Chapter 24 Re-enters 2nd Layer, Uninvited Visitors
Even setting aside the assessment matter, the thought of launching a shop and cafe seemed like an immense challenge to Ceid.
Things like managing inventory, handling payroll, attending to customer service, and myriad other responsibilities loomed large in his mind. He couldn't shake the feeling that tackling them alone would be overwhelming.
However, he seemed to have momentarily ignored and overlooked the fact that his previous training had been to prepare him for such scenarios.
From the outset, it had been evident that he would be tasked to manage a shop alone in a foreign world.
Although he wouldn't know the specifics of the assessment's tasks, he should have a general understanding of what was expected of him.
The necessary skills had already been ingrained in him through training, and even Wyd had been outfitted with modules to assist him.
To put it simply, it was a bad habit of his.
Despite his preparation, Ceid found himself prone to overthinking whenever he was left to ponder on his own.
It was a stark contrast to times when he had a clear direction. At that time, he would exhibit decisiveness and boldness, even sometimes bordering on impulsiveness.
-
It was already 26:00 at night, and outside, the moon hung in the sky. Though it would be another week before the full moon, its brilliance still bathed the land in a soft glow.
Inside the cafe, darkness prevailed, yet the moonlight streamed through the expansive glass windows, casting clear illumination on the scene within.
As Ceid pondered his troubles, he was interrupted by a gentle voice. "You seem troubled."
Hearing this, Ceid looked over to the source of the voice.
Ayda stood in the doorway. She leaned her back against the glass door's frame. Her silhouette was illuminated by the hallway's light and the moon.
Against this ethereal backdrop, her slender figure and attractive features inherited from her elven bloodline made her seem almost fairy-like.
Usually, such a picturesque sight would captivate Ceid, but today, his mind was preoccupied.
Ceid hesitated before gesturing for her to join him. "Maybe a little," he admitted, his voice tinged with weariness.
As Ayda approached, Ceid tore his gaze away from her and turned back towards the cafe area. "Looking at this place, it suddenly feels… overwhelming."
He began to narrate his worries and concerns about opening such a large shop and cafe.
Listening intently, Ayda carefully contemplated his words.
After Ceid finished voicing his concerns, it took Ayda a long time to consider and weigh the merit of making a decision. Finally, she spoke with determination. "You don't have to do it alone, you know."
Ayda stepped closer, her eyes reflecting his troubled face. "Didn't you mention hiring me when you spoke with that soldier?
And it's true, I'm really in need of assistance. So…I'm willing to step in as your assistant."
"Are you sure?" Ceid asked, uncertainty coloring his voice.
Meeting his gaze, Ayda's eyes held a glimmer of hope. Perhaps, within this shared understanding, lay the solution they both sought.
-
By the time he returned to his room, the day had stretched to its 28th hour.
He was relieved and happy to confirm Ayda's acceptance of his proposal to become his shop assistant.
However, sleep eluded Ceid. The initial excitement of progress had worn thin, replaced by the weight of managing his burgeoning enterprise. Restlessly, he tossed and turned, his mind racing with solutions.
"Ayda..." the name lingered in his thoughts like a whispered promise.
He believed her skills and experience from years of travel. Combined with her need for a sanctuary, she was the ideal candidate.
Though she may not have faced the same dangers as he had, a sheltered princess, so to speak, her family's background instilled a sense of resilience within her. Moreover, he didn't require her for security purposes; Ceid was fully capable of protecting the people around him and the Azure Building.
With renewed determination, Ceid sat up, ready to face the challenges ahead. Calming his mind, he resumed his meditation.
By tomorrow, he can complete the task given by the assessment. He needed to prepare himself to face the tasks that lay ahead.
-
Unbeknownst to Ceid and Ayda, several figures were lurking nearby the neighborhood. This group of figures was moving around under the cover of night, not far from the road entering the Brickstone Community.
Their eyes were searching, scanning the surroundings with keen eyes and precision.
"Are you sure he was here?" asked the scar-faced leader of the group, addressing his small gang of thugs. He was looking at the road leading to the Brickstone Community.
One of his underlings, a guy with a lazy gaze, responded, "Yes, we lost his trail after he visited Broadleaf Realtors, but this morning, one of our informants at the evacuation plaza spotted him. Then, he was seen among the pedestrians walking towards this direction."
"Then why didn't you send someone to follow him directly to his place? It would have saved us a lot of trouble," the scar-faced leader questioned, his annoyance evident.
"Boss, we did send someone to follow him," replied another member. He was a sturdy but stocky individual. "But he was seen entering the Sharl Community."
"Oh? So what if he enters Sharl Community? Did you follow him in?" the scar-faced leader inquired.
"We didn't dare." the first guy answered. He explained, "The Sharl Community was crawling with soldiers patrolling the area. Our men had to take a detour to avoid arousing suspicion."
"Soldiers? What were they doing there?" the scar-faced leader muttered.
"In that case, why do you believe he didn't stay in Sharl Community?"
"Boss, as you know, the Sharl Community has close ties with the military. If he had any connection to the military, why would he look for the black market to sell his magic equipment? Isn't it better to sell it to the military?" another member reasoned.
"Exactly, boss. Though it is undeniable that he might be tempted by quick money, it also showed he needed to bypass legal channels to sell the magic equipment," added another member, who nodded in agreement.
He continued, "Moreover, yesterday, he visited the Black Market in the morning, not waiting until nightfall. What's more intriguing is that he entered through the building's front door, bypassing the normal entrance to the black market."
The scar-faced leader's expression betrayed his surprise. "Does he have some background we're not aware of?"
Frankly, he didn't have all the specifics when he received his orders. They hadn't bothered to explain anything to him. Fortunately, his underlings proved resourceful.
"Now I understand why I felt strange when I received the order. They didn't instruct me to kidnap or extort a confession; they simply tasked me with searching and finding him..."
The scar-faced leader muttered as various speculations raced through his mind.
His little brothers remained silent, allowing him to ponder uninterrupted.
Satisfied with their explanations, the scar-faced leader relented. "So why are you certain he resides in Brickstone Community?"
"Boss, besides Sharl Community, Brickstone Community is the only other neighborhood in this direction," a member replied.
Their leader nodded, pondering their words.
Indeed. In this area, besides the two communities, there was only the military camp near the city wall.
With a nod, he signaled his gang to start searching the area. With the military still scouring the area, they could only venture here under the cover of night.
-
16th March 11AE, 03:40.
It has been several hours past midnight.
Ceid had been cultivating for more than 5 hours. One after another, the Energy Crystal in his hand burst into slag and became dust. The progress of his cultivation had grown at a tremendous speed.
Soon, the familiar feeling appeared again.
The last energy entered his body, circulated through his meridian, and settled down in his Shen Dantian. Ceid's body shuddered subtly, rejoicing, as he finally entered a new level in cultivation, quenching its thirst for Aura Qi.
After slowly opening his eyes, Ceid exhaled a deep breath.
[Ding]
"Thank you. I never thought I would be happy to hear you say that," Ceid said with a smile. He took a glance at the Wyd's interface and noted the time.
"The time is still early. There's still another five hours until dawn."
Hearing the sudden report, Ceid's attention was immediately drawn away from continuing his meditation. "Oh, and what were they doing? Were they breaking into houses to steal or something?"
"Could you tell from their conversation what they were looking or searching for?"
"Where are they right now? Their position?"
From this observation, it's clear that these individuals are on a quest for something specific.
Are they the ones pursuing Ayda, or could it be an unrelated group coincidentally scouring the area? Ceid pondered these possibilities in his mind.