"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 glanced at Han Shuo as she said quietly.
"No... not much." Han Shuo panicked and stammered a little.
"Then why are you drooling?" Phoebe pointed at the corner of Han Shuo's mouth as she laughed playfully.
He touched his chin and discovered that there was indeed a trace of water on his chin. Han Shuo said awkwardly, "Eh, that's not slobber. It's wine, really wine."
"Oh." Phoebe smiled happily, "So it's wine. How is it possible that even when you're drinking wine, you're missing some? How interesting."
He still felt that the atmosphere was a bit strange. Han Shuo felt very comfortable in his heart as he listened to Phoebe's soft and gentle words. His mind kept making connections as his eyes involuntarily drifted back 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. What is there that deserves your attention?" Phoebe's beautiful eyes darted around and landed on Han Shuo's body as she said this lightly.
Panicking inwardly, Han Shuo blurted out, "How do you know I've been looking at that area nine times?"
These words made Phoebe's face even redder. She tsked lightly and said quietly, "You've been looking around. Sitting in front of you, of course I saw everything. I know what evil thoughts you had when you looked there."
"Then what evil thoughts would you say I was thinking?" After what he'd just been through, Han Shuo suddenly felt that he was being a bit too passive. A demonic practitioner was unafraid of all conventions and was most comfortable when he did what was on his mind, no matter what others thought or said. When he suddenly understood this, Han Shuo no longer threw furtive glances around, but 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 said nothing with her face flushed. Her affected, shy face was even more uncomfortable than Han Shuo's earlier.
Seeing Phoebe like this, Han Shuo laughed happily, feeling that the depressing passivity of earlier had been completely swept away. He said happily, "Who would've thought that Miss Phoebe would care so much about me? You even noticed how often I looked over. I'm truly overwhelmed by your favour."
"Oh shut up Bryan, I've discovered you're full of bad thoughts. Looks like I'll be getting 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.
As Phoebe said this, Han Shuo suddenly remembered the matter that had to do with the McGrady Guild. The humour on his face was immediately replaced by seriousness as he asked Phoebe, "Speaking of business, I suddenly remembered something. The last time you mentioned the McGrady Guild, you said they were your competitors, right?"
Phoebe was a little surprised that Han Shuo had suddenly mentioned this and looked at him in surprise. Phoebe nodded and replied, "That's right, the McGrady Guild is part of the Brut Merchant Alliance, and they have been doing a lot of business in our Lancelot Empire lately. The goods they transport don't go through the cities of the Empire, so they don't have to pay any tariffs to the Empire. When their goods arrive, they can keep their prices low and thus affect our guild's business a bit as well.
With a faint smile, Han Shuo said, "Not going through the proper channels can indeed lead to great profits, especially in the industries forbidden by the Empire, where the profits are huge, even frightening. The McGrady Guild is quite bold and risks a lot."
"Why are you mentioning the McGrady Guild all of a sudden?" Phoebe looked at Han Shuo in confusion as she asked him.
"I have a friend in the Dark Forest with a very special profession. He recently robbed the McGrady Guild entourage and came away with many luxury items. He wants me to get rid of them. Can I do that through you?"
"A robber is a robber, what kind of robber? There are all kinds of robbers in the Dark Forest, there's nothing strange about that. Heh heh, the McGrady Guild wouldn't dare go through the cities of the Empire because they want to avoid the high customs taxes. Of course, this increases their risk of danger, but the McGrady Guild has private guards, so 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 to accept goods from the McGrady Guild?"
"Our guild will accept anything as long as it's not siege weapons. I've heard that the Empire has been investigating this area quite closely lately. Forget it if it's siege weapons."
Han Shuo remembered the matter 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 materials. He had only planned to sell Phoebe the goods used by nobles, so he had no particular concerns.
"Be at peace, I won't make life difficult for you. I've eaten well today and I'll be back in a few days. Help me take care of my business as soon as possible if you can." Han Shuo comforted Phoebe and stood up, preparing to leave.
Seeing that Han Shuo was about to leave, Phoebe hesitated and then said with a bit of difficulty, "I actually have a favour to ask as well."
Looking at Phoebe in stunned surprise, Han Shuo asked, "What is it?"
""I have to attend a banquet in five days. If I go alone, some annoying people might bother me. I'd like you to come with me and act as my boyfriend friend like last time." Phoebe looked at Han Shuo a bit shyly and said lightly.
With 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 danger. Why don't you find someone else?"
"No!" Phoebe shouted, then explained with a wry expression, "I introduced you to the founding elders of the Guild before. If I suddenly switch to someone else within a month, they'll say I have loose morals! That's absolutely not acceptable."
Han Shuo was still hesitating and seemed a bit uncomfortable. Phoebe stared at Han Shuo and then pouted. "If someone doesn't agree, then I won't take my business seriously either. It will be quite normal if the thing I promised him is delayed by ten days or half a month."
This was what Han Shuo didn't want to see. He had no choice but to nod at Phoebe's words and say, "Fine, as long as you don't think I'll embarrass you then."
