Birthday Surprise in Progress (Nine): Augusta and Lupa

Sunday, 10:00 AM.

When Xiao Ling arrived at the location Augusta had mentioned, he found her using her Chollez greatsword to chisel something into a copper coin, surrounded by a pile of casting tools.

"Ah, Laureate, you've arrived." Augusta wiped the sweat from his brow with his arm, looked up from his work, and greeted Xiao Ling with a smile.

"You built this studio yourself?" Xiao Ling stared in astonishment at the pile of somewhat rudimentary but functional equipment around her.

From the outside, the studio looks like a dilapidated building, the kind that could collapse with a gust of wind. Wisps of white smoke billow out of the blackened chimney, giving it a secluded, otherworldly feel.

To be honest, Xiao Ling's first thought was that he had gone to the wrong place. How could the dignified Governor of Septimont be in such a desolate place?

If he hadn't confirmed it repeatedly and seen it with his own eyes, he would have felt like he was dreaming.

"Yes, it's just making use of waste. This place has been abandoned for a long time, so it's suitable as a temporary workshop," Augusta nodded. "Besides, there's hardly anyone around, so it won't affect other people's normal lives."

"Cough cough, isn't it suffocating?" Xiao Ling accidentally inhaled a mouthful of smoke and couldn't help coughing twice.

"No, not at all. I climbed my way up from an unknown gladiator to the position of governor, and the hardships I endured along the way were far more difficult than being smoked and roasted by fire," Augusta said with a smile, then handed Xiao Ling a mask. "Here, take this mask, put it on."

"I heard that people with normal constitutions might experience health problems if they stay in this kind of environment for too long, so I made preparations beforehand." Augusta watched Xiao Ling put on a mask before continuing work. "Choosing a deserted wilderness location was also for this reason."

"The Governor is very thoughtful." Xiao Ling's voice sounded a little muffled because she was wearing a mask.

Augusta didn't continue Xiao Ling's line of dialogue, but instead continued carving on the copper coin with her greatsword, the clanging of metal echoing in the simple workshop.

"Speaking of which, Augusta, what are you chiseling at?"

You'll know when it's finished.

"Oh."

Unable to get any information from Augusta, Hajiling could only obediently sit on a small stool to the side, watching the governor slowly chisel out raised marks on the copper coin.

Her long, reddish-gold hair was tightly tied up, and her clothes were stained gray, as if she had been thrown into an ashtray. The beads of sweat that slid down her forehead evaporated instantly as soon as they landed on the workbench.

Xiao Ling felt drenched in sweat after just a short time in this simple studio, but he really wanted to witness Augusta's achievements with his own eyes, so he patiently continued to wait.

Finally, after an unknown amount of time, the clanging of metal stopped, followed by a barely perceptible chuckle.

Xiao Ling turned his head and found that Augusta's usually impeccable expression had cracked open, revealing a rather triumphant smile.

"Laureate, here you go!" Augusta tossed the finished copper coin to Xiao Ling.

Xiao Ling caught the copper coin with quick reflexes and examined it carefully by the flickering firelight in the furnace.

The obverse of the copper coin features the griffin emblem representing the Septimont, while the reverse depicts modern lettering painstakingly carved by Augusta with his sword, bearing the inscription: --

"Dania."

"Did you personally issue Dania a Septimont ID card?" Xiao Ling teased with a smile.

"It seems you have quite a deep knowledge base, Laureate, that you could even recognize the characters I carved," Augusta affirmed.

"I'd like to know where you learned this spelling."

"That story mentions that Dania's name comes from the farewell phrase ' Dania '," Augusta replied earnestly. "Coincidentally, I found the prototype of this farewell phrase in the world's documents; it comes from the Russian 'ДОСВИДАНИЯ'."

"I see, you cut off the first half and only kept the second half." Xiao Ling suddenly realized, then chuckled, "Haha, to have her household registration personally issued by the Governor-General, Yaya Ya is truly blessed."

"Dania is a living, breathing person, not someone's disposable object. The achievements she left behind will be a heroic deed passed down through generations in the Septimont. She is worthy of my doing this."

"I bet if she knew how valuable this gift was, she'd be so happy she could fit an egg in her mouth." Xiao Ling tossed the copper coin back. "Speaking of which, where did you find the materials and equipment?"

"I salvaged all the raw materials from the scrap yard, and I also remade the casting equipment myself," Augusta said with a smile. "I worked as an assistant in a blacksmith shop for a while, so I have experience."

"The Governor is really thoughtful about this birthday surprise; I'm truly honored," Xiao Ling said, feeling extremely flattered.

"It's nothing serious. Your friend is my friend, and since it's a gift for a friend, it naturally has to be quite precious." Augusta nodded gently. "By the way, speaking of Laureate, it seems you're not planning to reveal your gift to us beforehand?"

