BXBX NOVEL Chapter 112 - 105 Reunion by the Roadside_2
Chapter 112 - 105 Reunion by the Roadside_2
Even Jasmine had become less self-conscious about her table manners while eating.
Together, they had effortlessly consumed half as much more food than usual, leaving Sharia, Tina, and Ayla completely astonished.
They had only missed one morning meal, but their appetites had already ballooned so much?
Luckily, the smart kitchen provided more than enough food, or else it wouldn’t have been enough.
After lunch, they rested for a bit, then started to work.
Plants and herbs left untreated during the morning awaited Link’s hand.
It was yet another busy afternoon.
Only when the horizon was tinged with the redness of evening was Link able to continue his work on the plants and herbs.
Business had been booming for two days, straining various aspects of their work.
At the conference, the six potions launched for level one and two wizards were almost sold out.
Link’s workload had thus significantly increased.
However, only Link had spent over a month working double time. Having honed his skills, he was much more efficient than when he first started, enabling him to keep up.
But the Serene Wizard would still need to consider bringing in additional help.
After next week, Link and Jasmine wouldn’t be able to work part-time at the store.
They would rest for a couple of days before the spring term began.
What? The New Year?
In the Wizard World, this is not celebrated; it’s just an update on the calendar.
Under the evening glow, Link and Jasmine left the Potion store and walked toward the platform.
“Jasmine Kidman, Link Grande, it really is you, wait a moment, wait a moment.”
Just as they were about to board, Link suddenly heard someone calling for him and Jasmine. The voice was rather familiar.
Quickly searching in his Hall of Memories, Link immediately recognized the voice as that of Jiminy Hendrix.
He was one of the five who had left the Quete Archipelago and later went to the Metal and Flame Business Society. (See Chapter 6)
“Why is he here?”
Following the sound, he found Jiminy Hendrix waving his right hand, causing Link to wonder.
At the same time, he also waved at Jiminy Hendrix and walked towards him.
“Jiminy, long time no see.”
Link greeted him, extending his right hand first.
“Yeah, it’s been almost half a year!”
Jiminy gripped his hand tightly, and didn’t want to let go for a long time.
He seemed genuinely excited to see Link and Jasmine again.
“Jiminy, are you doing well?”
Jasmine also walked up and warmly greeted him.
In a unfamiliar place, even if one had stayed for a while, it’s still foreign. So, meeting companions from the same place was considered a rare joy.
“Hello, Jasmine. I’m glad to see you again.”
Jiminy let go of Link’s hand, wiped his sweaty palms on his clothes, and then cautiously shook hands with Jasmine.
“Do you have free time now? Let’s find a place to catch up.”
After exchanging pleasantries, Link took the initiative to suggest a change of location since the street corner was not a place for reminiscing.
Jasmine’s green eyes also fell on Jiminy.
“Yes, yes, yes,” replied Jiminy, nodding enthusiastically.
He said. “I came here with a transport team from the society. I have some free time now. I just have to go back to sleep tonight.”
“Okay.”
Link looked around and chose a direction according to the map in his mind, “Come on, I know there’s a nice little shop nearby that’s great for a chat.”
“Okay, okay, okay.”
Jiminy agreed enthusiastically.
This reaction made Link secretly take note.
Jiminy’s way of speaking had significantly changed since they left the Quete Archipelago and were en route to the West Coast.
Some powerful stimulus must have triggered this huge change.
The small shop was not far from the platform, it was just a few minutes’ walk. They specialized in hot drinks and snacks. It was one of the places Link told himself he couldn’t afford when he first walked around the East District.
However, today he ran into someone from his hometown, and the first dividend from the Silver Star Flower’s new germination method had been issued, and there were still hybrid breeding dividends to follow, so he didn’t mind being extravagant.
Link, considered the host, ordered a combo set of a hot drink and a snack for each of them after being seated by the waiter.
“It’s so expensive here.”
