Chapter 153: Reinhard Spends Money

Three days had passed since Reinhard discovered that someone had deliberately prevented powerful organizations from supporting Emily. He had not forgotten about it, and he had already decided that he would investigate further, but for the moment, he had no intention of dragging Emily into another serious matter.

She had spent too much of her life with every day revolving around something she had to endure, fix, or overcome. After everything that had happened, Reinhard wanted her to have a day where she didn’t need to accomplish anything.

He found her in the sitting room that morning and placed two Return Rings on the table.

Emily picked one up and looked at him. "What’s this?"

"I’m taking you on a date."

She smiled slightly. "Again?"

"Our last outing involved doctors and proving people wrong. That barely counts."

Emily laughed. "Then where are we going?"

"Aurileus City."

He picked up the other ring and slipped it onto his finger. "Besides, these things are wasted if we only use them when we’re working."

Emily put on her ring and reached for his hand. "All right. What are we doing?"

Reinhard smiled. "Whatever you want."

"You’re letting me choose?"

"Today, you’re experiencing my hobbies."

Emily blinked. "Your hobbies?"

"Shopping, expensive food, beautiful clothes, interesting relics, finding valuable things, making money, and admiring myself in mirrors."

Emily laughed. "That last one isn’t a hobby."

Reinhard looked offended. "Looking good requires dedication."

Before she could answer, the Return Rings activated, and the two of them disappeared.

When they reappeared in Aurileus City, Reinhard immediately looked around with a satisfied expression. He had spent enough time in Marvello to know the best parts of the city, but today he wasn’t here to search for anything.

He simply wanted to enjoy himself with Emily.

Their first stop was a luxury clothing store.

Emily looked at him. "I thought I was choosing what we do."

"You are."

"Then why did you bring me here?"

"Because I wanted you to look spectacular."

Emily stared at him for a moment before laughing. "You really do have strange priorities."

Reinhard ignored the comment and began choosing clothes.

He selected an elegant outfit for Emily that complemented her white hair and silver eyes, with subtle crimson details woven into the fabric and a light outer coat resting over her shoulders. He then chose a tailored dark coat for himself, along with polished boots and several expensive accessories.

When they finally stood before the mirror together, Emily looked at their reflections and smiled.

"We’re overdressed."

Reinhard adjusted his collar. "We’re Top Five."

"That’s not an answer."

"It’s the only answer you need."

Emily laughed and fixed his collar for him. "You really care about how you look."

"Of course. If people are going to stare, we might as well give them something worth staring at."

They stepped outside, and it didn’t take long for people to begin recognizing them.

At first, it was only a few whispers, but soon more people were turning their heads.

"Wait, isn’t that Emily Ashcroft?"

"It is."

"And that’s Reinhard."

"The Ashcroft couple?"

Their reputation had clearly traveled far beyond Elyndor. Emily was known as the former cripple who had returned to the Top Five, the woman who had fought a Calamity Awakener and helped end the Bloodkin threat that had plagued the region.

Reinhard was recognized alongside her.

Some people politely greeted them, while others asked for pictures or simply watched them pass.

A restaurant owner recognized them and hurried outside. "Lady Emily, Sir Reinhard, we can prepare our private room immediately."

Reinhard smiled politely. "Thank you, but we’re here for a date."

"Of course. Then please take our best table."

Emily waited until they had walked away before quietly saying, "You enjoy this too much."

"Being treated well?"

"Being recognized."

"They’re recognizing you."

Emily smiled and held his arm. "They’re recognizing my husband."

Reinhard’s smile widened. "Exactly."

They spent the next part of the morning enjoying the city. Reinhard introduced Emily to several foods he liked, including a famous Aurelius dessert, a strange Mana-infused fruit, and a street snack that he insisted was far better than its appearance suggested.

Emily took a bite and nodded. "This is actually good."

"Of course it is."

"You sound offended that I doubted you."

"I have excellent taste."

