Chapter 235: Advance

Seeing that it was late, Lu Mian planned to study Aurora's witchcraft notes until midnight, then go find Franca tomorrow morning to ask if "Harvest Festival" had been sold, and ask her to help keep an eye on auxiliary materials like Fire Salamander blood and Magma Bright Stone powder.

*Uh*, Franca is a person who sleeps late and gets up late. If I go find her now, she must still be awake. Tomorrow morning before 11 o'clock, she will mostly be sleeping... With a turn of thought, Lu Mian changed his mind, packed up the wooden table, got up, and left the Golden Rooster Hotel.

3 White Coat Street, apartment 601.

After Lu Mian knocked a few times, he saw Franca, who had her flaxen hair loose and was wearing a lake-blue silk nightgown, open the door.

"What's the matter this time?" This "Witch" asked with a smile while making way.

Lu Mian didn't answer immediately and looked around:

"Jenna isn't here?"

Franca couldn't help but put away her smile:

"Are you here to find her? She doesn't need to sing tonight and went home long ago."

Lu Mian nodded:

"That's good, so you won't make me climb the outer wall to leave again."

"..." Franca's mouth twitched, "So you came to mock me?"

After a simple prank, Lu Mian sat on the gray long sofa.

Just as he was about to speak, Franca, who had curled up in the armchair, causing the hem of her nightgown to slide up significantly, laughed "tsk tsk":

"You actually weren't in the Market District this afternoon and didn't see the good show.

"The police carried out a sweep of all places involving gangs. Brignais, Simon, Christopher, and Black were all taken to the Police Headquarters and were almost handled as typical cases by official Beyonders. Fortunately, Gardner found the newly elected Hugues Artois and had him pressure the two major churches and the Police Headquarters, throwing out a few scapegoats, which calmed things down."

Hugues Artois really has a connection with the boss... Lu Mian laughed:

"You weren't arrested?"

"I didn't go to those places today. I played 'Fight Evil' with Jenna and my head dancer for the whole afternoon. Why would I be arrested? So, being a bit lazy is not bad. My favorite saying is, lazy people have lazy people's blessings." Franca responded amusingly.

"Never heard of it." Lu Mian asked casually, "Where is the saying from?"

"I made it up." Franca answered indifferently.

Lu Mian pondered Franca's description just now and asked back to verify his guess:

"Was it Jenna's suggestion to not go out in the afternoon and play cards in the room?"

"How did you know?" Franca was quite surprised.

She looked Lu Mian up and down, her gaze becoming suspicious:

It wouldn't be that Jenna told him herself, right? They have had so much communication in private?

Lu Mian didn't hide it and said frankly:

"Charlie came to find me today. Jenna happened to be there. I learned from him that the official Beyonders would join the Police Headquarters to do a big sweep of the Market District gangs this afternoon.

"I told Jenna to keep it secret so as not to affect Charlie. It seems she really kept her promise, just dragging you into the apartment in her own way."

"No wonder you weren't there this afternoon." Franca suddenly realized.

She then felt a bit smug:

"Jenna is still on my side!"

After sighing with satisfaction, Franca asked vigilantly:

"Why did Jenna go find you?"

"'Black Scorpion' Luo Jie was killed. She felt that I, who am always at odds with the Poisonspur Gang, was very suspicious." Lu Mian smiled.

Franca said half-relieved and half-amused:

"This matter was actually blamed on the 'Aurora Order.'

"Since I came to Triers, every once in a while, I would see news in the newspaper that something happened in a certain area and the terrorist organization 'Aurora Order' claimed responsibility. I didn't expect that we would finally enjoy such treatment. The subsequent investigation was immediately led astray, and no one suspected us."

This matter should indeed be the responsibility of the "Aurora Order"... After Lu Mian mocked a few words with Franca, he pulled the topic back to the right track:

"I took the opportunity to attend a mystical gathering this afternoon and got the 'Pyromaniac' potion formula, and also had clues to the corresponding main materials."

"Good luck." Franca's eyes widened slightly, "If it weren't in Intis, I would doubt if you were lying to me. It is only in Intis that the 'Pyromaniac' potion formula is so common and easy to encounter."

Lu Mian made a request:

"Help me keep an eye on Fire Salamander blood, Magma Bright Stone powder, and Red Crown Balsam. They are auxiliary materials."

He didn't mention Holy Star Lily because it was relatively common, and larger flower shops all had it.

"No problem." Franca asked in detail about the amount of each material and finally said, "Is your money still enough? I mean the money to buy the main materials for the potion."

In her view, the "Pyromaniac" potion formula should have already emptied Lu Mian's savings.

Lu Mian took the opportunity to say:

"I was just about to ask if 'Harvest Festival' has been sold."

"How could it be so fast? It's only been one day! I haven't even had time to attend any mystical gatherings." Franca paused, "If you are in a hurry to use money, I can lend you some. Anyway, I don't need to consider the next potion for a while."

"Not in a hurry." Lu Mian thought for a while.

His auxiliary materials hadn't been collected yet.

Franca estimated:

"According to my experience, the negative effects of 'Harvest Festival' are hard to avoid, so it can't be sold for too much, between 10,000 and 12,000 Vergold.

"When you need money, I can give you 6,000 Vergold directly, just consider it me buying out 'Harvest Festival.' In addition, I can lend you 20,000 to 30,000 Vergold, but you need to pay me back within three months."

