Free Web NovelChapter 53: Chapter 49: The Battle-Hardened Velin
Velin looked at the wine glass offered to his lips.
The scarlet liquid in the glass swirled under the moonlight, casting an ambiguous halo.
A blush graced Caroline’s cheeks—whether from the wine or something else, it was hard to say. Her emerald eyes, usually sharp as blades, now glistened with moisture, clearly reflecting his image.
Memories from his past life surfaced in his mind.
’Ever since my first year of grad school, the senior and junior female students who wanted to get their names listed as the fourth or fifth author on my SCI papers always used similar tactics.’
’They’d treat me to meals, buy me bubble tea, and look at me with adoring eyes, saying, "You’re so amazing, senior!" All that buildup would inevitably lead to the request, "Can you include me in this project?"’
’You couldn’t say it was identical—you could only say there was absolutely no difference.’
After a moment’s thought, Velin understood. The Golden Sail Commerce Association had just scraped by with a pyrrhic victory; their cash flow must be tight.
And the Origin Association was a bottomless pit.
The conclusion was clear—she wanted to cut off the funding.
In his eyes, Caroline’s combo move was a bit low-level—hasty and naive. He couldn’t even be bothered to call her out on it.
"The antidote was a success."
Velin didn’t touch the glass. He took a small step back, creating some distance between them.
"The antidote was a success, which proves our partnership has a solid foundation." His voice was as calm as ever. "Therefore, I believe now is the perfect time to discuss the first phase of research funding for the Origin Association."
Caroline’s hand, holding the glass, froze mid-air.
She had imagined countless responses—an ambiguous smile, some knowing banter, perhaps even a clumsy but sincere touch.
But she never expected that in the tipsy atmosphere she had so carefully crafted—one meant only for the two victors—he would hand her a cold bill instead.
The effects of the wine mostly faded, leaving only the slight chill of the evening breeze on her skin.
She slowly lowered the glass and, instead of backing away, stepped forward. The hem of her dress nearly brushed against Velin’s pant leg, and her fragrance became incredibly aggressive.
She lowered her voice, a hint of coquettish pouting in it that she herself didn’t notice.
"Tonight... can’t we talk about something else? Anything at all."
"Funding *is* the most important ’anything’."
Velin’s response came without a shred of hesitation.
"While researching the shipworm antidote these past few days, I’ve had many new ideas. To counter potential future threats, we need to get the Origin Association operational as soon as possible. Also... I’ve drafted a preliminary list of materials. Many of them are quite rare, so I’ll need you to figure out how to acquire them."
’Funding?’
’Materials?!’
Caroline’s voice suddenly shot up, and that first budding of girlish affection vibrated and weakened with the sound waves.
"Velin Klein!"
Her chest heaved violently with anger, causing the breathtaking lines traced by her dark green gown to tremble.
"Are Golden Suns and materials the only things in your eyes?"
"I, Caroline Channing, a whole person, am standing right here! Can’t you see me?!"
A mixture of shame and vexation washed over her. She wished she could take off her high heels and smash them against his unfazed face.
Velin watched her fuming expression and sneered internally.
’Just as I thought. When the soft approach doesn’t work, she resorts to the hard one.’
He confirmed his assessment.
He sighed softly. "Sigh... Caroline, why don’t you understand? A partnership without a material basis is like a plate of sand. You don’t even need the wind to blow; it falls apart after just a few steps."
"We’re partners. If we don’t talk about money, what should we talk about? Feelings?"
His voice was calm, but to Caroline’s ears, it was like the blow of a heavy hammer.
What else could she say?
Wasn’t this the very principle she had always believed in? To measure everything with money, to bind human nature with benefits.
She just never thought that one day, the blade she took the most pride in would be plunged back into her own heart.
She said nothing.
She spun around abruptly.
The frantic, chaotic clacking of her high heels, carrying a hint of disgrace, disappeared at the entrance to the terrace.
...
「A few days later, on the deck of the *Sea Siren’s Song*.」
The sea breeze, carrying a salty, fishy smell, rustled Velin’s black hair.
The ship was sailing toward Shiyan Town.
During his remaining days in Tarry Port, he had visited nearly every market and material shop.
The port city lived up to its reputation as the largest distribution hub in the southern seas. Many marine creature materials, ores, and special plants from the Mist Islands that were rare inland could be found here.
This greatly broadened the scope of his research ideas.
On the "Origin Association First Phase Procurement List" he submitted to Caroline, tucked among the standard equipment and raw materials needed to establish a basic biochemical laboratory, were a few inconspicuous items.
Troll’s Blood of Regeneration.
An adult Petrifying Lizard’s Demon Core.
These were all materials for concocting Barrett’s bloodline evolution potion.
Velin had commissioned the Golden Sail Commerce Association to purchase these at his own expense.
His gaze drifted over the ship’s railing to the bow.
Caroline was standing there, giving orders to several captains.
She had reverted to the decisive, silver-haired witch, her powerful aura leaving no room for doubt. free𝑤ebnovel.com
As if sensing his gaze, she whipped her head around.
Their eyes met for a second.
She immediately turned away, her jawline tight.
’Looks like she still can’t bear to part with her precious Golden Suns.’
Velin filed her behavior away as "residual, invalid emotion."
"Your Excellency, Velin."
An aged voice sounded from behind him.
Velin turned to see the Chief Alchemist, Valerius, striding quickly toward him. The old man walked with a sense of urgency, a look of bewilderment on his face.
"Master," Velin greeted him with a nod.
"That’s not Alchemy!"
Valerius got straight to the point, his voice trembling. He rushed in front of Velin, making no attempt to hide his excitement.
"’β-1,4-Glucosidase inhibitor’! I’ve consulted all the ancient texts and asked all my old friends in the Royal Capital! That kind of logic... it’s a logic that only a god could conceive!"
"Please, tell me, which Alchemy Workshop did you study under? Why has your name never appeared on any list of professionals?"
"I have no mentor, nor have I been officially instated in a profession," Velin stated the facts calmly.
Valerius stopped in his tracks. His graying beard trembled, and he thought he must have misheard in his old age.
"Not... instated?"
He circled Velin twice, as if observing a Magical Beast.
"Heavens! This... How is this possible!"
The old man suddenly grew agitated and grabbed Velin’s arm.
"A great genius like you is still without a profession? This is blasphemy against knowledge! An insult to the path of Alchemy!"
"Your Excellency! I, Valerius Thorin, swear on my fifty years as an Alchemist that I will be your sponsor and mentor! You absolutely must be instated as an Alchemist!"
The old man’s eyes shone as he laid out a rambling plan.
"I may not be able to make you ascend in a single step, but I can impart to you everything I’ve learned in my life—all the detours I’ve taken and the shortcuts I’ve found! Your theories combined with my experience... Heavens, perhaps you could advance to Level 7! How many years has it been since a Level 7 expert emerged in these seas!"
