From the restaurant, they looked toward the alley.
A cloud of blood mist rose from the distant alley, then quickly scattered in the wind.
The waiter stared, rubbing his hands together, hesitation and excitement mingling in his eyes.
"Stop looking. Go brew a pot of Spirit Tea."
The proprietor spoke without lifting his head.
"But... it's so close, and you're at Foundation Establishment too. If you move fast, you might pick up something valuable..." the waiter whispered.
The proprietor said nothing and did not look up. He merely reached out and patted the waiter.
As if struck by lightning, the waiter went numb all over and could not move.
At that instant...
A table of customers who had been watching from the restaurant abruptly stood and rushed toward the alley.
They moved with astonishing speed, vanishing into its depths in a flash.
One breath of silence passed.
Then the alley, like a bottomless maw, spat out a spray of scarlet Flesh and white bone that stretched more than ten meters.
The Runes on the ground lit up.
None of it could go to waste.
The Magic Array carved into the earth would absorb all the power contained in the Flesh and bones.
The wind blew past.
Red faded to pink, pink turned white, white became sand, and the wind scattered it without a trace.
The proprietor picked up a handkerchief from the table, wiped the sweat from his brow, and murmured:
"What a vicious sword."
Then he patted the waiter again.
At last, the waiter could move.
But he no longer had any thought of swooping in for a bargain.
Remembering the proprietor's order, he stumbled over to the stove, grabbed the Water-Gathering Kettle of scalding spirit spring water, and began preparing Spirit Tea.
A few breaths later...
Someone emerged