Chapter 495

"It doesn't matter."

Iluna looked up and smiled at Xia De:

"There are no guests, but the environment in your home is actually quite good; although I don't have an evening gown, you don't have to wear formal attire either; there is no phonograph or band, but I can hum the dance music myself. Xia De, I am still very good at singing."

Saying this, she stood up, and Xia De also stood up while supporting the table.

The seventeen-year-old girl looked to be in a very good mood. She arrived in the living room one step ahead of Xia De, then spread her arms, closed her eyes, and spun around three times in place under the sunlight from the window. The hem of her skirt spread out like a flower, her figure reflected in Xia De's eyes, and her silhouette swayed on the walls, sofa, and cabinets.

She stopped, opened her eyes, and looked at Xia De. Her brown hair seemed to be sparkling in the sunlight, and there was truly light in her eyes:

"Mr. Xia De Hamilton, may I invite you to dance?"

She reached out her hand to Xia De.

"My lady, it is my honor."

Xia De smiled and bowed slightly.

The two of them danced a full dance in the sunlight, accompanied by Iluna's humming, and only then did Xia De send the slightly blushing Iluna to the street corner outside St. Deran Square, and the two walked in opposite directions.

Xia De put the three rice-grain-sized mental crystals into a paper envelope he had folded himself and went straight to Old John's Pawnshop.

Since contacting the 【Light-Guiding Ascetic Society】 and learning that Old John was also a member of the Light-Guiding Ascetic Society, this was the first time Xia De had seen him. But after meeting, the two very tacitly did not mention the Ascetic Society. After Old John teased him a few times for not seeing Xia De recently, Xia De poured the three small crystals onto the counter:

"I want to have them inlaid on a ring, Old John, can you help handle this here?"

Going to a coppersmith or blacksmith would also work, but since Old John could help Dorothy make alchemical items, making a ring should be no problem.

"You should go to a coppersmith. Let me see, oh, mental crystals? The purity is really good, were these made by Shi Nai De?"

The old man took out a tool box from under the counter, picked up one of the grains with copper-colored tweezers, pulled over a gas desk lamp, put on professional glasses with telescopic lenses, and examined these small crystals very seriously:

"Are you trying to make casting materials for mental-type sorcery? I've made similar things, and I can also help you engrave some patterns and runes on the ring to enhance the effect of these crystals. However, when do you want to get the finished product?"

This meant that Old John had agreed to take on this business.

"It would be best if I could get it by this evening."

"In such a hurry?"

The old man took off the complex lens he was wearing on his right eye, thought for a moment, and said:

"Then the price will be more expensive. 13 shillings, 3 pounds, 19 pounds, what price point do you choose?"

"What is the difference between these price points?"

"13 shillings, iron material, I will only help you inlay the three grains into the ring, you can come and get it at noon.

3 pounds, copper material, I will use alchemical craftsmanship to process the ring to maximize the effect of the crystals, you can come and get it at two in the afternoon.

19 pounds, it just so happens that a while ago I helped someone customize a helmet that can block mind-reading abilities, and there are some scraps left over... don't look at me like that, I'm not embezzling a customer's materials."

Old John hurriedly waved his hands:

"It's just that when making the helmet, some scraps of special mental-shielding alloy were left over, which is more than enough to make a small ring. This metal can block external mental power, but it is also an excellent material for conducting internal mental power. Although a crystal ring made of mental-shielding alloy won't double the power of your sorcery, it will increase casting speed, broaden the range of sorcery, enhance the ability to withstand backlash, and provide a slight improvement in sorcery effects."

After finishing, he put down the things in his hands, watched Xia De tap the table, and revealed that merchant-like expression that Xia De was very familiar with:

"If you choose to use this alloy to make the ring, I will charge you 19 pounds, but you can come and get it this evening, and I will help you handle everything. How about it? What price point do you choose?"

"Do I have a choice?"

Xia De asked rhetorically, and while the old man showed a triumphant smile, he said another word:

"Walking stick."

"Then 17 pounds and 7 shillings."

Old John stated this price almost immediately, which instead made Xia De a little suspicious:

"You wouldn't be quoting a high price first, waiting for me to bargain, and then stating the standard price, would you?"

"How could I do such a thing?"

Old John raised his head and chest slightly to deny it, and then lowered his head to get a tape measure:

"Which finger are you planning to wear it on? Let me measure the size quickly. I hope your fingers are thinner, so I can save some material, and maybe I can make a small pendant with the remaining scraps to sell to others."

"You will make a fortune one day."

"No, no, what I actually care more about is the civilization represented in the items I acquire. Gold pounds, just enough to eat is fine."

Xia De did not believe this statement from Old John at all.

