The second day of the second lunar month.
Alan's martial arts school officially opened.
There are at least a hundred martial arts schools on Silvermoon Island.
The martial arts schools have nice names, but in reality, most of them are violent gangs.
It's not easy for immigrants to gain a foothold on Silvermoon Island.
Violent gangs are particularly prone to vengeance and conflict.
The martial arts world isn't just about fighting and killing; it also requires the nuances of social interaction.
Alan knew he was too young and lacked prestige.
Using the opening of his martial arts school, he invited friends and guests, showcasing his connections and deterring those with ulterior motives.
Sora and Ella, mother and daughter, invited many of their families.
In their early days on Silvermoon Island, the Alan family received considerable support from the Case family.
Although Madam Case wasn't a prominent figure, she was still seated in the VIP section.
The truly distinguished guests all came from the Silver Moon Monastery.
The most important of them was truly remarkable...
Height: less than 1.4 meters!
Weight: a full 70 kilograms!
This distinguished guest was Allen's master.
The head of the Cat Academy, Master Shiva, the "White Tiger Martial Master."
Master Shiva was naturally arrogant and aloof, rarely participating in social events. Only after Allen's persistent persuasion did he make an exception and agree to attend the banquet.
However, she had one condition.
She had to attend the banquet in human form, keeping a low profile.
"I'm only here to drink. I won't reveal my identity to save trouble."
"Your friends and guests don't need to introduce themselves to me."
"If anyone asks, just say I'm your..."
Master Shiva was still pondering, but Allen had already thought of an excuse for her.
"Your human form looks like a little girl of eight or nine."
"Even if I say you're my master, outsiders won't believe it."
"Why not go along with it and announce to the public that you're my goddaughter? No one will be suspicious. What do you think?"
"...I think you're just itching for trouble!" Loli angrily scolded the unworthy disciple: "I'm your master, and you actually want to be my father?!"
"Teacher, this is just a temporary solution. Don't take it seriously!" Allen hurriedly tried to comfort Baihu to avoid a beating.
The day of the banquet arrived in a flash, and Master Shiva arrived as promised.
He was there, but his mind wasn't quite clear.
She'd already started drinking on the airship.
After disembarking, the silver-haired loli was bleary-eyed and staggering.
Renee had no choice but to carry her into the banquet hall.
Tigress Renée, tall and broad-shouldered, had a voluptuous figure, comparable to the "bombshells" in Allen's past life's fashion magazines.
Though a mere nineteen, she looked like a glamorous young woman carrying her daughter on her back against the backdrop of petite Shiva.
Had Allen not recognized them, he might have mistaken them for mother and daughter! "Teacher Shiva is particularly fond of Junior Sister Renée," Maria whispered to Allen.
"I originally thought the teacher admired Renée's simplicity and kindness."
"Later, I discovered he was drawn to her because she was hardworking, diligent, and obedient, making her a suitable nanny!" Besides his three sworn brothers and sisters, two senior brothers Allen had met while collecting herbs, Baker and Hogg, also showed up to show their support.
During their casual conversation, Baker and Hogg revealed a piece of news.
The Silver Moon Monastery is about to open its Time Secret Realm. Disciples from all three academies, regardless of whether they are from the Inner or Outer Sect, can enter the Secret Realm and cultivate for two years, provided their contributions to their master meet the required standards.
Time flows at the same rate as in the South Island Warlock Academy, at four times the speed.
Two years in the Secret Realm is equivalent to only half a year in the outside world.
After attending the banquet, Baker and Hogg planned to cross the ocean, infiltrate Red Moon Island, and assassinate a Beast Worship Cult elder.
If they successfully complete the mission, the rewards for their contributions to their master will be enough to secure a spot in the Secret Realm.
"Brother Allen, do you have enough points?" Hogg asked.
"Still quite a bit short," Allen said honestly.
Most of the contributions earned from turning in the tofu recipe were used to exchange for various awakening potion recipes, leaving insufficient space for a spot in the Secret Realm.
"Then you'll have to hurry!" Baker took over. "Would you like to team up with us and go to Red Moon Island on this mission?"
Alan shook his head and declined.
The martial arts gym had just opened, and he had a ton of things to do. He simply couldn't spare the time to accompany the two of them on this mission.
…
Bang!
The banquet was in full swing when the door suddenly kicked open.
