Chapter 54: Chapter 54: Rosalind’s "Night Raid

The night grew deeper, and the lights in the lounge flickered softly.

Jon tossed the handful of homemade parts—components that approximated the necessary parts for a Crystal Energy Furnace—back onto the workbench, where they landed with a crisp clatter.

"It’s no use. I only have the Crystal Energy Core. Without the right components and Engineering Skills, the whole structure simply won’t work."

He had come to this reluctant conclusion after trying to put them together.

It forced him to admit that his current understanding of Engineering—especially Crystal Energy Technology—was still far too shallow. Trying to master it all at once was a pipe dream.

Unlike being an Alchemist, where each formula could be learned in isolation, being an Artisan was part of a much more rigorous and intricate system. Most advanced techniques required all sorts of prerequisite Skills.

For instance, creating a Crystal Energy Furnace required Crystal Energy Summoning LV. 3, which in turn needed a series of prerequisite Skills like Crystal Energy Theory LV. 6 and Energy Summoning LV. 6.

And those prerequisite Skills had prerequisites of their own...

Jon did a rough calculation. If he wanted to use universal experience points to brute-force his way through all the required Skills and knowledge for building a Crystal Energy Furnace...

"Something like six million?"

The number left him feeling remarkably calm.

After all, Crystal Energy Technology had appeared in the fifth year of the game’s timeline, a peak era. For a Professional, the barrier to entry was equivalent to the Advanced Level, requiring an extraordinary amount of prerequisite skills and knowledge.

’Ah, forget it. Can’t rush these things...’

He calmly set the matter aside and turned his gaze back to the small cart beside the sofa, piled high with tools and materials.

As the old saying goes, objects are rigid, but people are flexible.

He might not be able to build a Crystal Energy Furnace right now, but he could still make some simple Crystal Energy Equipment.

"Hmm... If I ignore the issue of crystal degradation, I should be able to make a powered Arm Armor with these materials. It would be perfect to compensate for the lack of damage output from my all-Constitution build."

"As for the rest, I’ll just have to research it bit by bit."

Jon picked out a few components he could use and was about to turn back to the sofa to continue his work.

However, just as he was about to sit down, a knock came from the lounge door, followed by a woman’s cool, clear voice.

"Mr. Jon, are you resting?"

It was Rosalind.

Jon paused for a moment. He set down the parts in his hand, slipped the freshly carved Crystal Energy Core from the table into his pocket, and then turned to open the door.

Yet the sight that greeted him after he opened the door made him stop short, despite his worldly experience.

Rosalind Bennett had changed out of the sharp hunting attire she wore during the day and was now in a gray silk nightgown. The soft fabric flowed like liquid moonlight, revealing her well-defined curves while also leaving large patches of her pale, almost translucent, skin exposed.

In the dim, warm light of the hallway, the silver-haired, silver-eyed woman before him seemed to glow with the gentle luster of jade. Her hair and eyes both refracted a cold, silvery light.

She was, without exaggeration, a beauty as flawless as jade.

But Jon’s stun was only momentary. Beautiful as Rosalind was, he wasn’t some greenhorn who was rendered speechless by a pretty face. After giving her a brief, appreciative once-over, as if admiring a piece of art, he spoke softly.

"Lady Bennett, is there something you need, so late at night?"

Rosalind fell silent for a moment, her pale silver eyes locking onto Jon’s. Then, as if having made a difficult decision, she said with grave seriousness,

"I have come to you because there is indeed a matter I wish to discuss—regarding the unfinished business between us from today."

Business.

Jon understood instantly.

A subtle smile touched his lips as he stepped aside, clearing the way.

"Then come in and we’ll talk."

The silver-haired woman nodded and, without hesitation, swept past Jon into the lounge. Her movement stirred a cool, clean scent into the air.

’Was that perfume? Something like mint, but not as sharp.’

’The scent was subtle and distant, just like her.’

’It smelled pretty good, anyway.’

He silently made his appraisal of the scent, then closed the door.

CLICK.

The night was quiet. They were sealed off from the outside world. Nothing could disturb them now.

Jon watched Rosalind. She stood in the center of the room, her back ramrod straight. She didn’t speak to ease the tension, nor did she turn to look at him. He found the situation amusing.

’Such a defiant pose. And here I was, thinking you truly didn’t care about anything.’

When they had first met earlier that day, he had questioned her loyalty. In response, the woman had immediately laid all her cards on the table, offering to prove herself by signing a Soul Contract.

Of course, Jon couldn’t have accepted such an extreme condition back then; it would have ruined his entire plan.

He hadn’t let her off the hook entirely, though. He’d proposed delaying their business and stipulated that Rosalind must not leave his sight for the entire duration of the rescue mission.

Rosalind had agreed, and she had indeed fulfilled her side of the bargain perfectly.

’Now Reya is safe, but here this woman is, seeking me out in the middle of the night. Has she still not given up on that nearly self-sacrificial idea of hers? Does she want to complete our business?’

’Or, after that whole affair with the Wisdom Walk Ritual, does she now think I’m some upstanding gentleman? Is she planning to play out a little drama where the damsel offers herself, the gentleman refuses, and she gets to walk away with her honor intact?’

If that was the case, then she was sorely overestimating the moral standards of a modern man.

Just because he didn’t accept then, doesn’t mean he won’t accept now!

’Hmph. Let’s see what little game you’re playing.’

Jon sneered inwardly. He deliberately slowed his pace, approaching Rosalind slowly from behind.

The thick carpet absorbed the sound of his footsteps, leaving only a faint SHUSH, like a panther stalking through the grass.

In the silent lounge, such a subtle sound felt all the more oppressive.

So much so that by the time he stopped just behind Rosalind, her breathing had clearly grown ragged.

Jon reached out and, without any hesitation, laid his hand on her smooth shoulder.

Rosalind’s body trembled slightly, as if from an electric shock, but she made no move to resist.

This emboldened Jon. His fingers glided up her silken skin, brushing past her collarbone, grazing her neck, and finally, gently pinching her small, delicate earlobe.

It was warm and soft to the touch, and quickly flushed a rosy red.

Jon leaned in close to her ear, his hot breath ghosting across the side of her neck.

"Bennett... no, Rosalind... May I call you that?"

The man’s breath by her ear clearly flustered the silver-haired woman.

Her hands, which had been clasped before her stomach, tightened and relaxed in her uncertainty.

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