"N-No."
Looking at the beast-eared beautiful girl emitting a low-pressure aura all over, Li Lin gave a dry laugh, trying hard to show a friendly expression.
"The identity proof hasn't been processed yet, so I can't look for many jobs. I'll have to trouble Exusiai here for a while longer."
"Is that so? Then please work hard. There are many professional books on the Lungmen network, please do your best."
Facing Li Lin who was trying hard to show a friendly attitude, Texas said expressionlessly.
She neither showed a scornful expression nor said any sarcastic words, but that kind of indifferent feeling made Li Lin feel even more ashamed about freeloading here.
He also knew this girl, Texas. Not just because of the negative emotions this girl showed when Exusiai introduced him at the dormitory back then, but because she was the first girl Li Lin saw in this world. But regrettably, unlike the usual developments, they didn't develop any kind of ambiguous relationship.
Rather, it was as if fate had played a joke on Li Lin.
Texas happened to be the good friend of Exusiai, the one who gave him food and lodging. The friendship between them was very close, evident even without words. And obviously, if a stranger of unknown origin and shady behavior suddenly lived in your good friend's home, what would a good friend do?
Of course, it would be various indirect probing questions, or perhaps outright asking if there's something wrong with your head? What moved Li Lin was that Exusiai went against everyone's opinions to protect him. She even moved out of the Penguin Logistics collective dormitory just to prove he was okay. But the price was that the way Texas looked at him was terrifying. That feeling wasn't so much looking at a person, but rather looking at some kind of parasite.
He really wanted to clear up this misunderstanding, but judging from the current situation, it seemed unlikely.
Facing Texas's icy gaze, Li Lin could only earnestly pour a cup of coffee from the small kitchen and hand it to the expressionless Texas, offering a smile to his lifesaver's best friend.
"I won't disturb you for too long, after a while longer, the identity proof will probably be processed, and I can move out."
"Eh? Disturb? How is it disturbing? I don't think so. Prophet can stay as long as he wants, I don't mind."
"It has nothing to do with you, just continue eating your apple pie."
"Clearly it was you, Texas, who wanted to come here to eat, why make me eat alone? Okay okay, you guys talk first."
Exusiai looked blankly at Li Lin, then at Texas whose expression had suddenly darkened, seeming unable to understand what was happening between these two. She could only innocently take a bite of the apple pie, then duck back into the inner area, humming a tune and preparing her own apple pie.
…So you clearly make it so well yourself, why insist on having me do it? Do you want to train my dessert-making skills?
Watching her fiddling around in the kitchen somehow, the increasingly fragrant smell, Li Lin couldn't help but think with some resentment.
And Texas, sitting opposite, took a sip of the instant coffee and said flatly:
"Can you talk about your future plans?"
"Ah?"
"You are a person with amnesia, without any special abilities. If you state your future plans, perhaps I can help you with some things. There's also no need to insist on lodging with Exusiai."
"—Actually, I don't mind."
"You go back and eat yours."
"OK OK~"
Exusiai poked her head out from the kitchen partition, gave Li Lin a thumbs-up, then shrank back under Texas's murderous gaze.
"Ah, um, actually, I initially planned to do some odd jobs to support myself for the time being. Then, if I have some savings, I will write novels."
"Hm? If you really want to publish and the quality is good, you can show it to me."
"…Is that okay?"
"I know some people, relatively speaking. If what you write is really decent, I can directly help you find a publisher."
Texas skillfully took out a chocolate stick from her pocket and put it in her mouth, her other hand fumbled in another pocket. After groping twice and finding no lighter inside, she regretfully lowered her hand, holding the chocolate stick in her mouth and looking seriously at the trembling Li Lin before her.
"Identity proof isn't a big problem, we can just publish directly under my name. As repayment for the help, I'll take thirty percent of all profits. However, these preconditions are all based on you actually writing very well. If you are really very anxious, there is actually another option. I personally recommend this option more."
"What option?"
"Join Penguin Logistics, and then let the boss help you solve these problems."
"Um… Okay. If Miss Texas really wants to see, my outline and settings are over in the bedroom. It's just, I want to ask a question."
"Ask."
Hurry up and finish asking, then quickly get lost from Exusiai's vicinity.
Texas picked up the coffee cup, sipping the cheap instant coffee liquid, feeling the joy of pulling her good friend out of the sea of suffering, and said with narrowed eyes.
Then she saw the fraud opposite her look thoughtfully towards the glass window behind her. After looking for a long time, he hesitantly pointed towards the slab building opposite with few residents.
"Your Penguin Logistics, if communication fails, do you send snipers to the next building to watch and snipe? His scope glint is hurting my eyes. Can you tell him to take down the aim? Am I really not joining Griffin? That crossbow looks like a grenade launcher."
"What the hell is Griffin? Sniper? What are you talking about—"
Seeing the flash of light reflected in the mirror behind Li Lin, the corner of Texas's eye twitched instantly.
"Dogshit! Exusiai, cover me!"
Years of trained physical fitness made her react even faster than her consciousness. Leaping forward, she pulled Li Lin into her arms and tossed him behind her, Texas cursed subconsciously, instantly drawing two light swords with both hands aimed directly at the direction of the reflection.
And just as she turned around, her pupils reflected the light emitted by the sniper's crossbow bolt as it was shot, enhanced by Originium Arts.
'Boom!'
Just as Texas made her move, a fervent storm accompanied by a terrifying roar howled from the direction of the bedroom, instantly blasting Li Lin and Exusiai's shared bedroom into smithereens. Due to the misjudgment of direction, the back-flowing shockwave and fierce wind instantly flipped Exusiai, who was eating apple pie, head over heels, sending her crashing headfirst into the oven, only having time to let out a miserable scream.
Texas and Li Lin, who had misjudged the location, only had time to assume a defensive posture before being instantly slammed against the wall by the explosive shockwave. The entire rental apartment was instantly blown to pieces, countless thick plumes of smoke billowed out, attracting innumerable passersby below to point, gossip, and gather around. Many more directly pressed their phones to call the police.
'What happened? An earthquake?'
'Did a Catastrophe come?'
'No, that floor suddenly exploded, quick, call the Lungmen Guard Department!'
Facing the waves of commotion coming from downstairs, while on the tall building opposite, the sniper dressed all in black looked at the shattered bedroom and the smoke-billowing short-term rental apartment, slowly pressing the button on the communicator in his hand.
"Signal source has been destroyed. I didn't kill anyone, but this will teach Penguin Logistics a lesson."
'Ah, that's enough. Laterano citizens are troublesome, however, some things are not for them to interfere with. This is a slight warning, that's sufficient. Come back.'
"Yes. Then the matter of payment?"
'It will satisfy you.'
"That's good then."
Casually crushing the communicator, the black-clothed person glanced at the ambulance sirens wailing in the distance, jumped off the tall building, and disappeared into the night.