Chapter 124: We haven’t even slept together! (1/2)

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Chapter 124: We haven’t even slept together!

“Why are you looking at me like that?” Phoebe drank another cup of translucent and clear red wine that sparkled with a wondrous light. She flicked a glance at Han Shuo as she said lowly.

“No… nothing much.” Han Shuo panicked and he stammered a bit.

“Then why are you drooling?” Phoebe pointed at the corner of Han Shuo’s mouth as she lightly laughed playfully.

He touched his chin and discovered that there really was some trace of water on his chin. Han Shuo said awkwardly, “Eh, that isn’t drool. It’s wine, it’s really wine.”

“Oh.” Phoebe smiled delightedly, “So it’s wine. How is it possible that you’d miss some even when drinking wine? How interesting.”

He kept feeling that the atmosphere was a bit odd. Han Shuo felt very comfortable at heart as he listened to Phoebe’s soft and gentle words. His mind kept making connections as his eyes once again involuntarily drifted to the crack in the artificial mountain.

“It’s only been a short time since we started eating, and you’ve already glanced to the left at the crack in the artificial mountain nine times. Just what is there that deserves your attention?” Phoebe’s beautiful eyes darted around and landed on Han Shuo’s body as she said lightly.

Panicking inwardly, Han Shuo blurted out, “How do you know that I kept glancing at that area, and that I’ve done so nine times?”

These words made Phoebe’s face even redder. She tsk’ed lightly and said lowly, “You’ve been looking around shiftily. Sitting in front of you, of course I saw everything. I know what bad thoughts you were harboring when you looked there.”

“Then what bad thoughts would you say I’ve been thinking?” After what he’d just gone through, Han Shuo suddenly felt that he was a bit too passive. A demonic practitioner was unafraid of all conventions and was most at ease when he did what was on his mind, no matter what others would think or say. When he suddenly understood this, Han Shuo no longer wildly casted around surreptitious glances, but rather stared directly at Phoebe and asked her with a smile.

Phoebe started as the red blush on her cheeks slowly spread down her slender, white neck. She stuttered and stammered, but didn’t say anything with her reddened face. Her affectedly bashful face was even more ill at ease than Han Shuo had been earlier.

Seeing Phoebe like this, Han Shuo gave a happy laugh, feeling that the depressing passivity from earlier was completely swept away. He said merrily, “Who would’ve thought that Miss Phoebe would care so much about me? You’ve even noted how many times I glanced over. I’m truly overwhelmed by your favor.”

“Oh shut up Bryan, I’ve discovered that you’re full of bad thoughts. Looks like I’ll receive the short end of the stick whenever I do business with you in the future.” Phoebe flew into a rage and glared fiercely at Han Shuo, complaining as she did so.

When Phoebe said this, Han Shuo suddenly remembered the matter having to do with the McGrady Guild. The humor on his face was immediately replaced with seriousness as he asked Phoebe, “Talking of business suddenly reminds me of something. You mentioned the McGrady Guild last time and said that they were your competition, right?”

Phoebe was a bit surprised that Han Shuo had suddenly mentioned this, and she looked at him, taken aback. Phoebe nodded and responded, “That’s right, the McGrady Guild belongs to the Brut Merchant alliance and have been doing a lot of business in our Lancelot Empire lately. The items they transport do not travel through the towns of the Empire and thus they don’t need to pay customs taxes to the Empire. When their goods arrive, they can keep their prices low and thus impact our Guild’s business a bit as well.”

Smiling faintly, Han Shuo said, “Not going through the proper channels can indeed result in large profits, there are particularly huge, even frightening profits to be made in the industries forbidden by the Empire. The McGrady Guild is quite daring to act and risk a lot.”

“Why are you suddenly mentioning the McGrady Guild?” Phoebe looked at Han Shuo with confusion as she asked him.

“I have a friend in the Dark Forest with a rather particular profession. He robbed the McGrady Guild entourage lately and came by many luxury items. He wants me to get rid of them. I wonder if I can do that through you?”

“Being a robber is a robber, what particular profession? There are all sorts of robbers within the Dark Forest, there’s nothing strange about that. Heh heh, the McGrady Guild wouldn’t dare pass through the Empire’s cities because they want to avoid the high customs taxes. However, this naturally increases their risk of danger, but their McGrady Guild has private guards, and therefore, very few robbers are blind enough to make a move against them. Your friend is quite something to be able to rob them.”

“Of course. So, do you dare accept goods from the McGrady Guild?”

“Our Guild will accept everything as long as it’s not siege weapons. I’ve heard that the Empire is investigating this area rather closely recently. Forget it if it’s siege weapons.”

Han Shuo remembered the matter that Emily had mentioned when Phoebe spoke, and he seemed to catch a vague hint of something. However, Han Shuo had long since promised Emily the batch of war resources. He’d only planned on selling to Phoebe the goods used by nobles, and so he had no particular concerns.

“Be at peace, I wouldn’t make life difficult for you. I’ve eaten well today and will come by in a few days to come find you again. Help me take care of my matters as soon as possible if you can.” Han Shuo comforted Phoebe and stood up, preparing to take his leave.

Seeing that Han Shuo was about to leave, Phoebe hesitated and then said with a bit of difficulty, “I actually have a favor to ask as well.”

Looking at Phoebe in baffled surprise, Han Shuo asked, “What is it?”

“I need to attend a banquet in five days time. If I appear alone, some annoying people may bother me. I’d like for you to come with me and act as my boyfriend like last time.” Phoebe looked a bit shyly at Han Shuo and said lightly.

A rueful smile on his face, Han Shuo shook his head, “Forget it, I don’t want to be your shield again. If I trigger someone else’s jealousy and they come at me from the darkness, I’ll be in some danger. Why don’t you find someone else?”