Chapter 401 - Dinner

"So, that device checks people's ability to passively gather Aether?" Ning asked confusedly after learning what the device did from the system. 

According to it, the device was made up of a crystal that was highly concentrated with Aether. The white light was already in the crystal, but it was veiled behind the thick Aether. 

Normally, it would remain that way, but when someone that could passively gather Aether placed their hands on it, the Aether in it drifted towards the surface of the crystal and the light would shine, letting the people know.

The device was an ingenious mechanism, but Ning still couldn't see the purpose behind it at all. "Why would it matter if someone can gather Aether passively or not? It's always the absorption skills that will help them the most anyway," he thought. 

He thought what the middle-aged man did was useless and left the compound without any more thought. 

The day was slowly coming to an end as well, so he decided to go check on the Golden Flour to make sure everything was fine there.

It took him no more than 15 minutes to get there, and when he did, he could see that it was open with few people walking in and out.

The place still seemed lacking in customers compared to the first time he was there, but there were at least people starting to return there.

He walked in and saw only Reever staying by the table at the side. 

"Hey, brother Reever. I hope everything has been well?" Ning asked. 

Reever looked up with surprise. "Brother Ning? Where were you? I tried to find you so much today," he said. 

"I was out wandering the city. Did you need something from me?" he asked.

"I, we wanted to thank you, brother Ning. I don't know how you managed to do it, but thanks to you, this bakery's name has been cleaned again," Reever said.

"Oh, you got things sorted out already huh? That was fast," Ning said. "Also, you don't really need to worry about thanking me. I did it cuz you guys are my friends now."

"No, please let us thank you properly, brother Ning. Tell me if there is anything you want. If I can get it for you, I will," Reever said. 

"Hmm, well I don't really need anything… but, if you do want to do something, then treat me to dinner. How about that? You can consider us on equal terms after that if that's what your heart desires," Ning said. 

"A dinner, huh? Deal. I will get Lisa to make the best meal she can prepare today,"  Reever said.

"I will look forward to it then," Ning said with a smile. "Alright, tell me. What happened with the other guys? Did you get money or something?" 

"Yes, we got the monetary settlement, and so did the theater group. Both the bakery and the mill had to pay us both," Reever said.

"I hope it's a handsome sum for the trouble you guys went through," Ning said.

"It's alright. I might have asked for more, but Lisa would be mad if she found out how much I took, so I settled for a little less," Reever said. 

"Well, as long as it works for you guys," Ning said. 

"I mean, we still lose in the end. The theater decided to end their business with us in fear of something like this happening again. The public opinion on the bakery has already shifted and it will be hard to bring it back to the same way it was too. Sigh, we're at a lesser standing than we were at the start," Reever said. 

Reever shook his head thinking about the labor his wife would have to go through all over again to improve their bakery's standing again. 

"Oh right," Reever said. "Here, I got something for you."

"Hmm, what is it?" Ning asked expectantly. 

Reever took out a piece of paper and handed it to Ning. Ning took the piece of paper and read what was written on it. 

"Herald Of War; 5th Day of the 14th Week of Year 286. What's this?" Ning asked as he turned the paper around and read something else that clued him in on what it was. 

"Is this…?" he asked.

"It's a ticket for the upcoming theater show. The people from the theater gave us free tickets to the show. It's for the seat at the back, but hey, can't complain about something free right?" Reever said. 

"Oh, thanks a lot. I was meaning to go get a ticket to see what the hype was all about. It's… what? 4 days later?" Ning asked as he read the date. 

"Yes, it's at the end of the week," Reever said.

"Hmm, it should be fine. My suit gets ready a day earlier right? It should be more than fine actually," Ning said. 

Ning and Reever talked for a few hours, waiting for the bakery to close. Once it did, Lisa walked out ready to go back home. 

She also wanted to thank Ning, so she was more than happy to make dinner for him. Before going back home, she took the two men through the market to pick out the best of the best meat and vegetables to cook tonight. 

Looking at the ingredients, Ning too started to feel a little bit of anticipation brewing up inside of him. He was looking forward to this dinner as well. 

The couple walked back from the market to their home which was a couple of blocks away from their bakery. Ning looked at the building and didn't see anything different from the other buildings besides them. 

They walked up the stairs and went into their apartment and Reever unlocked the door to their room. 

"Welcome to our humble abode, brother Ning," Reever said as he welcomed Ning. 

"Thank you for having me," Ning said as he walked in, only to be very surprised by what he saw inside. 

He really hadn't expected a place like this to be owned by these two.