...…
The group ate everything that the Heavenly Restaurant had prepared for them including the ones that they had ordered. The head manager said that since he inconvenienced them, he had to give them at his this much compensation, especially when they were important customers of the place within the game.
There was a feast within their private room, making Arthur salivate just by looking at them. It was the same for Leonard who could not take away his eyes from the whole roasted turkey sitting at the center of the table.
The girls were still doing fine as they were able to keep their composure while Molton still managed to calm himself down due to the practiced discipline that his family had engraved to his mind and body.
In the meantime, Shin just absentmindedly stared at everything before sighing. He then signaled everyone to start eating since they only had limited time until their next class.
It did not take long for the group to sweep everything on the table. They were able to clean all of the plates, eating to their heart's content.
Given that they were Martial Artists and Mentalists, who constantly consumed their energies whenever they practiced and trained, their bodies demanded them to eat more to replenish their energies.
Arthur and Leonard did not care about table discipline as they continuously ate whatever cuisine their hand touched. Their plates were constantly being filled while they were eating.
The girls were still able to eat calmly and in an unhurried manner, but the speed at which they ate couldn't be said slower than the two. They might be worried about their figures but it wouldn't be a problem as long as they burn all of the calories later.
It did not take long for the group to finish their meal and immediately stood up after a few moments of rest. Then Arthur paid on the counter, stubbornly insisting that he wanted to pay. Shin and the others did not mind while Jillian glared at him for some unknown reason.
The feast was good and it could be said satisfying. The exquisite and delicious meal pretty much satisfied the group. Even Shin admitted that the name of the place fit it very well.
Unfortunately, despite that being the case, Shin and the others could not completely enjoy their meal because of a single item that the head manager had given him. And before he could even ask what it was, the head manager quickly exited the room, leaving the group hanging.
Arthur wanted to curse the head manager but his attention was quickly attracted by the set of meals presented on the table.
After exiting the place and walking toward the activity field, Arthur quickly walked toward Shin and asked whisperingly. "Hey, don't you think it is just a prop or something? Maybe they are imitating some of the items from the game as accessories and or figurines?"
Shin did not say anything as his mind was still occupied by the item. Instead, it was Leonard who rebuked those words. "You can say that if it only resembled those items, but how can you reproduce those ancient auras that were enveloping the item."
"At the very least, we can easily that it is a genuine treasure – an antique, an artifact, or a relic," he added while frowning deeply.
Hearing that Arthur nodded his head and repeatedly nodded his head. "Right? That is also what I am thinking. How can they replicate such an item too realistically?"
It was at this moment that Shin finally opened his mouth. "Unless it is the other way around."
He paused, then continued. "Some of those items that we saw inside the game are either experimented items reproduced by some people and test them inside the game… or they are originally from the real world."
"What do you mean? Are the items from the game real?" asked Arthur with doubt.
Shin shook his head and clarified. "Not exactly but not that far either. Or more specifically, some of the items from the game are actually 'real' and can be found in the real world."
"Maybe the items such as this," he added as he took out a small marble from his pocket.
It was the item that the head manager had given him. It was a semi-transparent marble with a tiny creature trapped and frozen inside. This small and seemingly insignificant item was emitting a dense and ancient aura, that could make the trio frown deeply.
If it was before, then they would not be able to quickly identify such a mysterious and strange item. But after they went through the annoying and long Empire Quest, they received quite a few similar items along the way.
The appearance was practically the same as well as the level of auras that they were emitting. From the game, they learned that these things were called proof of qualification or inheritance marble.
Shin was thinking if this was the only thing that the Heavenly Taste had, but from what he suspected, it was most likely not the case. He was thinking that this particular restaurant could provide something more.
These things were not that strange in the real world. After all, there were similar treasures that had similar effects such as martial inheritance tomes that could pass down the knowledge about particular martial art styles and practices, or grand steles and inheritance tomes that contained forgotten knowledge of the ancient times.