Jimmy watched the waiter walk away. Restlessly shifting in his seat, he voiced his discomfort in a near whisper.
“It’s also our first time in such a high-end place.”
Recognizing Jimmy’s uneasiness, Link reassured him, “It’s a happy day. Jasmine and I get to bask in your glory and experience some high-end consumption.”
“Yeah, it’s our first time here too.”
Jasmine chimed in.
Indeed, it was her first visit to this small restaurant, and certainly the first extravagant expense since she entered Ravensmouth College.
Magic stones are hard to come by.
The waiter quickly served their meals.
“Wow, this is nice!”
Jimmy picked up his bowl carefully, sipped a little soup, savored the flavors with his eyes squinted, then sighed with satisfaction, “This tastes amazing, and it’s even better seeing you guys again.”
As he spoke, a sadness flickered in Jimmy’s eyes.
He put down his bowl and said somberly:
“It’s a pity Chris is dead.”
“What?”
Jasmine immediately let out a startled gasp.
The news had come too suddenly.
Link looked at him, waiting for Jimmy to continue.
Jimmy let out a somber sigh. “A month ago, I was travelling with a caravan to deliver goods to Shadow City. I had to search for a while before I found Christina. She told me that not long after they entered Shadow City, probably less than two months, Chris got involved in a conflict over a resource.”
They had thought that giving up the resource and avoiding conflict would end the debacle. But, the other party was relentless, pursuing Chris and even menacing Christina.
Fed up, Chris challenged the individual to a duel, which resulted in both parties critically injured.
Without magic stones or money to buy potions, he just died.
Even…”
At this point, Jimmy’s voice quivered. “He was even recycled by Shadow City without leaving a complete corpse behind!”
Link knew how Ravensmouth College handled the bodies of the Storm Sea New Blood who died in the West District and remained unfazed by the news.
But it was different for Jasmine.
The news came as a significant shock to her.
If not for the shocking education she received that morning which matured her somewhat, Jasmine would have found it much harder to digest the news.
“What happened after that?” Jasmine, although visibly saddened, remained calm. “How is Christina? Is she doing well?”
“Christina had a rough patch.”
Jimmy let out another sigh. “Then, she ended up under the protection of a member of a prominent Shadow City family. That’s when her situation changed.”
Jasmine was no naive girl, and she understood what Jimmy did not openly say.
“Ah…”
But apart from letting out a long sigh, there was nothing else Jasmine could do.
Link waited for Jimmy’s mood to recover a bit before asking, “How about you, Jimmy? How are you doing?”
Jimmy’s face turned slightly unnatural, mildly embarrassed.
He picked up a piece of pastry, carefully lifted it to his mouth with the support of his left hand, and nibbled it leisurely, thoroughly relishing it.
Seeing this, Link decided to back off from asking any more.
The expression was telling enough—there was a story and some problems, or maybe his recent situation hadn’t been so good.
He sipped some of the hot drink and tasted a bit of the pastry, relishing in the satisfying flavor and the slight tremor in his spiritual and magic powers.
You get what you pay for.
Half a top-tier magic stone was a fair price, and no part of it was ill-spent.
Jimmy meticulously finished the pastry in his hand, leaving no crumbs. He scooped the leftovers into his mouth and savored the taste, washing it down with a sip of his drink.
After enjoying the delightful flavors, he suddenly gulped down the rest of his hot drink quickly.
He put the cup down, picked up the napkin next to his utensils, wiped the smudge from the corner of his mouth and gave a bashful smile, saying, “I’ve never had pastries this delicious, or drinks this good. I’m sorry you had to spend so much.”
Link laughed and said, “The most important thing is to be happy.”
“Yeah.”
Jimmy agreed, repeating, “Isn’t that the truth? Being happy is the most important thing.”
However, seeing the bitterness in Jimmy’s eyes, Link thought, you probably want to say…
Staying alive is the most important!