With Mydei and Phainon's intervention, Anaxa and Aglaea had no choice but to stop. If glares could shoot lasers, the two of them would probably have already turned each other into atoms.
They might even have accidentally injured Phainon and Mydei into minced meat along the way.
"Partners, you're here?" Phainon waved at Stelle and the other two with a smile: "I was just wondering when exactly you would arrive. I didn't expect to run into you so soon."
"How was your time with Lady Tribbie and the others? It should have felt alright, right?"
Stelle smiled and nodded: "Mm, very comfortable (mentally)."
"That's good." Phainon scratched his head somewhat awkwardly. "Sorry, partners. I originally planned to treat you properly here, but as you can see, these two teachers are completely incompatible. I still have to help mediate··· I'm really sorry."
Stelle waved her hand indifferently: "Go ahead, go ahead. It's fine for us to wander around on our own. Okhema is so big, we won't get bored."
"I just saw a giant beast performing acrobatics in the city. Perfect for taking some commemorative photos."
Phainon cupped his fists and bowed deeply: "Thank you for understanding! I'll contact you the moment I finish handling things!"
"Oh, right······ Castorice is actually quite curious about you too. She usually works part-time at Okhema's 'Golden Grand Hotel.' If you don't mind, you can go find her to chat first." Phainon added.
"I'll send you her contact?"
"Mhm mhm."
And so, Phainon and Mydei pushed Anaxa and Aglaea away respectively. Before leaving, Mydei spent ten thousand liheng coins to buy that drill himself — to prevent the two from arguing again over who it belonged to, Mydei decided to take it.
As Okhema's [Golden Lion Weaver], he did not care about such a small sum anyway.
This way, Aglaea and Anaxa could also feel psychologically balanced.
·····
Golden Grand Hotel.
After asking around the whole way, the three finally found the "Golden Grand Hotel." However, the moment they arrived at the entrance, Stelle was stunned by the dragon-like queue.
A line of people stretched out from inside the restaurant all the way to a hundred meters outside. Most of those waiting were men, all of them looking excited as if some rare treasure inside the store was waiting for them to discover.
"···Looks like this restaurant's craftsmanship is extraordinary." Dan Heng gave an affirmative evaluation.
Sunday nodded: "It can barely compare to the business of the restaurants I usually visit."
At this moment, a hand suddenly reached out from behind the three and patted their shoulders: "You three, judging from your attire, you must be foreigners, right?"
Stelle and the others turned around. A passerby stood behind them with a smiling face and said enthusiastically: "So··· are you also here for Miss Castorice's 'exclusive special supply'?"
Exclusive supply?
Stelle touched her head in confusion: "What are you talking about? What exclusive special supply?"
The passerby pointed at the notice board placed at the restaurant entrance, looking somewhat surprised: "That one? You don't know?"
Stelle and the other two: ???
They followed the direction the passerby pointed and saw a large line of text clearly written on the notice board:
— Today's limited quantity: Miss Castorice's handmade wine. First come, first served.
"Oh······ that's understandable. Your attire clearly shows you're not locals of Okhema, so it's normal not to know about Miss Castorice's special supply wine."
The passerby patiently explained: "Miss Castorice is one of the Chrysos Heirs guarding the holy city. She has a cold, mysterious personality, but she is undoubtedly a famous beauty of Okhema. However, what she is most famous for is not her combat prowess or beauty, but her excellent winemaking skills."
"Any wine made by Miss Castorice far surpasses ordinary honey brews in taste and aroma. It is quite renowned throughout the entire holy city. It's just a pity that Miss Castorice is not a regular employee of the restaurant and only works part-time occasionally, which makes the 'special supply wine' especially precious."
The passerby jerked his chin toward the long dragon-like queue: "Look, even these people will have to wait until tonight."
"So···?" Stelle asked strangely.
The passerby chuckled: "So, do you want to skip the queuing process? My friend has secured a few spots near the front of the line. For just eight hundred and eighty-eight liheng coins, I can guarantee you get Miss Castorice's special supply wine."
Stelle: "······"
Stelle: "No thanks. I was only born a few months ago. I can't drink."
Buzz—
At this moment, Stelle's phone received a message from the friend "Castorice": Your Excellency, I heard from Phainon that you came to find me···
Castorice: This is wonderful. To be honest, I have been waiting for you for some time.
Castorice: Please come in. I am in the innermost private room on the second floor of the restaurant. I have already prepared lunch for the three of you.
Castorice: (animated expression · expectant)
"······"
The three followed the information Castorice provided and arrived at the designated private room. The moment they entered, they saw Castorice standing with her back to the window.
She had her hands behind her back. Hearing the sound of the door being pushed open, she said indifferently: "You have come."
"We met briefly in the market earlier and have not yet formally introduced ourselves."
"My name is Castorice. I don't remember my age clearly. I live in the residential area in the northeast of Okhema. I am unmarried."
"I usually work at the 'Golden Grand Hotel.' I return home no later than eight o'clock every day."
"I do not smoke. I occasionally taste a bit of honey brew. I go to bed at eleven o'clock at night and guarantee eight hours of sleep."
"Before sleeping, I drink a cup of warm milk, do twenty minutes of stretching exercises to warm up, then sleep. I can basically sleep soundly until dawn, like a baby, without leaving any fatigue or stress."
"Thus I welcome the next morning. My health check results also show I am very normal."
Stelle said dumbfounded: "W-What are you talking about?"
Castorice turned around and said: "What I mean is, I am a person who can pursue inner peace at any time. I am not bound by victory or defeat, I do not dwell on troubles, and I do not create enemies that would keep me awake at night."
"This is my attitude toward life in Okhema, and I understand this is the only happiness I can enjoy."
"Moreover··· even if I have to fight, I will not lose to anyone."
Stelle (dazed expression): ???
Castorice cleared her throat lightly: "What I mean is, Trailblazer Your Excellency, your arrival is the accident that broke my calm state of mind. I see new possibilities in you — possibilities that can let me realize my life's value."
"Everyone has dreams. I am no exception. Ah··· sorry, I forgot to invite you to sit first."
Castorice proactively pulled out chairs for the three and said: "By the way··· why have you all had puzzled expressions since earlier? Did I speak too fast in any part? No way? In the manga I read, everyone introduces themselves like this······"