The Vegetable Herrscher?

Gu Yan stared at something, deep in thought.

People came and went around him. Some even pointed at him and whispered, but that was unimportant. He did not care.

This can't be right either. He thought that, but his feet remained rooted to the spot as he continuously considered every possibility.

Finally...

"Young man, are you having some kind of trouble?"

"Just tell me what you want to buy, and Auntie will give it to you for free!" The woman running the fruit and vegetable stall finally could not hold back any longer. She added:

"If you can't speak, just point at whichever one you want."

The boy had been standing in front of her stall for quite some time. At first, it had been obvious that he wanted to buy vegetables, but he simply would not say anything. His brows kept furrowing and relaxing, and he had stood there for half an hour, scaring away anyone who might have wanted to buy something.

Some time ago, people had said that quite a few had died in Hai City because of a natural disaster. Could it be...

At that thought, the woman shook her head and sighed. Such a handsome young man, yet there might be something wrong with his head. Fate truly played cruel tricks on people.

"Uh..." Gu Yan was speechless. He felt that the auntie had misunderstood something.

He simply could not figure out what "buy whatever you think is right" meant he should buy.

His mother had told him to buy some ingredients. New Year's Eve was almost here, so they naturally had to eat something good.

"Remember, don't buy anything expensive, don't buy anything too cheap, don't buy anything too ordinary, and don't get anything strange."

"Then what am I supposed to buy?"

"Buy whatever you think is right!"

"..."

He now understood why his older sister had been struggling not to laugh. She had clearly intended to make things difficult for him.

"I'll buy some ingredients. Nothing expensive..." If he did not say something soon, people would really take him for a mute.

After he finished explaining his mother's requirements, the auntie's expression became rather unpleasant.

"What exactly do you want to buy?"

Gu Yan took a paper bag from the stall.

"Just fill it with whatever you think is right."

"..." Seriously, couldn't you go to another stall?

Even so, the auntie still picked through the produce and filled the bag.

Gu Yan let out a sigh of relief as well.

Buying vegetables was by no means easy. Sometimes, it was difficult even to figure out what vegetables to buy. But that was certainly no reason for him to give up so easily.

"Young man, lots of people run into difficulties like yours. Don't take it too hard. As long as you're alive, that's what matters. Forget it—I don't know if you can understand me anyway."

"..." The auntie had definitely misunderstood something!

"If you have nowhere to stay, the government provides housing in the western district. You won't lack food or drink!" Afraid that Gu Yan had not understood, the auntie repeated it in simple terms:

"West side. Food, a place to stay, no money needed!"

"...Thank you." One still had to be polite. The auntie meant well, though Gu Yan was not exactly happy about it.

When he tried to pay, the auntie firmly refused to accept his money. Gu Yan had no choice but to conceal his figure after leaving and secretly slip the money into her pocket.

Still, she reminded Gu Yan that the western district was currently being expanded.

After the Honkai erupted in Hai City, several areas had become unsuitable for habitation because of severe Honkai Energy erosion. Anyone living there had a very high chance of contracting Honkai Sickness.

Moreover, many people had been left homeless by the disaster, and the high-rise buildings had been damaged. Thus, the western district was being expanded as quickly as possible to provide aid to the victims. Construction would be completed before the New Year.

No matter how much Gu Yan slacked off, he could still learn about such news. His S-rank "salary" was more than enough for his expenses, so he had donated the rest.

Keeping it for his collection was less worthwhile than donating it to people in need.

Still, he really ought to go take a look. It was not that he was overflowing with compassion; these suffering people were his fellow countrymen and lived in the same city. Some of them might even be former friends of his. Besides, he could be considered a government employee, so showing some concern was only right.

"Mmm~" Nelly opened her eyes and found herself in a room.

"Fornia?" A flash of panic crossed her eyes, but when she turned her head, she found the person she was looking for lying on her side on the bed, smiling at her.

"You're awake!" Nelly wanted to pounce on her, but she was afraid of touching Fornia's wound, so she could only clasp Fornia's hand tightly.

Her memories were somewhat hazy. She vaguely remembered what had happened the previous night.

After the bullet had been surgically removed from Fornia's leg yesterday, Nelly had worried that the wound might become infected. She had therefore brought Fornia through the Gate of Nothingness to a hospital in Hai City.

After a series of treatments, Fornia was basically out of danger. Nelly had chosen Hai City precisely because its medical standards were high and shooting incidents were practically nonexistent. The two of them did not have to worry about getting into trouble either.

However, there was still a possibility that they would be suspected. Thus, she had taken Fornia across space and left the hospital again, completely eliminating the possibility of being investigated.

"I woke up a long time ago. Seeing little Nelly sleeping so soundly, I didn't want to disturb her." Fornia smiled gently.

It was rather strange. Nelly had found a hotel for them to stay in temporarily so that Fornia could recover, but for some reason, she had suddenly fallen into a deep sleep herself. She could not clearly remember many things.

However, when she recalled the ability she had suddenly obtained yesterday, Nelly felt relieved. Her deep sleep was probably a side effect caused by using her ability too frequently.

"Does Fornia want something to eat? Do you want some water?" It was Nelly's first time taking care of someone else, and she was somewhat flustered. Fornia could not help laughing.

"All right, then get me a cup of water!"

Upon hearing her request, Nelly naturally got up at once. With a casual grab, a glass of water appeared in her hand, her movements smooth and natural.

Fornia showed no reaction at all when she saw this. She merely tilted her head and looked at Nelly from another angle.

She had seen Nelly display this ability to ignore spatial distance before losing consciousness, so she was not particularly surprised.

Or rather, so long as it would not harm Nelly, any ability was fine by her. She did not care what it was.

"It's a little hot. Drink slowly."

Fornia took the water, then asked, "Where is this...?"

"This is Hai City in Huaguo. Didn't you say you wanted to taste the food here? I can go buy some in a little while!"

In other words, the two of them had arrived in eastern Huaguo in a very short time.

Although she knew that supernatural abilities were wondrous, Nelly's method of crossing an entire continent still shocked Fornia.

"However..." Fornia's leg could not support her. If possible, she did not want Nelly to use her ability in public and cause unnecessary trouble, but in this foreign land, she was unwilling to be separated from Nelly either.

"It's fine! I can push Fornia around!" As she spoke, Nelly waved her hand, and a brand-new wheelchair appeared in the room.

"Little Nelly, that might not be..." Fornia had just begun to say something when a circular hole appeared in front of Nelly. Nelly took out her bank card and reached her hand into the hole.

"Payment successful." An electronic synthesized voice rang out. Nelly turned to look at Fornia and blinked.

"What is it?"

"..." Fornia blinked as well, looking completely innocent.

"Right, I'll help Fornia wash up first!" Seeing how relaxed Nelly was, Fornia could only laugh in amusement.

Nelly trotted off to fetch some water, but as she passed a mirror, she glanced back and stopped.

Two identical figures faced each other. A familiar feeling surged into her heart, and she reached out to touch the mirror's surface.

"Did I... forget something?"