Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
Counting everyone in their party—Zhang Zian, Fina, Old Time Tea, Snowy Lionet, Famous, and Richard—there was a total of eight mouths to feed. Even though they could have eaten their breakfast in the hotel, street food was definitely the best way to go if they wanted to experience the local culture. Galaxy, Sihwa, Vladimir, and Pi didn’t need food, but other than Sihwa, the elfins wanted to go out to experience Egypt’s beauty as well.
Zhang Zian and the elfins discussed briefly, eventually deciding not to eat their breakfast at the hotel and instead settling on having food outside while sightseeing.
He kept Sihwa and Snowy Lionet in his phone since they weren’t suited for the outdoors and made the elfins other than Fina and Famous invisible before bringing everyone downstairs in the elevator.
The hotel staff could clearly remember the man who’d checked in with a cat and a dog and greeted them politely while eyeing Fina and Famous.
With Fina’s unique fur pattern, it would definitely be the focus of all crowds no matter where it went.
Famous looked just like any other German shepherd and was usually ignored in the presence of other elfins, but it was different today.
A pair of extremely handsome sunglasses shielded its eyes. It was exactly that pair of sunglasses that their German friend, Leina, had gifted them.
This pair of sunglasses was used by the U.S. Army’s canines in the Afghanistan area, made specially for army dogs that were working in deserts and hilly areas, and they had exceptional functionality. The lenses were made from polycarbonate. Not only were they great for repelling sand and wind, they were even bulletproof. The coating on the lenses could also reduce the damage of overly strong UV rays on the cornea. Dogs were far less adept than cats at adjusting to different light levels, and overly strong sunlight would cause the dog’s vision to be affected, even damaging the eyes.
This pair of glasses was definitely a huge help. Without it, Zhang Zian could only get a pair of normal sunglasses for Famous, enough to block the sunlight but not enough for the wind and sand.
Famous had really wanted to wear this pair of glasses out a long time ago, but Binhai City didn’t have really strong sunlight, and people would just say that it was showing off if it wore it out. But here in Egypt, it could wear it as much as it wanted to, and it was definitely willing to.
Other than this pair of sunglasses, Reina had also gifted them a pair of anti-wind and -sand earmuffs and a tactical vest for dogs, all essentials for work in the desert, but they didn’t need to use it yet.
Famous looked extremely handsome with the sunglasses on, definitely just as eye-catching as Fina.
Of course, with everyone’s eyes on the cat and dog, the people that noticed Zhang Zian became few and far between. Even the pretty receptionist at the front counter kept stealing glances at Fina and Famous when finding a reason to chat him up, and it was infuriating.
“Hey!”
Zhang Zian was preparing to leave the hotel, and he heard someone calling in English. But he thought they were talking to someone else, so he didn’t reply and continued walking forward.
“Hey! Hold up a bit!”
The sound of hurried footsteps drew closer, and the invisible Richard used its wings to flap at his head, signaling to him that there was someone calling him.
Zhang Zian stopped to turn back, watching as a big-eyed man with thick eyebrows and an adequately sized young man rushed towards him.
The man seemed to be in his twenties, a handsome young chap. He looked to be local, but there were hints of Western features on him, so he might have just been of mixed blood.
Seeing that there was no one around him, only then did Zhang Zian confirm that the man was calling him, but he didn’t know this person, and he didn’t know what he wanted with him.
“Hi! My name is Jack! Where are you from?” The other passionately asked him in slightly accented English.
Before Zhang Zian came to Egypt, he had heard many tales about tourist traps. There were many locals that approached enthusiastically, passionately bringing people to a photo spot and asking them for tips right after.
He mused, wondering whether this Jack was planning the same.
Just in that moment’s hesitation, Richard, who was still invisible on his shoulder, mimicked his voice, answering for him, “Czechoslovak!”
“Uh…”
Jack was stunned, wondering if he had recognized the wrong person? The other was clearly a black-haired, black-eyed East Asian, so how could they be from Czechoslovakia in Europe?
Zhang Zian pretended to scratch at his head while actually flicking at Richard on his shoulder, causing it to squawk in pain. But he was prepared for that and coughing violently for a few moments to cover it up.
Only he understood that what Richard said was absolutely not “Czechslovak,” but instead “Jack-Slow-F*ck”…
God d*mn, this stupid bird kept trying to make dirty jokes at any chance it got, and always at these handsome strangers.
Richard gave him a hurt look. How could he blame it? It was helping him! If it made dirty jokes at females, he would be treated as a sexual harrasser!
Zhang Zian knew that this stupid petty bird was just trying to get back at him on purpose for threatening to turn him into roasted poultry for dinner.
But he couldn’t do anything about it now. The revenge would have to wait for when they were alone.
“Cough! I was thinking of my experience in Czechslovakia earlier, and it just came out… Actually, I’m Chinese. My name is Zhang Zian, and I’m from Binhai City in China,” he answered in English.
He knew that it might be hard for foreigners to pronounce “Zian,” so he added, “You can call me by my English name, Jeff.”
He had kept in constant contact with Tim and Laurin from the Blue Climax. His conversational English wasn’t that big of an issue, and there was one more universal language—hand signs. Anything that they couldn’t express with words, they could convey with hands and expressions.
“That’s great! Jeff! I thought I recognised the wrong person! I’m a student at the University of Cairo.” Jack enthusiastically introduced himself. “My professor knows that you are new to Egypt and sent me here to be your guide. If you plan to go around Cairo, I can bring you there.”
Zhang Zian knew what he’d said was true. People that weren’t acquainted with them wouldn’t know their purpose for being here and wouldn’t pretend to be a student of the University of Cairo.
“Oh, then thank you very much.”
They really didn’t know the area well, and it would definitely be better to have a local student as their guide.
Jack looked at their surroundings. “Hm, where are the others? I heard that there are six of you in total.”
“They might still be asleep. I was planning to have my breakfast outside,” Zhang Zian answered. “I can inform them for you.”
“Breakfast? I can bring you there. I know a few good restaurants!” Jack said.
“No need. I’m going to just walk around nearby, so you can bring them there when they’re down.”
Zhang Zian rejected his goodwill politely, since if he followed them, he wouldn’t be able to talk to the elfins easily.
He sent Weikang a message to inform him about Jack’s arrival and purpose, before bringing the elfins along with him out of the hotel.
