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

Chapter 83: The celebratory drinks are ready for you.

Gordon returned to the collapsed main building.

The roof descends into the hall, the second floor embraces the first floor, and the load-bearing walls cease to bear weight.

Without his cane, Gordon had to scan the ruins by hand.

The largest object was the body of the dragon lizard demon, resembling a derailed train, with its bone crown embedded in the wall and its dark green blood emitting a foul stench.

Gordon pinched his nose and began to re-analyze the situation.

Where were you standing before? At what angle did the cane slip from your hand? How many rocks did the monster knock down? What displacements were caused by the collapsed floor?

Calculation complete.

He squatted down in the center of the hall, pried aside a few bricks, and accurately pulled out two pieces of blackthorn wood sticks.

The silver-plated cane head is intact, but the cane body is broken at one-third of its length, and the guide rail is broken in the middle.

[Blackthorn Plum Cane. Currently has two heads, one broken end, and zero utility.]

Gordon figured he'd definitely have to get Sinclair to fix it. And while he was at it, he'd have to pay back the meal they'd agreed on.

This might be an opportunity to redesign the cane, allowing for a more seamless integration of the conduits, probes, and the Divine Thread.

"This is terrible, Mr. Investigator," Shirin said, peeking out.

"No destruction, no construction. I can transform it into a promising fishing rod." Gordon waved the two broken sticks in a crossed manner, like an orchestra conductor.

Xilin nodded, seemingly understanding but not quite.

She took out her notebook and quickly sketched everything in front of her.

This is the commemoration of the victory. She drew a picture of the full moon shining silently. The investigator stood in front of the ruins with a broken cane. The corpse of the dragon lizard demon lay on the roof of the collapsed mansion, and there was also the crocodile man who stood tall, with a black sword in his chest.

"Oh, there's a sword."

"Police officer Shirin, your eyesight must be a damn 5.0."

"Should I pull it out?" she asked, eager to try.

"Give it a try, but be careful not to get scratched, or your life will end prematurely."

She walked to Krogh's body and looked at the greatsword that had pierced his heart and lungs.

Shirin gripped the sword hilt with both hands.

Gordon now realized just how enormous the black spikes that Vera wielded with such ease were.

Xilin's calves tensed, her heels pressed against the ground, her face flushed, and she desperately pulled backward.

"Do you need any help?"

"No, no need—" Shirin pulled the sword out forcefully, and it finally withdrew from her flesh little by little.

puff.

The heavy sword suddenly flew away.

She suddenly fell backward, pulling the sword out like a radish. Her arm was already weak, and her face was full of disbelief.

"We did it."

"Good boy, good boy." Gordon took the black spike and put it back on the carriage.

"Are you going back?" Gray asked, seeing that Gordon was about to leave.

"See you later," Gordon promised him. "Everyone needs time to rest. I won't skimp on the source material refining I promised you."

"Tsk. Let me know before the next operation."

"What notification?"

"I can see that you'll be busier and busier from now on." Gray walked to the ruins and the moonlight, raised his head, his white clothes fluttering. "You'll build an action team sooner or later. I can generously allow you to put Uncle Gray's name at the top."

"If I were to actually establish something, the one with the largest investment would definitely be at the top, when it comes to money—"

"I'm leaving now." Gray turned around.

"Wait, you're missing out on the most successful IPO of the next decade."

Gray walked even faster.

"Would you like a carriage ride, sir?" Shirin asked.

"The carriage is for women and the wounded." Gray removed his hat, bowed, and then disappeared from the spot.

He exchanged places with the white crows circling below the mountain. Gray landed lightly below, gave a graceful greeting to the deserted fields, and then strode into the city.

The yellow-eyed white crows cawed a few times at them, then flew away with their master, turning into white dots that gradually disappeared into the moonlight.

Shirin stared, mouth agape, as Grey vanished in a spectacular fashion.

"Mr. Investigator, was there any truth to what he just said?" Shirley turned to Gordon.