But it would be a little different if the Heavenly Taste still had other things that were 'from' or had similar uses inside the game.
"So, they are really some sort of merchant group or something. But also a very special and mysterious one," muttered Shin.
Then Cloe finally hopped to his side and suddenly asked. "But why did that place give you such an item? And why is it only you when we have similar levels of membership."
Shin thought for a moment before shaking his head. "I am not sure either. Maybe because it is some sort of clue and because my membership level is a little higher and somewhat special than the others?"
"Now I am starting to view the game differently," commented Arthur from the side before quickly adding. "Before, I've brushed off those mystifying words that Big Sis had told us that night. But it seems like there is really something going on in the game."
Cloe could not help but be curious and asked. "Big Sister Shiella? What did she tell you? Tell me! Tell me!"
Shin shook his head and rejected. "Maybe next time. Big Sis told us that we will naturally learn more about it when the right time comes-… and that time is supposedly when we reached a certain level of martial or mentalism attainments."
"The peak of Ethereal Opening Stage or the perfected stage of the Grandmaster Realm, to be exact," he added while wearing a deep frown.
"Then why is that manager giving this to you if Big Sister Shiella told you that you are not qualified yet?" asked Cloe once again, repeating her question.
Shin thought for a moment before continuing. "Maybe it is because of some sort of misunderstanding-… or because my membership level is somewhat special."
He was rather suspicious about this too. But since he could not pinpoint what exactly the reason was, there was no point in dwelling on it. He would learn about the reason sooner or later, anyway.
Alice was currently silent and contemplating what they were talking about. She was also surprised when she saw an item in Shin's hand. She was even considering that she had to talk about it with her father or even her grandfather. Given their respective strength and statuses, she refused to believe that they did not know anything.
Lorraine, Jillian, and Molton were only listening from the side. They were not sure what they were talking about. Even though they were quite curious about it too, they could not ask about it directly.
Even though Lorraine was close to them and was almost together with the group all of the time, she still did not know everything about them or what they were doing. Especially inside the game, which made her feel bitter and dejected.
If only her family were not forcing her to hold the position of the adventurer team working under them, then she would definitely be enjoying the game and exploring different places alongside them.
Adventuring with friends was more enjoyable and exciting than leading a group of players that she was not that close with.
Thinking about that matter, she could only sigh helplessly and feel disappointed.
In the meantime, Jillian and Molton were just known in the group, so they could only remain silent and listen to what the others were talking about. Though, they were also quite curious about their experiences and adventures inside the game.
They were also players and very skilled too. They wanted to compare their experiences inside the game with people who were known as gods of the virtual world.
…
As the group walked away from the Heavenly Taste Restaurant, a person watched their back from the room on the second floor of the building. He was feeling quite conflicted as the saw their figures grow farther away.
He then sighed deeply as he continued to stare outside the glass window. Behind him, the waiter, who received the group earlier when they first arrived at the place, was currently kneeling like a knight with lowered head.
After a few moments, the waiter could no longer hold himself back and asked. "Are you sure about this, sir? Even if it is only a hint, disclosing such information to them this early when they are still in the middle of growth can cause them a disastrous outcome."
"It is not that I don't understand that," said that person as he shook his head. He then sighed once again before continuing. "It is what the Boss has decided. Even the young master agrees to it, so there is nothing I can do."
"This may cause unnecessary pressure for them if it is handled rashly," said the waiter.
The person standing at the window shook his head. "Pressure is not necessarily bad. It can even accelerate their growth. And with the polishing of the academy, they can immediately become shining gems."
"Then what about the higher-ups? What are we going to do if they discover our movements?" asked the waiter back.
That person shook his head once again before answering. "That is not our problem. The Boss will take care of that while the young master will create a diversion."
"Our just is to follow their orders and act according to their arrangements," he paused for a moment and looked at the sky outside the window before continuing. "What comes after that is harvesting all of the fruits that are produced in the process."
...
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