In the end, she chose a big cake. It was a chocolate cake, with strawberries and mulberries on top of it.
Alexandra's mouth watered. She grabbed a spoon and pierced the cake. Picking up a big piece, she put it into her mouth. Just as the cake piece touched her tongue, a blissful look appeared on her face.
Why was this cake so tasty?
Why hadn't she ever eaten such a cake?
Why was it so chocolaty?
"Oh, it seems our guest likes the cake. Jenni, I am really disappointed in you. Don't you know how much it's dangerous to enter a bar alone at night? Not just that... you also tried to recruit adventurers in these clothes!"
Alexandra tilted her head. Chewing, she compared the two siblings' clothes. A deadpan look appeared on her face.
'Both of you are wearing clothes full of holes! Even a sponge has less holes than your clothes. Also, why clothes?! Shouldn't he scold her lack of common sense? Out of all the adventurers, she chose a party of scums.'
Jenni apologized, "I am sorry, Luipin. It was wrong of me to approach those adventurers. But we have to do something, don't we?"
Her brother, Luipin lowered his head. He said, "I know. We are going through a difficult time... but so are the others. After the battle, our empire is just a shadow of its past. Even our emperor is just a 'puppet' ruler."
"Brother! Don't say it loudly! What if someone hears you?!" hissed Jenni.
"If you are that loud, then someone would definitely hear," said Alexandra.
Jenni pointed at her and yelled, "See! Someone heard!"
Yawning, Alexandra rested her head on the table and closed her eyes. She closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep.
Luipin's eyelids twitched in anger. "Is she sleeping right after eating that big cake?"
Jenni nodded, "I never seen such a woman before. How in the world did she defeat those adventurers so easily?" She had never seen such a woman before. A woman whose hair colour rivalled an orange, her green eyes full of sleep, and a personality which made people dislike her... this woman was really 'a piece of work.'
"Wait, you mean that," Luipin pointed at the sleeping Alexandra, "this woman defeated a party of adventurers? I thought she just helped you to escape... but to defeat a party... how strong is she?"
"She doesn't look strong but I know she is strong."
Suddenly, the shop's door opened. A man along with a group of ten people entered the shop.
The siblings stiffened as soon as they saw him.
"Well, well, well... what excuse are you going to make today? It saddens my heart to see your state. Madam is angry... very angry. She expects you to sell this shop to her. Why do you still resist?" said the man. He was a bald man, wearing expensive clothes. In his hand, he held a cane... which he pointed towards the siblings.
Luipin gritted his teeth and didn't say anything.
The whole world changed when 'Javanjis' attacked the outer world. The term, 'Javanji' was used to describe the beings that belonged to the inner world. Seven years ago, the boundary between their worlds ceased to exist, resulting a vicious war between the two worlds.
Due to the inner world's advanced technology, the outer world surrendered just after seven months of war. The javanjis were just like the species of outer world, with only subtle difference... though, they were much stronger than outer world's beings. They began oppressing the outer world's beings. According to them, they were much superior to the beings that dwell on outer world.
Luipin and Jenni's father also joined the war, and lost his life. To support his sister, Luipin started working after he completed his education. He did a lot of small jobs before finally opening a dessert shop, only to be targeted by Madam Rose. She was a javanji, who targeted small shops like theirs. In a span of two months, she had procured every shop near hers, and appointed her people to run those shops.
He didn't know how much longer he could resist her. So, he made a plan and accumulated all of his money to recruit some adventurers to help him. But at the end... everyone refused. They didn't want to go against Madam Rose, who was involved in countless shady businesses. He had already given hope, yet his sister still tried. She sneaked off with a gold coin to recruit some adventurers to help them... thankfully, nothing happened to her.
The man glared at Luipin and yelled, "You still refuse to answer! Go capture him! A pretty face like his would make a great slave! This will teach the other shopkeepers not to mess with Madam Rose!"
His men grabbed Luipin and tied his hands.
"Brother! Let go of my brother! Please!" yelled Jenni. She tried to stop them but was thrown aside.
"Jenni! Don't hurt my sister!" Luipin hissed. He struggled in his bonds but couldn't do anything.
The man laughed, "Huh? Your sister? I don't care if she lives or dies! Just tell her to stay away. Fuck! Even her crying is annoying."
Tears streamed down her face as she crawled towards the man. She held his leg and begged, "P-please... d-d-don't take my... brother. Y-you... can have... this shop... j-just let m-my... brother go... please..."
"JENNI! DON'T BEG THAT BASTARD! DON'T!"
"Tch!" The man kicked her away. "You siblings are a piece of work. Trying to recruit adventurers? Do you think they can help you? No one can!"
"What the hell... is happening here? Can't a woman even sleep properly in here?" A sleepy voice entered everyone's ears. They turned towards the orange haired woman as she stood up. Her face was full of sleep, barely keeping her eyes open.