"Viscount Sandimon?"
Reyn and Viola exchanged glances. This viscount was Yetts's father. Impressively quick reaction.
Chairman Hasilin nodded and explained:
"Viscount Sandimon asked me to convey his deepest apologies. To make amends for Yetts's offense, he's prepared to transfer the Gloria art gallery—half the shares of the Arts Association to them, and the other half to you, Reyn."
"Gloria art gallery... Is Viscount Sandimon really willing to part with it?" Viola stayed calm at first, but upon hearing this, couldn't hide her surprise.
"Yes, I'm surprised myself," Hasilin shook his head.
Reyn knew nothing about these matters, so Viola explained:
"Gloria is one of the finest art galleries in Longsand, located right in the heart of the Honiton district. The land alone is worth no less than two thousand gold shields. The gallery holds numerous paintings and artworks; it hosts annual exhibitions, events, and concerts. It's also something of a club, bringing in over three thousand gold shields a year."
"Got it," Reyn thought. "They're just giving away money."
An art gallery yielding over three thousand gold annually, not counting the land value... Yetts's father had gone to serious expense to fix his son's mistake.
Moreover, he split ownership in half: half to the Arts Association, benefiting all its members, especially the priests.
Chairman Hasilin, considering both public and personal interests, could hardly refuse without displeasing the priests.
It was an almost blatant bribe.
Such money might not impress Viola, but given the priests' interests and not wanting to sour relations, she had to accept.
Chairman Hasilin pulled a gold banknote from his pocket.
"Reyn, this is compensation from Viscount Sandimon for you. One thousand gold."
Reyn couldn't help smirking.
This aristocrat was truly cunning and had thought of everything. Not only had he convinced Chairman Hasilin to act as intermediary, but the bribery method was hard to refuse.
He didn't take the banknote and said:
"Viscount Sandimon is quite generous, and his methods are masterful. Viola, you decide."
Viola looked a bit annoyed. She had planned to pressure the Sandimon family after the ritual, using her family's influence to teach them a lesson. Now that would be difficult.
She thought briefly and replied:
"Chairman, please tell Viscount Sandimon I accept his gift. But one condition: Yetts must never bother me or Reyn again. Otherwise, Viscount Sandimon will pay far more than one art gallery."
"I'll relay that," Hasilin was glad the matter was settled.
He handed the gold banknote to Reyn and added with a smile:
"Young man, quite a haul today: participated in Viola's ritual and earned a thousand gold shields."
"Thank you, Chairman," Reyn took the money. It was never superfluous.
As for the haul... that thousand gold was nothing compared to the legendary element. Not even a drop in the ocean.
During a break in their... exercises last night, nestled in each other's arms and chatting, they had touched on the value of legendary elements.
Several decades ago in Modu, a demon soul appeared—a titan giant with "Titanic Might," the ninth strongest element in the Book of a Thousand Souls. After trades among factions, it sold for two million four hundred thousand gold shields!
That price set a record for demon soul deals in Empire history.
"Will of Truth" ranked higher, but the Pacified Heart Monkey soul was weak, no match for the titan giant equivalent to a high-level legendary being. Selling it for over two million would be tough, but it certainly wouldn't go below a million gold.
And now this Soul Stone worth at least a million gold lay in Reyn's inner pocket.
Of course, he had no intention of selling it.
Gold shields were mere external wealth. Without power, even billions would eventually leave you with nothing.
Bidding farewell to Chairman Hasilin, they got into the car waiting by the Grand Theater and returned to Vigo Manor.
Dawn had barely broken when Reyn woke.
Despite the exhausting night and falling asleep only near morning, habit prevailed. He opened his eyes, and memories of the night's events flooded back, still feeling like a dream.
Reyn looked around. It was Viola's bedroom.
He propped himself up slightly. On the pillow beside him lay a cascade of shining golden hair framing a half-hidden beautiful face. Viola slept, eyes closed, seemingly still recovering from the night's fatigue. Sleeping beauty, no doubt.
The warmth and firmness of the body under the blanket... all convinced Reyn—this was reality!
He sighed contentedly.
By habit, he should rise and meditate, but today Reyn decided to make an exception and laze about.
He leaned against the headboard and admired the sleeping beauty beside him for a while. Then he pulled the Soul Stone from under the pillow.
Clutching it between his fingers, Reyn held it to his eye, directing a sunbeam piercing the curtains onto it.
