Chapter Twenty-Four: Since You've Already Relieved Yourselves

"I'm hungry, where's breakfast!" Linley ran through the streets of Snow City like the wind, drawing the attention of many passersby.

"Look at his outfit, he looks like a little prince..."

"That's called idol chasing—lots of people dress like that these days."

Linley sped past a green cottage with a wisp of white smoke rising from its roof. Two maiden girls dressed as nuns stood hand in hand before the shop.

"Boss, we'd like two vegetable burgers."

"Coming right up!" The burger shop owner swiftly wrapped up the burgers. Hearing the word "burger," Linley stopped in his tracks.

"The nuns used to take breakfast in the rose garden, and now they've been reduced to buying burgers on the street."

"These foods brought in from the human world taste awful."

"That's right, the nuns have clearly gotten much slimmer lately."

Linley's ears were sharp—he caught the murmured conversation of passing holy knights.

What? Burgers are from the human world?

He hurriedly turned, excitedly running up to the burger shop. "Boss, give me a beef burger. Let me try your so-called trash food!"

The two nuns glared at him angrily—how could he speak so rudely! Trash food? Was he mocking them for being poor?

But the owner was experienced. A glance at Linley's jewel-studded robe told him this boy, masquerading as a little prince, was either wealthy or noble.

These noble children, spoiled by delicacies, often craved trash food.

"Here you go..." The owner handed Linley the burger, then looked at the leopard beside him. "You're a Wind Walker, right? Does your companion want anything? I also have roast meat."

"No need. Give him a few vegetable burgers—he likes vegetarian food."

Linley happily munched his burger—delicious! He hadn't expected this world to have trash food too. Though the texture was rough, that junk food feeling was the best!

"Vegetarian..."

The owner stared open-mouthed at the leopard, who glared coldly back. "What are you looking at? Never seen a vegetarian leopard before? Hurry up and give me the burgers."

Those who kept close to Linley grew corrupt—after a few days by his side, the leopard learned nothing good, but its attitude toward others grew worse.

Everyone nearby was startled—my goodness, the leopard can talk!

The owner's hands shook as he handed over the burgers.

"That'll be five silver coins."

"How much?" Linley, chewing, hadn't heard clearly.

"Five silver coins," the owner answered nervously.

"What, there are things priced in silver coins?" Linley was shocked. The smuggler's goods were all priced in gold coins.

His voice was loud, and nearby shopkeepers poked their heads out, looking at him as if he were an alien. "Is this guy crazy?"

"I only have gold coins." Linley casually tossed a gold coin over. "Keep the change, let the nuns use the rest."

"My goodness, he doesn't even want change!" The shopkeepers surged out, surrounding Linley. "Young master, would you like some milk?"

"My roast meat is the best in Snow City, you must try some!"

A rare noble! The shopkeepers were overjoyed. Most students in Snow City were from commoner families, with little spending power. Their daily earnings were just two or three gold coins, and Linley's casual payment surpassed half a day's income.

"Ladies, you still have ninety-five silver coins left. Would you like anything else?" The burger shop owner said to the stunned nuns. "Let me be clear—whether you buy or not, I won't give back the change!"

The two nuns glanced at each other, deeply grateful to Linley—though he had already run off.

"I'm sick of all that, I want something I've never tried!" Linley rushed off in search of something new, the leopard carrying its burger close behind.

The little tyrant spent two hours finishing breakfast, then patted his belly in satisfaction and went looking for a place to stay. "With prices this cheap, could I rent out an entire inn?"

"Young master looking for an inn?" Two short, green creatures followed him. "Perhaps you'd let us make an introduction?"

They were two goblins. Goblins were born merchants, with an unparalleled sense for money. They had been trailing Linley for an hour already.

"How much to rent out an inn?" Linley burped.

The slightly taller goblin's eyes rolled. "If we make the arrangements, an inn is just sixty gold coins a day."

