Chapter 62: Part-Time Work (Third Update)

Having solved the housing problem, food expenses became another difficulty.

The city's prices were far higher than he imagined; even a casual walk into a small restaurant left him gaping at the menu prices.

A simple bread with thick soup started at a price of one silver coin.

To save money, Robin tried buying ingredients at the market himself and cooking on his own.

But when he reached the market, he found the produce prices equally shocking, and a slight slip would get him swindled by shrewd vendors selling inferior goods.

In short, before finding a job, Robin knew he absolutely could not settle in the city.

Now his mind was full of regret, regretting his rash arrival at this seemingly prosperous yet truly arduous capital city.

As a Formal Knight, Robin found some conveniences in job hunting within this vast city.

Relying on his cultivation level and combat skills, he quickly attracted the attention of many employers.

However, because he was an outsider, those employers seemed to see a lamb awaiting slaughter and severely undercut his salary.

"Only this much for a month?" Robin frowned, looking at the salary slip the employer handed over, asking in disbelief.

Standing before employer Meng Fei Si, Robin felt a surge of suffocating frustration in his chest that he couldn't expel.

Before arriving in the city, he was full of hope; after all, as a Formal Knight his strength had been forged through countless battles, and in his original understanding even in this extraordinarily prosperous, expensive capital, securing a job paying dozens of Gold Coins a month should not be difficult—at least enough to easily pay rent, support himself, and live a respectable life.

But reality dealt him a harsh slap.

The salary slip Meng Fei Si handed over plainly stated a monthly pay of only twenty Gold Coins.

That amount, in this high‑cost city, was a drop in the bucket.

Robin knew that if he lived in a cramped, shabby shack‑like room, the money would barely cover living expenses and leave no time for cultivation, but that was not the life he wanted nor the treatment a Formal Knight deserved.

"Whether you work or not, knights like you from the countryside are a dime a dozen here," Meng Fei Si said with disdain, arms crossed, his tone making it clear Robin was a worthless burden, arrogance and contempt seeping from every word.

And that wasn't all; Meng Fei Si immediately demanded a month's salary as a deposit.

"We're also afraid you'll quit halfway and cause us loss; this is for our own interests," he said, eyeing Robin as if inspecting merchandise, apparently calculating whether the deal was worthwhile.

Robin's anger boiled; his hands clenched involuntarily, joints whitening from the strain.

He wanted to turn and leave, to find an employer who respected him and offered fair pay.

But reason told him that in this city he was a rootless duckweed, with no connections or background, making job hunting extremely difficult.

If he refused the job, he might be expelled from the city by patrols on the grounds of being an idle vagrant.

"Fine, I'll do it," after long deliberation Robin gritted his teeth and finally agreed.

His voice carried a hint of helplessness and resentment, but mostly a compromise with reality.

In this hard‑to‑settle city, securing a job first was the primary task.

Moreover, the job would allow the employer to arrange a residence permit, which was crucial for him.

With a residence permit, he wouldn't be repeatedly inspected by city guards when going out.

If the permit wasn't secured within a month, he'd have to leave the city and could only re‑enter after three days, a round‑trip that wasted time and could cause missed opportunities.

Robin took the employment contract he regarded as a symbol of humiliation and signed his name on it.

Seeing Robin sign, Meng Fei Si's mouth curled uncontrollably upward, almost to his ears, his smugness practically written on his forehead.

He secretly rejoiced; the deal was extremely profitable—hiring a capable Knight at such a low salary meant he could reap extra profit.

In that instant, Meng Fei Si's attitude toward Robin made a complete 180‑degree turn.

Just moments before he wore disdain, now his face beamed with forced smiles, his enthusiasm as if he were a different person.

"Brother Robin, you finally join us! From now on we're family," he said, patting Robin's shoulder affectionately, his warm demeanor as if they'd known each other for years.

Then Meng Fei Si eagerly began promoting his business. "Brother Robin, you have no idea how lucrative my trade is," he exclaimed, gesturing animatedly, "I mainly deal in Mineral Trade; these ores are treasures, and once shipped to the city their price multiplies several times."

"However, the business isn't all smooth sailing," Meng Fei Si continued, a hint of worry on his face, "Our transport route passes through the Nora Han Great Labyrinth—you've surely heard of it; it's a perilous place."

He lowered his voice, feigning secrecy: "From time to time monsters escape the labyrinth and attack our Caravan, which is why we need knights like you to escort us. As long as you can guarantee the cargo's safety along the route, the benefits will naturally include you."

He blinked, then patted Robin's shoulder again, as if cheering him on.

Robin listened quietly, his face expressionless, yet his mind became alert.

He had indeed heard of the Nora Han Great Labyrinth, a place full of unknown dangers where countless adventurers entered and never returned.

Now, for this job, he had to take the unavoidable transport route through the Nora Han Great Labyrinth; even merely passing its entrance made Robin's palms sweat with tension.

After all, the ferocious beasts that surge each year around the Black Forest still haunted his mind, leaving a deep psychological scar.

"Can I still quit now?" Robin asked hoarsely, his voice tinged with hesitation and unease.

At that moment his mind was full of fear of the unknown danger, and he began doubting whether his original decision had been too rash.

Upon hearing that, Meng Fei Si's face darkened instantly, a cold steel flash in his eyes as he snarled, "No! You must work a full month, or I'll report you to the City Hall and bar you from ever entering the Tutan Gate again!"

(End of Chapter)