Chapter 42: Dragon and Dungeon Core Rule 1.0

  "Miss Evina, what a surprise!"

  It was Adela who was pinned under him, trying to explain first.

  "That's right! That's absolutely an unexpected surprise!"

  Ma Long's face wasn't thick enough to withstand this kind of "indecent" maid costume being torn apart, and the situation was already enough to make him blush with embarrassment.

  So when he said that, Ma Long felt his heart rate was at least 180 beats per minute - really!

  This resulted in Ma Long being unclear about how he managed to, while speaking, not only jump up from the ground himself but also pull Adela, who was even taller than him, up with him.

  "I remember, Ma Long, you once told me a rural proverb." At this time, Yvonne, who had just pushed the door open, had already quietly put away her surprised expression due to witnessing an unpleasant scene, and instead appeared with a sly look on her face: "Hmm, if I'm not mistaken, that rural proverb means that explanation is concealment, and concealment implies there's indeed something to it?"

  Having finished speaking in the so-called rural dialect, Evna's eyes darted back and forth between Marlon and Evna: "You two, should I understand what you just said as an explanation or a cover-up? Or is it simply true?"

  Dizziness

  When did I ever say this "country slang" to that clever red-haired queen?

  Malong revealed a regretful expression, then bitterly smiled and put on a pitiful look: "Your Majesty the Queen, spare me, I'm still underage..."

  It's clear that Evna was just trying to ease the awkward atmosphere, so when Malong started acting cute and begging for mercy, she smiled lightly and changed the subject: "Alright alright, since you're all addressing me as Her Majesty the Queen, I'll show some mercy and won't pursue the issue of our little Malong's lifestyle as a bestselling author anymore."

  As they spoke, Evana reached into her pocket and pulled out a check, handing it to Marlon.

  "What is... this?"

  Ma Long glanced over and found that the check handed over by Yvonne was filled with a staggering amount of 2.5 million Rand.

  "The final payment for the first batch of books, the down payment for the second edition, and the prepayment for the next batch of new books?"

  Eva answered casually, as if the check she handed to Marlon was not a huge sum of six figures, but just twenty-five dollars in pocket money for Marlon.

  "Miss Yvonne, withdrawing such a large amount of liquid funds for me at one time, won't it affect your plan to expand the publishing house? Actually, you can give me this money in installments."

  Ma Long did not go to receive the check, but stood from Yvonne's point of view and said that he could say so because Ma Long was temporarily not short of money.

  "Malong, thank you for your understanding, but I guess you still remember what I once told you, that you're a sentimental person and so am I. Loyalty is because the price of betrayal is too low, and I will give you enough benefits, so...” Evana smiled and stopped Malong: "So, I absolutely won't do something that would hurt the trust and feelings we've just established between us."

  What could Malong say after hearing Yvonne's words?

  Malong could only solemnly use both hands to take over the check handed in front of him by Yvonne.

  "So, can we now slightly discuss the issue of Ma Long's mysterious new book?"

  It can be seen from this sentence that Yvonne, who is now thriving in the publishing industry, took time out of her busy schedule to find Marlon, and not just to deliver a check for the manuscript fee.

  Because Ma Long had already received a check containing the advance payment for the new book, Yvonne also had the right to ask about the mysterious new book in detail.

  Nodding at Evana, Marlon put away the check and looked at Adela: "Adela, would you mind getting some drinks over here? Hmm... fruit juice would be best."

  If Ma Long wasn't mistaken, Yvonne seemed to prefer drinking fruit juice rather than coffee or milk tea.

  "Okay, I'll be right there!"

  Adela, who had been lowering her head in embarrassment due to the unexpected ambiguity earlier, suddenly rushed out of Marlon's study as if she had been greatly pardoned.

  "What an enviable youth she has."

  Looking at Adela who ran away shyly, Yvonne sighed softly with a hint of envy.

  "Excuse my straightforwardness, Miss Evana. If you were to wear a young girl's clothes and tie up your hair in pigtails like a youthful maiden, you would absolutely be a stunning beauty! If anyone dares to say that you're not young and beautiful, I'll definitely go fight them to the death!"

  Malong solemnly spoke words of flattery, although in his heart he thought that if Yvonne really did as he said, she would indeed be a porcelain doll-like young girl.

  Is Evana's current strong and queen-like appearance actually a mask she uses to protect herself?

  "You're a smooth talker, aren't you?... How young do I look? I'm almost twenty-two years old!" Women always like to be praised by men, and Evna was no exception. Under Marlon's novel and slightly lewd praise, Evna even unconsciously revealed her true age.

  In this otherworldly place, most women get married between the ages of sixteen and eighteen. Eveena, who is almost twenty-two years old, feels like she's getting old, which is quite understandable.

  "This is impossible! Miss Evna, you can't be over eighteen years old!"

  Ma Long, when he was in the earthly world, also had some opportunities to "talk about life" with his sister, so he naturally knew what to say in this situation.

  Unfortunately, after a brief unconscious leak of secrets, Evna was slightly dark in expression and picked up the mask of the strong queen again. Marlon's sentence of resolute flattery only got: "Thank you... So, let's continue to discuss your mysterious new book."

  It seems that Malong's flattery has touched Evna's sore spot.

  "Please wait!"

  Eva didn't want to continue the conversation, and Marlon wouldn't force anything, after all, in his opinion, their relationship was just a pleasant collaboration between publisher and author, not yet at the level of being able to pry into each other's private lives.

  However, in Ma Long's conjecture, the reason why Evana's expression suddenly darkened was mostly due to her marital problems.

  Eva's fiancé is really... speechless.

  With this in mind, Ma Long turned around and walked behind the desk, took out a thick stack of manuscript paper from a bookshelf that still smelled of fresh wood, as well as some other miscellaneous things.

  The first sheet of this draft paper seems to have already been prepared with the title of this book - "Dungeons & Dragons Core Rule 1.0"

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