Unable to repay my student loans, I had no choice but to work part-time as a demon hunter.

After visiting Ningning, Gordon mounted his wrath and prepared to go find Charlotte.

Luanna's ball is coming soon, Gordon should study how to dance.

He had no concept of dancing; the only thing that excited him was the thought of being able to hold Charlotte in his arms in a reasonable way.

Charlotte Monford, what a lovely, reassuring face.

Gordon felt very happy every time he thought of her. The name itself supported him and made him feel that becoming stronger, making money and eliminating bad guys were meaningful, at least it could give him and Charlotte a bright future.

It was evening in Lundenim, the sky was overcast, and the sun was setting. Lamplighters walked along the street, constantly extending torches into the gas streetlights. With the lights on, the buildings looked exceptionally exquisite and elegant.

Gordon couldn't help but think of the bottle of St. Mark's red wine that Anthony had opened.

One bottle costs 88 gold pounds.

The sip he took was probably equivalent to several weeks' wages for an average person, and Anthony drank it down without the slightest hesitation.

Gordon's net worth is now close to 600 gold pounds, which is not poor, but he still can't afford this kind of enjoyment.

Money matters.

He thought of the prototype of the Thunder Spear on the draft, which Ningning had already perfected.

From an engineering perspective, greater perfection also means greater cost.

In order to create such a source material, he prepared rare minerals such as adamantite and mithril.

According to Gordon's limited understanding, one kilogram of adamantite costs 200 gold pounds, and to forge a decent weapon, several kilograms would likely be needed. It would also require corresponding mithril wires, insulation materials…

500 gold pounds can only build a simple prototype, fire one shot, and unleash a lightning strike.

If you're lucky, it works; if you're unlucky, it'll electrocute Gordon himself first.

With 5000 gold pounds, Gordon could etch all the ingenious symbols Ningning had drawn into the spear, using the best carriers and materials to make the spear tough enough.

In this way, Gordon can put even larger cores into it in the future, making the Thunder Spear a growing item rather than a disposable toy.

Money is needed everywhere...

"Make money, of course." Gordon patted his fist in fury.

"?" He was furious and had no interest in money.

It is an uncastrated horse, and it has its eye on a beautiful mare by the roadside, glancing at her frequently.

"Never mind that, the Monford house is up ahead, and my feelings are more important than yours." Gordon spurred his horse.

"..." He snorted angrily, clearly questioning the situation.

:

"I know Charlotte's name, do you know its name?"

"..." He shook his head angrily, forgot about the beautiful mare, and continued on his way.

When it comes to making money, the closest thing to money for Gordon right now is Blackwater Syndrome.

There are at least fifty or sixty thousand people suffering from this disease in Lundnium. If what Anthony said is true, there are also a large number of half-fish sailors lying in the naval hospital. The Royal Shipyard and the naval anchorage have not been spared either.

The demand is objectively real; if fifty or sixty thousand people can be cured, gold pounds will only be an added bonus to this great feat.

If Gordon develops a truly effective treatment, he can make a fortune as start-up capital for his future business.

Later, he came up with many interesting inventions. Cars, airplanes... they are all closely related to changing people's lifestyles.

Gordon wanted to promote productivity.

The world is just one step away from the electrical age. Considering that the matter of the traces will induce the birth of the source matter, engaging in scientific research and invention will not only be profitable, but will also bring new power to Gordon.

Of course, he also needs laboratories and factories, and a bunch of smart people willing to follow his lead, all of which are very expensive. After all, if they can accurately understand Gordon's ideas, they generally know how much salary they should be paid.

Enraged, he arrived at the Montfort's doorstep.

Gordon saw the twilight passing over the beautiful rooftops, and golden lights shining through the windows of each floor. The doorman, who could see Gordon from afar, had already walked over quickly, first bowing, and then opening the door.

……

We arrived at the small living room of the Monford family's house.

Charlotte and Cecilia are here, sharing a box of delicious chocolates.

"Look who this is." Cecilia leaned back on the sofa.

"Gordon Vick," Charlotte glanced at him, "have some."

"Baby!" Gordon admired Charlotte closely, leaning forward to swallow the chocolate Charlotte offered, love and sweetness entering his body simultaneously.

