"Wow, you guys actually did it, I wonder if there is a reward for assisting in your arrest," Dai Jiang says jokingly.
"As far as I've seen, there hasn't been a warrant for our arrest, but please don't joke about that Aunt Jiang."
"Alright, that's enough of that, show me what you guys got, I'm sure you guys got some really nice things for us to auction, right?"
"Yeah, I picked up a few small trinkets here and there, here, take a look," I say, spitting out the few small items I want to sell.
"I was thinking of inviting you all out to eat again, but I think I just lost my appetite. I hope you never do that in front of me again. Clean those up, they're covered in saliva. Why don't you show me what you have Little Wan."
"Sure, I have more things anyways, since Teacher doesn't want to lose most of what she picked up," Wanjing says, waving her hand across the table to let out the items from her ring.
"Much better compared to Cordelia. More variety, composed of different materials, and most importantly they aren't covered in saliva. Do either of you have anything to show me, Miss Aurelia, Miss Lia?"
"Hey, why don't I get addressed as Miss?" I ask.
"Because it would feel wrong if I did that, you don't really have the same refined manners that your friends have. Your speech is more aggressive a little like that of a hoodlum," Dai Jiang says.
*Hmh* to my side, I can see and hear Aurelia trying hard to withhold her laughter as she clearly finds this funny.
*Ahem* clearing her throat, Aurelia says, "not only does she speak like one, but she also acts like one. But to answer your question, no I don't have anything for you to auction off."
"I do recall that Milla has said that Cory is the embodiment of what a bandit is, so your thoughts are not wrong, Dai Jiang. And I too have nothing to offer for your auction, I was preoccupied while we were at the tomb."
"I sorta feel like I'm being insulted but at the same time, I agree and can't really argue against either of those comments. And Dai Jiang, it's not like I only have these small trinkets and charms, I can provide more weapons, just like before."
"Then I shall ask that you do, I'm afraid that these... things you put on my table won't sell for much, especially compared to the other things that will be shown at the auction."
"Why? I know they aren't very shiny, but they come from a place that's hard to access, so they should have some value."
"Just because they are rare and hard to get, doesn't mean that they are valuable. They are made of wood and other simple and common materials, nor do they seem to have any special effects, they are nothing but old ornaments. This normally isn't too much of a problem, but because they are from a restricted area, these are considered illegal goods and can only be sold at our special auction. So compared to the other things being sold there, these aren't worth much."
"Just put them up anyway, it doesn't matter if they don't go for much," I say.
"Very well, then as for the weapons, when will you bring them over?" Dai Jiang asks.
"I'll do it at some point over the next few days, not sure when."
"Alright, just keep in mind that your weapons will be sold at the general auction since they aren't illegal goods, and this will take place in four days, so make sure they are here before that. As for the special auction, the next one isn't for another week and a half, so you have some time until then to enjoy yourselves, try not to get caught up in any trouble, according to my sources an Inspector is currently in Shiping. From what I hear, she is from one of the big families in the Capital, so she might now about your little break in over at the Lan Shu forest, try your best to not catch her attention."
"Thank you for the warning, Miss Jiang, I'll do what I can to keep our troublemakers out of the Inspector's sight," Aurelia says.
"Good, I make a lot of money off the stuff Little Wan brings me and Cordelia's guns have garnered some attention so they are going to be worth more than before, so them getting caught isn't good for me. Anyways, I have a meeting to attend, so I won't be able to see you girls out of the premise, but I can at least bring you to the stairwell."
Having finished our business, Dai Jiang leads us over to the stairwell, parting with us as she goes up, while we head back to the ground floor. Leaving the Treasury, we begin to discuss what to do next.
"So we already reserved the same room we head previously at the Shang Yueting when we first got back, so what now?" I ask.
"Let me think for a moment," Aurelia says.
After a few seconds, we all just say what on our mind, """shopping.""" "food tour."
"..."
A few more seconds of silence go by between us as there is a clear split in what we want to do. Lia, Aurelia, and Wanjing all want to go shopping for various things, while I want to go and eat at a bunch of different places.
"Then why don't the three of you go and do your shopping trip while I go off to all the restaurants in the city and do my own thing," I suggest.
Upon my suggestion, the three of them huddle up and begin to discuss something in secret, but using the Soul Connection, I listen in.
"What should we do, the idea itself isn't bad considering who put it up, but I don't know how I feel about letting her move around on her own. I' sure she find some way to stir up some trouble," Aurelia says.
"I'm more worried she will get lost, don't forget, Cory's sense of direction is quite bad, what if she gets lost and need my help?"
"Is Teacher's sense of direction really that bad, the city's layout makes it really hard for people to truly get lost. I'm more worried about Teacher getting into some trouble as Aurelia said. Like, if I'm being totally honest, her personality isn't exactly great since she'll get mad over small inconsequential things."
"Yes, that is indeed a big problem. Moreover, remember what Dai Jiang said, there's an Inspector in Shiping right now, what if they know about us and our field trip to the Lan Shu forest," Aurelia says.
"I have an idea," Lia says.
"Hey, I think we have a bigger problem, Teacher isn't here anymore," Wanjing says.
---
"I'll show them, I'll prove I can behave like a respectable person on my own. I'll prove I won't get lost," I grumble as I walk towards a restaurant with a nice smell.
As I walk into the restaurant, a waiter calls out to me, "hey there, I remember you, the Dragonoid from the outside, not with your friends today?"
"Nope, I'm on my own today," I say looking around while trying to act nice, "I see it's busy today."
"Yeah, it's just that time of the day. Your lucky though, a table just opened up as you arrived, I'll take you to it."
Guiding me through the full house, we come to the far side of the restaurant near a window with a good view of the busy street, I'm seated at a small table for two.
"Just as a heads up, you may have to share your table with someone since, is this alright with you?"
Although I don't really want to share a table with a stranger, I decided that I would be nice today, so I say, "that's fine, also, I already know what I want, a glass of beer, three pork buns and two servings of your mapo tofu."
"Alright, I'll send the order to the kitchen and I'll bring your drink out shortly," the waiter says.
After a few minutes of me staring out at the street without thinking of much in particular, the waiter returns with my beer and behind him is a young woman who looks to be around the same age as Wanjing.
"Here's the beer you ordered and as I mentioned before, you'll have to share the table with the lady behind me since there isn't much space."
"No problem," I say as the young woman takes a seat opposite of me.
She has red feathery wings on her back as well as some feathers coming off her arms. Her hair isn't too long, only a bit past shoulder length, but it has a deep red colour that reminds me of Milla.
"Since we are going to be eating together, why don't we introduce ourselves, I'm Hong Yue, what's your name?"
"Name's Cordelia."
I'll show them that I'm not someone who can only cause problems, I'll start by trying to get along with this girl.