To avoid drawing too much attention, Lesha had forgone her nun’s habit, opting instead for casual women’s clothing. True to her taste, the dress had a low neckline, accentuating her tall, alluring figure, making her irresistibly captivating and drawing many gazes.
She quickly spotted Ye Chui, Debbie, and Green, turning to say something to the man trailing her, likely telling him to leave. But he just grinned, unbothered, and waved familiarly at Ye Chui’s group.
This man didn’t seem like an ordinary commoner. Around twenty years old, he was rather handsome, dressed in an opulent robe with a gem-and-pearl-encrusted sword at his waist, looking every bit the wealthy noble. Without waiting for Lesha’s introduction, he approached their table, polite but with a hint of arrogance in his expression. “You must be Miss Lesha’s friends. I’m Hakem, Lord Kevin’s nephew.”
Ye Chui, Debbie, and Green sized him up. Typically, those who introduced themselves by dropping names like “I’m so-and-so’s such-and-such” lacked real substance. Ye Chui’s gaze soon shifted to Lesha, his eyes questioning. What’s with this guy?
“I bumped into him on the street on my way here,” Lesha explained simply, sitting down next to Ye Chui, perhaps intentionally close. This made Hakem’s expression flicker. Lesha, unfazed, poured herself a drink using Ye Chui’s cup, took a sip, and continued, “I met him at the church a couple of days ago, and he’s been pestering me ever since. So annoying.”
“That’s because you’re incredibly captivating, Miss Lesha. I’ve never met a woman who amazes me so,” Hakem said with a smile, openly showing his admiration. He sat on Lesha’s other side, glancing at Ye Chui, Debbie, and Green. “Since you’re Miss Lesha’s friends, you’re my friends too. If you run into any trouble in Windrock City, just mention my name.”
“Oh, really?” Ye Chui feigned flattered surprise. Someone daring to pursue a girl so close to him? He turned to Hakem. “As it happens, there are a couple of people I’ve been itching to beat up. I’ll give them a good thrashing and say you told me to. Sound good?”
Hakem’s expression stiffened. This guy was too brazen. He ventured, “Who are you planning to beat up?”
“That chubby captain of the third guard squad, Godo or something. I’ve had it with him,” Ye Chui said.
Hakem grew visibly uneasy. “Beating up a guard captain? Well, I know Captain Godo. What did he do to offend you? I’ll talk to him.”
Ye Chui exchanged a glance with Debbie. He’d mentioned Godo to test Hakem, and if he couldn’t even handle someone like Godo, it seemed this so-called lord’s nephew had little real influence in Windrock City. This puzzled Ye Chui further. He looked at Lesha curiously. Their meeting was supposed to be discreet, so why had she brought Hakem along?
Lesha, however, flashed a sweet smile and hugged Ye Chui’s arm. “Big brother, I’ve missed you so much these past few days.”
Debbie, sitting across, flinched, her eyes widening in shock.
Ye Chui chuckled, but his eyes flicked to Hakem, whose composure was crumbling. Damn, Lesha was definitely doing this on purpose.
“Miss Lesha, what’s your relationship with this man?” Hakem asked, clearly lacking the poise to mask his emotions, his face twitching.
“Big brother is just big brother,” Lesha said vaguely, blinking her big eyes. “Oh, you’re not misunderstanding our relationship, are you? There’s nothing between us.” As she spoke, she hugged Ye Chui’s arm even closer, her chest practically spilling out.
Ye Chui: “…”
Though he appreciated her bold, generous style, could she please explain what was going on?
Hakem’s face darkened. “Miss Lesha, please have some self-respect. You’re a dignified nun.”
“What’s wrong? Big brother’s not a stranger. He’s my closest person. What’s a little intimacy?” Lesha said in a coy tone, then, as if worried others wouldn’t misconstrue, exclaimed, “But don’t get the wrong idea. There’s nothing improper between me and big brother.”
She then rubbed her head affectionately against Ye Chui’s shoulder.
Hakem: “…”
Please calculate the size of his psychological shadow right now.
“I finally got out of the church today. Big brother, let’s go for a walk. I have so much to tell you,” Lesha said, pulling Ye Chui up to leave.
Hakem stood as well.
“Hakem, could you settle the bill?” Lesha said, glancing at the half-eaten food on the table.
Hakem: “I…”
“It’s settled then. Big brother, big sister, let’s go,” Lesha said, dragging Ye Chui out of the restaurant. Debbie and Green hurried after, glancing at Hakem’s rigid figure with a twinge of pity.
Outside, Lesha pulled Ye Chui along.
Debbie, walking beside them, asked, “Auntie, what are you up to?”
“That guy seems kind of pathetic,” Green said, looking back. He saw Hakem about to follow but being held up by the restaurant owner, entangled in a dispute.
“That guy’s so annoying,” Lesha said with a grin. “He just won’t stop pestering me.”
So you deliberately provoked him?
Ye Chui glanced back, seeing Hakem storm out of the restaurant, angrily shaking his fist at him, looking ready to settle scores. Ye Chui frowned. “He doesn’t seem like he’ll let this go…”
“He’s all about saving face. He’ll definitely round up some people to intercept us,” Lesha said, unsurprised.
Ye Chui looked at his little sister oddly. “You did that on purpose? To make him come after us?” Seeing her nod with a smile, he pressed, “Why?”
“So we can rob him,” Lesha said, grinning like a little devil.
Ye Chui, Debbie, and Green: “…”
Lesha lowered her voice, whispering mysteriously, “He’s carrying something valuable.”
Their eyes lit up. They couldn’t resist the lure of treasure, especially when they needed funds to build a guild mansion. Debbie quickly asked, “What is it?”
“You won’t believe this, but it’s a teleportation token,” Lesha said, her tone astonished.
