It's so painful! So hard! So difficult!

When two people of similar strength fight, if one has an extra dagger, their chances of victory will increase significantly. Furthermore, Bai Lin's strength is not yet comparable to Xifa's, so she is completely at a disadvantage. Her only option now is to block the opponent's dagger with a horizontal punch, giving up her own offensive opportunity, but this would also put her in a completely passive position.

With no other choice, Bai Lin shifted sideways again, swiftly launching an uppercut at the opponent's dagger-wielding arm. As expected, Xifa eventually pulled his hand away, but instead of continuing his attack as Bai Lin had expected, he took a strange step back. With his other hand, he pulled a dagger from his sleeve, then crossed his hands slightly before him. His stance, like a snake spitting its tongue, was menacing and chilling.

Bai Lin also slightly lowered her left hand and began to swing it, while her right hand was placed on the upper side of her chest as usual, and her feet quickly stepped on tiptoe.

Theoretically, Bai Lin's full-speed jab could have easily surpassed the world's top boxers, but against Xifa, her jab could only barely keep up. In this situation, the opponent also pulled out two knives. Given her current strength, striking skills were completely unacceptable.

Therefore, the current battle strategy is naturally to exchange injuries for injuries. As long as the opponent is dragged into the ground through throwing techniques, there will be an opportunity to show off one's skills. However...

With two knives in hand, could he really give her a chance to trade injury for injury?

But even so, we still have to go. Katie occasionally revealed her ring, signaling her preparation for a surprise attack. But Bai Lin still felt the situation was not optimistic. After all, although Katie had not made a move, with Xifa's acumen, a surprise attack would be very difficult.

Just as Bai Lin was about to take action, Xifa suddenly snorted and laughed, and a flying knife flew out with a whistling sound.

"Are you just going to just stand there and watch, Madam Boss?"

Obviously, the knife was aimed at the maid known as the boss lady. From the very beginning, Xifa had intended to force her to take action, but he didn't get the result he wanted in the confrontation with Bai Lin, so he had to take action first.

However, just as his words fell, a loud bang exploded near Bai Lin's ears. Suddenly, a massive black shadow shot out from the corner of Bai Lin's vision, sending Xifa flying as if blasted by a cannon. The office door opened just in time, clearing a path for him. Finally, Xifa's body was blasted into a stone house across the street, creating a large hole in the wall.

Only after the attack ended did Bai Lin get a clear view of the massive black shadow. It was a fist, so large it took up half the height of the small shop. It was composed of some transparent yet deeply black, unidentified substance, with occasional flashes of starlight flickering through it. While it was quite visually appealing, its shape gave off a sense of violence.

The maid's stance was similarly like a giant fist, as she threw a punch in front of her. It was an ordinary straight punch, yet it was heroic. She lowered her hands, and the door closed in due time.

With one punch, Xifa was knocked away. Such strength made Bai Lin stunned. No wonder this man would open his own shop and wait for commissions to come. Bai Lin was so shocked that she didn't know what to say at first. In the end, it was still the maid who spoke first.

"Okay, let's continue talking about our business." The maid first breathed a sigh of relief, then slightly raised the corners of her mouth, reaching a level that was barely enough to do business. She put her hands on the bar and looked at Bai Lin with her fiery eyes.

"Uh...if I don't finish off this kind of person, will there be any problems?" Bai Lin asked tentatively. Although he felt a little embarrassed as soon as he said it, after all, Xifa was most likely the one who brought trouble upon himself.

"There's nothing we can do. Even though he was injured, he still managed to escape immediately. There are many of his companions hiding in this city, and it would be a bit troublesome to deal with them all. I've heard a lot about this assassin leader who doesn't even hide the fact that he's an assassin. I should have thought he had some strength."

The maid waved her hand nonchalantly and said something terrifying in a calm tone.

"I thought I could kill him with one punch, but it seems I was a bit arrogant."

The sound of swallowing saliva came from Bai Lin's throat. Was this person unaware of his own strength, or was he really living a very Buddhist life? She couldn't figure it out, but it seemed that this maid had no hostility towards her at all, and even had the intention of making friends with her and Katie. Obviously, this was a good thing.