Alan, toasting, calmly turned and looked toward the door.
His eyes caught the uninvited guest who had burst through the door, and he was startled.
"Hehehe... The person who was supposed to come didn't show up. Are you surprised, Gym Master?"
A red-haired young man in a black robe walked in with a sneer.
The robe was embroidered with a red moon pattern, and the holy emblem of the bat hung on his chest.
"My name is Andrew, and I'm from Red Moon Island."
Under the wary gaze of the guests, the red-haired young man began to introduce himself.
"Mr. Andrew, I don't think I invited you to the banquet," Allen said coldly.
"The Master didn't invite me, but that's besides the point."
Andrew smiled wryly.
"Lord Charon, by divine revelation, has led me here. Besides congratulating the Master, I have a small matter to discuss."
"My good brother, Charles, disappeared in your town some time ago."
"It's said that the Master is the most powerful man in town, so he must be well-informed."
"Master, could you tell me Charles's whereabouts?"
Hearing the name Charles, Maria's face darkened and she tried to stand up to take over.
Alan quickly winked at her, indicating that he would take care of everything.
Maria hesitated, but ultimately sat back down in silence. Andrew noticed the eye contact between the two, sneered, and returned his gaze to Allen.
"I've prepared a gift specifically for today's event. I'm sure it'll be a pleasant surprise for the museum owner."
As he spoke, he pulled a beautifully wrapped gift box from his storage bag and placed it on the table with a smile.
Opening the lid, a pungent, bloody odor immediately emanated!
Inside the box lay a bloody head.
The deceased's face was pale, and he sported a stubble-like beard.
His eyes were wide, a lingering trace of fear in them.
Everyone around, including Allen, recognized him.
The deceased was none other than the pirate Captain Crabbe!
Crabbe, a late-stage third-level crab warlock, commanded a band of fierce pirates.
Both his personal strength and the forces he controlled were to be reckoned with.
It was with the help of the Silvermoon Monastery that Allen finally subdued Crabbe.
The pirate captain had his head severed!
Just how powerful was this Andrew?
In the blood-soaked hall, guests murmured.
"Hehe... sorry to scare you all."
Andrew, despite his provocation, remained smiling and graceful.
"You may be wondering why I brought such a disastrous gift?"
"To be frank, I'm helping the curator solve a problem!"
The hall erupted in chatter, and everyone's eyes were filled with confusion.
Andrew glanced around, whetting everyone's appetite before revealing the answer.
"I heard someone secretly bribed Crabbe to pretend to challenge the gym."
"According to the script, Crabbe provoked the gym leader and then challenged him in front of all the distinguished guests."
"Our gym leader, after repeatedly forbearing, finally couldn't help but teach this ungrateful guy a lesson."
"After a fierce fight, the gym leader beautifully defeated Crabbe."
"Crabbe was convinced of his defeat and confessed his ignorance in front of everyone. I regret it and ask the owner to forgive me. "
"Of course the magnanimous owner will forgive him."
"After all, that's how the script was written!"
"Through this pre-rehearsed show of kicking the gym, the gym owner established his authority in public and made a wonderful advertisement for the martial arts gym."
"Those ignorant fools who don't know the inside story, have seen with their own eyes the strength of the gym owner and the foundation of the martial arts gym, why shouldn't they praise it?"
Andrew smiled faintly, with a hint of sarcasm in his words.
"I killed the actor who was kicking the gym in advance. Does the gym owner like this gift?"
"Ouch! Look at your face, could it be that I was doing a disservice to you with my good intentions?"
"Master, maybe I misunderstood your script?"
"Is there anything I said that was wrong or lied? Can the owner point it out to me in person?"
"I'll change it, isn't it okay?"
Allen remained silent.
Silence equals acquiescence. He admitted that he and Crabbe had indeed planned a "kick-out" stunt.
They intended to use this eye-catching performance to build a reputation for their newly opened martial arts gym.
This approach was a brilliant business strategy.
But being exposed publicly would be embarrassing!
Alan could deny it outright.
However, since Andrew had come to provoke him and exposed the matter, he might have a backup plan.
If he denied it now, and Andrew presented irrefutable evidence, it would only serve to prove his public lying, ruining his reputation.
Alan pondered in silence, trying to figure out how to break the impasse.
The atmosphere in the banquet hall grew increasingly tense.
