Chapter 17 - Cold hearted

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Leon was left with not much choice as he sat down on a chair contemplating his way forward.

'I know that I can Dual Cultivate with Benica at night. And the use of Essence Crystals can be done anytime I want but to a limit each day. The previous Leon used to study and research a variety of things. But I am not him. I cannot sit in a chair all day to dig some knowledge.'

'But, cultivating like normal is impossible! Unless.. I go around the sinister places to cultivate. But, since I have these Essence Crystals, I am really in no rush to do that. Then, what should I do during my days...' Leon cupped his chin as he stared at the ceiling, hoping to come across some inspiration somehow.

The absence of Qi in natural form really stumped his progress. Although he could lie to his family about researching things and could cultivate in secret, however that wasn't possible all the time.

And Leon wasn't one to keep himself holed in a house all day. His previous life as a thief and thug made him too accustomed to being outdoors rather than indoors. It was also impossible not to interact with the people of this world.

While Leon was dealing with such worries, someone finally returned to the house. Leon thought that Belen had returned and wanted to quickly dispel any weird misunderstandings. But upon looking carefully, Leon found that it was his Sister-in-law who had returned. Malisa took off her shoes at the gate and looked up, as she noticed Leon and enquired.

"Where are the others?" Malisa spoke as she removed her hair band and untied her shiny black hair as they drifted across her thin shoulders.

Her cold and emotionless red eyes made Leon very excited for some reason. It was as if he wanted to return some emotions back into her dead and lifeless eyes. Or maybe because he was being attracted to someone unobtainable.

"No, sister-in-law. Ginata was still here a while ago, but she just went out. She said that only I was here with her." Leon spoke with a distressed expression as he tried to appear a bit lonely.

"Oh.. by the way, how is your health now? Any improvements?" Malisa couldn't help but ask him, as she saw him being so despondent. No matter how cold her heart had become, he was still her family. Caring for her family was a natural thing for Malisa.

As Leon wanted to reply back, he suddenly remembered about the Monster Core that he got yesterday. Out of all his new family members, only his sister-in-law was a quiet person and she absolutely despised people talking behind one's back.

He was sure that if he asked her about it, she would probably keep things to herself and would not rattle him out. Leon knew that his new mother and aunt were both smart individuals and would be able to find faults within his lies.

Thinking so far, Leon reached into his pockets, as he took the Monster Core from his System Inventory, and presented it to his sister-in-law.

"Um, Sister-in-law.. I found this yesterday while I was walking behind the backyard in the forest. I think this is a Monster Core. What do you think?"

"Let me see... this is definitely a Monster Core. And a precious one at that. It's probably around D-rank I think... how did you find this thing?" Malisa couldn't help but wonder about it, since a D-rank Monster Core was very rare to find, especially in a backwater nation like this one.

"I-I found it earlier while walking around the backyard. It was seemingly dropped by some bird I think." Leon looked away awkwardly as he tried to explain everything with his stupid logic.

"Oh... and what do you plan to do with this?" Malisa squinted her eyes as she looked at Leon suspiciously. She knew that such precious things would absolutely not drop from the skies like that. But, she still tried to dig deeper to find out Leon's motives.

"I-I just wanted to help out mother, since all our money had been spent on my medicines I think. Can we sell it somewhere, sister-in-law?" Leon tried to dodge the question and tried to divert his sister-in-law's attention away from his suspicious logic and towards the financial crisis at home instead.

"I understand. It's true that we don't have enough money nowadays. Selling this would certainly help out in many ways.. but, it cannot be sold through general means." Malsia eyed the core as she tried to accurately appraise its value. In the end, though, her mind started to think of ways to sell the core.

"What do you mean, sister-in-law? Are there no major Auction Houses here?" Leon remembered the System telling him to auction the core and couldn't help but question Malisa's response.

"They are only at the easternmost city of this Kingdom, in a city known as Astura. It's a free-trade city and tax laws don't apply there. Most major financial activities take place there. As a result, the rest of the Kingdom is very poor in trading. Something as valuable as this cannot be sold elsewhere.. unless.." Malisa rubbed the core as she felt the dense Mana inside it.

She had played around with such cores a lot during her time of studies, yet here she was now, scrambling to sell off a simple Monster Core. She didn't regret marrying into the family though. The treatment that she received here was way better than she ever received. Of course, the void left behind by her husband was still there.

"Unless what?" Leon couldn't help but become even more curious. Though, he had an inkling as to what that could be.

"Unless we approach the unofficial auction houses. They operate away from the public eye and evade the tax authorities. The administration of this Kingdom is so poor that these things are not so difficult to find nowadays." Malisa spoke with a grim expression as these were among the poorest kept secrets of the Kingdom. She even thought that some noble authorities may be involved in the operation of such trading dens.

"I see. Then, when are we going to sell it?" Knowing that they could sell it anytime, Leon sensed an opportunity to break the monotone schedule of his day-to-day life as he decided to ask his sister-in-law about it.

"We? Do you want to come along? I don't think that mother-in-law would agree with this." Malisa immediately turned down Leon's request, since he had been very reckless lately and was rescued by luck last time. Malisa had no plans to increase her mother-in-law's worries.

"S-She... won't I think. Please! Sister-in-law, I am working hard to become stronger. I just need proper guidance. If you help me with training, I think I will become stronger in no time at all!" Leon tried to appeal to her as a kid would. He hoped to be able to spend his time around this mysterious sister-in-law to get more in touch with this world.

The reason for that was actually very simple. His sister-in-law knew about the previous Leon the very least. The two didn't interact much and that was why Leon was planning the trip with her. Spotting the difference between the original Leon and Leon would be the hardest for her among the members of his family.

"T-That is.. how are you intending to become stronger? I remember that you cannot interact with Mana at all." Malisa almost accepted Leon's request but then, she remembered his physical condition.

It wasn't as if the members of her family didn't try to get past that. But, his body was one of naturally rejecting Mana. She couldn't help but feel it to be a pity for her family to not have a capable and bright man.

"I researched some body strengthening techniques lately. They don't require Mana at all. I can prove it if you don't believe it. But, if I prove it, then.. please train me!" Leon became desperate as he spewed all kinds of lies before his sister-in-law. He knew that she was his only chance to be able to convince the other family members.

Although Leon also had the option to run away from the place and abandon his new family, he simply didn't want to. The warmth and blessing of finally having a family was something Leon didn't want to exchange for anything.

"Hmm, alright then. I don't like the idea of the only man of the family being buried among books all day either. But, if you fail to do it, then you must give up. Got it?" Malisa finally relented upon looking at the pitiful expression on his face. However, she still tried to be very clear with Leon. She didn't want to raise his hope too much.

"Yes! Absolutely! I won't disappoint you, sister-in-law!" Leon became so delighted that he almost hugged her in happiness. But then, he also remembered about the ones who tried flirting with her previously and his senses came back at light speed.

"Then.. follow me." Malisa sighed as she turned towards the back door of the rundown mansion. She just hoped that she wasn't doing something wrong by agreeing to his suggestion.

Leon, however, followed behind her giddily, as his eyes were locked down on the sensually dancing hips of his sister-in-law. She was unconsciously giving out such strong charm that it was almost impossible for Leon to take his eyes off his sister-in-law's back profile.

'Leon's brother was too pitiful not being able to pluck this flower.. maybe I can do it someday?' Leon's thoughts started to turn lewd as he started to play out the fantasies within his head. The two soon exited the back door and entered the backyard.

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A/N: Dammit... I feel too lonely already... Hey guys! Help me hook up with a hot chick ASAP!