Christa

"I don't get it." Zhang Ruofeng and Jiang had been discussing this for half the day, yet they were still going in circles. Neither of them could figure out how a weapon of this caliber ended up in the hands of the violent woman mentioned by Zhang Ruofeng's senior, Fura, nor could they understand the materials or craftsmanship involved. Especially in such a stuffy room, both Zhang Ruofeng and Jiang were starting to feel exhausted.

"Let's go. I'll buy you a drink tonight," Zhang Ruofeng suggested, sitting by the doorway to catch some air and lighting a cigarette while watching Jiang intently polish the edges of the gear inside the room.

"Sure! Having a drink after finishing a piece of equipment is the most satisfying thing ever." Jiang was naturally thrilled at the prospect of a free meal, though his smug expression once again gave Zhang Ruofeng the urge to punch him.

"Beer only," Zhang Ruofeng said flatly. After all, his own funds were running low. Between the money for Xin Mu's weapon and the 4,000 Faris he owed Jiang, his remaining budget was less than 2,000 Faris, so he had to be frugal.

"Beer is fine, beer is fine." Jiang shrugged nonchalantly. "Just give me a moment." Jiang went back to his polishing, while Zhang Ruofeng, having nothing better to do, watched the sunset. Although he was quite interested in that red gauntlet, he was equally wary. He didn't believe in miracles, and he couldn't fathom why such a windfall would land on his Familia. Even if joining Fura's Familia was a coincidence, Zhang Ruofeng couldn't believe this was just a matter of his senior saving up money; it wasn't a sum a Level 1 adventurer could accumulate.

By the time the sky turned dark, Jiang had finally finished the final adjustments to Zhang Ruofeng's weapon. Zhang Ruofeng placed both armguards into his prepared backpack and headed out with Jiang.

"Don't you need to tell your Main God?" Jiang asked curiously. Zhang Ruofeng indicated that he had already told Xin Mu he might be eating out tonight.

"Oh? Is that the great beauty who's always with you?" Jiang recalled Xin Mu. Even though the situation had been tense at the time, Jiang felt that if he had ignored her presence, he must have been either blind or stupid. "You're really lucky to have become an adventurer with your girlfriend."

"No, she's not my girlfriend," Zhang Ruofeng denied coldly. He had never entertained such a thought, and he dismissed it without a second's hesitation.

"Don't tell me... she's already your wife!!" Jiang exclaimed excitedly. Zhang Ruofeng, face darkening, stepped away from him: "No!"

"Does that mean I still have a chance?" Jiang said, stroking his handsome chin.

"That's impossible." Zhang Ruofeng immediately crushed Jiang's hopes by recalling Xin Mu's personality. While he admitted Jiang was handsome, he knew that from high school through college, Xin Mu had been confessed to countless times by wealthy and attractive men, yet she had never shown interest in anyone. Zhang Ruofeng didn't even know why she liked him, but he knew for a fact that Xin Mu had explicitly expressed her disgust for people with Jiang's frivolous personality. It was highly unlikely they would ever end up together.

"I just said one thing and you're already getting fierce. So she's not your girlfriend," Jiang muttered. Zhang Ruofeng felt it was too exhausting to bicker with him, so he adopted the attitude that silence is golden.

"This is it, the tavern I frequent." After winding through various streets, Zhang Ruofeng and Jiang finally reached the main thoroughfare. Zhang Ruofeng had deeply realized that the lack of transportation in this world was a real problem; Orario was massive, and he felt that moving back and forth was the biggest waste of time. Even going out to buy groceries took half an hour.

"So noisy." Zhang Ruofeng frowned as he watched people constantly entering and exiting the tavern. Most adventurers in this world had short tempers, and he didn't want to get into a conflict. Given the special status of himself and Xin Mu, he preferred to keep a low profile.

"It's fine, it's fine. I come here all the time, the ale is great." Jiang grabbed Zhang Ruofeng's shoulder and pulled him inside.

"Boss, I'm here!" As soon as Jiang entered, he started greeting the owner. Zhang Ruofeng saw that the person sitting behind the bar was a cold-faced woman. Even indoors, she wore a black cloak, her brown hair trailing behind her. She glanced at Jiang and then locked her gaze onto Zhang Ruofeng.

"Black hair, rare. An Easterner." She then looked away, radiating a sharp, biting aura. Though her features were heroic and her beauty could rival Xin Mu's, her winter-like atmosphere made her hard to approach.

"How about it? Isn't the boss super cool?!" Jiang's eyes lit up as he whispered to Zhang Ruofeng: "And she's a high-level adventurer..." Before Jiang could finish, the boss had already jumped in front of him.

"No one will think you're a mute if you don't talk." The female boss snorted and slapped a sign directly onto Jiang's face. The loud sound made the entire tavern go quiet. Everyone stared at Jiang for three seconds before the whole bar erupted in laughter.

"I..." Zhang Ruofeng had anticipated trouble and had already backed away, but seeing the scene, he really wanted to turn around and leave, pretending he didn't know Jiang.

"Christa, can't you give me some face?" Jiang rubbed his cheek helplessly, looking with a grievance-filled expression at Christa, whose face remained cold as winter and whose killing intent seemed to leak out at every moment. "You make everyone laugh at me every time. Even I can get angry, you know?!"

"Hmph, weaklings have no right to be angry." The boss walked toward the bar without looking back. "Your usual seat, Table 7."

"You got it!" Jiang pulled the helpless Zhang Ruofeng along, braving the mocking jeers of the crowd, and reached a corner table nearest the window. Even with the tavern packed, this corner remained relatively quiet. "How's that? I know you don't like arguments, this spot is great, right?" Jiang said proudly. "This is my exclusive seat."

"Exclusive seat?" Zhang Ruofeng looked at the smug Jiang and dealt a silent blow: "You're just afraid your 'taunt' constitution will get you beaten into a pig's head by some drunk adventurer."

As soon as Zhang Ruofeng finished, Jiang's face turned comically pale at being exposed.