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

Chapter 86 is too cryptic, isn't it?

Chapter 87 is too cryptic, isn't it?

"The rat is still alive? It didn't escape, did it?" Gordon counted the money.

"It's doing quite well. But I'm getting more and more worried about it. It's becoming more and more demanding, eating more and more, and needs someone to take care of it. It's getting smarter and smarter, and sooner or later it will figure out how to escape." Charlotte said with some concern.

"It's alright, there's a woman who might know how to deal with these little rascals—" Gordon pondered for a moment.

"What woman?" Charlotte asked warily.

"I admit first, I've never seen it before."

Charlotte seemed to be deep in thought.

Gordon decided to start calculating money, because money is safer, more stable, and makes people feel happier.

The fate of the dragon lizard demon is reflected in the bill.

Charlotte sold half of it, and she still needs to slowly find a buyer and a suitable time to sell the remaining half, but she already has a lot of money. After deducting the initial maintenance costs of the manor, there is indeed a surplus.

He took out a piece of paper, re-filed his income and expenses, and constantly reminded himself that one gold pound was worth twenty silver pounds and one silver pound was worth one hundred copper cents.

After the last accounting, Gordon had 59 gold points, 7 silver points, and 48 bronze points.

Recent income mainly comes from bounty sharing, the proceeds from the dragon lizard demon corpses after deducting the cost of repairing the manor, and Vera's savings combined with the rest of the accounts.

Total income: 217 gold, 8 silver, and 83 copper points.

Expenses included the Blackthorn Plum Cane, the Cradle of Life, and other losses—total expenditure of 21 gold pounds, 10 silver pounds, and 83 copper cents.

Gordon checked the numbers several times and finally calculated his current total funds, ensuring that the copper cents, silver pounds, and gold pounds were all aligned.

[255 gold pounds, 5 silver pounds, and 48 bronze cents. The Gordon lad loves gold pounds.]

Gordon stared at the number, then piled up the gold pounds.

More than 250 gold pounds.

Stacked up, they are 3 centimeters thick. They are right here, neither hiding nor escaping, steadily catching Gao Deng.

Even if he pays off his student loan right now, he will still have more than 150 gold pounds left.

Solemn, precise, and pleasing to the eye.

"We have money now," Gordon said seriously.

Charlotte and Vera nodded, clearly each of them thinking that "we" referred to themselves.

Of course, Gordon will then use the money to repair Blackthorn Lee's cane, renovate Knight Road No. 9, and forge the Emerald Scale Source Material and Dragon Lizard Demon Scale into a Source Material Armor—the numbers will definitely drop accordingly.

But now, he felt incredibly happy.

"Gold pounds!" Gordon counted the 250 or so gold pounds over and over again.

"Gold pounds!"

"Gordon's gone mad," Charlotte said to Vera. "I'm afraid this time it will take a very long time."

Half an hour later, Gordon came to his senses and recovered from the mild mental pollution brought on by money.

Charlotte leaned across the table and watched him.

"—Ah, Charlotte."

"What's wrong?" She just smiled faintly.

"How long did you watch?"

"Start with the third pound."

Gordon stuffed the money into his pocket, pondered for a moment, and sorted out the next few things.

Go find Sinclair to repair his cane, restore and strengthen his signature weapon. Identify and refine the source material for Gray, completing the transaction. Renovate Knight Road No. 9 to make it look like an agency. The agency attacks Green Shade Mansion; Gordon will have to go and help.

This means that he will be traveling around several districts.

Indeed, having your own horse is much more convenient, and it's more maneuverable than a horse-drawn carriage when stuck in traffic.

"Can you ride a horse? I need to practice."

"Of course," Charlotte said very naturally. "I'll take you to learn to ride a horse."

"Oh, Vera—"

"Vera can stay here." Charlotte stepped forward and took Gordon's hand. "She needs to rest, doesn't she?"

"—" Vera looked at Charlotte's hand holding Gordon's, saying nothing, only narrowing her eyes. Charlotte—

The grounds of Montfort House are spacious enough, and the stables are built of red bricks.

The groom in the brown vest led out Charlotte's white horse, and then led out a medium-sized horse for Gordon.

Charlotte was already dressed in grey-blue riding attire, including a short jacket, riding breeches and boots, a hat, a riding whip in her hand, and a double-barreled shotgun on her back. She looked light and spirited.

Compared to the young lady's attire, this neat outfit clearly caught Gordon's eye.

"Have you seen enough?"

"They're just assessing whether you're qualified to coach."

"in conclusion?"

"That's great. Please tell me, what are the rules for riding a horse?" Gordon approached his horse.

"Our horses are all gentle and trained. But don't approach it from behind."

Charlotte instructed Gordon to first feed the horse a carrot, then led him closer from the left and personally adjusted the length of the stirrups.

"Come on, hold the reins with your left hand, put your left foot in the stirrup, lean your body closer to the saddle, and slowly shift your weight onto the horse—after you stand up, put your right leg over it, but don't touch the horse's tail."

"What if we run into each other?"

"For the next thirty days, I will have to be fed by others."

"That doesn't sound bad."

"I will feed you myself."

