Chapter 4: Be My Slave for a Month

"What the hell…?!" Ethan Letherdale lowered his head and froze. A tattoo. His eyes widened. He didn't remember ever getting one. While he was still reeling, the pattern flickered, a faint pulse sweeping across the Blood-Energy Strengthening Potion on the table. "This is…!" With that single sweep, a torrent of information slammed into his mind. The formula. The refinement process. Everything there was to know about that Potion, laid bare in an instant. "How is that even possible…?" A beat later, he snapped back to himself, shock written all over his face. This was Stellar Group's Latest Blood-Energy Strengthening Potion. Ignoring equipment and raw materials, rumor had it the R&D alone had burned through tens of billions. Its formula and process were secrets layered on top of secrets. And his tattoo had merely glanced at it, and he knew it all. "This isn't…" Something clicked. Back at Scarlett Luet's place, hadn't it been the same? He'd suddenly known what was wrong with her body, as if someone had handed him a complete diagnostic report. So it had been this Mysterious Tattoo. He'd been fully dressed then, which was why he hadn't noticed it. "Wait." Still stunned, Ethan noticed something else. This Blood-Energy Strengthening Potion Formula had flaws. A lot of them. More than that, he could… fix them. Patch the gaps. Smooth out the weak points. If he kept going, he could develop a brand-new Blood-Energy Strengthening Potion, something close to perfect. Just like before. He'd pinpointed Scarlett Luet's physical defects, and he'd even known how to repair and treat them. The realization sent a rush through him. Stellar Group had spent tens of billions to develop this Strengthening Potion. If he produced an upgraded version, what would it be worth? He didn't waste time thinking. He tried to revise it immediately. "No… I'm tapped out." A moment later, he'd only managed to fix about ten percent before he couldn't push any further. Ethan realized the tattoo's function consumed his "Spiritual Energy." While analyzing this Potion, and especially when he'd examined and treated Scarlett Luet earlier, his Spiritual Energy had been nearly drained dry. [0/96] The number surfaced in his mind, showing his remaining Spiritual Energy and his total capacity. At the same time, information about Spiritual Energy followed. It was an energy form born from the mind. In everyday life, it was almost never used, but it served as the fuel for the tattoo on his chest. If Spiritual Energy rose high enough, it could even evolve into a higher form of energy, something that could be used in combat. That was for later. The problem was simple. How did he restore his Spiritual Energy, fix the rest of the Strengthening Potion's defects, and obtain a perfect-grade Potion? "Adrenaline?" As Mind Energy, the most basic recovery method was rest, but it was painfully slow. Even a full night only restored one or two points. Unless he used adrenaline as a trigger. Because of compatibility issues, it couldn't be injected from outside. It had to be produced by his own body. "So what, then…" Ethan's brow tightened. Adrenaline was a hormone released under intense stimulation. Fear. Pain. Was he supposed to recover Spiritual Energy by hurting himself? Click. The door opened. Ethan stepped out of the bedroom and saw Candace Scurr coming in, shutting the door behind her. "What are you doing here again?" "Don't think I came to get back together with you. Keep dreaming." Candace snorted, her tone sharp and dismissive. "I heard you signed a big deal and got a Blood-Energy Strengthening Potion. Hand it over." "Hand it over?" Ethan's expression darkened. "What do you mean?" "What do you think I mean? Give me that Strengthening Potion!" Candace thrust out her hand, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. "Consider it compensation for my youth these past three years!" A tree without bark died. A person without shame was unstoppable. Candace actually had the nerve to demand "youth compensation" from him. During their three years together, back in school, Ethan had spent most of his living expenses taking her out, buying her gifts. After graduation, for the past year of work, he'd covered all of their costs, and whatever salary he had left still went straight into Candace. If it hadn't been for making money to satisfy her vanity and all her spending, he, a top student in potion studies, wouldn't have left a stable job with solid benefits to come to Stellar Group and work as some damn Potion salesman. And after Candace cheated on him, she still showed up, shamelessly asking for compensation. Ethan was so furious he laughed. He let out a cold snort. "Isn't Kyle Luet rich? That Potion only costs about sixty-six grand. That's not even a month of his pocket money. You already threw yourself at him. He didn't buy you one?" "Whether Kyle buys me anything is between us. I'm asking for yours!" Candace's face turned ugly, humiliation flashing in her eyes. Ethan sneered. He knew her too well. He'd hit the nerve. Looks like Kyle wasn't nearly as generous or as capable as Candace had imagined. Then Ethan remembered that night. Kyle had opened his mouth and demanded a hundred grand from Scarlett Luet. Had it been to buy Candace a Blood-Energy Strengthening Potion? Apparently, he hadn't gotten the money. Not that it had anything to do with Ethan anymore. "Stop running your mouth. I'm not even making you pay back the money I spent on you these past three years. 'Youth compensation'? You're a shameless tramp. You don't deserve a damn thing." "You…!" "You what? Get out. Don't waste my time. I've got a Blood-Energy Strengthening Potion to use." Ethan's voice cut like ice, and he added, "And leave my key. If you break in again, I'm calling the cops." "Ethan Letherdale, you dare talk to me like that?!" For three years, Ethan had treated Candace like a princess, cradling her in his palms. He'd barely even raised his voice around her, let alone cursed her out. Candace shook with rage and turned to leave, but after two steps, she stopped. She couldn't accept leaving without that Blood-Energy Strengthening Potion. In her mind, Ethan's things were her things. She'd always treated that as a given. "Fine," she said, forcing her anger down as she turned back with a frown. "What do you want, then, to give the Strengthening Potion back to me?" "Back?" Ethan nearly choked. "Are you brain-dead from getting railed by Kyle? It's broad daylight and you're still dreaming. I'm not-" He cut himself off mid-rant. Just cursing her out like this felt too cheap. After what happened yesterday, he'd finally seen Candace for what she was. To get that Potion, she'd do anything. Maybe… he could have a little fun with it. "Alright." Ethan smiled and sprawled onto the sofa, casual as could be. "You want the Strengthening Potion? Then be my slave for a month. If you do, your master will reward you with it." "Ethan!" Candace's face twisted with fury, but then something seemed to dawn on her. "You don't mean… that kind of slave, do you?" "What other kind?" Ethan's smile stayed put, cold at the edges. "Besides that, what use are you?"