Katie silently moved to the center and thanked Xifa for the favor. The maid casually waved her hand, indicating it was a trivial matter. She pulled two cups from under the cupboard and a kettle from the bar, filled them with tea, and pushed them toward the two of them.

"Come, have some tea, please."

Bai Lin and the other girl whispered a thank you. Bai Lin raised her cup. As the tea reached her lips, she felt a scalding sensation. If she had a cat's tongue in her previous life, she would have been burned for a while, but now she could drink it quickly. The tea tasted bland, nothing special. As Bai Lin put down the cup, he vaguely saw the maid's fleeting look of disappointment.

Seeing Bai Lin put down the cup, the maid who had been staring at her asked, "How is it?"

"It's pretty good. I don't know much about tea." When asked this, Bai Lin didn't know what to say, so he answered in an ordinary way.

The maid didn't show much reaction. Her eyes met Bai Lin's and she slowly said, "Someone once said that getting to know someone starts with their name. My name is Kong, Kong as in night sky. What's yours?"

The tone was cheerful and lively, but also had a hint of the reservedness and mature charm of a maid. Although Bai Lin felt a little puzzled that the other party was so concerned about him, he still answered with certainty.

"My name is Bai Lin, and the one next to me is Katie. We are traveling together."

Sora's smile remained undimmed, "Looking at your skills, have you ever practiced before? Or do you rely on it for a living?"

Chapter 158: Sora's Invitation

Bai Lin nodded, "I have the recommendation letter for joining the Knights Order in my hand, so I shouldn't have any problem making a living from it."

"So you haven't joined the group yet, right? Do you really have the financial resources to pay for the magic props?" Kong asked.

"We have some rare metals here, and we hope to pawn them with you for some money so we can trade."

Seeing that Kong had brought up the subject of money, Katie jumped in. Proposing a trade in rare metals was, in itself, a subtle implication that she was short on cash, so bringing it up only at the right moment would minimize the loss of favorability.

As expected, Kong nodded directly, then walked to the entrance and exit side of the bar, and said as he walked,

"Of course. However, I have very high standards for these things and I have a very good eye. It's not that easy to fool me."

Before Bai Lin and the others could refute, Kong waved her hand, and a large door opened from the wall, emitting a strange white light. Then she said,

"Come in and talk slowly. There might be more trouble outside. If there are too many troubles, it will really affect our mood."

As he spoke, Kong stepped into the door. Bai Lin tilted his head and said, "Wouldn't it lead to the outside if the door was opened like this?"

Indeed, the cabin was small, with a door in the side wall. Logically, it led outside. Katie shook her head, "It's a space door."

"It connects to an unknown space, but simply put, opening the connection between two places in an instant is already a very powerful performance. Moreover, I just noticed that she used the ring on her hand to quickly cast the spell, which is a magic prop."

"It seems she's not only powerful, but also quite skilled in crafting. However, judging by her skills, I suspect our few rare metals won't be of much use to her. We'd better be as gentle as possible when we talk to her later. After all, she's showing respect for us by offering something like this, and we might not even buy anything..."

"I understand," Bai Lin replied casually. After hearing what Katie said, it was indeed true. But he always felt that the maid named Kong had an inexplicable enthusiasm for the two of them. Although her mood changes were strange and confusing, Bai Lin felt that she had never had any hostile thoughts towards her.

After casually gathering his thoughts, Bai Lin stepped into the spatial portal, followed closely by Katie. The world beyond the portal was truly a different world. As soon as they stepped inside, they felt a surge of heat. Their feet were paved with fine white pebbles, flanked by blooming flowers.

Directly in front of her was a vast expanse of green mountains and clear waters. Overall, the scenery was well planned. Bai Lin glanced at it casually, then turned to the side and happened to see Kong on the side.

Standing beside the flowers, she leaned half-sideways, her gaze fixed on nothingness, lost in thought. Her cherry-pink eyes, illuminated by the blood-stained sunset, held a unique allure, tinged with longing and melancholy. Her long hair, falling to her waist, danced freely in the wind. The salty sea breeze was dispelled by the beauty's fragrance, leaving behind a landscape painting centered on nothingness.

