Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
Behind Wang Zhenshan were Han Xiao, Jun Moyi, and three other examinees who came from the city base of Chang’an.
Looking at their faces, Gao Peng guessed that they had waited a while for him.
Gao Peng’s original plan was to eat some random stuff at the hotel before heading back to rest in his hotel room, so he could not help but hesitate a little.
“Let’s have dinner together. Look, even Jun Moyi, who never smiles, agreed to it,” Han Xiao suggested in earnest.
Ultimately, Gao Peng agreed to go have dinner with them. After all, they all came from Chang’an, and besides, they invited him with such hospitality. It would be impolite to be too cold.
As soon as they left the hotel, a girl stepped directly in front of them. She had neat, short hair, and she would have dimples when she smiled. The girl said, “Are you Gao Peng?”
“Ugh, and you are?” Gao Peng hesitated. I probably don’t know this girl, right?
“Can I treat you to dinner?”
Gao Peng was speechless. Why is everyone trying to treat me to dinner? “I don’t think we know each other.”
“We’ll know each other after we have a meal together.” The girl widened her eyes and said, “I saw you on TV, you were super cool!”
Whaaa?
Gao Peng sucked in a breath of cold air. Was he really super cool on TV?
As he thought about it, Gao Peng felt a little bit happy.
Gao Peng touched his face and said in a deep voice, “Thanks.”
“You’re welcome,” the girl said out of habit. By the time she regained her senses, Gao Peng had already walked far away.
…
By the time he returned to the hotel after having dinner with Han Xiao and the group, it was already nine o’clock. A man wearing a black suit was standing at the front gate of the hotel. When Gao Peng passed by him, he suddenly spoke and asked, “Can I discuss something with you?”
Gao Peng acted as if he hadn’t heard.
The man extended his right arm and blocked Gao Peng. A blue bank card was in the palm of his hand. “The password is six sixes. Inside, there is about 1 million Alliance credits. Regardless of the outcome of our conversation, this is the payment for taking up your time.”
Gao Peng stopped in his tracks. “Is my time really worth this much money?”
“There’s a cafe over there.” A smile appeared on the man’s face.
Gao Peng glanced at him and said, “Wait a minute.”
The man smiled gently. He was not in a hurry, so he just stood there and waited with Gao Peng. After standing there for around five minutes, a muscular figure came from the alley beside the hotel. The blue soul flame burning in the darkness was clear.
Behind the figure was a staff member of the hotel wearing blue work garb. The hotel employee exclaimed loudly, “Hoy, where are you going? Don’t go, please! My paycheck is going to get cut!!!” The hotel employee clung to Dumby’s leg as if his life depended on it. He howled in desperation.
Dumby walked forward in a straight line, and it just seemed like it had a decoration hanging around its feet.
The smile of the man in the black suit froze for a short moment.
“I was the one who called for it. I really do apologize for not giving you any notice in advance,” Gao Peng apologized to the hotel employee.
Ugh…
The man stood dumbfounded and hesitated for a moment before regaining his senses. He replied hastily, “Since it is under your command, that’s fine, of course.” As soon as he finished speaking, he continued quickly and added, “The other familiars belonging to other clients still need taking care of, so you can just let the familiar come over at night when you return. I’ll be on shift this evening.” After he finished talking, the man chuckled.
Gao Peng smiled. After the hotel employee left, Gao Peng turned around and spoke earnestly to the man in the suit.
“My familiars have always been cowardly ever since they were young. I have to pat its head every night. Otherwise, it can’t even sleep. Look at this, it’s here looking for me because it couldn’t sleep.”
Like I actually believe you!
The man in the black suit smiled as he became speechless. He did not say anything and merely nodded. He thought with admiration, Quite cautious. That’s a good thing. He’s in a foreign place, so he needs to be cautious no matter what he is doing.
Two men and one beast walked towards the cafe. They found a seat beside the window and sat there. As Dumby was too big to enter the cafe, it stood outside in the street, beside the window. It stood as close as it could to protect its master.
“Your familiar sure is loyal.” The man in the black suit threw a glance at Dumby. “Relax. I’m only here today because I want to talk to you. I have no other intentions.”
Gao Peng nodded and made no comment.
“Let me introduce myself. My last name is Zhang, and I’m called Zhang Xingxing,” the man in the black suit introduced himself.
Gao Peng could not help but glance at him. “Your name sure is artsy.”
“It’s not stars in the sky. It’s ape on the land.” Zhang Xingxing smiled gently. His smile was disarming. He had two beautiful dimples, and it was tough to imagine why two beautiful dimples would appear on the face of a man who had such a savage name.
As he spoke, Zhang Xingxing produced a gold-plated card from a pocket and passed it to Gao Peng. “This is my business card. If you need anything in the future, you can contact me. I’m usually tasked with helping people deal with things. You could call me a middleman.”
“You make commission?” Gao Peng smiled gently.
“Of course not.” Zhang Xingxing smiled and looked at the waiter who was walking towards them. “One cup of blue mountain, without sugar. Thank you.”
“And you, sir?” the waiter asked Gao Peng.
“I’ll have the same,” Gao Peng said casually since he never drank coffee.
“Uhm. In truth, the reason I came here today is to make a deal with you, Mr. Gao,” Zhang Xingxing said gravely, staring deep into Gao Peng’s eyes.
“What deal?”
“Someone is willing to give you a huge sum of money as compensation in the hope that you will relinquish your qualification to participate in the Alliance’s Strongest Youth Monster Trainer Competition. This sum is definitely larger than the reward given to the first placed youth monster trainer in the competition.”
“That sure is generous.” Gao Peng sighed and said in resignation, “No one would pay that kind of money for an orphan like me. It seems like that client of yours really does love his child.”
Zhang Xingxing smiled, but he didn’t respond to that comment. “Actually, even if you participated in the youth monster trainer competition, there is basically no chance for you to claim first place… Based on the information that I’ve received, a monster trainer from the Mei District signed a contract with a Lord tier familiar. Basically, he’s the favorite for winning the competition.”
“Looks like you’ve got yourself covered when it comes to information,” Gao Peng implied two things in one sentence.
Although Gao Peng loved money, a gentleman had to love money in the proper way.
Moreover, more importantly, Gao Peng no longer lacked money, he only enjoyed the joyous and triumphant feeling he received when he pocketed money he earned through his hard work.
Making money should be filled with positive energy! It should make him happy!
Unfortunately, the current proposal did not bring Gao Peng happiness.
“Sorry. Rather than money, I want to have the chance to enter a higher stage,” Gao Peng declined the offer cordially.
“…” Zhang Xingxing felt that something was wrong. Based on the information he received, didn’t Gao Peng like money? …Something seems fishy.
Finally, Zhang Xingxing tried very hard to convince Gao Peng again. He eventually realized that it was futile.
“Then… It is really a pity,” Zhang Xingxing sighed.
“Sir, your coffee.” The waiter came at just the right moment. He placed a cup of coffee in front of both Gao Peng and Zhang Xingxing respectively.
The mild aroma of the coffee surrounded the coffee table.
Gao Peng stood up. He walked to the counter and paid for the two cups of coffee.
“Take your time and enjoy the coffee.” As Gao Peng left the cafe, he turned his body sideways, nodded, and smiled.
A blue bank card was left on the table.