The people of Silver Moon Monastery remained composed.
After all, with Maria and the other three chief disciples present, they would hold the fort up if the sky fell.
As for the lolita-style White Tiger Martial Lord, only Allen, Renée, and Maria knew her identity. Everyone else simply treated her as a child brought by their parents for a feast.
Not everyone remained calm.
Allen's friends and family in town, especially the visitors from the Case family, were furious.
They all stood up, ready to fight, ready to chase away Andrew, the unlucky one!
"Ouch! Are you guys going to resort to violence?"
Andrew feigned fear and clapped his hands three times.
Pa, pa, pa!
The crisp applause silenced the crowd's angry outbursts.
A powerful surge of magical energy erupted in the hall, and a glowing magic circle appeared on the ground.
Nine figures teleported in, appearing side by side behind Andrew.
All nine wore black robes with crimson moons and bore the emblem of the Grim Reaper.
Andrew stopped pretending and smiled, spreading his hands.
"Please allow me to introduce my fellow apprentices."
"Six of them are unskilled and have reached the late third stage."
"The other three are just as useless as me, at the early fourth stage."
"I'm sorry to have embarrassed you all."
The angry shouting in the hall abruptly ceased, and for a moment, a pin drop was audible.
At the Case family table, the guests who had been slamming the table, their faces etched with anger, quietly sat back down, feigning indifference.
"What exactly do you want to do by gathering here to cause trouble?" Allen asked in a deep voice.
Andrew smiled and said slowly:
"Your script is excellent. It would be a shame not to perform it."
"Someone like Crabbe isn't fit to play the villain. Why don't we brothers take Crabbe's place and perform this wonderful show for free?"
"Master, why don't you pick ten of your favorite disciples and give us a good beating?"
"Beat us so hard we'll crawl away in disgrace. That would both entertain the guests and demonstrate your academy's prestige. Wouldn't that be a wonderful thing?"
"Come on, Master! The actors are in place. Let's begin!"
Andrew's provocation heightened the tension in the hall.
Everyone's eyes rested on Alan, their expressions varied.
Some hoped he would resolve the crisis, while others gloated.
Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, at the center of the storm, Allen suddenly smiled faintly and said to Andrew:
"We don't need ten people to deal with a bunch of you scum."
"Even the youngest female disciple in my martial arts school can easily defeat all of you."
"Really? I don't believe it!"
Andrew crossed his arms, folding them over his chest, a half-smile on his face.
"Master, you're the one who said it. Please bring out that female disciple who can beat ten of us!"
"Well... I don't think that's necessary." Allen hesitated. "On such a happy occasion, fighting and killing would be a real bummer. Why don't we each take a step back—"
"That won't do!"
Andrew interrupted him, his smile growing even more frivolous. "You've blown your own trumpet, and you're still trying to back down?"
"There's no such thing as a free lunch!"
Andrew's fellow apprentices scoffed and joined in mocking Allen.
"At this point, you can't afford to be a coward!"
"Quickly, bring out that female disciple of yours who's taking on ten people!"
"We don't mean any harm, we just want to broaden our horizons!"
Your words were sharp and unforgiving, each one harsh and merciless.
Alan sighed, as if resigned to his fate.
"You asked for this, don't blame me."
Turning around, he walked over to the little girl, yawning and clutching a bottle of wine.
Reaching out, he ruffled her silky silver hair.
"Hey, sweetheart, wake up! Someone's here to mess things up!"
"Hurry up and teach those unruly guests a lesson for your godfather!"
The silver-haired little girl rolled her eyes.
She slapped his hand away and stood up, wine bottle in hand.
Staggering, still drunk, she walked towards Andrew and the others.
"A good beating, huh?"
"Crawling around, huh?"
"That's the first time I've heard of such a request."
The little girl burped and suddenly vanished!
The next moment, she appeared in front of Andrew and the others.
The petite figure flashed and teleported continuously!
The speed was so fast it surpassed the limits of human vision!
It was as if it had split into ten identical figures, all simultaneously lunging at Andrew and the others.
Andrew and his nine fellow apprentices were all stunned!
The girl was so fast they had no time to dodge, not even to blink!
Silver Moon Style's fifth-level martial art—Flashing Hundred Kicks!
Bang!
A dull thud echoed through the hall.
