Chapter 361 - False Inquiry.
Bright and early the next day, Hal and Melinda were out of the Harem space and inside her room proper. They allowed themselves a cuddle with time running normally before Hal took his leave without any intentions of informing the Dane powerhouses of his departure.
"I feel dirty" Melinda said suddenly when he was about to walk out her door.
Hal looked back at her with one brow raised on his handsome face,
"What?"
Melinda shrugged,
"Well, I feel like an escort. You came to visit me, had your way with me, and now are departing at the crack of dawn" she said and put her hands beneath her breasts to actually heft them up and emphasize their already ample volume.
Hal did not hide his lecherous gaze at them,
"You are just chuck full of surprises, aren't you?" He asked.
"What? I didn't say I dislike feeling like this. Just saying I feel dirty... That's all."
Hal shook his head with a smile, went out the door, closed it behind him, and then made his way towards the closest teleportation circle to Melinda's residence.
Once on it, he slotted in blue gems and had it take him out of the territory where he boarded a carriage that took him to the residence he had been provided by the Alchemist organization.
He had to admit, upon seeing it again, that more work had been put into making it as homely and welcoming as it could be and with a quick scan with his Astral perception, he could tell Sasha was no longer in the vicinity.
However, he was of the mind that she would be back eventually.
Even before he was inside the mansion completely, Karmen was already coming over to greet him.
Arya was not with her but Hal did not need any actual report on the matter as he knew she had now completely readopted her persona as Alchemist Nadia and was at the Alchemist Organization by virtue of invitation as an Alchemist of renown.
Once inside the mansion proper, He had reaffirmed his decision to leave for Doxon as soon as he could while he put himself into strict cultivation seclusion and used to the whole time trying to comprehend his Dao which considering the possibility of it taking very long seemed the priority at the moment.
Plus, his cultivation had stagnated and the only progress he could truly see himself making was with his bloodline or more accurately, the Shadow demon Bloodline he was now privy to.
So for the next three Days, Hal was inside the Harem space, inside which the Three days were actually Thirty, attempting to comprehend his Dao.
When he was not comprehending what made him who he was and what his whole existence could be summed up, as he was either bedding his ladies or getting more familiar with the Shadow Demon Bloodline and how to use it subtly and stealthily.
He found that the Shadow demon bloodline was even easier to use stealthily than the other two (Lust Demon and Blood Fiend).
When his seclusion was complete and he went out of the Harem space, he found that he was not any closer to the comprehension of his Dao.
It was hard not to feel a tad bit disappointed but he quickly shrugged it off and focused on the positives which were him getting better with his Bloodline.
Karmen remained in the Harem space, even as Hal went out of it since she would be going with him to the Doxon Duchy.
He put the Golden carriage into his inventory and resorted to boarding a commercial carriage to the best Teleportation circle in the entirety of the Silva Duchy... Well, it was actually the second-best.
The actual best was reserved for delegations that arrived to visit the Duke as well as those closest to him and of actual importance. This included those bringing heralds from Imperial power and the three other main powers in the Duchy. (The Danes, Astral palace, and the Fiery Lotus sect).
This second-best Teleportation circle was also a tad bit reserved but Hal felt that being a young Rank Four Alchemist with the money required for transportation, he should be allowed to make use of it.
When he alighted the carriage he was in, he sensed the presence of someone watching. He followed his instincts as well as his senses and nearly jumped out of his skin to as the person was already only a few inches behind him,
"Ha, what the...?" He said and leaped away to then stare at the beautiful Elsa who just watched his reactions without batting an eye while smiling lightly at him.
"How long have you been watching... No, stalking me? I thought you were going to give me space" He asked doing a good job at keeping himself contained and calm.
They were in quite the public location and her scanty dressing and overall sexy appeal turned more than few heads. Some cursed Hal's luck. Others tried and failed to remember when they had seen a more good-looking pair than this.
Elsa shook her head,
"I wasn't stalking you and I really did give you space." Sue told him.
"Really?" Hal asked with skepticism clear in his tone."Why don't I believe you?"
Elsa shrugged,
"I'm telling you the truth. You're just very easy to find. You have this distinct and sweet scent and air about you that acts as a beacon."
Hal smirked,
"All the way from Black lagoon?"
"It's a strong scent"
Hal sighed and turned away from her to walk towards the Teleportation circle building but she was walking by his side in half a second,
"So... Where are you going?" She asked.
"Doxon" Hal said as he saw no point in hiding it since he was fairly certain she could find out on her own if she really wanted to.
"Ah, Doxon. Great place to visit" she said wistfully.
Hal rolled his eyes,
"You came from there so it should be easier to 'Find' me" he said.
"Oh, I'm not going to Doxon. At least not yet. I absolutely love it but I am in no hurry to return to somewhere I will eventually and inevitably go back to.
No, I prefer to stay and enjoy my time away from home."
Hal stopped right at the doorway of the building, where the men present were staring at her as they were in awe of her beauty, to look at her and make his skepticism clear,
"Weren't you employed?" He asked.
"I was. However, my employment grants me a certain... level of freedom with which I can make decisions that best suit my... Situation"
Once she had said that Elsa turned around,
"Anyway, Have a safe trip. And when you come back, you should pay me back for my... Favor from the last time we met"
Hal reached out and grab her hand,
"Wait. You took the time to actually show yourself to me when I am sure you can watch me leave without making it known so you must have something to say."
Elsa narrowed her eyes slightly and was quiet for a while before,
"You visited the Dane Territory"
It was not a question but a statement of fact.
Hal nodded,
"Yes I did"
"Why?" She asked.
"To visit my Fiancee" he said without missing a beat.
Elsa's eyes narrowed even further but she said nothing.
"Is there a problem?" He asked.
"She shook her head and her expression became normal again,
"No. I was just curious"
Hal smirked,
"You do realize that this proves you're stalking me right?"
She smiled,
"Not stalking. I'm 'keeping tabs' on you" she said before walking away.
Hal frowned as he watched her leave and was sure that asking why he was visiting the Dane territory was not really what she wished to inquire about. In fact, as he was not exactly hiding his philandering, she must have already have guessed it was to visit a woman.
The only part he could see genuinely surprised her was that he claimed Melinda was his fiancee.
He frowned for about half a second before sighing and turning around and walking into the building towards the Teleportation circle and the Runemaster in charge of it for the start of his journey.