Chapter 97: Chapter 7 The Master’s Heartache
Editor: Noodletown Translations
With a respectful glance from the officers, Mu Fan put on his invisible earpiece, picked up his luggage, and sauntered out of the police station.
The chubby guy eating a cold dessert in an ice cream shop next to the police station inadvertently looked up, just in time to see Mu Fan walking out looking relaxed, with officers waving at him constantly; he nearly spat out his drink.
Was this a casual visit to the police station?
Just as he was about to rush out to say hello, his Sky Communication vibrated, and he looked down to see a message.
“Don’t move, there’s surveillance. Go back to Area A first, I’ll contact you later.” The message was signed: Mu Fan.
...
The chubby guy, who had already started to get up from his seat, stretched lazily and then sat back down again. The series of actions was so natural that it didn’t draw any attention.
“Mu Fan, I spotted the chubby Harry at eleven o’clock in the ice cream shop. I used your name to send him a message to remain still. Two blocks around are full of police surveillance, and they’re still watching you.”
“Black, good job.” Mu Fan smiled slightly at the police station with his back turned, his teeth gently clicking as he spoke lightly into the earpiece.
“As if there’s any doubt about who I am! Hahaha.” To have received a compliment from Mu Fan, Black was overjoyed in the network.
As Mu Fan naturally turned his head, his eyes met the chubby guy in the ice cream shop, then he lowered his gaze and continued forward with his suitcase.
The two were in perfect sync; the chubby guy had already exited through the other door with his cold drink and was preparing to take a train back to the hotel in Area A.
“Where to next?” Mu Fan asked as he walked.
“District D, 17th Street, Star Peak Inn. Your junk of a mecha has been placed in the secondary vault next door,” Black mentioned disdainfully about that mecha, as Lord Black had found out it didn’t even have an external interface.
This meant the mecha was so rudimentary it didn’t even have an external communicator! Driving such a mecha seemed like suicide to Black.
Since Mu Fan hadn’t entered the Shura since June 2, Black knew nothing about its parameters. Fortunately, with Black’s help, they were able to forge a document for a common part’s cargo hold, allowing it to travel unnoticed to Purple Jade Star.
“You’ll need to explain to Harry that you’ll be staying active in District D for the next couple of days. I’ve already submitted your identity information,” Black continued speaking in the earpiece.
Mu Fan nodded and flagged down a dedicated ride.
“Star Peak Inn.”
Half an hour later, Mu Fan painfully paid three hundred Star Coins and then, ensuring no one was around, angrily spoke to the earpiece, “Why didn’t you tell me it was this far! Three hundred Star Coins!”
“Mu Fan, you miser! You didn’t even ask Lord Black how far it was, saying you would take a cab so brazenly,” Black retorted defiantly, unwilling to take the blame.
Star Peak Inn, a quaint yet distinctive hotel, was well-known in this Free Zone of District D because of its extraordinary guests, from powerful interstellar wanderers and undercover assassins to ruthless mercenaries, all underlined by a mysterious owner with an enigmatic background.
This hotel was quite famous online, hyped by various enthusiasts with added intrigue, becoming a mystical abode for masters, where reportedly people did not die every day.
Poor Lord Black had come across this legendary hotel while browsing a forum and, finding it insanely close to the District D examination venue, promptly booked it to brag to Mu Fan.
Looking up at the battered wooden sign “Star Peak Inn,” Mu Fan mused about the quaint taste of Black in such a busy district, then entered the building with an uneven breath.
“Hello, please verify your identity.” A girl in a light green pleated skirt lay on the counter at the entrance, toying with her Sky Communication out of boredom. She asked without lifting her head when she heard someone enter.
“Give him the Identity Card,” Black reminded through the earpiece.
Mu Fan wasn’t yet aware that his Identity Card had been recognized as belonging to Martial Path Master Hei Fan, so he casually took out the interstellar customs identity card and handed it over the counter.
The girl still didn’t lift her head as she took the card and casually swiped it on a nearby machine, glancing down before handing it back.
Then her eyes widened suddenly as she rubbed them incredulously and looked up.
“A Martial Path Master at twenty?”
Mu Fan and the girl stared at each other for a long time before the girl suddenly covered her eyes. “Oh no, oh no, I’m blushing!”
She rubbed her cheeks, then smiled directly at Mu Fan but immediately covered her eyes again. “Too shy!”
Mu Fan, speechless, looked at the round-faced girl, whose cute dimples appeared when she smiled and seemed able to drip water when she blinked.
Although she was pretty, she didn’t seem very reliable.
Was he sure he was in the right place? Mu Fan stepped back to check the sign—no mistake.
“Um, is my identity confirmed?” Mu Fan asked weakly.
“Confirmed, Master Hei Fan, right? I’ll get your check-in formalities done.” The girl, cheeks red, handed the identity card back to Mu Fan.
“Uh, right.” He touched his nose, thinking Hei Fan was a fake identity.
“It’s two thousand Star Coins,” the girl said with a sweet smile, which suddenly made Mu Fan’s heart ache a bit.
“How much?”
“It’s two thousand Star Coins,” the girl replied, puzzled, as she looked at Mu Fan, who was told that the highest authority had already given an 80 percent discount, okay? Go ask if this shop had ever lacked guests. Is this young master really a master?
I… didn’t want to stay. Mu Fan wanted to voice this, but his lips trembled upon hearing Black’s words.
“Hurry up and pay. I saw on the forums this is a sought-after mystical place! You can’t find another place to stay around here at this time, quick, thank this lord,” Black urged.
Damn your big head, Mu Fan wanted so badly to take off the earpiece and smash it.
The girl curiously watched the handsome Martial Path Master’s expression change unpredictably before he finally showed no expression and pulled out a savings card.
With a beep, half of Mu Fan’s meager savings of four thousand in the card vanished.
Heart-wrenching!
“Here’s your room card, Room 216 on the second floor.”
Mu Fan clutched his chest weakly and asked, “Can I go rest now?”
“Of course! Oh, are you from Blue Capital too? So am I! My name’s Su Xiaomi!” The girl showed sweet dimples.
“Hei Fan, nice to meet you!” Forcing a smile, Mu Fan clutched his chest as he climbed the stairs, deciding to give Black a proper lesson later.
What’s this! So not enthusiastic—thought the girl had given an eight percent discount, humph. Su Xiaomi pouted as she watched Mu Fan disappear up the stairs and stamped her foot.
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