(Menger-Ahmed)

I spent almost half a day in that stinky place, and in the end, that damn butcher Peter still refused to lower his meat prices. Although I know that everyone's business is not doing well and that group of vegetarians has made them suffer recently, I am still burdened with thousands of gold coins. As a partner of nearly two hundred years, shouldn't we support each other in difficult times?

"Well, to be fair, Peter has done his best."

With a gloomy mood, I returned to Casa do Penedo. The lobby was still empty and cold. Fortunately, I don't have to pay monthly rent for my store. The land is my own. Otherwise, looking at that red ledger every day, I think it would be hard for me to continue supporting it.

"Berany...my dear Berany..."

Being continuously discouraged throughout the day, I looked around for my own little pillar of support. Soon, I saw the person I was looking for walking out from the backstage of the lobby. The annoyance in my heart instantly dissipated.

"You can't see me...you can't see me..."

I tiptoed behind Berany and quietly reached out my hand, ready to give my adopted sister a backstab. Oh no, I meant to play one of those silly pranks that couples do.

"Hehe, guess who I am!"

I covered her eyes and she responded coldly.

"I'll kill you, you pervert!"

Oh, my sister's sharp tongue as always!

I accepted and enjoyed Berany's insults. The laziness factor hidden within me immediately became active. I temporarily put aside today's business failure and threw myself into the arms of my adopted sister, constantly rubbing against her soft spots. "Berany, my dear Berany, why is the world so cruel? Why is everyone so focused on money? I'm so sad, sister!"

Thump! Thump!

Ouch! It hurts!

As expected, my poker-faced sister immediately delivered a familiar blow, forcing me to make a strategic retreat and assume the posture befitting the head of a guild.

"Alright, alright, I won't mess around anymore!"

Seeing Berany already in a fighting stance, I quickly raised my hands in surrender and asked seriously, "By the way, did the new recruit I arranged for you this morning cause any trouble? Is her performance satisfactory?"

Thinking of that cute and petite girl, I couldn't help but worry. After all, Franny is an amnesiac, and her appearance resembles a defenseless lamb. Just the thought of her working in Adventurers Street, a place filled with danger, made my mind conjure up all sorts of inappropriate scenes...

Like getting her uniform burned by a fireball, or her skirt lifted by a whirlwind spell?

"Oh, how intriguing."

I tried my best to control the corners of my mouth and not let my wild imagination ruin my image. After hearing my question, my good Berany strangely fell silent. Even if she is usually nonchalant, as long as someone initiates a conversation with her, she would at least squeeze out a word or respond with a gesture. This sudden silence was truly rare.

I furrowed my brows, asking again, "What happened to Little Blue?"

At the mention of it, a faint wave of disturbance passed through the focused gaze Berany directed at me. She blinked and answered softly with her calm and soothing voice, "Miss Franny is very suitable for the role of a waitress."

"Well, isn't that great?" I asked my clearly unfinished sentence sister.

However, Berany just shook her head at me and walked straight past me towards the front desk to serve the guests.

"Something's not right..."

Sometimes I don't quite understand my adopted sister's thoughts, but I know that beneath her calm expression lies a heart more complex than anyone else's. She always thinks about many things on her own and insists on facing various difficulties alone. Although she's only fifteen years old, she's already mature enough to take care of the daily operations of Casa do Penedo. Every time I think about this, as her older sister, my heart feels sour and full of guilt...However, compared to Berany, Miss Lan Nong, who started working in the store today, seems even younger, estimated to be only about twelve or thirteen years old. If she really has nowhere else to go and my Casa do Penedo is not doing well in business, I wouldn't allow such a young girl to run around in an adventurer's house, selling her charms. No matter how it is embellished, being a guild mascot is still a harmful job that can endanger a child's physical and mental health.

Sometimes, the guild mascots have to indulge in a few drinks with arrogant adventurers...

When it gets crowded, the guild mascots inevitably witness scenes of bloodshed...

When unlucky, the guild mascots have no choice but to deal with gloomy and terrifying customers...

Not everyone is cut out for the service industry, and being a guild mascot in Adventurers' Street is a specialized profession that is easy to learn but difficult to excel in. A young and experienced guild mascot is worth more than gold in the industry. Their average monthly salary is almost equivalent to the income of a platinum-level adventurer for two months. And the popularity they accumulate while being a guild mascot often helps them find a good family upon retirement.

Of course, there are at least thousands of guild mascots in one city, so it is not easy to stand out. Besides the basic appearance, one should not neglect their speech and manners, as well as their interpersonal skills. Each reputable guild mascot possesses one or two impressive personal characteristics that help the Adventurers' Guild attract more customers.

However, even with the best guild mascots, if the Adventurers' Guild doesn't fulfill its responsibilities, they won't be of much help. The hard-earned adventurers will come and go, without signing contracts or establishing long-term and stable cooperative relationships with the guild.

Yes, my Casa do Penedo is facing this dreadful situation.

"Don't think about it, don't think about it. Thinking too much will drive you to suicide..."

I muttered softly, withdrawing my gaze from Berany and turning to the backstage instead.

Given Berany's previous behavior, Miss Lan Nong, who enthusiastically volunteered earlier, definitely encountered some problems. So, I sighed heavily, prepared to clean up the mess, and looked for the girl having lost her memory.

Finally, I found her in the kitchen, sitting at a table, engrossed in writing and drawing something.

I sneaked up behind her, ready to startle her just like before---

"Little one, you're already slacking off on your first day of work?"

"Ah!"

The effect was remarkable!

Little Blue, being tapped on the shoulder by me, immediately sprung up, only to clumsily trip over the chair's leg. If I hadn't caught her in time, she would have fallen more painfully and tragically!

"Haha, silly kid!"

"Eh, Guild Leader Ahad?"

I joyfully laughed at her foolish appearance, while she looked up at me with a dizzy gaze. Her adorable demeanor almost made me blush, and then I noticed another thing: "Oh, finally changed into new clothes, huh? Hehe, although our store is not doing well, our uniforms are definitely on par with others in terms of taste! You look very fitted and beautiful in it, don't you?"

I generously praised her, but she frowned, appearing unpleased.

She covered her ears and argued, "I'm not beautiful at all! Not at all!"

"Alright, alright, you're not beautiful, you're ugly."

Though I didn't understand why Miss Lan Nong didn't like being praised for her beauty, I didn't stop teasing her. If there's one privilege worth bragging about as a guild leader, it's definitely being able to flirt with your own guild mascot anytime, anywhere, and especially flirting with your own guild mascot, right? Well, because it's important, I have to say it three times!

Lost in thought, I also touched Miss Lan Nong's head.

Mmm---it feels so good!

At this moment, the girl with amnesia suddenly displayed an overwhelming and imposing aura, as if launching a counterattack. She picked up a document while making a resolute threat: "If you want Casa do Penedo to be saved, you better keep your hands off from now on!"

"Huh? What is this? Show sister..."

(Note: Casa do Penedo seems to be a proper noun and is left untranslated, as it may be a unique name for a place.)I pulled her into my arms and sat down while snatching the documents from her surprised eyes.

After a moment, I looked down at the helpless little lamb and burst out laughing.

"Little Blue, I never would have guessed that your handwriting is quite ugly!"