Arrest Her

Phelin pulled six silver coins from her pocket and handed them to her, her small head held high.

Paying the bill was what she considered the most grown-up thing to do!

The owner pushed the change back in front of Phelin, watching her count and pack it away meticulously, and praised her in surprise, “Oh, you know how to count? What a clever child.”

Beside them, Wu Yao casually swept the bread into her Inventory, holding a loaf of honey bread and taking a big bite out of it.

【Unlocked Honey Bread, Culinary Compendium entry +1】

Wu Yao was so moved she almost shed tears. This was the kind of life a player was supposed to live!

To be honest, the bread wasn't particularly delicious; the flour wasn't finely ground, and the sweetness was nothing to write home about.

But compared to the sweet potatoes and potatoes she had been eating for seven or eight days, it was an absolute delicacy. It was soft on the inside with a rich wheaty aroma, and she swallowed it down in just two or three bites.

【Consumed Honey Bread, Satiety +30】

Although the Satiety increase wasn't much different, she didn't want to abuse her taste buds anymore.

The owner watched them leave, always feeling as if they had left something behind.

“Lady Wu Yao, is there anything else we need to buy?” Benita looked at her satisfied expression, the corners of her mouth curling up unconsciously.

“Oh, so much. Blankets, bedsheets, curtains, pillows...”

Wu Yao listed off a whole bunch of things. Her Territory Cabin was completely empty; she lacked everything.

Although she didn't need to sleep, lying on a hard wooden board versus a soft, fluffy bed made for two completely different gaming experiences.

She wasn't here to live like an ascetic, so of course she was going to make herself as comfortable as possible.

Benita listened patiently as she listed a long string of household items, asking between amusement and dismay, “Lady Wu Yao, how did you live before this?”

“Witches don't need sleep,” Wu Yao winked at her playfully.

For once, Benita felt a bit puzzled. Really?

How did she remember Hilna sleeping every day? Was it because Lady Wu Yao was more powerful?

She was very familiar with the town's general store and fabric merchants. She guided Wu Yao to buy everything they needed, and even picked up two cotton quilts and some dishes for her own home.

Since the soles of Suren's old shoes were worn through, Benita also bought two pairs of new shoes on a whim and stuffed them into Suren's arms.

Wu Yao was curious about everything she saw. Benita paid for whatever she wanted without even batting an eye, spending fourteen silver coins in the blink of an eye.

At first, Phelin felt a bit pained about the money. In the past, they had to budget every single copper coin. She hadn't even dared to buy a single piece of candy just so they could afford more medicine for her mother.

But now her mother was cured, they didn't need to hoard money anymore, and there was even an extra person earning an income. All of this was thanks to Sister Wu Yao—she was the family's great benefactor!

This realization instantly brightened Phelin's mood. She took Wu Yao's hand on her own initiative and enthusiastically introduced a delicacy she had been eyeing for a very long time.

“There's a tavern up ahead that makes delicious meat. Let's go there for lunch and have some of their roasted lamb chops!”

Back when she came to town with her granny to sell herbs, she often saw children clamoring to eat that tavern's roasted lamb chops.

She had smelled them before, and they indeed smelled wonderful. She just didn't know if they tasted as good as they smelled.

Before Wu Yao could answer, Benita had already agreed. How could she bear to refuse her daughter's tiny wish?

Wu Yao had no objections either. Tagging along with NPCs for free food and drinks while unlocking the Culinary Compendium on the side—what other game offered such a sweet deal?

The tavern was on the east side of town. Its decor was much more refined than the surrounding shops, and even its sign was made of iron.

There weren't many customers inside, as it wasn't the busiest time of day yet. Only a few drunkards slumped over the tables in silence.

The owner was dozing off behind the counter. Seeing them enter, she lazily raised her head and glanced over. “What can I get you folks?”

“One of every meat dish, please.”

Wu Yao wouldn't let any opportunity to unlock her Compendium slip by. Only after ordering did she turn her head to ceremonially consult Benita. “That's fine, right?”

Benita hesitated but ultimately nodded. Even if Lady Wu Yao couldn't finish it all, she probably had a way to keep the food fresh.

The owner had seemingly never met such generous customers, but only a fool would turn down money.

She immediately straightened up, her sleepiness completely vanishing. After sending the order to the kitchen, she said with a beaming smile, “Our tavern serves food only after payment is settled, so if you don't mind...”

Phelin grandly placed the coin pouch on the counter, speaking with immense pride. “Tally it up!”

The owner looked at the coin pouch, then at the little girl who was barely as tall as the counter, and couldn't help but chuckle.

Without saying anything more, she pushed the correct change back to Phelin, watching as the little girl carefully counted it and put it into her pouch.

Wu Yao chose a seat by the window, where the sunlight streamed in at an angle. The four of them fit perfectly around the table, and Phelin sat right next to her, chattering away happily.

Suren sat quietly on the inner side, her fingers unconsciously rubbing the edge of her clothes.

It had been a very long time since she last sat in a place like this. The last time was before Talisha was born, when she and her husband had celebrated a rare harvest in a town tavern.

That was the last time she ever sat in a tavern with her husband. Right around the time Talisha had just learned to walk, her husband had an accident at the mine that crushed his leg.

All of the family's savings were spent, but his life still couldn't be saved. She raised her daughter on her own, but...

Suddenly, there was a commotion on the street outside the window.

A squad of soldiers wearing leather armor marched down the street, longswords hanging from their waists. Their boots made heavy, thudding sounds on the rammed earth road, kicking up small puffs of fine dust.

Surrounded by these soldiers were three people wearing blue robes.

The fabric of the robes was clearly high-quality, shimmering like silk under the light, with the Mage Association's signature flame pattern embroidered on the chest.

Wu Yao rested her chin in her hand, elbow propped on the windowsill, lazily tracking the squad as they moved.

Their heads turned left and right, as if they were looking for someone.

Among the three mages, the one walking on the outer edge looked quite young. His chin was tilted up slightly as he carelessly scanned the pedestrians along the street. When his gaze swept past the tavern, it locked right onto Wu Yao's eyes.

Wu Yao felt a visceral disgust whenever she saw such arrogant, high-and-mighty NPCs. Without hiding it in the slightest, she made a gagging gesture.

The mage's expression changed faster than turning the page of a book.

Shifting from arrogance to shock and suspicion, once he confirmed it wasn't his imagination, the anger of being insulted consumed him entirely.

His face darkened, his lips thinning into a tight line, and his fingers unconsciously clenched his staff.

“Evan, what's wrong?” The mage beside him noticed his sudden halt and followed his gaze.

Inside the tavern, a black-haired woman was laughing without restraint.

Evan didn't answer. He stared dead at the woman, the corners of his mouth slowly curling into a sneer. “That must be a sorceress. Arrest her.”