Clockwork Bride

Page 63

The greatest despair and confusion comes from not being able to see the road ahead.

—Perhaps that's why, just as they were about to leave the taken-over camp and head home with their tails between their legs, Angela suddenly called out to them.

She mainly called out to the blonde girl who had started earlier.

“I have a proposal, ladies and gentlemen of the Volkov family.”

Angela said with a smile and great interest.

Naturally, the blonde girl immediately became suspicious: "A suggestion?"

Angela smiled and nodded: "This would be a proposal that benefits all of your families, as well as my master."

————————————————————————

Hayden had no idea what Angela had talked about with the blonde girl when he wasn't looking. He only knew that the Russians quickly left the camp and headed home towards New Jersey.

For some reason, they still looked bewildered, but they didn't seem as desperate as before.

really weird.

However, Hayden felt that none of this concerned him anyway.

Soon, his employers, the Italian Mafia family of New Seattle, sent people to take over the camp. After everyone tallied up their earnings, the Italians politely asked Hayden and his group to leave, offering to drive them back to the city. However, Hayden refused and flew home with Eric and Angela.

"They are afraid of you."

After flying a kilometer, Eric finally couldn't help but say...

"The largest organized crime group in New Jersey respects you."

“The Italian gangs in America are nothing special. This isn’t Europe,” Hayden said calmly. “They’re just immigrants who wear shirts embroidered with their initials, wear cologne, and eat spaghetti and meatballs all day long.”

Eric shut his mouth and stopped complaining. He was gradually beginning to understand Hayden's way of doing things.

What is a legend?

Regardless of Hayden's boasting, he is indeed a legendary figure on the streets of New Seattle. Today he can single-handedly storm a Russian mafia camp, tomorrow he can single-handedly take down an Italian mafia mansion. And even if he can't do it alone, he has Angela. His underworld brothers don't treat those around him in isolation.

Hayden consistently tried to use his crazy methods to prove that it was impossible to achieve fame and fortune as a mercenary.

However, after seeing this road today, Eric felt that although it was difficult and he would probably die... he had to admit that it was more interesting than going to work.

He still has a lot to learn.

"I hope you will continue to offer your guidance and encouragement."

Eric lowered his head and spoke to Hayden again.

Hayden frowned, realizing that the young man was probably determined and there was no way to persuade him on this matter.

However, perhaps after Eric has personally done the work a few times, his opinion will change again.

"Angela, could you arrange for Eric to take on orders at the company in the future?"

He turned his head and asked.

Angela nodded happily, of course. For some reason, she seemed quite pleased with herself.

"Please don't worry. Although it's called a 'company,' I will not exploit any surplus value produced by my employees, and I am fully responsible for the management of the company."

As she said this, she placed a finger on her cheek, as if deep in thought.

"In that case, perhaps it shouldn't be called a 'company'... Wouldn't it be better to call it a 'community'?"

Robots...completely manage...production and distribution...?

A few words flashed through Hayden's mind, leaving him somewhat confused for a moment, but Hayden didn't think too much about it.

"Don't worry about the name, we have a lot more to do." He shook his head. "I still need to go see the Black Witch later and ask her about the cosmetics in New Yatu City."

Angela readily agreed: "Okay. I'll inform the professor and Yolanda about the new recruits."

And so they made their way back to the city and soon went their separate ways. Eric was going to report to the "company," Hayden was going to ask Abigail some questions, and strangely enough, Angela also said she had some things to do.

"By the way, master, would you like to get a dog?"

For some reason, she asked such a strange question.

“No,” Hayden immediately refused. “It would be too much trouble for animals to run around in the house.”

Angela nodded in understanding: "Then we can keep it at the company."

Eric listened to their conversation and couldn't help but feel a sense of dread.

If he also wants to become the strongest in this line of work and climb to the top of the mercenary world, he probably needs to find himself a good wife first—without Angela, no matter how powerful Hayden is, he'll just be a lone wolf at best.

With Angela behind him, Hayden now has an ever-growing mercenary group. Although, according to Ms. Angela (that's what Eric calls her), she doesn't exploit her employees, the very existence of this group certainly benefits Hayden…

...So Eric said nothing, but silently raised his awe of Angela to the highest level in his heart.

He still has a lot to learn.

069: The greatest wealth parents can give their children

Hayden found Abigail around 2 p.m.

This dark witch basically didn't mind showing her true self in front of Hayden anymore. If Hayden said he had something to do, she would let him into her office without even bothering to put on her usual persona of a stunningly beautiful woman with a long, shapely figure.

So when Hayden saw her, this little old woman was still looking like she was twelve or thirteen years old, reclining on several embroidered blue silk cushions. Her upper body was leaning back on the sofa, her right hand resting on a cushion, and her left hand holding a long coral pipe in her mouth, leisurely puffing out smoke. The office was thus filled with a sweet floral fragrance.

...Why is it the scent of flowers?

"What's wrong? Why are you staring at my pipe? Want to take a puff too?"

Abigail seemed to be in a good mood, her eyes half-closed, like a comfortable cat lounging on a cushion, or a cute picture of a young girl reclining. The only problem was that her physical age looked far too young. This little old lady probably slept until noon every day. Right now, she was only wearing a pure white long robe, revealing her ivory neck, shoulders, and legs, exuding a delicate beauty that a normal little girl would never possess.

These days, the FBI has long become a rubber stamp that can't do anything. But even so, if they saw this scene now, they would definitely jump out and arrest some people on charges of child sexual abuse.

"no need."

So Hayden shook his head.

"Although I drink occasionally, I have no interest in smoking."

Before Angela arrived, Hayden often drank chemical beer. That stuff was just a cheap, purely chemical product that produced bubbles; it was made by adding water and artificial flavorings to alcohol, an industrial byproduct, and then injecting carbon dioxide to make it bubble.

