Time Travel? Rebirth? I Will Win This Time!

Mike Bai's Effort for the Future

In an effort to motivate the workers, Mike Bai made a promise: if they finished the project within a month, not only would they receive the agreed 100 Gold Nomis for their work, but he'd also give each of them an additional bonus of 1 Gold Nomi. This incentive had an immediate effect—his team worked tirelessly, as if fired up by the promise. Watching them, Mike Bai felt a pang of guilt, almost as though he'd become a ruthless slave master, cracking the whip of money to drive them.

Aside from overseeing the construction every day, Mike Bai spent his evenings in his room, sketching simple mechanical designs to improve the processes for his future textile workshop. Every time he completed a drawing, he carefully placed it in a book, daydreaming about the future. What if, years from now, someone discovered this notebook and it became a legendary manuscript like Da Vinci's? Would it be known as the "Book of Mike Bai?"

Just as Mike Bai was lost in this thought, a small head peeked around the doorframe.

"Mike Bai, are you busy?" Anna's voice was soft.

"No, not at all. What is it?" Mike Bai hastily hid his sketches and asked.

"I want to buy something, is that okay?"

"Of course. I'll have Patrick accompany you."

"Could you come with me?" Anna asked, looking up at him with hopeful eyes.

Mike Bai couldn't help but nod, his resolve faltering under her gaze.

At the bustling marketplace, Anna skipped about happily, browsing the stalls, while Mike Bai followed behind, inwardly groaning, She's so young and already loves shopping. What will I do in the future? But seeing her joy made it hard to complain.

"Mike Bai, can you buy this for me?" Anna held up a small wooden toy, her eyes wide with pleading innocence.

Mike Bai, caught by the sincerity of her gaze, found a poem unexpectedly surfacing in his mind:

"A pair of eyes, neither happy nor sad, a look filled with meaning."

"Can I?" Anna's eyes glistened, her voice tinged with vulnerability.

Mike Bai, snapping out of his reverie, realized he had never given her pocket money before. With a sigh, he took out 20 silver dinars from his pouch and handed them to her.

"Thank you, Mike Bai!" Anna squealed, throwing herself into his arms and giving him a quick kiss on the cheek before skipping off to buy the toy.

Mike Bai stood there, rubbing his cheek, his thoughts running wild. Is this what it feels like to spoil a little girl?

The two continued wandering the marketplace, Anna flitting from stall to stall like a butterfly, fascinated by everything around her.

"Anna, you don't go out much, do you?" Mike Bai asked, watching her with amusement.

"Mm," Anna nodded, "I used to stay at home most of the time."

Just then, a young foal, drawn by the scent of something, mistook Mike Bai's head for something edible and nuzzled up to him.

"Sorry, my lord!" the foal's owner quickly apologized, pulling the little creature away.

Mike Bai chuckled, brushing his head nonchalantly. He looked at the foal, which was a reddish-brown color with long legs, a round back, and big, innocent eyes. It seemed to be constantly munching, an absolute glutton.

Mike Bai, intrigued, leaned forward to study the foal. The creature stared back at him, clearly expecting more food. The owner, noticing Mike Bai's interest, offered him a handful of yellow beans.

"Try feeding it," he suggested.

Mike Bai accepted the beans, and the foal's eyes lit up as it began to eat greedily. Amused, Mike Bai commented, "This horse really is a glutton!"

Looking over the rest of the horses the owner was leading, Mike Bai turned to him. "Is this foal for sale?"

"Of course!" The owner grinned. "Its parents are excellent warhorses. If you're interested, it's 100 silver dinars."

Mike Bai nodded knowingly, but his eyes flicked over to Patrick for confirmation. Patrick gave a slight nod.

"This foal seems so small and clumsy, not very useful yet—it just eats," Mike Bai mused aloud, causing the foal to snort and glare at him, as though offended.

"How about we settle on 70 silver dinars?" Mike Bai proposed, ignoring the foal's silent protest.

"That... that's too low!" The owner hesitated, clearly hoping for more.

"Let's meet halfway, then. 80 silver dinars."

The owner considered the offer for a moment, then reluctantly handed over the reins. Mike Bai counted out the silver and handed it over, taking the reins with a smile. "Alright, little one," he said, eyeing the foal's long ears and reddish coat. "You'll be called 'Radish.'"

The foal, clearly not pleased with its new name, flicked its head in protest.

"No protests allowed! Hahaha," Mike Bai laughed, leading the sulking creature through the market.

"Mike Bai, you're clearly not short of money, so why bother haggling?" Anna asked, her curiosity finally getting the better of her.

"Because every silver dinar counts. It shouldn't be spent frivolously," Mike Bai answered with a smile.

Just then, a large procession came into view, pushing Mike Bai and Anna to one side of the road. Strong servants cleared the way while attractive maids flanked the sedan chair. Four muscular Black men struggled to carry a plump merchant dressed in a white and gold robe. The merchant's small eyes lazily scanned the surroundings, occasionally fixing his gaze on Mike Bai.

Mike Bai couldn't help but mutter to himself, It's not easy being that fat. And why does that man keep looking at me?

Once the procession passed, Mike Bai turned to Anna, only to find her staring intently at the rear of the sedan chair.

"Anna, I'm guessing purple is your favorite color, since you come from Byzantium, right?" Mike Bai mused, noticing a purple curtain billowing out from behind the chair.

Anna didn't respond, her expression distant. Mike Bai considered the possibility of buying her some purple silk, but when he thought about the exorbitant price, he decided to hold off for now and be more resourceful.

On their way home, Patrick quietly mentioned that someone had been following them. After a moment, a man in the merchant's entourage approached on horseback, giving a slight bow.

"My lord, may I have the honor of doing some business with you?" he asked with a smile, his eyes flicking toward Anna.

Everyone froze in shock. Anna's face immediately turned pale, and tears began to well in her eyes, dripping down onto the cart.

Mike Bai's temper flared. "Get lost!" he roared, almost drawing his sword in his fury.

The merchant's man quickly backed away, but not before saying, "Name your price, sir! My master will accept anything."

"You scumbag!" Mike Bai shouted, pulling his sword free with a menacing glare, causing the man to retreat in haste.

"Are you okay?" Mike Bai rushed to Anna, who was now crying freely. He embraced her, patting her back awkwardly. "That pig of a merchant tried to buy you...!"

Anna's tears streamed down her face as she whispered, "Mike Bai, you won't leave me, will you?"

"Of course not! You're my Anna," Mike Bai reassured her, his thoughts drifting back to the purple curtain he had seen earlier. "Actually, I've been working on a gift for you. It's not finished yet, but I'll give it to you in a few days."

Anna wiped away her tears, smiling for the first time. "Okay, but it better be ready in three days!"

Meanwhile, the merchant's man hurried back to report to his master.

"Master, the nobleman refused to sell the girl."

The merchant, reclining in his chair, barely looked up. "Mm." He squinted, enjoying the grapes his maid had just peeled for him. "More men, then. Let's be discreet."

His eyes narrowed as he began plotting. "And make sure we get that girl—no matter the cost."