Seeing how happy his customers are, he too began feeling happy, although the feeling is faint, that was enough for Apollo.
Not only did he gain the respect of his customers, he also built up their trust in him by showing what he is capable of when faced with an opponent his customers deemed as a calamity.
Recalling Li Feng's memories traumatized him to the point that it made his heart into stone, but faced with his customers, it's only filled with warmth and gratitude.
...
Having recovered half of his strength, Ashton decided to become a bodyguard, although being a bodyguard would require his freedom, it would be worth it if he could become the bodyguard of that family.
Not only can he come to the restaurant every day, he would also have a huge salary if he could get the main position of a bodyguard, even though he only recovered half of his strength, he could still pummel a peak yellow inner martial artist with a bit of effort
Martial artists in that caliber could be said as monsters compared to normal people, it is said that they could turn a boulder as large as them into rubbles with just a punch.
In the world of martial arts, there are people that are called 'Inner Strength Martial Artist', they are people who possess great strength with the use of their techniques.
The effort they have to put isn't to be scoffed at though, they would experience hell and back to gain their power, the amount of suffering they have to put up is equivalent to hell.
Of course, those are just for a selected few of Inner Strength Martial Artists, normal Inner Strength Martial Artists would cultivate their body and spirit to gain their power, but the selected few would cultivate their body to the point that they would ingest poison to harden their body and will.
Inner Strength Martial Artists have ranks, that is:
Yellow
Black
Red
Earth and Void.
There are also subranks for those ranks, that is Low, Mid, High, and Peak.
Ashton walked towards the prestigious looking gate,
"Halt! State your purpose." A guard said.
Ashton couldn't even bother to answer the guard, he instead showed a gold token.
The guard narrowed his eyes and looked at the token, after he had read the words engraved on it, sweats began pouring down his back, "C-come in!"
Ashton nodded and went inside. The guard wiped the sweat in his forehead and heaved a sigh of relief, how could he, a mere guard dare to offend such person?
Not long after Ashton went in, he went outside a moment later. The guard almost had a stroke seeing Ashton again.
'Please be humble! Don't come here again to flaunt your badge!'
Contrary to the guard's thoughts, Ashton asked a question, "Uh, do you know where the tests are held?" his face filled with embarrassment, not only did he show off his badge, but he had the gall to come back to ask the guard a question.
The guard inwardly heaved a sigh of relief, he thought that the other party would teach him a lesson, with a respectful attitude, he replied, "It is held in the backyard, good luck with the exam!"
'Do you even need good luck!? You're THE Ashton!'
Ashton nodded and went towards the backyard, arriving there he saw over a dozen people applying for the bodyguard position, even though there were a few young people, he couldn't help but be amazed at their talent.
The highest rank in the dozen of people is only a Low Yellow rank inner martial artist, he couldn't help but chuckle, now that he is here, what chances could they have to be accepted for the job?
From the looks of it, he could easily get the job.
Walking closer towards the backyard, the dozen of people applying for the job turned their gazes on to Ashton. Soon, murmurs could be heard from them.
"What could that frail old man do? Give wisdom to the perpetrator?"
"Look at him, can't you tell that he is someone's father?"
"Well, are you his son!?"
"What? Pfft, no!"
Kate who is observing in the balcony was surprised at Ashton's arrival, even though she saw him every day in the restaurant, he only knew how to drink.
A thought struck into Kate's mind, 'Is he here to stalk me...?'
the thought sent shivers into her spine, although she likes the opposite sex, that doesn't mean she likes old men.
She shook her head to get rid of the thoughts, to not misunderstood the other party, she decided to observe first.
Ashton went in line with the other participants, with the help of the egg fried rice he has been eating, he has recovered half of his strength which is Half Black inner martial artist rank, a step away from Black rank.
Even though his name is known throughout the globe, nobody has really seen his face except for the people in the underworld, so it is to be expected to be criticized like this.
The Wiflheim family may be big, but compared to families connected to the underworld, they are just ants in their eyes.
A few moments later, a middle-age man, a bit older than Ashton walked towards the stage. His face is stern and his disposition gives the aura of a person who has been through life, Nicholas Wiflheim!
Nicholas gave a brief introduction on what they were about to do, he proceeded to give the tests, "The first and only test will be a one on one duel, barehanded."
Before the contestants could be happy at how easy the test was, the voice of Nicholas once again filled the silent air, "Your opponent will be..." after a brief pause, Nicholas continued, "Lucas Wiflheim!"
Worry started to fill the crowd,
"THE Lucas Wiflheim!?"
"We're doomed..."
"C-can I quit...?"
Lucas Wiflheim, the eldest brother of Kate Wiflheim, the boy genius who has reached Black rank in only nineteen years of age.
Even with his strength and family status, he still didn't dare to abuse others, that is Lucas' trait. Within his handsome face lies a dark trait, that is his lust for fighting.
It was no secret that Lucas loves fighting, that is why martial artists alike feared him. When he is immersed, he would never back down until the opponent is beaten black and blue.
The reason why Nicholas picked him is to induce fear into the contestants so that the best ones were left, and his plan worked, over five contestants reluctantly left and only seven were left.
Nicholas smiled, "The rules are simple, if one of you beats Lucas, you will instantly be placed at the top of the leaderboard. The person who is next to fight will fight the person at the top of the leaderboard to fight for the position of the main bodyguard. We are only accepting one person, so good luck to every body!"
Instantly, flames began to appear in everybody's eyes, it ignited something in them, being Kate Wiflheim's body guard is a luxury only one could dream of, not only is the salary good, but the prestige that comes with it is also good.
All the participants looked at each other, trying to measure each other's strength and finding a way to counter them, all the middle-age men already left because they couldn't handle a fight with Lucas so only young men in their early twenties are left. Not only could they have a high salary and prestige, they could also see a beautiful sight every day.
Meanwhile, Ashton was baffled, 'Is it just that!?'
Not only can he complete the test given to them, he could even ace it with just his martial arts, although his strength is halved, what could a mere nineteen year old do to a person who was once renowned as The Death God?