"Please," Manager Earl said smoothly, gesturing with both hands. As the head manager of Sector 1's Golden Chamber, his every movement carried a practiced grace. He personally guided Lia and Grey into the VIP room.
The moment the door opened, extravagance struck like a wave. Golden wallpaper shimmered with dragons coiling through clouds, their outlines drawn with pigments refined from rare cosmic ores. A massive table dominated the center, carved from Spiritwood mutated by cosmic energy—its polished surface faintly rippled with vitality.
The chairs appeared wooden at first glance, yet the subtle glow of their edges betrayed their origin. Crafted with high-grade materials fused by cosmic energy, they weren't just furniture. Sitting in one felt like sinking into a sea of warmth that quietly nourished the body.
Grey and Lia took their seats side by side, the chairs automatically adjusting to fit them perfectly. Manager Earl closed the door with a soft click, then sat opposite with a smile so wide his gold teeth glittered like treasure.
"What may I owe the pleasure of your visit today, Madam Lia?" His tone was smooth, almost reverent.
Every time Lia came to the Golden Chamber, profits skyrocketed. For Manager Earl, her visit meant more than money—it meant reputation, commission, and the kind of connections people killed for. Whenever she appeared, it was guaranteed to be a very good day.
"Oh, where are my manners." Manager Earl shook his head and snapped his fingers.
A butler in a black-and-white suit appeared almost instantly, holding a tray with a glowing jade gourd. The rich fragrance spread through the room, making the air feel lighter.
"Please, have a taste of this hundred-year-old Divine Wine infused with cosmic energy," Earl said with a proud smile. "It was brewed by a Third Rank expert of the Dao of Culinary Arts—an Essence Infusion Chef. He used the Cosmic Energy Conversion Diagram to temper it for a hundred years before refining it. This isn't something money can buy. I was lucky to be gifted this bottle by a senior of mine."
The butler poured the shimmering liquid into two crystal cups and respectfully placed them before Grey and Lia.
Grey took a sip of the wine.
His eyes widened a little, and then a mischievous grin tugged at his lips.
"Ho… not bad at all." He leaned back in his chair, swirling the cup lazily. "Rich flavor, smooth texture, a faint burn at the end that clears the head. I'd give it… eight out of ten."
Manager Earl froze, almost choking on air. Eight out of ten?! This is Divine Wine crafted by a Rank Three expert! People would sell their families for a single gourd!
Lia covered her mouth, trying not to laugh at the look on the manager's face. "Eight out of ten, really? You sound like some food critic."
Grey chuckled. "What? You don't believe me? Then let's switch cups. Maybe yours tastes different."
He reached toward her cup with a playful smirk.
Lia instantly pulled it back, her eyes narrowing in mock annoyance. "You wish. Drink your own."
Grey shrugged and leaned back again. "Can't blame me for trying. Good wine should be shared, after all."
Of course, he had never drunk a wine like this in his life, but being in such a luxurious setting, he had to act like a luxurious person!
As the saying goes, when you're in the Eastern Continent, you act like a native of the Eastern Continent!
"Still, it's not bad. I'd say this is a little better than energy potion I had last week when I almost got hit by a truck."
Lia almost choked on her own drink, glaring at him. "Energy Potion? This is hundred-year Divine Wine!"
Grey chuckled, pretending not to notice her disbelief. "Wine, juice, it's all the same in the end—goes down the throat, makes you feel good. But since it's free, I'll gladly take another glass."
Manager Earl's lips twitched violently, his golden teeth flashing. For the first time, he couldn't tell whether Grey was a genius who couldn't be fazed… or just an ignorant lunatic.
He coughed lightly and came straight to the point. "Of course. Now then, you mentioned making a purchase, correct?"
"That is correct," Lia said. "My friend here, Grey, wishes to study some techniques and evolutionary paths. He is a researcher and very interested in exploring different evolutionary paths."
"Oh!" Manager Earl's face lit up. "You've come to the right place! Here at the Sector 1 branch, we have techniques and paths unavailable in any other branch. Young Master Grey, you've made an excellent choice coming here."
"Good," Grey nodded with a confident smile. "That's exactly what I was looking for. I don't need much—just a complete copy of the Esper Evolutionary Path, a mind-and-soul tempering technique, some energy-refining techniques, and body Tempering methods. Oh, and all the immortal spells you have."
"Excellent choices for research, Young Master Grey," Manager Earl said, his face beaming. "The mind-and-body techniques are definitely filled with hidden secrets, and these evolutionary paths and techniques will help you understand them better."
This was a massive purchase!
He snapped his fingers, and the butler standing nearby immediately went into action.
"Please wait a moment," Manager Earl added politely. "We will have all the items you requested ready in just a few minutes."
At the same time, Lia looked at Grey strangely. This was even more than what he had mentioned before. And… what exactly did he want to do with all the immortal spells?
She didn't let her curiosity show, however, and remained silent.
Soon, the butler returned, accompanied by several other attendants, carrying digital scrolls and various immortal spells. One by one, they placed the items neatly in front of Grey. Without hesitation, he began examining them.
He started with the evolutionary path. The path was inscribed on a digital scroll—a device similar to a tablet, but far more secure. It was encrypted so tightly that, if an unauthorized person tried to access it, the data would instantly become corrupted.
Seeing Grey's focused eyes on the Esper Evolutionary Path, Manager Earl swiftly scanned his fingerprint. The scroll immediately unlocked, and text began appearing across its screen. Despite its small size, the scroll allowed for easy navigation, letting Grey scroll through the information efficiently.