Chapter 9: Emergency Loaning

Chapter 9: Emergency Loaning And this, my friends, is called gluttony...

"What was I thinking?" he said, belching.

"I feel minor discomfort in the stomach, but aside from that, it was an enjoyable experience."

"Yeah, let's just call it that, grurhp..."

After clearing the last plate, the waitress approached them, her grin eternal. "Did you enjoy your meal, sir, miss?"

"Yes, it was quite pleasant," Ashley replied, nodding for the first time since logging in.

"I'm glad to hear that. Thank you for coming to the Dragon's Belly. Here's your bill."

As he squinted at the waitress, recognition dawned on him. "Miss! Did you used to work at the Town Hall?"

The NPC didn't lose her grin. "That is correct, sir. Until a year ago when the new Mayor rescinded my services. Fortunately, Lord Reddington has employed me here. Anything else I can assist with?" She pushed the floating window toward him, still smiling.

As expected from a basic AI, no hint of resentment.

He glanced at the window, a circle waiting for his thumbprint. It feels like she was sold to the owner. All of them. He quickly looked at the rest of the staff, wondering if the chefs were NPCs too. He pressed his thumb against the virtual bill to pay.

A message popped up.

NO FUNDS

"Huh?"

"Sorry to bother you, sir, but could you try again?"

He did, with the same result.

"What's happening, Alan?" Ashley asked, quietly.

"I... I don't understand..." He muttered, opening his Status tab. "I should have enough to cover everything we..." His eyes widened at his money balance. "200 gold... I only have 200 gold left..."

He glanced at the silent waitress, who was touching the side of her head where a fox ear was located.

She's contacting someone!

"Are you kidding me?!" A slender young man shouted from the second floor. "Where is he?!"

The waitress remained silent, her finger on her communicator, as the man leapt down with ease despite his slender build.

"Wait!" Alan pleaded as the waitress walked away without looking back.

"Is this some sort of prank, kid?" The man grabbed Alan by the collar, lifting him off the ground. Alan could see his golden teeth. "Trying to gain subscribers by pulling stupid pranks on hard workers like me?! Where's your stupid camera?!"

"N-no, sir! I'm not trying to be funny, I swear! I don't even know how to tell a good joke! Like, why did the engineer backstab his coworkers? Because he was sus—!"

"Shut the f—!" The man paused, noticing the number above Alan's head. "Wait a minute. You're level 5? Why?"

Alan also glanced at the man's level.

33?! What?! Double crap!

"Your orders, Alan," Ashley said, her hand on her dagger's hilt.

The man sneered. "Don't try anything stupid."

"He's right," another voice chimed in from a neighboring table where a warrior lounged, casually sipping coffee and resting a spear on his shoulder. "He's not alone."

Alan couldn't see the man's level, which meant only one thing.

"Ashley, lower your weapon. Please, just let me explain! Before we entered, I had 100,000 gold, I swear!"

"A level 5 with that kind of money, yeah right!"

"It's true! Let us compensate you another way then! My partner has a set of silver armor that..."

"I don't want your gear, kid! I want my—!"

"I'll cover his bill," a woman declared from the second floor. Alan looked up to see her in purple robes, puffing on a sleek cigarette holder. "On the condition that he shares his story with me. Come up, young man." She turned and walked back to her table.

The restaurant owner released Alan but blocked his path to the exit. "You heard Lady Monique," he grunted. "Hurry up and go upstairs."

"Alan?" Ashley called, not taking her eyes off the armed User beside her.

"Let's do as she says for now," Alan said, ascending the stairs. On the second floor, Lady Monique sat at a secluded table.

"T-thanks, Lady Monique," Alan said, too nervous to approach, but she gestured for them to sit.

Monique appeared to be in her late twenties, with straight platinum hair and caramel skin. "Don't mistake this as charity, young man. That would ruin my reputation." She eyed their attire while biting into her steak. "A level 5 claiming to have a considerable amount of money, yet dressed so shabbily?"

Alan felt Ashley's cautious gaze.

Yes, I know. I'll be discreet.

"I'm not lying, ma'am, I had that gold before we entered the town. Maybe I got pickpocketed along the way."

"Who would waste their time checking a Low-leveler's pockets?" Monique's bodyguard scoffed, eyeing him disdainfully. "And why does a noob like you still exist, anyway?"

"Don't be harsh, Risette. I believe him," Monique interjected.

"You do?" Alan exclaimed, surprised.

"Why not? I've heard stranger tales during my time here. First, tell me, is 'five' really your level, or is it a glitch?" S~eaʀᴄh the Novёlƒire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

"It's a glitch. Definitely."

"Are you in a guild?" she inquired, making him hesitate. "Oh, don't worry. I just need to know where to find you to collect this debt. Because I'm only lending you the money until you can pay me back."

He nodded. "Shooting Stars."

"What?" Risette squinted. "If this is a joke..."

"It's not," he asserted, deepening his voice.

Risette shrugged. "I don't really care, but if a real Shooting Star hears you claiming that, I doubt you'll get another chance to lie."

"And what's that supposed to mean?!" Alan cried, standing abruptly, causing the table to jolt. "You make them sound like criminals!"

"If the shoe fits..."

"Sit down. We aren't finished here," Monique commanded, her tone unraised yet threatening. "And don't interrupt us again, Risette. I'm the one speaking."

The bodyguard clicked her teeth and folded her arms.

Monique slightly smiled at Alan. "Instead of bickering like children, let's prove you're telling the truth. Mister..."

"Alan... Warden."

"Yes, Mister Alan." She sipped her wine. "Add me to your friend list and send me a message stating you owe me... How much was it, Risette? Go ask."

"Fine," Risette muttered, heading towards the table where the owner still glared at Alan.

If she doesn't question my level any further, this might be a good way out of this.

He watched as the woman began typing on her User Interface, then received a friend request.

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NEW FRIEND REQUEST!!!

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Add Monique Ascencio to your contacts?

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SURE ! / NOPE !

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Risette returned to their table. "The bill is 4800 gold, ma'am."

"Alright, Alan Warden. Write that you owe me 10,000 gold. Consider the extra as interest."

Alan reluctantly wrote the amount in the private message. "I promise to pay you back as soon as possible."

"I'll be waiting," she replied softly, turning to receive a notification. She tapped it and read the message carefully. "This will suffice. You may go now."

Alan didn't hesitate. "Thank you—I... We'll be in touch. Good night." He glanced at the bodyguard one last time.

"Good night," Monique said quietly as the pair descended the stairs, followed by the restaurant owner's watchful eyes. "Very interesting," Monique remarked to her bodyguard, who took a seat.

"Was that clown telling the truth, ma'am?"

Monique stared at her Messenger, where Alan's chat remained open.

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SOCIAL

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From: Alan Warden

Shooting Star's First Officer

I, Alan Warden, owe Monique Ascencio, 10,000 gold...

Thanks for helping me, you wonderful lady! - xoxo

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"We can use this information to our advantage," Monique mused, puffing on her cigarette and exhaling smoke towards the window.