She laughed, and Reinhard ordered another serving.

"We don’t need another."

"I know."

"Then why are you buying it?"

"Because you liked it."

Emily shook her head, but she was smiling as she took another bite.

...

Eventually, they reached one of the city’s luxury shopping districts, and Reinhard’s attention immediately shifted toward the stores around them.

Emily followed his gaze toward an expensive piece of furniture. "Why are you looking at that?"

"It’s beautiful."

"We have furniture."

"Not that furniture."

"Do we need it?"

"No."

Emily looked at him. "Then why are you buying it?"

"Because I want it."

She stared at him before laughing.

That quickly became the pattern of their afternoon.

Reinhard bought beautiful furniture for the mansion, decorative Mana lamps, expensive dining ware, comfortable chairs, rare fabrics, and an absurdly expensive table. He also bought gifts for the family, specialty food, training equipment, and several things Emily had paused to admire.

At one store, the merchant recognized him immediately and personally came out to serve them.

"Sir Reinhard, I heard you were interested in our private collection. Please allow me to show you our finest pieces."

Emily raised an eyebrow.

Reinhard smiled. "See? Reputation has benefits."

The merchant presented several relics, but Reinhard activated the Merchant King’s Lens and examined each one.

Most were overpriced.

One, however, appeared almost worthless.

It was a small silver ornament with no obvious combat function.

Reinhard picked it up.

The Lens revealed its true value.

[Hidden Property: Mana Stabilization.]

[Optimal Use: Place within ten meters of a high-density Mana source.]

Reinhard’s eyes brightened.

"How much?"

The merchant hesitated. "That one? Two hundred thousand."

"Sold."

Emily looked at the ornament. "What does it do?"

"Something useful."

She smiled. "So you found another treasure."

"That’s what makes shopping fun."

They continued until Emily finally noticed just how much money he was spending.

"You’re actually spending millions."

"Yes."

"Today?"

"Yes."

"On things we don’t need?"

"Correct."

Emily shook her head, laughing.

They entered another store, where they found a beautiful relic made from a rare Mana-rich material.

The merchant explained the price.

"Eight million credits."

Emily immediately expected Reinhard to walk away.

Instead, he nodded. "I’ll take two."

"Reinhard!"

The merchant froze.

Reinhard looked at Emily as if her reaction were completely unreasonable. "One for the mansion."

"We don’t need one."

"I know."

"And the second?"

"The other mansion."

Emily stared at him. "We don’t have another mansion."

"Not yet."

The merchant turned away, clearly trying not to laugh.

Emily covered her face. "I cannot believe you."

Reinhard calmly completed the purchase.

The day continued like that, but eventually something caught Emily’s attention that had nothing to do with shopping.

A young girl stood alone near a crowded intersection.

She was dressed beautifully, with expensive clothing, jewelry, and a small relic around her neck, but she looked completely lost. Tears had gathered around her eyes while people passed without stopping.

Emily slowed.

Reinhard immediately noticed. "You want to help her."

Emily nodded. "She’s alone."

"Then let’s go."

Emily approached the girl and crouched beside her. "Are you lost?"

The girl tried to hold back her tears before nodding. "I can’t find my parents."

"Do you remember where you were with them?"

"A market nearby. I looked away for a moment, and then they were gone."

Emily gently placed a hand on her shoulder. "It’s all right. We’ll help you find them."

The girl looked at her more carefully, and her eyes widened. "You’re Emily Ashcroft."

Emily smiled. "I am."

"Are you really the one who defeated the Bloodkin?"

Reinhard answered before Emily could. "She is."

Emily gave him a look.

He smiled. "What? It’s true."

The girl finally laughed.

Reinhard asked where her parents had been heading, but the location she gave covered too much ground. After thinking for a moment, he reached into his belongings and pulled out the Mirror of Possibilities.

Several people nearby immediately recognized it.

"That’s the Mirror."

