Alchemists do not need self-cultivation

"I've lived in the Northern Army Fortress ever since I was taken in, and it's full of big men. When I was transferred to the Eastern Army, there were some young ladies, but I didn't get to know them before I was sent to the battlefield."

“Alright.” Dietrich was speechless at this point. “I’ll tell you a place. You and Violet should go there for a stroll. Lots of girls like to go shopping there.”

After saying that, he took out a map and spread it on the table.

Chapter Nineteen: The Honest Girl

"Oh? What's on this street?" Isaac looked at Dietrich and pointed to a commercial street on the map, which seemed to be not far from where he lived.

"Jewelry and clothing are things you probably wouldn't normally go to, so take this opportunity to see them." Dietrich put away the map. "By the way, do you have any money?"

"What a coincidence, I don't have any." Isaac suddenly realized that he had almost used up all his money. "Looks like I'll have to go and refine it into gold."

Isaac said this with great excitement. Gold alchemy had always been forbidden in his country, and now that he was abroad, he thought about it all the time.

"Please don't, I don't want the country's economy to be suddenly impacted during the war." Dietrich reluctantly took out an envelope and handed it to Isaac. "Here's some money, it'll be enough for you."

“Oh, thank you, Dillon.” Isaac took the envelope and thanked him. “But I can’t just take your things.”

After saying that, he walked to the fireplace and took out a piece of wood that was still burning, amidst Dietrich's puzzled look.

Zi—

A flash of blue lightning, and the wood vanished, replaced by a sparkling diamond in Isaac's hand.

"Here you go." Isaac tossed the diamond to a bewildered Dietrich and turned to walk out the door.

"Why don't you just refine some into something and give it to someone?" Dietrich asked, only to find that the person had already walked away.

He returned to his place with the envelope and found Violet still waiting in the same spot.

"Violet, let's go out and have some fun." Since Violet would probably stay on standby the whole day anyway, I might as well go for a walk together.

"Play?" Violet asked, puzzled.

"I'm just going out for a stroll. We promised to give you a gift, so let's see what you like."

Is this an order?

"Um... let's just say that." There's no other way now, so that's all I can say.

"learn."

It's approaching noon.

As expected of this city's famous commercial street, it was already packed with people, and the bustling street was filled with noise and activity.

"We haven't even had breakfast yet, shall we go get something to eat first?"

"Yes," Violet replied in her usual indifferent voice.

"Um... Violet, what would you like to eat?"

"If it's just to fill your stomach, energy bars will do." Energy bars refer to emergency rations carried by the military during long marches, which can provide the carbohydrates and calories needed for a day.

But this stuff is cheap to make and tastes terrible.

"We're not on a combat mission, it's a holiday now, so we can eat whatever we want. Does Violet have any favorite foods?"

“I regularly consume energy bars,” Violet said.

It's a sad story, so the choice is yours to make.

Isaac randomly picked a restaurant and sat down. He handed the menu to Violet, saying, "Tell me what you like on this."

"..." His expression showed some hesitation.

"This isn't a mission, relax..."

"Yes."

This is a bit of a dilemma. Although I should be happy that my future subordinates listen to me so much, the current situation is still worrying.

"Then is it alright if I order food for you?"

"learn."

"..."

This can't go on. My adjutant can't just follow orders.

After ordering two steaks from the waiter, Isaac said to Violet, "I think sometimes you need to make your own decisions."

"I don't know."

"Well... if I'm not around, you'll have to make your own judgments about some things."

"Mr. Isaac, are you about to die?" Violet's eyes suddenly tensed.

"..." Girl, could you be any more straightforward?

Isaac immediately said, “That’s not what I meant… I meant… what would you do if I wasn’t there for you?”

"Does Mr. Isaac mean he doesn't want me anymore?" Violet suddenly became agitated, an emotion she hadn't anticipated, and her voice was slightly loud.

People inside the restaurant also cast strange glances at us, and we could vaguely hear them whispering among themselves.

