Chapter 90: Business and Mental Resistance

Aur looked at the painting with his crimson eyes, admiring it with sincerity; however, no one knew what the painting was actually about.

"Then won't you destroy her integrity if you are selling such a profane picture?" Jackson asked with an amused smile.

"No, I wouldn't ruin it since it is a business; this whole brothel is a business, and I hired her for my business as well," Aur spoke with a nonchalant smile.

"Well..." Jackson's expression grew even more amused.

"Then what if I buy it from you?"

Aur looked at him with astonishment and a face full of reluctance.

"I am not selling this in my life," he spoke with a justified expression.

Jackson was even more curious now.

"Didn't you say that this was business? So why are you refraining from doing business?" He pushed further.

"This," Aur reluctantly nodded his head with a sorrowful expression, "you are right. However, since it is one of my greatest paintings yet, then I need more crystals for it."

"Ask away," Jackson said with a smug smile on his face.

"Does he underestimate the wealth that my family has, or does he think this young master doesn't have enough wealth? I can satisfy the whole generation of his family with just the resources I gain in a year," he thought proudly, as Jackson wasn't wrong with the family expenses and earnings of an average person, even if he is a teacher, is way less than what he earns from the family.

"Okay then, young master," Aur reluctantly opened his mouth and spoke in a whisper, "20 middle-grade mana crystals."

The moment Jackson heard this, his gaze turned cold.

"Aren't you asking for too much?" he spoke while staring at Aur.

"Then don't buy it, young master," Aur said with his eyes brightening as he looked at his own painting with glee.

"You," Jackson gritted his teeth. "Alright, I will buy it," he said with a face of reluctance.

"But..." Aur wanted to speak; however, he was cut off by Jackson in a cold tone.

"Since you have already set the price, you can't back away from it." Jackson's voice grew colder and colder.

"Yes, young master," Aur sighed with a mixture of regret and wrapped the painting and gave it to Jackson with a face full of regret.

With the sudden release by Aur, Jackson, who was holding the sketch, almost fell to the ground; however, he swiftly balanced himself.

"Sorry." Aur apologetically looked at Jackson with a bitter smile.

"It's okay, Brother Aur. I can understand that you are emotional about the painting." Jackson nodded his head with a smile and looked at Liam.

"Liam, give him the mana crystal."

"Yes, young master." Liam bowed to Jackson, suppressing the shock he felt at the behavior of his young master.

He took out a bag and retrieved a pouch that made clicking noises.

"Here." Liam respectfully gave the pouch to Jackson.

"This is your twenty middle-grade crystals now. Is it a fair deal, right?" Jackson asked with a smile.

As Aur caught the bag, a smile appeared on his face. "Yes, it is a fair deal, young master."

"Good." Jackson nodded his head as he slowly started to unfold the painting. However, as he caught glimpses of the sketch, his expression froze as if he had become a stone statue.

"Hmm, what is it, young master?" Liam asked with a frown, but Jackson didn't reply. He only looked at the painting with his entire body trembling bit by bit.

Seeing his young master's unmoving figure, Liam also didn't move at all, waiting patiently for Jackson's further instruction.

The kimono woman also stayed still, with a bitter expression on her face as she silently went closer and closer to Aur and spoke in a whisper.

"I am sorry, Young Master Aur. I was completely helpless since it was the Young Master of the Bennett landlord's orders," she spoke with bitterness.

"I understand. You don't have to worry." Aur wouldn't care a bit as long as the woman doesn't interfere with his plans. In fact, she had helped him instead.

However, his eyes glinted with coldness as he went further away from the woman.

The further Aur went, the more she frowned with her expression turning anxious.

The most curious person in this room was the woman underneath the blanket herself.

"I wonder what this bastard drew a picture of me that made it worth ten middle-grade crystals. Even if I sell myself a hundred times, I will barely make the amount, and now just a picture of me by hand that cost twenty middle-grade crystals?" she thought with sheer astonishment.

"Maybe I underestimated my beauty," her lips curved upwards with glee, "that must be the reason. I am just that beautiful, but I couldn't understand it myself."