I watched Clara's eager expression with amusent. Her eyes were wide with anticipation, ready to agree to almost anything for those concert tickets.
"My condition is simple," I said, leaning forward slightly. "You'll need to behave yourself during my stay here. No more bursting into your father's etings, and you'll join us for dinner each night to discuss cultivation theory."
Clara's mouth fell open. Clearly, she'd been expecting sothing more difficult.
"That's... that's it?" she asked skeptically.
I nodded. "That's it."
William looked between us with a mixture of surprise and approval. "An excellent suggestion, Liam. Clara could benefit greatly from your knowledge."
Clara's initial hesitation quickly dissolved into excitent. "Done! I'll be on my best behavior. I promise!"
"And I'll do my best to secure those tickets," I replied, though I wasn't entirely sure how I'd manage it yet. Still, connections were one of the few advantages I now possessed, and it was ti to test them.
After Clara bounced out of the room, William gave an appreciative nod.
"Thank you for that. She's been impossible since this concert was announced."
"Young people have their passions," I said with a slight smile. "Though I'm not sure if I can actually deliver on my promise."
William waved dismissively. "Even if you can't, you've bought us a few days of peace. That alone is worth sothing."
I chuckled. "Fair enough."
Later, in the privacy of my guest quarters, I began making arrangents. Kathleen Hansen wasn't just any perforr—she was arguably the most famous vocalist in three provinces. Getting tickets to her sold-out concert would require significant influence.
But there was sothing else that interested about Kathleen Hansen. If my mory served correctly, she was one of my regular clients for specialized dicines that enhanced vocal performance and protected the throat. Her last batch would be running low around now.
I sent a ssage to my business contacts in Havenwood City, instructing them to prepare a special delivery of enhanced vocal dicines. With that as leverage, securing concert tickets shouldn't be difficult.
My suspicions were confird when one of my assistants replied that Kathleen's manager had already been inquiring about the next shipnt. Perfect timing. I requested that they inform her that I would personally deliver her dicine in Shiglance City.
With that arrangent in place, I turned my attention back to William's proposed mission. The border disputes required careful handling, and I spent several hours reviewing the information he'd provided.
---
The next morning, Clara approached during breakfast, trying unsuccessfully to hide her eagerness.
"So... any news about the tickets?" she asked, attempting to sound casual but failing miserably.
I smiled. "Patience. I expect to hear sothing today."
William gave his daughter a stern look. "Clara, rember your promise about behavior."
She imdiately straightened in her chair. "Of course, Father. I was just making polite conversation."
I hid my amusent behind my teacup. The girl was transparent in her motivations, but there was sothing refreshing about her straightforward nature.
After breakfast, William and I spent several hours discussing strategy for our upcoming border mission. Clara, true to her word, joined us for lunch and asked surprisingly insightful questions about basic cultivation techniques.
"You have potential," I told her honestly. "Have you considered formal training?"
Clara glanced at her father. "Father believes I should focus on my academic studies first."
William sighed. "The cultivation world is dangerous, Liam. You know this better than most."
I could understand his perspective. A father wanting to protect his daughter from the harsh realities of cultivator conflicts was entirely reasonable.
"There's wisdom in that," I acknowledged. "Though sotis knowledge of cultivation can be protective, even if one doesn't pursue it as a path."
Our conversation was interrupted by a servant announcing a visitor—one of my ssengers from Havenwood City.
"Sir," the young man said with a bow, "Kathleen Hansen's manager has confird. She will et with you personally this afternoon to collect her dicine."
Clara gasped. "Kathleen Hansen is coming here?"
"Not here specifically," I clarified. "I'll be eting her at her accommodations."
The girl's eyes were wide with disbelief. "You actually know Kathleen Hansen personally?"
"I provide specialized dicines for many perforrs," I explained. "Their voices are their livelihood, after all."
William looked impressed. "Your business connections continue to surprise , Liam."
I simply nodded, rising from my seat. "If you'll excuse , I should prepare for my eting."
As I exited the dining room, I heard Clara's excited whispering to her father. Her enthusiasm was infectious, reminding of simpler joys that I rarely had ti to consider anymore.
---
Later that afternoon, I returned to William's estate with a small package in one hand and two ornate tickets in the other. Clara was waiting in the entrance hall, trying and failing to look nonchalant.
When she spotted the tickets, she froze.
"You actually did it," she whispered, eyes wide.
I handed them to her. "Front row. Kathleen was quite generous once I explained the situation."
Clara took the tickets reverently, as though they might disintegrate if handled too roughly. Then, to my surprise, she threw her arms around in a quick, impulsive hug.
"Thank you, thank you, thank you!" she exclaid. "You have no idea what this ans to !"
I stiffened slightly at the unexpected physical contact before awkwardly patting her shoulder. "You're welco. Rember our agreent."
She nodded enthusiastically. "Of course! I'll keep my promise. Father can bring a friend to the concert too—these are for both of you."
William, who had entered during this exchange, looked equally surprised. "That's... very thoughtful, Clara."
She bead at both of us before racing upstairs, presumably to plan her outfit for the event.
William turned to . "I'm impressed, Liam. Not many could deliver on such a promise so quickly."
"Sotis, it's just a matter of having the right resources at the right mont," I replied modestly. "Kathleen Hansen happens to rely on my dicines for her performances."
"Still, you've earned my daughter's eternal gratitude," he said with a chuckle. "No small feat."
I smiled slightly. "It was a simple matter."
The truth was more complex. My eting with Kathleen Hansen had been brief but productive. She'd been appropriately grateful for the specialized dicine I'd provided, which would ensure her voice remained at its peak for the concert tour. Securing the tickets had been effortless after that.