How did you know?

"Iuno told me that you didn't mention a single word, and even made a solemn promise not to reveal a single word to her."

"My gift is already prepared. I'll show it to you on Dania's birthday," Xiao Ling said with a smile.

"I'm really looking forward to the gift Laureate has prepared for that girl," Augusta said with a smile and a nod.

Four o'clock in the afternoon.

"Partner, you're finally here!"

Lupa was very enthusiastic; upon meeting Xiao Ling, she affectionately jumped into his arms, her little wolf tail swaying back and forth with her master's joyful mood.

"Oh my, my dear Lupa, look how excited you are." Xiao Ling, who was being hugged, feigned surrender. "So, what did you call me here for?"

"Look," Lupa gestured towards a spot not far away.

Xiao Ling looked toward Lupa's mouth and saw that the stone steps in the distance continued to wind upwards, seemingly without end.

"You and Augusta are both so unique. One of you found a desolate place to forge iron, and the other found an unknown mountain foothill to climb," Xiao Ling remarked.

"That's just your delusion! Actually, there are quite a few people here! Look over there!"

Xiao Ling looked in the direction Lupa pointed and saw a few elderly people leaning on their hiking sticks, passing the two young people and climbing up the stone steps one by one, finally disappearing around the corner.

"I heard that you can see beautiful sunrises and sunsets here, so I thought I'd come, but I always felt that climbing mountains alone was no fun, so I invited you along..." Lupa's face turned slightly red, a little embarrassed.

"Wow, so that's why you called me over? You're not planning to have Dania come hiking with you, are you?" Xiao Ling exclaimed in surprise.

"Great idea, partner! Why didn't I think of that!"

Xiao Ling was speechless and choked with emotion.

Well, he's made a mess of things and ended up screwing Dania over. Hopefully, she won't turn on him when she finds out the truth.

"Let's not delay, let's set off now! We'll be able to see the sunset when we get to the top of the mountain!"

Lupa was quite enthusiastic, urging Xiao Ling to set off quickly while pulling Xiao Ling up the stone steps.

Xiao Ling looked at the excited little wolf girl with a bit of helplessness. Oh well, let's just consider it a test of the intensity for Yaya.

Lupa and Xiao Ling walked together, climbing up the stone steps one by one.

Occasionally, the two would run into elderly people who had been hiking earlier, using trekking poles. These people were quite healthy and even had the leisure to greet them warmly. Xiao Ling and Lupa would respond to the hikers with the same enthusiasm.

"Speaking of which, Lupa, have you decided what to give Dania?"

"I've made up my mind. I want to give her a pair of shoes," Lupa said with a smile, revealing her own canine teeth. "My own shoes."

Is she comfortable wearing it?

"That's not up to her," Lupa said with a squinty smile. "I'm a wild child. I've worn all kinds of shoes since I came into this world—sneakers, sandals, canvas shoes—but I just don't like the kind of shoes Xiao Ya wears. They're restrictive and uncomfortable to run in."

"Those shoes are quite old; they've been with me from obscurity all the way to where I am today. They've been patched several times, and the straps are made from strips of cloth I tore off old flags."

"It sounds like these shoes are important to you."

"It's very important. Even after I got a new job, I couldn't bear to throw this old buddy away. I kept it safe and sound. I didn't expect it to be sent over with me when I traveled through time. Now I can make use of it."

"Are you willing to do that?"

"I'm willing to give. Giving meaningful things to people I feel deserve it is my consistent principle," Lupa said seriously. "To me, Xiao Ya is very worthy of this treatment!"

"She's been a good girl for so long, it's time to let her be a willful wild child once in a while."

"What if she doesn't want to wear you?" Xiao Ling asked, raising an eyebrow.

"She'll wear it!" Lupa said confidently.

By the time the two reached the summit, it was already sunset.

They sat in the pavilion on the mountaintop, watching the sun slowly sink into the mountains, the warm glow of the sunset reddening their faces.

"It's so beautiful." Lupa's turquoise eyes reflected the sunset. "Seeing this view makes all the hard work worthwhile."

"I agree." Xiao Ling casually snapped a few photos with her phone, intending to share them with the other girls when she got back.

"Hey, partner, will you come with me next time?"

"Yes, in fact, I would say I'm honored."

"So it's a promise?" Lupa held up her pinky finger, "Pinky promise!"

"Why are you making a pinky promise too?" Xiao Ling said helplessly, but still obediently made a Lupa.

"It's a promise, and the one who breaks it is a little dog! He'll never be able to hold his head up high again!" Lupa with a bright smile.

"Okay, okay~" Xiao Ling helplessly but with a touch of doting affection, once again made a gesture of surrender.