"There you go, how could you allow someone else to take me to the banquet? What if they take advantage of me, wouldn't you be worried?" A faint smile appeared on Phoebe's face when she saw that Han Shuo agreed.
"Then aren't you afraid that I will take advantage of you?" Han Shuo rolled his eyes at Phoebe and said in a bad mood.
As he said these words, Phoebe's beautiful face flushed again and she turned her head away, too shy to look at Han Shuo. She said lowly, "No, you've already taken all the advantage you can."
Han Shuo's heart lurched as he looked at the redness of Phoebe's neck and ears, and in a strange coincidence, he blurted out, "Not everything. We haven't even slept together!"
Han Shuo reacted immediately and quickly walked outside before Phoebe had a chance to speak. He hurriedly said, "I'm leaving now that I'm full. I'll come back five days later."
"You rubbish talking villain!" Phoebe hadn't thought Han Shuo would say such a thing and immediately flew into a rage. She cursed Han Shuo's fleeing back and only let out a low laugh as his body sped up and disappeared. "Damn it, how dare he say that to me. Huh, he's getting bolder and bolder."
It was just after noon when he left the Boozt Merchant's Guild. It had been almost a month since he'd last checked in with the Dark Mantle. So, after checking the time, Han Shuo hired a carriage and made his way to the Dark Mantle's stronghold.
When he was one street away, Han Shuo disembarked and released the three original demons to survey the surroundings before walking to the mansion.
"Boss, you're finally here! I've been counting the days and knew that you would come and report soon. That is why I swapped shifts with others and waited here to bring you inside the organisation." The bandit Chester squirmed out from inside when Han Shuo arrived and said quietly with excitement.
"Uh, why are you calling me boss?" Han Shuo looked at Chester strangely and asked him confused.
"I'll be following you in the future, and I hope you'll give me tips and pointers. Of course, I must express my respect to you." Chester said matter-of-factly to Han Shuo.
"This title doesn't sound very nice, let's just call each other by our first names. Heh heh, but don't worry. If there are any good missions, I'll ask to take you along as well." Han Shuo said.
After receiving Han Shuo's promise, Chester appeared overjoyed and brought Han Shuo inside with passion and excitement. He chattered on and on, asking where Han Shuo had been during this time and if he had gone out on any missions.
Han Shuo answered Chester's questions carelessly and walked slowly into the interior of the Dark Mantle organisation. There was no surprise for him this time, and he walked directly to Candide's room with an air of familiarity.
"Oh, you really are here. I thought Emily lied to me." Candide was sitting in a shadowy corner, examining something in a magic flask. He didn't raise his head when Han Shuo walked in.
Han Shuo hadn't expected Emily to mention him and was a bit surprised. He didn't know what Emily had said to Candide, so he just stood there in silence.
After a while, Candide put down the flask in his hands and finally spoke with his unchanging dark face, "Emily said she happened to meet you in the Dark Forest and admired your style and competence. I was quite surprised. I didn't think Emily, with her high standards, would speak so highly of you. It looks like there really are some unique things about you.
No shit, Emily is my woman, of course she'd say good things about me. Han Shuo thought with pride, but kept his usual expression on his face. He opened his mouth to say, "It's been a month since my last mission. I've come to report in as per the rules and see if there are any more missions."
The Dark Mantle usually didn't interfere in personal matters, so Han Shuo didn't go into detail about how he and Emily had met. Since Emily had already talked about it, she would surely have concealed everything that needed to be concealed. As long as Han Shuo didn't reveal anything, nothing would happen.
Nodding, Candide said, "Emily paid you a round of compliments and said she wanted you to complete the mission in her hands with her. Then you'll share the rewards and the honour. What do you think? You're one of mine. Emily won't be able to use you without your consent, but if you agree, then it's a different matter altogether."
With the relationship between Han Shuo and Emily now, there was of course no reason not to agree. Not to mention that Emily needed Han Shuo to get the resources from the forest trolls for her mission. He was already unwittingly involved in all of this. If this turned out to be a mission he could benefit from, it would be even better.
"No problem, I'm willing to complete the mission with her." Han Shuo didn't hesitate and nodded in agreement. He paused and said, "The bandit who brought me here, Chester, is quite clever. Can he join as well?"
"The mission is Emily's, it's up to her if she needs another person. You can ask her directly." Candide said weakly, paused and then said, "Emily is Amyes' sister by blood. Her status within the Dark Mantle isn't low. It will be good for you to interact with her more. However, Emily's identity in reality is a bit mysterious. Keep an eye out, don't give others any gossip to talk about.
Amyes was one of the three heavyweights of the Dark Mantle, responsible for the surveillance and investigation of all nobles and officials. He was a figure within the Dark Mantle who was very active in the political scene, and one who held great power in his hands. To think that Emily was his sister by blood.
Furthermore, Candide seemed to be hinting at something else about Emily's other identity. This made Han Shuo a little surprised, unsure of the meaning of his words.
"Looks like you didn't know all this, let this be a reminder to be careful. Mm. That will be all. She's already pulled your information to peruse and will be able to find you easily. Come find me after you finish the mission with her." Candide said as he looked at Han Shuo.