Vaguely, one could see the figure of a graceful woman sitting inside the shop; her white hair was flowing, her legs were long, and she was wearing black stockings.
It gave off quite the feeling of a first love.
Who wouldn’t take a few extra looks when coming by?
Stark roughly understood why this shop was able to stay in business; even while wearing a mask, the proprietress hadn’t shortchanged herself in the looks department.
“Stark, aren’t you going in?
Um, before me, have you already met her?”
Otherwise, why would there be a sign like that?
“Wait a moment, let me compose myself…”
“But you aren’t going in, and someone else has already gone in.”
A robust, white-haired old man walked into the shop with his hands behind his back, glanced at the sign by the door, and couldn’t help but tease.
“Yo, Little Zhao…
did you just write this?
Are you hiring an employee or looking for a son-in-law?
This one over here has been up for several years, right?
I haven’t seen you hire a single person yet; wouldn’t it be better to just find someone to help you out?”
“Uncle Wang, you’re here.
Don’t mention it…”
“Those who come to apply are all after me, but this time is different.”
Nihilux hadn’t wanted to get involved in the game, but Aha was being troublesome, and having never raised a daughter, how was she supposed to know how to act?
The reason for abandoning her daughter.
She hadn’t thought it through…
How did she get married to a husband and have a child, and why did they separate?
How would she know?
She had never been married.
Although, she often wrote about the love, hate, and grudges between Aeons, such as the passionate love triangle between Aha, Akivili, and Nanook.
The Hunt’s pursuit of Yaoshi and not obtaining it, which was actually Yaoshi playing hard to get with The Hunt, a yandere girlfriend keeping her lover on a string…
But when it came to actual practice.
Nihilux just felt a bit of a headache.
If she didn’t join the game, Silver Wolf’s life would have nothing to do with her; she would just be an ordinary, kind-hearted stranger of a proprietress.
But getting dragged into it…
She would have to be responsible for this daughter, the Wolf Cub; otherwise, what would she do if she couldn’t raise an Emanator?
Who would Trailblaze the Path of Elation?
What was even worse…
She had just discovered that 2,000 credits were missing from her already insufficient account balance.
She didn’t know where that spendthrift Aha had taken them to spend.
Did it have to be hers?
Nihilux was in a very bad mood right now, and the culprit behind all of this was the man outside.
Her fingertips tapped lightly on the tabletop.
Waiting for the guest to enter.
The white-haired old man was also slightly stunned, looking from the sign to Stark, tsk tsk tsk, this was incredible.
It was exactly the same as the requirements.
This probably wasn’t a good time for eating and chatting!
“Haha…
I didn’t expect this, I really didn’t.”
“Young man, aren’t you going in yet?
The rain is heavy outside; it’s easy for the little girl to catch a cold.”
For the first time, Silver Wolf felt the kindness of the people of Punklorde.
This time, they didn’t look at her level again—was it because Stark was here?
She patted Stark.
“What are you doing?
Don’t be in such a rush.”
“To complete the mission.”
Stark rushed in protectively; the Wolf Cub shouldn’t be so anxious.
He hadn’t made up the story yet, and he couldn’t communicate with Nihilux to coordinate, so he had to bite the bullet and go for it.
His eyes held three parts nostalgia and three parts apology.
Thus, the atmosphere was slightly sorrowful…
He grabbed Silver Wolf, lowered his eyes for a long time, and then met Nihilux’s gaze, sighing as if a heavy burden had been lifted.
“Little Zhao…
long time no see.”
“…”
Nihilux’s fists tightened.
It was one thing for others to call her Little Zhao, but what was the difference between Stark calling her that and calling her his wife?
Yet her expression remained indifferent, neither happy nor sad, as if she no longer cared about those old matters from the past.
The person before her was just a stranger.
But if he were a stranger, how could she remember his height, his hair, and his eyes so clearly?
Silver Wolf couldn’t help but feel that the situation was definitely very deep.
“Mm, A-Yun, long time no see…”
“I didn’t expect your child to be so grown up already.
