"Evans... you can speak Chinese?"
"...What?"
Van could not help but furrow his eyebrows as he looked at Andrea's face, which seemed to be completely white in shock. Ah Sahm was also utterly taken aback as he froze on the spot.
"Y… you spoke Chinese!", Andrea's eyes widened even further.
"I… did?", Van could not help but gulp nervously. He didn't even realize it. Did his skill activate on its own? If so, he really needs to learn how to control it. He was somewhat able to use it when he was trying to find the 4 men that ransacked his house, asking some of the stray animals in the streets. It was a pretty weird experience now that he was thinking straight.
"Wow, man", Ah Sahm clapped his hand, "You can speak mandarin? That's probably the first time in my whole life that I heard an American fluently speak our language", he said, his tone filled with awe.
"...Yes", Van could only nod his head, "They teach it as an extra class in the Academy"
"Ah!", Andrea pointed her finger to Van, "You did it again!", she then clapped her hands.
Yup. He really needed how to control it, he thought as he let out a tiny sigh.
"Haha!", Ah Sahm let out a burst of laughter, "I tell boss give you discount, okay!?", he turned to Andrea before rushing to the kitchen.
After a few seconds though, he came back out, bringing out the whole staff and introducing them to Van.
Needless to say, all of them were intrigued and jolly as they listened to Van speaking their language. He became an instant celebrity to the people in the restaurant. It took a couple of minutes before the commotion died down and they all returned to their respective stations.
Andrea could not help but chuckle as she saw Van's awkward smiling face as he greeted the people.
"You know, Evans…", she then suddenly lowered her voice as she looked at Van, "My job… my new life, my new friends… I owe all of this to you", she said.
Hearing Andrea's sudden change in tone, Van didn't really know what to reply. But after a few seconds, he let out a deep sigh.
"You did all of this yourself…", Van whispered, "You're a good person, Andrea. It's no wonder you attract a lot of people"
"Oho?", Andrea slightly raised her eyebrow in shock, "Since when did you learn how to talk like that? Is Harvey rubbing off on you?", she then said playfully.
"Pft", Van quickly scoffed at the idea, "But if we're being technical, you owe all of this to Sarah", Van let out a tiny chuckle.
The two continued to talk until a female server finally brought out their food and placed it on the table. "Here you go, Andrea", she said, "You're not with the beautiful woman this time?"
"N… no", Andrea's eyes widened as she stuttered.
As soon as Van heard this, he could not help but squint his eyes.
"I see", the female server nodded her head, "Tell her I thank her for tip, okay?", she said before leaving.
"O… Okay", noticing that Van was staring at her quite intensely, Andrea could not help but wave her hand, "Come on… let's eat. The food will get cold!", she said before filling her mouth with food so that she wouldn't be able to answer if Van had any question for her.
'...Suspicious', Van thought. But he didn't really pry in the manner as he also started eating. If Andrea was not interested in telling him what she was hiding, then it really was not his business to know.
"...Oh", Van then could not help but let out a hum as he tasted the food. The warm soup that was encased in the dumpling burst inside his mouth, filled with a strong broth and meat that melted instantly.
"Nice, right?", Andrea said.
"Hm…", Van quickly nodded his head. Maybe he should bring Beatrice and Harvey here sometime.
The two then continued to chat while eating.
***
"Is this true?"
"...Yes, chairman"
Chris was currently inside a spacious office, his posture completely straight and his tone filled with respect as he talked to the old man with a gray beard.
"Do we have any evidence that the boy really did it?", the old man referred to as The Chairman lowered his eyebrows as he finished hearing Chris' report.
The Chairman, like Chris, also had a huge scar on his face, parting his full gray beard at the left cheek. "Do we have any witness to prove that the boy was the one who defeated Lauder's men?", he repeated.
"...No", Chris shook his head, "But I am sure it was him. He was the only one that had the motive to do so, as per my report, sir".
"...and he is also from the Relic Graveyard", he added.
"From… the slums?", the Chairman's eyebrows knitted as soon as he heard Chris' words.
"Yes"
"Hmm… People there do tend to be violent", the Chairman let out a deep breath, "...Not to mention it is a den of sinners", he said as he placed his hand on his beard.
"Are any of Lauder's men talking?", the Chairman asked.
"...I have not yet received reports that they are willing to talk, sir", Chris said, his tone carrying a hint of frustration.
"Make them talk. And if you found out the truth directly from their mouths, arrange something with the city guards…
...and arrest the boy"
Hearing the Chairman's words, Chris couldn't help but let out a smile. With this, he would rid Sarah of that pest. She doesn't know it yet, but people from the slums would surely dry her up of all her wealth sooner or later.
He was doing this for her.
"It is good that you reported this to me, Chris", the Chairman said as he patted Chris on the shoulder, "My granddaughter is… a bit complicated. It is good that you are there to protect her"
"It is what is expected of me, Chairman. I treat Sarah like my own sister already", Chris bowed before taking his leave.
***
"Ah… That really was a good meal, wasn't it?"
"Yeah"
Van and Andrea were walking home from the market after eating. Their stomachs are almost bulging from everything that they ate. They really couldn't imagine when they were still in the Relic Graveyard that they would have the luxury to eat in a restaurant like that one day.
And as they were walking, the Headmaster's words about his mother once again repeated in his mind.
"Andrea…"
"Hm?"
"...What do you remember about my mother?"