Big G, Coffee Machine and Goblin

Chapter 15 Seven Cups Challenge
After delivering Mali to the room, the half-elf girl hurriedly left the inn to report to Trembling Castle.

Although Ma Li was very curious about the world outside the window, he couldn't speak the language and could only stay quietly in the hotel for the time being.

Fortunately, he wasn't idle. On his way into the city, he asked the half-elf girl to teach him some simple words and sentences.

The specific method is to say it once and have Ciel repeat it, then record it on a mobile phone. These are mostly related to daily life, such as asking for prices, asking for directions, counting, and some instructions that may be used in battle.

With nothing else to do, he took out his phone and started studying on his own.

Ma Li didn't expect that he would study for two hours. Towards the end, his phone was almost out of battery and he was a little tired. After eating half a bar of dark chocolate, he took out the book "A Novice Solving a Major Case".

Charles didn't return until halfway through Chapter Eight. The half-elf girl looked a little unwell, but she still managed a forced smile. "Sorry I'm late. Let's go eat carp."

"Things aren't going well?" Ma Li asked, putting down his book.

"Well, not really. Although I didn't get to see Lord Belstein, the castle guards said he had just left Eagle's Beak City two days ago for the capital. But Steward Brie received me and told me that the affairs of Eagle's Beak City are now being handled by Lord Belstein's eldest son, Joreven."

"Tomorrow, Lord Joven will be listening to the people's requests at the city hall, and Steward Brie will also arrange for me to be questioned."

"Any questions?"

"Oh, no, it's nothing. I just didn't expect to have to wait another night." Charles waved his hand, then changed the subject, "Are you hungry? I'm so hungry I could eat a cow."

"Then let's go eat."

The two left the inn, turned left and came to the tavern next door. Before they even entered, they could hear singing coming from inside.

A man wearing a soft hat, holding a lute, wearing tight stockings and pointed shoes is singing.

The other patrons in the tavern accompanied him by tapping their wooden wine glasses on the table, and occasionally someone would join in the singing, filling the air with a lively and cheerful atmosphere.

Even though it was past lunchtime, the number of people here was still considerable, with all dozen or so tables fully occupied and many people even standing to drink.

Most of them were carrying weapons and looked like adventurers. Some even had bloodstains on them, probably because they had just finished a mission and came here.

Besides drinking and eating, they would also get together to exchange information, play cards, or play other games.

Speaking of playing cards, Ma Li glanced at the card game next to him and noticed that they weren't playing poker or leaf cards.

Instead, it's a metal plaque, only half the size of a palm, engraved with all sorts of random patterns.

Normally, the half-elf girl would have been eager to explain before Ma Li even asked, but tonight she was clearly distracted. She hadn't said much since leaving the inn, and her eyes were constantly wandering around.

"Are you looking for someone or something?" Ma Li asked.

"Ah, oh... no, I just wanted to see where the menu is."

"You want a menu?! Here you go."

A passing waitress slipped a piece of parchment cut into the shape of a carp into Charles's hand.

The half-elf girl panicked for a moment, but quickly regained her composure and held the menu in front of her. "Let me see what's on it... Hmm, I'll definitely order one of each of their signature fish jelly and fish balls, as well as clove stewed peas with dried sausage and rosemary roasted chicken. Which of these two dishes would you like?" "Roasted chicken," Ma Li said. He had a basic understanding of the hygiene conditions in this world and had no confidence in what the chef might stuff into the sausages. At least a whole chicken would be cleaner.

"What would you like for your main course? We have freshly baked white bread, bacon and pea omelets, and venison pie."

"I'd like to try bacon and pea omelets."

"Received. Hmm... and dessert, how about cream praline? Oh, right, I almost forgot, what kind of wine would you like to drink?"

"I don't drink alcohol, I'll just drink the water I brought myself." Ma Li raised the thermos in his hand and gestured to the half-elf girl. He didn't know if it was his imagination, but Xia Er seemed to breathe a slight sigh of relief, and some color returned to her pale face.

Just then, a group of customers at the next table got up and left. Ma Li sat down, and Xia Er sat down opposite him. But the next second, the girl jumped up as if she had been bitten on the butt by the chair. "I'm going to return the menu!"

After saying that, she ran off without waiting for Ma Li's reply, only stopping at the other end of the tavern. She even glanced back furtively to make sure Ma Li couldn't see her before taking out her money pouch.

Before leaving the inn, there were a total of 8 silver shields and 14 copper krones, but now she counted them and there were only 33 copper krones left. She had to shamelessly ask the innkeeper to cancel her room order when she returned to get 30 of them.

Just recalling the scene made the half-elf girl blush, her toes curling inward, so embarrassed she wanted to crawl under the floor.

The main reason was that she had recently clarified that the two were not in a marital relationship, so she couldn't even find an excuse. When checking out, she kept her head down the whole time and didn't dare to look the landlady in the eye.

Fortunately, the latter didn't ask any further questions and readily returned the money to her.

Even with the addition of these 30 copper kroners, it still wasn't enough to pay for the meal.

If you cut two dishes or replace some of them with cheaper options, you can barely stay within the budget.

However, the half-elf girl had promised to repay Ma Li's kindness by providing him with food and lodging in Eagle's Beak City for the past few days. Lowering the standard for the first night seemed rather stingy.

Although Charles came from a small village, he valued promises very much.

So even though she was almost broke, she still gritted her teeth and ordered a huge meal, and then... she was dumbfounded.

Just then, the waitress happened to pass by her again and asked, "So, have you decided what you'd like to eat?"

"Uh... let me take another look," Ciel said hurriedly, clutching the menu to his chest.

"Alright, take your time looking around. Just call me if you need anything." The waitress finished speaking, picked up her wine glass, and walked away, leaving the half-elf girl scratching her head in frustration.

Just then, she noticed a line of small print at the bottom of the menu, and her eyes lit up.

As the waitress walked past her again, Charles reached out and grabbed her arm, saying, "I...I want to participate in that?!"

"what?"

"Seven cups challenge, if you succeed you can get a free meal, right?" The half-elf girl's eyes burned with excitement.

(End of this chapter)