Julien's eyes were keenly fixed on her, especially towards her mouth.
He took a bite of his own, not holding back the hunger and tasty aroma any longer. The meat melted in his mouth like sugar.
'This is so fucking good!'
The [Abyssal Salt] had already merged as one with the body of the Thunder-Boar meat, whatever that meant, and resulted in creating a flavour that hit the brain like crack.
Maya chewed slowly, not letting go of her elegance even while eating. Then her throat bulged as she swallowed the ribs, tasting them fully.
She didn't say anything for a few minutes, keeping her eyes glued on the food in front of her.
Then her hands slowly reached out, grabbing the ribs with her full hand, and she took a massive bite, tearing the meat off the bone with surprising, barbarian-like savagery.
"Must be bad?" Julien asked, wiping sauce off his chin.
"Shut up," Maya commanded, her mouth full. "I am in the middle of devouring."
She demolished the first rib in fifteen seconds, which seemed to be the record so far. Then she slowly tasted the second and finished it even faster.
For a person whose face screamed boredom and terror, she ate with the enthusiasm of a starving pup.
'Cute.'
"Is there more?" she asked, pointing the remaining bone of the ribs straight at Julien.
"Chef!" Julien shouted to the side. "Another plate, please!"
By the time they were finished, an entire pile of clean bones was arranged between them.
Maya leaned back, patting her stomach, which looked like it had increased to twice its size. Her terrifying aura had softened into something resembling fulfilment.
"It was okay," she said. "The hygiene was the worst I've ever seen, the atmosphere was nothing but a slum, and the chef looks like he murders people for fun. But the meat... was good."
"Just good?" Julien laughed. "I don't think the chef would even need to clean your plate; you licked it clean, Maya."
"I was finishing the entire course. It is normal manners not to leave anything on the plate." She wiped her mouth with a napkin. Her silver eyes locked onto him.
"So, Julien. You have fed me. And you did your part in entertaining me. Now... It's time to come clean."
The air slowly changed. The fun date vibe immediately vanished, replaced by the weight of seriousness.
"Talk about what?" He pretended to be clueless.
"About you," Maya said.
"You are F-Rank, or even below that, and your mana veins are irregular. You have a debt that would put your next three generations to shame. And yet, you pull elixirs out of your pocket and abyssal Salt from thin air, which even that chef couldn't get."
She leaned forward, her gaze piercing his head.
"What are you exactly? A god playing human because he's bored? A beast in disguise trying to manipulate humans?"
'Wait a minute. Don't just assume things.'
Julien looked at her, returning the gaze.
He could easily lie and get out of the situation because nobody would grow suspicious of a cripple anyway.
But [Streetwise] was pinging in his head.
[Target Analysis: Maya.]
[Lie Detection: Maximum.]
[Advice: Do not lie. Not answer, or tell a partial truth.]
"I'm not a god," Julien said quietly, looking at his broken arm.
"I'm a salesman who tried to make a sale. Just like I made a deal with you."
"A deal with whom?"
"With the System," Julien said.
"I get to buy goods from the universe." He tapped his clothes.
"Sometimes the price is high, so high you wouldn't believe it."
Maya looked at his arm, which hung lifelessly.
Her expression slowly softened, even if it was just for a fraction of a second.
"A pact," she mused.
"Interesting. Why is your power a shop and not some sword magic?"
"Swords break," Julien said, shrugging his useless arm. "Magic runs out quickly, especially for me. But everyone always needs to buy something. Commerce is the only true power in this world."
Maya laughed. It was a genuine laugh this time; she looked beautiful under the broken lights of the shop.
"I don't need to know anything else."
"Well, I can't tell you anyway since my system will kill me if I disclose more."
"That's very dangerous." Her expression changed quickly. "I do not want you to die yet."
She stood up, letting her coat swirl around her arm.
"Come. I will walk you to the shelter. If Kane has sent more men after you, I might need to digest this meal by breaking some bones in their bodies."
Julien stood up, grabbing the last piece of meat in the place.
"Actually," Julien said, checking his account balance. [11,200 Credits]. "
I don't think I'm going back to the shelter tonight."
"Oh?" Maya raised an eyebrow. "Feeling rich, are you?"
"No," Julien grinned. "I'm thinking... a hotel with a shower. And a mattress that doesn't smell like shit."
As they walked out of the alley, a drunk hunter slammed into them.
He was huge, reeking of cheap alcohol, and he shoved Julien to the side.
"Watch it, cripple!" the drunk shouted. "Move the fuck away!"
Maya's hand twitched as it moved toward her hilt or something, but Julien stopped her quickly.
"Allow me," he whispered, holding her back.
He then turned towards the drunk.
This time, he didn't have any need to activate [Streetwise]. Instead, he activated another skill.
[Skill Activated: Silver Gaze (Passive/Active)]
Julien's brown eyes flashed with a momentary, terrifying silver light.
He channelled the feeling of Maya, the boredom, the superiority, the killer intent that could swallow anyone.
"Walk away," Julien said softly.
The drunk froze. In his alcohol-addled brain, he didn't see a skinny kid in a hoodie but a monster looking down on him that could pull his head off his body anytime.
The colour drained from the man's face. He instantly sobered up.
"I... uh... sorry," the drunk stammered, then backed away, tripped over his own feet, and ran down the street screaming.
Julien blinked, and his eyes returned to normal.
"Whoa," he whispered. "That was... effective."
Maya smirked, looking impressed. "Not bad. You lack the body and aura, but you have the glare down correctly. Keep practising, partner. You might survive longer."
"I plan to," Julien said.
He looked up at the moon, the same moon Maya had been watching earlier.
'Somehow I got the money and a pretty woman beside me.'
And for the first time since the apocalypse started, Julien didn't feel like a victim.
"System," he thought. "Show me the Tier 2 Inventory. I have enough money to spend on it."
[Access Denied.]
[Requirement: User Level 5.]
[Requirement: Total Sales of 50,000 Credits.]
Julien's smile faltered. "Oh, come on. Ripping me off already?"
[Tip: The 'Potion of Beauty' was a good start. But if you want to be a real Merchant... you need to sell Weapons to the Guilds.]