Seeing Bai Lin and the other person coming, Kong came back to his senses and smiled at Bai Lin. His sorrow immediately disappeared. The blooming flowers blew waves of petals in the gentle evening breeze, and the overwhelming warmth embraced Bai Lin like these petals.

At that moment, Bai Lin seemed to have touched something deep in Kong's heart. She wanted to step forward and do something, but the other party's moving voice was like a basin of cold water poured on Bai Lin's head.

"Let's go."

In a trance, the warmth slipped from my fingertips, and the petals seemed to have never fluttered. The flowers swayed calmly in the wind, as if nothing had happened. Everything was like a dream, and when I opened my eyes, it was gone.

-

Sora led the two of them into a modern, Western-style villa. The place where they were standing before was just the small courtyard of the villa.

The villa by the sea was quite large, and the interior decoration was also luxurious. In the original world, even the Bai Lin family, who were quite wealthy, could only rent a house like this for a while when they were on vacation.

In this other world, the price of the land wasn't a big consideration; it was more about the building materials and technology. And in this other world full of monsters, it was actually quite impressive that such a thing could be built.

Led by Sora, the three of them sat at a three-person table on the balcony outside the living room. A parasol provided some shade, and from there, they could see the beach to the side.

"Here, take it out." Kong said.

Bai Lin and Katie exchanged glances, then immediately dumped all the rare metals onto the table. It was a lot, but in reality, it couldn't even fill up such a small round table. Kong immediately frowned and picked up various stones, examining them one by one. After a brief identification, he sighed.

"If you know how to make props, you should be able to make something quite practical with the quality of these metals. Unfortunately, the prop maker will definitely charge a large labor fee, which could easily be three, four, or even five times the price of the raw materials. I'm also a relatively well-known maker, so even if I give you a discount, it still won't be enough."

Although she was not surprised by the result, Bai Lin was still a little disappointed, but she did not show it in her tone. She just said calmly,

"Forget it then. Thank you, flight attendant. We'll come back to you to make it when we have money."

Kong seemed to have noticed something and smiled. "Although I can't help you for nothing, I do have a suggestion. Since you're short of money, how about helping me with something?"

"The stewardess is so powerful, is there any use for us?" Katie seemed to have heard something and asked.

Sora shrugged helplessly. "Why would I want to work if I can just sit in the shop and collect the commission? I might have a pretty good reputation, but no one has a clear idea of ​​me. Who wants to work when they can be lazy? Of course, you're free to choose the commissions I receive."

"What I mean is, if you agree to help me share the commission, I will directly make a magic prop for you free of charge as a gift. What do you think? Do you have any ideas?" She used such generous conditions to seduce the two of them.

Chapter 159 Accepting the Commission

Bai Lin didn't know how to react to this sudden invitation, so he could only look at Katie. Katie seemed to have expected Bai Lin to ask for help, and after responding to her with a look of disappointment, she turned to Kong.

"Can you tell me more about the work arrangements and the commission?"

Katie's tone became calmer, and her choice of words was quite appropriate, but she finally shifted from casual conversation to business matters. But despite this, Sora's tone didn't change much.

"Well, other private commissions are custom-made, usually with a commission ranging from 20 to 50 percent. I'll just take 10 percent from you, how about that? And as for work hours, just make time to come, no pressure. But I won't give you the props until you've completed at least one commission."

Although it was generally said to be between twenty and fifty, neither Bai Lin nor Katie had a concrete idea of ​​how much it actually was. They looked at each other, unsure how to respond. If they suggested delaying the response for a while to gather more information, Katie would worry that it would be too rude. At this awkward moment, Bai Lin suddenly nodded.

"I accept."

Bai Lin's sudden decision surprised Katie slightly. She was mainly worried about being caught working illegally because she didn't understand the market. But Bai Lin thought, since even Katie valued the magic props, then it was obviously not a loss to take one at a time. Besides,

For some reason, Sora gave her a very friendly feeling, like treating someone she knew. If it was a kind of magic of suggestion, then Katie would surely have noticed it. In this regard, Bai Lin decided to trust Sora.

