026: The Restaurant
Roch's subordinate introduced himself as Martin, he is a Mid-Stage of the Foundation Building Realm. The same level as the Teal River Town Lord.
While the other subordinate of Roch remained silent. Zemirah can feel that the older man is not as close as Martin to Roch.
Martin led the group to the chosen restaurant and made the arrangements. No one would have thought that this person was at the Foundation Building Realm. In fact, Zemirah should be the one to do it but since she's a guest invited by their Young Master Roch, no one dared to slight her.
Zemirah observed how Martin acted around Roch. She could see the way he spoke carefully and politely to the young man, and the respect in his eyes was more evident. Zemirah understood well that she was treated well by Roch's subordinate because of Roch.
A Late-Stage Energy Refinement Realm cultivator is nothing in front of a Foundation Building Realm cultivator, especially to these people who are at least in the Mid-Stage of Foundation Building Realm.
Everyone took a seat and Roch gestured for Zemirah to sit beside him. Zemirah only smiled elegantly and didn't refuse. There are only four seats at the table, and Roch's subordinates automatically take their own seat after their master.
A waiter went to give the menu with a pleasant smile, "Welcome to Teal Fragrance Restaurant, here's the menu."
Everyone took a menu with Martin quickly saying a list of orders, "Give me four bowls of Teal Stripped Rice, a big plate of Drowned River Prawn, a big bowl of Mint Emerald Soup Fish, and Faded Teal Fruit Wine."
Roch asked Zemirah, "What dish do you want?"
Martin and the older man saw their master attentively and asked the lady and kept quiet.
Zemirah was quite confused by the list of dishes on the menu since she didn't know them. Roch saw it and laughed in his heart, "These three dishes are good."
Zemirah followed his hand and nodded, "Okay, we'll get Teal Lotus Fish, Fried Red Fish Balls, and Thousand Slice Heartbreak Fish."
"How about a dessert?" Roch pointed to the dessert section. Then he saw Zemirah exclaimed in joy, "Ah! There are desserts too."
This time she didn't hesitate and chose one, "Give me River Teal Fruit Iced Cream."
The waiter happily wrote the long list of dishes and left with a big smile knowing in his heart that this was a big customer.
"After we ate, let's go straight to the nearest Ripple Village," Roch said.
Zemirah knew the places they'd pass to go to Rudd Village and nodded. They'll go through a slightly famous small forest called Ripple Forest where Ripple Village got its name.
"Ripple Village has specialties like Ripple Stone, a Low-Stage Grade 1 material that is good for making artifacts. There are three forger families situated in there."
"So many?" Zemirah didn't know this information and was amazed. After all, forgers are also a famous profession and not many can really have high achievements. Most of the ones she heard all stayed as an apprentice with no skills and could only assist the master in their life.
"Yeah, the Ripple Forest is quite special, especially for forgers. Inside the forest are scattered ponds that hide the ripple stones and one can also take a bath in there to forge the body. The bigger the pond, the bigger the benefits."
"That's amazing," Zemirah said.
"You can try the ripple pond when we arrive there, the three forging families also have their own specialty artifacts after establishing their family there."
"Uh-huh, I'll do that." Zemirah was attentively listening to the young man's advice since she considered herself a non-native who knew little about these things.
Roch was amused at her look so he couldn't help but say more.
The other two subordinates quietly watched at the side as they saw their young master happily chat with the young lady.
Martin exchanged looks with the Lord of Jade Teal Town who also looked surprised.
Just as they enjoyed their chat and food, Zemirah was startled when she felt the quiet jade pendant on her waist send her an alert, it was the [Nature Soul Jade Pendant]. It gave her a warning when the Demonic Cultivator and Demonic Beast enemies on the ship arrived and now it was doing the same thing.
Could there be another enemy?
This thought alarmed Zemirah so much that she choked on her food, sending her into a coughing fit. Roch immediately patted the lady's back and handed her a glass of water.
Zemirah ignored the warm palm on her back and quickly downed the water when she heard Roch asking, "Are you okay?"
Thinking of the warning she got, Zemirah thought for a moment before she nodded, "Yes, thank you."
Roch saw Zemirah leaning on him like she was going to whisper so he bent down to her and heard, "There are enemies, probably more dangerous than last time."
Roch paused and didn't doubt her before smiling, "Stay with me all the time, I'll send someone to check." He didn't look like someone whose life was in danger again but like someone talking about trivial things.
Zemirah sighed in relief when she saw that Roch took it to heart and didn't act suspiciously, otherwise, the hidden enemies might just attack when they knew they were exposed.
Roch saw the lady beside him go back to eating, seemingly not nervous at all. He wanted to know what was on her mind right now but decided against it as the hidden danger needed to be addressed.
Making eye contact with his direct subordinate, Martin, he used a sound transmission secret technique only known to Whitelock House to pass his message that only Martin could hear.
'Enemy arrived, prepare for battle.'
'How about the town lord?' Martin asked, puzzled.
'Watch over him,' Cold light flashed through Roch's black starry eyes. Martin sucked in a deep breath deep inside and understood.
