Chapter 27: Na Naya’s Investigating

Na Naya strode into the adventurer hall, heading straight for the front desk.

Seeing it was quiet, she sat across from Miao Miao Niya.

Odd.

Wasn’t this the time everyone crowded to submit jobs?

Pushing down her doubts, she tapped the desk.

“Morning. Any results on what I asked you to look into yesterday?”

“So impatient.”

Miao Miao Niya bent down, pulling a file bag from under the desk.

“Here’s the A-rank adventurer info you wanted.”

“Thanks for the trouble.”

Na Naya placed two large gold coins on the desk and tore into the files.

Miao Miao Niya pocketed the coins, then leaned in curiously.

“Maybe I’m prying, but what’s this for?”

When Na Naya asked for A-rank adventurer data yesterday, Miao Miao Niya had refused.

Using her position to leak private info wasn’t right.

But Na Naya’s persuasion—offering a deposit—was slick.

For the greater good, Miao Miao Niya took the risk.

“It’s fine to tell you.”

Na Naya flipped through a file.

“I got beaten by an A-rank Water Spirit yesterday.”

“Huh? An A-rank Water Spirit? The boss of that ruin you reported?”

Miao Miao Niya’s shocked look got a faint nod from Na Naya.

“Yeah. I hid some details. I challenged the Water Spirit before reporting. And I lost.”

“But you’re standing here, not as a ghost.”

To confirm, Miao Miao Niya glanced at the gold coins.

Good, not ghost money.

“Someone helped me. I don’t know their motive, but they killed the Water Spirit. They saved my life and healed me.”

Na Naya clenched her fists.

“I’m not ungrateful.”

“So you’re looking for your savior to repay them.”

Miao Miao Niya scratched a cat scratcher boredly.

“Want an idea?”

“Go ahead.”

Na Naya set the files down.

She valued the receptionist’s input.

“You said they healed you. That narrows it down. Who in Yanan knows healing spells? Just a certain scumbag someone’s obsessed with.”

“You mean Meng Linna?”

Na Naya hesitated.

Miao Miao Niya’s logic held.

“But she can’t handle an A-rank Water Spirit.”

Miao Miao Niya had been joking.

Seeing Na Naya take it seriously, her cat-like mischief kicked in.

She spun a tale.

“Who knows? Maybe a meteor fell and killed it. She just happened by and saved you.”

Na Naya stared for a few seconds.

“I shouldn’t expect useful words from your keycap mouth.”

Of course, that cowardly scumbag wouldn’t risk fighting an A-rank Water Spirit.

As Miao Miao Niya protested, “I’m a catgirl, not a keycap,” Na Naya packed the files to leave.

Then she spotted Meng Linna’s crowded stall in the corner.

She turned back to the “keycap.”

“What’s going on there? Looks like good business. Your favorite scumbag’s selling.”

Miao Miao Niya’s tone was sharp, annoyed at the keycap jab.

“Wanna know? Go see.”

“Nah.”

She was just a revenge target.

No need to know more.

Na Naya grabbed the files and left.

***

“Well, today’s sales were surprisingly high.”

Selling her last potion, Meng Linna grinned at the heavy silver coins.

She’d aimed at low-rank adventurers.

High-ranks used blood therapy.

Her potions were one silver each.

Pricey for low-ranks, but affordable.

She saw them as emergency healing items.

Surprisingly, high-rank adventurers bought too.

Some rejected blood therapy.

Others heard the potion healed cuts without scars.

‘Hope they don’t use it for weird stuff.’

As she packed up, Miao Miao Niya, lounging at her post, approached with a sly grin.

“Little Meng, business looks good.”

“You bet!”

Meng Linna dug out a large copper coin.

“Make me a milk tea. Keep the change!”

After ages, she was living the small-money life again.

“No problem, come with me.”

Miao Miao Niya pocketed the coin and started the tea.

Bored, Meng Linna flipped through the job log on the desk.

It listed only who completed what job when.

No details.

Some had “failed” remarks.

She saw three failed jobs in a row.

Their three-person team, marked failed due to a dungeon collapse.

She wanted to check Na Naya’s jobs.

Miao Miao Niya spoke up.

“Your business is booming. Made some big bucks?”

The log was dull.

Meng Linna was happy to chat.

She closed it.

“Not bad. Maybe one or two gold coins.”

At this rate, she’d soon afford her vampirism cure.

“Just a short stall and that much? What’re you selling?”

Miao Miao Niya’s ears perked at money talk.