Whose is she?
Is there something you need by bringing her to find me?”
“!!?”
The atmosphere suddenly sank.
Stark’s toes were curling into the floor.
Not a sister, what are you talking about?
Can’t we act this out properly?
His palms trembled slightly, which Silver Wolf mistook for sadness…
His voice trembled; regardless of what opening the other party had given, he could only grit his teeth and continue acting.
“Little Zhao, I’m sorry for what happened back then.
In my heart, there has actually only ever been you, but if I hadn’t listened to her, the family would have been destroyed.
I’m sorry, I let you down.”
Tears of remorse fell from the corners of Stark’s eyes as he gazed deeply at Nihilux, as if such a past really existed.
After speaking, he patted Silver Wolf’s head again.
Even more gently.
“But the child is innocent.
That woman is even jealous of the child.
Back then, I risked my life to send A-Lang to Punklorde, hoping you would recognize her.”
“This child has suffered a lot over the years…”
“Now that I’ve finally escaped from her hands and can come to see you, Little Zhao, can you give me another chance?”
“Let the three of us live a good life…”
“It’s more important than anything!”
The rain suddenly fell harder, the rushing water gathering into a mass and surging through the drainage pipes, making a pitter-patter sound on the eaves outside the shop.
Nihilux stood there blankly, the corners of her eyes reddening.
A talent…
This is simply a talent.
It’s been years since she’s encountered someone who could make things up like this.
It really just rolled off his tongue, and he completely got her point.
Although, she initially just wanted to avoid getting involved.
Being a stepmother, so it’s reasonable that she didn’t go find Silver Wolf, right?
She was innocent in the first place!
It was already good enough that she hadn’t settled the score with Stark for ruining the game.
She really wanted to pull him aside and chat all night; it just so happened that she was lacking a…
creative partner.
Then, being this stepmother wasn’t impossible either…
A free worker.
Can’t let him run away.
Close the door.
Thanks, Aha!
At this moment, the Wolf Cub’s expression was also very rich.
She stared blankly at Nihilux; in her field of vision, Stark and Nihilux were absolutely in true love.
Otherwise, why would they get red-eyed after saying a few words?
She was the one who was redundant.
So…
This is a stepmother?
No wonder they were both in Punklorde and she hadn’t looked for her for so many years; even her own mother didn’t care.
What did it have to do with a stranger?
She slowly lowered her head.
What child wouldn’t feel inferior upon meeting a stepmother?
Anyway, at worst, she would just leave once the mission was completed.
She could survive even if she scavenged for trash with Stark.
But would Stark go with her?
He and she were so in love…
that was probably the kind of feeling it was.
Silver Wolf didn’t understand love, but the flickering screens in the sky would appear from time to time with various love stories.
People on the street also often chatted about the game-clearing player “Stone Sword” and his lover—one traveling far into the galaxy to roam The Hunt, and the other remaining in Punklorde.
Wait…
Could it be?
Just at this moment.
The game cartridge responded to her, interrupting her train of thought.
[Mission not yet completed.]
[Target has appeared, triggering options.
Options have no effect on mission rewards; they are for reference only.
Completion is considered achieved upon finishing.]
[1.
Thirty years in the east, thirty years in the west; do not bully a young girl for being poor.
You are not allowed to bully my dad!
(Wolf Lord never bows her head; Dad is mine, no other woman is allowed to touch him)]
[2.
Proprietress, are you still hiring employees here?
(Lay low and develop in the early stages; to create a stable living environment, help Stark capture the stepmother with the mysterious identity)]
[3.
Mom, don’t you want Silver Wolf anymore?
(You attempt to take the pathetic white lotus female lead route of a romance novel; a generation of Wolf Lord falls right here)]
Silver Wolf stared blankly at the options.
What kind of stuff is this?
A father-con and a white lotus; there was simply no way to choose.
Then she only had…
A proprietress is still a “mother” too!
“Proprietress, are you still hiring employees here?
Stark and I seem to be just right…”
“…”