The world doesn't need succubi to save it.

Spellcasters, especially mages, are a wondrous existence.

They are really rich!

But most of the time, the mages are broke.

It sounds unreasonable, doesn't it? But the reason is actually quite simple.

No magical item is cheap; the higher the level, the more expensive it is. As long as they can make some, mages shouldn't be short of money.

However, production costs, success rates, and difficulties are one aspect, but the more realistic and important thing is how to sell and monetize it.

Without a sales channel and without corresponding buyers, even the best magical items will just remain unsold.

Moreover, the advancement of spellcasters, and even their daily improvement, all require a large amount of money to support them.

Experimental materials cost money, top-tier laboratories cost money, and research ideas cost money...

Moreover, most of their wealth was converted into equipment and materials needed for their own combat and research.

Basically, spellcasters have a lot of fixed assets, but very little cash flow, and maintaining them requires a lot of money.

Having constantly struggled to stay afloat, spellcasters generally accept the olive branch extended by the Silver Council with pleasure.

Who wouldn't like a sucker rushing to hand over money?

But Xilin is different; she genuinely doesn't care much.

Shirin is a legendary alchemist, and unlike some spellcasters who study pure theory but cannot realize their potential, she is not short of money.

Putting everything else aside, as long as she can master a few unique and specially made legendary potion recipes, she will never have to worry about lacking money.

More importantly, Shirin belongs to the Watchers.

What is this concept?

This means that with the support of the Watchers, Shirin doesn't need to worry about sales at all.

Just sell them directly to Overwatch; they'll take anyone who comes along, they're good, and they pay out fast.

It's perfectly normal for the price to be lower, since the materials she bought were also purchased at a low price, so she didn't lose money at all.

And importantly, Shireen is already 280 years old.

She had saved money for many years and had long since survived the most difficult and impoverished times...

It's been twenty years since she entered the legendary realm, and as a lazy bum with little desire to continue improving her strength, Shirin has happily entered the paradise of giving up.

Therefore, Shirin really didn't care about being on good terms with the Silver Council; having one more or one less made no difference to her.

"So that's settled then. Is there anything else you need to explain?"

Sophie blinked, wondering why the other party had made a decision so quickly.

"Uh, that's all..."

Are you in a hurry?

"Now that we've covered these trivial matters, let's get down to business!"

Shireen suddenly changed her expression, staring intently at Sophie:

Do you...have a lover?

Sophie: ?

???

You guys are really something!

---Aside---

Happy Dragon Boat Festival!

Happy Dragon Boat Festival!

Once I've said everything, no one can find fault with it.

Additionally, some people complained about the emotional breaks in the "Author's Note," so I made revisions.

I personally really enjoy chatting in the author's comments section; I love it so much.

This is nothing to readers who follow the updates every day; it's also a way to learn about the author's life and know that I am a living, breathing person.

However, looking back, this is indeed a bit uncomfortable for new readers who want to read it in a continuous flow, as it can disrupt their emotional connection.

Therefore, I made a compromise.

Last night I did a major overhaul of all the "Author's Notes" so far, cleaning up anything irrelevant except what was necessary.

We will continue to chat here, but the non-essential "author's notes" will only last for one week, and we will clean up the unimportant "author's notes" from the previous week every Monday.

Please feel free to ask more questions, and I will take action if they are reasonable.

Thank you everyone.

I'm so tired.

Chapter 169 This is a bit too perverted... (Happy Dragon Boat Festival! Please subscribe!)

Do you have a lover?

Shirin's words were quickly translated into Sophie's mind:

Are you single now?

"If you're not single, would you be willing to become single?"

"Would you be willing to find someone else after you transform?"

What do you think of me?

"How about you consider me?"

Sophie: !!!

Sophie is panicking!

Panic!

Sophie shouldn't overthink things; the current situation simply makes it impossible for her not to.

Being on good terms with the Silver Council is a minor matter, so what is the real big deal?

Now, are you going to extend an invitation to me?

Besides, that guard's gaze was way too serious and focused...

Could you please calm her down before asking me?

"Uh, I..."

Suddenly, Sophie felt a chill on her left earring, a wave of coldness washing over her and quickly calming her down.

"...Ahem, sorry."

Having regained her former composure and elegance, Sophie showed no trace of panic and bowed slightly apologetically to Shirin.

"I was a little shy just now, and I lost my composure in front of you."

With a gentle smile, Sophie displayed the elegant demeanor befitting a noblewoman.

"Regarding your question about lovers, I don't have one at the moment..."

Sophie paused here, a look of reminiscence in her eyes, before slowly continuing:

“But I have a fiancé, and we got engaged when we were very young.”

In that case, you should back down, right?

After quickly weighing the pros and cons, Sophie decided that she no longer needed to sell her beauty.

The opponent is a legend; it's easy for them to overplay their hand and end up getting burned.

Besides, Sophie has already achieved her goal, so there is no need for her to sacrifice anything more for the parliament.

It's meaningless to make such a sacrifice if it's not for the family.

But after she finished speaking, she realized that something was off about the legend.

Not disappointment and regret, but...excitement?

excited!?

With a somewhat strange expression, Shirin blinked and asked again:

"Oh! So how's your relationship?"

Raising an eyebrow, Sophie was still unsure what the other person meant, so she could only continue:

"Ahem, our...our engagement was arranged by our families, but we grew up together and have a pretty good relationship."

With a gentle smile, Sophie's face revealed a faint, pleasant expression.

She truly resembled a young girl longing for her beloved fiancé.

However, this is actually acting.

To be honest, Sophie's relationship with her fiancé wasn't very good.

The two were only superficially close; they didn't care about each other much, each doing their own thing outside the home and not interfering with each other's lives.

But this does not affect their engagement.

They will definitely get married.

There's no doubt about that; there won't be any melodramatic plot twists like running away from the wedding.

It wasn't because I liked the other person, nor because I couldn't find anyone to share my life with.

Rather, it was for the sake of family alliances that they chose not to shirk their responsibilities.

If you enjoy the benefits brought by your family, you must also make sacrifices for it.

This is the ancestral precept of the Jaslin family, and also a principle upheld by almost all families that call themselves "aristocratic".

Sophie understood that this marriage was a way for her to realize her value.