After perusing the menu for a while, the man turned to Sasha and spoke in an unfamiliar European accent, "3 large chicken burgers and 2 chicken salads, please."
Though the accent was new to Sasha, she comprehended the order and repeated it while generating the receipt, "3 large chicken burgers, 2 chicken salads." Moments later, the receipt emerged from the billing machine. She collected the payment from the man, passing half the receipt to the kitchen and handing the other half to the foreigner, offering a warm smile, "Please wait."
As the man began to leave, a sudden thought struck him, prompting him to turn back. He looked at Sasha and inquired, "Do you happen to know any professional trekkers in your city?"
Sasha's smile widened as she responded, "Yes, I do. In fact, she's right here."
The man scanned the shop briefly, but before he could process much, Sasha interjected, clarifying, "I mean, she works here. I can call her if you want."
"Please," the man agreed.
Sasha moved closer to the window behind and called out to Aria, "Hey Aria, there's someone here who wants to meet you."
Upon hearing this, Cherry glanced at the counter. Spotting a tall, lean European man in a tank top, she smirked at Aria, teasing, "Girl, seems like you're getting quite a lot of admirers today."
Aria also turned her attention to the counter, registering the man's presence. "Now I'm intrigued," she confessed, her gaze lingering on the man.
Taking a deep breath to compose herself, Aria made her way to the counter. "Hello," she greeted, meeting the man's gaze.
"She's the professional trekker I mentioned," Sasha introduced.
"Hello," greeted the man, a warm smile gracing his features. "My name is Bruce." He turned, indicating his companions engrossed in their phones. "That bald gentleman over there is Kai, and the other is Todd," he added, shifting his gaze back to Aria.
"We hail from Scotland but find ourselves traversing the globe for our YouTube channel. Our current endeavor brings us to this stunning locale. We're eager to venture to the Nebula Waterfalls, seeking a professional trekker to guide us while regaling us with the falls' elusive legends—details not easily found online."
Cherry, who had been near the kitchen door, caught wind of the conversation. Before Aria could respond, Cherry interjected with enthusiasm, her voice carrying across the room. "She's the finest trekker in our city. You couldn't find a better guide."
Bruce was momentarily taken aback, while Aria blushed in response. Meanwhile, DJ entered the restaurant and strode towards the counter. "Hello, everyone," he greeted, his gaze shifting between Sasha, Aria, and Cherry. "Sasha, 1 chicken salad."
He then turned to Cherry and grinned. "Babe, I got the books you were searching for."
"Thanks, Babe. You're the best," Cherry replied with a heartfelt smile.
As Sasha calculated the bill, DJ noticed Bruce standing beside him, a flicker of recognition sparking in his eyes. "OH MY GOD!" DJ exclaimed, startling Bruce.
Bruce looked at DJ, surprised. "You're Bruce from Viking Ventures, aren't you?" DJ asked, his excitement palpable.
Bruce chuckled and nodded. "Yes."
"I'm a huge fan," DJ admitted.
"Thank you," Bruce said graciously.
Meanwhile, Aria discreetly cleared her throat, capturing Bruce's attention, who turned his focus towards her. "Yes. Are you willing to go then?" he asked.
"When do you plan to go?" asked Aria.
"We already have a train scheduled for Monday, so we had planned the Nebula treks for tomorrow," Bruce replied.
"Tomorrow?" Aria hesitated.
"I know it's on such short notice, but we're willing to compensate generously—more than the usual rate for a trek," Bruce added persuasively.
Aria found herself in a dilemma, torn between the unexpected opportunity and a prior commitment: a blind date with the real identity behind her online friend, Luffy, who was actually Holo.
As she pondered, everyone's eyes were fixated on her, eagerly awaiting her response. Finally, she took a deep breath and looked at Bruce. "How much are you willing to pay?" she inquired.
"Just give me a moment," Bruce said, retrieving his phone from his pants pocket and stepping aside to make a call. As he conversed with the person on the other end, everyone watched intently.
Meanwhile, Aria calculated that 15 to 20 thousand could significantly contribute to her college fees. While 15-20 thousand seemed a bit steep, she hoped to negotiate at least 5 to 10 thousand for a single day trip, considering the added benefit of global publicity through their channel.
Bruce returned with a smile, having received the estimation from a friend in Meru. "He provided a fair estimate of what professional trekkers or guides charge for a single day trip. Given the urgency, we're prepared to offer you more than the market price."
Suspense filled the air as if a game show was underway, and finally, Bruce broke the suspense. "How about 50,000?" he proposed.
"50,000!" Aria was momentarily taken aback, and she wasn't alone—everyone present shared her astonishment.
When the room fell into a brief silence, Bruce looked confused. "60,000, then? We can't go higher than that," he suggested.
"Alright. Done," Aria agreed, her decision made in an instant.
"Great!" Bruce exclaimed, a wide smile on his face as he returned to his friends.
"What were you doing there for such a long time?" inquired Todd as Bruce took a seat beside him.
"I just closed a deal with a professional trekker/guide for less than 800 Euros. And she happens to be very cute as well," Bruce replied, glancing at Aria and offering a friendly wave.
Todd and Kai chimed in, also waving at Aria with smiles. "That's great!" Kai exclaimed.
After Aria's shift concluded, she and Cherry headed home, following their usual routine. Aria joined her father for dinner before retreating to her room. Just then, the familiar sound of a text notification filled the air, a nightly occurrence. She smiled, reaching for her phone and opening the message in Faceless—it was from Luffy.
In preparation for their upcoming date, Holo texted her every night as Luffy, and Aria responded as Dora. This nightly ritual allowed them to engage and learn more about each other's preferences and likes. That night, it was Holo who initiated the conversation.
Luffy: Favorite Movie?
Dora: Groundhog Day.
Dora: Yours?
Luffy: Terminator 2.
Their exchanges continued, both of them delving deeper into understanding one another.