Andrew and his nine fellow apprentices were gone.
Shiva kicked them one by one, instantly sending them all out the door!
Master Shiva unleashed ten lightning-fast kicks, ten sonic booms detonating almost simultaneously, ultimately adding up to a resounding roar that echoed endlessly.
The entire room fell silent.
This fierce, silver-haired girl was truly a disciple of the Panthers Martial Arts School, the goddaughter of Master Allen?
Everyone's hearts were filled with a mixture of surprise and shock! Allen thanked White Tiger Martial Master with his eyes and strode out the door.
Six corpses lay in the courtyard.
Six late-stage third-level Death Warlocks, none of them able to withstand Martial Master's kick, were killed instantly!
Andrew and three early-stage fourth-level Warlocks were gravely wounded and near death, struggling to cast a teleportation spell and narrowly escaping death.
Actually, this was all thanks to Master Shiva being half drunk.
In her loli form, her physique was weak, and her combat power was far inferior to her tiger-man form.
‐Not to mention compared to the peak form of "Tiger-Shoutian"!
In that "Flashing Hundred Kicks" move just now, she had only used less than 50% of her power.
‐Alan gazed at the corpse in the courtyard, deeply shocked.
‐It seemed he still had a lot to learn from his "goddaughter."
‐
…
‐After a few exercises, Master Shiva sobered up.
‐Thinking of that foolish and unworthy disciple who had taken advantage of him in public.
‐Not only had he petted his respected teacher's head like a cat, but he had actually treated her like a daughter. How outrageous!
‐ Such disrespect, such disrespect!!
‐The White Tiger Martial Master grew increasingly angry as he thought about it.
‐ Under the guise of martial arts instruction, he had locked Allen in the martial arts gym's training room and locked the door.
A pair of pink fists clenched with a cracking sound.
A sinister grin crossed her pretty face.
…
After a brutal beating, Master Shiva relaxed.
Sitting cross-legged on a cushion, he enjoyed a massage from his disciple.
Alan, bruised and swollen from her beating, still had to massage his shoulders and back, diligently serving his teacher without a single complaint.
Master Shiva yawned loudly, revealing his white fangs.
"Alan, I must warn you. The people of Red Moon Island will not let you go."
"Those stinking bats I chased off today will still cause you trouble in the future."
"I can't always be your babysitter. What are you going to do?"
"There's no other way for me to improve my skills except to study hard and practice diligently," Alan replied with a wry smile.
Master Shiva frowned, pondering, then shook his head slightly.
"High-ranking sorcerers of the Beast Worship Cult spend most of their lives training frantically within the secret realm."
"If you want to protect yourself and improve your strength quickly, you must rely on the secret realm."
"On April 1st, the Silver Moon Secret Realm opens."
"To qualify for a spot in the secret realm for cultivation, you need to accumulate sufficient contributions to your master."
"Find a way on your own, and don't delay your cultivation."
Alan nodded, taking note of his master's warning. Deep down, he still harbored a slight resistance to the Time Secret Realm.
Should one strive for a spot in the secret realm for cultivation?
It depends on the individual.
Ordinary disciples, with mediocre talent, have long since come to terms with reality.
Knowing that no matter how hard they try, they can't outperform a genius, they simply give up vying for a spot in the secret realm and become indifferent to fame and fortune.
Alan also wants to be indifferent, but unfortunately, he can't.
Firstly, he had too many enemies, and to protect his family, he couldn't afford to lie low and live like a nobody.
Secondly, his talent had already caught the attention of the three abbots of Silver Moon Monastery.
The monastery's future rested on geniuses, and Allen was a prime candidate for cultivation.
Even if he wanted to lie low, Master Shiva wouldn't let him waste his youth and talent.
"Be good and obey. From today on, you are my personal disciple."
"If you don't obey and make me angry, I'll beat you up the next time I see you!"
"Two choices, choose!"
The adorably fierce silver-haired loli used a combination of threats and inducements.
Unable to resist, Allen had no choice but to bite the bullet and join the involutionary forces.
...
It was already late.
Master Shiva yawned and went back to the guest room for a bath.
Like a nanny, Renee accompanied Master Shiva in the bath, scrubbing her back and combing her hair.
After a long, busy day, after helping her master to sleep, she found time to visit Allen.
"Junior Brother, I heard you haven't secured your spot in the Secret Realm yet?"
