Chapter 24: Chapter 24 - Love Declared
Mabel looked just as surprised by my boldness. She gazed at me with amazement, speechless for several moments.
"Being with me... will be dangerous," Mabel finally said, staring directly into my eyes.
"I’m not afraid!" I replied with unwavering determination.
Mabel shook her head. "Mason, River City is such a small place. You’ve never witnessed the schemes of those people in Capital City, I—"
"Who cares about Capital City!" I cut her off mid-sentence. "As I said, as long as I can be with you, I fear nothing!" My words overflowed with excitement.
Mabel paused briefly, then patted my head and laughed. "I believe you. But... I need to see how you perform, and... whether you can pass the test."
"Test?" I looked at her, confused. "What test? I’ll give it my all!"
Mabel laughed softly. "You will know gradually."
"Your words are enough for me." I felt so excited I nearly jumped up from where I sat. Motivation surged through me.
I stood and declared earnestly, "Give me a little time. I’ll make myself worthy of you! I’ll let the whole world know that I love you! I’ll go to Capital City, to the Sean family, and propose to you in broad daylight!"
Looking at my spirited expression, Mabel seemed genuinely moved.
Men are most attractive when filled with confidence, and I was no exception.
Mabel looked at me and smiled. "Okay, don’t let me wait too long then."
"Absolutely!" I nodded with fierce determination.
For me, Mabel’s arrival had completely transformed my life.
After she left, I sat on the ground, attempting to absorb the surrounding qi. Unfortunately, the qi in this era was too sparse. Despite spending an entire night trying, my strength hadn’t improved at all.
Still, it wasn’t a complete waste. Since beginning my cultivation journey, I’d noticed gradual changes in my mindset. My mental state had strengthened significantly, making me different from the timid, cowardly person I once was.
"They say the longer you walk the path of cultivation, the colder your heart becomes. Seems true," I thought to myself.
Just as I prepared to leave the house, a car suddenly raced up to me. The vehicle had barely stopped when Woods Walters emerged, one of his bodyguards carrying two gift boxes.
This surprised me. I’d had no previous interaction with Woods Walters. Why would he suddenly appear at my doorstep?
But I quickly understood. Woods relied heavily on networking for survival. Now that my relationship with Mabel Sean was common knowledge throughout River City, it was obvious Woods had come to curry favor.
Touching my chin, I considered the situation. "At the moment, I need someone to help me get some herbs. Woods Walters might be a good choice."
"Mr. Raymond!" Woods called out as he hurried toward me.
"Mr. Walters! What brings you here?" I asked with feigned surprise.
Hearing me address him formally, Woods looked flattered.
"Mr. Raymond, you can just call me Woods. I don’t deserve such formal address," he quickly replied.
I didn’t dwell on this. "What can I do for you?"
"Since I offended Miss Sean last time, no one in River City dares to do business with me anymore. As you know, I have many people under me. If I can’t make money, I’m really in trouble..." Woods sighed heavily.
I frowned. "So, what do you want me to do?"
Woods rubbed his hands together, smiling awkwardly. "Mr. Raymond, if it’s not too much trouble, could you speak to Miss Sean for me, ask her to let me off the hook..."
"Of course, I won’t ask for your help for free. I’m willing to give you ten percent of the profits!" Woods pounded his chest as he made the offer.
I thought for a moment before responding, "Miss Sean may not listen to me."
"Look at what you’re saying! Everyone in River City knows about your relationship with her. As long as you speak up, Miss Sean will definitely agree!" Woods quickly countered.
I remained silent briefly, then boldly stated, "Okay, I can try, but... I want thirty percent of the profits."
Right now, I genuinely needed money, and my recent experiences had taught me that being too soft-hearted would only put me at a disadvantage.
Woods frowned, gritted his teeth and said, "Okay! I agree!"
Then he turned to his bodyguard and shouted, "Take the gifts to Mr. Raymond’s house!"
"No need, just leave them here," I said, casually accepting the gifts.
Afterward, I examined Woods’s bodyguard more closely. The man had a sturdy build, maintained a serious expression, and from his aura, was clearly a martial artist.
"Mr. Raymond, this is my personal bodyguard Kenneth. You know, people like me are always at risk, so protection is necessary," Woods explained, noticing my gaze.
He continued with a hint of arrogance, "Kenneth is also a disciple of Quinn O’Connor from Quinn City!"
"Quinn City?" The name sounded unfamiliar to me.
"Yes, Quinn O’Connor, famous for being the best fighter in River City!" Woods laughed proudly.
River City’s best fighter? The title took me by surprise.
"So... if there’s nothing else, I’ll be on my way?" Woods asked.
"Wait," I called out to him. "I do have something that requires your help."
"Just tell me. Whatever I can do, I definitely won’t refuse!" Woods solemnly pledged.
I spoke in a measured tone. "I need a batch of herbs, the more the better, the older the better."
Woods looked confused. "Mr. Raymond, what do you need herbs for?"
"I’ll explain later," I waved my hand dismissively.
"Okay, no problem." Woods quickly nodded in agreement.
Just as we finished talking, I noticed someone else at the entrance.
A quick glance revealed Maeve Lucas and Lyla Lucas looking around from the doorway.
Lyla had clearly made an effort with her appearance. She wore a pink miniskirt and an almost negligee-like strapless top, complemented by black stockings.