Sora smiled with satisfaction and nodded.

"Then how about I help you exchange these rare metals for cash?"

Although she had been a little worried about the deception before, after a brief thought, Katie also felt that someone as powerful as Kong obviously had no need to deceive them. However, if she really said it, it would be too good for her. Katie couldn't help but narrow her eyes slightly and thought,

Bai Lin, this guy can't attract love just by relying on his looks, right?

At that moment, Sora's eyes suddenly met Katie's, startling her. She hadn't been staring at her intentionally, so could it be that she had been caught in that momentary wariness of her rival?

But then, Katie saw the clarity behind Kong's eyes. There was no love there. Although they were pure and clear eyes, hidden behind the light was a tangled mess and unspeakable bitterness.

"Okay, thank you for your help." Seeing that Katie didn't say anything, Bai Lin's voice came from the side.

Sora responded, then turned and left his seat, apparently to get some money. Waves crashed against the rocky shore, and a salty breeze blew through the sunset glow. The setting sun stained the azure waters, leaving behind a darker hue. Katie closed her eyes, no longer gazing at the beautiful sky.

Perhaps Sora's eyes are just as beautiful, but beneath that sky, perhaps it is the surging tide.

-

After leaving the office, the two began their journey home. As the streets gradually darkened, the number of people thinned out. While the lights were still bright at night, it was clear this wasn't a city that never sleeps; people still had to work hard to make a living.

Although it was still early, the two of them went to bed very early in the village, so they went back to their room to rest. Tonight, they had two beds, and they slept in separate beds, which was a rare occasion.

On their first day in the city, both of them saw many new things that brightened their eyes. Although Bai Lin had successfully explained his attitude towards Katie, there was still a sense of awkwardness in the present, even though there was no barrier at all. It was tangled and awkward.

That night, Bai Lin went to bed quite late. So late that when Katie woke her up the next morning, she was probably a little late. Perhaps the quilt was too soft, and she wanted to rest, so she decided to sleep in.

Bai Lin, dragged downstairs by Katie, immediately spotted Andel sitting there. Bai Lin's wake-up time was several hours later than in the village, and it was Andel who had the innkeepers go up to inform Katie. Even then, Bai Lin yawned a little. After all, Bai Lin was the type to sleep until lunchtime.

Today, Andel was dressed more casually, in her usual white blouse, black cape jacket, and shorts. Her energetic adventurer look highlighted Andel's toned figure. After Katie sat down, she casually ordered some food and asked Andel if she had eaten. She said she had already, declining her offer.

After dinner, the three of them began their so-called city tour. Aundair first introduced the city's overall appearance. She took out a map and said to the two,

"The city is divided into two districts. The lower district is relatively rich, which is where we are now. But..." Andel suddenly lowered her voice and said to the two of them,

"People like you with black eyes, like Katie, are discriminated against in downtown... I'm not entirely sure why, but there are always these people around, so I'm telling you in advance."

Katie nodded, looking somewhat dejected. It was difficult to escape racial discrimination as soon as she left the village. Bai Lin looked at Katie, who seemed somewhat lost, not knowing what to say. He simply stroked her head gently to offer comfort.

"In the upper part of town, there are a lot of people with black hair and black eyes. There's almost no racial discrimination there, and people of all races live here. But the policies there are a little different from here. We'll talk about that later. Today, the goal is to visit first."

Andel tried to lighten the mood by speaking in a relaxed tone. But Katie wasn't too upset. She'd gotten used to it after all these years, so she didn't say much.

"Today's goal is to first show you the school and the Knights' Order. Since you're going on business, this will be a lot more convenient. Then there's the largest church in the entire city. Knights and magicians like you all should go there to pay your respects. Perhaps you'll receive some divine revelation."

"Okay, now that I've introduced the itinerary, do you have any questions?"

Bai Lin, who had just woken up, raised his hand in a somewhat neurotic manner, "Since I have to report, should I put on my armor and set off?"

