When Beauty Meets Beasts

Mark carefully took the crystal and looked at it with a sharp gaze. Then, he searched the house again. Finally, he found a palm-sized machine among the pile of scrap metal.

This machine was square. From the looks of it, it was made of metal. There was a groove in the middle.

Mark placed the crystal in the basket and raised a lever beside him. The colorless crystal immediately trembled, and a faint luster appeared on its surface.

Seeing this, Mark was overjoyed. "It's really an energy crystal!"

Huanhuan was confused. She couldn't understand why he was excited.

Murphy sensed her confusion and took the initiative to explain, "Energy crystals are very precious minerals. The elemental energy stored in them can be used as magic energy. Many things made by the dwarfs use this magic energy."

Huanhuan asked tentatively, "In other words, these crystals are very valuable to you?"

"Yes, they're very valuable," Murphy replied firmly.

Huanhuan's interest was piqued. She was short of money now and planned to exchange crystals for some money.

As soon as she expressed her interest in selling the crystals, Mark immediately rushed to her and said excitedly, "Sell me this energy crystal and I'll let you live in my attic for a year!"

Huanhuan was not sure about the prices here.

She had to ask Murphy for advice again. "How much can a large crystal like this be exchanged for?"

Before Murphy could speak, Mark rushed to say, "This crystal of yours is of the lowest grade. The elemental energy contained in it is very thin. A large crystal like this is usually only worth one gold coin if placed on auction."

Murphy nodded slightly, indicating that Mark was right.

Huanhuan asked again, "How many silver coins is one gold coin?"

"One gold coin is equivalent to a hundred silver coins." Murphy was puzzled. "How can you not know such simple common knowledge?"

Huanhuan smiled awkwardly. "I've always lived in isolation. I don't know much common knowledge."

Murphy could sense that she wasn't telling the truth, but everyone had their own secrets. The two of them had just met. He didn't have to get to the bottom of it.

In any case, she had too many secrets.

Huanhuan calculated in her heart. If she lived here for a year, her rent would cost her 120 silver coins if it was 10 silver coins a month. That meant she would be getting an equivalent of 20 silver coins out of this deal.

This business seemed quite worth it.

But she had no intention of staying here for a year. She would leave when she found news about the beast continent.

"I just want to stay with you for a month."

Mark quickly said, "I can give you 90 silver coins."

Huanhuan nodded. "Sure."

"Wait here for me. I'll get the money now."

Mark ran upstairs quickly. After a while, he ran down on his short legs and handed Huanhuan a leather bag filled with silver coins. "90 silver coins. They're all in here. Count them yourself."

Huanhuan took the bag and opened it. It was filled with shiny silver coins. Each of them was about the size of a fingernail. However, they were heavy.

"I believe you." Without counting, she put the bag away.

As if he had obtained a treasure, Mark put the colorless crystal in his pocket.

"The attic is upstairs. You can go up yourself. You can tell me if you need anything. I usually work in the underground studio. Don't disturb me if you have no problems. If you do have a problem, you can come to me during dinner. I'll be free then."

Mark said this in one breath, then ran into the underground studio with the colorless crystal. It seemed that he was going to keep himself busy working.

Murphy was helpless. "Dwarfs are passionate about invention. Mark is the same. Other than eating and sleeping, he spends his days working in the studio. It's not that he's being unfriendly to you. Don't take it to heart."

Huanhuan smiled. "It's okay. I understand."

In the past, she would stay in her studio day and night to complete her work.

Murphy said, "Let me show you upstairs."

"Okay."

They walked up the stairs.

Mark's wooden house was much taller than the houses of the other dwarfs, but it was still too short for the elf who had tall legs. He had to bend down and lower his head. It was very difficult for him to walk.

The second floor was Mark's lounge, and the third floor was the attic.

The attic was small. There was a wooden bed, a wooden cabinet, and a small table. There was nothing else.

Huanhuan opened the window to let in the sunlight.

The view was good. At a glance, she could see most of Swan Valley.

The door was too low for Murphy to enter. He had to bend down and stand in the doorway to ask her how it was.

Huanhuan smiled and said, "Not bad!"

Seeing that she was satisfied, Murphy was relieved. "Is there anything else I can do for you?"

Huanhuan shook her head, indicating that there was nothing else.

"Since I've sent you here, I'll continue my trip now."

Huanhuan sent him downstairs. She quietly took out a jar of fruit wine from her space and handed it to him. "Thank you for taking care of me these few days. Let's see if we're fated to meet again in the future. This is a fruit wine I made myself. It's a small token of my appreciation. Take it and drink it on the way."

Murphy took the wine jar and shook it gently. He could hear the sound of the liquid sloshing about inside.

Huanhuan explained, "It's wine brewed from fruits. If it's your first time drinking it, you can't drink too much of it or you'll get drunk."

"Thank you. Do take care. I'm leaving now." Murphy turned to leave with the wine jar. Huanhuan's voice came from behind.

"Have a safe trip!"

Murphy looked back at her and saw her standing in the doorway, waving her arms at him.

The snow veil covered her face, but he could sense that she must be smiling warmly and beautifully.

"Goodbye."

Murphy was gone.

Huanhuan now stayed at the dwarf, Mark's, house.

Mark's house was very messy. There were all kinds of parts piled up everywhere, as well as materials and shapes too. The place looked messy.

As a tenant who was staying here, it was not appropriate for Huanhuan to rummage through other people's things. After taking a few curious glances, she returned to her small attic to rest alone.

It was soon dark.

Mark was finally willing to climb out of the underground studio. He called Huanhuan downstairs.

"Where's Murphy?"

Huanhuan said that he had left.

Mark looked a little strange. "It's good that he's left. After all…"

He said the rest vaguely. Huanhuan didn't hear him clearly. She asked, "After all, what?"

"Nothing." Mark brought out two plates filled with food and placed them on the dining table. "To celebrate your stay at my house, I'll treat you to this meal tonight. In the future, if you want to eat dinner, you'll have to figure it out yourself. Of course, you can pay me or someone else to cook for you."

Mark's so-called dinner was two hard pieces of black bread with two pieces of smoked meat and vegetable leaves. They were placed on metal plates. The meal looked a little miserable.

The dwarfs called this the black bread sandwich

Huanhuan thanked him, picked up the sandwich, and tried to take a bite.

"…"

The taste reminded her of someone—Shuang Yun.