Leilin gave Kasha and Furi, the two female wizards, a tour of his Wizard Tower.
During the tour, Kasha naturally couldn't stop herself from exclaiming in awe, but Furi was much more subdued this time, barely speaking, as though she had something weighing on her mind.
"Phew… Junior Leilin, I take back what I said before — you're not just richer than me, you're richer than Senior Lucy!"
Reclining on the living room sofa without a care for the way her body was on full display, Kasha said contentedly.
"In my opinion, even Lucy's Wizard Tower isn't as luxurious as yours, Leilin! I'd wager it's one of the finest in the entire Central Continent!"
"Senior Sister! Please don't say things like that!" Leilin laughed bitterly and raised his hands in surrender.
"Is there something you came here for today?"
Seeing his master conversing with guests, Scruby brought forward tea and refreshments, then quickly withdrew, behaving like a perfectly trained attendant.
"I came specifically to thank you for looking after me in the secret realm, Junior Leilin. I originally planned to compensate you with resources, but it's clear you don't lack those at all, so I'll have to make it up to you in other ways…"
Kasha licked her lips. "How about I keep you company for a few nights? I'll let you try any position you like…"
"Mm! Let's talk about that some other time…" Leilin smiled and deflected the topic.
"Tch! Junior, you're still as boring as ever!" Kasha shook her head with regret. "As for Furi, she came here because she needs a favor — she wants to make a deal with you!"
"A deal?" Leilin was somewhat puzzled, his mind flashing back to what had happened in the trading hall before.
"Not in that sense, of course. That said, if Master Leilin is willing to sell Life Seeds, I would also be willing to pay a high price!" Furi said with a laugh, covering her lips.
"I have no such plans at the moment!" Leilin kept a straight face, discovering that talking to these female wizards was truly exhausting.
Seeming afraid of angering Leilin and ruining the impending transaction, Furi this time played by the rules and refrained from any further teasing.
"Actually, I wanted to offer a high price to purchase a certain material in your possession, Leilin…"
"What material?!" Leilin grew instantly wary.
"Bloodline Crystal!" Furi took a deep breath, looking at Leilin with eager anticipation.
"Ah, that." Understanding flickered across Leilin's eyes. Bloodline Crystals had the powerful effect of enhancing bloodline potential and even purifying one's bloodline. For a bloodline wizard like himself whose bloodline had already been refined to its absolute limit, they were of little use. But for families like Furi's, whose bloodlines were experiencing decline, they were truly priceless treasures.
"But how did you know about it?" Though the question was directed at Furi, Leilin's eyes locked straight onto Kasha.
Under Leilin's gaze, Kasha flinched slightly, then puffed up with a hint of pride. "That's right! It was me who told her. After your exchange with the professor last time, you still had some Bloodline Crystals left over, didn't you? You don't have a family backing you, so you're not in desperate need of them. On the other hand, Furi is my good friend, and the price she's willing to pay will definitely satisfy you!"
Leilin stroked his chin. When he had been aboard the Black Scale, the materials he had handed over were only a portion — he had secretly kept a few pieces in his spatial ring.
Of course, this was deliberately done for Gilbert to see. Otherwise, a student who was entirely selfless would make anyone suspicious.
As a wizard without a shred of self-interest — how could the old and cunning Grand Duke Gilbert possibly believe that?
Sure enough, everything went just as Leilin had anticipated. Although Gilbert had noticed his little trick, he didn't pursue the matter. On the contrary, he seemed somewhat more at ease.
The few things he had hidden away were beneath the other's notice.
But now it seemed — Gilbert might not care, but that didn't mean other senior wizards wouldn't. And Gilbert must have let some information slip, otherwise Kasha wouldn't have known about any of this.
"I do still have one Bloodline Crystal on hand, but you should be well aware of its value. I'd like to know what you're willing to offer in return?"
Leilin murmured thoughtfully, his fingers tapping rhythmically on the table, as though caught in an inner struggle.
In truth, he had already decided to sell the materials he had officially obtained. Otherwise, who knew how many more people would keep their eyes on these things.
This time it was Kasha and Furi, who were relatively close to him. But what if next time, the even more unhinged Milanta or Senior Lucy showed up? What would he do then?
Furi and Kasha exchanged a glance, both faces brightening with a hint of delight.
As long as he was willing to name a price, everything could be worked out. Their families had deep reserves, and there were plenty of things that could move Leilin — to say nothing of the fact that Furi had made special preparations before coming here.
"A set of Liquefaction and Crystallization Magical Arrays passed down through our family — they can increase your success rate when compressing Spiritual Power by ten percent!"
Furi's very first offer made Leilin's eyes light up.
These compression magical arrays passed down from senior wizards were, of course, incomparable to the ordinary fare found in the Ouroboros Ring's trading hall.
Moreover, the other party was also a Comorin Giant Serpent wizard, so the magical arrays they had developed would surely be far more suited to the needs of bloodline wizards.