Chapter 46: The Price of a Free Meal
The streets of Leonora were buzzing with a frantic, nervous energy. The sight of the Dragon King dragging two other monarchs through the sky like misbehaving kittens had a way of fueling the rumor mill. As Saferu and Mirae walked toward The Pearl of the Sea, the "Fool" could feel the weight of a thousand eyes on his back.
The restaurant was not a mere eatery; it was a grand architectural marvel that stood like a five-star bastion of luxury amidst the rugged stone of the Lion Kingdom. Its white marble pillars were inlaid with actual pearls, and the glass windows were tinted with a magical azure hue that made the interior look like an underwater palace.
As they approached the massive double doors, two armored guards stepped forward to bar their path, their eyes scanning Saferu's humble attire with suspicion. Without a word, Saferu reached into his tunic and produced the obsidian-and-gold VIP Card that Madam Luningning had pressed into his hand during their first encounter.
The guards' demeanor shifted instantly. They straightened their backs, offered a crisp, synchronized bow, and pulled the doors open.
"Welcome back, honored guest," a head server whispered, stepping forward to lead them away from the crowded main hall. They were escorted up a spiral staircase made of polished coral to a private VIP room that overlooked the kingdom's central fountain. The air here was cooled by water-aspected mana stones, providing a sharp contrast to the desert heat outside.
They had just settled into the plush, silk-lined chairs when the door slid open. Instead of the boisterous Madam Luningning, a younger woman stepped in.
This was Tala, Luningning's granddaughter. A human-cat hybrid with sleek, obsidian ears and a tail that flicked with rhythmic grace, she looked less like a restaurateur and more like a high-end model. She wore a form-fitting silken vest over dark trousers, her amber eyes sharp and calculating.
"My grandmother is currently out on business—something about a shipment of rare spices being held up at the southern docks," Tala explained, her voice a smooth alto as she took a seat uninvited. "But she left strict instructions that if the 'Special Guest' arrived, he was to be given the run of the kitchen. I'm Tala. I'll be handling your service today."
"I appreciate the hospitality," Saferu said, his voice steady. He didn't look at her with the wide-eyed awe most men did; his gaze was neutral, analytical.
Tala leaned back, crossing her legs. "You should know, Saferu, you've become the hottest betting commodity in the capital. The underground gambling dens are having a field day. The odds for your survival in the Trial of the Four Elements are currently sitting at twenty-to-one against you. Some are even betting on which element will claim you first. My money's on Fire—it's the most dramatic."
Inside Saferu's mind, the Blue Room erupted.
"Twenty-to-one?"Smart Saferu calculated instantly. "If we put even a modest sum on ourselves, the returns would be enough to fund a private laboratory. It's statistically the most efficient way to gain financial independence."
"We should bet everything!"Evil Saferu cackled, his navy-blue aura swirling. "Think of the look on the Lion King's face when he realizes he has to pay out the man he tried to execute."
"One problem,"Original Saferu interjected, his voice flat. "We are broke. We don't have a single cent."
The silence that followed was deafening. Even Grokemon seemed to glitch for a second in disappointment.
Saferu looked at Mirae, who was currently contemplating the spice level of a seafood curry. "So, Mirae... just out of curiosity... would you consider placing a bet on me? As a vote of confidence?"
Mirae looked up, her long ears twitching in a flat 'no.' "Bunnies don't gamble, Saferu. Our instincts are for survival, not for throwing resources at the winds of fate. Besides, if I bet on you and you died, I'd be sad and poor. That's a double loss."
Saferu turned his gaze toward Tala.
The cat-girl gave a short, dry laugh. "Don't look at me. As a businesswoman, I avoid gambling like the plague. It's bad for the bottom line. I deal in food and service—tangible goods. Throwing gold at a 'maybe' is a quick way to end up sleeping in the gutters."
"What kind of merchant doesn't gamble?"Grokemon grumbled internally. "Risk is the soul of commerce!"
"They're in the food trade, Grokemon,"Smart Saferu replied logically. "Consistency is their brand."
Saferu was about to argue when a heavy wave of memory washed over him. Good Saferu stepped forward, his sky-blue aura shimmering with a melancholic light. He pointed at a flickering image—a memory of a cramped apartment back on Earth, and the sight of his mother hiding from debt collectors.
"Don't," Good Saferu whispered. "You remember how gambling ruined her. You spent years of your miserable NEET life paying off those debts. Gambling isn't a game for us. It's a curse."
The fire in Original Saferu's eyes died. "Right. Forget the betting. It was a flawed idea."
The conversation shifted as the food arrived. The table was soon covered in steaming plates: grilled abyssal squid, garlic-infused rice, and the centerpiece—a massive bowl of Bicol Express. The rich aroma of bird's eye chilies and coconut cream filled the VIP suite.
As they ate, the tension of the upcoming trial remained, but it was pushed to the background by the simple utility of the meal. Tala proved to be a sharp-witted observer, sharing stories of the eccentric travelers who passed through the Pearl. Saferu listened, his expression unreadable, though he genuinely found the insight into the world's power structures useful.
"Your women-phobia is screaming right now, isn't it?"Lazy Saferu drawled from the back of his mind. "Look at you. Thirty-eight years single, and now you're having dinner with the elite of the beast world. It's a strange fate."
Saferu didn't blush. He didn't stutter. He simply took a calm sip of his iced tea and looked at the two women. To him, they weren't objects of romance—they were allies, sources of information, and the first people in two worlds who had treated him as something other than a ghost.
"The chili is excellent," Saferu noted, his voice devoid of his usual hesitation. The heat hit him, his eyes watering slightly, but he didn't look away. For the first time, he felt he was finally matching the intensity of the world around him.
He looked at Mirae, who was sweating but grinning through the heat, and at Tala, who watched them with an amused, feline smirk. He had no money and a fifty-percent chance of dying in three days. But as he sat in the opulent luxury of the Pearl, he realized that for the first time in his life, he was no longer an observer. He was a participant.