Chapter 39

"Oh, there's a lot to buy." Emile cheerfully wandered between the shelves with a shopping basket in hand.

Trailing behind, Sarah was stopped by an elderly lady who asked with a smile, "Heading out for some fun?"

Sarah nodded and smiled, the shy little girl behind the old lady peeking at her curiously.

She needed to conserve some of her magic and couldn't cast a suggestion spell on the three people in the store. Anyway, they had arrived safely, so there shouldn't be any unexpected incidents, right?

"I heard you talking about going to the beach, right? Young people have such energy! I used to go for winter swims early in the morning when I was young, but now that I'm old, I can't do that anymore. The cold makes my bones ache, and I can't sleep well. The only thing I can still do is wake up early. Be careful if you're going out to sea; the weather report says the waves have been rough lately..."

The elderly lady chatted enthusiastically with Sarah, who had no choice but to listen politely. She watched Emile pass by the food aisle, tossing anything labeled "chocolate" into the shopping basket, which made her chuckle.

"And you are...?" The old lady squinted at Emile, who was wearing a hooded coat from head to toe, making it impossible to tell if he was a man or a woman.

"Sisters," Sarah deliberately left a misleading clue to make it harder for their pursuers to track them down.

"You seem to get along well. I'm also going to visit my sister who lives in the east. My son and daughter-in-law have to work, and they want me to wait until the weekend for them to take me there, but we haven't seen each other in a long time, so I want to go early. My little granddaughter here wants to visit her aunt too..." The old lady suddenly stopped talking, staring in surprise at Emile, who was now in the personal hygiene aisle.

Following her gaze, Sarah saw Emile bending down to examine some items, his eyes fixed on eight boxes of condoms and three pregnancy tests. He stared at them for a good ten seconds before nonchalantly sweeping them all into the shopping basket.

Sarah was utterly shocked. She quickly walked over to him and whispered, "I told you to buy necessities. I don't have much money left. What are you doing with these?"

"They are necessities! If we end up on a deserted island, food might be easy to find, but these things won't be available. Just because we're on the run doesn't mean I plan to abstain." Emile argued confidently, noticing her cheeks turning red. He smirked and teased, "Strange, I'm the one buying them, so why are you blushing?"

"You..." Should she call him an optimist or just shameless? She glared at him, her face flushed, and whispered, "I told you that overindulgence could be fatal, didn't I?"

He laughed loudly, "No, no, if we take proper precautions, it won't be 'fatal'—" His expression suddenly changed as he noticed a figure behind her.

"What's wrong?" Sarah turned around and was startled to see a familiar white robe—Alexander! She immediately shielded Emile behind her.

He wasn't there in person but was using the same technique she had used to deceive their pursuers—soul projection. Souls are usually somewhat indistinct and, upon closer inspection, reveal themselves as non-physical. That's why she always appeared from a distance when luring enemies. But Alexander's soul was exceptionally clear, almost as if he were physically present. Free from the limitations of the body, the soul could fully manifest the sorcerer's spiritual power. His power was vast and overwhelming, enveloping them completely.

Her heart sank. Even at her best, she was no match for this man. Their escape was coming to an end...

"What are you doing here?" Emile glared at Alexander defensively. "Shouldn't you be in Japan with your fiancée, watching the snow?"

"I was informed that you and the heir of the Derlin family maid had escaped. I had to cut my vacation short and come back to catch you." Alexander's face was grim. He only appeared before the two of them; no one else could see him.

"I'm not going back," Emile refused flatly, his tone icy. "If you dare separate me from her, I will make your fiancée suffer ten times the pain. Think carefully."

Alexander's handsome face showed a hint of annoyance. He muttered to himself, "I really don't understand why you sympathize with such people." He stepped towards them.

Both of them retreated warily, but then he extended his hand, revealing a small paper bag in his palm.

"This contains the account and password for your Swiss bank account. The government has been giving you an allowance for assisting with experiments over the years. My master helped you open an account in a Swiss bank and deposited all the money there. I haven't seen what's inside the bag, so only my master knows about this account. It can't be traced. Use the money as you wish. I've delivered my message. Goodbye."

"Wait!" Emile was bewildered but grasped one key point. "You're not here to catch me?"

"I was, but when I got the call... my fiancée was next to me." Alexander's expression was complicated, a mix of joy and frustration. "She was deeply moved by your story and insisted that I give you a chance. My plane will land in an hour. When we meet again, it won't be this peaceful."

"Just because she asked, you're letting us go?" Sarah was astonished. Such a major decision influenced by personal matters?

"Because she..." Alexander's face turned slightly red, unable to hide his joy. "She said that if I helped, she would let me set the wedding date, no more delays."

Emile was stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter. "Good old Qin! I always threatened this guy with you, and in the end, you saved us!"

"But even if you agree, you could still pretend to help and then capture us. She wouldn't know," Sarah remained skeptical.

Alexander was known for his strict nature, similar to her foster mother. Moreover, he had made it clear that he had no friendship with Emile. Letting them go so easily... Perhaps he wasn't as cold as he appeared, and his fiancée's "coercion" allowed him to let things unfold naturally?

"Because Alexander is a noble person, a true gentleman. Moreover, he promised his beloved Qin, so he wouldn't deceive her." Emile tried to pat Alexander's shoulder, but since Alexander had no physical form, his hand passed through the air.

"Instead of chatting here, you should hurry. You have only an hour." Alexander's figure began to fade.

"Thank you!" Sarah said gratefully. "I'm sorry I ever cursed you. I truly apologize."