Ace planned to check in on Danny and then return to his room to practice curse arts, but after meeting Esmeralda, the Elven Queen Mother, that changed.
"Ace, Mandy was a real estate agent. She made over a million by brokering land deals for a few old but rich and powerful people who wanted to retire and move to the countryside for a quiet life. Now, she, too, retired and used her millions to buy a ranch and farmland not far from here. My dad helps her manage them, and they split the profits," Danny updated Ace on what Mandy had been up to recently.
When Ace was younger, his family used to spend the summer break at their uncle's house, but as they grew older and his uncle's family got wealthier, these last few summers, Ace's parents spent their summer in the city. It's not that Alwin and Mary were jealous of Dan and Pam's success. It's just that buying the farmland and starting a tangerine plantation was Alwin's idea, but due to their choices, things ended up as in the present.
Ace's parents were happy for his uncle, but visiting the ranch reminded them of their missed opportunity. So they stopped visiting the ranch and invited his uncle's family to the city. However, their house was too small to accommodate two families. So, they politely spent the night and left the next day, making some excuse.
"So everyone is rich except for my family?" Ace exclaimed in shock. His father attended college, got a job in a reputed MNC, and worked hard his entire life, nearing retirement age, but he was yet to make his million. Honestly, he was far from it. However, his uncle and Mandy barely passed high school yet met their million-dollar mark. As for his sister, she was a few years older than Mandy and a college graduate but had yet to get her life together. Let alone earn a million dollars.
"Ace, you are smart. I am sure you will think of something to make your million," Danny comforted his cousin while thanking god for making him the only son, allowing him to inherit his parents' millions without any competition.
"Enough about that. Where did you purchase Esmeralda?" Ace inquired.
"Ace, if you plan to buy a cheap one, my guy will not fit you as they only do high-end custom jobs and charge a high service fee. You are better off trying the online stores," Danny advised Ace, knowing his family's financial prowess.
"Dude, so what if I don't have the money? Can't I just ask?" Ace remarked, not taking offense at Danny's words.
"Well, it doesn't cost anything to dream. So go ahead, ask away," Danny nodded, expressing his willingness to discuss his hobby with his cousin.
"Tell me, what kind of high-end custom job are we discussing here? Can your guy make characters from comics, video games, and anime?" Ace asked eagerly, sensing the potential significance of this for him.
"Legally, because of the copyrights on these characters, sales of their dolls would not be allowed without the copyright holder's permission. However, as long as you agree to a confidentiality agreement and pay a little extra for their troubles, they'll get you whatever you need," Danny explained with a cunning smile. Then, he eagerly shared, "I'm saving up to take the vampire heroine from that one comic as my concubine." Rubbing his palms together in excitement.
"Dude, won't your parents notice?" Ace asked. He could understand Danny hiding a doll from Dan and Pam, but a harem of dolls, now that's pushing his luck.
"I guess you are right. I should think about getting a vampire concubine when I move out," Danny contemplated, recalling how his father removed his room's door locks over an argument. Now, he has to move the drawer behind the door to lock it. It's a hassle. Earlier, he thought that with everyone downstairs in the backyard, nobody would disturb him, but he was wrong. Fortunately, it was just his cousin.
"I need to make money fast," Ace mused aloud. Hearing him, Danny exclaimed, "Ahah! You admit you want to buy a silicone partner."
"Can't I just need money for other things," Ace remarked, rolling his eyes at Danny, who, for some inexplicable reason, seemed excited about the idea of him buying a silicone doll.
"Well, Your family is poor and doesn't even give you pocket money," Danny agreed with Ace's argument and pondered aloud, "Man, how can one live without any money?"
Ace stared blankly at Danny before asking, "You still haven't told me where you bought the doll."
"Dude, just be honest with me. I might be willing to help you in the cash department," Danny pressed, demanding to know if Ace wanted to buy a silicone sex doll because Ace kept insisting that he didn't want to buy a silicone doll, yet he continued to inquire about its details.
"Fine, I am looking to buy a silicone doll, but I don't need your cash," Ace agreed since Danny was harmless, and as cousins, they share far worse secrets.
"I knew it, haha, I knew it. You like to collect action figures. How could you pass on a chance to own a life-size model of the character of your dreams? Bro, don't be shy. I have ten grand saved up. I will lend it to you if you want," Danny offered, feeling emotionally closer to his cousin. Before Ace could ask Danny how he saved that much money, a familiar voice interrupted him.
"Hey, you two nerds. Your dads are calling you downstairs to give you two a lesson on how to grill meat," Mandy bragged into the room and announced loudly.
"Shit!" Danny exclaimed, surprised by Mandy suddenly bragging into his room. Then he cried out, "I need to do something about the freaking door locks."
"Why? What were you two talking about?" Mandy asked Danny while suspiciously staring at Ace, wondering if he was gossiping about how he rejected her advances.
"We were talking about the 'dolls.' Ace wants to buy one, but he doesn't have the money. Mandy, his birthday is in a few months, so why don't you book one as his birthday gift in advance? Considering the waiting period for a custom doll and all," Danny suggested to Mandy while Ace stared at him in shock. He regretted sharing his interest in buying a silicone doll with Danny.
"Oh really," Mandy said as her stare at Ace softened, and a mischievous smile graced her lips. Only she knew what she was thinking.