05. Payment

"W-What other way?" asked Lily nervously.

As George was about to reply, Andy barged into the room.

"What are you doing out of bed, you are injured?!"

"I am sorry mother, but I got worried the way you both left my room, mother I am going to be fine right, am I going to die?"

'Dear uncle of mine, you are not the only one good at acting'

Andy was initially sitting in his room, hearing the entire conversation using his barrier skill. As he heard about his uncle's schemes he just couldn't wait anymore and barged into the guest room where his mother and uncle were. Also he didn't want to hear about this other payment method, it would only make his blood boil.

'It seems both my uncle and that baron are involved in this scheme. I don't even want to hear about what they were planning on doing to my mother'

Andy only has about 5 mana left, so sooner or later he had to make a move.

Lily looked at George, he thought about something and nodded. Then Lily explained everything to Andy. Of course she omitted the part about the other payment method.

"Don't worry Andy, I will discuss with your uncle and will definitely get you the healing potion. Why don't you go back to bed and rest?"

Andy then turned towards his uncle and asked with a bit of "anger" in his voice

"Uncle why didn't you directly come to me, I am a grown up now and have my adventurer licence as well. I can pay you back 100 medium mana crystals in a few months"

George was getting a bit impatient, he just wanted Andy to leave so he could proceed with his plans.

"Sigh, as I mentioned earlier I need this money within a month, can you make that kind of money within a month? Why don't you go back to your room and let us grown ups handle the rest."

Andy thought for a second and said

"How about this uncle, when you go to Wright mansion, you can propose this idea to baron. Make sure that bastard Frank is present when you propose this, then it will definitely work"

After this Andy explained his idea. Hearing it Lily raged

"No way, I won't let you suffer like that! Just go back to bed and let me handle everything"

"I will be fine mother, trust me. Also I am a not a kid anymore and make my own decisions now."

Andy then felt a chill ran down his spine as Lily glared at him.

"Just do it uncle, it will definitely work"

"This..." George didn't want to agree to this as it would spoil all his and baron's plans, so he looked at Lily hoping she would not agree to Andy's proposal.

Lily sighed, then said

"Fine, brother-in-law please go ahead with Andy's plan. I am also sure it will work and you won't have to return 100 mana crystals to baron"

A grim expression came to George's face and Andy was bursting with joy inside.

"Brother-in-law do you mind if I tag along with you as well?"

After a sigh, George nodded.

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After an hour, George and Lily reached Wright mansion and a maid guided him to a meeting area. After waiting for about 2 minutes baron, Thomas Wright, came to meet them. When we saw Lily was also present, an evil smirk came to his face.

'Looks like the plan succeeded' thought Thomas.

"Hello mrs Lily, what brings you here?"

"Lord Baron, we have a proposition for you, my brother-in-law will explain, but before this can you also call your son here, it involves him as well"

Thomas was a bit confused, why does it involve my son, he wasn't part of our original plan, he thought. Anyway he thought there might be some deviation in plan, so he agreed.

Soon Frank arrived in the meeting hall, he had a bandage around his forehead with blood stain on it. Lily knew it was fake, but tried to remain calm as she couldn't afford to offend the Baron.

"Frank is here now, George can you explain what proposition you have for us"

George wiped sweat off his forehead as he was nervous and explained Andy's plan.

Thomas's expression changed as he was listening to this plan, which was no where close to what he and George came up with.

"I don't agree to this, do you have any other proposition for me? If not just handover the potion for which I already paid you 100 medium mana crystals"

"What are you talking about father, this is a great deal, you got to agree to this"

Thomas glared at this son, then said

"Quiet Frank, you are injured and need the potion, why would I return them the potion for such silly proposition?"

"I don't need the potion father, everyone knows that!"

Frank then took off his bandage and there wasn't any wound.

"You...." raged Thomas at his useless and dumb son.

Seeing there wasn't even a scratch on Frank Lily was boiling with anger. But she couldn't offend baron so she tactfully said

"Lord baron it seems your son really doesn't need healing potion as his 'injury' doesn't seem to be fatal. Can you please agree to my son's proposal and let him use the potion?"

Thomas wanted to beat the shit out of his useless son, but this wasn't the time to do that. He sighed and agreed to the terms George and Lily presented.

Thomas then asked his legal advisor to prepare the contract, it was drafted within an hour and baron signed it. Then Lily took the contract and left with George.

After leaving Wright mansion, George gave the potion to Lily and went to his home with a heavy heart. he knew he would have to pay a hefty price for his mess up.

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When Lily reached her home, Emily opened the door for her mother, after coming in she immediately went to her son's room.

"How are you Andy, I got the healing potion, quickly drink it"

Without waiting for her son's reply, Lily opened the bottle and shoved the potion inside her son's mouth.

Within a few seconds, Andy felt a soothing sensation in his abdomen and all remaining pain went away. He then sat up and saw his wound was mostly healed.

Seeing this Lily started sobbing with happiness. Her son's life is no longer in danger.

"Don't cry mother I am fine now" comforted Andy.

Then he had a thought and activated collect essence skill and got 7 essence.

'Why only 7? I got 32 last time. I guess she was crying too much at that time since she thought I was dead'

"Mother is the contract done?"

"Yes, I have the contract with me, are you sure you want to do this?" Asked Lily nervously

"Yes, I will be fine mother, please give me the contract so that I can sign it"

Andy then received the contract from his mother and signed it using his blood. Then the contract lite up and one rune few out of the contract and inscribed itself on Andy's body.

'Hehe it is done' an evil smirk came to Andy's face.