Contrary to Wayne's expectation, Vivian's bite was like a kitten's nip. A slight sting on his fingertip, a few drops of blood, and then the tiny beauty had swallowed it with a satisfied expression. She licked his wound a few times, and to his surprise, it healed instantly.
Vivian's face flushed, and she fluttered her wings as if intoxicated. She flew unsteadily towards Wayne, kissed him on the cheek, and giggled. "The contract is complete, Wayne! You are now an official silver-level customer of the Wealth Bank. Your credit limit has been increased to 150,000 orens. How much would you like to borrow?"
Wayne wiped the saliva from his cheek, then extended his palm for Vivian to perch on. "Let's start with a 30,000-oren loan. The annual interest is still ten percent, correct?"
Vivian sat sideways on his palm, tapping her fingers to conjure a small screen with flashing numbers. After a moment, she announced with a proud tone:
"Wayne, I've used my authority to reduce your interest rate by one percentage point. That's the best I can do. Now you only need to pay nine percent interest annually."
Wayne nodded appreciatively, surprised by the discount. Even a 10% annual interest rate was considered low for a loan. Dwarven banks in Vizima typically charged double or triple that, and required collateral. Vivian's one-percentage-point reduction would save him hundreds of orens a year.
To reciprocate, Wayne took out a small purse containing sixty or seventy orens from his pocket. Without bothering to count, he placed it on his palm in front of Vivian, its purpose clear.
Vivian's eyes lit up. As a wealth elf, she adored gold, the universal symbol of wealth. "Wow! Thank you, Wayne, you're so generous!" The little beauty hugged the purse, her face radiating joy. Wayne even felt a trickle of cold water from her skirt onto his palm.
Realizing the dampness, his forehead twitched in annoyance. Not only was she not wearing any undergarments, but she was also wet. Such boldness!
He deposited Vivian and the purse on the table, pointing to the black money bag. "Go back in there now. I'll summon you again when I need to withdraw the money. Others will be entering this room soon, and you can't be seen!"
Vivian, realizing her gaffe, blushed and hugged the purse filled with coins. She said to Wayne:
"Then I shall take my leave, Wayne. It was an honor to serve you. Vivian is always at your call." With that, the tiny elf tucked the money bag under her arm and vanished into the black pouch.
Wayne exhaled, relieved. He had been nervous while signing the contract, fearing hidden clauses or potential trouble. Fortunately, the system was reliable, though its rewards were peculiar. The money bag and Vivian, as Master-level treasure chest items, were indeed powerful, worthy of being called treasures from another world.
With the 30,000 oren loan, he could purchase all the books he desired from Margarita. However, the amount was substantial, even for wealthy nobles. He needed a plausible explanation for the money, as the sorceresses, even if they didn't voice their suspicions, would undoubtedly be curious.
Fortunately, it was still early, and Triss and Keira were likely to stay at the academy for a few days. He had time to concoct a suitable excuse before they left.
As the sky darkened, Wayne realized it was time to prepare dinner. He found a servant in the tower and, under their guidance, retrieved various ingredients and cooking tools from the storage room. Back in his quarters, he immediately started preparing the meal. Winning the favor of these three sorceresses was crucial to his mission's success, and he wouldn't leave anything to chance.
By the time Margarita Laux-Antille, Triss Merigold, Keira Metz, and the three other sorceresses returned to Wayne's residence, he had already prepared over a dozen dishes, focusing on the desserts favored by the women. These delicacies, with their exquisite presentation and exceptional taste, quickly captivated the sorceresses, who indulged in the culinary delights. While they praised Wayne's skills, he continued to fill his plate with various treats, unconcerned with the ladies' attempts at portion control or maintaining their refined image.
That night, Margarita left Triss's residence, satisfied and promising to use her position as rector of Aretuza to secure Wayne a generous discount on magical tomes. As for the more esoteric knowledge Wayne sought, Margarita assured him that, after consulting with the academy's administration, he could compile a list of desired texts for their review. They would then select ten to twenty appropriate books to sell to him, excluding any forbidden magic or necromancy strictly prohibited by the Brotherhood of Sorcerers.
Wayne was delighted with this outcome, recognizing the value of connections and influence. He was grateful for Triss and Keira's standing, as well as his own reputation as a witcher. Otherwise, Aretuza would likely not have entertained the request of an ordinary individual.
However, Wayne was puzzled by Keira's behavior after Margarita's departure. She seemed intoxicated and looked at him with playful eyes, showing no intention of leaving. Triss, as the hostess, did not object, though her face was flushed. Under these circumstances, the three of them spent another night indulging in adult pleasures within the luxurious room.
However, this was merely a fleeting diversion. In the days that followed, Wayne immersed himself in studying with the aid of a young sorceress named Alys. Together, they scoured the Aretuza library, gathering knowledge relevant not only to witchers but also to Wayne's burgeoning abilities as a source mage. While Triss remained his primary magic instructor, he recognized the importance of building his own knowledge base to enhance his spellcasting prowess.
By the time Triss and Keira were ready to depart, Wayne had compiled a list of an astonishing one thousand books he intended to purchase. This surprised Margarita, and even Triss and Keira looked at him with curiosity. After all, he was not known for his scholarly pursuits but rather for his natural talent and penchant for enjoying life.
Wayne explained that he wanted to establish his own private library. As a long-lived witcher, learning was a way to fill the vast expanse of time ahead of him. Regarding the funding for this endeavor, he vaguely mentioned borrowing savings from fellow witchers, promising to repay them gradually. He offered no further explanation for how these seemingly impoverished witchers had accumulated such wealth, choosing to keep it a playful secret.
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