"That would be even better."

"Hmph. Hurry up." Charlotte said, helping to hold the saddle bridge while directing Gordon.

Gordon stepped into the stirrup, used his left leg to propel himself upwards, and mounted the horse with precision and ease.

"Very good." Charlotte nodded in satisfaction. "Now, step into the stirrups and squeeze the horse's flanks slightly."

It's incredible.

As Gordon sat on his horse, looking down at his surroundings, his eyes lit up.

Horses are living, enormous creatures with their own breathing and temperament. Their spines rise and fall with each breath, and their forehooves paw at the sand, creating subtle vibrations.

Gordon silently sensed its breathing, heartbeat, and muscles, and could even predict which leg it would take next.

He spurred his horse forward, and the horse followed suit.

Gordon followed the rhythm, letting his body rise and fall with its movement, and soon man and horse were on the same beat.

"Have you really never ridden one before? Or are you just looking for an excuse to ride with me?" Charlotte rode beside him on her white horse, a faint smile on her face.

"There are plenty of excuses to be with you; there's no need to risk breaking your neck."

"You're smart."

Gordon and Charlotte strolled side by side in the spacious backyard for a while, and Charlotte felt incredibly comfortable.

She then continued explaining riding techniques.

The key to riding a horse is controlling the reins. Pulling too hard will only cause the horse pain, but the rider can give signals by adjusting the center of gravity and leg pressure, allowing the horse to understand the rider's intentions.

Gordon quickly understood that this aligned with his way of thinking: connecting, transmitting, and guiding.

He pulled the reins to the left, turning his body to the left as well. The horse turned to the left, and Gordon immediately released his grip as a reward.

Pull the reins to the other side, and the horse will move over.

A few minutes later, the horse's ears drooped, and it began to cooperate with Gordon.

The place wasn't big enough for a horse to gallop, but Gordon was already quite happy. It was a completely different experience from riding in a carriage, which didn't require a carriage, wheels, or a driver.

"You've learned so well." Charlotte rode over and took Gordon's hand.

"You taught well."

Through the glass, Vera saw Gordon and Charlotte riding through the courtyard, chatting amicably in the sunlight.

Gordon had just learned to ride a horse, and his movements were cautious and tentative. Charlotte calmly controlled the speed, sometimes getting closer to correct his posture, and sometimes running far away so that he could catch up.

Their relationship contained many things Vera was unfamiliar with: school life, high society, the bright sunshine, and the absence of fear of monsters and carnage.

Vera stared blankly. She didn't quite understand that bright and serene world, but she knew there were things Charlotte couldn't teach Gordon.

Horses shouldn't be the only thing Gordon should ride.

She decided to eat another piece of cake; some things might take a toll on her energy.

Later, Gordon had mastered the basics of control, steering, and stopping, which marked the end of the training session.

He left the Monford house and drove back.

No. 9 Knights Road.

The familiar two-story townhouse came into view, and Gordon breathed a sigh of relief.

However, something is missing.

It lacks the name of Dr. Hopkins.

He went over to observe the notice on the door and asked a few people before he learned what had happened.

Over the past two weeks, cult members have indeed come knocking on the door. After much deliberation, the doctor finally decided to open his business three blocks away next to the police station, continuing to benefit humanity.

Gordon was starting to miss the dental models and foot-operated dental drill on the first floor.

He and Vera went upstairs, but the door was closed and the room was empty.

He opened the door and went inside, then lit the oil lamp.

They moved quite thoroughly.

The room contained only a table and cabinets, and the bedroom only had a bed. Most of the things that had been stored at the manor were now buried under the ruins and needed to be replaced, which suited the Demon Hunter Agency's new plans perfectly.

After that, they can decide what the bedrooms, kitchen, and living room should look like.

Vera closed the door.

The house was already small, and now it's so empty, it's even more shabby.

But she had an infinite love for this room.

They had taken stock of their spoils here; she had cooked many meals here; Gordon had hunched over the table writing letters, reading books, and keeping health records for her.

At first, they were just two people who met by chance, and they had no idea that each other existed before they met.

Then there are employers and guards, coaches and students, doctors and patients.

Companions on the path of pursuing the source, and then—

"I'm going home." Gordon walked to the window.

Across the street were still the familiar apartment buildings, and a little further away, he could see restaurant signs and the lights of a small theater. He was filled with mixed emotions. The sign downstairs would later read "Demon Hunter Agency," and the upstairs door, once closed, would be their home.

Everything seems unchanged, yet it also seems completely different.

"————" Vera hugged Gordon from behind, resting her chin on Gordon's head, making him feel very small.

"Um?"

"————" Gordon was about to offer some health advice when all his words were cut off by his lips.

They could hear each other's hearts racing at an inappropriate pace.

Nine Knight Road was originally so clean it was almost unfinished, with no decent furniture, but a certain rising emotion filled it.

Gordon managed to get a chance to speak.

"If the wound reopens, I will stop immediately," Gordon had to say.

"If you stop, I will inflict new wounds on you with my sword."

"All right."

Entering the room, Gordon then saw Vera before him—

That was a pose he couldn't refuse.