Chapter 3: The Ten Fold Return

Chapter 3: Chapter 3: The Ten Fold Return

[Investment successful. Calculating return...]

The notification appeared in Xavier’s mind the instant Mira swallowed the Restoration Elixir. Xavier’s attention snapped toward the system.

Beside him, Marcus had been watching the exchange with growing anticipation. He glanced at Mira, then at Xavier, before speaking quietly enough that only the three of them could hear.

"Mira, I don’t think you owe Xavier a simple thank you," he said.

Mira looked at him, confused.

Marcus nodded toward the empty vial in her hand. "That was a Second Tier Restoration Elixir. Considering what those cost, he just handed you something most people here would never be willing to give away."

Mira’s fingers tightened around the vial. "I know. I just... I don’t have anything," she said, her voice dropping. "I don’t even have enough money to repay him."

Marcus studied her for a moment before a knowing smile appeared. "Then perhaps you misunderstood what he was offering."

Mira froze, her cheeks slowly warming. She looked at Xavier. He was staring ahead, strangely distracted, as though he hadn’t heard a word Marcus said.

Marcus caught her expression and immediately understood. He turned toward Xavier and gave his shoulder a light shove.

"You’re really going to make me say it for you?" he asked.

Xavier finally looked at him. "Say what?"

Marcus raised an eyebrow. "You saved her, gave her an expensive elixir, and now she’s standing here looking at you like she owes you her life. If you’re interested in her, just say so."

Mira’s face turned even redder. "Uhm..."

"What?" Marcus chuckled. "I’m only making things easier for both of you." He looked at Xavier. "After all those pretense about you not wanting a match and how you are smiling shamelessly."

Xavier didn’t answer. He wasn’t even listening properly anymore. His entire attention was fixed on the system window in front of him.

His guess was that Marcus was trying to lighten the atmosphere. The only person that looked past the fact that they were the most pitiful couple at the moment.

[Congratulations, Host.]

[The investment has triggered a 10x multiplier.]

[Rewards generated.]

[Second Tier Vitality Elixir ×3.]

[Second Tier Spirit Elixir ×3.]

[Second Tier Restoration Elixir ×2.]

[Second Tier Bloodrage Elixir ×1.]

[Second Tier Purification Elixir ×1.]

[All rewards have been transferred to System Storage.]

Xavier stared at the list. One Restoration Elixir had produced ten valuable magical elixirs, and the system hadn’t simply returned ten identical potions.

The rewards were varied: three Vitality Elixirs, three Spirit Elixirs, two Restoration Elixirs, a Bloodrage Elixir, and a Purification Elixir.

Xavier quickly estimated their value. A Second Tier Restoration Elixir alone could sell for around one hundred thousand crowns, and Spirit Elixirs were even more expensive, often reaching one hundred and eighty thousand crowns or more.

Even with a conservative estimate, the total value of his return was well over a million crowns.

Xavier’s pulse quickened. And this is only ten times. His eyes gleamed.

What would a hundred times look like? A thousand? And above all of them was the possibility of the maximum: ten thousand times. The thought alone was enough to make his heart race.

"Xavier," Marcus said, bringing him back.

Xavier blinked. Marcus was staring at him.

"You haven’t replied to me."

"About what?"

Marcus gave him an incredulous look. "About whether you truly want Mira?"

Before Xavier could answer, several women nearby spoke up.

"Oh come on, don’t push him into that."

"Exactly. Even if he doesn’t have a lot of choices, choosing that girl would only cause more troubles for him."

One of the women glanced toward Mira. "Oh well, I feel for the girl too. She is being paired with that cursed man too. Pity, her death would be faster than predicted."

The murmuring continued amongst themselves.

Mira’s expression gradually became tense. Xavier shifted his attention to her too. Was she scared about his reputation too?

The official in the black suit finally lost patience.

"Xavier Kane," he called, and the surrounding chatter quieted.

"You’re the only male candidate who hasn’t made his selection." He gestured toward the remaining women. "Please make your decision."

Xavier was getting hesitant at that point but he could lose Mira Sinclair. The system had specifically chosen her and he has seen what he stands to gain if she was by his side.

Now the problem was that, would she accept him?

He braced up courage and finally said "I choose Mira Sinclair,"

The square went silent. Marcus’s lips curved into a satisfied grin. Mira stared at Xavier for a moment as though she hadn’t quite believed he would actually say it, then her expression softened.

The official looked toward her. "Mira Sinclair, do you accept Xavier Kane?"

Mira nodded. "Yes," she said, her voice quiet but certain.

Xavier breath caught in his throat. She accepted! Yes she actually accepted!

"Then that’s settled," the official said, smiling as he gestured toward the registration desk. "Come over and complete the marriage registration."

*******

The matchmaking event ended not long afterward. Xavier walked away from the Civil Affairs Bureau with a small red marriage certificate in his hand. Mira had one as well.

Marcus was carrying his own certificate beside his new partner, Clara Bennett, and he looked unusually pleased with himself.

"You know," Marcus said, holding up his certificate, "I refuse to lose to you in anything."

Xavier glanced at him. "You’ve already made this into a competition?"

"Of course." Marcus grinned. "Let’s see who becomes a father first."

Clara’s face immediately reddened. "Marcus!"

Marcus laughed, and Xavier couldn’t help smiling. Some things about men apparently never changed.

Half an hour later, Xavier brought Mira home. His apartment overlooked Lake East, one of Valemont’s better known landmarks.

The building itself wasn’t particularly luxurious, but the apartment was spacious, with four bedrooms and more than enough room for two people.

It was one of the few properties his grandmother had managed to preserve before the old family combat academy eventually collapsed under debt.

Mira stepped inside and quietly looked around. Xavier closed the door behind them.

He was still feeling grateful that Mira had accepted him. But yet, he couldn’t understand why.

Even though she was abandoned, wasn’t it better than getting married to a man with a reputation like his?

He wanted to start a conversation regarding this but he noticed the dullness that had returned to her face.

The earlier elixir had stabilized her, but her injuries were clearly not completely healed.

This is bad. He can’t afford to let anything happen to her. That was his priority.

Xavier reached into his storage pouch. Another Restoration Elixir appeared in his hand, and he held it out to her.

"Your injuries aren’t fully recovered yet," he said, nodding toward it. "Take another one."