Once Angela is by Hayden's side, she'll be keeping a close eye on what he eats and drinks. She still allows Hayden to drink in moderation, but the amount and type are up to Angela.

Smoking? That's simply out of the question. Fortunately, Hayden had never been interested in smoking.

However, Abigail chuckled when she heard Hayden's words.

"This just looks like tobacco; it's actually an aromatherapy product that I made myself using floral and herbal essential oils."

She took a gentle inhale, then exhaled the sweet aroma, which contained no trace of tobacco but rather a captivating floral scent. This fragrance seemed capable of washing away all her worries.

Hayden, an expert in ancient magic, especially healing magic, was naturally quick to understand. This was actually a very ancient form of aromatherapy, dating back thousands of years to ancient Egypt, India, Greece, and other ancient civilizations. Essential oils, refined from aromatic plants, can be used for diffusers, topical application, massage, and soaking. In ancient times, people already knew how to burn incense in censers and use hot water to vaporize the aroma, allowing those who inhaled it to feel relaxed, refreshed, and relieve fatigue, and even benefit in preventing or improving certain illnesses.

Overall, this can be considered an ancient method of health preservation. Moreover, incense is frequently used in religious rituals to communicate with spirits and deities—this goes without saying.

Cosmetics, skincare products, medicines… the so-called “fragrance” actually encompasses all three. Aromatherapy has already been introduced, and cosmetics like perfumes don't need any introduction; everyone knows about them.

In truth, these can all be considered the same thing. They are all magical materials and wondrous tools used by mortals to get closer to the gods.

"I don't actually like tobacco. But whether it's humans or ghosts, they are all naturally drawn to fragrances."

The Black Witch exhaled a soft, fragrant breath and said, her eyes narrowed.

"A good fragrance can soothe the soul."

She seemed to be in a really good mood. From her words, Hayden could almost glimpse the ancient atmosphere unique to life that comes with the passage of time.

"how?"

Then the witch smiled and handed the long pipe in her hand to Hayden.

"Won't you have a bite? This is top-quality incense."

As an aside, some literature claims that certain high-grade incense has a strong effect in arousing desire in certain areas. Therefore, many ancient witches' love potions use similar ingredients.

So Hayden chose to back down: "No thanks. Could you give me a copy of the recipe?"

"You're really not reliable."

Abigail curled her lip and scoffed.

"I'll send you the recipe later. What brings you here so early in the morning?"

Do you call 2 PM "early morning"?

Hayden decided not to complain about it, lest this little old witch get all worked up like a cat.

"It's a long story."

After much deliberation, he finally revealed everything about the old orc Sok's herbal medicine shop, his son's upcoming marriage, and the other party, Magina's Magic House, which was also the Three Goddess Witches' Guild of Rouya.

At first glance, this might seem dangerous. But Hayden thought it was necessary and wouldn't pose a major problem. Although Abigail was a dark witch whose morality was difficult to discern, her interests were now closely tied to Hayden's. Hayden had just given her a potion that tripled her aging speed; wouldn't she want an even better one?

In that case, it would be natural to ask Abigail for help with anything related to Hayden and his potion research.

It's somewhat tragic. The most trustworthy people in this world are often not those based on moral character, but rather on a sufficiently close, even irreplaceable, relationship of mutual benefit. Without Hayden making medicine for her, can Abigail manage for the rest of her life with this potion that ages her three times over?

Maybe it'll work. But she definitely won't.

So Hayden told her the general outline of what had happened. Of course, he didn't mention Karen's side of the story, taking all the blame for it himself.

However, after listening to Hayden's account, Abigail began to stare at Hayden with a very strange, really strange, look, as if she were looking at a fool.

"What's wrong with me?"

So Hayden couldn't help but ask.

The Black Witch pressed her forehead for a moment, then sighed:

“Mr. Hayden, I admit you are wise in many ways, so I won’t call you a fool outright, but you certainly are here.”

She frowned and took another drag of the incense.

"Sometimes I forget that you're just a young wizard. Considering that I was a complete idiot when I was your age, I won't make any further sarcastic remarks."

what?

Hayden was finally confused: "What exactly do you mean?"

Compared to you, a four-hundred-year-old loli witch, who isn't young anymore?

Realizing that Hayden wasn't quite right in the head, Abigail closed her eyes, sighed deeply, and spat out the spice in her mouth.

When she opened her eyes again, she looked even older than before.

"Then I'll be blunt, Hayden."

For some reason, her tone sounded somewhat lonely, and her red eyes seemed to have become a little sad.

"What you see is the tragedy of the middle class."

……ah?

Hayden didn't want to make a fuss, but his expression clearly showed that he didn't understand what the witch was talking about at all.

Abigail clearly knew Hayden didn't understand, so she raised her eyebrows.

"You've made a cognitive error: you think the old shaman wanted to sell the shop because he needed to prepare a wedding gift for his son, or because the bride's family wanted money?"

...Isn't that so?

Hayden still didn't understand Abigail's question. He certainly knew that the owner of the shop did want to retire, but that shouldn't be the main reason he sold the store, right?

"Silly boy."

The Black Witch gently tapped the pipe, seemingly seeing right through him.

"You have no idea how much it costs for two middle-class families to get married, right?"

Hayden still didn't understand: "You mean a wedding or something? Even if you spend a lot of money on that, it can't be so much that you need to sell your house..."

This slow response finally annoyed Abigail.

"You idiot! I was talking about a child!"

She dropped the pipe in her hand and jumped up from the cushion, her hair standing on end.

"Do you know how expensive it is to raise a child?! Do you know how much it costs to just buy a house in a good school district?! Do you know how much it costs to start genetic modification for a child from the moment of conception?!"

what?