Hellbents
Chapter 19: Sunk Cost Fallacy

Ava exercised that morning accompanied by the gaze of a pair of golden eyes that pierced the back of her head, although when asked the prince said that he was fine, he was fine, but Ava can practically see the cold anger that settles in the man's iris.

Well, Ezra already knows that Ava is a vengeful type, still yesterday his excessive comments were used as a joke at dinner that led to the gambling. The prince should have thought that Ava would retaliate, so he should not have been surprised.

Ezra must have understood that Ava could not be persuaded to compromise. Otherwise, it means that he is indeed less sensitive to become the leader of a kingdom, no need to be supported. But if deliberately the prince did not give up, the only loss later was him.

An investment does not need to be continued if it is bad, time to move to other stocks, for example Selena, a Priest with rare healing abilities, whose usefulness is guaranteed because healing skills are needed everywhere. A sure success.

"I think he was angry that he lost a gamble with us last night, I remember him saying that the money was running out" River finally commented after three hours had passed.

Ava's winnings accumulated up to 1000 coins only from Ezra's defeat, in fact a large amount, but he believed that much money was not significant from the dozen digits he had. The prince's anger was clearly based on something else, his plan dashed halfway.

If actually last night went well, the scheme created will make Ava owe at least one request to Ezra, most likely the man's request later related to the collection of credit scores in the Maturite process. But even before the actual plan began, Ava cut off her path while still in the preparatory stage.

"I can offer to pay for their meals and lodging as long as we're here" Ava chimed in gently, trying to calm down River whose discomfort was obvious as it bankrupted someone, the biggest reason is Ava.

After all, Ava doubted that an individual from the royal family with such high honor would be willing to accept money from her.

River followed him, hesitating. They then continued the routine after hunting some monsters near the beach, reading reference books in the library, then buying the various materials Ava needed.

His big win left Ava now able to set aside money to buy simple equipment used by alchemists. That is, he has a mini scale, a working glass, mortar and pestle, along with a spiritus burner.

In this way, he could try a more complicated recipe from Eve's journal.

Ava has been aware of this for a long time, the journal Eve gave more like a collection of research results conducted for years. What is in it is not only a prescription drug that is known to the public, but also a herb that is not known to the public, for example, the double EXP herb that Ava tried to make. Horn powder from horned rabbit, pyroprun fruit juice, and sharkodil root. For the first ingredient Ava already has a lot of supplies from the hunts yesterday, pyroprun itself is a red fruit that will emit fire when just picked, expensive for each fruit. As for sharkodil no one sells it because the plant is considered useless, although a lot of breeding like weeds around the beach area, the plant is considered useless, for this reason, he will quietly pluck it until the roots later in the afternoon. In this way, the expenditure is minimized.

Given the difficulty of raising the level when it is at a certain level, this herb is sure to become popular, the money in the inventory will soon swell.

But of course that is also if what he did was successful, and the recipe written is certainly authentic.

So Ava needed a guinea pig, not River, of course, the man would be sacrificed if the recipe was a trap or he failed to make it.

"Well, Rina!" River was aghast, screeching. Both of his hands covered his reddened face. Ava took off her outerwear without warning, although she still wore a T-shirt and shorts. "Wear your clothes!"

"I'm not naked anyway" Ava counteracted while warming up.

"But-"

Half an hour later, Ava decided to just get here. The sea water in autumn dissipated his body heat, he shivered. River went straight to Ava with a towel he pulled from the inventory, the man's eyebrows swooped, "Swimming when the temperature is cold like this is not a good idea" he said.

After getting a stack of sharkodil plants put in the inventory, Ava and River return to the inn, greeted by a greedy look from Ezra accompanied by Al and Roy next to him. Not far from them Selena sat sweetly while sipping tomato juice with her eyes focused on the faces in front of her, smiling happily. The reddish-golden afternoon sky did accentuate their harmony, but it also gave off a dangerous impression that Ava did not particularly like, as her impulsivity would be more difficult to control.

"I'm not suggesting a card game for tonight" Ava warned.

Ezra, visibly unhappy with his proposal, immediately argued, "Why not? I want to make more money from my defeat yesterday."

Pretending to be tired, Ava took a deep breath, "Do you know the sunk cost fallacy theory?"

The prince raised his eyebrows, both interested and confused by the term he first heard, "What is it?"

"It is said that a person sometimes chooses to be faithful to his initial choice even if the choice is no longer profitable or has already harmed them. Yesterday's gambling can be said like that, "Ava explained, then he glanced at Selena who was still asleep, "So you better find another way to recover the lost money than to challenge gambling again."

Another meaning that Ava conveys is to stop following, disturb Selena only.

Ezra was silent for a moment, although the man's countenance was still as grim as it was, Ava could see the suspicion that appeared on her bright golden bead. "But what if the initial choice is the best in the end?"

"Who can accurately predict the future? People with the ability to predict are still half right. Such thoughts are what cause the phenomenon of sunk cost fallacy often occur," Ava spryly said.

"So surrender?"

"I suggest to choose a safer path," Ava's business smile came out. Seeing the prince who was only fixated, as well as Al and Roy who followed the silence of their master. Ava shrugged, then walked past them to return to her rental room.

Looking at the short black-haired head that disappeared behind the stairs, Al finally whispered right in Ezra's ears that were still speechless.

"He seems to know, Your Majesty."

"Really, right?"

In contrast to Ava's expectations, Ezra's interest in her is even higher. The hot look ended at the end of the stairs.

"Doesn't that mean he has a skill that can see what I can't see, like I have?"

"It's most likely like that, Your Majesty."