The stairs leading to the ground were very long.
"Boss,"
Ifrit, holding Gregor's finger, looked up and asked,
"Will we really come back the day after tomorrow?"
"Um."
"Can I bring candy for Lily and the others?"
"Can."
"Yay!"
Centaurea followed behind, watching this scene, a complex mix of emotions quietly surfacing within her.
Isn't the new boss being a little too nice to the Infected?
Is this their true nature, or is there a deeper meaning?
She shook her head, deciding not to delve into it further.
Anyway, since their thighs are thick enough, it doesn't matter if their thoughts are a little hard to guess.
The group finally emerged from underground, and a wave of cold, dusty air washed over them.
Even though such a big commotion occurred at Sector Zero, no one has inspected it.
Back at the taxi with the flat tire, Centaurea quickly changed the spare tire.
Soon, the battered taxi started up again, carrying the group away from this troublesome place.
However, it seems that Good Fortune has completely run out at this moment.
The car had barely left Block Zero when a stubborn wisp of smoke stubbornly rose from under the hood, indicating it had completely broken down.
"Oh no..."
Ifrit stared at the car, which had stopped moving.
"It's broken."
Centaurea leaned out of the driver's seat, looking helpless.
"Feel sorry."
"Boss, why are you apologizing?"
Centaurea lifted her head from under the hood, her face smudged with oil.
Ifrit pursed her lips, suppressing a laugh, and Gregor didn't say anything.
"What do we do now? Should we walk back?" Centaurea sighed.
Gregor looked at the car, then at the endless road:
"You don't want the car anymore?"
"Just bring it along."
The silent mace suddenly spoke, stepping forward and gripping the twisted edge of the hood.
Creak...
With a sickening metallic scraping sound, she somehow managed to drag the entire taxi forward with one hand.
He dragged the cart, glancing back at the group of people who were still standing there, dumbfounded.
"If you're too tired, you can sit down."
"No, no need!"
Centaurea and Ifrit shook their heads vigorously.
Just as the group was unsure what expression to make, Ifrit's eyes suddenly lit up, and she pointed ahead on the road:
"A car is coming!"
As everyone looked, a weathered old pickup truck wobbled toward them.
Before they could even raise their hands to signal, the pickup truck seemed to notice the unusual combination on the roadside and pulled up beside them.
The passenger window rolled down, and a faint smell of alcohol wafted out first.
The driver was a polar bear wearing sunglasses, who said with a hearty smile:
Looks like someone's in a bit of trouble! Need any help, friends?
"Wow! It's a polar bear!" Ifrit exclaimed excitedly, pointing at it.
(The Ancients: Terra who have reverted to their ancestral forms, resembling animals, and within their respective races, the more regressive they are, the more handsome they become.)
The Ursus Ancients were taken aback, and scratched their furry ears:
"Polar bear? Are you talking about me?"
Gregor reached out and gently pressed Ifrit's excited little head, offering Ten Percent Off apology.
Thanks to Vane's "Terra Races Science Popularization," he at least knew what these animal-like Ancients were all about.
"Oh, it's nothing! Kids are energetic, that's a good thing!"
The Ursus man waved his hand dismissively, his smile becoming even more enthusiastic.
"Car broken down? No problem! I'm a craftsman, I specialize in fixing all kinds of vehicles!"
"Come on up! The tavern I'm going to has the tools; they'll fix it! You old drunkard, wake up, come down and help!"
As he greeted them, he forcefully nudged the middle-aged Kuranta man who was dozing in the passenger seat.
"Kovar... what's wrong with you...?"
The man called the Old Drunkard groggily raised his head, and the Ursus man Kovar Koval slapped him on the back of the head:
"Wake up! We've got a job! Towing service!"
"A trailer? Ah...oh." Fregwald rubbed his eyes, finally becoming a little more awake, and mumbled.
"I'll settle the score with you later..."
He staggered down the steps.
Kovar then warmly greeted Gregor and his companions:
"Come on up, everyone! Squeeze in and you can sit down! My name is Kovar, I'm a craftsman! That guy is Fregwald, his only flaw is his love of drinking!"
The group briefly announced their names. When it was Mace's turn, Kovar's smile froze.
He took off his sunglasses, rubbed his eyes, and scanned back and forth between Jian and a poster he had pulled out from somewhere.
The poster shows the Black Knight' dashing figure as they won the championship.
"You... you are...!"
On the other side, Fregwald was squatting on the ground studying how to attach a tow hook, and shouted in dissatisfaction:
"Kovar! What are you dawdling for! Get down here and lend a hand! This hook's a bit rusty... uh?"
He followed Kovar's dazed gaze and looked up at the figure whose sharp aura could not be concealed even in tattered clothes.
As a former knight, Fregwald's impression of that figure was far more profound than that of Kovar, a craftsman fan.
"Hiss--!"
He gasped, and the lingering effects of the alcohol evaporated instantly.
The Black Knight?! That triple crown winner?! What's she doing here?! And helping someone tow a car?!
Kovar abruptly pushed open the car door and jumped out, clutching the poster; his hands were shaking as if he had Parkinson's.
"It really is! It's the Black Knight! I'm your fan! I watch every game... uh, most games!"
