Job

After finishing his meal, Ryan gave a nod to Miss Prim and Bell before heading back to his room. He decided to ignore the thugs' warning for now and adapt when the situation called for it. His next priority was gathering information—learning about the various gangs, factions, and power structures in the city, as well as understanding the empire's overall situation. He also needed to figure out a path to becoming extraordinary if possible, continue practicing the skills he had learned at the camp, and most importantly, find a way to free himself from the viscount's control.

On top of that, he would have to start paying Miss Prim extra if he wanted to continue receiving proper nutritious meals. He needed a steady source of income to sustain himself, especially since his body required large amounts of food due to his training.

Thinking about everything he had to do made Ryan's head ache. He thought that life outside the camp would be more peaceful, but he was already busier than before.

With a sigh, he decided that his first step should be finding a job. He also needed to take a assasination mission to practice his combat skills on real opponents to avoid being caught off guard when the time came for compulsory missions. Life was difficult everywhere, and his struggles were far from over.

With all these thoughts swirling in his mind, Ryan soon drifted off to sleep.

---

The next morning, Ryan woke up early, as had become his habit. He considered it a good routine and began his day with some exercise before heading down for breakfast.

After finishing his meal, he was about to return to his room when Miss Prim stopped him.

"Ryan, I usually wouldn't ask, but have you found a job yet?" she inquired.

Ryan was a bit surprised but answered politely, "No, Miss Prim. I was planning to start looking for one today."

Miss Prim studied him for a moment before saying, "If you're interested, you could work here in the kitchen as an apprentice and waiter. We could use another set of hands."

Ryan was tempted by the offer. The job would provide a steady income, and he would still have plenty of free time. "I would be very grateful for the opportunity, Miss Prim. When can I start?"

Miss Prim smiled at his enthusiasm. "Don't be so hasty to agree just yet. You already know our restaurant hours—6:30 AM to 9 AM, 11:30 AM to 2 PM, and 7 PM to 10:30 PM. You'll need to be available during those times. Your wages will be paid monthly, not weekly, and you'll receive two silver coins per month. Your tasks will include chopping vegetables and meat, washing dishes, and serving customers when it gets busy. Any questions?"

Ryan shook his head. "No, Miss Prim. I'm truly grateful for this job. I have no questions."

"Good. Then you can start tomorrow."

Ryan gave her a respectful nod before heading back to his room. He knew he had Mrs Prim to thank for this opportunity, and he was grateful. Miss Prim was also paying fairly—he knew how hard it was to find decent work these days.

As Ryan went upstairs, Miss Prim smiled to herself. Bell, who had overheard their conversation, approached her grandmother with a curious expression.

"Grandma, why did you hire Ryan? We haven't known him for long," Bell asked. She was well aware that her grandmother was a cautious person who only trusted those with good character.

Miss Prim chuckled. "Bell, if you want to understand a person's nature, watch how they treat others. I haven't lived all these years in vain—I can tell that Ryan is a kind boy, just a little lost."

Bell crossed her arms and scoffed. "I see him as a scared cat."

Miss Prim shook her head. "No, just cautious. Powerful and wealthy people can afford to be reckless, but for ordinary folks like us, caution is what keeps us alive. You should learn from him and work on controlling your temper. Otherwise, you'll have a hard time finding a husband."

Bell blushed slightly and huffed. "Grandma, my future husband will be a brave hero! He won't care about my temper—he'll fall for my beauty."

Miss Prim sighed. "Beauty is a curse for poor people like us. You should be thankful for your grandfather's military connections. Without them, we wouldn't have been able to hold onto this restaurant. Otherwise, the authorities, police, and gangs would have drained us dry, seeing only an old woman and a young girl running the place."

Her voice carried a trace of sadness, and Bell quickly tried to console her. "Don't worry, Grandma! Just wait until I marry a heroic man who will get rid of all those gang members and protect us!" she declared proudly, already lost in her daydreams.

---

Meanwhile, Ryan spent the rest of the day roaming the city, carefully gathering information. His first priority was learning more about the thugs who had threatened him the previous night.

Thanks to his observations and inquiries, he discovered that they were members of the "Mad Dogs" gang, whose main area of activity covered this part of the city. Their goal was clear—they had set their sights on Bell and her grandmother's restaurant. Seeing that Miss Prim was a widow and Bell was a young woman, they assumed it would be easy to take control of their property by forcing Bell into marriage. However, it was evident that Miss Prim had some connections, which was why they hadn't been able to resort to outright violence. Instead, they had chosen a strategy of constant harassment.

Everyone in the neighborhood was aware of their intentions, but no one stepped forward to help. Most people simply didn't want to get involved, and the authorities refused to intervene since no direct crime had been committed yet.

However, Ryan could tell that the gang leader was losing patience. In recent months, his men had become more aggressive, harassing customers and trying to drive people away from the restaurant. Their goal was clear—to ruin the business and force Miss Prim and Bell into submission.

Ryan frowned as he took in all this information. He had no personal obligation to get involved, but he couldn't ignore what was happening either. If the Mad Dogs continued their harassment, it wouldn't be long before they tried something more direct.

He would have to decide how to handle this situation—and soon.