"Reinhard Ashcroft has it."

"Is he really going to use it?"

Reinhard ignored them and focused on the girl.

The Mirror activated, revealing five possible futures based on her next decisions.

In one, she wandered farther into the city and became even more lost. In another, a guard found her but took her somewhere different while searching for her family. A third showed her remaining where she was until her parents eventually found her. A fourth showed her following a merchant caravan and getting farther away.

The fifth showed her walking toward a particular street.

Her parents were there.

Reinhard studied the buildings and landmarks before looking up. "I know where they are."

They followed the route shown by the possibility, and after several minutes, Reinhard spotted two frantic adults searching through the crowd.

The girl’s eyes widened.

"Mom!"

She started forward, but Reinhard gently pushed her along. "Go."

The girl ran.

Her mother immediately dropped to her knees and pulled her into a hug while her father rushed over and embraced them both.

Afterward, the father repeatedly thanked Emily and Reinhard and even tried to offer them money.

Reinhard waved it away. "Keep it. Buy her something nice."

The father insisted.

Reinhard glanced at the girl. "Fine. Buy her a leash."

Emily immediately looked at him. "Reinhard."

He laughed. "I’m joking."

Even the father laughed through his tears.

Before they left, he looked at Emily with gratitude. "My daughter was saved by the woman who defeated a Calamity and ended the Bloodkin threat."

Emily smiled gently. "I only helped one girl today."

Reinhard looked at her quietly.

She didn’t need the larger praise anymore.

She had simply seen someone who needed help and chosen to help her.

They returned to their date afterward, stopping for more food before visiting another clothing store. This time, Emily noticed a coat she liked and pointed toward it.

"That one."

Reinhard looked at her. "You like it?"

"Yes."

"Then I’ll buy it."

"You didn’t even try it on."

"I trust your judgment."

Later, Reinhard noticed Emily looking at a piece of jewelry without buying it.

He said nothing.

A few minutes later, he placed the wrapped purchase into her hands.

Emily looked at him. "You bought it."

"I did."

"I said I liked it. I didn’t say I wanted it."

Reinhard looked genuinely confused. "Those are different?"

She laughed and accepted it.

By the time the afternoon arrived, they were carrying enough bags to make their date look like a successful shopping expedition.

They eventually stopped on a quiet terrace overlooking the city, where Emily rested against Reinhard’s shoulder.

For a while, neither spoke.

Then Emily smiled. "I understand now."

Reinhard looked down at her. "Understand what?"

"Why you like this."

"Shopping?"

She shook her head. "Choosing what happens next."

Reinhard smiled.

She understood him.

That was enough.

They eventually began walking toward the place where they would activate their Return Rings, still carrying their bags and talking quietly about where they should eat once they returned home.

Then they heard laughter.

A group of Awakeners stood nearby, talking loudly.

"Did you see them earlier?"

"Of course I did. How could I not?"

One of them laughed. "Emily Ashcroft really is something."

"She’s incredible. And Reinhard is one lucky bastard."

"Imagine marrying someone like her."

"What does he even do?"

The group laughed.

"Nothing."

"Exactly. He’s just riding Emily’s coattails."

Another man snorted. "Without Emily, nobody would even know who Reinhard Ashcroft is."

Emily stopped.

Reinhard looked toward the group, but before he could say anything, Emily reached up and pulled the hood of her robe over her head, hiding most of her face.

Reinhard glanced at her.

Emily looked completely calm.

Then she turned toward the group and spoke in a slightly altered voice.

"Excuse me."

The Awakeners looked over.

Emily kept her face hidden beneath the hood. "Who is this Reinhard you guys are talking about?"

The group stared at her for a moment before one of them laughed.

"You don’t know?"

Another Awakener shook his head with a grin. "The biggest fraud in the world."

Emily remained beneath the hood.

Beside her, Reinhard slowly covered his mouth.

His shoulders began to shake.

He was trying very hard not to laugh.