I, Valon, am frantically searching for my mother.

money!

Wayne is broke right now.

Finding a suitable way to contact Jinlong is obviously not something that can be accomplished in a day or two.

Staying in Hel long-term, gathering information, and maintaining a human form all require money, and not a small amount.

Prices in Hull are not low, especially in hotels near the city center.

But now... he's almost penniless.

He left almost all of his treasure with his mother when he left Tia.

During those few days in Russell Dragons, I was so busy with my mom's performance art that I didn't even think about looting anything.

At this moment, all Wayne had left was the shapeshifting amulet, a few changes of clothes, a lonely half-gold coin, and a few scattered copper coins.

The large gold coin is a token and should not be touched unless absolutely necessary. The remaining few coins in Hel are probably only enough for two or three nights in the cheapest hotel, or a few decent meals.

"No money, what a hassle..."

As Wayne walked along the wide, smooth, and bustling main street of Hel, looking at the dazzling array of shops, the taverns wafting with the aroma of food, and the hotel signs that looked expensive, he truly experienced the taste of poverty for the first time.

As a dragon with a promising future, it's really... unbelievable that it has to worry about human currency.

Just as Wayne was staring at the freshly baked, fragrant baguettes at the roadside bakery, wondering whether he should use his invisibility powers to get something to eat—

"Um... excuse me..."

A soft, hesitant girl's voice, tinged with obvious timidity and hesitation, cautiously drifted out from the shadows of a narrow alleyway beside him.

Wayne turned his head.

In the dim light at the alley entrance stood a small, thin human girl, no more than ten years old.

She was wearing an old blouse that was too big, made of rough fabric, covered with dark and light stains, and with frayed cuffs showing loose threads. Her dry, yellow hair was tied back with a dirty strip of cloth, and a few strands of hair clung to her sweaty forehead and cheeks.

One glance at Ding Zhen and he was convinced he was a complete pauper.

Wayne's eyes quickly swept over the girl's entire body.

His clothes with holes, his wrists so thin you could see the bones, and the sallow complexion from long-term malnutrition... all these things suited his current image as a down-on-his-luck young master perfectly.

So even in a bustling city like Hull, there are such impoverished corners that are hidden from the sunlight?

Wayne sighed; the Wayne Baby instincts from his past life were starting to kick in.

"Hey boss, two orders of bread, one of your best, and the other regular ones will do."

With the shopkeeper looking surprised and the girl looking bewildered, Wayne quickly paid the money.

"Here, this... is for you to eat."

Wayne turned his face away, seemingly not wanting to see the girl's expression, his voice stiff.

"Eat quickly, and get out of here. I don't have that much spare money to treat you to food."

The girl's small body stiffened for a moment when she suddenly found herself holding a slightly warm bread that smelled of wheat.

She first instinctively waved her hands repeatedly, her dirty little face flushed red, her voice barely audible:

"No, no... No need! Young master! I... I didn't mean that... I didn't come here for food..."

"Alright, alright, enough nonsense!"

Wayne waved his hand, frowned, and pretended to be even more impatient.

"Just take it! Look how skinny you are, you look like you'd be blown away by the wind, it's so annoying to look at!"

"Eat quickly! Once you're done, just move away! I'm a germaphobe... I can't stand seeing poor bastards around!"

Under Wayne's continued coercion, the little girl finally stopped refusing.

She carefully held the ordinary bread that she found delicious.

She took a small bite first, and then the sweet, firm texture, mixed with the incredibly authentic taste of coarse wheat bran, instantly broke down her defenses.

"Eat like crazy! Eat like crazy... It's really delicious!"

The girl didn't care about anything else and started eating big mouthfuls, her thin cheeks bulging out. She ate quickly and hurriedly, as if afraid someone would snatch it away.

She didn't stop until she had licked the last crumb of bread into her mouth, still wanting more. She looked up at Wayne. A faint light seemed to have appeared in her previously dim eyes.

She smiled shyly and somewhat embarrassedly, and said in a low voice:

"Young Master...you...you're such a kind person..."

Being described as a good person by such a dirty little girl, to some extent, satisfied a strange psychological need in Wayne.

But the thought of those few coins he had spent made Wayne wince.

Wayne then waved his hand dismissively, his face expressionless.

"Hurry up, hurry up! Don't get in the way!"

However, the little girl who finished her bread did not leave immediately as Wayne had expected.

She stood there, her fingers unconsciously twisting the dirty hem of her clothes again, her small body trembling slightly, as if she were caught in some kind of intense inner struggle.

Her gaze darted back and forth between Wayne's face, his luggage, and the dark alley behind him leading into the unknown depths.

After a few seconds of unbearable silence.

"Young Master, you...you're new to Hel City, aren't you? Judging from your appearance, you must have come from very far away, right?"

The little girl's voice was very soft, almost breathy, as if she was afraid that if she spoke too loudly, she would scare something away or attract unnecessary attention.

When she spoke, she didn't dare to look directly at Wayne for long; she would quickly lower her gaze or glance into the depths of the alley before quickly looking back.

"I...I've seen you walking around here for quite a while...Are you looking for a place to stay?"

"Um... the hotels in town are all... quite expensive. Especially the ones near the main road..."

The girl bit her lower lip, her fingers gripping the hem of her dress tighter, as if she had made up her mind. Her voice was even lower, almost a whisper:

"If...if you don't have enough money...I...I know a place..."

"No, it's not a very good place... It's very cheap, it's... it's on the lower street... But, at least it provides shelter from the wind and rain, and the landlady... sometimes shares some food with us..."

She paused, as if remembering something, and added.

His voice carried a faint, almost desperate attempt to sound useful, yet also betrayed a guilty conscience and a hint of unspoken expectation.

"And...the people who live there sometimes...can get odd jobs and earn a few copper coins..."

After saying that, she seemed to have used up all her courage, lowered her head slightly, and waited anxiously for Wayne's reaction.

The small, thin figure, wrapped in a dirty old smock, looked particularly frail and helpless.

Wayne squinted, his dark pupils silently watching her from the shadows.

There was a few seconds of silence.

Then, Wayne suddenly grinned, revealing an expression that didn't quite fit his current persona.

"Oh? Cheap, provides shelter from the wind and rain, and even... offers work?"

Wayne's voice trailed off, carrying a deliberate, almost convincing interest.

"Okay~"

"Young master, I just happen to need a place to rest."