Chapter 372: Good Intentions, Inquiring about the Portal

"Why would you do that for me?"

Solomon raised a single finger to her eye level. "Money can easily buy everything from blind loyalty to bitter hatred. But it cannot buy time. You are a mage with a rare talent. While you are already an excellent swordswoman, you have the potential to be an incredible mage too. You just need the right teacher to save you years of struggling."

[1Fizzy: OH MY GOD HE IS SO SWEET!]

[sgtcwby: literally boyfriend material.]

[James_hayes: W Solo Man!]

[M00N: bro is too smooth.]

Elizabeth opened her mouth to argue further, but she suddenly stopped. Her eyes darted slightly to the side, looking at the glowing, translucent interface hovering near her own bronze owl.

Her personal chat screen was vastly different from Solomon’s. While Solomon used the basic, default blue UI and never bothered checking his settings, Elizabeth had meticulously customized her interface with elegant crimson borders, stylized fonts, and neatly organized analytical widgets displaying her current live viewer count, which currently sat at a respectable 4,567.

Her chat was currently exploding. Solomon’s oldest, most dedicated viewers such as LazyCat, BloodKnight, GoonLord, User12, NewbHunter, OldTimer, and GamerGuy and more, had temporarily migrated over to her stream.

They had mixed with Elizabeth’s own dedicated fanbase, which included viewers like CrimsonRose, RoyalSimp99, BladeDancer, and TeaAndTreason. Both chats actively shipped her with Solomon, sharing the same chaotic, thirsty dynamic whenever the silver-haired boy was on screen.

Right now, they were frantically trying to explain Solomon’s underlying motivations to her.

[LazyCat: Princess, you have to understand! He had an SSS-rank talent that he couldn’t use for THREE YEARS!]

[BloodKnight: He was ridiculed, mocked, and abandoned by everyone. He knows exactly what it feels like to possess useless potential.]

[CrimsonRose: OMG he sees himself in you!]

[User12: he knows your water magic is frowned upon and you are struggling to learn it alone.]

[RoyalSimp99: he is just trying to help you so you don’t feel as helpless and hopeless as he did!]

[GoonLord: HE IS PROJECTING HIS TRAUMA ONTO YOU TO SAVE YOU! JUST SAY YES! BTW I SHIP HIM WITH LUNE!]

Elizabeth read the scrolling text, her heart clenching tightly. She hadn’t realized the deep, personal trauma driving his generous offer.

She looked back up at Solomon, her anger completely melting away. "I apologize for being so rude to you," she murmured, her cheeks flushing pink. "I understand now that you were just trying to help me. But... I really do not want to be the only one on the receiving end of such a favor."

She looked up at him through her white eyelashes. "What can I possibly do for you in return?"

[NewbHunter: ASK FOR A KISS!]

[RoyalSimp99: HOLD HIS HAND!]

[Hentai-Kun: omg ask her on a date Solo Man!]

[User12: secure the bag!]

[BladeDancer: the tension is killing me!]

Solomon completely ignored the degenerate suggestions scrolling across his own screen with new names. "You can think about how to repay me once you have actually mastered your water magic. Until you achieve that, you technically haven’t received anything of value from me yet."

[Foodball: AHAHAHA DENIED!]

[Brerell: bro is so professional.]

[BloodKnight: A warrior does not demand payment before the training is complete. Respect.]

[Ron_Selby: Solo Man fumbling on purpose at this point.]

[Nick: the ultimate sigma male grindset.]

The Grandmaster cleared his throat loudly, intentionally breaking the romantic tension hovering between the two teenagers.

"I assume you are here to inquire about the inter-dimensional portal, Solomon?" the Grandmaster asked.

"Yes," Solomon nodded, turning his attention back to the desk. "When will it open?"

"The gateway should be fully stabilized and open by now," the Grandmaster responded. "I am simply waiting for the Sword Pavilion Master to arrive so the two of you can transit through the portal together in a single transaction. It saves the academy a significant amount of magical energy and operational costs." The Grandmaster sighed, checking a pocket watch. "However, Wu is a notoriously terrible sleeper. I might have to send a guard to wake him up."

"Do not slander my good name like that, Gustav," a booming voice echoed from the hallway.

Sword Pavilion Master Wu strode confidently into the office, his deep blue robes rustling with every step. He immediately spotted Cedric standing near the bookshelf.

Wu’s face lit up. He leaned back slightly, pulling his right arm low. Cedric matched the movement, leaning in and pulling his own arm back. The two veteran masters stepped forward and delivered their signature high-five that echoed like a thunderclap across the spacious office, immediately following it up with a tight, back-slapping hug.

"Ohohoho! Look at him, Wu!" Cedric laughed heartily, pointing his wooden staff directly at the irritated Grandmaster. "He is still complaining about budget cuts and portal transactions while we are out here living our best lives!"

"He has not changed a bit since our adventuring days!" Wu wheezed, wiping a tear of mirth from his eye. "Still counting every single copper coin and stressing over the paperwork!"

The Grandmaster’s face flushed a brilliant shade of crimson. He endured the mocking laughter for a few seconds, his jaw clenched so tightly his teeth ground together. His composed, bureaucratic body language completely betrayed his boiling fury.

"The portal is open," the Grandmaster stated through gritted teeth, pointing a trembling finger at the door. "You need to leave my office right now. If you do not leave immediately, I swear I will summon the White Corps Division and have both of you physically thrown out of the administration wing!"

[1Fizzy: the Grandmaster is so done with them LMAO!]

[Mezz_3863: pulling out the highest division threat!]

[sgtcwby: bro is about to call the SWAT team on his friends.]

[James_hayes: the old man trio dynamic is top tier.]

Wu finally stopped laughing, wiping his eyes. He turned to Solomon. "Are you ready to depart, my boy?"

"I am ready," Solomon nodded.

The Grandmaster let out a heavy, exhausted sigh. "I will come down to the terminus to see you off."