"Oh, right—I haven't paid yet." Theresa, who had already reached the door, turned back.
"Boss, how much for these three drinks?" She pulled out her wallet.
"Wait, this bar actually charges money?!" Venti gasped.
"Wait, this bar doesn't charge money?!" Theresa gasped.
Ahem.
"Actually, it's like this," Chen Luo interjected. "This bar doesn't deal in ordinary currency. Instead, it trades in your obsessions. The stronger your desire for something, the more likely it'll manifest as a commission in the commission board. I'll then take on that commission to fulfill your wish. As for the exact mechanics… I'm not sure. Maybe it harvests obsessions? Either way, I get rewards too, so don't feel awkward or guilty." Chen Luo said to Theresa after a moment of hesitation.
"Is that so? This place is really magical. Then again, a bar that connects worlds was already magical—so a payment system this bizarre somehow makes sense." Theresa nodded thoughtfully.
Exactly, if this bar truly linked infinite worlds, conventional money would be meaningless to it.
"Of course, if you insist on paying, I will be very grateful." Chen Luo added.
"Eh?" Theresa blinked.
"Here's the thing, while the bar itself doesn't need money, I do. My parents' allowance used to cover my expenses just fine… until a freeloading 'cousin' moved in. Now my funds are stretched thin." He sighed dramatically.
The Herrscher of Sentience shot him a glare but held her tongue—Theresa was still here.
Who's freeloading?! I even brought back midnight snacks!
"You have parents?!" Theresa blurted.
"Hold on—what's that supposed to mean? Do I look like someone who wouldn't have parents?!" Chen Luo's face darkened.
"N-No, sorry! I just meant… your parents still give you an allowance?" she hastily corrected.
"Of course they do. I'm only 17. So yeah, if you've got cash to spare, I'd really appreciate it." His expression softened.
"Wow, A'Luo… you're just as broke as I am!" Venti grinned, delighted to find a kindred spirit.
"Not the same. I'm a minor—relying on family support is normal. You're an adult, yet still a penniless bum. A useless grown-up who can't do anything right!" Chen Luo emphasized.
"Emm..." Venti was silent for a moment.
"But… would our world's currency even work in yours?" Theresa asked.
"Only one way to find out. Fu Hua mentioned you use yen, right? We have that here too. Just 1,000 yen would be enough—no need for more."
Although Chen Luo can indeed deceive these people by saying that you have to pay before I can make you a cocktail. First of all, not everyone has money, such as Venti.
Secondly, if the other party hesitates because of the price, then the Primogem will be lost.
Chen Luo can still tell which is more important, the Primogem or cash.
And if you want to collect other currencies or favors, whether the other party is willing to pay is another question.
Besides, Chen Luo thinks that people should be more sincere with each other. In addition to not having so many interests involved in getting along, it is also easier to improve affinity.
Goodwill might seem intangible, but his intuition told him the higher the affinity, the higher the frequency of special rewards. Those two titles—[Charitable Chen] and [Friend of Non-Humans]—had likely influenced Theresa's St. Freya Staff ID reward.
These two titles can improve the goodwill of others.
Especially the non-human Herrscher, Theresa and Wendy are both useful because they have non-human characteristics. Venti is naturally not considered a human, the Herrscher also has non-human characteristics, and Theresa has the gene of the Honkai Beast in her body.
"Just 1,000 yen? That's surprisingly cheap." Theresa didn't mind the amount.
Even if Chen Luo claimed she'd "already paid," she lacked the tangible satisfaction. A thousand yen for three glasses of heavenly bitter melon juice? Worth it.
"Why not ask for more?" The Herrscher of Sentience asked.
"Why would I? This is just a test. If it's only 1,000 yen, I can brush it off as 'found money' and check if it's exchangeable. Even if you can't exchange it, you can use the excuse that it might be a fake currency." Chen Luo said.
"Fair point." The Herrscher of Sentience nodded.
"Gold would've been easier. Afterall, gold is accepted in most worlds, but who carries gold around?" Chen Luo sighed.
This family was running him ragged.
"Alright, I'm really leaving now. But if I want to come back, how can I? Do I need return to that alley?" Theresa asked.
After tasting that divine bitter melon juice, Theresa knew she'd be back.
"Ask him—he's the expert." Chen Luo pointed at Venti.
"Oh, that's easy. Here's the trick: find a room with a door, close your eyes and stand in front of the door, visualize this bar, then push. 80% success rate." Venti thought for a while and said.
"Got it. Thanks!" Theresa smiled gratefully.
She stepped toward the door again—this time for real.
As she pushed it open, Chen Luo glimpsed her world through the frame.
The time in the Honkai world is also night now, and a bright moon is hanging low. Chen Luo doesn't know whether the moon has just risen or is about to fall.
Irrelevant. What mattered was—
New customer incoming.
"Eh? Since when was there a bar here? And—Theresa?! Are you that drunk?" A woman in a fiery red dress stared in confusion at Theresa, who'd just opened the door and was about to go out with a confused look on her face..
"H-Himeko?! What are you doing here?!" Theresa froze.
"Perfect timing, we can have another glass of wine. Theresa, drink with me!" Himeko slung an arm around Theresa's shoulders and hauled her back inside.