"Diing."
The underground city's liquid funds - two million and sixty thousand.
Yuxiaoxiao sat in a tavern, the best place for business in the auction house according to Slime.
Apart from the names of the ingredients, Yuxiaoxiao hadn't seen most of them before. The cooking methods mainly involved frying.
Yuxiaoxiao ordered mashed potatoes.
Sitting across from her, Slime held the menu and pointed to a picture of a strawberry ice cream, saying, "I want this!"
In the afternoon at three o'clock, there weren't many customers in the restaurant.
The waitress in a maid costume quickly brought their food - mashed potatoes, strawberry ice cream, corn soup, and pan-seared lamb chops.
"Enjoy your meal, sirs," the waitress said sweetly.
Yuxiaoxiao cut a small piece of lamb chop with a knife and put it in her mouth. The cooked meat, combined with the sauce, slid into her mouth, and a look of surprise appeared on her face, "It's very good."
The small tavern only had one floor, and it was said that the owner had lived in Marble City for more than thirty years.
The outside street was still bustling with people, and occasionally, young magic apprentices could be seen passing through the crowd.
At the back was a girl with short hair.
She was wearing a light green robe, holding a wand that looked like a withered vine.
The members in front were discussing something animatedly.
The girl seemed out of place among them.
"Is that her?" Yuxiaoxiao still remembered the girl's appearance.
She was from the squad of magic apprentices who had come to the underground city before.
She was said to be a healing mage.
"Xiaoxiao, what are you looking at?" Slime lightly licked the ice cream in front of it, its eyes sparkling, "Mmm! This, this ice cream, it's amazing!"
After a few mouthfuls, it finished off the strawberry ice cream.
Pink gradually spread over Slime's body, making it look like a cute and bouncy pink ball.
Yuxiaoxiao looked at it in surprise. Slime had turned pink?
It's just like it was just pulled from the dye vat.
But on second thought, slimes are originally translucent, so maybe it just changed color temporarily after eating something cold.
It was holding onto the ice cream cup, unwilling to let go.
I've been in the dungeon for five years, and this is the first time I've been to a proper tavern to eat!
Sob, feeling like a steward is so good!
It asked softly, "Can I come to eat again next time?"
"If you want to come, you can come anytime."
Yu Xiaoxiao opened the Yi-Neng system, looking at the small screen in front of her, and her fingers swiped through the employment list.
"It shows here that you also get paid every month."
The slime cried.
"My master has never paid me."
"Maybe it's because the Yi-Neng Crystal wasn't activated before?" Yu Xiaoxiao took a spoonful of mashed potatoes.
Biting the spoon, she looked at the lonely name on the employment list, which had only the name of the slime.
There were so many dwarves in the dungeon, but it seemed like they weren't in the employment list.
Dwarves seemed to be considered the "indigenous residents" of the dungeon, but their era had passed thirteen thousand years ago.
Once, they also had various welfare benefits.
Living happily with other races in the dungeon.
After learning the history, Yu Xiaoxiao also discovered one thing—
As a super large territory, the dungeon was almost self-sufficient in all its operations due to its vast size.
Under such circumstances, it was equivalent to a small empire.
And as a mature, independent entity, the circulation of currency was indispensable.
A thought flashed through her mind.
Her hand holding the spoon trembled slightly.
Forcing down the excitement in her heart, she took another bite of mashed potatoes and put away the Yi-Neng system.
"Let's go," she said, "we can go back now."
She couldn't wait to discuss with Lord Lorde!
The slime stared at the empty ice cream cup in front of it. Seeing how it still seemed reluctant, Yu Xiaoxiao said softly, "I can make this too."
Every summer, the family made homemade ice cream.
Mom said that homemade food was the healthiest and safest to eat.
However, she still called the maid in the tavern.
"Hello, please help me pack two portions."
The slime twisted with joy, and its faint pink color gradually faded, returning to its previous green appearance.
The maid quickly wrapped the ice cream.
Yu Xiaoxiao took it and went to the front desk to pay. The total cost of today's meal was 102 silver coins.
After receiving the money from the girl, she smiled and said, "Welcome next time."
-
The dungeon.
The red imp who had previously sneaked into the restaurant to eat cream cake flew in through the crack in the door again.
Flapping its wings, it stopped in front of the wardrobe.
Inside was a large fresh cream cake with two small cherries on top. It approached, salivating, and secretly opened the cupboard.
The restaurant was pitch black.
The red imp brought the cream cake out and couldn't resist eating one of the red cherries.
Just as it was about to leave, it suddenly saw a person sitting under the counter.
It was shocked.
The cream cake almost fell from its hand!
"Lolo, are you done—" its companion also flew over.
"Was it you guys yesterday too?" the person sitting on the floor suddenly spoke.
The later red imp showed a wary expression.
It shielded Lolo behind it.
"It was us, what's the matter? You didn't close the door yourself, and you don't allow people in?"
This is a strange guy wearing a mask.
No one knows how long he has been sitting here.
It seems like he just arrived, but also like a century has passed.
