Insulting All Artists

"I'm so sorry, please forgive me for my insolence!" The woman kneeled and kowtowed to Lia as if she was a saint who had the cure to her incurable disease.

"Ahh… Please stand up." Lia squeeks out meekly, clearly not expecting such an intense reaction. Reaching her hands out to help the woman up, Lia only caused the woman to get even more flustered.

"Please, forgive me, esteemed guest, I'm sorry! This one doesn't dare to look at the unmasked beauty of the esteemed guest. Please, forgive this lowly one!" The woman cries.

By now, many people close by were turning to look at the scene taking place at the entrance.

"Hey, is it just me or does it look like those two are threatening the worker?"

"Right? Also, what is that girl holding?"

"Is that a knife?"

"That's a knife!"

"Wow, to pull a knife out in the Artifact Hall, they must be sick of living."

Seeing all the glare and curious glances in their direction, Lin Ke quickly steps in to try to mediate the situation.

Bending down besides the woman, Lin Ke whispers reassuringly. "Don't worry about honorifics, we're just here to look around. Also, our girl Lia is an angel, there's no way she wouldn't forgive you!"

Hearing that, the currently shaking woman slowly looked up. "Really?"

Lin Ke nods with a big smile on his face. "Mmm! Also, could you please get up? People are giving us weird glances."

The woman looks around, and seeing all the pairs of eyes looking at one location, she blushes. "I'm so sorry!"

Quickly, she stands up and dusts her uniform. Once again, she bows to Lia. "Esteemed guest, once again, I'm sorry for getting in your way, please, punish me as you see fit."

"Ahh… I think I'll pass…" Lia says with an odd look on her face.

"Oh right, I'm sorry. There's no way a beautiful, powerful, noble existence like you would want to touch me. I'm so sorry for even thinking I have the right to be punished!" The woman bows again deeply.

"Errrr. No, that's not what I mean…" Lia reaches out her hands, not really knowing what to do. This woman was just too strange. Why was she acting like this? "Erm… Could you let us pass now? And try not to talk too much about what happened here okay?"

"Of course, esteemed guests! I'm so sorry! I should have known! I'm so sorry for being so annoying! I'm so sorry for saying sorry so much! I'm sorr---"

As Lia and Lin Ke quickly walked away from that delusional lady who was still bowing after them, the crowd around them discussed this scene with whispering voices.

"Did you catch that?" Someone whispered.

"Yeah, I caught some of it. That guy said something about looking around… and no way… and wouldn't forgive you…"

"Yeah, yeah! I think I heard that too! Then there was something about punishment… and no rights…"

"Then the girl said not to talk about it too much!"

"Yeah, yeah!"

"Those kids are done for! Offending the Artifact Hall, threatening their workers? Hey Miss? You should go report them to your manager!"

"Yeah, report these kids!" Others echoed.

"I'm sorry, dear guests, for that unsightly display. Please continue in your shopping, if you need help, I will be here to assist you. As for what just happened, please know that it was my fault." The woman says with a bow.

"Huuuh? Miss, you should report this! Don't let those kids get away with what they did!"

"Yeah, yeah! You weren't the one in the wrong here! We can all attest for you!"

"Please, dear guests, do not misinterpret the situation earlier. There was nothing wrong with their conduct. Now, if you will excuse me, I still have work I need to get done. Also, please do not spread such false rumors. Otherwise, I might be forced to ask you to leave. Now, if you will excuse me, I still have work I need to get done." The woman said, her smile becoming slightly strained.

Of course, Lin Ke and Lia didn't stick around long enough to listen to the aftermath. Instead, they quickly strolled through the large open market, looking around at the stalls to see if there was anything interesting.

The stalls sold many different things including, weapons, bracelets, anklets, necklaces, charms, runes, and paintings.

What drew Lin Ke's attention the most was the paintings. Most of them were very plain, mostly only reaching the C-tier. There wasn't a single B-tier painting in this entire place. Lin Ke scratches his head in confusion.

"Lia… why do I feel like… the stuff here isn't that impressive? Like, why are the paintings here only C-tier at most?" Lin Ke asks.

"Hm? Mmm, oh that's right. We're only on the first level right now, so when we go up to the second level, we will be able to find much more valuable stuff." Lia responds.

"Hahhh? Kid what did you just say?" An annoyed voice calls from behind them.

Looking behind him, Lin Ke sees a man approach them. He looked to be in his thirties and had a disapproving and angry expression on his face.

"Ermm… I'm sorry, but who are you?" Lin Ke asks, confused. He didn't recall offending anyone.

"My name is Abraham Massolm, a C-Class pinnacle artist!" The man introduces. "How dare you insult the artists that created these paintings? All of them are grandmasters, honing their craft over countless years!! Such disrespect from someone as young as you! Do you even know anything about art?"

Lin Ke looks at him in surprise. He looked the man up and down. For some reason, Lin Ke was slightly skeptical as to whether this guy was really a C-class artist. He looked to be around 30! How was he only C-class?

Shoving those thoughts to the side, Lin Ke responds. "Ahh, no that's not what I mean-"

"I know exactly what you meant! You're a disrespectful little brat who has no respect for their elders! I saw what happened earlier!" The man scolds.

"That was a misunderstanding…" Lin Ke tries to cut in.

"Yeah? Misunderstanding? My ass! Anyways, don't even try to change the topic! For insulting all artists, how are you going to compensate?"

"Compensate? What are you talking about?" Lin Ke was starting to get annoyed at this point. "I'm an artist too, why would I insult artists?"