The gray-violet stone refracted the light, creating mesmerizing glints. Inside, the Pacified Heart Monkey soul continuously shifted form—strange and beautiful at once.
Reyn activated his phone. Overnight, its charge had fully restored.
The second energy circle was now 82% full; eighteen energy units remained to the next level.
Daily meditation yielded only two units. Relying solely on his own power, full filling would take at least two or three months.
Such development speed was probably the highest in all Ellunes, but Reyn was impatient.
Every day until he fused with "Will of Truth," he couldn't rest easy.
Carrying such a valuable item was a heavy burden, like a timed bomb—couldn't relax for a second.
He couldn't even sleep soundly. Several times at night, he woke to check the Soul Stone was still under the pillow.
"I need to find a way to absorb the soul as soon as possible."
Lost in these thoughts, Reyn suddenly noticed a slight change in the beauty's breathing beside him. He turned his head and met a pair of stunning lake-blue eyes looking at him somewhat bewilderedly, as if she wasn't yet used to waking beside someone.
"Awake? Good morning," Reyn smiled and leaned closer.
"Good morn... mmm..." Viola's eyes widened; she snapped to awareness. Instinctively trying to push him away, she realized what was happening and wrapped her arms around his neck.
Breathing quickened, and soon they were unclothed again, indulging in lovemaking.
Reyn's morning meditation turned into... morning exercise.
Before translocation, he hadn't had a girlfriend for several years, managing on his own. Now Viola was beside him, her beauty and figure rarest in the world. Plus, his own body had become incredibly strong, enduring, brimming with youthful energy. Holding back was impossible.
Reyn firmly resolved to make up for lost years.
While passing on all his accumulated... knowledge to the half-elf.
Viola's physical endurance far exceeded ordinary humans'; she wasn't weak or fragile. Tasting pleasure's allure, she dove in headfirst too.
They spent the whole morning together.
Only nearing noon did they finally wash up and head down for lunch.
Meeting the housekeeper's and servants' curious gazes, Viola blushed so fiercely she nearly fled back upstairs. Only Reyn, with thicker skin, kept a composed face, as if nothing had happened.
After eating, the lovers didn't continue their madness but went for a stroll in the garden.
Sitting on a bench, Viola said seriously:
"I'm planning to perform the soul transformation ritual tonight and break through to high-level mage."
"Good, I'll be with you."
Reyn nodded. It was pre-planned.
Viola had just received the Long-Haired Lady's blessing, her soul at peak condition. The effect lasted only days, and timely soul transformation greatly boosted success chances.
After half a day's rest, that evening Reyn escorted her to Violet House.
All ritual necessities were long prepared: exclusive soul-devouring potion, several vials of high-quality vigor potion, fourth-circle mental protection scroll, and more—all top standard.
This was Viola's third soul transformation ritual, in the same room where Reyn had done his first.
Viola had prepared long for this day with rich experience, needing no assistance. She asked everyone to leave, keeping only Reyn.
Reyn observed a soul transformation ritual from the sidelines for the first time.
Despite Viola's thorough prep and goddess blessing, the ritual proved incredibly grueling and agonizing.
The usually calm, graceful Viola writhed on the runic platform, teeth clenched, fighting desperately.
It was almost unbearable for Reyn to watch. Only now did he truly realize his luck.
His Soul Eye observed the entire process, deepening transformation understanding. This metamorphosis essentially involved gradual soul destruction and reorganization—rebirth from ashes.
Soul rupture naturally caused excruciating pain.
Fortunately, the ritual succeeded.
Viola consumed twenty-five gillums of soul-devouring potion. Though imperfect transformation, the result surpassed her prior two, showing rare talent even among mages.
Resting one night, Viola immediately fused with her third main soul.
It was a Flameblade Dragonhawk with red dragon blood.
This dragonhawk was a high-level dragonkin, immensely powerful, wielding numerous potent fire spells and elements. Its strength ranked among the mightiest high-rank beings.
Besides the dragonhawk main soul, reaching seventh-level All Souls mage, Viola expanded demon souls in her Soul Gathering Tower. She stuck to her Feast of Ravens card combo members, fusing three new crow-type souls.
Overnight, Viola's power multiplied; she became a high-level mage.
This spurred Reyn, sharpening his desire for third-level mage.
He focused on Sofman of Silverstar Academy. Daily, he spent over ten hours there, hauling books in the Great Library and periodically eavesdropping on Sofman's talks.
Finally, after over a week's surveillance, Reyn heard useful info.