The girl slowly closed her eyes and fell into a deep sleep, her beautiful face etched with tranquility and ease.
This was perhaps the most relaxing night Luo Li had spent in quite some time.
Morning dew dripped down the veins of a leaf, landing on an unknown insect.
In the blink of an eye, the insect was sent flying by a carriage, falling to the ground and twitching its legs before meeting its Maker.
The sound of horse bells echoed through the street as a figure draped in a cloak stepped down from the carriage.
He looked up, surveying the plain, unremarkable house before him.
"Is this the place?"
"Yes. Go inside. That person is waiting for you."
"Lola, you... don't have any strange ideas, do you?"
Lola had sought him out early this morning and dragged him here; he hadn't even had time to wash his face before being delivered to this spot.
"Are you joking?"
"No, I'm serious."
It felt as if yesterday's conversation was repeating itself, though their roles were now completely reversed.
"Rest assured, I wouldn't joke with your life. Go in."
Lola's voice remained as indifferent as ever. Baker squinted, trying to read her expression, but could see nothing.
"Fine, fine. I'll trust you this once and see this 'great figure' worth you entrusting everything to."
Baker took a long breath, stepped forward, and pushed the door open.
The moment the door opened, a gentle voice reached his ears from the shadows.
"Are you... Baker?"
The moment he heard that voice, Baker's heart involuntarily relaxed.
He couldn't describe the feeling; it was as if the voice possessed a natural, rich affinity that made him let down his guard against this Highness.
"I never imagined the high and mighty Saintess would have time to receive a nobody like me, and in... a place like this."
Baker swept his gaze around the surroundings as he spoke.
"Please forgive my lack of etiquette. As the Saintess, it is difficult for me to meet you formally in an official setting."
"Fair enough."
Baker gave a nonchalant smile, a hint of disdain lingering in his expression.
Clearly, he didn't care much for the high status of a Saintess.
Looking at Baker, he seemed like a middle-aged man from next door. There was no air of a thug about him; instead, he carried a faint scholarly aura.
"Your Highness, I wonder why you went to such lengths to bring me here. What exactly is this about?"
Baker was all smiles, but that professional, business-like expression made Luo Li's brow furrow.
This man felt impenetrable, giving off a sense of distant detachment.
'Is he hostile toward me?'
"Mr. Baker, I believe someone with your abilities should already know what I intend to do. Let's stop speaking in riddles."
She pointed to the seat opposite her.
"Mr. Baker, please sit and let's talk."
Baker gave a non-committal smile but did not sit, remaining standing across from Luo Li.
"Your Highness, if you have something to say, please just say it. I need to get back to work after we're done. The bar opens as usual today, and as the owner, I can't be away for too long, right?"
Seeing his attitude, Luo Li did not force him to sit.
For some reason, this man seemed to want to end the conversation as quickly as possible, his words carrying a deliberate attempt to shut down the dialogue.
No... perhaps it wasn't just an impression. He truly wanted to kill the conversation so he could leave.
After a moment of silence, she looked up at the burly middle-aged man.
"I have invited you here in good faith to talk. I have no intention of using my power to control you. I hope you understand that, Mr. Baker."
Baker's face remained calm, but after Luo Li said those words, his voice softened slightly, losing some of its earlier hostility.
"The Saintess need not be so polite. I don't deserve such formal address. It's better if you just call me Baker."
"In that case, let's drop the 'Highness' as well."
Baker spread his hands.
"Then how should I address you?"
"Just 'Saintess' is fine."
"Very well... then, may I ask why the Saintess has summoned me?"
"Mr. Baker, as I just said, I want to be honest and hear your thoughts. Would you... do me the honor?"
"Oh my~ Saintess, you're putting me on the spot. I'm not one of your confidants. How could I possibly know what you want to do?"
Baker was playing dumb on purpose, clearly with a specific goal in mind.
A man like him would never do anything without a reason.
"Mr. Baker, my meaning is clear, and you should know it. But since you want to hear it from my mouth, I will tell you. Mr. Baker, I want to reform the Kingdom of the Moon and restore it to its former brilliance. I wonder... if you are willing to lend me a hand?"
"How direct. Saintess, aren't you afraid I'll turn around and help those nobles instead?"
Having said that, Baker glanced around the room.
"Or perhaps you've already decided to kill me here if I refuse?"
Since he had come, he was prepared for any outcome.
This man was indeed extraordinary!
He came even though he knew he might die.
That meant he definitely had his own agenda.
"Mr. Baker, since we've laid our cards on the table, I won't hide it. You're right... if you don't agree here, I will make you disappear from the Kingdom of the Moon quietly and forever."
Baker's brow tightened, but for some reason, even though those words were an obvious threat, a trace of a smile appeared on his face.
Unlike his earlier professional smile, this time he seemed to be laughing from the bottom of his heart.
"Heh... Hahaha! Excellent. Very good. I like that."
As he spoke, he seemed to tear off his mask. He walked over boldly and sat down in front of Luo Li.
"So, Saintess, what do you want from me?"
"Everything you hold in your hands."
"And what can you give me in return?"
"Status, glory, wealth—anything you can think of."
After she said this, the room fell into a dead silence. Suddenly, Baker laughed again.
"Then... if I say I want this Kingdom of the Moon to never have another street orphan, can you do it?"
"No."
Luo Li gave a very blunt answer.
"Why?"
"Without your help, I cannot."
Baker was stunned. He never expected the Saintess to give such an answer.
Rate on N.U.
