CHAPTER 731: DRAGON’S NEST HOTEL? FIND A PATRON TO PAY THE BILL!

With a rustling sound, the pearls and gemstones of the Silver Dragon Miss spilled out once again, covering the table.

Serila picked up a pearl with her slender fingers, then a ruby, her little face scrunched up as if these treasures were about to leave her:

"This one is worth 50 gold coins... this one is worth 100 gold coins... this one is very small and its color isn’t good, it should be worth at most 20 gold coins... Ugh, why do I have to use them to make a dress!"

"500 gold coins a day is really too expensive! I’ve been at the Star Dome for so long, and I’ve only earned... 20,000 gold coins? There’s still a 70,000 gap to fill with these gems..."

Ugh, my bed of gold coins will be gone... my rubies, my sapphires, my diamonds, my pearls, will all be gone...

"It’s alright, we can afford it," Garrett tried to comfort her:

"It’s just 70,000 gold coins. I’ll write a few more papers and sell some patents, and I should be able to make up the difference. For now, we can use that mobile Tower Spirit as collateral for a loan. The council shouldn’t refuse, it’s just internal circulation anyway..."

"That won’t do!" Serila suddenly lifted her head to look at him, her silver-blue eyes wide and pupils slightly narrowed:

"You’re not well-off either! You still owe debts! How can we spend such a large amount of money of yours! I’ll figure it out myself! Ugh, maybe I should just go home..."

Her ears drooped down in dejection. Garrett didn’t understand how the elf ears from the shapeshifting spell managed to droop like that. Fortunately, he had another plan:

"If you don’t want to spend my money, we’ll think of something else, alright?—I heard from Grand Mage Sam that the accommodation costs at the Dragon’s Nest are usually covered by the magicians working on projects with the dragon clan. Shall we talk to the Star Dome about it?"

Serila’s expression brightened a bit.

Senior Brother was not around, nor was Second Senior Sister. There was no one to back them up, but fortunately, the Star Dome was sincere, and soon, a level 16 grand mage came to negotiate.

This grand mage had a round, pale face, clearly from a lack of sunlight—or rather, he lived with a reversed day-night cycle, sleeping during the day and stargazing at night. He had heavy dark circles, and his walk was wobbly, looking as if he was severely drained.

Garrett couldn’t help but wonder: What’s his deal? Is he sick? Too tired? Or has the prophecy array been activated too frequently, putting too much strain on him?

Despite appearing weak, the grand mage’s face was full of smiles. His speech was steady and unhurried:

"Miss wants to stay at the Dragon’s Nest? Hoping the Star Dome will advance the payment? Sure, sure."

Serila immediately breathed a sigh of relief. The grand mage took out a contract at the perfect moment:

"Miss’s remuneration for work at the Star Dome is 200 gold coins per day. If you need an advance of six months’ payment, just sign a work contract promising to work at the Star Dome for the next two and a half years, and we can arrange it immediately." ℞ἁ₦𝘰βĚ𐌔

"Two and a half years?!"

Serila’s eyes widened immediately. Two and a half years is such a long, long, long time! She had only been involved in research at the Star Dome for a few months, lying there for two and a half years would make her grow moss!

It sounds so boring... She wants to play around, do experiments with Garrett, and see all sorts of new cases and treatments...

She doesn’t want to be trapped at the Star Dome for two and a half years!

"I don’t want to!"

This phrase reached her lips, but seeing Garrett, she swallowed it back down. If she refused, Garrett would have to pay; such a large sum of money would be a heavy burden for him!

Otherwise... should she agree?

She hesitated, neither agreeing nor refusing, stuck in place. Garrett patted her hand and said:

"I think two and a half years is unfair. —Serila’s slumber this time is for advancing and transforming. After advancing, her abilities will increase, and she should receive better treatment. Do you pay a 13th-level magician the same as a 15th-level one?"

The grand mage leaned back in his chair, smiling slightly, wrinkles gathering at the corners of his eyes. He casually tapped the armrest:

"That makes sense. But, whether Miss will indeed advance to an adult dragon after waking up, and to what extent her abilities will increase, are still unknown."

"But two and a half years is still too long," Garrett said gently:

"Even for the dragon clan, lying at the Star Dome for two and a half years, doing nothing but pushing buttons every day, is very boring. Rather than wasting this time, Serila might as well go home and slumber. The journey back and forth is only one or two months anyway."

Is that a threat?—If you were willing to let her go home, why negotiate a contract here? The grand mage thought to himself, slowly adding:

"In that case, let’s add a clause to the contract. Two and a half years is a tentative duration. After she wakes up, we’ll re-evaluate her abilities and renegotiate the contract. How about that?"

Hmm... that sounds fair... and it doesn’t touch her bed of gold coins, which is the most important!

Serila considered it, nudging Garrett with her elbow. Garrett didn’t immediately agree but took the parchment, folding it once:

"Can we think about it and come back to sign if we find it agreeable?"

What if they refuse to renegotiate the contract later?

What if the evaluation gives too low a price?

When making deals, you must compare prices! Signing a contract with just one negotiation is impossible!

Serila followed him out of the prophecy department’s influence, taking the elevator down. Interestingly, the enchantment department was responsible for managing the Dragon’s Nest. Garrett irresponsibly guessed that perhaps the enchantment department was best at teleportation spells?

Opening portals and doors to different worlds as needed, their hospitality demands were the highest?

But regardless, the magician managing the Dragon’s Nest took them to see a room. They flew down the northern slope of Igor Peak, descending seventy or eighty meters, then used magic to open the mountainside.

Turning and entering, the moment they stepped into the Dragon’s Nest, Serila wrinkled her nose in disappointment:

"There’s nothing here! No gold, no gems, just stone floors and walls!"

How can this host dragons? There’s no sincerity at all! Bare stone floors look uncomfortable, and lying on them must be even worse!

"Miss, rooms with decorations require additional payment," the managing magician replied fluently:

"According to the council’s loan interest rate, 10,000 gold coins have an annual interest of 8%. How many gold coins do you need to pave the floor?"

"..."

"…"

Garrett silently turned his face away. This was too much! They’re trying every trick to get gold coins from the dragons’ pockets!

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