She wore a beautiful light blue dress with small white flowers embroidered on the neckline and sleeve edges, a corset, and her golden hair fell naturally, still looking charming and lovely.

His gaze shifted downwards, and Gordon quickly spotted a pair of exquisite white ballet shoes, with white stockings covering the legs, extending all the way to places out of his sight.

"Don't look around, come here." Charlotte reached out to Gordon. "Cecilia said you really want to go dancing with me properly."

"I've never danced before, so I'm not really sure if I'd be interested."

"Just a reminder, the part of a dancer that usually needs the most study is their feet."

"I'm here." Gordon squeezed Charlotte's little hand.

:

Her hands were cool and soft, giving a very cute feeling. You couldn't bear to put them down once you held them.

Charlotte raised her chin with a touch of pride; she liked people who knew how to appreciate.

"Put your hands on my waist first."

"How low would it have to be to be considered indecent?"

"Put it up first, then we'll talk."

Gordon placed his hand on Charlotte's waist.

The touch was wonderful; even through the soft fabric, he could clearly feel Charlotte's body temperature.

A young girl's slender waist is undoubtedly the most precious treasure in the world, and Gordon is honored to have had the opportunity to experience it.

"Backwards, backwards," Charlotte pointed out that Gordon's movements were problematic.

Gordon did as instructed.

"Not down, not that way, hey, Gordon!" Charlotte blushed and quickly grabbed Gordon's wrist, personally correcting his hand to the right place to prevent him from turning the dance into another human exploration.

Once Gordon was secure in his arms, Charlotte placed her left hand on Gordon's shoulder and intertwined her right hand with his.

The distance between the two shortened considerably, and Gordon gazed lovingly into Charlotte's eyes.

She was used to seeing Gordon's thoughtful or mercenary gaze, and suddenly seeing him so serious made her feel a little uncomfortable.

"You probably know why we dance, right?" Charlotte asked in a low voice.

"I'll hug you."

"It's for socializing."

"We're already dating."

"So you should learn from me. You should walk behind me, one in front and one behind, one up and one down. Otherwise, when we get to Luanna's ball, everyone else will be so elegant, while we'll just be hugging each other and not moving at all."

"Isn't that better?"

"Alright, alright." Cecilia clapped her hands twice, and the violinist at the other end of the hall began to play, and soothing music began to play.

Charlotte demonstrated the steps; she took a step forward, and Gordon followed by a step back. She touched the ground with her toes, and Gordon would spin with her.

The two people pull at each other, yet never separate; perhaps this is the true meaning of dance.

He and Charlotte were sometimes close, sometimes spinning and sometimes separating, with constant physical contact between them.

At first there were some bumps and bruises, but Gordon exerted a little force and anticipated Charlotte's intentions in advance, which greatly improved the accuracy of his movements.

:

He could predict where Charlotte would move next and when she would turn, so he could always react in advance and his hand never left Charlotte's back.

Whenever Charlotte leaned back, Gordon would catch her with his arms, his gaze sweeping over her cheeks, neck, and chest in a dreamlike way, while she would close her eyes and entrust all her weight to him with the utmost trust.

The two of them developed a better understanding of each other.

Then, Gordon no longer needed to care about the music and rhythm. He only needed to focus his attention entirely on Charlotte, feeling when she rose and fell, sensing her breath and heartbeat... and he could naturally keep up and dance very well.

Charlotte could also sense this compatibility. Sometimes, just as she was about to turn around, Gordon would already be there to create some distance between them. Eventually, she simply stopped guiding him and let herself and Gordon immerse themselves in the beautiful music and smooth dance steps.

It's perfect.

As the song ended, Charlotte remained leaning back, her hands tightly clasped with Gordon's, her body nestled in his arms. The two of them pressed together, gazing at each other for a long while, neither wanting it to end so soon.

Cecilia was mesmerized.

Gordon had gotten the hang of it. For the 20 years before entering this room, he had no idea what dancing was, but in just half an hour, he could coordinate perfectly with Charlotte.

She admired this romantic dance, where the two of them were completely enjoying each other's company.

"No normal person could learn this fast. It's like he knows exactly how you're going to jump." Cecilia clapped her hands gently.