But the exchange had left contemplating the nature of influence. In my previous life, such connections would have been unthinkable. Now, doors opened for based on what I could provide to others. It was a stark reminder of how much had changed.
---
The following day passed quietly. Clara, true to her word, was a model of good behavior. She even joined William and for an extended discussion of cultivation theory, showing genuine interest and aptitude.
In the late afternoon, however, an unexpected visitor arrived. Eamon Greene, one of my assistants from the clinic, had traveled urgently from Havenwood City.
"Master Knight," he said after being shown to my quarters, "I apologize for the interruption, but there's a matter requiring your attention."
I frowned. "What's happened?"
"A woman arrived at the clinic this morning, insisting on seeing you personally. When told you were away, she beca quite agitated."
"Many patients prefer personal consultations," I noted. "Why is this one different?" This chapter is part of the collection on *.
Eamon lowered his voice. "She was heavily disguised, sir, but one of the staff recognized her. We believe it's Kathleen Hansen."
My frown deepened. I'd just seen Kathleen yesterday and provided her with enough dicine to last through her entire tour. There was no reason for her to seek out again so soon.
"Did she say what she wanted?"
"Only that it was urgent and private," Eamon replied. "She seed quite distressed."
I considered my options. If Kathleen was indeed seeking out in disguise, sothing significant must have happened.
"When is she expected to return?"
"She said she would co back this evening."
I nodded slowly. "I'll return to Havenwood City imdiately. Make sure everything is prepared for my arrival."
After explaining the situation to William and apologizing for the abrupt departure, I made arrangents to travel back to Havenwood City. Clara was disappointed but understood when I explained it was a dical ergency.
"Will you be back for the concert?" she asked hopefully.
"I'll do my best," I promised, though I suspected whatever was happening with Kathleen might prevent that.
---
By evening, I had returned to my clinic in Havenwood City. Eamon greeted at the entrance.
"Any sign of her?" I asked.
"Not yet, sir. But—" He paused as the front door opened.
A slender figure entered, wrapped in a hooded cloak despite the warm evening. Even with her face partially obscured, there was no mistaking the elegant posture and confident stride of Kathleen Hansen, one of the most famous perforrs in the region.
"Please tell Master Knight that—" she began, then stopped when she saw . "Oh! You're here."
"I ca as soon as I heard you were looking for ," I replied, studying her carefully. "Is there a problem with the dicine I provided?"
She glanced around nervously. "Could we speak privately?"
I nodded, leading her to my consultation room. Once inside with the door closed, she lowered her hood, revealing her striking features. Kathleen Hansen was undeniably beautiful, with delicate features and expressive eyes that had helped propel her to fa alongside her remarkable voice.
"I'm sorry for all the secrecy," she said with a small smile. "But I can't be recognized here. My fans can be... enthusiastic."
"Understandable," I replied. "How can I help you?"
Her playful deanor shifted, revealing genuine concern. "The dicine you gave yesterday—it's working wonderfully. But I need sothing else. Sothing... special."
I raised an eyebrow. "What exactly are you looking for?"
Kathleen reached into her cloak and withdrew a small pendant. It hung from a silver chain, a simple dark stone that seed to absorb light rather than reflect it.
"This is my lucky charm," she explained. "I've worn it for every performance since I began my career. But lately, it's felt... different. Heavier, sohow."
I frowned, imdiately sensing sothing was wrong with the pendant. Dark energy radiated from it in subtle waves—not enough for a non-cultivator to detect, but unmistakable to soone of my abilities.
"Where did you get this?" I asked, keeping my tone neutral.
"A gift," she said, her eyes downcast. "From soone who believed in when no one else did. They said it would bring luck, and it has! But recently, I've been having terrible nightmares, and I feel drained after performances instead of energized."
I extended my hand. "May I?"
She hesitated briefly before placing the pendant in my palm. The mont it touched my skin, I could feel malevolent energy pulsing through it. This was no ordinary charm—it was a dark artifact, slowly feeding off her life force.
"Your instincts were right," I said grimly. "This is not rely a lucky charm."
Alard by my tone, she leaned forward. "What is it?"
"Sothing dangerous," I replied, examining it more closely. "How long have you had it?"
"Five years," she answered. "My Master gave it to when I beca his student."
"Your Master?"
She nodded. "My vocal teacher. He said it would help channel my talent." Her eyes widened suddenly. "Is it... is it hurting ?"
Rather than answering imdiately, I took a small knife from my desk drawer. Before she could protest, I pricked my finger and allowed a drop of my blood essence to fall onto the pendant.
The reaction was imdiate and horrifying. The pendant emitted a cloud of dark smoke, and within it, ghostly faces ford, their mouths open in silent screams. The heads began to circle around the pendant, growing more distinct by the second.
Kathleen stumbled back in terror. "What is that?!"
Instead of responding, I closed my hand around the pendant and focused my energy. Then, to her visible horror, I opened my mouth and inhaled deeply, drawing the dark spirits into myself. They resisted briefly before being consud by my own dark energy.
When it was done, I opened my hand. The pendant lay there, now just an ordinary stone without a trace of the malevolent power it had contained.
Kathleen stared at , her face pale with shock and fear.
"What... what did you just do?" she whispered.
I fixed her with a cold gaze. "I saved your life. This wasn't a lucky charm—it was slowly killing you, feeding on your life force and preparing to consu your soul."
She shook her head in disbelief. "That's impossible. My Master would never—"
"Your Master," I interrupted, "either intended to harm you or was deceived himself. If you hadn't t today, this thing would have taken your life."
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