Ouroboros Bar, Cairo, Egypt.
In just one day, Valeria's good mood for vacation in Egypt was completely evaporated by the scorching sun outside.
All right.
In fact, Valeria accompanied her good friend Catherine to attend the International Alchemy Conference and came to Egypt for a vacation.
They arrived in Egypt three days ago.
When they first arrived in Cairo, they visited the tourist attractions there, and then the two of them never left the Ouroboros bar where they stayed.
"I hate Egypt and this horrible weather."
Valeria drank the red drink in her cup, looked sideways at the scorching sun outside the window, and complained to her female companion beside her, "Staying in this kind of hellhole for a long time is bad for your skin."
"Then why did you insist on coming with me? Wouldn't it be better for you to stay and look after the store?" Catherine said without raising her head as she slowly flipped through the Finks Daily provided free of charge in the bar.
"It's even more uncomfortable in the United States. There are so many rules and regulations that I can hardly breathe." Valeria was not happy with the atmosphere of the American magic world. She patted her chest lightly with her hand, as if to give herself a breath, and then glared at her friend and complained, "Besides, you came out to play by yourself, and you have the nerve to leave me to work in the store?"
"Don't all the profits earned during this period belong to you?"
Valeria poked the ice in the cup with a straw and said confidently, "What do I need that money for? Wouldn't it be more comfortable to find a rich man to support me?"
"Then why did you reject Cameron so bluntly last time? Isn't that guy very rich?" Catherine asked back.
"I'm not a fool. I knew at first glance that Cameron was not a good guy. Besides, wasn't he originally after you, but he got rejected by you, so he turned around and chased me." Valeria was furious when she heard Catherine talk about the wizard Cameron who pursued her some time ago.
Cameron was indeed quite handsome, in the same class as Catherine, and his family was also quite wealthy. But what made Valeria very unhappy was that the guy always looked at them with lustful eyes, and came to pursue her after failing in pursuing Catherine.
What do you think of her, a spare tire for your car
What annoyed Valeria the most was that Cameron had no sincerity at all and just wanted to find a beautiful woman for fun.
Doesn't he know that youth is a woman's most precious wealth
"Actually, being single is pretty good."
Catherine knew that Valeria still wanted to find a good home for herself before she was twenty-five.
Their beauty shop is now very famous in the United States. After all, there are two beautiful women in the shop, and the effects of the beauty potions are also great, which is widely favored by witches.
After becoming rich, Valeria became more selective in choosing boyfriends, and she has rejected all the men who approached her so far.
This was actually half Albert's fault. He raised their standards and made a lot of money from beauty. They both lived a comfortable life now and were no longer in a hurry to find boyfriends.
"You really don't want to find one?" Valeria couldn't understand Catherine's thoughts.
"It's hard to find the right one. It's better to be alone than to just make do with someone."
"Isn't there another good candidate?" Valeria stared at Catherine. She felt that her friend had a good impression of Albert.
It doesn't seem so strange to go from friends to lovers.
Sometimes, good friends can go to bed and chat, and then get together.
"So, this is why you want to target Anderson?" Catherine knew why Valeria came to Egypt with her. "Be careful or Isobel will break up with you."
"I didn't say I was stealing her boyfriend." Valeria pouted, "Besides, aren't they married yet?"
"They're engaged," Kathryn reminded.
"There's still a chance before we get married. Besides, you also said that Albert might be able to brew a real beauty potion," Valeria took Catherine's half-drunk drink and continued to drink it. "One of us has to sacrifice, otherwise if Albert succeeds one day, he will definitely hide it from us."
"Don't even think about it. Isobel will come to Egypt with you. You have no chance." Catherine had to admit that what Valeria said made sense.
Who would share their valuable research results with strangers who have nothing to do with them
"Isn't Isobel writing a book?" Valeria asked in confusion. "By the way, I remember she said before that she wanted to inherit her father's dream and continue her research on magic after graduation?"
