Earlier, he wasn't threatening and had just laid out facts, but now he was threatening. If they didn't agree or Riva continued her behavior, he was simply going to walk out of the room.
Sure it would be better for him and his companions if he could heal Sophie and others like her, but since he didn't have any Nascent Energy, nor any source to get so from, so if they didn't agree… there was nothing he could do about it.
Riva's expression changed and her pupils constricted into pinholes. She was still angry but finally seed to have realized the gravity of the situation. Whether he was trying to take advantage of them or not, if she wanted him to heal her daughter, she had no choice but to agree to his 'unscrupulous' demand.
Sophie looked at Max, who had closed his eyes, and then at her mother, whose face was one of anger and helplessness. Her jaws clenched, her eyes beca firm before she tapped her mother's shoulder and said, "Mother, it's alright. Since I'm going to be the one to benefit in the end, I will…"
Right when she was about to say 'I will do it', she hesitated. Not because she was repulsed by the idea, she was not because she was going to be healed from it and on top of that, Max was a very handso and desirable man. She hesitated because she felt shy saying those words to her mother and face heated up.
If it was a year before, she wouldn't have reacted in such a way but after a year of suffering, she no longer had the stable and aloof ntality of a Four-star mage cum genius weaponsmith.
So, just like any young virgin mortal girl, she felt embarrassed.
Fortunately or Unfortunately for her, Riva who was lost in the ssy train her thoughts ca to her senses when she felt the tap on her shoulder and her hesitation gave Riva the chance to interrupt her.
"Don't even think about it! Just rest up. I'll settle this matter." She then called out to Max, "Co with ." And walked out the room, not giving the stunned Sophie any chance to speak.
Max was a little surprised before he beca ecstatic. Of course, he didn't show it on his face.
Just as he was about to follow her out, he paused, his eyes twinkling. He approached Sophie and whispered,
"Don't be disappointed, milady. We can do it after I heal your magic foundation."
"Huh?!
Sophie was jolted out of her stunned state by his words. Then, her face turned an enchanting shade of crimson, clearly embarrassed by his shaless words. Seeing this, Max couldn't help but think just how beautiful she would look after she completely recovered.
'I'll see it soon.'
"I…" Sophie started speaking in a fluster, wanting to defend herself but Max shook his head and gave her a smile rift with aning.
"You can tell your decision later. Alright, I'll go now or your mother will get more angry."
Saying this, he left the room, leaving a dazed Sophie who covered her face with her hands and let out a muffled cry,
"Argh! But I'm not disappointed…"
Following Riva, Max arrived in the hall. When he saw Riva sit down on a sofa and close her eyes, appearing as though she was waiting for soone, Max realized he got happy too soon.
Riva wasn't going to do it with him but was going to order soone else.
Trying to suppress his disappointnt, he said while sitting down in front of her.
"Just to remind you again, I need to do it with soone in the Four Star Realm at the very least if I want to heal your daughter, multiple tis at that. This will naturally take more ti, the ti Sophie doesn't have.
But if I were to do it with a Five Star Mage, just doing it one or at most two tis should be enough and we will save quite a bit of ti."
Riva opened her eyes when she heard this and her expression grew dignified as she asked.
"You an you won't be able to heal her magic foundation in ti if you were to do it with a Four Star Mage?"
Max very much wanted to say yes but his conscience didn't allow him. Hiding so information to profit himself was fine but blatantly lying was not. So, he sighed and slinked deeper into the sofa as he shook his head.
"No. According to my calculations, Sophie should have approximately four more hours before her condition reverts back. Four hours… should be barely enough to heal her."
He could see the tension from Riva's face disappear when she heard this.
Trying his luck one last ti, he said, "But I could be wrong and she maybe only has three or three and half hours. So, there is a certain risk but if I do it with a Five Star Mage, there won't be any risk even if she has less than three hours."
Riva's eyes flashed when she heard this and her expression beca unreadable as she stared into his eyes.
As Max returned the gaze with a calm look on his face while entertaining the last kindle of hope, suddenly the corner of her lips curled upward into a smile and she teasingly said,
"You really are relentless."
Her smile, albeit teasing, was so beautiful that Max beca montarily dazed. When his mind registered her words, he snapped back to his senses and heaved a sigh in defeat.
'It's really not easy to manipulate an experienced Five Star Mage like her, huh? Maybe if I used my Charm…'
He shook his head, 'No, It still wouldn't work since she would imdiately notice it and that will only serve to lower my impression in her mind. Though I doubt she had a good impression of mine in her mind in the first place.'
After a mont, he asked, "So, who have you called?"
"Wait a few monts. You'll see her soon enough." Riva said before saying, "Seeing how much you like , I'm sure she will be to your liking."
Max gave her an annoyed glance and muttered, "I hope so."
Suddenly, to his surprise and irritation, Riva suddenly started laughing.
He wanted to make so sarcastic remark when he noticed tears in her eyes. After laughing for a few monts, she said, "You are not as bad as I thought. I was just too insecure, it seems."
"Thanks, I guess?" Max said,
Riva shook her head, "No. It is I who should thank you."
Saying this, she stood up and gave him a respectful bow, "Thank you for helping my daughter. Even though you are doing this because of your pact with Mike, It's a very big and important thing for and my daughter. And despite what my behavior may have suggested until now, I'm nothing but grateful to you."
Max was caught off guard by her sudden change of behavior once again. Fortunately, unlike last ti, this change was for the better. After recollecting himself, he nodded, "It's good that you've returned to your senses."
The corner of Riva's lips twitched at his remark. She glared at him but just then, the sound of light footsteps resounded and a lady in a plain yellow dress walked into the hall.
At first glance, she looked like a kind neighborhood girl in the countryside.
But...
When Max took another glance and looked at her closely, his breath hitched and his bloodline suddenly turned violent.
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