Chapter 588

Capital City, Old District, Ship Bridge Street, inside the two-person carriage heading towards Happiness Apartment.

“Actually… it’s not that I dislike you.”

After enduring complete silence from Leon the whole way, the jade-eyed maiden could no longer bear the awkward atmosphere. She couldn’t help but avert her gaze from Leon and nervously glanced out the window, saying,

“Even if you might not believe me, the reason I did this is just because I don’t want my issues to hinder your personal development.”

“…”

“You know, my situation is quite special. It would be very hard for me to leave the Capital. If we formed a team, when you go on external missions, you’d lack a reliable partner.”

“…”

“Besides, my strength isn’t great either. You’re already stronger than most Level 1 Cleaners. Pairing up with someone as new as me would really hold you back.”

“…”

“…”

“…”

Gee… it feels like I’m being held a grudge against…

Looking at Leon who was still sitting stiffly across from her without responding to any of her words from start to finish, the jade-eyed maiden hesitantly probed, “Um… Mr. Leon, don’t you have anything to say?”

“Yes.”

Once the two-person carriage stopped in front of Happiness Apartment, Leon reached out to open the carriage door for her, then expressionlessly informed her: “Let’s split the fare. This ride was not only to take me home but also to show you the employee dormitory, so you need to pay half.”

“Eh?”

Upon hearing this, the jade-eyed maiden froze for a moment, then somewhat awkwardly said,

“Um… I don’t have money on me right now, so can I…”

“1.5 copper coins, pay me next week.”

“Okay…”

Being grabbed by the collar and pulled off the carriage by Leon, she waited beside him while he paid the fare. Then, the jade-eyed maiden cautiously walked into the first-floor hall of Happiness Apartment alongside Leon.

An elderly woman with white curly hair, the administrator matron, was sitting in the duty room in the hall, hunched over knitting something with a brand-new pair of reading glasses.

“Hmm?”

Hearing the approaching footsteps, the administrator matron looked up, adjusted her glasses, glanced at Leon, and smiled kindly.

“Back from your mission?”

“Yeah, I arrived in the Capital this morning on a cruise ship and just finished submitting my report at the bureau.”

Facing the kind-hearted administrator matron, Leon’s previously stern face instantly softened. He then pulled out a beautifully wrapped small bag from the Mirror World and handed it through the small window, smiling and saying, “Auntie Mary, this is something I came across during my mission. Consider it a little gift.”

“You brat!”

Seeing the luxurious label on the package that read “Premium Spun Wool Yarn,” the administrator matron broke into a wide smile but couldn’t help but scold him,

“You’re spending recklessly again! This thing obviously isn’t cheap. You’ve only been working for a few months, and you have two children at school. There will be plenty of places where you’ll need money, so save where you can!”

“Will do, will do.”

“Auntie Mary, this is a gardening tool maintenance set I bought in the Crocodile Kingdom. It includes sharpening stones, anti-corrosion grease, rust-removal sandpaper, and reusable cleaning cloths. Uncle John should like it.”

“Oh dear, you really are…”

Seeing the clearly expensive gardening tool maintenance set, the administrator matron helplessly shook her head, knowing that even if she refused to accept it, Leon would use the excuse that the shop was abroad and tell her it couldn’t be returned. So she took the maintenance set and pulled out a cloth bag from under the table.

“Here, take this back with you!”

“What is this…”

“It’s a pair of woolen gloves I knitted for those two little rascals using the yarn you gave last time.”

Seeing Leon’s slightly surprised expression, the administrator matron smiled and said, “Kids grow fast at this age. I was worried they wouldn’t fit them next year, so I made them a bit larger. They’ll definitely fit next year… Don’t think they’re inappropriate!”

Woolen gloves knitted by Auntie Mary? Looking at the kind smile of the administrator matron, Leon’s eyebrows involuntarily lifted slightly, and he inserted his fingers into the bag opening, lightly touching the delicate patterns woven into the woolen gloves.

[Name: Delicate Wool Guardian Gloves (Miracle, Protection)]

[Appearance: A pair of neatly textured, tightly stitched, scratch-resistant, wear-resistant, and extremely warm children’s wool gloves. Although the weaving technique is simple and elegant, they are exquisitely crafted and emit a peculiar warmth.]

None of the content is available on 69 Book Bar!

[Ability: Evil Repulsion, Accident Avoidance]

[Cost: These are specially-made gloves that can only be worn by Melanie Lane. The wearer must greet the grandmother on the first floor when leaving home in the morning, but it’s best not to keep accepting the fruit candies she gives, or else one might face severe reprimands from Anna Lane.]

[Archive: With over 135 years of knitting experience, an ultra-seasoned knitting enthusiast carefully knitted these children’s gloves using wool yarn gifted by the food god thug, the destroyer of nations, the Travel Thrush Prince, the Dream Realm Destroyer, the Death Messenger’s Nightmare, and the Level 3 Cleaner of the Virgo Subdivision, Leon Lane.

In addition to the innate resistance to accidents and intimidation of malicious targets, if the user suffers unjust bullying, there is a high possibility that a muscular old man named John will show up wielding garden scissors over a meter long…]

[Immersion Value: 0.1]

Good grief… this is practically a portable, single-person version of Happiness Apartments. With this thing, William and the others probably won’t be bothered by ordinary Level 3 Cleaners.

“Since they were specially knitted for them, I won’t decline.”

After receiving the precious gift on behalf of the two kids, Leon, looking at the administrator matron whose soul seemed much stronger than before, cheerfully smiled and said, “Auntie Mary, compared to the last time we met, you seem to be in much better condition!”

“Is that so?”

Putting down her knitting, she touched her cheeks and joyfully replied,

“Maybe it’s because I’ve been busy lately? After being idle for too long, occasionally getting busy improves one’s complexion… By the way, did you see the new Alms House behind you on your way back?”

“I saw it. Once the funding came through, they built it pretty fast.”

Leon nodded upon hearing this and smiled in response, “And besides the new Alms House, I also saw Uncle John. He had a pipeline engineer badge hanging around his neck and was helping the workers lay pipes.”

“Haha, that old man just can’t stay idle, insisting on lending a hand.”

After chatting happily for a few more moments, noticing the jade-eyed maiden curiously observing her from behind Leon, the administrator matron suddenly exclaimed, “Oh dear, I got so caught up chatting with you that I forgot to ask… who is this child?”

She’s an orphan coming to live at the Alms House.

(End of Chapter)