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

next morning.

Because it was summer, the two of them kicked the blankets onto the floor afterwards.

Her shoulders still looked strong, with faint red marks left by Gordon.

Eve's theories were so effective that Vera can't even get up now.

Gordon and Vera lay together, her vest and trousers lying carelessly on the floor, a faint fishy smell still lingering in the air.

The morning light casts a translucent grayish-white glow on the curtains, which billow slightly in the morning breeze. The city is awakening, and the sound of horses' hooves can be heard from afar, passing through the streets and then speeding away.

Gordon enjoyed the hard-won peace, lying down next to Vera.

What a blissful thing it is to have a tall, strong, and beautiful woman with a perfect figure and a straightforward personality, who lets Gao Deng take whatever he wants and gives him everything she can.

Just thinking about this made him feel not only lucky, but also happy, and he really wanted to live every day like this from now on.

However, Gordon also has a problem.

Because Vera wasn't good at expressing her thoughts, Gordon didn't know exactly what she wanted.

Charlotte would want an engagement and commitment, while Eve would pragmatically want Gordon as an anchor.

And what does Vera want?

She had a faint scent that was quite different from the others.

Charlotte would wear a very distinctive hazelnut perfume, while Eve always carried a warm, fragrant scent.

But Vera never uses perfume.

Therefore, there is only a slight, affordable soap scent when you first wash, which turns into a faint sweat and body odor as you move around and the soap evaporates overnight.

Although Vera herself did not ask for it, Gordon felt she deserved more and better things.

She gave her youth, body and soul, and herself to Gordon without reservation, but all she kept for herself were the cheapest things, just enough to survive.

Therefore, Gordon was determined to create a happy future for her; otherwise, how could he live up to Vera's sincere feelings?

"Ugh..." Vera, exhausted after a night's sleep, stretched out her body without any warning. Her legs were still sore, and she opened her eyes groggily.

"Good morning." Gordon kissed Vera.

"..." Vera hugged Gordon tightly, curling her body slightly, as if she wanted to melt Gordon.

"Vera, what do you want? What do you like?" Gordon stroked Vera's hair. "This time, you're not allowed to answer 'anything'."

"As long as you're here, that's enough." Vera's tone was vague, but incredibly intimate.

:

"This answer is not acceptable. I want to hear what you want."

She vaguely recalled what Gordon had told her last night and sighed again.

Vera's feelings didn't need rings or ceremonies to confirm them, nor did they need a large crowd of strangers to watch. For her, being together was the greatest happiness.

"Are you bringing this up because of Charlotte? I won't ask you for any kind of ritual like she does."

She habitually refused to make any demands of Gordon, as if she felt unworthy of anything.

"What about beyond that?"

"There's no such thing as 'outside of that.'" Vera's thoughts gradually became clearer. She placed a hand on her forehead. "Charlotte is a good woman. You promised her, so you have to be serious about marrying her. We are all good people. In this terrible world, good people should stay close. This world just tortures good people to death."

"Is Eve a good person?"

"I'll consider her. But Charlotte is really good. The rent at 9 Knight Road is expensive, and she's been a great help. The house is nice, and I feel very safe living here."

Gordon then heard what Vera cared about, something small and specific: 9 Knight Road.

The house rents for 90 gold pounds a year, and Charlotte rented it through a real estate agent.

The landlord is actually a wealthy person who runs a hotel, whom they haven't met yet.

Gordon could sense that Vera seemed to have a subtle unease about the matter.

She always considered 9 Knight Road her most important residence, but the world did not recognize it as her home.

"Shall we buy it?"

"Buy it." Vera felt much better, but also uneasy. "Renting is the same; there's no need to spend so much money. You have so many things to do, and you'll need a lot of money."

"No, if the landlord dies someday, the property rights might change. Only if we actually buy it can this place truly be our home, where no one can control us, and I'll definitely become rich." Gordon patted Vera's shoulder.

Based on market prices, a townhouse similar to 9 Knightsway would cost between 1000 and 1500 gold pounds.

Once Gordon has several thousand pounds in cash on hand, he can buy it all at once.