"That doesn't make sense. I guess he just gets carsick."

Vera remained unconscious. Gordon carried her to the back of a closed carriage, where a wool blanket was laid underneath and a water jug ​​was placed beside her.

The people in the manor gradually dispersed. Shirin went to catch the bad guys, and the mounted police went home to sleep.

"Shall we go?" Charlotte asked as she approached.

"One last thing." Gordon wrote dense notes on a piece of paper, clearly arranging the flesh and blood of the dragon lizard demon.

Charlotte watched from the side.

The large scales of the dragon lizard demon were completely peeled off and sold to the navy to build armored ships.

The fine scales are sorted and sealed, and then used with "emerald scales" to make scale armor.

The bone crown should be completely removed and auctioned.

Internal organs are stored at low temperatures and given priority to schools and medical institutions.

The entire tendon must be pulled out.

Teeth, eye membranes, and poison glands all need to be sorted and stored separately.

And that meat—is sold to gourmets with a fetish for eating otherworldly creatures.

Charlotte glanced at it, handed it to the servants, instructed them to carry it out carefully, then lifted her skirt, climbed into the back of the carriage, and sat down with Gordon.

The carriage finally started moving, and they left the Golden Oak Manor under the moonlight, moving further and further away from the bloodshed and ruins. The enormous corpse of the dragon lizard demon still lay in the mist, waiting to be dismembered into 1,800 pieces to contribute to the cause of humanity.

The situation was complicated, but the result was acceptable.

Gordon was filled with emotion.

He turned his head.

Inside the carriage was a kerosene lamp with a glass shade, its warm yellow light falling on Charlotte.

Underneath her travel cloak, Charlotte wore a black dress, looking breathtakingly beautiful.

A lace choker around her neck accentuated her dignified features, while the intricate pattern cinched at her chest, exuding opulence. Her flowing black dress thinned below her knees, revealing glimpses of her bare feet beneath a semi-transparent black veil, which were then covered by simple yet elegant black round-toed leather shoes.

"Has anyone passed away? I offer my condolences."

"you."

"I seem to have flesh and blood."

"These past ten days have felt like death to me," Charlotte said, resting her chin on her hand, her tone unusually melancholic.

Gordon paused for a moment, observing Charlotte's tired face, as the wheels rolled on the ground.

"So, who spread the news in Lundenim that I was killed by a carriage?" he asked, feigning nonchalance.

Cecilia asked me why I hadn't come to school, and I told her I'd been in a traffic accident while crossing the street.

"Then?"

"She was very understanding and filled in the details for me. Now everyone knows that you were hit by a coal truck, and when others tried to help you to the hospital, you waved them off, saying you couldn't afford the emergency care and asked them to put you back where you were."

"My God, that's just like me."

"Idiot, idiot, idiot—" Charlotte punched Gordon's arm.

"It won't happen again, it won't happen again. This is the last time."

"You've said 'last time' way too many times."

"There's no way around it, life is always full of surprises."

The carriage stopped at the crossroads, unsure whether to return to Lundnium.

"We won't return to the city for now; Vera needs to rest somewhere nearby. Are there any places to stay in the suburbs?"

"There's a ranch. It only raises horses and dairy cows. I go there in the fall."

"Very good, very good."

Gordon had already made up his mind. Tonight, he would move to rest and recuperate. Charlotte would return to the city to handle the news and assets, and then he would go to Martin to seal off Green Manor.

The carriage turned south, and soon, rolling meadows appeared in the night. A mare lay prone in the distance, while black and white calves huddled behind a fence, gazing blankly at the carriage.

The main house was a two-story red brick building, with ivy climbing beside the chimney. The carriage stopped.

Gordon carefully picked up Vera and slowly got out of the car.

Previously, if Vera lost consciousness, Gordon couldn't possibly move her around by himself, but now he can.

