Time slowly passed, reaching the deepest part of winter.
Even in the City of Chaos, a thin layer of frost and snow had formed on the streets, trampled into dirty slush by passersby.
It looked like a boy being forced to wear makeup for the first time—awkward and messy.
In the north, where the cold seeped into the bone, many human warriors had been greatly affected.
By contrast, the beastfolk who had long lived on the far northern ice plains grew more ferocious by the day.
If not for their wariness of the human race's new explosive reagents, they might have already launched a fierce assault during this period.
As the days crept closer to mid-December, Ron's long-prepared journey to the Royal Capital was finally about to begin.
In the days before departure, Ron frequently traveled between the suburban prayer house and the factory on the outskirts, ensuring that the second phase of elemental card production proceeded smoothly.
The factory workers were now proficient in using Heartvine and had even developed many convenient methods of their own. The beginnings of an industrial assembly line had already taken shape.
Overall productivity had increased dramatically.
In this second production phase, the commoner version of the elemental cards remained unchanged. However, under Ron's control, four cards in the noble version had their magical patterns altered.
This change made no difference to traditional poker-style games, but for the game developed in this other world—Duel of Magic—it was a significant variable.
Because it wasn't merely four cards being changed, it would also affect many combinations and strategies within Duel of Magic.
For those players deeply obsessed with it, new types of magic continuously stimulated and sustained their enthusiasm for elemental cards—ensuring the cards would keep selling well.
Guy's negotiations with the Chaos City Magic Academy had concluded. Ron invested 200,000 gold coins, of which 100,000 would be offset in the form of 5,000 Nether Orchid plants.
Additionally, the academy signed a new purchase contract with Ron for Nether Orchids.
The contract would last one year. Each month, Ron was required to supply the academy with 5,000 Nether Orchids.
Since the academy had not requested any preferential pricing, Ron naturally had no reason to offer a discount. Nether Orchids would continue to be sold in bulk at 20 gold coins per plant.
With this, Ron's wealth officially surpassed the 200,000 gold coin mark.
With money in his pocket and confidence in his heart, Ron woke up in his bedroom on the morning of departure.
The tide of magic in the room gradually receded. The mana within his body slowly calmed and flowed back into the mana seed in his mind.
A timely notification sounded in his head—
[System: "Congratulations, Host, for achieving a new milestone: Advanced to Intermediate Mage. You have obtained a new title."]
[Title: "A Somewhat Competent Magical Amateur."]
[Title Effect: "Can be equipped together with 'Novice Magic Newbie.' The effect 'Double the power of the first wood-element spell cast' is now applied to all wood-element spells."]
After reviewing the title information and admiring the pleasing system interface skin for a while, Ron got out of bed and left the bedroom.
After breakfast, the carriage convoy bound for the Royal Capital was already waiting outside Ron's Wonderful Flower Shop.
Nora hadn't even finished washing the dishes. She followed closely behind Ron, step by step, escorting her shop manager downstairs.
Ron didn't leave immediately. After signaling Sylvie to board the carriage first, he walked to the counter on the first floor and took out his chibi-style puppet doll.
Turning his head, he noticed that Nora's pure, wide eyes were already glistening with moisture, as if a light breath could make crystalline tears fall—each drop filled with reluctance.
"What's this? I haven't even left yet, and you're already about to cry?" Ron reached out and pinched Nora's cheek.
Nora blinked and tilted her head up, trying hard to push the tears back. "I'm not crying…" she muttered stubbornly.
Yuna, standing nearby, turned her head and curled her lips in disdain.
"Heh." Ron chuckled softly and stuffed the doll into Nora's arms. Then he closed his mouth and shifted his consciousness into the doll, speaking through it. "Take a look—who's talking?"
"Huh?" Nora froze, not quite processing it.
"I'm in your arms."
"Ah!" Nora let out a small cry, lowering her head to stare at the doll in astonishment before glancing back at her silent shop manager. The development felt almost surreal.
Yuna also leaned over curiously, staring at the talking doll with interest.
"Is… is that you talking, Boss?" Nora lifted the doll, her eyes roaming over it, doubt still lingering in her voice.
"No matter how far away I am, as long as I wish it, I can speak to you through this doll," Ron's voice came from the doll's mouth.
Nora's eyes widened in disbelief, joy blooming instantly in her heart.
That meant even if the Boss stayed in the Royal Capital for a while, she could still talk to him every day—as if he had never left.
But the next moment, her face turned pale. She looked at Ron timidly.
"B-Boss…"
"Mm?"
"C-Can you see things through this doll?"
"No. Why?"
Hearing that, Nora let out a huge sigh of relief.
Thank goodness… Boss doesn't know I secretly read The Viscountess's Rise to Power… I'd be mortified…
"Take good care of the doll. I'll make time every day to ask about the flower shop and the tavern."
"Mhm!" Nora nodded vigorously.
"Then I'm off." Ron turned to leave, intending to give a dashing wave—
Only for someone to tug lightly at the corner of his clothes.
He turned back, smiling helplessly at Nora, who quickly withdrew her hand in flustered embarrassment.
Her face was already crimson, and she was at a complete loss.
Watching his back just now, she had reached out instinctively. By the time she realized it, she was already holding onto his sleeve.
"Can't bear to see me go?" Ron gently patted her head.
Yuna rolled her eyes and rubbed her arms as if warding off goosebumps.
"…Mm." Nora lowered her head, quietly savoring the warmth of his palm. The heaviness in her heart gradually eased.
Then suddenly—
Ron stepped forward half a pace and pulled her into a firm, heated embrace.
"Mm…"
Nora's mind went completely blank, dizzy and disoriented.
She felt Ron's left hand press against the back of her head, holding her tightly against his broad chest.
His right arm wrapped firmly around her waist, drawing her entirely into his arms.
Her cheeks burned like a sunset. Her hands clenched into small fists and pressed against his chest.
Her eyes squeezed shut, lips pursed tight—she even forgot to breathe.
Only when she nearly suffocated did she remember to inhale.
Ron's pleasant scent instantly filled her senses, making her blush even deeper, as if she were tipsy.
Yuna couldn't bear to watch anymore. She fanned the air in front of her nose dramatically, as though overwhelmed by a sour, cloying smell, and turned her head away in exaggerated disgust.
Ron held Nora's small, soft body for several minutes, ignoring wave after wave of Yuna's eye-roll attacks.
At last, he leaned close to Nora's ear and whispered, "It's getting late. I should go."
Nora slowly unclenched her fists, her hands gripping his clothes tightly. Her flushed face stayed buried against his chest, greedily breathing in his scent.
After a long while, she nodded softly, her voice trembling with tears as she secretly wiped them against his clothes.
"…Mm… Boss… goodbye…"
Ron lifted his head and gave Yuna a look that said, I'm leaving Nora to you.
Yuna responded with a look that said, I don't need your reminder.
Then Ron released Nora, turned, and walked out of the flower shop, waving as he boarded the carriage.
Nora stood there blankly, watching his retreating figure, hugging her arms as if trying to preserve the lingering warmth.
The carriage set off.
Nora hurried to the shop entrance, watching as it grew smaller and smaller before finally disappearing at the end of the street.
She hugged the doll tightly to her chest and bit her lip, whispering tentatively,
"B-Boss?"
At once, Ron's gentle voice came from the doll—
"Mm, I'm here."