He was so excited that his face turned bright red, and he stood there, at a loss for what to do.
Jian sighed, and consciously took the poster and signed his name.
"Can we go now?"
"Of course, no problem!"
Kovar, without opening the passenger door, yelled at Fregwald:
"You old drunkard! Go to the back of the truck and sober up! The passenger seat is now being requisitioned!"
Fregwald pursed his lips but didn't argue, resignedly climbing into the pickup truck bed.
At Kovar's warm welcome, Gregor and his companions got into the car.
Not long after, at Martin's tavern.
"The Black Knight! It really is her!"
Jian was surrounded by people who rushed over after hearing the news. People asked for autographs and inquired about his recent situation. The small tavern was instantly bustling with activity.
Mace: "..."
Seeing this, Gregor quietly moved to a corner, trying to minimize his presence.
"My God! What happened to this car? The engine is practically falling apart!"
"Well... it's just that we were driving a little too fast."
Centaurea a slightly guilty, low-pitched explanation.
"But this is a taxi!"
A lively, charming female voice rang out, and Gregor turned his head to see the blonde Kuranta girl in the tavern— Maria Nearl.
"Alright, Maria, stop overreacting."
Kovar patted his apprentice's head.
"This car isn't for you to practice on; it's the Black Knight's ride. In short... I'm going to handle it myself!"
Upon hearing this, Maria immediately turned to Kovar's equally weathered pickup truck:
"Well, sir, you can finally give my car some maintenance now, right? I think it really needs some serious servicing!"
"Cough cough! No!" Kovar immediately protected his beloved car on alert.
"If my precious item gets damaged or missing a few parts after you've finished servicing it, I might have to sleep in the workers' shed tonight!"
"What?! Master, you have to believe in your own teaching abilities!" Maria pouted, unconvinced.
"Of course I believe I'm a good teacher! I just don't believe you'll follow my instructions exactly!"
The master and apprentice started arguing back and forth, which relieved Centaurea, who was able to quietly slip away to Gregor's side.
Bored, Ifrit snuggled up to Gregor's leg and tugged at his sleeve.
"Hey bro, can I borrow your Ten Percent Off card for a bit?"
Gregor nodded and handed her the Ten Percent Off. Ifrit happily accepted it, but it immediately attracted the attention of the two people who were "arguing".
"Oh my god!"
Maria dashed to Ifrit, her eyes gleaming with the fervent light of a tech geek seeing a novel creation.
"This TV... it moves! Is it powered by Originium Arts? Can I see its internal structure?"
Ten Percent Off: Σ(っ°Д °;)っ
The small television trembled slightly in Ifrit's hands.
"Ahem! Maria! I'm so sorry!"
Kovar's large hand pressed down on his apprentice's head in time, pulling her back slightly, and he gave Gregor and Ifrit an apologetic smile.
"This child gets a little out of control when she sees intricate machinery; I apologize on her behalf."
Maria realized her lapse in composure and quickly clasped her hands together and bowed before Kovar's Iron Fist could strike.
"I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to! I was just so curious! It's really amazing!"
The enthusiastic girl quickly became acquainted with the group and was invited by Ifrit to watch anime together.
But compared to the interesting scenes in the animation, her gaze seemed to be looking through the screen into the interior of the Ten Percent Off.
Ten Percent Off: ⊙⊙|||
Gregor sat calmly in the corner, watching the commotion in the pub, when a beer was pushed next to him.
"I'm a bald boss, "Martin grinned.
"Thanks to you for bringing the Black Knight, business is booming today. This drink is on me."
Gregor: "..."
Seeing that the other person didn't speak, Martin assumed he was embarrassed and patted Gregor on the back.
"Haha, don't be shy, there's more after you finish."
The commotion attracted the attention of others, and the patrons clamored for their own free drinks, only to be ruthlessly rejected by Martin.
Some people began to wonder about Gregor's identity and asked him about it.
"That armor... could this person also be a gladiator knight?"
Surrounded by the crowd, Jian, who was already somewhat impatient, smiled slightly upon hearing this.
"What? You don't recognize me?"
Everyone was puzzled. Jian crossed his arms, raised his chin, and pointed to the knightly competition on the television.
"He was just featured on screen not long ago."
The group looked at each other, and then began to discuss it amongst themselves.
"That height... rules out the Wave Knight."
"It has horns, and therefore excludes silver light."
"What about the Rust Copper?"
"Is that guy still alive? Wait!"
Upon hearing the mention of Rust Copper, everyone suddenly stopped and their gazes swept over Greg.
Although the armor styles are different, their heights seem to match.
And...
Everyone looked at Jian, recalling the scandal in the Wine Report, and gasped in shock.
The orderly hissing sounds from the tavern drew Maria's attention back.
Gregor felt a chill run down his spine. He wanted to explain, but the Ten Percent Off was now in Ifrit's hands.
After the explanation from those around her, Maria suddenly realized.
"So that's how it is! You're the Black Iron Knight!"
She glanced at Gregor, then at the composed Mace beside him, and suddenly the girlish thought in her mind clicked.
"Could it be... could those rumors be true?" Her cheeks flushed with excitement, and she blurted out.
"Are you really here on a date?!"
"Pfft--!" xN