Upon hearing Gordon's words, Vera finally stopped saying "whatever" or letting out a "whoa".

She doesn't need Gordon to promise any grand castles or elaborate weddings; just turning their current house into a home would be enough.

"Then let's buy it." Vera climbed on top of Gordon and pinned him down.

She still confirmed this in the most familiar way: she loved him, believed him, was willing to support his decisions, and believed that he would also think of her.

Gordon kissed her neck and stroked her back.

He liked Vera the way she was and hoped her illness would be completely cured. So no matter what happened, no matter how much thought and resources it took, Gordon wanted to investigate the Wild Hunt's banquet.

:

……

When they came downstairs, Eve was already carrying her suitcase and ready to leave.

"Good morning." She was still wearing a tight-fitting outfit that allowed her to move around easily, with a lantern hanging from her waist.

She has already sent out the research materials, and even if she leaves Lernim, the work will continue as she envisions.

Gordon observed for a moment.

If Eve needs to spend time reading or doing research, she usually wears elaborate, beautiful, but cumbersome long dresses. Once she puts on tight leather armor and trousers, it means she's prepared to face danger.

Before meeting Gordon, Eve was a loner, and everyone assumed she was smart and could take care of herself.

But this is, after all, a world fraught with danger.

"That's too dangerous, senior," Gordon said bluntly. "At least tell me where you're going."

"Secrets are the best policy. If everyone laid out their plans, we wouldn't need to devise so many methods of secrecy and discreetness. Trust me, some things are better left unsaid for me," Eve said casually.

"Novel Website" Hand-typed Update

"Take this with you." Vera brought down 15 pounds of beef jerky from upstairs, wrapped in oil paper. "I made it myself. You have to come back alive."

[Dehydrated beef hind leg. Residual smoke marks and excessive salt content; blunt force damage 16.]

Eve reluctantly accepted the heavy beef jerky.

She already knew that Vera valued food very much.

Judging from what she heard downstairs last night, Vera really enjoyed it.

So this is probably some kind of thank-you gift? Eve wasn't sure.

"Well then, I will carry out my research activities, and you will carry out your research project. Farewell." Eve greeted Gordon, her face still bearing a mysterious smile.

Gordon stepped forward and gave Eve a tight hug.

Her enormous bust nearly ripped the leather armor from the inside, and now the astonishing weight was pressing firmly on Gordon's chest, quickly overflowing and deforming to the sides, and bulging out after a few seconds.

His face was close to Eve's, his arms wrapped tightly around her back. The embrace was large and formal, and unexpected, eliciting a soft gasp from her.

"!"

She paused for a moment, then reached out and hugged Gordon.

"Are you worried I won't be able to come back? You... idiot junior."

"You mentioned a very strange theory yesterday, saying that the path to ascension requires genuine emotions as an anchor point. Now I'll give it to you."

:

"I don't need anyone to worry about me."

"No, of course we'll be worried about you. If you go missing, as the youngest investigator in the Logris Empire, I swear I'll open a case and get to the bottom of it."

Eve thought about it for a while, but couldn't find a reason to refuse to care.

She had always been used to being alone, but now, she no longer felt like a moth drawn to a flame or a reed swaying in the wind; the feeling of being neglected or isolated had disappeared.

"Yes, I'll be back." Eve released Gordon.

Both of them took a step back.

She thought for a moment, then took out another folded piece of paper and handed it to Gordon.

"Make good use of Ningning. Whether it's cultivation or anything else, you can set up your own cultivation room with water-phase spiritual crystals. In her singing, on the waves of the sea, and nourished by the water-phase crystals, you will enter a deeper meditation than that day. The methods are all on this piece of paper."

"Very good, very good." Gordon unfolded the paper, which contained inscriptions, drawings, symbols, and clues. Every line seemed to be paving the way for Gordon's future.

“There’s one more thing,” Eve paused, then continued, “The shoemaker said he heard a strange song in the countryside, and he might also have a clue about another mermaid.”

