Beast

At Daly's words, Crestet Cesimir stood at once. He picked up the strap of the silver-white metal case beside him and slung it over his back.

"We'll talk later..." he told Abner briefly, then strode out of the restaurant.

Daly rose as well and pulled up her hood. She followed close behind the Goddess's Sword, managing only a nod to Abner in farewell.

Abner, still catching up with what had happened, wanted to follow them. But the moment he stepped out of the private room, a waiter stopped him.

"Sir, please settle the bill." The waiter stationed outside the room watched Abner warily.

Uh... His Excellency Cecimir didn't pay? Abner glanced down the corridor. Cecimir and Daly were already gone. Instead, several burly men who looked like guards were approaching at the waiter's signal.

If I run too, will tomorrow's headline be "A failure of humanity or the collapse of morality? Hero Detective openly dines and dashes!"?

After grumbling to himself, Abner took a deep breath and asked the waiter, who was still watching him closely, "How much?"

Seeing that Abner had no intention of fleeing, the waiter relaxed. He did a quick calculation and replied, "Including the opened bottle of Sonia Blood Wine, that's 53 pounds and 4 soli."

Sonia Blood Wine was brewed from the sap of sweetwood trees native to the area around the Golden Spring. The spring on Sonia Island was also known as the Spring of Elves, and its water was an auxiliary ingredient in a Sequence 6 Potion.

"..." Abner was speechless for a long moment. At last, he forced a polite smile. "Could I have a receipt?" I'm definitely getting the Church of Evernight to reimburse me for this!

"A receipt?" The waiter looked puzzled at first, then caught on and smiled. "You