This is related to the overall improvement in physical fitness. Improved blood efficiency means that more oxygen and nutrients circulate in the body. The soreness in the muscles is quickly diluted by the new cycle of circulation, and the burden on the joints and fascia is also significantly reduced.

Charlotte opened the main door for them, and under the kerosene lamp at the entrance, she turned her head to look curiously.

Golden has changed—it's different now.

The horrifying wound on his face had stopped bleeding, and although the stitches were still slightly red, they showed clear signs of healing. In a few more days, it would probably just be a not-too-unsightly scar.

Once the door is opened, you'll find a very cozy country cottage inside.

[The fireplace. The smoke from it has obscured the painting above, making it impossible for anyone to decipher what it depicts.]

[The wine cabinet. In the days when no one lives there, the wine bottles can only find courage in each other.]

[A deer head specimen. You said you didn't want to be here.]

They settled Vera in a south-facing bedroom on the second floor, with a window overlooking the ranch.

Before putting her down, Charlotte brought a copper basin filled with water. Gordon took off her blood-stained coat and put it into the basin, which instantly turned red.

Vera rested in bed for a while, and Gordon covered her with a blanket.

Her body trembled slightly, then her eyelashes fluttered, and she opened her eyes.

"Golden————"

"I am here."

"————Crocodile Man————"

"He's dead."

"Dragon Lizard Demon————"

"He's dead."

"—Gray."

"Living is more annoying than before."

Vera stared at the ceiling, her breathing slowing slightly with each new piece of news she received, until she was certain the threat was over before she let her guard down.

But even under the oil lamp, that exquisitely beautiful face remained bloodless.

"Well then—this." Charlotte then took out a slender wine bottle.

The bottle is made of dark green glass, with a cork wrapped with gold wire, and the label is printed with soldiers and laurel leaves.

【"Triumphant" sparkling wine. A celebratory drink is ready for you.】

"Should we start now, or wait until you can sit up?" Charlotte asked.

"Now." Vera opened her eyes.

"This victory was a bit more understated than I had anticipated."

Charlotte prepared three wine glasses and poured one for each person.

Her original idea was for everyone to raise their glasses around the table, cut open the bottle with a military knife, let the bubbles spray into the air, and for there to be sunshine and flowers outside.

Vera is now lying down, and Gordon has injuries on his face; they are in a quiet cabin in the countryside.

But this is good too.

Because the fact that you came back alive is something to celebrate in itself.

Gordon watched as the pale golden liquid slowly rose, forming dense foam.

Vera only had a small sip in her glass. Gordon brought the rim of the glass close to her lips, but she couldn't lift her head to swallow. So Gordon used his powers to make the water flow backward.

She held it in her mouth for a while, then finally drank the small sip, closed her eyes, and lay down.

"How is it?" Charlotte asked.

There was no reply.

Vera fell asleep again, her breathing even.

His hand was just unconsciously groping for something.

Gordon tucked the blanket back in and placed her groping hand on the hilt of the sword. The rough, cold hilt fell into her palm, and Vera's fingers instinctively closed.

Gordon gently stroked the back of her hand again, and she finally calmed down completely.

Charlotte watched this scene and downed her drink in one gulp.

The two went downstairs one after the other.

As a light rain fell outside, the animals sleeping in the meadow got up and went indoors to take shelter from the rain.

The coachman and maids waited for Charlotte to return to town.

“Gordon.” Charlotte stopped at the bottom of the stairs and looked up at him. “You’ve said a lot and done a lot. You’ve talked about plans, business, and all those things you wanted others to do.”

"This sounds like the opening remarks of a trial. Where is my lawyer?"

Charlotte stared at him.

"I want to hear the truth now. What do you really think of me? What are you doing all this—trying so hard to become stronger, taking such big risks—for what purpose?" She tried her best to remain calm, her eyes fixed on Gordon.

"Of course I want to become stronger, so I can protect you."

Charlotte looked up abruptly.

She clearly had contingency plans for dealing with evasiveness, jokes, and excuses, but that's another matter entirely.