“A teleportation token? To… a divine ruin?” Ye Chui exclaimed.
“Huh?” Lesha blinked. “Big brother, how did you know?”
“It’s really that?” Ye Chui felt a strange twist. Just days ago, Cass had mentioned the teleportation coordinates, and he’d regretted missing the divine ruin adventure. Now, an opportunity had landed in his lap. He glanced back, unable to see Hakem, who was likely off gathering people. “How does he have a teleportation token?”
“He’s the lord’s nephew, a high-status figure. Is it so strange he’d have one?” Lesha explained. “I heard a merchant gifted the fourth prince coordinates to a divine ruin. The prince had several teleportation tokens made. Carrying one when the coordinates activate will transport you to the ruin’s space. A priest at the church got one too and has been recruiting believers and nuns for the adventure. I wanted to join but wasn’t chosen. Hmph, they can’t match my strength, but they sidelined me because I’m an outsider.”
Her fair face flushed with anger, clearly having had a rough time lately.
She paused, then continued, “Later, Hakem visited the church. I found out he has a token too. Lots of swordsmen, magic mentors, guilds, and mercenary groups are cozying up to him for a chance to enter the ruin. One token can transport seven people, so I teased him a bit.”
Ye Chui, Debbie, and Green trembled, staring at Lesha’s angelic face. Damn, so she deliberately flirted with him?
Their “chance” meeting today was planned?
And she brought him here to rob him?
…Why did this feel so familiar?
“Is this the legendary honey trap?” Ye Chui muttered.
As they spoke, the four reached a secluded spot. You couldn’t rob someone in broad daylight, right? Debbie quietly summoned Jilga. As expected, soon Hakem arrived with a few men, dressed in uniform armour and robes, likely his attendants.
Attendants of anyone other than the lord were called attendants, not escorts, and were inferior in strength and status.
“Those guys are about as strong as the magic mentors and swordsmen from Stan Town. I can handle them alone,” Jilga said calmly, scanning the attendants. Then she muttered, “One, two, three, four…”
“What’s she counting?” Lesha asked curiously.
“She’s counting how many beef meatballs she’ll eat today,” Debbie replied.
Lesha: “?”
“Didn’t you tell him who we are?” Ye Chui asked Lesha. The Random Name Magic Guild had made waves in Windrock City, their three-star status solidified. Yet Hakem came with just a few men to pick a fight?
Lesha giggled. “I heard about your exploits, big brother. But I only told him you’re an ordinary magic mentor with a white-covered magic book. They don’t know the Random Name Magic Guild’s president is a sixteen-year-old.”
“…”
Ye Chui looked at Lesha, saying earnestly, “Little sister, I think being a nun doesn’t suit you. Maybe try being a devil instead?”
Soon, Hakem charged over angrily with his men.
Lesha immediately clung to Ye Chui’s arm, acting like a frightened girl seeking her lover’s protection. Hakem’s eyes landed on them, his anger flaring. He drew his sword with a swish, pointing it at Ye Chui. “Boy, I challenge you to a duel.”
Ye Chui put on a terrified expression. “Lord Hakem, you’re a powerful swordsman. How could a lowly magic mentor like me dare duel you? Please don’t make this hard for me.”
“Haha, you’re scared,” Hakem crowed triumphantly. His attendants laughed. He turned to Lesha. “Miss Lesha, see? He’s just a coward. How could he be worthy of someone as noble as you?”
“Big brother…” Lesha looked at Ye Chui with a pitiful expression.
So, Ye Chui, the consummate actor, adopted a helpless look, like a duck forced onto a perch. He summoned his deceptively unimpressive white-covered magic book. “Lesha, if that’s the case, I’ll fight Hakem even if it costs me my life.”
Seeing the white-covered book, Hakem sneered contemptuously. Just as Lesha said, this kid was a rubbish magic mentor. How could she like him? He’d humiliate this overconfident fool in front of her.
He waved to his attendants. “No one interferes. Let me duel him fairly.”
“Lord Hakem, this kid clearly has no skill. Teach him a lesson he won’t forget.”
“Only Lord Hakem is worthy of Miss Lesha’s love.”
The attendants, assuming Ye Chui posed no threat, laughed and flattered him.
Hakem stepped closer, brandishing his sword with some flair. “Boy, state your name before we duel.”
Ye Chui stood a few metres away, looking like a lamb before a wolf. “I’m Ye Chui, president of the three-star Random Name Magic Guild.”
“Th-three-star…” Hakem and his attendants’ faces changed. “And president?”
In the next moment, Ye Chui turned into a shadow, appearing instantly at Hakem’s side, a knife pressed to his chest.
The lamb became a tiger hunting wolves.
“Don’t move, or this knife goes into your heart,” Ye Chui whispered in Hakem’s ear.
Hakem froze, sword still raised, not daring to move.
“What are you doing? I’m Lord Kevin’s nephew,” he stammered.
“We’re duelling fairly. Even if I killed you, would Lord Kevin trouble a three-star guild president?” Ye Chui said with a smile.
Hakem’s face turned bitter.
“Do you want to win this duel?” Ye Chui asked.
He and Hakem stood locked in place, Ye Chui’s figure hidden by Hakem’s body, so the attendants couldn’t see what he was doing. They tensed, ready to fight, but when Jilga stepped forward, they didn’t dare move.
“I… I wouldn’t dare win,” Hakem said, sweat beading on his forehead.
“Heh, I can let you win,” Ye Chui said with a grin. Hakem blinked, then heard him continue, “But you’ll have to hand over everything you’re carrying. Then I’ll pretend you defeated me.”
Robbing someone like Hakem outright wasn’t wise, but robbery didn’t always need to be so blatant.
