Who in Newdali City didn’t know Sia’s reputation as the Humanoid Titan?

Layne shot Alan a resentful look. A friend? This damn guy was clearly a frenemy—ready to have Sia hammer him to death at the slightest disagreement. How evil.

While chatting, Layne kept moving. He personally brewed two cups of lemon juice and handed them to Alan and Sia.

“Alan, you actually came out today? Did the neighboring guild finally chase you for debts?” Layne rested his chin on his hands, leaning on the counter with a grin.

“You know it, so don’t say it out loud. And for the record, it was my old man who owed the huge debt to the neighboring guild—not me.” Alan shot Layne an annoyed glare.

“Heh, ten thousand gold coins? That’s no big debt. I’m sure you’ll pay it off before you kick the bucket.”

“Easy for you to say. If your dad screwed you over hard, you’d know how it feels to be betrayed by your own father.”

Layne raised an eyebrow and nodded in agreement. But he’d never let that happen—only he could screw over his dad, not the other way around. “Oh right, I heard your grandpa also racked up debts outside. Haven’t the creditors come after you?”

“Don’t rub salt in the wound, you bastard! Keep this up, and you’ll lose me as a friend. You know that?” Alan glared at Layne. Ungrateful jerk—even the name “Mixue Bingcheng” was his idea.

“Hahaha, don’t be mad. Drink more lemon water to cool off. By the way, for this shop, you’re in as a technical partner. Once we profit, I’ll send the gold to your guild. If we lose money, you’ll starve with me.”

Alan drained his lemon juice in one gulp. “We’ll talk profits later.”

“Don’t worry, we won’t lose. Couples strolling love Mixue Bingcheng’s drinks. In a month, you’ll earn at least a hundred gold coins.”

Alan scoffed. A hundred gold? His debt-ridden dad owed ten thousand gold coins—enough to pile into a small mountain.

“Alan-nii, I want ice cream.”

“What flavor, little princess?” Layne took the cue, smiling warmly.

“Can I have one of each?” Sia blinked her big eyes.

“Just one,” Alan said firmly—not to deny her, but to keep her tummy from hurting.

Sia pouted, gazing pitifully at Alan. He remained unmoved.

Layne left the counter, chuckling as he made Sia’s ice cream.

Moments later, a rainbow-swirled ice cream appeared in Sia’s hands. She beamed, happily licking it.

“Alan, I envy you. Stuck to the Earl’s little princess all day—only you in Newdali City get this treatment.”

Alan rolled his eyes, ignoring Layne. If he weren’t scared of death, he could be Sia’s friend too.

“No big commissions for the guild lately. At this rate, Cloud Peak Guild might end with me.”

“Isn’t that what you want? I remember your dream—to become an Overlord or a hero. Once your guild collapses, you can have a dramatic change of heart, survive eighty-one trials, and rise as the Overlord.”

“Did adventure novels rot your brain? Or did your dad whack you on the head this morning?”

Alan stared at Layne like he was an idiot. He’d just joked, but this guy rambled on—seriously messed up.

Layne: “...”

Sharp-tongued bastard. He was just teasing—couldn’t Alan take a joke? No wonder he was still single.

“Alright, no more teasing. I’ve got secret news. Want to hear it?”

“Secret news?” A hint of interest flickered in Alan’s eyes. Layne’s family had connections—they got real intel others couldn’t.

Seeing Alan’s expression, Layne grinned. He leaned close, whispering, “Dark Mages are lurking in Newdali City. Several strong men have been killed these past two days.”

Alan’s face turned grim. Dark Mages—shadow-dwellers, rejected by mainstream mages. They practiced vile dark magic, hunted by the Magic Church and Light Cathedral.

“Layne, are you sure it’s Dark Mages?”

“Absolutely. Their dark magic residue lingers on the victims. Our City Lord already knows.”

“Then why isn’t it public? Multiple deaths can’t stay hidden in a peaceful town like Newdali.”

“The City Lord and Arcane Academy elders covered it up. Even if I didn’t tell you today, your guild would hear by tonight. The City Lord secretly commissioned all guilds. The reward’s huge—if Cloud Peak Guild catches the Dark Mage, half your debt vanishes.”

The moment Layne finished, Alan’s eyes blazed with an intense, almost blinding light. “Five thousand gold coins?”

“No—six thousand!” Layne winked, holding up six fingers before Alan’s face.

“Six thousand? My hammer toy’s worth more. It’s nearly that much.” Sia piped up, licking her ice cream.

“Huh? Alan-nii, why are you pulling me? I haven’t finished my ice cream!”

“We’ll fish out your hammer toy first.”

“Alan, don’t walk so fast! Wait for me!” Layne yelled, locking up his shop.

If a pair of hammers was worth six thousand gold, why run a shop today? He’d skip meals to fish Sia’s hammer from the river!

...

That evening, at Cloud Peak Guild, Alan and Layne pushed open the guild doors, soaked and exhausted.

They’d spent the afternoon fishing in the river. Near dusk, the Earl’s servant arrived to fetch Sia—holding those dazzling golden hammers. Seeing Alan and Layne splashing around, the servant had curiously asked what they were doing.

Turns out the hammers were already retrieved. Their whole afternoon was wasted.

“Alan, we’re such idiots. Of course the Earl wouldn’t ignore something so valuable.”

They slumped at the bar. Layne rested his head on the counter, drained. “We really are big fools.”