"That's none of your business," Allen said calmly. "I can secure a spot myself. You don't need to worry about it. Go to bed early."
Unable to resist Renee's fussy nature, she said excitedly:
"Junior Brother, you probably don't know, but spots are transferable!"
"For the past six months, I've been working in the kitchen and earning contribution points selling tofu recipes. I've saved them all and can't bear to spend them. I've just enough to redeem a spot in the Secret Realm!"
"...So?" Allen suddenly had a foreboding feeling.
This silly girl, could she be thinking...?" "Junior Brother! I'll give you the spot so you don't have to waste your energy on the mission!" Renee said proudly.
"I told you, don't worry!"
Alan avoided her sincere gaze, his heart throbbing.
Compared to a naive, innocent girl like Renee, he wasn't exactly a good person, but he wasn't selfish enough to suck Renee's blood with a clear conscience.
Reni wasn't surprised by his cold attitude. She patiently persuaded him to accept the gift, as if coaxing a willful child.
"Junior Brother, I'm not doing this to make you owe me a favor, but to get out of a difficult situation."
"Even for me, you have to accept the spot. Otherwise, I won't be able to explain to my family!"
"What's going on? Tell me more!"
Alan sensed something was amiss and immediately became interested.
...
Reni's troubles concerned her family and a failed engagement.
The Cochise family, to which Renee came from, saw its bloodline decline, forcing them to turn to business, specializing in a candy and pastry shop, which thrived.
As the eldest granddaughter of the third generation, Renee possessed mediocre sorcerer aptitude and displayed no business acumen, naturally overlooked by her elders.
In recent years, through a stroke of luck, she successfully entered the Silver Moon Monastery and was even accepted as an inner court disciple by Master Shiva.
In a letter to her family, Renee boasted of her luck and planned to enter the Silver Moon Secret Realm for training, forcing her to be unable to return home for a while.
As a result, this opportunity attracted the attention of interested individuals...
Renee once had a fiancé named Phoebus.
Six years ago, Phoebus was a street kid.
Discovering superior dragon vein talent, he was adopted by the Cochise family, regarded as a promising talent. Life on the streets, starving and freezing, shaped his unscrupulous character.
Phoebus knew his opportunity was rare, so he was determined to climb up at all costs!
To change his fate and obtain cultivation resources, he madly pursued Renée.
He chose Renée as his target because he saw that she was the most innocent and simple-minded of the Cochise family ladies, making her the easiest to pursue.
This was his street experience.
Not long after, Phoebus became Renée's fiancé as he wished.
At the time, he was just a son-in-law with no status.
Renee never discriminated against her fiancée from a lower social class.
Aside from refusing to have sex with him before marriage, she was always willing to meet his financial needs.
She even gave Phoebus all the cultivation resources allocated to him by the family.
Through Renée, Phoebus obtained a large amount of magic stones and a letter of recommendation for further study at the North Island Warlock Academy.
The North Island Warlock Academy, the headquarters of the Dragon Vein Warlocks, was a perfect place for Phoebus to pursue his studies.
Once at the academy, Phoebus quickly found his feet.
At first, he corresponded with Renée, but later, at the academy, he met a new love, a daughter of a wealthy family even richer than Renée.
Naturally, he grew weary of the old and fell in love with the new, and his feelings for Renée gradually grew colder.
Two years ago, Phoebus sent Renée his final letter, clearly expressing his intention to break off the engagement.
Renee replied overnight, attempting to win back her fiancée's heart.
However, since then, Phoebus has stopped writing to her and severed all ties.
Perhaps evil will always be punished.
Phoebus's girlfriend at North Island College, whose father lost power in a power struggle, was forced to offer her daughter to a powerful figure from a rival faction in order to survive.
Infuriated, Phoebus proposed to elope with his girlfriend.
Unexpectedly, his girlfriend was more pragmatic than he was.
She decisively abandoned him and threw herself into the arms of the powerful figure.
Phoebus had offended the powerful figure and was oppressed at the academy, his future bleak.
Dejected, he returned home, weeping bitterly, and begged Renee's grandfather for forgiveness.
Phoebus was, after all, a gifted young man with a promising future.
The current patriarch of the Cochise family, Renee's grandfather, was unwilling to be content with a mere candy merchant and dreamed of restoring his family's former glory.
