he first looked at Han Shuo with a stern look and then turned to Phoebe.

"Uncle Grover, Mr Bryan is no outsider!" Phoebe pursed her lips and laughed slightly, looking at Han Shuo with some shyness as she explained.

"Oh? Then, dear niece, can you tell me why he's not an outsider?" Grover's eyes narrowed as he sized up Han Shuo with venomous, snake-like eyes, speaking ominously as he did so.

"He's my boyfriend!" Phoebe threw her head back, looking Grover straight in the eye without fear as she said proudly.