"People change all the time. And why do you think she and Albert came to Egypt?" Catherine put down the newspaper and looked at her friend, saying unhappily, "It's to prevent you from taking advantage of her absence and sleeping with her man. I bet those photos you sent last time must have alerted Isobel."
"Shouldn't it be the Spanish report that aroused Isobel's vigilance?" Valeria felt that it was the Spanish singer's fault.
"No woman would be so heartless as to let her boyfriend stay with other beautiful women."
"Why don't I go and tell her straight, Isobel must know my little thoughts, she is very good at reading minds." Valeria thought she could talk to Isobel, as long as she didn't steal her boyfriend, the conflict between the two sides was not irreconcilable. After all, men are all lustful, especially excellent men who don't lack women. Rather than having a lover suddenly appear outside one day, it is better to keep it under their noses, and then they can open a beauty salon together.
"If you dare to tell Isobel, you two probably won't even be friends anymore." Catherine snorted. She thought Valeria was crazy. She wanted to go to England to live with Isobel. She also knew that life in the United States made Valeria feel very uncomfortable.
In fact, most foreign wizards hate the atmosphere of the American wizarding world.
“Here they come.”
Valeria waved towards the door and saw the young man and woman who had just entered the bar coming towards her.
"Why did you come just now?"
"I encountered some trouble when exchanging gold coins with the goblins." Isobel pulled out a chair and sat down opposite Catherine.
Albert put the suitcase at Isobel's feet, then went to the bar to find the bartender to register for the room, and ordered a few iced drinks with the gold coins he had just exchanged.
The waiter quickly brought the drinks over with a plate, and Albert got his room key. Their room was booked by Nicholas, who came earlier.
"It's too hot here. If you want to go out for a walk, wait until night." Albert sat down next to Isobel, picked up the ice drink and took a big sip. It felt a bit like the sour plum soup in his previous life, cool and refreshing.
"Let's go together tonight." Valeria nodded in agreement. She took a small bite of ice cream and asked Albert with a smile, "You came to participate in the International Alchemy Conference this time. Do you want to take back the gold medal for pioneering contributions?"
Although Valeria's words sounded like a joke.
However, this is not impossible, Catherine said Albert is very good at alchemy.
"Where's Catherine?" Albert didn't answer, but asked, "Are you here to participate, or..."
"I just came here with Grandpa Nicholas to broaden my horizons. Maybe I can find some inspiration here." Catherine secretly looked at Isobel, whose cheeks were rosy, and was surprised to find that Isobel was not wearing any makeup, but was more beautiful than the last time they met. A small number of people in the bar who were secretly looking at them moved to Isobel. "
She suddenly felt a little jealous. Albert must have developed a more effective beauty potion for Isobel to use.
"What about you? Are you really going to win another gold medal?" Catherine asked.
"Of course I have to try my best. It doesn't matter whether I win the award or not." Although Albert said this, people who know him know that it is just a polite remark: what he means is that participation is what matters.
However, every time Albert said this, he would take the championship away before leaving, making the contestants who participated in the competition with him grit their teeth.
"This is the result of my research." Catherine said as she took out a box. When she opened it, she found a medicine bottle inside which contained a light gray liquid.
"Plant extract?" Albert guessed what was in the medicine.
"Yes." Catherine nodded and asked, "What are your achievements?"
"I have made some progress in my research on mandrake." Albert took out a palm-sized box, opened it, and pulled out a bottle of... wine
That glass bottle does look like a wine bottle.
"Is this a potion?" Both of them were a little unsure, because they had never seen potions in wine bottles before.
"This is Mandrake wine," Albert introduced it to the two with a smile, "I call it youth and love."
"Can mandrake also be used to make wine?"
Catherine and Valeria looked at each other and felt that they had really learned something new. They didn't expect that mandrake could actually be used to make wine. Moreover, they all guessed that this thing in front of them must have some special effect, otherwise it would be a laughing stock to bring a bottle of strange wine to the competition. Albert obviously would not joke about his reputation.
