Only I Am A Reader

'Here should do.'

After running off with the box containing the heavy electric furnace, Leo took a sudden turn into a dark alley, disappearing for a split second before walking out empty-handed.

Although his action seemed reckless, he had been secretly observing his surroundings for this exact moment. Let alone road cameras, there were no people on the street. The furnace wasn't that heavy for him to risk it, but it wasn't like Leo could bring it back home either.

'On to the next store.'

Undeniably, a furnace wasn't enough for Leo to completely process the gold coins into an exchangeable form. However, he naturally couldn't buy all of what he needed from the same place even if they had it.

At the same time he had considered embarking on this challenge in preparation for trouble on Earth, Leo understood that doing any of this recklessly would only expose him to danger more. He couldn't do much yet as someone who came to possess his life-changing ability less than two weeks ago, but anyone with similar abilities could heavily influence governments with enough time!

While Leo didn't notice anyone tailing him, there was more than one method to observe someone in a world of technology unlike how it was in the Sword Continent. Most importantly, the maker of a poster that could react to him could possibly be capable of making a detection device of sorts.

Taking all of that in consideration, Leo planned to restrict himself to the processing stage for now. Unless he required it or had a method to evade detection, he had no plans to perform such a high-profile action of selling gold in mass while still in highschool…

'Lastly…'

The procedure of purchasing the relevant equipment wouldn't have taken long, but with how many detours Leo had taken, buying them from specific stores, it was only 4 hours later that Leo reached his last stop.

"I would like to get a high voltage generator, please."

"Sure thing, any preference?"

Regardless of the task at hand, Leo had another goal in mind. The Reading Space had optimal conditions, but the things he could do there were limited. Other than powering up the electric furnace, a generator had many uses in a space like that. At the very least, it was the perfect foundation to transform it into a perfect hiding spot!

"Just help me pick one."

After another quick roundtrip to store the generator, Leo spent half what he had left to buy the fuel it required, quickly arriving back home as if he had gone out for a simple walk…

`~~~`~~~`~~~`

Meow!

"What took you so long?"

Dark jumped out of Mia's lap as Leo passed by the living room. There was no worry or surprise on his mother's face, but she still asked about his prolonged outing.

"It was just a walk…"

Answering with a small voice, Leo bent down to pick up the moody Dark, holding him with his left arm as he patted him with the other. However, Mia's 'knowing' gaze was still on him.

"...Alright, I was looking around for a certain book."

Leo turned his face around as if he had been caught, this was his own way of explaining himself without exposing his real purpose.

"That was easy to say, wasn't it? You are free to do what you want, but there is no need to hide it."

Smiling at Leo, Mia stood up and walked to the kitchen to start preparing dinner. Most mothers would scold their children for messing up their studies, or not doing their homework, but Leo was far too different to be treated that way. Whether it was chores, studying, or anything required from him for that matter, he always made sure to deliver before getting carried away to his own world.

In this current age and time, to have a son whose only addiction was this 'healthy' was a blessing, dealing with him harshly would only make things worse.

"I will remember to do so, mother."

With a now calm Dark in his arm, Leo obediently nodded as he retreated to his room. His current situation was just too peculiar to explain, with the danger involved, this wasn't the time to explain everything just yet.

"Alright, I will be back in a little while."

Putting Dark down, Leo flashed away once more, arriving before the unorganized pile of items that he had just bought earlier, it was time to set everything up!

Although the actual empty space in the Reading Space seemed to be extremely restricted by the existence of the endless bookcases, that was only Leo's first impression. As he got used to controlling it more and more, he found that what he saw was only restricted by his imagination!

'Back away.'

With a simple thought, the bookcase row to Leo's right hurriedly retreated, followed by the one to his front, freeing up more space than the one he opened up for the sake of training.

'Technology is still the best.'

After hopping around to set up everything, Leo obtained his own personal smithy in no time, something that was only possible in a place like Earth.

"Here we go."

Sizzle…

As the crucible was finally heated up to the required heat, Leo hesitatingly started to pour in some coins. Despite their lack of use, Leo still felt that he was losing memories rather than making money.

He simply didn't have the heart to watch the Gold Swords melt away as he started preparing the mold he bought. Since selling gold bars was a bit overboard, Leo had prepared a basic bracelet mold, one that only put it into that shape without any artistic designs. Once he was confident enough, he could start selling it to jewelry stores.

Sizzle!

The molten gold was slowly poured down into one rubber mold after the other. It was only after Leo burned through half of his gold stash that he stopped, flashing out of the Reading Space to get some fresh air.

Meow!

"Yes, I'm back!"

It only took a day's work, but Leo had firmly taken the first step towards obtaining wealth without even having to rely on his smithing skill! All that was left was to prepare for the events awaiting him on both sides!