Chapter 61

“There’s definitely something off about this distillery’s event!”

Bursting into the office with a newspaper, the red-haired bureau director stepped over the fallen guillotine on the floor, slamming the *New Industrial Gazette* onto the table with force. With an extremely serious expression, they invited:

“Emma! Come investigate with me! I swear on my title as Director of the Sixth Bureau that whoever planned this event must have some sinister and evil motives behind it!”

“…”

“Director… are you short on money again?”

After reading what was supposedly the “evil event,” Emma, who was scrubbing her skull-crushing hammer, looked up with an exasperated expression and suggested:

“Just the other day we got paid. How about I lend you some more?”

“Emma, you’ve misunderstood!”

Heh, borrowing is borrowing, discounts are discounts—those two things don’t conflict!

Deciding that not only would she need to lend him money, but also that he’d definitely take advantage of the fifty percent discount, the red-haired director clenched their fists tightly and declared with righteous indignation:

“I truly believe there’s something wrong with this event. Let’s go! Investigate together.”

“…”

Stop fooling around already. Even if everything you said were true, what kind of abnormal situation would require both you, the Yellow Path Director, and me, a Level One Disaster Handler, to team up? A god of evil descending?

I really can’t figure it out. What level of boredom would an evil god have to reach to, after descending, skip straight past mass sacrifices and instead raid a medium-sized distillery?

Looking at the red-haired director, whose alcohol cravings had driven them nearly insane because their inner wine bug hadn’t been fed, Emma couldn’t help but feel a headache coming on. She wiped her wet hands on her apron and pointed at the word “couple” on the newspaper, gently refusing:

“I’m a woman too, but the event requires couples. Isn’t it inappropriate for us to go together?”

“We don’t have time for such trivialities in this urgent situation!”

After calculating how much money they had left, the red-haired director once again extended a serious invitation:

“Come on, come on! I have this feeling that this event is aimed directly at me!”

“…”

Are you sure it’s aimed at you and not that you’re just chasing after it?

“Alright…”

Seeing the resolute determination in the red-haired director’s eyes, Emma, as a good friend, could only sigh helplessly, dry her hands on her apron, and pick up the newspaper.

“Let me see where it’s located. If it’s nearby, we can wait until after work… I’m not going!”

After finishing reading the detailed rules of the event, Emma’s delicate face flushed slightly. Her finger jabbed at the newspaper as she questioned irritably: “Did you even read this? This isn’t just any two people attending; you have to publicly kiss for a full minute to prove your couple status before being allowed entry!”

“This… it’s just a peck on the lips…”

After licking their own lips, the red-haired director, who hadn’t had a drink for six whole days and was utterly miserable, shamelessly said: “We’re both women, and we’re so close. I think…”

“Get out!”

“Emma, dear Emma! Just come with me! I’ll die without another drink!”

“Then die outside!”

“…”

Tch… as expected, even the best of friends can’t be relied upon in these critical moments.

After being shoved out of the office, the red-haired director sighed in deep disappointment, then instinctively turned their head toward the adjacent office.

[Leon Lane (Level Three Incident Handler)]

Staring at Leon’s office sign for a while, the red-haired director hesitated, then suddenly remembered the oath they swore five minutes ago. They stomped their foot in frustration and walked away with a stern face.

I’ll come back when you’re at work!…

“Achoo!!!”

Hiss… It’s not even winter yet, why is it so cold today? Pulling down the sleeves of his coat and tucking his hands inside, Leon shivered from the icy wind and unconsciously opened his panel, suspiciously checking his high taint value of 0.9.

Given how much his constitution has improved, he shouldn’t be this sensitive to the cold. Why does he still shiver when the cold wind hits? Hunched over as he walked to work, Leon couldn’t help but miss that shady coffee stall owner’s warm little stand.

Though his bread slices were almost transparent, his butter was thinner than shoe polish, and he charged a copper wheel for a single slice of ham, his coffee was warm enough, and the stove in his stall burned brightly. As soon as you sat down, all the chill was driven away, keeping you warm all the way to the Clearing Bureau.

Sigh… unfortunately, he had family issues and temporarily couldn’t run his stall, so he’d just have to endure for now.

Once William enters Naval Bridge Public School and moves into Happiness Apartment with Anna, he could just stay in the Clearing Bureau’s office and wouldn’t have to travel so far every day… huh?

Turning a street corner, Leon was pleasantly surprised to find that Lao Chaer’s usual spot wasn’t empty. A wave of warmth greeted him, instantly dispelling the cold surrounding him.

The stall was open!

It felt like reuniting with a long-lost friend. Feeling comfortable in the warm breeze, Leon eagerly rushed over, ready to chat with Lao Chaer. But he froze mid-step.

No one else, it wasn’t the dark-skinned, smiling black-hearted old man sitting by the stove, but a young woman with long legs and a slim waist, whose lower face was hidden by a scarf.

“…”

Has the stall changed hands… um…

Not a single detail within the content of 69 Book Bar is incorrect!

‘This little coffee stall, I plan to pass it down to my daughter in the future. No matter how she fares outside, when she comes home, she’ll always have a livelihood.’

Recalling Lao Chaer’s words to him, Leon’s eyes flickered with understanding… So this must be Lao Chaer’s daughter taking over the stall early because he’s busy caring for his wife? Hmm… speaking of which, though it was probably just a joke, didn’t he say something about wanting me as a son-in-law?

Why is she staring at me like that?

Seeing the man who hadn’t entered the stall but kept looking at her, the scarf-wrapped woman furrowed her brows but didn’t rebuke him. Instead, mimicking other coffee stall owners, she nodded politely and asked:

“Customer, would you like a cup of coffee?”

“Ah! Yes, please!”

Regaining his senses, Leon smiled, bent down, and ducked into the cozy tent of the little stall. Without chatting with his “rumored girlfriend,” he placed his order directly:

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

“Got it.”

Responding crisply, the scarf-clad woman stood tall in front of the heated stone slab.

She grabbed a fluffy loaf of bread, swiftly slicing two pieces each three centimeters thick—”thin slices”—and tossed them onto the stone slab.

Next, she scooped out two large lumps of butter, bigger than strawberries, from the butter jar beside her and smeared them on. Then she took half a ham and chopped off a piece as big as her palm…

“…”

Am I still asleep? Looking at the two “thin” slices of bread placed on his table, Leon couldn’t help but gawk with wide eyes. He looked up at Lao Chaer’s wasteful daughter, unsure whether to thank her generosity or worry for Lao Chaer.

Your daughter… doesn’t seem cut out for business!

“Customer!”

Seeing this strange man constantly staring at her with complex emotions, the scarf-wrapped woman narrowed her eyes and sharply questioned:

“Excuse me, is there anything unusual about my face?”

“Uh… sorry…”

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

“How much do I owe you?”

How much… how much should regular coffee stalls charge for these items… wait! There’s movement! While pondering, Leon casually glanced at the building across the street and noticed the second-floor curtains had been pulled aside. The scarf-clad woman immediately became alert like a hawk spotting prey.

Her eyes locked firmly on the second-floor window across the street, most of her attention diverted elsewhere, she absentmindedly extended her hand toward Leon and casually said:

“You can give me one silver coin.”

???

What? One silver coin? And “just fine”? After hearing the price of this breakfast, Leon abruptly looked up, stunned, at his “rumored girlfriend.”

Wow, I thought you were extravagant earlier, but turns out you’re tougher on pricing than your dad!(End of Chapter)