To revive the family, a talent was essential!
The Cochise family's small temple couldn't accommodate a great god, so Phoebus was the only one worth cultivating. The patriarch believed he was prioritizing the greater good, unconcerned about personal gains and losses, and that every decision he made was for the family's revival!
Thus, he felt justified in asking his granddaughter to put aside past grudges and continue to play a role in winning over Phoebus.
Upon learning that Renee had been favored by Master Shiva and accepted as an inner court disciple, he sought to leverage her connections to recommend Phoebus to the Silver Moon Monastery.
Even... Grandfather had asked Renee to give up her place in the Secret Realm to Phoebus!
Objectively speaking, Phoebus's talent was far superior to Renee's.
For the long-term goal of the family's revival, it was necessary to invest precious resources where they mattered most.
Reni was a member of the Cochise family.
In her grandfather's eyes, she and her place in the Secret Realm were also "resources" at the family's disposal.
Reni was unwilling to give up everything she had fought so hard for.
Unwilling to accept the unfaithful man, she allowed him to "come back" to her.
She was kind, but not foolish!
She was gentle, but not cowardly!
Renee was displeased with the family's decision, but it was difficult to directly reject her grandfather's arrangement, so she came up with a compromise.
"Instead of giving the spot to the unfaithful man, why not give it to you, Junior Brother Allen!" Renee said angrily.
"Renee, I truly don't understand your train of thought."
Allen turned around and flicked her forehead.
"The unfaithful man is certainly despicable, but I haven't been kind to you either, and I even called you a 'silly girl.' Why are you repaying kindness with evil?"
"Junior Brother Allen, you're not like Phoebus!"
Renee hesitated.
What exactly is the difference between her ex-boyfriend and Allen? Her intuition told her that her ex-boyfriend was trying to disguise his selfish nature with sweet talk, while Ellen, on the other hand, constantly used cold words to mask her inner warmth.
Unfortunately, she was tongue-tied and couldn't accurately express what she was thinking.
"Silly girl, what do you think?" Ellen asked Renée casually, lying on the bed with her arms resting on her head.
"I don't want to get back together with Phoebus. That's my bottom line. But I don't dare to directly contradict my grandfather..."
"So?"
"So, I want you to accompany me home and refuse my grandfather's request on my behalf."
Renee knelt beside the bed, speaking confidently.
Ellen was stunned!
Eating a melon and then getting it on yourself—what kind of a thing is this?! "Reni, please think carefully. This is none of my business. Why should I stand up for you?"
Alan's anger was just rising when Renni quelled it in an unbelievable way...
The silly girl, with her doe-like eyes, said seriously:
"Of course it's your business!"
"I'm your dog!"
"You have to look at the owner before you beat the dog! If you don't help me, who else can I rely on?"
"No! Wait!" Alan felt his head dazed. "Let's start from the beginning... When did I ever accept you as my dog?"
"I said I wanted to be your lapdog, and you didn't refuse!" Renni argued. "If you didn't refuse, you agreed!"
"...is there still time for me to refuse?"
Reni held onto the edge of the bed and shook her head firmly.
Alan held his forehead and sighed.
He was already very busy, and it wasn't worth it to make a long trip to the Cochise family for such a trivial matter.
Since Renee was so shameless as to insist on being his dog, let her write to her grandfather directly:
"I voluntarily sell myself to Master Shiva's direct disciple and become the head of the Panthers Martial Arts School. From now on, I will sever all ties with the Cochise family. Anyone who dares to disobey can come and confront her master!"
"That's a great idea!"
Reni was delighted and immediately fetched stationery and writing paper.
She even took the initiative to draft a deed of sale, put her fingerprint on it, and had Allen sign it, accepting her personal property.
"I just made up an excuse to help you fool your family. How could you take it so seriously?" Allen was at a loss for words.
Renee rolled her eyes at him and earnestly counseled her foolish master:
"My grandfather isn't stupid, and neither is Phoebus! How can you fool them with just words?"
Reniee handed him a pen and paper, coaxing him with a smile.
"If you're putting on a show, you have to do it all!"
"Come on, sign and seal it!"
"When you're done, I'll make you a delicious midnight snack, wash your feet, and warm your bed!"
Alan felt a strange pang of impatience on her face.
"...Why do you make it sound like I'm selling myself?!"