"Yes, but it's a bit troublesome. This is a kind of magic wine. It has some special effects and tastes very good." Albert said meaningfully, "After drinking it, people will experience the vitality of youth and the beauty of love, so I call it Youth and Love."
"Can I have a taste?" Valeria asked.
"Wait until you find someone you like!" Isobel helped Et refuse. She had drunk this stuff before, so she naturally knew its effects.
The strange name of the wine "Youth and Love" was given by the two of them together.
"Are there any other results?" Catherine asked. To be honest, it was a little unreliable to use the so-called "magic wine" to participate in the International Alchemy Conference.
"This is also the result of my research." Albert took out another flat container, which contained the improved flight ointment after upgrading to level 3.
Without waiting for others to speak, he applied some flying ointment on the empty glass. The glass actually floated up, as if someone had secretly cast a levitation spell on it.
Catherine also applied some on the newspaper and found that the newspaper also floated.
"It's incredible," Valeria murmured.
"Is this thing also made of mandrake?" Although Catherine couldn't think of what this thing was used for for the time being, she couldn't help but sympathize with Albert's opponent.
"Is this ointment a product of alchemy?" A young and handsome wizard walked towards them, curiously looking at the cup and newspaper floating in the air, and his eyes fell on the ointment Albert had applied on the cup. He smiled and said to Albert, "I think you are also here to participate in the International Alchemy Conference! My name is Aria, nice to meet you."
"Albert."
Albert extended his hand to shake the other man's hand.
"Are you exchanging your alchemical achievements? Can I join you?" Aria stared at the alchemical works on the table and introduced herself politely. "I also have some good experience in alchemy. To be honest, I haven't met a young colleague in my field for a long time."
"Sorry, our table is full." Catherine said calmly, "The two tables next to us have reservations."
After that, she ignored the handsome young man and looked directly at Albert and asked, "Where is my grandfather?"
"They met an acquaintance on the road and are probably still chatting. They should be here soon." Albert gave Aria, whose cheeks were a little stiff, an apologetic smile.
"Sorry to bother you. Let's talk about it at the exchange meeting tomorrow!" Aria smiled politely at Albert and turned away.
"That guy's intention is so obvious." Catherine curled her lips in disdain.
The other party seemed to come here to discuss alchemy with Albert, but Catherine knew very well that guy had been secretly observing them a few days ago. Did he really think she didn't know
"After all, there are three beautiful women here, and Mr. Aria is so handsome, he will definitely want to pursue you." It was not difficult for Albert to guess the purpose of the uninvited young man.
When pursuing beautiful women, it is normal to meet them in bars.
"What if he asks out your Isobel?" asked Catherine.
"I would have simply refused him," Isobel said calmly.
"What if he pursues us?" Valeria demanded.
"I'll take him to the hospital," Albert said, narrowing his eyes as he smiled. "But I don't think I stand a chance. Aria is obviously a smart person."
"Smart?" Valeria didn't think Aria was that smart. Her intentions were seen through by others at a glance. How could she still be called smart
"Of course, he came to chat with me instead of you, because strange girls will be particularly wary of strangers in a foreign country." Albert said calmly, "Even if he is very handsome, he will still be wary if he comes uninvited. People think he has ulterior motives. If you become friends first, you can lower your vigilance."
"Well, the guy actually made a bet that he could pick up one of you," Isobel said suddenly.
The atmosphere around them became a little weird. Kathryn narrowed her eyes and asked, "Are you sure?"
"I'm a telepath. Mr. Aria doesn't know how to block the brain." Isobel took a sip of her drink and said calmly, "It's not difficult to know his thoughts."
"Albert must have had a hard time," Valeria teased.
"Albert is very good at brain occlusion. I can't see through his thoughts, and I won't pry into other people's thoughts at will." Isobel said calmly, "Of course, I don't have the habit of sharing my boyfriend with others."
"Don't say that. I'm not competing with you for it. I can even help you keep an eye on him." Valeria said it very tactfully, but Albert understood.
What's wrong with this guy? Are all Ukrainian girls so open-minded