Chapter 204: Failed Writer

Around ten in the morning, the men from the carpenter’s shop arrived with the boxes.

They were brought over on a donkey cart—twenty of them, exactly.

The sizes were just as Lu Wei had specified, some large and some small.

The smallest were three inches in length, width, and height, meant for trinkets or Potions.

The largest was big enough to hold a Warhammer.

The total cost was 3 Silver Coins, which averaged out to only 15 Copper Coins per box.

Considering they were handmade, the price was quite cheap.

[Wooden Box]

[Type: Miscellaneous]

[Level: Ordinary]

[Value: 12 Copper Coins]

[Introduction: A wooden box made of fir, with a simple hinged lid. The construction is sturdy and reliable.]

[Note: Although sturdy, it is not recommended for storing valuables.]

“Here’s the final payment.”

After inspecting the boxes to make sure they hadn’t cut any corners, Lu Wei paid the remaining 2 Silver Coins to the carpenter’s apprentice. Then, he circled the donkey cart with great interest.

“Can you guys make this kind of flatbed cart?”

“Yes, sir.”

The young apprentice nodded. “Would you like to order one?”

“How much?”

“4 Silver Coins, with a 1 Silver Coin deposit.”

“Alright, make one for me then. It’d be best if you could deliver it tomorrow.”

“Ah? I’m afraid tomorrow won’t be possible.”

The young apprentice explained, “Making the wheels is very tricky. It takes at least three or four days.”

“Is that so? Well, is this cart for sale?”

Lu Wei patted the cart. “Just sell this one directly to me.”

“I can’t make that decision. I’ll have to go back and ask my master.”

“Fine. You head back for now. I’ll stop by your shop this afternoon, and we can talk about it then.”

“Yes, sir.”

The young apprentice nodded and led the donkey and cart away.

Lu Wei, meanwhile, stacked the boxes in a corner of the front yard and then hurried out the door.

Even though his “Luck Check” this morning had been terrible, he couldn’t just hole up at home all day.

So, he decided to take a trip to the Black Market and see if he could buy some Equipment and Weapons suitable for his blind boxes.

He’d also buy a donkey while he was at it.

After all, times had changed. With his current savings and status, it was high time he owned a vehicle.

Horses, however, were too expensive. They not only ate a lot and required costly feed, but they also needed frequent “maintenance.”

After thinking it over, a donkey was the more cost-effective choice.

It would also be easier to sell when he eventually left Heitai Town.

‘Once the Dome Pillar project is on track and my business with Nick has stabilized, I need to get to Kalin Port as soon as possible.’

‘The spending power of people in the countryside is too low. A big city will definitely have more opportunities.’

‘But there aren’t any Adventurer’s Lands near Kalin Port. Haiwang Castle, on the other hand, has the Lizard Marsh next to it…’

Musing over his future “business blueprint,” Lu Wei cast [Long Stride] on himself, and his figure quickly vanished at the end of the path.

…

…

SCRATCH, SCRATCH, SCRATCH…

In the study on the second floor of the Silver Moon Corridor.

The sound of a High Level Goose Feather Pen gliding smoothly across papyrus was faint and rhythmic. At the desk, Freya sat with perfect posture. Sunlight filtered through the lace curtains, casting intricate shadows on the back of her hand as she held the pen.

Neat, small characters flowed from the nib, quickly filling a sheet of papyrus.

Although she was an “Evil Daughter,” she was also a very self-disciplined writer who wrote every day, without fail.

Even though she had yet to publish a single work.

Not a short piece in the newspaper, nor a fully printed novel.

This wasn’t because Freya was too proud to submit her work to newspapers and publishing houses.

It was purely a matter of skill.

The highest praise she’d ever received in an editor’s rejection letter was this:

[Some improvement. This time, I managed to read two pages before falling asleep.]

Freya, of course, could not accept this.

The proud noble lady could not tolerate any failure, and that naturally included “writing.”

Unfortunately, no matter how hard she tried—honing her style, adjusting her narrative—she still couldn’t win an editor’s approval.

It was hard to say if her current volatile temper was related to her repeated setbacks in writing.

KNOCK, KNOCK, KNOCK…

The door behind her was knocked upon.

Freya paid it no mind. Only after finishing another paragraph did she put down her pen and say flatly, “Come in.”

“Miss.”

Gante entered, walked over quickly, and placed a clan crest and a money pouch on the corner of the desk.

“Here are the thirty Gold Coins.”

“Also, the men you wanted to hire have arrived. There are three of them, waiting outside now. They all possess Stealth Class Skills.”

He had completed the tasks assigned just last night by this morning.

It had to be said, Gante’s efficiency was truly impressive.

Or perhaps it was the crest of the Delaroca Clan that carried enough weight.

“Oh. Just go and tell them what to do.”

Freya glanced at her manuscript a few more times, then rose and walked to a nearby coat rack, taking down a dark gray Cloak trimmed with silver.

“Have Cersei prepare the carriage. I’m going to see him.”

“Ah?”

Gante was taken aback. “Miss, who are you going to see?”

“Who do you think?”

Freya shot him a sideways glance. “Give Cersei the address.”

“…”

‘So, it’s Lu Wei?’

‘It has to be…’

‘Honestly, is it that hard to give a straight answer?’

‘Sigh, being a servant to Miss Freya is such a pain.’

“Understood. I’ll give Mr. Lu Wei’s address to Cersei right away.”

Gante grumbled internally for a moment, then acknowledged the order and bowed his head as he exited the room.

Freya, meanwhile, walked to a mirror and straightened her clothes.

After a moment’s thought, she took a silver necklace and an emerald Ring from a black velvet jewelry box.

Both were simple in style—a delicate silver chain and an emerald with a small face—perfectly matching her cold, aloof temperament.

But the moment she put on the necklace and Ring, her entire aura underwent a subtle yet significant change.

It was as if a warm current had suddenly flowed into a snow-covered lake, silently melting the hard ice.

Or as if the clouds that perpetually shrouded a mountain peak had parted, allowing sunlight to pour down.

Although she was still far from being as warm and approachable as a spring breeze, the standoffish air that kept people at a distance had at least vanished.

From this, it was clear that these two inconspicuous trinkets were undoubtedly High Level Equipment that could increase the [Charm] Attribute.

To be honest, with Freya’s current temperament, if she were to attend a ball now, there was no way she would end up sitting alone all night, ignored.

Yet, she seemed extremely uncomfortable with her current appearance. After just one glance in the mirror, she looked away in disgust, grabbed the bag of Gold Coins, and left the study.

A short time later, the carriage emerged from the alley and headed toward the southern part of town, drawing surprised looks from passersby.

This was, in fact, the first time Freya had left the Silver Moon Corridor since arriving in Heitai Town.

And just as she, “meticulously dressed,” was preparing to risk danger and personally probe Lu Wei’s identity, he himself was currently leading a donkey down the road to the Town Hall.

It was a small donkey with a bell around its neck, and it looked very docile.

Its fur was gray—a color that clashed perfectly with Freya’s Cloak.

Two cloth sacks were draped over the donkey’s back, filled with the blind box prizes Lu Wei had just “carefully selected” at the market.

So far, everything had gone smoothly, and nothing unlucky had happened.

“Hmph.”

Leading the donkey, Lu Wei chewed on a stem of grass he’d picked from who-knows-where and muttered leisurely:

“This is why you can’t give in to feudal superstitions.”