Guided by the memory map from his days as a gamer, Lomio easily led “Kafnir” to a highly-rated yet reasonably priced local restaurant.
The two sat facing each other.
Lomio glanced at the menu and immediately placed his order:
“Boss, one Northwind Salad, one Stir-fried Earth Dragon Kidneys, a plate of Westland Stems, and some Camel Beast Marrow Bones.”
These were all dishes widely recognized in the game as the best bang for your buck, and had received universal praise from NPCs.
Since I’ve already transmigrated, how can I not properly explore everything?!
Of course, being broke was another reason…
Karenina watched him in silence. She didn’t say anything, just took out her notebook and jotted down the names of each dish.
During the meal, the two exchanged information about the Cromwell family, and the atmosphere turned out to be unexpectedly pleasant.
After dinner, they each returned to their dormitories, agreeing to meet early the next morning to discuss their strategy for the class division assessment.
*****
“Ah, thank goodness for the general environment.”
With a click, the dormitory door was locked from the inside.
Lomio let out a long sigh of relief, leaning against the door.
Kafnir, this guy, really was different from the usual imperial heirs.
He acted cold, but wasn’t really boring to talk to. What’s more, even though he was a Russellian, his understanding of the duchy far surpassed most people.
When it came to the industries run by the Cromwell family, Lomio still had to rely on his memories to check, but Kafnir could name which port and which merchant guild was responsible, and even knew the name of the person in charge!
If nothing else, even when a few dishes were recommended to him, he took notes… This guy takes life way too seriously.
“Heh, all that oppression you subjected your own people to has just driven all the talent straight to my side!”
If this wasn’t a matriarchal world, and if circumstances didn’t force men to band together, Lomio doubted he’d ever end up with such a reliable teammate.
Still leaning against the door, Lomio took out a card from his pocket.
[E-Rank Experience Card (Excellent)]
A halo shimmered around it, and the card floated above his palm.
“Fuse.”
Lomio closed his eyes.
The card dissolved into glowing motes, which flowed into his chest.
Magic surged in, like a flood washing over his will. His bones emitted a fine, crackling sound.
He felt the muscle fibers under his skin forcibly torn apart and then re-woven by the influx of energy, layer upon layer tightening and coiling together.
Yet, he didn’t feel the slightest bit of pain!
What a strange sensation.
“So this is the effect of ‘Excellent’…”
In his consciousness, Lomio saw the agility talent originally belonging to the assassin light up, and that branch of the talent tree extended upward, blossoming into new forks.
[Rank Up: Tier 1 → Tier 2]
[Talent Tree Unlocked: Alchemy (Tier 1)]
[Pending Advancement Talent Points: 4]
Lomio opened his eyes and clenched his fist.
Strength surged from his palm.
He stretched, then jumped a few times; his movements felt light, his landings silent.
Judging from the feedback of the talent tree, his stealth abilities had also improved in step with his physical stats.
“Tier 2… Still not enough.”
Lomio opened the system panel and looked over the newly unlocked card crafting list.
The class division test wouldn’t just be about standing still and comparing stats.
Of course it’s about who can play dirtier!
He was almost out of money after paying for dinner.
“Every last bit must be turned into combat power.”
Allocating his funds, Lomio listed the following in his mind:
[Explosive Card (F)]
[Trap Card (F)]
[Paralysis Card (F)]
[Silence Card (F)]
All of them were the lowest-level consumable cards, but they made up for it in quantity and covered all the essentials.
“Who would’ve thought they’d complement the assassin class so well? This cheat really is something else.”
As a player, Lomio knew exactly what assassins lacked.
Damage output relied on sneak attacks and backstabs, but they had zero crowd control!
In team fights, they’d just go invisible and wait until all their teammates died before showing up… You really couldn’t blame anyone for hating them!
But!
There’s another way to solve this!
Assigning the four talent points to his new cards, Lomio changed clothes, pushed open the door, and slipped out into the night.
Destination: Alchemy Workshop.
“A fully invisible alchemist? I can’t even imagine how much fun this is going to be!”
*****
“Your Highness, the target has left the dormitory.”
The maid, Annie, emerged from the shadows, kneeling on one knee.
Inside the room, Karenina didn’t respond.
Her gaze was fixed on a sheet of paper on the desk—the dinner menu she’d copied from memory.
Her fingers tapped each dish in turn, rearranging and recombining their order.
“No… There must be a deeper meaning here.”
Why eat at that local restaurant?
Why order those rustic-sounding dishes?
The first stage of testing was already over; given his status, he absolutely couldn’t be short of money.
If he wanted, he could have easily spent a bit extra to have the “Gourmet Constructor” create the most luxurious custom meal.
“The examiner must have had a deeper intention…”
Karenina’s frown deepened.
“Your Highness?”
Annie tried to get her attention, but Karenina waved her off, signaling for silence.
Karenina’s gaze fell again on the words in the menu.
Bufeng Salad… Stir-fried Earth Dragon Kidneys… Westland Stems… Camel Beast Marrow Bones…
“Homophones…”
Don’t… follow… him?
“No, could that be it? What would that even test?”
Karenina felt her head starting to spin.
Did she really need to dissect the words in the menu?
She truly didn’t want to be so paranoid, but with everything that had happened around Lomio—things that could only be described as miraculous—she couldn’t help but overthink!
“These… all seem to be well-rated local dishes at the academy… and he took you to eat that?!”
Reading the notebook, Annie’s fists clenched in outrage!
That damned man, does he not know what an honor it is to dine with Her Highness?!
If only I could be the one sitting at that table…
“Cease operations!”
To be safe, Karenina called off Annie’s surveillance.
If this deduction was correct, it might at least help them avoid some mistakes.
“But, Your Highness?!” Annie was shocked!
Such a suspicious individual, sneaking out at night without even notifying anyone.
Clearly, there was some huge conspiracy brewing!
But… the order was to halt surveillance?!
“No buts.”
Karenina stood, walking to the window and gazing toward the alchemy workshop.
“This might be part of the test. Annie, sometimes you need to know what to do, and when to trust and respect an ally.”
“The way you treat talent now is the way you treat an ally… These are all qualities required to be a ruler.”
Karenina herself felt a little uncertain as she spoke.
But in front of Annie, she could show no weakness.
“Don’t think that way, Your Highness!”
As a maid, Annie really wanted to shout, but she simply didn’t have the nerve.
A few words stuck in her throat, but in the end, she swallowed them.
Her Highness must have her reasons for thinking this way.
Even though that man seemed like nothing but a weirdly creative idiot who hadn’t even seen through her disguise!!
Endure, Annie!
Her Highness will surely see through the act herself—there’s no need to overstep!
This… perhaps this too is part of the path to kingship!
Yes, this is training!
Consoling herself, Annie’s heart gradually calmed, and her expression returned to normal:
“I understand now. I was shortsighted, Your Highness is farsighted.”
I’m so exhausted…
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