Chapter 9: Golden Iris Hotel

One week later, Arslan Royal City.

The scattered spires, rising and falling in harmony, were gilded in a dreamy gold by the last glow of sunset.

On the streets, magical lanterns flickered on one by one, their crystals emitting a gentle light.

By night, the royal city revealed its lazy, luxurious side.

Zhao Yingyue had changed out of her usual black and red qipao, instead wearing a dark green dress in the local Arslan style.

Her long hair was loosely draped over her shoulders, shedding some of her battlefield valiance for a touch of ordinary feminine gentleness.

Jinyuanwei Hotel was a jewel of Arslan Royal City, famed across the continent for its luxurious decor, exquisite cuisine, and impeccable service.

Its name came from the national flower of the Arslan Kingdom—the Golden Iris, symbolizing nobility and honor.

For Zhao Yingyue, it held even more: the memories of her girlhood.

Back in the day, when she and Faluxil studied at Pascal Military Academy, the Golden Iris was their occasional, extravagant place to relax.

She still remembered how the always-cold-faced Faluxil would show a rare, childlike anticipation only when facing the shop’s “Snow-topped First Frost” cake.

As for herself, she’d always had a soft spot for the signature dish, “Roast Dragonback with Lava Sauce.”

The spicy, scorching sauce paired with tender, juicy roast meat always chased away her training fatigue.

But times had changed.

Returning here now, her feelings were no longer the same.

Faluxil, burdened by the heavy mission of a God’s Chosen, ran day and night between palace and barracks, likely with no appetite for sweets left.

She could only console herself by enjoying the delicacies alone.

“One order of the signature Lava Sauce Roast Dragonback, and a pot of your finest Huohou Liquor.”

She sat with her back straight as a spear—even in her most relaxed moments, years of martial discipline kept her posture rigid.

Beneath her long skirt, her shapely, muscular thighs, revealed and concealed by turns, exuded a powerful, wild beauty.

She didn’t try to hide it; it was her pride as a fighter and the source of her strength.

Soon, the legendary signature dish was served.

A whole, carefully-prepared sub-dragon backbone, roasted to a tempting caramel hue, lay atop a scorching black volcanic rock slab.

The waiter slowly poured a small bowl of secret sauce, thick and crimson like lava, over it.

With a sizzle, rich meaty aroma mingled with spicy seasoning and burst forth, rising in steaming waves that stirred the appetite.

Zhao Yingyue nodded in satisfaction, picked up the Silver Knife and Fork, and gracefully sliced off a piece of crisp-on-the-outside, tender-on-the-inside dragonback meat.

The texture was firm and springy, juicy and full.

“It still tastes just like before…”

Zhao Yingyue sighed.

As she immersed herself in her meal, a few malicious gazes grew increasingly blatant.

Not far away, at a round table, sat three players.

They were well-equipped, each with the same guild emblem—a flaming sword—on their chests.

Clearly, a formidable player party.

“Hey, look at that babe, she’s hot.”

A warrior with the ID [Sword Sweeping All Directions] lowered his voice, though the excitement was plain.

His eyes, like hooks, lingered greedily over the curves hugged by Zhao Yingyue’s qipao.

“Must be an NPC from Night Dragon Nation? Name’s… Zhao Yingyue, a fighter.”

The assassin beside him, [Blade in the Wind], had clearly done his homework.

“The Forum says her capture difficulty is S-rank. Hot-tempered, normal gift routes are useless.”

“S-rank just makes it more thrilling.”

The third, a Mage Player, leered.

“Look at those legs, that figure, tsk tsk… If we can raise Favorability and unlock her permissions, maybe we can have a taste too…”

Zhao Yingyue’s hand froze midair, still holding the knife and fork.

Her stunning face gradually chilled.

These foreigners’ words were filled with terms she couldn’t quite grasp—NPC, capture difficulty, Favorability…

But the blatant intent was crystal clear.

She slowly set down her utensils, her knuckles whitening from the force.

A cold, solid killing intent spread silently from her.

Nearby diners seemed to sense the shift, falling quiet instinctively.

The three players also picked up on the dangerous aura radiating from Zhao Yingyue.

