Chapter 42: Chapter 41: First Entry, Exploration

[You have gained 200 Spiritual Points]

[You have joined the faction – Coffee Shop]

[Faction reputation unlocked, current reputation level: Neutral]

[Main quest second phase unlocked]

Quest details: Deepen your understanding of this world, gather more useful information, and unlock the third phase.

Time limit: 2 days

Quest reward: 200 Spiritual Points

Quest penalty: All Attributes -3

Ye Mingqiu glanced at the quest penalty, knowing that the difficulty of this quest was likely low. Truly high-difficulty quests have no penalties, like the survival trials, which don’t require quest penalties at all.

Additionally, the essence of the first-phase quest was to find a place to stay. Although the old manager ostensibly said to only let him work part-time for an hour, in reality, he must be willing to accept him. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have been able to complete the task.

The manager is a nice person. The follow-up plans I thought of before were unnecessary.

The initial reputation with the coffee shop is neutral, which indicates it is a relatively friendly faction, willing to accommodate and care for outsiders. But in such a faction, it’s probably hard to boost reputation to a high level in a short time.

Reputation levels have seven: Hatred, Indifference, Neutral, Friendly, Respect, Esteem, Worship. Generally, reaching Respect is about the limit, and it takes a great contribution to reach Esteem and Worship.

….

The night coffee shop seemed like an eraser forgotten by the city in a corner, wiping away the customers’ fatigue and irritability, bringing peace and tranquility.

Ye Mingqiu cleaned the entire coffee shop and casually sat down in a seat, “panting” and wiping the sweat off his forehead. The manager stood behind the counter, as always, polishing a mug as if performing an endless task.

“Creak.”

The door hinge let out a slightly dry groan as a figure with a black backpack walked in, bringing in the rain-dampened stains with him.

Looks like I’ll have to clean up again soon, Ye Mingqiu thought silently.

He observed each customer quietly while also listening to the news on the TV, trying to find information about the blood-colored monsters to proceed to the next step.

The customer wore a faded blue school uniform jacket, zipped up to the chest, revealing the clean neckline of a white T-shirt inside. Black hair softly covered his forehead, complementing a face so delicate it was almost excessive, with a hint of innocence and confusion, like an ordinary high school student who had lost his way and wandered in.

He walked straight to the bar, speaking in a low voice, with the right amount of restraint: “A cup of black coffee, please.”

“Okay.”

The owner nodded friendly, a smile breaking the sleepiness on his face as he turned to make the coffee.

’Something’s off.’

Ye Mingqiu quickly sensed an anomaly. Although the boy appeared ordinary and acted his age, as soon as he entered the shop, he swiftly scanned all the people inside. The look was fast and sharp, not a casual gaze.

Is he gathering intelligence?

Is this guy a Spiritualist too?

Quickly, he found a corner to sit down, placed his backpack on an empty seat, picked up a few slightly crumpled local newspapers on the table, and while waiting for the coffee, began gathering information about this world.

Isn’t this what I used to do? Are you going to start working here because you can’t afford coffee next? Ye Mingqiu inwardly mocked.

“The third report of nighttime disappearance around North City Industrial District this month…”

“Recently, citizens reported hearing anomalous noises late at night near the abandoned site of ’Zhenxing Machinery Factory’, cautioning residents to stay safe and avoid the area at night…”

Just at that moment, the voice of the news broadcast on the TV captured everyone’s attention in the coffee shop.

“Manager, I remember Zhenxing Machinery Factory is quite close to our coffee shop, right? Could there be any danger?” Ye Mingqiu asked worriedly.

“What are you talking about? Zhenxing Machinery Factory is in the North, and we are in the South.” The manager asked, puzzled.

“Eh? Is that so? We’re in the South? I’ve always had a terrible sense of direction. When I ran away from home, I somehow ended up here.” Ye Mingqiu said, scratching his head with an embarrassed smile.

“Hehe.”

The manager just chuckled kindly, continuing to polish the perpetually dubiously clean cup.

Meanwhile, the suspected Spiritualist high school student quickly stood up, came to the counter, and said, “Check, please.”

Ha! Is it coming?

Ye Mingqiu smiled, but what he imagined didn’t happen. He saw the high school student directly take out money from his pocket to complete the transaction successfully.

Eh? He’s got money!

Isn’t this guy a Spiritualist?

The next moment, the high school student actively approached Ye Mingqiu and said with a smile, “If I remember correctly, you’re a classmate from the next class over?”

“Yeah, you’ve seen me?”

“Yeah, being in the same school, how would I not have seen you… By the way, why are you working here? Are you short on money?” The high school student asked with a smile.

“I ran away from home, funds are low.”

Ye Mingqiu sighed.

“Hahaha, how about this, since we’re schoolmates, I can help you out a bit. There’s a test tomorrow, staying here working might affect your studies. Come with me.”

“But…” Ye Mingqiu showed an embarrassed expression.

“Oh~”

The high school student realized immediately, took out a large bill from his pocket, and handed it to the manager, saying, “Sorry, sorry, my classmate might have caused you some trouble; I hope you don’t mind.”

“No problem, he’s worked here for a long time anyway.” The manager took the money and said with a smile.

“Let’s go then.”

“Alright.”

…

After leaving the coffee shop, they quickly reached an alley. The once-diffident high school student casually brushed his hair, instantly turning roguishly handsome, losing all traces of youthfulness. He looked at Ye Mingqiu and said, “Looks like you’re a newbie.”

“Yeah, I just became a spiritualist not long ago, don’t understand many things yet, and I’m only at the Elite Level profession… Where’d you get your money?” Ye Mingqiu said, with a forced and awkward smile.

“From trading gold. Sometimes treasure chests in the Spirit Realm will drop gold that can be stored in your Storage Space, and it can be used in other realms. Just cut off a piece and exchange it for money. Gold is hard currency in most worlds.”

The roguishly handsome high school student lit a cigarette and continued, “I’m Chang Feng, what’s your name?”

“Divine Monarch.”

“Sigh, not easy coming here for an Elite Level profession either, who knows which bastard ignored the Spirit Realm cooldown and descended early, making the Blood-colored Venerable enraged and directly hiking the difficulty from Difficult Level to Hell Level.”

Saying this, Chang Feng stared at Ye Mingqiu and asked, “Speaking of… it wouldn’t happen to be you, would it?”

“Impossible, absolutely impossible, how could a Level 1 Elite profession like me dare to do something like that?”

Ye Mingqiu shook his head repeatedly, thinking: If this guy’s easy to fool, then we’ll explore together, if not… there’s nothing more to be done…

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