The night in Snezhnaya was desolate and piercingly cold.
The north wind howled, beating against the glass windows of Palkin Restaurant and making a rustling sound.
The interior of the restaurant was lively, with the fireplace burning brightly.
Local regulars cheerfully shared interesting stories of the surroundings, while newly arrived travelers were shocked by the Snezhnaya-sized dishes and those huge wine glasses.
At that table in the corner of the second floor, several men dressed in a style different from the locals’ thick furs gathered together, eating heartily.
They were smugglers from Nod-Krai.
The scar on the face of their leader, Vadasi, looked exceptionally ferocious under the flickering light of the hearth.
“The last batch of goods can be loaded onto the ship tonight, and we can leave Snezhnaya early tomorrow morning.
Everyone, just bear with it a little longer.”
Her companions nodded one after another.
One of them, Igor, occasionally glanced out the window, a trace of unease welling up in her heart.
“The Fatui have been checking very strictly at the port recently…
Can this batch of goods really get out smoothly?”
“The Fatui?” Vadasi gritted his teeth.
This batch of goods flowed precisely from the hands of a certain Harbinger; if they really ran into them, the trouble would not be small.
“Hmph, the Reward given by the client is enough for us to live in leisure for the rest of our lives.”
Hearing the word Reward, everyone’s eyes revealed greedy expressions one after another.
They were already doing business walking on the edge of a blade; the return obtained from this operation was enough to offset all their concerns.
Right at this moment, the heavy oak door of the restaurant was pushed open silently.
A girl entered.
She was wearing a white dress, draped with a specially made overcoat on the outside.
Although the style was ordinary, it was made of fine alpaca wool, warm and comfortable.
Most eye-catching were his eyes, which seemed to be always tightly closed.
Her dense black eyelashes drooped, concealing all emotions that might leak out.
She walked in without stopping, heading straight toward a reserved and cleanest table by the window on the first floor.
Girl took off the overcoat from his body and placed it on the coat rack aside. Enjoying the story? Read on at g.com.
As the garments gently slipped off, his graceful figure became even more charming.
His fair shoulders and neck were naturally exposed, and that pair of slender and well-proportioned legs, on ordinary days, would be enough to attract everyone’s gaze.
But at this moment, the entire restaurant fell into an excessive silence.
Everyone averted their gaze, not daring to look him in the eye.
Only because he was the Third Fatui Harbinger, the girl Columbina.
Following Columbina taking his seat, a waiter silently and swiftly appeared by the table, slightly bowing to hand over the menu.
“Lady Damselette, what would you like to order?”
Columbina took the menu and looked at the dazzling array of food on it, saliva uncooperatively flowing from the corner of his mouth.
[Sandrone seemed to have said he would cover the cost, so I won’t stand on ceremony.]
“This one, and this one.” Columbina casually pointed to two dishes on it.
The waiter earnestly jotted it down in a notebook with a respectful attitude, “Lady Damselette, do you only need these two dishes?”
“No, apart from these two, I want all of them.” Columbina shook his head and said softly.
“A-All of them?” The waiter’s hand holding the pen trembled slightly, “Are you sure, Lady Damselette?”
“Mn.” Columbina nodded lightly, as if this were a trivial matter.
All these foods looked delicious, and he wanted to give them a try.
“Right, aside from these, please pack a portion of dumplings for me.” He paused, seemingly remembering that there was still someone at home who hadn’t eaten, “Pack it in the best insulated food box, sealed, and don’t spill.
Thank you.”
Sweat slightly formed on the waiter’s forehead, but his face revealed a joyful expression; it seemed a big customer had arrived.
“My lord, do you need drinks?
We have fine kvass, and wine with a good vintage…” she continued to ask respectfully.
Columbina thought for a moment, tilting his head slightly, “water and fire.”
She said softly, her tone carrying a trace of imperceptible curiosity, “Do you have it?”
The waiter’s body shook, and her waist bent even lower: “My lord…
water and fire…
is the strongest wine in Snezhnaya, usually used only for…
warding off the cold or extremely special rituals.
Its taste is very…
pure, and also extremely violent; an ordinary person might… Read this novel at g.com for the best experience.
lose consciousness from just a small cup.”
The strongest wine?
A trace of ripples arose in the depths of Columbina’s consciousness.
She had heard that after drinking this, it seemed one could float up to the moon, and wondered if it was true?
“A small cup,” his voice remained soft, yet carried an unquestionable flavor, “I want to try it.”
The waiter dared not persuade any further, bowed deeply, and quickly retreated.
All of this was seen by Vadasi and the others in the corner of the second floor.
They were not locals, so naturally they did not know this mysterious Third Fatui Harbinger.
Subconsciously, they regarded Columbina as a rich Demoiselle who threw money like dirt.
“Look?” Vadasi gulped down a few mouthfuls of wine, baring her teeth at her companions, “A plump big fish.
This outfit, and that ordering posture, at a glance one can tell whose young lady she is.”
Her greedy gaze fell upon Columbina, and she proposed, “How about on the last night, we scoop up some more benefits?”
As soon as her words fell, they immediately provoked a burst of wretched low laughter from her accomplices.
“Boss, that waiter seems very afraid of her?” The curly-haired accomplice was still a bit hesitant, always feeling something was wrong.
“Afraid?
That’s respect, respect for money!” Vadasi sneered.
“In the port of Nod-Krai, I’ve seen plenty of such young ladies—stupid with plenty of money, and you can trick him away with just a few nice words.”
Perhaps because he drank too much wine.
Vadasi tidied his lapel, wobbled down the stairs, his boots stepping heavily on the floor and making thump-thump sounds, exceptionally clear in the restaurant.
All the diners stopped their actions at this moment.
They did not conceal their gazes, looking uniformly at this foreign man walking toward Columbina’s direction.
The waiter froze in place, as if never expecting that someone would commit such an offensive act.
Vadasi was completely oblivious to the changes around him, perhaps because he was already dead drunk.
It might not seem tempting right now but who knows what the future holds?
“And If you’re enjoying it, drop a Power Stone for me!”