Chapter 20: The Enigmatic Magic Coins

"Ah?! What's this?"

Liya's gaze landed on something unexpected—a peculiar little creature snoozing soundly amid a pile of materials.

The creature, Wa-wa, was draped in an empty enchanted bag, blending into the surroundings so well it could easily be overlooked.

At this point, Wa-wa had grown to about 1.2 meters tall, with a disproportionately large head that made up nearly half its size. Covered by the bag, its gray-green body resembled some sort of nondescript plant material.

"This is my contract beast. Its name is Wa-wa," Ian explained without hesitation. After all, Wa-wa was becoming increasingly conspicuous. With plans to establish his base of operations, "The Enchanted Cottage," Ian knew it was impractical to keep Wa-wa's presence a secret.

Pulling back the enchanted bag, Ian revealed Wa-wa's full form to Liya.

"It's... well, quite odd-looking," Liya remarked, unsure how to describe Wa-wa's oversized head, nearly invisible eyes, and spindly body.

Ian chuckled. "It's still in its growth phase. It won't look like this when it's fully grown."

"And what will it look like then?" Liya asked skeptically.

Ian offered a cryptic smile. "You'll see when the time comes."

Liya felt his smile was a little unnerving, but since there was no malice in his tone, she decided to let it go.

Afterward, Liya counted the stock of enchanted weapon oil—21 jars, each weighing one pound. According to the agreed price, the total came to 1,638 coins, equivalent to 1,092 Divine Grace Coins.

Liya prepared the payment in 10 magical coins, each emitting a faint purple glow, with the remainder in Divine Grace Coins. She placed the coins into an elegant black leather pouch and slid it across the table to Ian.

Curious, Ian picked up one of the magical coins to examine it. The coin resembled a faintly purple gemstone, with an astrological diagram engraved on one side and a balanced scale on the other. The craftsmanship was exquisite.

Slightly larger than a Divine Grace Coin, the magical coin had a diameter of about three centimeters.

The metric system, introduced by the Astrologer's Guild in this era based on the movement of celestial bodies, defined one meter as roughly 10% longer than the measurement from Ian's previous life. This system had been widely adopted, replacing older units like yards and feet, which were now largely obsolete.

Magical coins, as products of alchemy, contained compressed neutral magical energy. Their value was roughly equivalent to 100 Divine Grace Coins, but their versatility as high-quality materials made them worth even more in practice.

The fact that the Whaling Crew was willing to pay in magical coins was a testament to their generosity.

After satisfying his curiosity, Ian returned the magical coins to the pouch and slid it back to Liya.

"One more thing—I need your help with something," Ian said.

Liya smiled knowingly. "As our most important partner, you can count on the Whaling Crew to assist you in any way we can."

Her words were polite, but Ian only half-believed them.

"I need a new place to stay," Ian began bluntly. "It needs to be spacious, close to the sea, and quiet enough to avoid interruptions."

Wa-wa's rapid growth made it urgent to find a larger residence, preferably near the sea, to ensure it could dive into the water as needed. Ian had carefully considered approaching the Whaling Crew for help, knowing their connections could provide access to resources beyond his reach.

Moreover, with their ongoing collaboration, concealing this from them would only create unnecessary complications.

Hearing Ian's request, Liya's expression shifted. She began to wonder if someone from the Whaling Crew or Sea's Breath had crossed him.

"Don't overthink it," Ian clarified upon noticing her reaction. "It's not that this place is bad. It's just that my contract beast is growing a little faster than expected, and I need a bigger home."

"Oh, that's a relief! For a moment, I thought we'd done something to offend you." Liya sighed in relief. "Do you want to rent or buy?"

"Either works," Ian replied.

"I'll handle it immediately. I'll make sure you get the perfect place." Knowing Ian had no shortage of funds, Liya didn't even bother asking about his budget.

By mid-afternoon, Liya had compiled a list of suitable properties in Paradise Harbor. Despite thirty years of relentless development by various factions, the options were surprisingly limited.

Ian shortlisted a few choices and toured them with Liya, using a carriage from Sea's Breath to navigate the sprawling harbor. By the time they finished, night had fallen.

The most suitable option turned out to be an abandoned lighthouse, now converted into a tower. Located on a small peninsula to the northwest of Paradise Harbor, the lighthouse had been built by the original exploration fleet that first landed on Paradise Island.

However, when Crescent Bay was discovered, new lighthouses were constructed at the bay's northern and southern points to better guide ships. The old lighthouse was subsequently abandoned, later purchased by a Podrian noble who converted it into a five-story tower.

This turned out to be a poor decision. The northwest winds, blocked by Crescent Bay's western curve, created a vortex around the peninsula, producing eerie, howling gusts year-round. Despite attempts to fortify the area with stone walls, the problem persisted. The tower was eventually abandoned and repeatedly sold off, but no one kept it for long.

After careful consideration, Ian decided this was the place.

It wasn't masochism—simply that other options were either too far from the sea, too small, or too crowded. The peninsula tower met all his criteria and was incredibly cheap, priced at just 200 Divine Grace Coins.

For such a large property, it was practically a steal. Since he wouldn't stay long, Ian decided he could endure the discomfort.

His straightforward payment delighted the two managers from Hyde Real Estate Trading Company, who promptly completed the transaction and even promised to have the tower cleaned and the paperwork delivered by the next morning.

On the way back, Liya couldn't help but feel a little exasperated. Despite her attempts to dissuade him, Ian remained resolute in his choice.

For a man who didn't speak forcefully, he was surprisingly firm when making decisions.

When Ian mentioned he wouldn't stay long and would soon leave, Liya felt an unexpected pang of sadness.

Perhaps she wasn't a great manager for the Whaling Crew. Instead of prioritizing the partnership, she found herself regretting that she might never see this intriguing man again.

The Sea of Miracles was vast—so vast that every farewell could be the last.