'This young lady looks like someone from a good background but is haggling so much.' The shopkeeper looked at her weirdly and said, "How about young miss pay 150 Mana stones for this? I can't sell it below this price."
Eliana stared at the necklace on the stall with fiery eyes. However, in the end, she reluctantly shook her head.
"What are you trying to buy?" Just as she was going to leave, a voice sounded from her side.
"It's this water pearl neck-, Mm?" Unconsciously, she started answering but stopped mid-way and looked at her side.
Unknown to her, a handsome blue-haired youth had appeared by her side and was looking at the things on the stall with interest.
"It's you." She yelled and hurriedly took a few steps back.
Max was dumbfounded by her reaction and couldn't help but ask, "Am I some ghost? Why do you react like this after seeing me?"
"Oh? I-I'm sorry. I was surprised, yes surprised, to see you suddenly standing beside me out of nowhere." Eliana hurriedly gave an excuse after realizing that her reaction must have 'offended' him.
"Okay." Max nodded. He knew that reason was something else from her reaction, but it was clear that she wasn't going to tell him.
"How come, someone like you can't buy something worth only Mana stones?" He curiously asked.
Hearing his question, Eliana's face became embarrassed. "That's none of your concern." She said in anger and turned around to leave.
"How about I buy this for you?" Max suggested. He wanted to help her since she also helped him and Anna.
"Really?" Eliana suddenly stopped in her tracks and looked at him in excitement.
Max became speechless by the 180-degree change in her attitude.
"Yes." He nodded and started to take out Mana stones to pay the shopkeeper when Eliana suddenly said, "There is no need. I don't want it."
After that, she turned around to leave once again.
Max frowned and could only sigh at the fickle nature of women.
"Little friend. This young lady mustn't want to feel indebted to you." The middle-aged shopkeeper whispered with an amused expression.
"Oh?" Hearing this, Max's eyes lit up in understanding, and he quickly said, "How about I buy it now, and you can pay me later?"
Eliana stopped and considered for a while before nodding, "Okay."
Max looked at the shopkeeper with a grateful look and paid her the Mana stones.
"Mm?" After counting the Mana stones, the shopkeeper looked at him and smiled knowingly before handing him the necklace. "Here you go, young man."
Max took it and gave it to Eliana.
"Thank you!" She happily took it and put it on.
"What is it?" Max asked curiously. Given its price, it shouldn't be something of value, but she was being happy as if it was a high-graded treasure.
"Something great." She said, not explaining anything. After that, she turned around and added, "I'll pay you when I return to the academy."
Whoosh!
Before Max could say anything, she had left toward the town center. Her speed was easily comparable to his when using enhanced Mana.
Max looked at her departing figure and shook his head before leaving to look for an inn to stay the night.
"Hello, young master. Do you need a place to stay? Our inn is cheaper than the rest and gives food for free." A young boy, around 12 years old, in humble clothing, ran up to him and asked.
Max glanced at him and seemed to remember the little girl from Zexin city. "Okay. Take me there."
The boy led him to a two-floored inn which was situated beside a grand-looking three-floored one.
He could feel that boy had become nervous as they neared the inn and hurriedly led inside the smaller inn.
"Aunty. We have a guest." He called out to a woman who looked to be in her forties, standing behind the reception.
"Welcome, esteemed guest." The woman bowed and greeted.
"May I know how long you would like to stay?" She asked.
"Only tonight," Max said.
"That would cost esteemed guest five low-grade Mana stones, and food will be provided for free." She explained.
"Okay." Max nodded and paid the stones.
The woman then took out a key, gestured for Max to follow her after her, and led him to the second floor.
There were six rooms on the second floor, three on each side.
The woman walked up to one of the rooms and opened it. "Please come in."
Just as Max was about to enter the room, the doors of the room behind him opened, and a beautiful girl in a purple dress walked out. She was Eliana, who he had met a while ago.
Max reflexively glanced at her and was surprised. However, before he could say anything, the girl frowned and asked, "You followed me here?"
"Who said I followed you?" Max smiled and shook his head.
"Then how come you came to the same Inn I was staying?" She asked.
"Ask that little guy. He brought me here." Max chuckled and pointed toward the boy.
Eliana looked at the boy, who immediately tensed up and nodded.
Seeing him nod, she frowned slightly before turning toward the woman and saying, "Please bring me the food I ordered."
After that, she re-entered her room and closed the door.
Max's expression was strange. He had been trying to be nice to her since she had helped him, but she seemed to have some prejudice against him.
...
After one hour, Max was sitting crossed-legged in his room and took out the bottle of mid-tier grade two 'Foundation strengthening liquid' and drank its contents in one gulp.
The process of Mana enhancement seemed to have negatively affected his Mana core. Moreover, the enhanced Mana also put pressure on his core constantly. Therefore, he needed to strengthen it more.
The process of Mana enhancement seemed to have negatively affected his Mana core. Moreover, the enhanced Mana also put pressure on his core constantly. Therefore, he needed to strengthen it more.
