Apollo had already thought about it, but he was too focused on cultivation. This new experience kept his excitement from dying down.
After seeing the other beggar and his equipment strewn across the ground, the idea came back to him. In his previous life, beggars used their talents, like singing and playing instruments, to earn alms. Some even performed strange acts to get people to give them money.
But will it work? Apollo thought as he sat in his beggar spot, watching people walk by while contemplating the issue. In the end, he decided to ask the system.
"If I sing or do something that will amaze passersby and they give me money, will it count as alms?" Apollo asked this crucial question.
"No, you are a beggar, not an entertainer," the system coldly replied, devoid of any emotion.
This answer disappointed Apollo, but he realized that those beggars received alms because of their talents, not because they were begging.
"You are a true beggar. You must beg for your alms, not earn them through talents," the system continued, seemingly reading his mind.
"I see," Apollo nodded in understanding. This is going to be harder than I thought.
Apollo then walked out of his beggar spot and peeked at the restaurant beside him. They were still busy, so this was the perfect time to collect Alm points!
He stood outside his beggar spot just enough for people to notice him before sitting down and placing his hands above his forehead. After taking a deep breath and stabilizing his mind, he also cultivated his Simple Breathing Technique.
...
"What now?" Filly asked with a frown on her face. A man covered in bandages, his face black and blue, stood before her.
"I-I can't remember much," Ned said, his voice muffled due to his missing teeth.
"Then tell me what you can remember," Filly massaged her forehead.
"That beggar is back," Ned said seriously. "I went to confront him, and after that… after that… I can't remember a thing. That's when I woke up in the alley…"
Ned trailed off, his face turning red with shame.
Upon hearing this, Filly's face darkened. That beggar is back? This won't do! He will only ruin the image of my restaurant!
"So that beggar trashed you into this state," Filly looked at Ned from head to toe.
"No!" Ned shouted, almost reopening his wounds.
"Oh? Then tell me why it's a no," Filly asked coldly, her eyes looking at him like he was something disposable.
Ned gulped nervously. "T-there's no way, right? A beggar can't beat someone like me, a half-step foundation builder. Even ten normal people wouldn't be able to land a hit on me. Someone else must have done this to me!"
"And that someone is the beggar," Filly said.
Ned wanted to protest, but when he saw the look in his boss's eyes, he had no choice but to shut his mouth.
"You can go back now," Filly sighed and waved her hand.
"O-okay," Ned said awkwardly.
"And call Gail on your way out," Filly ordered, and Ned bowed his head before leaving the room.
Filly leaned back in her chair, her mind racing as she thought about the beggar beside her restaurant. Something was fishy. That beggar was not simple. A Wanderer? Or someone backing him up? But why?
"If something is really going on, getting involved with him is probably not a good idea," Filly muttered just as someone knocked on her door. "Come in!"
A new worker entered and bowed. This time, it was a woman named Gail.
"You called for me, Miss?" Gail, frail-looking with pale skin and the stature of a twig, seemed like a strong gust of wind could topple her.
"Yes," Filly nodded, her expression easing upon seeing her trusted aide. "I need your assistance."
"Oh? Do you want me to dispose of someone?" Gail's countenance suddenly changed, her aura becoming cold as killing intent erupted from her.
"Calm down," Filly ordered coldly. Although Gail looked like a young girl who could be easily bullied, she was actually at the fourth step of the Foundation Building stage. She wasn't a normal cultivator; she had been personally trained by Filly's family to be a bodyguard and a killer.
"S-sorry," Gail realized what she had done, bowed her head, and her face turned red. "So, what is it?"
"There's a beggar beside my restaurant. Accompany me tonight. I don't think he is that simple," Filly said.
"Alright," Gail nodded. "Is he dangerous?"
"That is why I need you. We can dispose of him if he is not. If he is..." Filly trailed off. She began to think that if the beggar was really a Wanderer or if someone strong was behind him, there could be something to gain, like befriending them or at least maintaining a status quo. There was also the possibility that the beggar was nothing or not strong at all.
The two talked for a while before Gail suddenly remembered something. Besides being a bodyguard and a restaurant worker, she was also somewhat of an assistant.
"I remember something. The store across the street has been bought by the owner of Skyline Savory," When Gail mentioned this, there was a hint of worry in her voice.
"Skyline Savory, the most popular restaurant in Klown? Why?!" Filly stood up abruptly in shock.
"I think they want to expand," Gail answered.
Damn it! Filly's thoughts became disarrayed. Skyline Savory was the most popular restaurant in Klown City, even well-known in neighboring cities. They were one of the reasons why so many outsiders visited Klown! This fact alone spoke to the quality of their restaurant.
As a scion, Filly had eaten at that restaurant a few times and admitted that their food was very delicious. They were the reason she decided to set up her own restaurant!
"This is bad, very bad," Filly sat back down, her headache growing stronger.
"Y-yeah, if they open here, our restaurant won't be able to stand against them," Gail added.
"We have to do something," Filly mumbled as her eyes wandered over the papers on the table. Written on them were the cooking strategies she had thought of, but most had failed, and those that succeeded barely made a difference in the cooking process.
"Well, are we still going out tonight?" Gail asked.
Hearing this, Filly decided to take out her frustration on the beggar beside her restaurant. With anger in her eyes, she nodded. "Of course!"