"No, no." Fubinne said. "Your kindness to us is worth this gift. If these gemstones make you happy, their value isn't wasted."
He pulled out an exquisite silver box from his pouch. Inside sat a pure, high-saturation royal blue sapphire.
The gemstone was two or three times larger than the main stone on Prince Kael Rossetti's belt. Its value was beyond measure.
"My family controls mines in the Suo River Basin. This gem comes from the Kalanjin Mine there. It's called the Heart of Clear Sky—our family's stone of friendship. I want to give it to someone special."
Everyone was shocked. Such a huge gemstone, just given away? This stone was probably worth more than all the gems in the box combined!
The six Death Penalty Squad members looked enviously at Luo Wei. The "special person" Fubinne mentioned—who else but Luo Wei? Couldn't be them, haha!
But Luo Wei felt something was off. She stayed still, watching Fubinne silently.
Sure enough, Fubinne stepped diagonally forward, eyes bright as he stared at Hol. "Mr. Hol, your noble character shines like this gemstone! Your potion-making is even more exquisite than this gem's cut!"
"Please accept this stone and the Boyle family's friendship. We desperately need to befriend an exceptionally talented, kind, and benevolent potion genius like you!"
Everyone's eyes went wide.
Especially Gladys. She'd personally tasted Hol's healing potions that stank worse than lake sludge. Her mouth dropped into a perfect O.
Anyone who'd drunk Hol's potions knew what torture that was. How could someone eagerly seek that suffering? Hadn't they been stunk enough?
Or had the smell broken his nose, making him think Hol's potions smelled good?
Theodore was internally complaining too. "Noble character"? "Kind and benevolent"? Was he sure he was describing that black-hearted lich?
Hol's heart was blacker than charcoal, with more schemes than a wasp's nest. This Fubinne guy must be blind!
Luo Wei and Sebastian looked at Hol, wondering how he'd respond.
Fubinne's two gifts had different meanings.
The first thanked them for saving lives and offered friendship. The second was specifically for Hol—befriending him in his family's name.
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If Hol accepted this gemstone, he accepted the Boyle family's friendship. When they asked him to make potions in the future, he couldn't refuse. Because they'd be friends.
Fubinne's move to invest in a rising star revealed two things.
First, Fubinne had authority in his family. Probably the heir, or competing for that position.
Second, the Boyle family was in trouble. Internal problems, external threats, or both. Otherwise they wouldn't befriend a commoner apprentice.
Great families were proud. What potion master couldn't they get? With their wealth and status, they could pick from countless famous masters. No need to waste effort on a student who'd just shown a bit of talent.
If Hol agreed, he might have to risk being implicated when some powerful force attacked the Boyles—providing potions to the desperate family.
Even if things weren't that bad, the pressure he'd face when they came asking wouldn't be light. No free lunch in this world.
Hol had obviously considered this, which was why he hesitated.
But after thinking for a few seconds, he still accepted.
"It's my honor to befriend the Boyle family." Hol extended his hand. "May our friendship tree stay evergreen, my friend."
"Wonderful, Mr. Hol!" Fubinne excitedly shook his hand. "To our everlasting friendship!"
Since there were still two gifts to deliver, Fubinne politely took his leave after a few words. He still needed to find Axina and Jack.
After the five left, Hol looked at his two boxes with satisfaction.
Just casually giving some guys extra potion he'd cooked too much of, and he got this harvest. No wonder humans always said to be kind.
If he'd known kindness paid this well, he would've become a good person earlier.
Theodore stared at Hol's haul, green with envy. "Why does even THIS GUY get gifts, but not me?!"
Hol put the gemstone in his spatial ring cheerfully. "Ask yourself why you can't make potions."
"It's just potion-making. Pfft, anyone can do that." Theodore scoffed. "Just wait. I'm finding Professor Pence right now. Switching to Potion class to become an apprentice!"
"Oh, go try." Hol crossed his arms. "I heard there was a sea witch among you krakens who made potions. Her brew even poisoned a mermaid's voice silent. Maybe you do have talent?"
Theodore reacted violently. "Who said that? All rumors, RUMORS!"
Gladys opened her box and curiously poked the colorful stones with her finger. Sparkly and shiny, with sharp edges.
After playing a bit, she found them boring. Pretty, sure, but you couldn't eat them. Wearing them was uncomfortable. What use were they?
After worrying for a while, she suddenly realized—she could trade them for food at the dessert shop!
Could one stone buy a grilled steak? Other people seemed to really like these things. Should trade for several gold coins, right?
Luo Wei also examined her gemstones. Not as high quality as Hol's, but more of them.
She counted roughly twenty, various sizes. The largest, a pigeon-blood red, was close to fifteen carats. Worth at least three hundred gold coins.
Total value around five hundred gold. Just enough for a gemstone belt or necklace, depending on preference.
After estimating their worth, she put them in her spatial ring and looked up. "The ball has an hour and a half left. Want to leave early?"
"I'll stay longer." Sebastian rolled up his sleeves. "Might as well try the desserts."
Theodore immediately said: "Then I'll stay too!"
Hol, Laura, and Gladys looked at each other. "We'll stay too."
Luo Wei: ... The academy's desserts probably won't be great.
She sighed. "Alright. I'll head out first."
Hol noticed she seemed listless tonight. "Miss Luo Wei, you seem unhappy. Did something happen?"
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