"Silver? Is big sister already a Silver-rank expert? Could you take me adventuring with you sometime?"
Just then, Ms. Cassandra's voice rang out from a distance, carrying a hint of warning. "Tom! Stop bothering our guests while they eat and go back to your room early!"
But Thomas was completely absorbed by the gleaming silver badge and didn't hear his mother calling him at all.
He stared blankly at the badge, then looked at Zoya, his eyes sparkling with admiration.
"Wow! What's your class, big sister?"
"Could you be my teacher?"
"Big sister?"
Thomas was like a magpie that had found treasure, chirping away as he circled Zoya, who was quietly eating. One question after another spilled from his mouth.
The fork in Zoya's hand finally paused, but she didn't look up. A single, icy syllable came from beneath her hood:
"No."
Thomas: "..."
The boy's excited chatter stopped abruptly. He felt himself pinned down by a cold aura, completely unlike the feeling he'd gotten from the other tenants. He even sensed that all of them together wouldn't stand a chance against this rogue.
After a long while, he lowered his voice and said to He Xi with deep reverence, "...As expected of a legendary Silver-rank adventurer."
He Xi studied Zoya, and his suspicions about her "disguise" were confirmed once more.
This was her true self—cold and indifferent toward people who had nothing to do with her.
Then why had she acted so dependent and clumsy around him before?
Just then, Zoya seemed to sense something and slowly raised her head.
Her purple eyes held a hint of dependence, like a little animal that had done something right and was waiting for its owner's praise.
The sudden change left He Xi at a loss, stirring an odd feeling in his