Star Bar

After moving into his new house, Ryan spent some time arranging his clothes and mattress, cleaning up, and decorating. Once everything was in place, his house was finally ready.

Later, while standing in front of the bathroom mirror, he observed his reflection. A young man, appearing to be around 16 years old due to his height and build, stared back at him. He had an average-looking face with black hair. However, Ryan knew that his actual age was closer to 13 or 14, as the viscount's people only recruited trainees within that age range.

During his house search, no one questioned why a child was looking for a home or a job. In this society, it was common for 16-year-olds to work and support their families, and many even married at that age.

After admiring himself for a moment, he realized that night had already fallen, and hunger gnawed at him. Remembering that his rent included three meals a day, he headed downstairs for dinner.

As he entered Old Lady Prim's restaurant, he noticed that only three people were working—a young girl around 15 years old, who had a cute and youthful appearance, a chef in the kitchen, and Prim herself, who was handling the cashier and assisting when needed.

Ryan approached Prim and said, "Mrs. Prim, I'd like to have my dinner now."

She nodded and gestured to a table. "Sit over there, we'll serve you soon. And remember, we serve breakfast until 9 AM, lunch until 2 PM, and dinner until 10 PM. If you come after these times, you won't be getting any food."

Turning toward the kitchen, she called out, "Bell, serve this gentleman the standard dinner."

Ryan sat at an empty table, observing the restaurant while waiting for his meal. The place seemed quiet, with very few customers even though it was nearly 9 PM. He guessed that nightlife in this city ended early, likely due to the lack of electricity and the dangers of wandering outside at night.

After about ten minutes, Bell arrived with a tray, setting down a plate of bread, a steaming bowl of potato soup, and a grilled fish.

"Here you go, Ryan. Enjoy your dinner," she said before walking away.

Ryan set aside his thoughts and focused on his meal. Although it wasn't as good as the food back at the camp, he knew this was the standard diet for common people—many probably couldn't even afford this much.

Once he finished eating, Bell returned to collect his plate. Instead of leaving immediately, she sat across from him, since there were no other customers at the moment.

"You're the new tenant here, right? My name's Bell," she introduced herself. "So, where are you from?"

Ryan nodded in greeting. "Nice to meet you, Bell. I'm from Pearl City. Why do you ask?"

Bell tilted her head thoughtfully. "You don't look like the typical outer-city people. There's something different about you, and I can't quite put my finger on it."

Ryan wondered if this was due to his modern upbringing—perhaps he carried a different aura compared to the locals.

He then asked, "You're working late at night. Isn't it dangerous for you to go home alone?"

Bell chuckled. "Oh, you don't know? I live here. Old Lady Prim is my grandmother, and the chef also lives nearby."

Ryan was surprised. "I see. What about your parents? Don't they help out?"

At the mention of her parents, Bell's cheerful expression dimmed slightly. "Years ago, my parents had an accident… I haven't seen them since."

Ryan immediately regretted bringing up the topic. "I'm sorry to hear that."

Bell forced a small smile. "It's fine. It's been a long time."

She quickly changed the subject. "So, do you have any plans? Have you found a job yet?"

Ryan shook his head. "Not yet. I'm still looking. If you have any recommendations, let me know."

"For sure," she said with a grin.

After chatting for a bit and getting to know each other, Ryan left the restaurant. He had already decided on his next step—he would visit a bar the following evening for more information and future plans.

The Next Day

The following day, Ryan had breakfast and lunch at the restaurant, exchanging small talk with Bell in between. In the evening, he prepared to visit the bar that his instructors had mentioned before.

He had already gathered information from Bell about Star Street, which was four streets away and well-known for its nightlife. When he asked about it, Bell had initially misunderstood, thinking he was looking for entertainment. He had to explain that he was meeting a friend there, as he didn't want to ruin his reputation—after all, most visitors to that area sought alcohol, gambling, or worse. Ryan didn't want to be associated with any of those things, especially since he would be living here long-term.

Following Bell's directions, Ryan made his way to Star Street. After asking around, he finally found Star Bar. It was a well-known establishment with the backing of a powerful figure—though most people didn't know who. Ryan, however, immediately deduced that the "big man" behind it was none other than the viscount himself.

As he stepped inside, the bar resembled a classic pub. The main hall had tables for regular patrons to drink, a stage for dancers, and private rooms for those who could afford better service. The more luxurious private rooms were located on the second floor, catering to high-profile clients.

Ryan walked up to the bartender, glanced around, and then ordered, "I'd like a Night Tequila in a private room."

The bartender paused for a brief moment, his hands stopping mid-motion as he silently observed Ryan. His expression remained unreadable before he finally spoke.

"Please, sir, wait in Room No. 3 on the second floor. We will bring your drinks and side dishes shortly."

Ryan gave a slight nod and turned toward the staircase. However, before heading upstairs, his eyes drifted toward the menu board, scanning the listed drinks and their prices. He wanted to know how much the order would cost and whether he would have to pay for the drink himself.

To his surprise, Night Tequila wasn't on the

menu.