But instead of backing down, their excitement only grew.

To them, this was simply a high-difficulty NPC triggering a hostile response—just part of the capture process.

[Sword Sweeping All Directions] lifted his glass and swaggered over with what he thought was a suave smile.

“It’s boring to eat alone, beauty.”

He slammed his drink onto Zhao Yingyue’s table, spilling a few drops.

“We’ve admired you for a long time. Why not share a table and become friends? Our guild is top ten on the server…”

“Scram.”

Zhao Yingyue didn’t let him finish.

If not for being in Arslan and wanting to show Faluxil some restraint, these guys would already be waiting to respawn at the Spring of Linxing Tower.

[Sword Sweeping All Directions]’s face darkened.

Being flatly rejected in front of his companions was humiliating.

[Blade in the Wind] hurried to smooth things over, grinning.

“Hey, don’t be mad, beauty. Our boss just speaks his mind. Look, this meal’s on us—consider it a gesture of friendship?”

“I don’t like repeating myself.”

Zhao Yingyue’s gaze swept over the two.

“Disappear from my sight before I dismantle your bones.”

She rose slowly, flexing her wrist.

A surge of powerful energy swirled around her, making her skirt billow.

Yet, to players who saw everything as data and code, this kind of pressure only stoked their competitiveness.

“Heh, even a plot NPC’s acting tough?”

[Sword Sweeping All Directions] sneered.

“Listen up, in Arslan, there’s nothing our Guild of Flaming War Song can’t handle—”

A light laugh abruptly cut the tense atmosphere.

A petite figure had appeared behind the players without anyone noticing.

She looked about sixteen or seventeen, wearing a JK uniform utterly out of place in this world, her short pleated skirt revealing slender legs in white over-the-knee socks.

Her hair was in twin tails, dyed pink and silver, and she was sucking on a colorful lollipop.

The girl tilted her head, big round eyes curious as she watched the Guild of Flaming War Song members, her lollipop swaying as she spoke.

“Ah, isn’t this Sword-Da, the big guild leader of Flaming War Song?”

Her voice was sweet and crisp, with a playful innocence.

“Sword-bro, how did it feel last time, getting killed by the Truth Council and camping as a corpse outside the Linxing Tower for six hours? I heard your Flame Demon’s Breath even dropped and you had to pay a fortune to get it back. Is that true?”

[Sword Sweeping All Directions]’s face turned beet red.

That incident was the guild’s greatest shame—a whole night of being camped by an enemy guild, stripped of all their gear.

Internally forbidden to mention it.

“Y-You… who are you? Spouting nonsense…”

He yelled, trying to sound fierce.

The girl ignored his anger, turning to [Blade in the Wind].

“And you, Flowing Thief-bro. Didn’t you confess to that healer from the Rose Knight Order two days ago, giving her a Shop Blue Gear set, only to be publicly called stingy? How are you affording a place like the Jinyuanwei Hotel now? Did you win the lottery?”

[Blade in the Wind]’s face went pale.

That story was even more secret, known only to a handful of core members.

How did she know?

“Who… Who are you?!”

The girl didn’t answer, instead circling past them to Zhao Yingyue’s table.

Her wide eyes sparkled as she stared at the steaming roast dragonback, almost drooling.

“Wow, sis, that looks so delicious.”

She completely ignored the mortified men, speaking cheerfully to Zhao Yingyue.

The sudden chaos left Zhao Yingyue stunned.

The killing intent boiling inside her dissipated, scattered by the quirky newcomer.

The three Guild of Flaming War Song players were left frozen, unable to stay or leave.

With their dirty laundry exposed, any thought of flirting vanished, replaced by waves of embarrassment.

Finally, [Sword Sweeping All Directions] couldn’t stand the stares—mixed with laughter and gossip—around him.

He cursed softly and led his companions away in a hurry.

Peace returned to the Jinyuanwei Hotel.

The girl turned to Zhao Yingyue, beaming, then sat boldly across from her.

“Sis, this roast dragonback smells amazing.”

She stared at the plate, eyes shining, voice muffled by the lollipop.

“Can Tutu… have a bite?”