Chapter 464: The Appearance of the Rumored Girlfriend

There's definitely something wrong with this brewery's event!

After bursting into the office with a newspaper, the red-haired director kicked aside a fallen guillotine and slammed the "New Industry Daily" onto the desk, her expression utterly serious as she invited:

"Emma! Come investigate with me! On my word as Director of the Virgin Cleanup Bureau, the person behind this event has some sinister, hidden agenda!"

"..."

"Director... have you run out of money again?"

After reading the so-called "evil event," Emma, who was scrubbing a skull-crusher, looked up with weary resignation and suggested:

"I just got paid two days ago—how about I lend you some more?"

"Emma, you've misunderstood!"

Borrowing money is borrowing money, and getting a discount is getting a discount—they don't conflict!

Having decided not only to borrow money but also to snag the 50% discount, the red-haired director clenched her fist tightly and insisted with righteous solemnity:

"I truly believe this event is suspicious. Come on—come investigate with me!"

"..."

Stop it, please? Even if everything you're saying is true, what kind of abnormal situation could possibly justify the joint deployment of you, the Zodiac Director, and me, a Level-One Disaster Handler? Is a demon god descending?

I truly can't fathom how bored a demon god would have to be to skip grand sacrifices after descending and instead raid a mid-sized brewery?

Watching the red-haired director, whose alcohol cravings had pushed her nearly to madness, Emma suddenly felt a pounding headache. She reached out her wet hand and tapped the words "couple" on the newspaper, declining as gently as she could:

"I'm a woman too, but this event requires couples. If we go together, wouldn't that be inappropriate?"

"Emergency situation—details don't matter now!"

After calculating her remaining money, the red-haired director invited again with grave seriousness:

"Come on, come on! I have a strong feeling this event is targeting me!"

"..."

Are you sure it's targeting you, or did you just go chasing after it yourself?

"Fine..."

Seeing the red-haired director's unwavering gaze, clearly determined, Emma—her best friend—could only sigh helplessly, wiped her hands on her apron, and took the newspaper to read.

"Let me check the address—if it's not far, then after work today... I'm not going!"

After reading the event rules, Emma's gentle face flushed slightly. She jabbed her finger at the newspaper, irritated:

"Did you even finish reading? This event isn't just for any two people—you have to publicly kiss for one minute to prove you're a couple before you can enter!"

"Well... it's just a quick lip touch..."

After licking her lips, the red-haired director, who hadn't had a drink in over six days and was desperate, bluffed boldly:

"We're both women, and we're so close—I think..."

"Out!"

"Emma, sweet Emma! Just come with me! If I don't get alcohol soon, I'll die!"

"Then die outside!"

"..."

Tsk... Even the best friends are useless at critical moments.

Pushed out of the office by her back, the red-haired director sighed in utter disappointment, then instinctively turned her head toward the neighboring office.

【Leon Lane (Level-Three Incident Handler)】

After staring at Leon's office door sign for a moment, the red-haired director, filled with hesitation, suddenly shuddered—she remembered her own oath from five minutes ago—and stomped her foot in frustration, then turned away with a stern face.

I'll come back when you're on duty!

"Achoo!!!"

Ugh... It hasn't even hit winter yet—why is it so cold today?

Pulling down his coat sleeves and tucking both hands inside, Leon shivered in the cold wind and opened his panel, suspiciously eyeing his infection level: 0.9. The doctor had said his wounds from the accident would take a week to heal, but he'd been up and about after only three days, discharged home last night—his physique was clearly far superior to normal.

Yet with such a dramatic improvement, he shouldn't be this sensitive to cold—why did even a gust of wind make him shiver?

Hunched and trembling as he walked to work, Leon longed desperately for that warm little coffee cart of the shady merchant.

Sure, his bread was sliced thin enough to see through, his butter spread thinner than shoe polish, and a single slice of ham cost a copper wheel—but his coffee was hot, his cart's stove burned fiercely, and just sitting down inside instantly banished all chill, keeping him warm all the way to the Cleanup Bureau.

Alas... he's tied up with family matters and can't set up his cart for now. He'd just have to endure.

Once William and the others enter the Fleetbridge Academy and move into Happiness Apartments with Anna, I'll just live in the Cleanup Bureau office—no more long commutes every day... Huh?

Around the corner, Leon was stunned to find the usual spot where Old Charles set up his cart was not empty—a wave of warm, springlike air washed over him, instantly dispelling his chill.

He's back on the street!

Like reuniting with a long-lost friend, Leon, warmed by the breeze, rushed over eagerly—then froze in place.

Why? Sitting before the cart's stove wasn't the dark-skinned, kindly-smiling old scoundrel—but a young woman with long legs and a slender waist, her lower face hidden by a scarf.

"..."

How did this cart... change hands... hmm...

【I planned to pass this little coffee cart on to my daughter—so no matter how badly she fares out there, she'll always have a livelihood when she comes home.】

Recalling Old Charles's words to him, Leon's eyes flickered with sudden understanding—Old Charles was busy caring for his wife, so he'd handed the cart to his daughter ahead of time?

Hmm... come to think of it, though he probably joked, didn't he once say he wanted to make me his son-in-law?

Why is this man staring at me so intently?

Seeing the man lingering outside the cart, watching her without entering, the scarf-woman frowned slightly but didn't scold. Instead, she mimicked other coffee vendors, nodded politely, and asked:

"Customer, would you like a cup of coffee?"

"Ah! Yes, please!"

Snapping out of it, Leon smiled, ducked into the warm tent of the cart, and without chatting with his "rumored girlfriend," simply ordered:

"One coffee, two slices of buttered bread, and one slice of ham."

"Understood."

She rose swiftly from before the stove, standing tall and straight before the heated stone slab.

She grabbed a soft loaf, sliced two pieces three centimeters thick with swift strokes, and tossed them onto the slab.

Then she plunged a spoon into the butter jar, scooping out two lumps bigger than strawberries, slathering them on, and with a single chop, severed a slab of ham as large as a palm...

"..."

Am I still dreaming?

Staring at the two "thin" slices of bread placed before him, Leon's mouth fell open in shock. He looked up at Old Charles's reckless daughter, unsure whether to thank her for her generosity or worry for Old Charles's future.

Your daughter... clearly isn't cut out for business!

"Customer!"

Seeing this strange man still staring at her, his expression oddly complex, the scarf-woman narrowed her eyes and asked sharply:

"Is there something unusual about my face?"

"Uh... sorry..."

Realizing his gaze had offended her, Leon awkwardly apologized, turned his head politely away, and asked:

"How much is this all?"

How much... what's the usual price for this at a regular coffee cart... wait! Movement!

While thinking, he glanced across the street at the building—only to see the second-floor curtain had been pulled open. Instantly, the scarf-woman tensed like a hawk spotting prey.

Her eyes locked onto the second-floor window, her attention fully diverted. Without looking, she extended her hand toward Leon and murmured absentmindedly:

"Just give me one silver wheel."

???

What? One silver wheel? And that's it?

Hearing the price of his breakfast, Leon snapped his head up, staring at his "rumored girlfriend" in utter bewilderment.

Holy hell—I thought you were wasteful, but you're charging even more than your father ever did!

(End of Chapter)