Chapter 421 Meeting

The next day came in a flash.

Michael’s residence, though it didn’t exactly become lively, felt distinctly more alive. There were now four occupants. Two humans, one high human, and one dark elf.

At a glance, the first three could have passed for the same race, though Michael’s own appearance was simply too striking. But Lyra—her presence was something else entirely. Her looks alone were enough to make the two inexperienced youths in the house nearly turn into simpering fools.

Unfortunately for them, this cold beauty was exactly that—cold.

Michael didn’t care either way. He hadn’t brought her here because he was in need of a companion. For now, he was content to give her time to adapt before he needed her.

That day, Michael decided to postpone his planned visit to Duke Evermoon’s estate in light of the events from the night before, pushing it off to either tomorrow or the day after.

He spent most of his time in Aurora, checking on the orders he’d placed for the same materials he’d once handed off to Mage Lian that night, while arranging for a few new things to order for both himself and his undead.

Thanks to Lyra’s sudden presence, Michael also had Ace and Lia—his two young aides—purchase some clothes for her, most of which were designed to conceal her figure.

They hadn’t stopped at clothes, either.

Ace and Lia had also brought back a few simple things Lyra might need for day-to-day living: a plain wooden comb, a small polished mirror, a set of soft towels, basic toiletries, and a couple of pairs of sturdy indoor slippers. A woven basket with brushes and a jar of salve for her hair sat neatly on the corner of the table in the guest room they’d prepared for her.

Nothing extravagant—just the bare essentials to make sure she had what any ordinary person would.

The day passed without incident but was surprisingly full.

The following morning, however, the peace was broken by a servant boy dispatched by Mage Lian to inform Michael that the materials he’d requested were available, and that he should visit whenever he was ready to discuss the quantities and final pricing.

Michael didn’t hesitate. He went straight to meet Mage Lian, and together they launched into a negotiation session.

To his quiet satisfaction—and slight headache—the trade had apparently been influenced by the second prince.

It was in a good way, true. But still.

This growing web of connections...

Michael just wanted to level up in the Land of Origin!

The materials Michael had requested included Shadowweave Fungus, Ghostroot Resin, Dusksilk Threads, Hollowcore Shell, Mirror Lotus Petals, Glimmer Quartz, Mindveil Sap, Ironleaf Bark, Stoneheart Resin, Abyss Amber, and Vital Moss.

They were all valuable resources—each with a staggering price tag even back in the original world.

Shadowweave Fungus, a rare cave fungus used in stealth gear for its mana-masking spores ($28,000 per piece), Ghostroot Resin for dampening mana and disrupting perception fields ($12,000–$18,000 per gram), Dusksilk Threads granting low-grade invisibility ($22,500 per strand), and Hollowcore Shells resistant to detection ($44,500 each) were all chosen to advance Fade and Ghost.

For Blue and Purple, the illusion-focused insects, Michael selected Mirror Lotus Petals that produced layered image fragments ($46,000 each), Glimmer Quartz for amplifying mirage effects ($27,000 per crystal), and Mindveil Sap for mental cloaking ($31,000 per bottle).

Finally, to reinforce Lily and Beginning, his giant undead, he purchased Ironleaf Bark for natural armor ($6,500 per piece), Stoneheart Resin that hardened into a rock-like shell ($30,000 per unit), Abyss Amber boosting mana resistance ($26,800 per shard), and Vital Moss for mild regeneration ($19,000 per piece).

In Aurora, an aurora dollar was roughly equivalent to a silver coin in the Lionheart Kingdom, and a hundred silver coins made up a gold coin. All the negotiations with Mage Lian had been conducted in gold coins—but even when measured in silver, the prices were a far cry from what these materials fetched in Aurora itself.

Not that Michael minded. He had money—millions, in fact—and money was meant to be spent, especially when it involved strengthening himself.

The negotiation itself took the better part of two hours. Mage Lian was precise and meticulous in listing out each batch of material, the quantity available, and the individual rates.

For Shadowweave Fungus, Michael took five pieces. Ghostroot Resin he secured at a fair rate—four grams of the purest grade. Dusksilk Threads he ordered six strands, and Hollowcore Shell he bought two, mindful of their rarity.

The illusion materials for Blue and Purple—Mirror Lotus Petals, Glimmer Quartz, and Mindveil Sap—he accepted in smaller quantities, enough to guarantee future enhancements but not so much as to exhaust his funds entirely.

The largest share of the purchase was for Lily and Beginning. Dozens of pieces of Ironleaf Bark, several units of Stoneheart Resin, and multiple shards of Abyss Amber would be required to reinforce two giant undead shells. Vital Moss, too, he took in ample supply.

Alongside these carefully selected materials, Michael also took the chance to acquire several other supplies from the kingdom’s available inventories. He didn’t bother scrutinizing every last detail—he simply reviewed the compiled lists Mage Lian’s people had prepared and ordered whatever additional resources he could reasonably afford.

By the time he finished, the scribes had added a secondary ledger of purchases to his record, not nearly as costly as the first but still significant enough to make most aristocrats pale.

By the time Mage Lian’s scribes had tallied everything up—each rare component counted, weighed, and noted in duplicate ledgers—Michael was unsurprised to see the total cresting into six digits.

One hundred and twenty-four thousand gold coins.

A hundred and twenty-four golden papers.

Not quite enough to be ruinous—especially not after the fortune he’d earned at the auction—but enough to make any ordinary noble blanch.

Mage Lian, for his part, didn’t look particularly concerned or shocked. He merely inclined his head with professional calm.