He was wearing a dark coat that wrapped his body tightly. Except for his white fragmented hair, nothing else could be seen.
As picked something out of his pocket.
Putting it on the floor in front of him, he said, "Signed."
Two red imps were stunned.
One of them bowed his head and saw a familiar "employment contract."
Back in the capital, it used to dream of having one! But now, as it suddenly saw one, it grabbed its companion and prepared to leave.
- The legendary dungeon is known to be cannibalistic!
A little guy named Lolo seemed to really want this contract.
They had been wandering around, wanting to settle down somewhere, but Zozo disagreed.
Holding onto the little cake, it flew outside with Zozo.
The young man sitting on the ground did nothing.
The tail, bound with white bandages behind him, slowly swayed, and the door of the small restaurant closed tightly in an instant.
Not even a crack could be found.
The two little ones wanted to fly away from the window, but they saw a layer of gray mist there.
Just the smell of it made them feel as if they were suffocating.
They fell from the air, lying helpless on the ground.
They couldn't move!
The two little ones could not move because of this mist, and one of them even showed a fearful look in its eyes, with a hint of moisture on the surface.
"What are you—what are you going to do?" said Zozo, a male red imp, gnashing its teeth.
It watched the man stand up and walk towards them.
The gray mist gradually dissipated.
He bowed his head, the clown mask on his face seemed to be smiling happily, but it felt particularly hideous.
As did not answer.
He didn't know where he got a birdcage from.
Squatting down, he threw the two immobilized red imps into it.
After closing the cage door.
Zozo showed an expression of disbelief.
-Someone actually locked up the red imps?!
He used one hand to push open the door in front of him, holding the cage, and the wind outside blew in, causing his white hair to be disheveled.
There was a road already laid out outside.
Every few meters, there would be a streetlight.
From the direction he was standing, the road extended straight into the distance.
Not far away was the exclusive track for the underground city.
The trains that usually stop here have not yet returned. The entire underground city was as desolate as ever, but not as silent as it used to be.
Probably…
He stood in front of the restaurant's door but could hear, from a far distance, the sound of construction coming from the Locke tribe.
Dong dong dong…
Tiang tiang tiang…
There was a strange rhythm to it.
Ding.
Underground city funds received- Twenty million and sixty thousand.
Twenty million…
As slightly raised his hand, pulling up the hood on his clothes, the clown mask hidden in the shadows.
Not a single penny less.
The red imps punched and kicked in the birdcage, clamoring to get out, but because of inhaling the gray mist, they didn't have much strength.
He put the birdcage on the steps.
Took a couple of steps back, and after looking at it for a while, he picked it up and placed it next to the railroad tracks.
But, it doesn't feel eye-catching enough.
He thought for a while.
Ultimately, he decided to hang the birdcage on the door.
Red fairy: "……"
These shop fairies that are so common, why would they be hung up so conspicuously like trophies???
A member of the Locke tribe pushed a small cart over.
"Is Master Xiaoxiao here?" The little dwarf stood on tiptoe and looked towards the dark restaurant.
Hmm, seems like she's not in.
"Who are you...?" It looked at the unfamiliar young man with confusion.
A strange-looking person.
Also wearing a scary mask.
It took a step back without a trace, and pretended to say in a fierce manner:
"The current underground city is not a place for anyone to come! Hurry up and leave while Master Xiaoxiao and the Third Prince haven't spoken yet! If you dare to act recklessly, don't blame me for not being polite!"
"As." The young man's voice was a bit hesitant, but very pleasant: "I, apprentice."
"The apprentice of the small restaurant?" The little dwarf looked surprised.
It touched the pointed hat on its head with its hand and asked, "Did Master Xiaoxiao invite you? Will you be staying here from now on?"
"Yeah." He nodded slightly.
It's been a long time...
Since he had a normal conversation with someone.
As put his hands in his pockets, he stood there somewhat awkwardly, yet exuding an inherent pride that couldn't be erased.
Even though they were so close, it felt like there was a deep chasm between them.
The little dwarf continued, "What is the birdcage on the door for? Why did you catch the red fairies? Did they do something wrong?"
"You don't know."
"..."
Hey! Of course it doesn't know! Otherwise, why would it ask him!
"Has Master Xiaoxiao gone out? When will she be back?"
"You don't know."
"..."
"Um, when we were building the dwarf houses, we dug up these treasures."
"Look, I brought them all here." The little dwarf patted the small cart behind it, which was indeed filled with sparkling golden things.
"Since you are a member of the steward's entourage, come and tally them up. There are a total of seventeen items, finely crafted. It seems like they are also from other planets."
"Leave it there." As was not interested in the treasures.
He didn't say anything more. He pushed open the door and walked into the restaurant.
The grey dwarf was not as casual as him...
The underground city has already started to operate, these treasures are very precious, they must be personally inspected by the steward!
A birdcage hung on the door.
The red fairy looked depressed: "Can't you let us go?"
"No. He is a member of the steward's entourage, I don't dare to interfere with your affairs." The grey dwarf simply sat on the small cart, struggling to pick up a golden crown and bit it with its teeth.
So hard!