Thirty gold coins would actually suffice, but the goblins watched Linley's expression closely.

"Sixty gold coins?" Linley waved his hand. "No, I want to spend all my money before going home, that's too cheap."

The goblins' eyes lit up—sucker, definitely a sucker. They sensed no less than a thousand gold coins on him.

"If you want something pricier, we can introduce you to a premium inn for two hundred gold coins."

The taller goblin said, but the short one slapped him. "What are you saying? Someone as distinguished as young master can't stay in an inn! He needs a villa!"

The tall goblin was stunned, while Linley lifted his nose. "You can rent villas here?"

"Of course, you can even buy one!" The short goblin rubbed his hands. "We have a villa for sale—only a thousand gold coins."

"For sale?" Linley looked at him suspiciously. "Not for rent?"

"You can rent if you wish, but I imagine a thousand gold coins is nothing to young master?" The short goblin smiled broadly. Linley stroked his chin. "A thousand gold coins—where is the villa?"

The short goblin grew excited. "On the mountain, right over there, young master!"

He hurried to lead the way, and Linley followed, delighted. The leopard watched the scene—these goblins were no good, but clearly they'd picked the wrong target.

The little fellow seemed carefree, but inside he was slyer than anyone—he pretended ignorance, probably for amusement.

"My first goblins! And they're cheats!"

Linley's heart swelled with emotion—the outside world was so fresh. On his very first day, he'd encountered so many interesting things. These two goblins were trying to swindle his money, or maybe kidnap him along with it.

He hoped the bodyguard trailing him wouldn't interfere.

The goblins led Linley up the mountain, where there was indeed a villa—but calling it a villa was generous; it was more like an ancient castle—large, ominous, terrifying, just like a demon lord's castle in the movies.

"This villa may look scary outside, but inside it's warm and beautiful!" the short goblin said to Linley. "I can take you inside for a look."

"Alright." Linley understood now—these goblins really thought he was a fool.

He followed the goblin toward the castle. The short goblin was thrilled—such an easy mark. This castle had once belonged to a botanist, who later invented some mysterious, terrifying plants that drove everyone away.

After acquiring the castle, the goblins had tried to destroy the plants and sell the property at a high price, but the plants were not only formidable, they reproduced rapidly—like cockroaches, impossible to eradicate. The castle simply wouldn't sell.

"Brother, we paid five thousand gold coins for this castle. Are you really selling it for a thousand?"

"Idiot, those monsters' cries alone will knock him out. We'll grab his earring then."

The goblins conversed in their own tongue. They'd long noticed Linley's money was kept in his earring. If they could silently steal that storage earring, the fortune would be theirs.

"Ah, I see. You're clever, brother."

The tall goblin was excited. He had seen the plant monsters' destructive power— even a grand mage hired to clear the castle had been scared away, let alone a child. The goblins wore special protective charms, so they weren't worried.

"But we're already in the yard. Why aren't the plants showing up?"

The goblins grew puzzled. The plants had spread around the castle and would normally attack strangers, but today, nothing had appeared.

"Young master, could you walk a little faster..." The goblins turned to urge Linley, but suddenly stopped. "What... what are you eating?"

Linley puffed out his cheeks, two root tendrils struggling at the corners of his mouth.

"Nothing, you must be mistaken!"

He quickly swallowed the contents. The goblins felt a chill run through them.

Just then, a white humanoid plant appeared before Linley.

"Damn, another Ginseng Fruit!"

Linley grabbed the plant at lightning speed and stuffed it into his mouth.

Heavens, how could there be Ginseng Fruit from Journey to the West here? Supposedly, eating one lets you live for forty-seven thousand years!

A priceless treasure—he mustn't let the goblins notice he was eating it, or he'd never be able to repay them.

Linley gulped down the Ginseng Fruit, then saw the goblins clutching each other in terror.

"What's wrong with you?"

"Young master... we need the restroom."

Linley looked down.

"I don't think you need to go—you've already wet yourselves."