CHAPTER 58: CH-58

Fortunately, Amanda didn’t seem suspicious of me being broke, because that would make one hell of a depressing bar joke.

"About May...does this place have somewhere she can stay while she’s training?"

Amanda looked her up and down, and she seemed to notice the special relationship between us so she made sure to speak politely to her.

"If you don’t mind, you can stay with me on the third floor. My unit’s already been renovated, and I’ve got a spare room."

May smiled back and nodded.

"Don’t you have a family, Amanda? Won’t that be a bother?" I inquired.

A faint laughed escaped her, though there was no humor in it.

"No. I never got married. Fifteen years down the drain with a cheater who fuck my best friend behind my back. So now, it’s just me."

"What an asshole. Hard to believe there are guys that insensitive." I let out a disappointed sigh.

If it were me, I would just fuck both of them. Problem solved—everyone’s happy.

"Mr. Mercer... you talk like you’re loyal." She raised an eyebrow. "Hard to believe, though... you seem like a playboy."

"Oh, I never claimed to be the loyal type." My lips curved into a playful smirk. "But I am generous with love—and honestly, I think loving many women at once is better than leaving one lonely. Especially when they’re as beautiful as you."

Amanda’s lips parted just slightly as color rose to her cheeks. She turned her head, but I still caught her smile.

The Francis Card was ridiculously effective on older, lonely women so getting her flustered was too easy.

"You really have a silver tongue, Mr. Mercer," she said, trying to sound composed.

I let the moment pass with a simple laughed. No need to push her further.

There would be time for that in the future. Right now, I needed money, enough to make this place operational.

Creating a guild wasn’t just a mission. It was part of something bigger the system wanted me to prepare for. And the sooner I set it in motion, the better.

Once everything was settled with the center, I walked out to breathe in fresh air.

I pulled out my phone and texted Ellie, asking if she could send another chunk of money discreetly, somewhere Daniel wouldn’t notice the cash flow.

Her reply came almost instantly. (I’ll sell my luxury items and jewelries )

I sent her a quick message: (Meet me at the store.)

It wasn’t that I didn’t trust her—far from it—but she tended to be too soft in these types of things.

Almost instantly, she replied with a thumbs-up emoji and a short, message (Okay)

With that done, I hopped onto the city transit system like before and couldn’t help but think how convenient it would be to have my own car.

I knew how to drive—learned back in my previous life during a summer job delivering pizzas. All I needed now was a license here.

After getting off the transit, I flagged down a taxi.

"32 High Avenue," I told the driver, leaning back as the car pulled into motion.

Roughly ten minutes later, the streets grew busier, the buildings taller and noticeably cleaner.

At the side stood a mall—far fancier than the one I’d been to earlier. It practically looked like a skyscraper, and everyone around was decked out in branded clothing.

Of course, not all of them were actually rich—some were just here for clout, like that group of girls sipping coffee and pretending their lattes were liquid gold while looking for rich boyfriends.

Better watch out—I’m an easy target for pretty women.

I made my way up to the second floor. Every store was a showcase of luxury: designer outfits, cutting-edge gadgets, exotic jewelry, and high-end accessories gleaming under bright lights.

"Litt Mon Jewelry," I read aloud, glancing up at the sign.

Ellie was already inside the store, a sleek, high-end boutique that specialized in buying and selling rare pieces.

When she saw me enter, she gave a small, almost imperceptible nod, remembering our unspoken rule—not to display any affection in public.

Approaching the counter, she began speaking.

"We’re here to sell a few items."

The clerk nodded and gestured for us to follow, guiding us deeper into the store. A discreet door led to a private office where the owner was waiting.

Ellie introduced us, placed her small briefcase on the polished desk, and flipped it open.

Inside lay an impressive collection of jewelry—pendants, rings, and bracelets encrusted with rare materials that glimmered even under the soft lighting.

The craftsmanship was exquisite, and the sheer volume was too flashy even for me.

The owner’s eyes widened, and he let out an audible gulp. I could almost read his thoughts: Does he even have enough money to buy all of this?

He started by inspecting the priciest piece first—a pendant with a yellowish gem that looked like crystallized honey.

"Mrs. Mercer, this item is made of Solith. Pieces like this don’t show up often. Are you absolutely certain about letting it go?"

"Let’s say I decide to part with it—how much could I expect to get for it right now?"

He took out a jeweler’s loupe and examined the pendant again, tilting it under the light to check its clarity and cut.

Then he weighed it, his lips moving slightly as he did some quick mental math.

"Twenty-six million."

Her mouth opened. "O—"

"It’s too low," I cut in before she could finish.

"That’s already a good price." he said, adjusting his glasses and straightening his posture.

"Solith has seen a slight drop in value recently, and this piece—while exquisite—still falls within the twenty six million range. Any higher and no dealer would touch it."

I didn’t bother responding right away.

He wasn’t lying—but he wasn’t completely being honest either.

Before coming here, I’d done my homework. Ellie had sent me photos of everything in her collection, and I spent my free time cross-checking their market values online.

Even the most conservative estimates put this pendant at least five million higher.

In other words, he was trying to lowball us.

"Let’s not beat around the bush. Even if you dismantle it and sell the pieces separately, the stones alone would fetch at least thirty million. And on top of that, it’s crafted by a renowned artisan—so getting forty million isn’t unrealistic."

He coughed into his hand, trying to recover his composure.

"You’re... surprisingly well-informed, Mr. Mercer. Still, I can only offer below market price. I’m the one taking the risk if it doesn’t sell. Unlike your family, I don’t have endless money to spare."

"Thirty-five million," I raised my finger.

"Twenty-six," he countered without missing a beat.

"Thirty-four."

"Twenty-eight."

We went back and forth for a while until we finally shook hands at thirty million.

It was a good deal because we didn’t have to deal with the hassle of auctioning it off.

After the pendant, the jeweler began pricing the other lower value items. By the end, the total came to sixty nine million.

Not bad at all. If Ellie had come here alone, she probably would’ve lost tens of millions in the bargain.

Just as I was about to stand, something behind the owner’s chair caught my eye.

"What is that?"