"Okay." Lu Mian didn't be polite and agreed.

He then took out the "Fallen Mercury" and said to Franca: "I also need to find someone who can repair Beyonder weapons."

Franca examined the short dagger with its layered evil patterns and asked suspiciously:

"What value is there in repairing a Beyonder weapon? Anyway, the energy will be exhausted."

"It's too useful. Being able to use it for a while longer is a while longer." Lu Mian of course couldn't say he had a way to replenish energy for "Fallen Mercury."

Of course, that must wait until he himself reaches the Sequence 6 level and can better withstand the influence of pollution, otherwise that guy Termiboros would likely take the opportunity to cause some trouble.

"That's true." Franca was impressed by the performance of "Fallen Mercury" in the battle to kill "Black Scorpion" Luo Jie, "I will help you ask, but such a Beyonder weapon suspected of being polluted shouldn't have any 'Artisan' who would take it, fearing it would bring bad influence to themselves."

"Artisan"... A Beyonder who can repair magical artifacts and Beyonder weapons? After Lu Mian exchanged a few more words with Franca, he left room 601, returned to Market Avenue, and entered the Breeze Dance Hall.

Although it was close to midnight, it was still quite lively here. Lu Mian entered the financial office in the second-floor corridor and asked the accountant and cashier on the night shift while opening the safe there:

"How much cash is there now?"

The accountant was a lady in her thirties, wearing glasses, very scholarly.

She said with some trepidation:

"About 28,000 Vergold, and some change."

At this time, Lu Mian had already opened the safe door, saw the stacks of banknotes, and saw the gold coins flashing with golden light.

He calculated and said calmly:

"Give me 12,000 Vergold."

"Ah?" The accountant and cashier made fearful sounds at the same time.

Although Mr. Charles was the protector of the Breeze Dance Hall, he couldn't take away so much cash at once!

The accountant lady gave the younger cashier lady a look, let her find the dance hall manager Rene in the office next door.

This operator designated by Gardner Martin looked at the safe and said:

"Mr. Charles, why do you want to withdraw 12,000 Vergold?"

"Personal expenses." Lu Mian responded flatly.

Rene pondered for a few seconds:

"No problem.

"In the previous two years, Baron Brignais took 40,000 to 50,000 Vergold in cash from the dance hall every year, but during the handover before, he took away the 15,000 Vergold that originally belonged to the first half of the year, and now it's not the second half yet. Mr. Charles, how about this 12,000 Vergold be considered an advance?"

"Okay." Lu Mian didn't care what name was used, he just wanted this 12,000 Vergold!

After putting those banknotes into a cloth bag, Lu Mian exhaled silently.

The 30,000 Vergold to buy the "Pyromaniac" Beyonder characteristic was almost raised, just waiting for news of the auxiliary materials!

—He now had a total of 26,710 Vergold, and "Harvest Festival" could also be worth 6,000.

After leaving the Breeze Dance Hall, Lu Mian, carrying a large amount of cash, suddenly felt a bit uneasy.

He wasn't afraid of being robbed, but worried about a conflict, breaking the money bag, and shattering the banknotes.

Must put it in a safe place, can't carry it like this... Lu Mian walked along Market Avenue, planning to turn to the safe house rented on White Coat Street.

Not long after, he saw the brightly lit Market District Member of Parliament's office.

This was a classic-style earthy yellow four-story building with a statue on each of the top two floors, which were "Sun Bird" and "Giant Gear."

The celebration banquet hasn't ended yet... Lu Mian shook his head with disdain.

He thought for a while, sat in the shadow across the street, and observed the guests leaving the banquet hall.

Being able to get support from both the Savard Party and the Poisonspur Gang and receiving praise from "Miss Moon," Hugues Artois was definitely not simple. The guests he invited might include some "problematic people" related to the "Iron and Blood Cross Order's" plot.

Time passed second by second, and more and more guests left the Member of Parliament's office. Lu Mian didn't find any suspicious people and could only determine that most belonged to the upper class, all dressed well, and many faces had appeared in newspapers big or small.

Suddenly, he saw a familiar figure.

It was Gardner Martin, the leader of the Savard Party, who had a friendly temperament, fleshy cheeks, a few silver hairs on his black sideburns, and brown-red eyes!

Gardner Martin, the leader of the Savard Party!

Gardner, wearing a tailcoat and a dark tie, seemed to notice something and suddenly turned his head, looking at the shadow where Lu Mian sat.

Lu Mian's heart skipped a beat involuntarily.

His thoughts turned, and he instantly made a decision, stood up, and walked toward Gardner Martin.

Gardner Martin looked at him with deep eyes, showing no emotion.

"Good evening, boss." After getting closer, Lu Mian asked in greeting with his head lowered.

Gardner Martin asked casually:

"What are you doing here?"

Lu Mian answered honestly:

"I came out of the Breeze Dance Hall and saw that the banquet at the MP's office hadn't ended yet, so I planned to see which guests Hugues Artois invited, so as not to offend people who shouldn't be offended in the future."

Gardner Martin nodded lightly and said peacefully:

"That's a good habit."

He then signaled that Lu Mian could leave, while he himself took his butler Faustino toward the private carriage that drove over.

Lu Mian's heart moved, followed, and took the initiative to say:

"Boss, I withdrew 12,000 Vergold from the dance hall today."

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 236 =====