Night disturbance

After a long walk around the city and a simple dinner, Ryan decided to sleep early. He had to wake up earlier than usual if he wanted to complete his morning exercise before heading to work.

As he drifted into sleep, a loud noise suddenly echoed through the night, resembling firecrackers going off. The sharp, repetitive sounds continued for nearly half an hour before fading into silence. Ryan immediately realized that something had happened nearby. However, going out at night was too dangerous, especially when the situation was unclear. He decided to investigate in the morning.

---

With the rising sun, Ryan woke up and immediately went through his morning exercise routine. It was his first day at work, and he didn't want to be late. After freshening up, he reached the restaurant just in time and helped Bell and Miss Prim clean the tables.

Soon, the chef arrived—a middle-aged, heavyset man named Harry, who had been working at the restaurant for years. His house was right next to the reasturant.

Harry glanced at Ryan and signaled him over. "Ryan, come here. Miss Prim already told you about your duties, right? Help clean the kitchen while I go buy fresh vegetables for the day."

"Every morning, I clean the kitchen and buy fresh produce from the market two streets away," Harry explained. "Your job is to clean the kitchen and wash any dirty utensils before I get back."

He pointed toward the cleaning tools before grabbing a bag and heading out.

Ryan, already expecting to do all sorts of odd jobs, got to work. Cleaning was more challenging than he had anticipated, especially since it was his first time taking it seriously. As he scrubbed away, memories of his mother surfaced—how she used to clean the house effortlessly. Only now did he realize the effort she had put into it.

Fifteen minutes later, Harry returned with the vegetables. He inspected Ryan's work and, despite noticing a few missed spots, was satisfied with his effort.

"Ryan, do you know how to cut vegetables?" Harry asked.

Ryan hesitated for a moment before replying, "No, Chef Harry. This will be my first time, but don't worry—I'm good with a knife, so I'll get it done properly."

Harry raised an eyebrow, skeptical of Ryan's confidence, but handed him some vegetables anyway. "Alright, I'll cut half, and you do the other half. The pieces should be about this size," he said, demonstrating the correct cuts.

Ryan got to work, and to his surprise, he quickly got the hang of it. His knife training from the past six months seemed to pay off, even in an unexpected way.

---

Once the preparations were complete, the restaurant opened for business. Customers trickled in steadily, as it was a well-established eatery with a good reputation. The affordable prices and quality food made it a popular spot in the neighborhood.

As the place got busier, Ryan and Bell started serving food. The workload was heavier than expected, and for the first time, Ryan truly realized how much effort Chef Harry and Bell put in every day. It was exhausting, both physically and mentally.

While serving customers, Ryan overheard a conversation at one of the tables. A man who lived near the area of last night's incident was speaking to his friend in hushed tones.

"You won't believe it," the man said. "I saw the police and the Wolf Gang fighting—shooting at each other with guns!"

His friend's eyes widened. "Guns?! Only the police, army, and nobles are supposed to have them. Private possession is a crime!"

"That's what I thought too," the man replied. "I have no idea how these gang members got their hands on such weapons. And you won't believe what I saw next—a police officer and a gang member fighting with swords! They were so strong that they broke through a wall and nearly brought a house down with their bodies. It was terrifying."

His friend shook his head. "This city is getting worse. I thought only the slums had these kinds of problems, but now even the outer city isn't safe."

Sighing, the man took a bite of his bread, while his friend nodded grimly.

Ryan, who had been listening closely, processed the information carefully. Thanks to his enhanced senses, he had heard everything clearly. He was shocked—an armed confrontation between the police and a gang, with even extraordinary individuals involved?

This was a wake-up call. If gangs were this dangerous, then the Wolf Gang wasn't an isolated case. He would have to be extremely cautious when taking missions. Facing not just criminals but possibly knights and gunmen was now a real possibility.

---

As the morning rush died down, the restaurant quieted, and customers left for their daily work. With a bit of free time, Bell and Ryan grabbed bowls of soup and bread, sitting down for a quick meal.

"So, Ryan, how's the work? Any problems?" Bell asked while eating.

Ryan shook his head. "No, everything's good. I'm getting used to it. Thanks to your grandmother and you for giving me this opportunity."

Bell smirked. "Well, don't get too comfortable. It's just the first day."

After a brief pause, she leaned forward. "By the way, did those guys harass you again?"

Hearing her concern, Ryan felt a small warmth in his chest. It was nice knowing someone cared. He reassured her with a smile. "No, nothing happened."

Bell clenched her fists and said angrily, "If they come again, don't be afraid of them! The more you fear them, the more they'll try to control you. With people like that, you have to be ruthless to get rid of them!"

She waved her hand in the air dramatically, her fiery temper showing itself again. Ryan chuckled at her enthusiasm, but deep down, he understood the truth in her words. If he wanted to survive in this city, he couldn't afford to be weak.

"Don't worry, I will take care of myself and won't bend to their threats, you can rest assured"