Ten minutes earlier, the dense fog dispersed, and the illusion shattered.
Everyone aboard the Bauhinia returned to normal. Though some had been badly drained, others ran onto the deck, wanting to see what had happened.
However, before they could step onto the deck, the lofty wizardly pressure outside frightened them back inside.
With Formal Wizards present, none of them dared act rashly. Yet such a grand spectacle was rarely seen, and many could not restrain their curiosity. They gathered near the cabin doors, peering outside through every crack they could find.
Angel was among them. Before he could find a suitable spot to spy from, however, ill-intentioned gifted ones nearby shoved him right up to the cabin door.
Before Angel could retreat, a man whose appearance had transformed along the way from bizarre and terrifying into that of a lecherous gentleman stood before him and smiled.
"Honored holder of the Gold Card, welcome to the Barbie Restaurant..."
Angel was led into the Barbie Restaurant by Tang Youyiyou with a bewildered expression, followed by a whole crowd.
This group encompassed every extraordinary individual aboard the Bauhinia. More importantly, every one of them wore a different expression.
Sabo and Jeral were expressionless, but the discomfort in their eyes and the occasional cough escaping their throats revealed just how awkward they felt. They had smoothly slipped inside by relying on a mortal boy's Gold Card. But whenever they recalled that boy looking at them as though saying, You adults really have no shame, bullying me because I'm young and ignorant, they felt uncomfortable all over.
Heloline, meanwhile, studied Angel beside Soup Weasel with a peculiar gaze, seemingly deep in thought from time to time.
As for the Wizard Apprentices from the remaining three major organizations, their expressions were even more colorful. Some were envious, some fierce, some gloomy, some silent. Beyond those strange emotions, the most common expression was probably curiosity.
Curiosity about the Barbie Restaurant's decor, curiosity about what the Barbie Restaurant contained, and, most of all, curiosity about—
How that otherwise unremarkable boy, aside from being rather good-looking, possessed a Gold Card that even Formal Wizards did not have.
Walking at the front, Angel was the focus of everyone's attention and calculations. He appeared calm, but inside he was trembling with fear, every step feeling as though he stood at the edge of an abyss.
Even now, he still could not understand how the golden card given to him by that strange seabird he had named Chirp-Chirp turned out to be a Gold Card VIP pass for this damned Barbie Restaurant.
A Gold Card VIP was a Gold Card VIP. Wasn't it just a restaurant? At worst, he would have to go in and pay for a meal.
But what Angel had not expected was for a group of lofty extraordinary beings to ask him to bring their entire party inside when he entered the restaurant.
As Angel, who had only just come into contact with the Wizarding World and was still an ordinary person, did he dare refuse?
Of course not!
That was how this bizarre scene came to be. Apart from Angel, everyone wore an exceedingly strange expression.
Lofty wizards had actually come begging a mortal for help. If their peers learned of this little performance, where would they put their faces?
Though wizards like Sabo found it hard to swallow their pride, the moment they thought of the rumors circulating in the Wizarding World—that the food of the Barbie Restaurant possessed a magical power that could grant enlightenment—they immediately cast aside all concerns about face. So what if it was a little embarrassing? Getting benefits was what truly mattered.
At worst, after leaving the Barbie Restaurant, they could silence everyone present. Then no one would know.
Soup Weasel introduced the Barbie Restaurant all along the way, while Angel remained silent. Partly because he was uneasy, and partly because he truly did not know how to respond.
The interior decor of the Barbie Restaurant was quite unlike its childlike exterior and possessed a distinctive style of its own.
Black, crimson, gold, silver—every sort of solemn and magnificent color. Every sort of twisted, intricate, yet seemingly perfectly ordered dark pattern.
Thorns, roses, vines, blood. Even the paintings on the walls carried a strong dark gothic style, completely at odds with the exterior.
However, if Jon, a traveler through time and space, had been here, he would certainly have recognized the style at a glance. It was simply Baroque mixed with Lolita, a classic dark Lolita style. Though its meaning transcended age, broadly speaking, it could still be considered a fairy-tale style—just one that followed the path of adult fairy tales.
Although Angel understood Earth's culture, he had not delved so deeply as to study private fetishes like "pedophilia." After all, his age was still what it was!
Thus, Angel was also quite curious about the Barbie Restaurant's unique style.
It truly had an exotic charm. Angel sighed inwardly. Only after seeing the Barbie Restaurant's furnishings did he begin to realize that he was getting farther and farther from the Old Earth Continent. The foreign things he encountered in the future would surely only grow more numerous.
Just as Angel's thoughts churned, a Wizard Apprentice briskly walked over to his side.
Angel turned his head and immediately put on a slightly respectful expression.
The newcomer was Moro. Among this group of extraordinary beings, only Moro was somewhat familiar to him. Although Moro had not shown him much care after they boarded the ship, Angel's entry into The World of Wizards had still depended on Moro's help. Moreover, Moro had helped his mentor Jon. Even if there had been conditions to the exchange, Angel still owed him this favor. The moment Moro approached, he immediately put away his indifferent expression and became exceedingly respectful.
Seeing Angel's attitude, Moro stroked his slightly graying beard with satisfaction.
"Angel, we were able to enter the Barbie Restaurant this time thanks to you." Moro spoke with a genial smile, the wrinkles on his face unfolding layer upon layer like blooming daisies as the corners of his mouth spread.
Angel had yet to recover from Moro's sudden gratitude and did not know how to answer. He could only nod with an awkward half-smile.
As he watched Moro chat with him so amiably, Angel suddenly recalled what had happened earlier. Why had his back suddenly begun itching for no reason? Was it related to that strange and bizarre world?
This concerned his safety. Angel had no other extraordinary beings he could ask, so he made up his mind to question Moro.
With that thought, Angel directly asked, "Lord Moro, on the day I tested my talent..."
"Angel, I'm rather curious. Where did your Gold Card come from?" Moro's question cut him off.
Moro's question was also what everyone else wanted to know. Even the three Formal Wizards pricked up their ears, while Soup Weasel standing beside Angel wore a curious expression as well.
Under everyone's gaze, Angel did not feel comfortable saying it aloud, so he could only abandon his plan to ask further and answer Moro's question instead.
Angel took out the Gold Card gifted by the strange seabird from his inner pocket. One side of the Gold Card appeared blank, yet it felt uneven to the touch. Viewed from the side, one could see rings upon rings of intricate patterns. The other side was likewise made with a dark engraving technique, but the carved patterns had been colored. It clearly depicted the bust of a plump purple-haired woman.
"This card?"
Soup Weasel replied, "Nyehahahaha, yes, honored guest. This card is the Barbie Restaurant's Gold Card. You may enjoy the delicacies in this restaurant for free, but only for one meal. Once the guest leaves the restaurant, the Gold Card will automatically disappear."
Before you continue