Ben's expression darkened even further, shadows practically gathering around his forehead. "Just…exactly how much white gemstone did you use?"
Elvira hesitated, clearly avoiding eye contact as she desperately tried changing the subject. "Look! The mana circulation is flawless! And the interior space—it's at least five times larger than it looks from outside! It's a miracle of magical engineering, truly! All those new knowledge I get is very useful!"
Ben leaned closer, his tone dropping dangerously low, eyes twitching in disbelief. "Elvira…how much did it cost?"
Elvira swallowed nervously, her bright smile wavering. "Oh, you know…not much, just…a very reasonable…amount…"
Ben's voice turned even colder, "Define 'reasonable amount'."
She glanced away sheepishly, mumbling under her breath, "…around half of the stockpile."
"HALF?!"
She quickly raised her hands defensively. "B-but it's worth every piece! Think about it! You'll thank me later!"