After leaving the very money-savvy Old John, Xia De went to Quill Street in the University District to find Dorothy. He planned to go to the Yodel Palace with Dorothy for the banquet in the evening; after all, Miss Miss Jia Lin Na would definitely be with other royal family members, and Luweiya would be with the Prophecy Association.

Because there was an important banquet to attend in the evening, the writer lady had no intention of going out during the day today. The preparations girls have to make for a banquet are much more than Xia De's.

After the landlady downstairs let Xia De in, when Xia De climbed to the third floor, Dorothy was humming a song and choosing a headpiece in front of the copper-framed floor mirror in the living room. Next to her were several metal garment racks with wheels, on which were dresses, shirts, and other clothing.

Hearing Xia De's voice outside the door, she shouted for Xia De to push the door and come in directly.

After Xia De entered, she asked again:

"I'm planning to comb my hair into a complex hairstyle and put it up. Xia De, do you think this butterfly-style ribbon looks better, or this sky-blue hairband decorated with small red gems?"

She held the two hairbands up to her hair to compare them.

Xia De thought for a moment:

"Both look good."

The blonde girl smiled:

"You would say that, of course. Xia De, what brings you here?"

She placed the hairbands on the mirror and asked Xia De to help bring over the shoe boxes at the door.

"Are we going to Yodel Palace together tonight?"

"Oh, I invited Luweiya to set off with me. After we arrive at Silver Cross Avenue, she will go to meet up with the Prophecy Association. Xia De, you can also go with us."

"Okay, then where should I pick you up? At the apartment Luweiya rents, or here?"

"Just come here."

Dorothy said, excitedly holding up the dress supported by a hanger and comparing it in front of the floor mirror:

"I must remind you that the large pearl you are going to give as a gift should be put in a gift box."

She knew that Xia De always had the habit of stuffing jewelry and accessories directly into his pockets.

"I'll go prepare it in a while."

Xia De had thought of this himself as well.

"Also, Princess Lei Qianya asked me to tell you that she will definitely find time to meet with you tonight. If there is really no time, then use my body."

Dorothy had no other purpose in attending the banquet, so she could stay with Xia De the whole time.

"No problem, is there anything else that needs to be reminded? Although I have attended a few banquets, this is my first time at such a grand one."

"Wang Hou Diana should talk to you. Although it might just be a few words of casual conversation to express her gratitude to you, you should also think about how to respond. Didn't you say last time that she would give you a Luo De card? She might give it to you this time. Also, you and Miss Jia Lin Na..."

She was originally choosing clothes happily in front of the mirror, but when she mentioned this name, her expression changed immediately. She and Princess Lei Qianya had basically the same attitude toward Miss Miss Jia Lin Na:

"... the matter is now spreading like wildfire. Although this Duchess has never been close to men, she still has several prominent suitors in Tobeisi, so you must be careful that they don't cause trouble for you."

"Don't worry about that, I have accepted the invitation of Viscount Fu De, and I will probably be playing Luo De cards all night."

Xia De had already made his plans for tonight.

"That's good, but you still need to find time to meet a few writers and reporters from Tobeisi with me. Because of the detective stories, my career has taken a step forward. I want to bring the prototype character of the detective stories and discuss the writing details of the detective stories with those writers and reporters."

In fact, it was just mutual flattery among writers. Successful writers not only need successful works but also need recognition from their peers. Dorothy's father was a university professor with many students, and she had a great advantage in terms of peer recognition.

"No problem, I think I have time. Is there anything else that needs to be explained?"

Dorothy looked at Xia De behind her in the mirror:

"Are your clothes ready? Also, you need to tidy up your hair."

"Don't worry, I'm prepared."

Dorothy in the mirror smiled at Xia De:

"Are you going to see Miss Jia Lin Na in a while?"

"Um... yes, I have something to find her for this afternoon, regarding the 【Light】 spirit rune, there is a twelfth-tier sorcerer who can help me."

"That's very good."

She said softly, the blonde lady still kept her smile in the mirror, and Xia De didn't quite understand what she meant to express.

After staying with Dorothy for a while longer and having lunch with her, Xia De returned to No. 6 St. Deran Square.

On the way back, he also noticed some changes in the city today.

Wang Hou Diana had a very high reputation in the Delarian Kingdom. Although her birthday was not celebrated extravagantly, there could not be a national holiday, and there would not be a military parade like the King's birthday, the city still held small-scale celebrations. In open locations such as St. Deran Square, Dawn Square, and Anthem Square, there were bands and parades hired by the royal family.

It was clearly very quiet when he left in the morning, but when he returned home in the afternoon, the entrance to his house had become lively.