“Things have come to this, let’s eat first.” Holding onto this thought, Akari immediately began to devour the delicious food on the table like a whirlwind.
Regardless of whether she accepted it or not, having a full stomach was what truly mattered.
“Don’t act like a starving ghost, just focusing on burying your head in eating.
Seriously, do you really think I’m short of money for a meal or two?” Looking at the other person’s impolite eating manner, Mari vision darkened, and the filter she had so painstakingly placed on the other party was almost completely shattered.
This fellow, was she even listening to what I said just now?
“Miss Mari, I need to think about renewing your commission.
I am thinking right now…” “Wait for me to take two more bites, and I’ll give you an answer immediately…” The more Mari spoke, the faster Akari ate instead.
That posture looked as if she was afraid Mari would snatch the food from her.
“Fine then, I’ll wait until you finish eating to talk.” Mari stared at the other person’s face and spoke unhappily.
Well, facing this face and the other party’s innocent expression, she simply couldn’t bring herself to get angry.
Not long after, once Akari completely wiped out the food on the table, Mari very perceptively went to the front desk to pay.
After finishing the meal, Akari stared at the sky in deep thought for a few seconds before finally speaking: “Miss Mari, I agree to the renewal of your commission.
Where do you plan to go with me next?” Hearing these words, Mariwas somewhat surprised.
She hadn’t expected that just in the time it took to have a meal, the other party would directly agree to her.
She seemed like an easily fooled young girl.
“Let’s go, I want to take a drive around the highway near the Outer Ring.
I heard the scenery of the Outer Ring looks nice from the highway at night.
This commission shouldn’t have any danger, rest assured.” Mari had thought that Akari was worried about the commission being risky, which was why she dawdled with her for so long.
After her assurance, Akari shouldn’t have any more worries.
“It’s not really a matter of whether it’s dangerous or not, it’s just that it’s so late, will it be inconvenient to come back later…” Actually, what Akari wanted to say was that she didn’t even have a place to stay.
In the middle of the night, returning would definitely be inconvenient, and she’d only have to go stay at a hotel again.
Hotel room rates in the late hours of the night were very expensive.
Compared to the early hours of the night, those prices made Akari’s heart ache so much she couldn’t sleep.
But Mari didn’t know that Akari didn’t even have a place to live.
“No it won’t, I’ll drive you home then.” Sitting in the driver’s seat, Mari waved at Akari by the roadside, signaling Akari to get in the car quickly.
Just like that, Akari got into the car half-willingly and half-reluctantly, somewhat constrainedly appreciating the scenery outside the window.
The vehicle drove further and further away, gradually deviating from the main urban roads and heading towards the highway of the Outer Ring.
The further they went toward the Outer Ring, the less traffic there was nearby, and the surroundings visibly became dark.
By this time the sky was completely dark.
Aside from the headlights ahead and the dilapidated streetlamps repaired by the Municipal Government, there was almost no light source whatsoever.
“Miss Mari, what made you think of taking a self-driving tour in the middle of the night?
The mountains on the Outer Ring highway are very high, driving at night can be a bit dangerous…” Actually, what Akari wanted to say was that driving in the middle of the night like this, aren’t you afraid of stepping on the gas pedal and plunging straight off the highway bridge.
But she could just think about these words; right in front of her employer, such depressing talk really wasn’t appropriate to say.
“Rest assured, since I dared to bring you out for a drive to relax, I will definitely ensure your safety.
Do you still distrust me?” Mari was unconcerned, her face showing a bit of rebelliousness as she stepped on the gas pedal to accelerate even faster.
“Slow down, ahhhhh!” Feeling the sudden acceleration, Akari only felt blood rushing to her brain, and the impact of the sports car’s sudden speed surge washed over her in an instant.
She wasn’t a driver and didn’t have the habits and adaptability accumulated from driving year after year.
She only felt lightheaded and heavy-brained as the vehicle accelerated faster and faster, until it parked at an abandoned transfer station at the end.
This place used to be a service area constructed by the Municipal Government.
But because this road was remote and rarely visited, and the passing traffic volume was not large, the economic benefits it brought were simply too low.
Therefore, the Municipal Government later simply abolished this service area, and it gradually fell into ruin.
The service area was overgrown with weeds, and the hanging signboard was rusted.
Apart from a few dilapidated ether-powered streetlamps emitting negligible light, there was completely no other light source.
“In the middle of the night, do you really have to come here to seek thrills…” Akari didn’t normally get carsick, but under Mari’s somewhat crazy driving skills, she felt a wave of dizziness in her stomach and wanted to throw something up.
“I haven’t experienced this feeling of freedom in a long time.” Mari didn’t speak, but slowly walked toward the edge of the service area, looking at the town with scattered lights at the foot of the mountain and the dilapidated housing district.
Those were residents of the Outer Ring.
These people did not enter the urban area, choosing instead to live in the Outer Ring.
Although transportation and energy supply were not very convenient, it had the advantage of not having too many complicated expenses.
Furthermore, those who stayed in the Outer Ring were mostly the elderly, the weak, women, and children.
It was very difficult for these people to truly leave the Outer Ring, break away from the environment they depended on for survival, and enter the urban area to live.
Walking further ahead was the viaduct leading to the Outer Ring; through there, one could directly enter the Outer Ring area.
“Hahaha, how are my driving skills?” Mari ignored Akari’s displeasure, only staring into the distance while pointing her finger at her sports car.
“It’s alright, if you didn’t pursue thrills so much and honestly drove according to traffic regulations, I would rate your driving skills much higher…” Before Akari finished speaking, she leaned over the railing and directly began to vomit.
After vomiting for half a minute, Akari pulled a tissue out of her bag, wiped the vomit from the corner of her mouth, and sat heavily on the ground, feeling somewhat powerless.
The dinner she had just eaten was basically all vomited out.
After finishing vomiting, Akari felt that the entire world was gray.
“I just wanted to come out to relax and wanted you to be with me, is even this not okay?” Mari retorted.
At this moment, she didn’t look like a mature woman, but rather more like a quirky and clever little sprite.
“I don’t have any objections…” Before the words fell, several beams of vehicle headlights suddenly appeared in the distance.
As the vehicles arrived close by, many people holding clubs jumped out of the cars, looking at the two with unfriendly expressions.
Seeing this scene, Akari instantly felt something was amiss.
These people seemed to be here to deal with the two of them.
“Hun-hun-hun, Eldest Miss, long time no see!” The leader was a brawny man with half his upper body bare.
He wore a steel helmet on his head and held a pistol and a spiked club in his hands.
“Who are you?
Why don’t I recognize you?” Mari raised her eyebrows coldly and sharply interrogated the brawny man.
“Eldest Miss Mari, you really have a noble person’s forgetfulness.
How your father treated me back then, I certainly won’t forget!” “However, I am not here to seek revenge today.
Someone paid me to tie you up and send you over.
Will you obediently get in the car yourself to avoid physical suffering, or should I teach you a good lesson before sending you over?” Now, as the brawny man spoke, the people around him raised their clubs and shouted, as if cheering him on.