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Chapter 88
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They all knew how Linda rolled.
For her to be so sure when talking to Travis, who’d just flirted with their Lindater, there was only one explanation.
She was up to something.
Rafael and Craig didn’t even exchange a glance before sitting down together. Rafael kept up
the act.
“Linda, watch out for guys like him. Smooth talkers like that are the least reliable,” Rafael warned.
Craig chimed in, “Yeah, if you accept his help, you’re in his debt if you eat his food, you’ll feel obligated. Let’s just pay for ourselves.”
“How much? Just name your price,” Rafael said, lifting his chin and acting all loaded.
He couldn’t even scrape together ten Luster Shards, but that didn’t stop him from acting like a big shot.
Travis chuckled awkwardly. “It’s not worth many Luster Shards, Laura…”
Linda, Claudio, Craig, and Rafael all shot him a death glare. “What?”
Travis quickly backpedaled. “Laura barely ate anything. Really, not much at all.”
Laura glanced at the mountain of empty plates covering the table, thought for a moment, and asked, “Are you really treating us?”
Travis put on a big smile. “Of course.”
Laura nodded, raised her hand, and called out to the shopkeeper “Make it fifty more of the same, just for me.”
Travis was left speechless.
Rafael nearly lost it, chuckling twice before stifling his laughter. Travis, you sure you’re picking up the tab?”
Travis gritted his teeth. “Yes.”
Today, the whole kitchen at the Ambrosian Refectory was working overtime just to feed Laura.
Laura ate from noon until almost evening before finally calling it quits.
Travis was totally wiped out.
He was just dead inside at this point.
Craig and the rest just watched him with indulgent smiles.
Laura patted her slightly rounded belly and said sheepishly, “I can’t eat any more.”
Craig was honestly moved. It was the first time he’d ever heard Laura admit she was full.
Because of that, Craig didn’t look at Travis so harshly anymore.
Linda got up without missing a beat, slipped the Luster Shard box into her spatial pouch, and watched Travis leaving with Laura.
pay
before
There was no way Travis was just going to let them walk out like that.
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Chapter 88
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“Wait, everyone!” Travis hurried after them, out of breath. “Actually, I have a favor to ask, but I was too embarrassed to bring it up earlier
Rafael looked puzzled. “If you know it’s embarrassing, why even say it? Only jerks put others on the spot.
Rafael added, “Just because you bought us a meal doesn’t mean we owe you anything. Worst case, we’ll just puke it all up and hand it back.
Travis was left speechless.
Laura thought for a moment and whispered, “Throwing up isn’t that easy.”
Rafael quickly changed his tune. “Then we’ll just poop…”
Craig quickly covered his mouth. “Shut it!”
Linda asked calmly, “What’s your request?”
Travis was genuinely touched when Linda steered the conversation back on track. ‘Why did I ever think this girl was strange? She’s so understanding!‘ he thought.
Travis said, “So, a few days ago, a bunch of us went night hunting in this small town, and we stumbled onto something super weird…”
Travis went on and on, and in the end, everyone just pieced together what he was actually trying to say.
Rafael summed it up, “So, you guys teamed up for a night hunt, ran into a feral beast, couldn’t beat it, took off, and left your family heirloom behind?”
guys pretty ran
Travis nodded, looking embarrassed. “Pretty much. We did try to fight back, though.”
Rafael waved it off. “Doesn’t matter. You still ran.”
Travis was left speechless.
Rafael asked, “And then?”
Travis was barely holding it together, but he forced himself to say, “I was hoping you guys could help me get my family heirloom back.”
“I’ll pay a bounty,” Travis blurted out, worried they’d turn him down.
Rafael asked, “How much?”
Travis held up one finger.
Rafael snorted. “Only a million?”
Travis mumbled, “It’s actually a hundred thousand.”
“That’s peanuts. We’re out,” Rafael said, already turning away.
“Wait! I don’t have a million, but I do have a supreme Luster Shard!” Travis yelled, almost begging.
Rafael snorted, “What’s the difference between one supreme Luster Shard and a million common Luster Shards?”
Supreme Luster Shards were super hard to get.
In terms of value, they were basically the same.
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Chapter R
Travis couldn’t really argue with that.
Right on cue, Linds cut in, I actually need a supreme Luister Shard for a formation, Craig, I want it.”
Travis was thrilled ‘She’s a lifesaver! he thought
Craig and Rafael thought it over. “Well…”
Laura said. “Let’s go”
She thought, If Linda wants it, we’re in, no questions asked!
&uchers
Travis was still in a daze as the five of them headed out of the city. Was that really it? Did it just work like that? he wondered.
Seeing Craig and Laura looking so pure and harmless, and Rafael strutting around like he owned the place, Travis figured they probably couldn’t come up with anything complicated anyway.
“Whatever,” he said.
Travis pushed aside his doubts and kept leading them out of the city, trying to come up with a reason to get them to fly farther away.
Linda spoke up right on cue, “How long is this going to take? If it’s far, let’s just fly. We need to be back at the organization before midnight, so let’s not waste any time.
Travis said, “It’s a ways off.”
Linda nodded. “Alright, you go first.”
With that, the five of them just stood there, all waiting for him to take off.
Travis looked awkward. “Well… I’m not at the Gilded Phase yet, so I can’t sword–fly.”
Rafael was stunned. “You don’t even have a flight tool?”
Travis wished the ground would just swallow him up. “They’re way too expensive. I don’t have one.”
Rafael’s shock vanished, and he said flatly, “Oh, I don’t have one either.”
Travis was left speechless. “Then what was all that attitude for?‘ he thought.
Linda jumped in, “Alright, I’ll take Rafael and Travis with me. Laura, you take Craig and Claudio.”
She turned to Travis with a smile. “Sorry, my friends aren’t great at flying yet, so we’ll have to squeeze together.”
Travis looked at the three of them, surprised. “Wait, they’re not even at the Gilded Phase yet?”
Linda flashed a confident smile. “Seriously, with Laura and me, isn’t that more than enough?”
Travis felt a jolt. “Yeah, that’s more than enough.”
‘Honestly, that’s more than enough. This is just perfect,‘ he thought.
Linda’s words made Travis remember, last time at the Ambrosian Refectory, Craig and Rafael hadn’t lifted a finger. Not only did they not step in, they were hiding in the back.
As for Claudio, Travis didn’t know him at all.
If Linda and Laura were the only ones at the Gilded Phase, their chances of winning would shoot way up.
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Ray Bandard Train, and there wherever Travis pointe
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t been inses the Gilded Picase.
King key elotely. “Yonize so graang, but youry like a pro. Did you already reach the late Gilded Core?”
der’s murder. No wonder her sword–flying is so smooth, he thought.
“It’s had op throat. We’re almost there! Travis called out
Trans printed at *village shrouded in swirling black fog, Not a single light, not a hint of life, just a sense of doom hanging
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Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