Chapter 160 Encountering Obstacles

"Your outfit... forget it, just put it on." After thinking for a moment, Andel gave an affirmative answer.

After packing up casually, Bai Lin, now in armor, set off with the other two. The streets seemed a bit busier during the day than at night, but still not as lively as the prime afternoon hours. After all, not every stall was open so early in the morning. However, the White Hair Magic Office was open, suggesting Kong was quite diligent.

Generally speaking, the architectural styles of the downtown area they were currently in weren't very diverse, but there were some particularly luxurious and tall buildings. While not as impressive as Sora's mansion somewhere, there were even guards at the entrance. The gate was locked, likely requiring a communication with the guards to gain entry.

"This is the Crown Palace." Andel explained.

"Guanjue Mansion?" Bai Lin asked in confusion.

"In our city, there is a council of thirteen supreme rulers, known as the Crown Lords. They work together to discuss major city affairs and contribute to the city."

Katie tilted her head, puzzled, "If they're contributors, why do they all live in such large houses? Shouldn't there be more left for the public?"

Aundair opened her mouth, about to explain, when the door to the mansion opened. A richly dressed lady emerged. Judging by her appearance, she was already forty years old. Yet, her slightly plump features still revealed a touch of elegance. Her signature blonde hair and blue eyes, paired with a variety of luxurious accessories, exuded an air of elegance from the moment she appeared.

The noblewoman was surrounded by six men, all dressed in uniform and armed, like sword-wielding guards. It looked as if she was about to leave. Katie frowned, and Bai Lin also felt a sense of uncertainty. It seemed as if this was still a world of the aristocracy. In this near-apocalyptic world, how could humanity still maintain such a system?

Although Bai Lin is a staunch proletarian, in reality, her concept of politics is still quite vague. After all, for someone who has almost seamlessly transitioned from student to otaku, it is quite difficult for her to have her own unique understanding of politics.

So, she could only frown, not changing her mind. Since she had come to another world, she figured she'd become a famous adventurer or some other powerful figure, right? But on closer inspection, perhaps a political career was an option?

After arriving in a different world, one must indeed think about the path one should take. Just as Bai Lin was about to say something and leave this rather opulent mansion, he noticed that the noblewoman was staring intently at Katie. Katie, unwilling to be outdone, responded directly, and their eyes met.

Could it be that they had overheard my question and were planning to do something to Katie? Bai Lin guessed. The noblewoman took two steps forward, and the guards beside her followed suit, their swords drawn. Seeing this, Bai Lin took a step forward and, with a wide hand, blocked Katie's path.

She couldn't tell what the other party was planning, but it was always best to be prepared. Bai Lin could feel the guards' eyes sizing her up and down. Although each of them had the air of a master poised for action, she wasn't afraid at all. After all, she had done nothing wrong, so she was willing to believe that the other party wouldn't dare to attack directly.

"Excuse me, is there anything wrong?" Bai Lin asked. If there was a possibility of communication, she still didn't want to cause a conflict.

The noble lady seemed a little dazed, but suddenly came to her senses when Bai Lin asked her a question. She shook her head and waved her hands, signaling the guards to retreat. Then she raised her hands to her chest, looking like a noble lady, but what came out of her mouth was a more energetic voice.

"I'm sorry to have disturbed you three. Everything is fine now. May I ask if you can give me a way through?" said the lady.

As the lady spoke, she still seemed to be staring at Katie, making no effort to hide the fact that her actions were so different from her words. Although he didn't know why, since he had received permission to leave, Bai Lin quickly nodded and said goodbye, then left with the others. On the way, Bai Lin also asked Katie if she knew the lady.

Katie shook her head. "I have no recollection of her at all, but just like how Kong Ai stared at you yesterday, there was also an inexplicable intensity in her eyes. The difference is that I could tell at a glance that she was just an ordinary person with little fighting ability. Not only were her thoughts all superficial, her muscles were also useless, and her magic was like a barren wilderness."

"But my intuition tells me that this matter is not over yet."

"Why do you say that?" Bai Lin asked with some doubts.