"I don't have anything else to exchange with Johnny for the time being." Gordon had just finished Luanna's ball, and most of the intelligence he carried was classified. "But I do have the resources of the Empire behind me, so I'll start by investigating from the public eye."

"Yes, this is the path you excel at. Hmm... you'll get closer to the truth sooner or later, I believe in you."

"Thanks."

"Then give me two gold pounds to buy a horse, the public horse you mentioned last time."

"Sigh, tender moments are always interrupted by the smell of gold." Gordon paid the bill. "Looks like my biggest help so far has been to make your escape faster."

"It's already very meaningful." Eve took a deep breath and walked outside.

"Remember to ask the horse dealer for a proper invoice, specifying that it's a government purchase from a high-level company, so I can use it to offset taxes at the city hall."

"understood."

Take care.

Gordon and Vera stood inside the door, watching Eve walk away with the beef jerky and suitcase.

"Oh." Vera then realized that she actually had a slight hope that Eve would stay. "What's next?"

"Phew..." Gordon took a deep breath and turned his attention back to his actual work. "I should go see if the research workers are working hard for Uncle Vic."

……

Gordon is now very concerned about whether the Blackwater antidote has entered the practical application stage.

Since he made the suggestion that day, Professor Winslow, John Seymour, and more than 20 undergraduates and researchers have been working on it.

:

He firmly guarded this tangible benefit, and as soon as it proved to be true, Gordon quickly applied for a patent to prevent his work from being stolen by someone of unknown origin.

Therefore, Gordon and Vera took a short train journey to Herfordshire.

During the summer vacation when there were no classes, Professor Winslow lived at Grey Oak Estate, which was located on a small hill. It looked serious and grand, with three stories high, beautiful brick chimneys, walls covered with spectacular ivy, and a fountain in the courtyard that made a gurgling sound.

The building was clearly full of people. The main building's doors were wide open, and senior students in uniforms could be seen coming and going, carrying all sorts of experimental materials. Some patients were sunbathing in the garden, with people squatting next to them taking notes.

Many senior students couldn't find good jobs after graduation, so Professor Winslow hired them as research assistants so they wouldn't have to explain why they couldn't find work after four years of study.

Gordon was immediately satisfied when he saw that they had dark circles under their eyes, were unsteady on their feet, and looked like they were about to die.

It seems everyone is working very hard.

After passing through the gate, the housekeeper went to announce her arrival.

Winslow walked in through the door, saw Gordon, and his eyes lit up with surprise.

"Gordon Vick has finally decided to come see me." He nodded to Gordon and Vera.

"Good day, Professor." Gordon greeted him. "It looks like there are a lot of patients here. I'll go and see them, and work for their well-being."

"What you're thinking about is whether the drug is effective for the patient, and whether you can make a large enough profit from it?" Winslow looked at Gordon.

"You understand me best."

"Both are bad news, at the moment." Winslow led Gordon upstairs to his study, past a group of students who kept bowing to them. "The special medicine has just been prepared, and it's only one step away from clinical trials on real people. The entire treatment itself is also very complex, and you must check it yourself."

"Then we applied for a patent!"

"Yes, of course... patents. Patents are one of the most important inventions in the world. It's hard to imagine how much people's motivation to innovate would be reduced without patent laws." Winslow walked up the luxurious wooden staircase and patted the carved pillar capitals on the railing. "It was through those patent royalties that I won this house."

Gordon immediately took another look at Professor Winslow's mansion; clearly, knowledge really does become a big house when it's monetized.

"When we get rich, we'll live in a place this big too," Gordon nodded vigorously to Vera.

Vera looked around.

Winslow's house was indeed very big and beautiful; she didn't even know how to live in such a large house.

With so many rooms, it's like a maze; cleaning and maintenance must be very troublesome.

The more grand the place, the more she liked No. 9 Knight Road.

Entering Winslow's study, invisible dust motes swirl gently in the sunlight streaming through the window. Huge bookshelves line the walls, reaching to the ceiling, filled with voluminous works. On the other side, a memorial cabinet displays Winslow's collection.

[The professor's collection cabinet. The items inside are not worth your automatic pickup at the moment.]

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