<b>Chapter 484 </b>


    Mirabe was eyeing the array <b>of </b>healing herbsid out beside her when Knox nudged her, causing her <b>to </b>pause momentarily. Without lifting her gaze<b>, </b>she drawled, “Aren’t we acquainted enough for a casual <b>chat</b>?”


    Knox choked on his words<b>, </b>realizing <b>that </b>wasn’t the kind of response he had been fishing for.


    Already by Vincent’s side, Mirabe peered at the simmering stew pot <b>on </b>the stove, with a faint herbal aroma wafting through the air. After a brief two–second pause<b>, </b>she suggested, “Vincent, why don’t you toss in a bit of Solomon’s <b>Seal</b>?”


    Vincent nced at Mirabe. “Solomon’s Seal?”


    She nodded affirmatively.


    Vincent went over <b>to </b>a <b>box</b><b>, </b>scooped up a pinch of Solomon’s Seal, and asked, “Is this amount about right?”


    Mirabe<b>, </b>with an appraising look, replied, “Pretty close.”


    Soon, Vincent had rinsed the Solomon’s Seal and added it to the pot. He didn’t question Mirabe’s advice; it was as if anything she said was gospel to him. The dominating aura she had was too strong.


    Standing aside and watching the two converse with such ease, Knox suddenly felt a glimmer of hope for taking on an apprentice. He stepped back, positioning himself next to Niki, arms crossed, and whispered, “Hey, Niko<b>, </b><b>don’t </b>you think Mirabe would make a fine… culinary herbalist?”


    Niki turned his head<b>, </b>giving <i>Knox </i>a sidelong nce. “What nonsense are you spouting now?”


    The guy wanted Mirabe, a top–notch potion master and a brilliant medic to boot, to be a cook. He sure had wild dreams.


    Didn’t Knox hear him addressing Mirabe as his mentor already?


    Feeling scrutinized by Niki’s gaze, Knox was puzzled, “What’s with that look?”


    Niki looked away, stroking his beard. “Nothing, just a suggestion. You might want to sleep with your head elevated tonight.”


    “Why did you just call Mirabe your mentor?” <i>Knox </i>circled back to the conversation at hand.


    Niki shed a knowing smile, “I’m not telling you.”


    Knox got agitated. The biggest regret of his life was getting to know this darn old man.


    Niki’s phone buzzed in his pocket, and he walked away to take the call.


    Mirabe and Vincent continued discussing various dishes. As one spoke, the other listened, oblivious to whatever the two elder men were talking about at the door. Before long, Mirabe stopped distracting Vincent from his cooking and stepped out of the kitchen.


    As she crossed the threshold, she was met by Knox’s intive gaze. She looked at him, puzzled.


    Knox nced at Niki, still on the phone, his mind fixated on the ‘little mentor nickname. After a few seconds of thought, he bluntly asked Mirabe, “That old guy is your apprentice?”


    Mirabe, slightly taken aback, realized Knox must’ve been referring to Niki. After a moment of silence,


    10:36


    she simply stated. I don’t take on disciples‘


    Knox was grobemarked What did she mean by not taking disciples?


    Knox secallowed hard and tentatively inquired, “Does he want to be your apprentice<i>? </i>


    Mirabe recalled how Hiki had asked several times about taking on a disciple and how she hadn’t agreed, leading to he insistence on estling her little mentor


    After a t hesitation and another appraising fook at Knox, che nodded in confirmation to prevent any simr misunderstandings, “Yes, I don’t take disciples”


    After a moment, she added, “Nor do I seek a master‘


    Knox should have been disheartened by herst statement, nor do I seek a master‘ Still, his mind waspletely absorbed by the revtion that Niki wanted to apprentice under Mirabe: This left him utterly dumbfounded


    she simply stated, “I don’t take on disciples.”


    Knox was gobsmacked. What did she mean by not taking disciples?


    Knox swallowed hard and tentatively inquired, “Does he want to be your apprentice?”


    Mirabe recalled how Niki had asked several times about taking on a disciple and how she hadn’t agreed, leading to his insistence on calling her ‘little mentor.‘


    After a brief hesitation and another appraising look at Knox, she nodded in confirmation to prevent any simr misunderstandings, “Yes, I don’t take disciples.”


    After a moment, she added, “Nor do I seek a master.”


    Knox should have been disheartened by herst statement, ‘nor do I seek a master. Still, his mind waspletely absorbed by the revtion that ‘Niki wanted to apprentice under Mirabe. This left <b>him </b>utterly dumbfounded. <ol start="4"><li>4. </li></ol>