"Gordon is very smart." Charlotte regained her balance, stood up straight, and looked proud.

"Yes, of course, it's also because you taught her so well." Gordon pulled Charlotte into his arms and kissed her cheek.

She turned her head, and her soft lips met Gordon's.

Cecilia popped a piece of chocolate into her mouth, which, according to the FitzRoys, meant things were getting into deep water.

"Do you...like dancing now?" After the passionate kiss, Charlotte looked silently at Gordon.

"I don't like it." Gordon stroked Charlotte's face with one hand. "But I like holding you, I like looking at you, I like us enjoying the moment together with the music... As for dancing, it's just a reason for all of this to happen."

"One more time?"

"Can."

"Why don't you take a break and try some chocolate?" Cecilia stopped them in time.

Charlotte blushed and her heart raced just from dancing, and Gordon started touching her inappropriately.

If she jumps again, I wonder if they will continue to act recklessly in front of her.

After a while, the maids served high-quality black tea. Charlotte held the tray in one hand and picked up the cup with the other, gently blowing on it to cool it down.

"So, what exactly is Luanna's ball like?" Gordon was very interested in this.

"I've never been there. Luanna likes to surprise and frighten people." Charlotte knew nothing about this.

:

“My brother goes every time. It’s less of a ball and more like a small trade fair. Luanna invites a wide circle of celebrities, but only invites a few people she’s really interested in to talk in a private room,” Cecilia explained.

"A locked room sounds dangerous."

"Some people come downstairs adorned with jewels, only to come back upstairs penniless," Cecilia explained. "Some people enter the ball as nobodys, only to receive a huge investment the next day that could change their lives. That's why some people call Luanna's ball an invitation to change your destiny."

An invitation to change your destiny...

Gordon assessed his resources and pondered what could possibly tempt Luanna.

At the very least, he also has a small source material called "Blind River's Peep," which is a valuable sensory source material.

Gordon felt that the small-sized source material "Burning Water" was somewhat violent and might be more suitable for making special steam engines.

In addition, he can provide appraisal services or guide his family members in potion making.

Ordinary alchemists still very much hope to be guided by Crimson Alchemists.

……

On the day of Luanna's ball.

After dealing with some trivial matters, Gordon wrote to Professor Winslow to confirm the progress and discuss the Hound of the Seas, while also strengthening security for Ningning.

In addition, Eve sent him a note asking him to meet her as soon as possible, and Gordon promised to come see her after the ball.

Luanna is incredibly wealthy; Gordon can see what he can get in exchange for his possessions.

Rare materials and inferential source materials are both very important to him.

In the evening, Gordon and Charlotte arrived at Ravenhurst's mansion together.

Located near Lundnim, this mansion doesn't resemble the old-fashioned buildings of Lundnim. Its square exterior and even the glass curtain wall surrounding the roof terrace are closer to Gordon's understanding of a modern villa.

The carriage passed through the woods, and by then the mansion was already full of carriages and people chatting happily at the gate. They were all nobles, officers, and prominent figures from Lundnium.

"Let's go, Gordon." Charlotte led Gordon out of the car.

She wore a light gold dress and a pearl hair accessory, while Gordon wore the black dress she had chosen herself.

The two men took a deep breath in front of the brightly lit Ravenhurst mansion and exchanged a glance.

"This dress is beautiful," Gordon couldn't help but say.

"Are there only clothes?"

"There are no suitable words in the world to describe you tonight. Perhaps this world has been born and gone through so many things just to create such a perfect you tonight..." Gordon stroked Charlotte's hair.

"It was also to create you." Charlotte poked Gordon's chest.

:

They arrived at the entrance, where there was only a beautiful woman with brown skin and black hair, wearing only two gold chains and covered in fragrant essential oils. She bowed to greet them and then distributed noodles to them.

[The Party Mask. It lets you indulge yourself without anyone caring who you are.]

Gordon took off his sunglasses and put on a mask.

Its material is silk, and it is itself a spiritual creation, which does indeed conceal its aura.

He turned to Charlotte, whose face was shrouded in a thin mist that appeared from a distance after she put on her mask.

"Come closer." Gordon reached out his hand.

"That's probably what this thing does," Charlotte said, gently holding it. "It lets dance partners get close enough to each other."

: