The Author's POV

"Thank you for your purchase, your order will be delivered to you in a week's time"

Coldly looking at me, Richard handed me a receipt and proceeded to ignore me. Rolling my eyes at his obvious display of jealousy I headed back towards the sofas.

Honestly, though annoying, Richard's behavior was quite amusing. Although he acted like a typical arrogant young master, he wasn't looking down on me nor saying things like 'how dare you touch my Amanda! you're courting death!'

It was sort of refreshing...I guess he was just a very frank person.

Either way, once again sitting on the sofa as a light sigh escaped from my mouth, I looked at the receipt in my hand and fell into deep thought.

20,000,000 U

I spent a total of 20,000,000 U on a sword today...

That was just about all of the money I had saved up excluding the budget for the mercenary group which was pretty much off-limits.

...I was now once again poor.

Still, I didn't regret my decision.

If this decision proved instrumental in keeping myself safer in the future, then it was a worthy investment.

After all, my life was more important than money.

Plus, I could very well make the money back in the future. Especially so since I now had a clear direction with regards to earning money.

"Ah!"

Suddenly recalling something I smacked my fist on the palm of my hand.

'Right, I guess now that Amanda is with me I may as well bring the topic of the company project to her'

...I had originally planned on doing this a long time ago, but since I didn't have a concrete product at the time, I didn't do it. However, now that a bit of time had passed since I gave the outline of the project to Melissa, the initial phases of the product were now completed.

From what Melissa showed me, it was now presentable for investments.

Thinking along those lines, my eyes quickly drifted towards the sofa next to me where Amanda was sitting. However just as I was about to bring the topic up, I stopped myself as what I saw and heard made me speechless.

With his elbow on the handrail of the stairs, leaning backward, Richard stared at Amanda who was sitting on the sofa next to me and casually said

"...So, Amanda how long has it been since we've last seen each other?"

Ignoring Richard as she looked through the tablet, Amanda bluntly said

"I forgot"

Not minding Amanda's cold tone, Richard chuckled.

"hehe, but I didn't forget, it's been a total of one month and three days since I've last seen you. Not once did I forget the moment you walked through the door and stole my heart, ever since that day I've bee..."

Completely unfazed by Richard's long love confession, pointing towards the screen of the tablet, Amanda said

"I want to purchase this and this"

Seeing Amanda point towards the tablet, taking his elbow off of the handrail of the stairs, Richard enthusiastically moved to where she was and said

"Oh, you're buying this one? A very wise choice.."

Watching Richard continuously try to flirt with Amanda, I was left speechless.

What sort of failed attempt at flirting was this?

Wasn't Amanda making it obvious that she wasn't interested? Even I who was terrible at dealing with girls could see this.

Facepalming as I cringed at Richard from where I was sitting, I thought to myself.

'...this guy is a total simp'

In the end, much to Richard's disappointment Amanda only spoke a few words to him as she placed her orders down. Regardless of how much Richard tried to shift the conversation, Amanda would just coldly ignore him.

After purchasing everything that she wanted, much to Richard's distraught, Amanda stood up and looked at me.

"Let's go"

"Alright"

with my hands, I stood up and followed Amanda out of the worn-down apartment. According to what I've been told, our orders would be

Amanda leave, a trace of disappointment flashed Richard's eyes. Thereafter looking at me for a couple of seconds, he raised his voice

you for your patronage, I hope to see you

part of his sentence, shaking my head, I

How petty.

same old man with a hunch back from before. Opening the door,

lad, thank you for the

Amanda left the building. Following Amanda's example, I too thanked the

"mhm"

"Yes, thank you"

-Clank!

closed, we soon found ourselves

something I want to talk

tilted her

"Something to talk about?"

you have

couple of seconds,

"Yes, I do"

day off she naturally had

bit her lips as she swore to herself

hide it from everyone, Amanda had a weak spot for animals...and after seeing Ren's cat, Amanda couldn't stop herself from wanting to pet it. Fortunately, having seen how aggressive pudding was, Amanda refrained from

didn't want to get slapped

thoughts, glancing towards my surroundings,

else. This isn't really the most

of her thoughts,

"Okay"

about to move,

that

side, a confused look appeared on Amanda's face as she

"why?"

confusion on Amanda's

...why?

even aware

*Sigh*

sigh escaped from my mouth,

don't like

eventually nodded her head

"Okay"

wasn't comfortable with going to secluded spaces alone with

she wasn't

that she felt this way...was it

...Amanda didn't know.

feelings weren't that of love,

of Amanda's thoughts about me, I smiled

"Great, lead the way"

head, after thinking for a bit, Amanda decided to go towards a certain cafe' that she

"Follow me"

alleys and heading towards the main street, we walked for a couple of minutes before soon arriving at a rather secluded area that

transparent retractable door at the entrance of the

"Is that the place?"

place, Amanda headed

"Yes"

door of the cafe', a blanket of warm air brushed past my skin warming my body immediatly. Subsequently, the rich aroma of the coffee invaded my nostrils prompting me to directly

on it, were

"Welcome"

moderately beautiful young girl. Greeting

after, as Amanda ordered an Americano and I took an espresso, we soon found a table in the corner of the shop and

-Squek! -Squek!

subtle squeaking sound.

took a sip of her coffee and

you

on the holographic

a

to send me a video of the current progress of her research..and the video I was currently going to show Amanda

at the holographic image before her,