Latvis Empire, Rat City.

“Whoa! So many people!” The crowd swelled like a tide, voices fluttering like a thousand sparrows.

When we appeared again, we were already in a city buzzing like a hive, streets flowing like rivers of color.

But we dragged every gaze our way; not just our sudden arrival—Xinuo’s beauty pulled eyes like magnets, a moon drawing waves.

Annoyance pricked first; Xinuo frowned, a petal creasing under frost. “Hill, do something about those pesky stares.”

“Mm-hmm, leave it to me! If nothing else, scaring folks is my forte!” Her voice hopped like a pebble skipping on water.

As soon as she spoke, Dragon Aura blasted from her small frame, like thunder rolling out of a clear sky.

“Ah!!” The air broke like thin glass.

The moment Hill unleashed it, the gazes receded like a tide pulled by an unseen moon.

In moments, no eyes fell on us, like lamps snuffed by night.

With the stares gone, satisfaction warmed first; Xinuo stroked Hill’s cute little head, like smoothing silk. “Alright, let’s wander.”

“Ooh ooh! Got it! Let’s go shopping!” Her excitement danced like sunlight on ripples.

“Yeah, let’s stroll.” I laughed and mussed Hill’s small head, like ruffling a fluffy chick.

So we drifted through the streets like leaves floating on a stream.

“Wow, smells so good! Boss, boss, what’s that?!” Steam curled from a small stall like white dragons, and Hill stopped, eyes shining like twin stars, tugging my hand.

“Looks like takoyaki,” I said, the word puffing like hot dough.

A sign hung beside the stall, the three characters for takoyaki brushed bold, and the stall was run by a middle-aged auntie with hands like paddles.

“Takoyaki? I want it! I want it!” Her voice bobbed like a buoy.

She grabbed our hands and dashed toward the stall, feet pattering like sparrows across tiles.

“Please give us three plates of takoyaki.” I pinched Hill’s cheek, soft as mochi, and smiled at the owner.

“Ah.” She stared a beat, like a clock skipping, then smiled, creases fanning like paper. “Young master, that’s three plates—three silver coins.”

“Huh? What’s a silver coin? You need that to trade for takoyaki?” Confusion rose like fog.

“Uh, silver coins are money, young master. You pay to eat.” Her tone was patient, like rain tapping on a window.

“Money? I don’t have any.” The words fell like stones.

On the Central Continent, “money” isn’t a thing, so of course I carry none, pockets light as wind.

“You’re joking, right? A young lord like you with no money?!” Her temper sparked like flint.

I wilted first, then turned my head, like a reed bending. “Xinuo, you got money?”

“What a hassle. Forget it.” She bit a takoyaki, steam kissing her lip, then casually tossed something on the counter, like flicking a pebble into a pond. “No silver coins. This should cover it.”

“What is it?” Curiosity tugged me forward like a fish on a line.

I leaned in. A coin, purple-gold, blazing under the sun like a captured dawn.

“Is that a Purplegold Coin?!” The auntie lifted it, her plump body shaking, hands fluttering like leaves, as if she held a rare treasure instead of a coin.

“It’s just a coin. Why the fuss? Also, what’s a Purplegold Coin?” My bafflement spread like ink.

“Uh, young master, the Purplegold Coin is the most precious currency in the world! It’s used in the Human Realm, and even in the Divine, Demonic, and Elven Realm! Please, take it back. It’s too valuable. Let this be my treat.” She offered it back with grave care, like presenting incense at a shrine.

“Oh? So this buys food? Good. I have some.” Hill’s delight bubbled like spring water.

She finished her plate, then pulled a heap of Purplegold Coins from the pocket on her dress and poured them onto the counter, coins chiming like a rain of stars. “This is delicious! Give me more!”

!!!

As the coins clattered, the street erupted, shock rolling like thunder through dry hills. Every head swung our way, whispers drifting like wind through bamboo.

“Who are they?! They pulled out so many Purplegold Coins, just to buy takoyaki!!”

“Yeah! Even the Eastern Moon Empire’s vaults don’t have that many! They flashed that pile for octopus balls!”

“Right! Let’s go ask them for some. To them, Purplegold Coins look like pebbles. Maybe they’ll hand us a few!”

Such chatter streamed nonstop, like a river fed by springs, spilling into our ears.

“What the heck! So noisy all of a sudden—it’s killing me!” Irritation spiked first; Hill’s glare swept the crowd like a winter gust. “Quiet, all of you!!!”

She unleashed Dragon Aura again, stronger than before, like a mountain sliding into the sea.

The noisy crowd toppled unconscious in a wave, wheat flattened by a sudden gale, everyone except the stall owner.

The street fell blessedly silent, like snow after a storm.

“Alright, the annoying flies are gone. More takoyaki, please! However many those Purplegold Coins cover—bring that many!” Her cheer sparkled like morning dew.

Hill reeled the Dragon Aura back like a withdrawing tide, then turned to the auntie, eyes bright as lanterns.

“N-no, my lord, I can’t take your money. Eat as much as you like—my treat. Please take those Purplegold Coins back.” Her hands pushed the gleam like shooing fireflies.

“Oh. Alright then.” Hill nodded, and gathered the coins like scooping marbles into a pouch.

“Here, your takoyaki.” Relief softened the auntie’s face like warm clay.

Seeing the coins gone, she exhaled like a leaky bellows and piled plates before Hill, steam rising like clouds.

“Ooh! Time to eat!” Joy broke like sunrise across Hill’s face.

Hill beamed at the steaming takoyaki, the earlier ire blown away like smoke, and dug in, mouth working like a tiny squirrel with a nut.

“Uh, she wanted money a moment ago. Why not now?” My confusion drifted like a lost kite.

“Simple. If you had shown your strength from the start, Servant, she wouldn’t have pestered you for cash. Here, have one.” Xinuo slid a takoyaki into my mouth, the sauce warm as a summer evening. Mmph—pretty good.

“Young Master Ral, it’s them!” A shout carried from afar, a thread tugging at memory.

A familiar voice rose, echoing like a bell down a long lane; I swear I’d heard it somewhere...