537,

Cyclone stood in the back alley of the restaurant, taking out the gold coins from his bag.

Like engaging in some illicit underground transaction, Cyclone surreptitiously passed a gold coin to the restaurant owner.

Was it that Cabellus was too naive, or was he just overly excited?

Before the boy with cat ears could even finish work, Cabellus forcibly took him away from the workplace.

Cyclone didn't mind, he was just scolded by the restaurant owner for a few words.

But if it led to the boy losing his job, that would truly be a heinous act.

"How long will it take?"

"Just a moment."

After the boss bit down on Cyclone's coin to test its hardness, he said, "Just a moment, there are plenty of dishes to wash!"

"Understood, understood."

As a bystander, Cyclone simply stood by, listening to the dialogue between Cabellus and the boy with cat ears.

At first, Cabellus just wanted to observe how the cat-eared people lived and maybe touch their cat ears and tails.

He had no clear plan on how to incorporate the cat-eared people into the "duel" after a single interaction.

However, as their discussions delved into more topics, Cabellus became increasingly curious.

It felt like a door was being opened, a door that belonged solely to Cabellus.

Through exchanges and understanding between different races, the boy began to smile.

Their conversation deepened, from the cat-eared people's customs to some unique gestures only they had, Cabellus talked about everything.

Time passed slowly as they chatted.

After an hour, the boss came back out.

He didn't say anything, just held out his hand.

It seemed the other party was wise since the final work was also done by the cat-eared kid, now taking a little money upfront for future gains.

Cyclone took out several coins, but this time, he didn't hand them over immediately.

"Being too greedy isn't a good trait~"

"Well, then hurry up and give me back my boy?"

Instead of whispering, Cyclone surprisingly shouted back at the boss.

It seemed like an attempt to intimidate Cyclone to make him hand over more coins.

But Cyclone wouldn't budge; this was Cabellus' affair, and he could always leave it for next time or ask Cabellus to come by later.

Cyclone pretended to gather the coins, planning to approach Cabellus.

Seeing several coins slip away, the boss immediately changed his tune.

"You see, they're chatting so happily. I rarely see that kid interacting so happily with humans. I really don't want to interrupt such a good opportunity..."

The speed at which the boss changed his tone left Cyclone impressed.

Simultaneously, the boss walked over to Cyclone, one to block his path towards Cabellus and two, to showcase the dishes waiting to be washed underground.

Through their simple conversation, Cyclone not only observed the boss's excellent positioning but also felt the pressure from his subtle gestures.

It seemed that when Cabellus was busy, Cyclone could have a little fun himself.

Awesome!

After that, Cyclone couldn't be bothered to tell Cabellus what happened. It was like how he couldn't be bothered to inquire about what Cabellus and the cat-eared boys had said—it was just some trivial matters that could be brushed aside lightly.

In the end, both of them gained something from their exchange.

"Cyclone, my friend, this exchange was truly a valuable experience, wasn't it?"

"Eh, not bad, I guess."

"It turns out that there is an underground community among the cat-eared people as well. I only found out recently that they have a regular large gathering in Kakarl."

"Oh, I see."

"He invited me, so I might go there this Sunday."

"Is that so?"

Cyclone chuckled lightly, responding coldly, "You better work hard by yourself."

At that moment, Cabellus stopped in his tracks, patting Cyclone on the shoulder.

"What's wrong, my dear Cyclone? Of course, I'm reserving a spot for you."

Cyclone said nothing, just thinking to himself, *Won't you come along as well?*

Of course, you can't escape it either.

Both of them thought silently, without uttering a word. But between their smiles, it seemed as if they understood what the other was thinking, sparking a connection.

As dusk approached, the two started to make their way back.

In the meantime, Cabellus began to talk about some matters in Allen City.