"What's going on with these two young men?"

"Couples arguing?"

"The girl seems to be only 12 years old."

"Scumbag!"

Sensing something was amiss, Isaac immediately said, "That's not what I meant!"

Violet realized her actions were inappropriate: "I'm sorry for causing you trouble."

“No, that’s not true.” Isaac breathed a sigh of relief. “I mean, what if I’m out on business, away from you, with no one to give you orders? Wouldn’t that happen?”

“That won’t happen. I will follow Mr. Isaac wherever he goes.” Violet’s eyes were unusually firm.

Isaac was deeply moved, but he realized he was training an adjutant, not a prop.

“Violet, I’ve said it more than once: you’re not a prop, you’re my subordinate,” Isaac said. “I don’t need you to obey me. I just want someone to help me while I fight, and to share the joy of victory with me.”

"I still... don't quite understand." For Violet at this moment, understanding Isaac's words is still quite difficult.

"It's okay if you don't understand. Let's go for a walk in the streets this afternoon." Isaac didn't say anything more to her; there would be plenty of time later.

After a quick lunch, the two strolled around the shopping street together.

“Take advantage of this time to come out and relax. The most important thing in life is to be happy…” Isaac, who was walking ahead, said to Violet as they walked, but gradually realized that there was no reaction from behind, so he turned around to look.

Violet stood in front of a jewelry store.

"What's wrong? Is there anything you want to buy?"

“This thing… looks a lot like Mr. Isaac’s eyes.”

"My eye? Which one do you mean?" One of Isaac's eyes was a real, flesh-and-blood eye, while the other was a mechanical eye that had been implanted.

Following Violet's gaze, a black gemstone necklace was displayed in the cabinet.

Black sapphires are a type of sapphire, but compared to sapphires and rubies, they require greater mining depths, resulting in a smaller market share and adding to their mystique.

He touched his eyes, not understanding what Violet meant, but still asked, "Do you like it?"

Violet nodded.

I checked the price of the black gemstone: 88,000.

It's a bit pricey, to be honest. I quietly opened the envelope that Dietrich had given me.

It's around 200,000.

"Boss, I'll take this gem," Isaac called out as he walked into the shop.

Chapter Twenty: Black Gem

"welcome!"

When a female shop assistant saw someone wanting to buy something, she came out.

Seeing the black gemstone pendant in Isaac's hand, she said, "Sir, you have excellent taste. This black gemstone is naturally mined and dazzling. It's perfect for your loved one."

Lover? When did I have a lover?

He then turned to look at Violet, thinking it must be a misunderstanding.

"I think you've misunderstood, she..."

"Sir, would you like to have something engraved on the back of the pendant?" The shop assistant didn't let Isaac continue, thinking that the boy was probably just shy.

Isaac didn't seem to mind being interrupted by the shop assistant, and simply asked, "Engraving? What engraving?"

"It's about engraving something on the back of the pendant to express your love for the girl."

"..."

The shop assistant has completely misunderstood her.

"I already said it's not..."

"What would you like engraved, sir?"

"..." I think you're making things difficult for me, Isaac. "Just engrave her name on it. Her name is Violet."

"Violet, is that right? What a wonderful name."

"Of course, I did it." Isaac said proudly.

"And what is your name, sir?" the shop assistant asked again.

"Me? Isaac." Although he didn't understand why the clerk asked for his name, he guessed it was just for customer registration, so he gave his name.

"Mr. Isaac? Please wait a moment, it will take a little while for your pendant to be engraved." The shop assistant smiled and went backstage.

Isaac and Violet sat in the hall waiting.

"Is there a clerk here?"

Just then, a group of stylishly dressed red-haired youths walked in. They glanced around, their eyes landing on Isaac.

"Isn't this Mr. Isaac? It's been a long time." The red-haired young man greeted Isaac warmly.

“You are…” Isaac obviously didn’t remember who this person was. The only red-haired person Isaac knew in this country was Oscar, the screenwriter.