Book 5: Chapter 93: How Generous!
Jeorgetown City was buzzing with excitement! News had spread like wildfire, reaching every corner of the city within just an hour.
Clair looked at the flier in front of him, feeling dismayed. It read:
To all the esteemed heroes of the world,
Prince Yeager, the Eighth Prince, has graciously reserved thirteen finest restaurants for your enjoyment. All participants of the Great Celestial Rite’s Martial God Tournament are cordially invited to dine at these top-class establishments free of charge.
No time limit! No restrictions on the number of people! Indulge yourselves to the fullest!
“Thirteen restaurants, all free of charge?” Clair calculated the cost in his head and was astounded by the astronomical figure. He skeptically scanned the flier again. “Is there really such a generous person in the world?”
“Hey there, where are you from?” A muscular man distributing the flyers approached Clair, putting his arm around his shoulders.
“Shadow Theocracy.”
“No wonder!” the big man exclaimed, slapping his thigh as if he had figured something out. “It’s not surprising that an outsider doesn’t know that Prince Yeager is well-known for his generosity in our Holy Dragon Empire!”
“Really?”
“Absolutely! Why would we fabricate stories about a member of the imperial family? I’m just a laborer. I wouldn’t waste my time singing praises of him if it wasn’t the truth. I have nothing to gain from it!”
The muscular man gave Clair a thumbs up and continued earnestly, “Everyone in the Holy Dragon Empire is well aware of the Eighth Prince’s outstanding character. He helps the old ladies with crossing the road and does all those small acts of kindness. Not long ago, at the Reception Building, the one with an anti-magic array, a half-saint level vicious beast broke in and caused panic among the participants. But the Eighth Prince didn’t hesitate. He rolled up his sleeves and beat the beast to death with his fists even though he’s a mage!”
Clair gasped upon learning how formidable the prince truly was. He would be a tough opponent in the tournament.
“Then this flier is...”all new stories at n0ve/lbi/n(.)com
“Real, of course! If you still don’t believe it, why don’t you go to the address mentioned on it and see for yourself? The Eighth Prince has reserved all the finest restaurants in the city. They’re easy to find!”
“Maybe... I should do just that,” Clair thought to himself. He had come all the way from the Shadow Theocracy, and his funds were running low.
“Alright, I’ll go and take a look. If it’s indeed true, then I, Clair, will be forever grateful to his generosity.”
“Please, I insist on canceling the tea drinking session. Plain water will do just fine!”
◆◇◆◇◆◇◆
Clair stood at the entrance of the restaurant, staring at the sparkling golden words that read “The Eight Prince Restaurant” on the front door. Even someone as well mannered as him nearly blurted out a “what the f̲u̲c̲k̲” at it.
The restaurant literally lived up to its regal name, with the signboard even crafted from solid gold!
Clair marveled at the size of the gold piece, estimating its worth to be at least a thousand gold coins.
As soon as he stepped inside, a beautiful maid approached him and respectfully bowed. “Welcome, please present your invitation letter for the Great Celestial Rite.”
While the maid was bowing, Clair’s attention was immediately drawn to her deep cleavage. The alluring sight nearly made his eyes pop out, but he quickly averted his gaze and tried to remain composed as he fumbled to retrieve the black invitation from his chest pocket.
After checking the invitation letter, the maid led Clair into the dining hall. As they entered, Clair noticed that all the private rooms in the elegant pavilion were already occupied, leaving only a few empty seats scattered in the corners of the hall.
As Clair navigated through the sea of guests, he recognized many of them from a book he had read. It was titled “Enemies To Watch Out For In The Martial God Tournament”. It seemed that these individuals were indeed renowned figures.
“May I take your order, sir?” The maid handed him a menu book.
Clair casually flipped through its pages, impressed by the variety of enticing dishes offered in the restaurant. However, the prices listed below each dish were exorbitant, far beyond what Clair could afford with his limited funds. To his surprise, each price was now crossed out in red, replaced with the number “0” in bold and attention-grabbing font.
It was only at this moment, Clair was finally convinced that he could get a free meal here.
“I’ll have this one, and this one... oh, and this one too.” Clair selected a few of the most expensive dishes, knowing that he would not have to pay a single coin.
“Very well. Please wait a moment.” The maid quickly jotted down the names of the chosen dishes in her notebook. With a dutiful smile, she bowed slightly once again.
“The dishes will be served shortly. However, I must remind you that although meals in this restaurant are free, wastage of food is not allowed.”
“What happens if I can’t finish my food?” Clair asked curiously.
“If there are leftovers...”