Roch closed his eyes and started to sense the surroundings through his spiritual consciousness. He practices a special cultivation technique aimed at strengthening the spiritual consciousness which is why although he is just at the Foundation Building Realm, he can use his spiritual consciousness in some basic ways like surveillance.
Indeed as Zemirah said, two Peak-Stage of Foundation Building Realm are secretly observing them in a tavern two streets away from the restaurant. The two people are obviously elite compared to the earlier group, making him frown underneath before sighing, at least there is no Mind Activation realm in the enemy's rank. Otherwise, Roch can only mobilize more men and alert all his enemies.
The enemy's equipment is more complete and he can vaguely feel their cultivation more stable and profound which means they cultivate better cultivation techniques than the enemy earlier.
"The dessert is here." Roch came out of his daze after he felt a nudge alongside a lady's elegant voice calling him.
He saw Zemirah happily arranging the dessert on the table, rubbing her palms against each other like a treasure awaited her.
This sight that greeted Roch made him relax and stop thinking of the future where danger awaited him.
"Yeah, let's eat and we can take a stroll after."
The waiter chirped on the side and suggested places they could take a look after hearing that they planned to take a look around the place. Zemirah happily listened even knowing that they may not have the time to take a leisure since there are hidden enemies waiting to kill them in the dark.
Though they are now exposed letting them have the time to prepare and not be taken aback, Zemirah knows Roch will take the initiative to kill them himself later so a battle is imminent.
Making the first move in a fight is advantageous and Zemirah will choose the same plan. She just doesn't know Roch's specific plan.
"My lady, how about a stroll?" Roch said after everyone stepped out of the restaurant. Zemirah's brow rose but she still cooperated, "That would be a good idea."
Roch then turned back and said to his two subordinates, "I'll take a stroll with Lady Zemirah, you two can go to restock on the market and wait for us."
Martin who knew the plan nodded without asking a question while the Jade Teal Town Lord didn't dare question the young man. Though puzzled, he just thought that the young master was taking this chance to flirt with the young lady.
He took a glance at the veiled young lady and thought in his heart, 'A beauty of this kind is really a temptation no man can refuse. No wonder the Whitelock young master even decided to temporarily disregard his mission.'
Seeing his look, Roch just smiled and let him continue his imagination. He planned to confuse his enemies with Zemirah, only when the enemies thought they guessed his mind could he manipulate them into his own bid.
Zemirah doesn't know what's happening and she is not really sure if she wants to know. She can feel that the young man beside her is someone from a prominent force and a scheme is taking place to take his life.
What made her hesitant is that she seems to have been sucked into this mess unknowingly and it is a question whether she can turn back like nothing happened.
Zemirah will find compensation from the young man after this. He actually said following them would be safer, what a joke.
With this thought, Zemirah's smile turned sweeter and said, "Let's go, Young Master Roch. The Lover Garden mentioned by the waiter seems interesting."
Roch's lips curled after hearing the young lady's words. He knew the lady noticed his plan and cooperated. Otherwise, why would she deliberately mention that place specially made for lovers?
Roch can feel that Zemirah is annoyed now that she doesn't have the delicious food to attract her attention.
He coughed then nodded, "I'll take lady Zemirah now. Let's meet at the market's exit tonight."
Martin and Jade Teal Town Lord bowed and then left.
After making sure that no one was there, Zemirah raised her head and met Roch's eyes, giving him a glare expressing her annoyance after knowing that an ambush is waiting for them.
"Heh, who said that going with them will be safer." Zemirah's fox eyes narrowed at the young man.
Roch put his fist on his lips and coughed, "Ehem, a miscalculation. I implore lady's forgiveness."
Zemirah stopped her glare and sighed knowing that it would not make a difference, "Where are the enemies? How many are they?"
Seeing that the lady calmed down, Roch sighed in relief which made him funny because how could he feel nervous from a lady's glare?
Roch answered Zemirah in a serious tone, "There are two Peak-Stage of the Foundation Building Realm and I can sense that these pair are elites not comparable to the previous enemy."
Zemirah frowned then complained, "Why does it feel that Foundation Building Realm cultivators are so worthless? They keep sending them like cabbages!"
Roch's serious expression cracked as he laughed at her words. Only this beautiful veiled lady dares to compare a Foundation Building Realm cultivator to a cabbage.
Zemirah can't help rolling her eyes at him, "Do you know who sent them?"
Roch thought for a moment before answering, "I have an idea."
Zemirah stared at the young man's dark starry eyes that seemed to twinkle with stars. She wanted to probe deeper but stopped as she feel like she would be sucked into them instead.
'His eyes are so beautiful', she thought secretly.
Roch saw the lady being quiet, "Let's go. I'll tell you the plan."
Zemirah just nodded with a pout. Her lips are hidden behind her veil artifact, letting her do childish actions like this.
As she was absorbed in her thoughts, a sudden voice sounded in her mind. Something almost similar to Sia but she knew it was more foreign to her, unlike Sia.
'Zemirah, this is a Mind Transmission Technique. We can talk in our minds.' A familiar male voice sounded.
The sudden intrusion of the male voice almost made Zemirah jump in her place.
What the f*ck?
What just happened?
Looking at the bewildered lady beside him, Roch secretly laughed and hid his amusement.