Dozens of ships were moored in the port, with workers and sailors busy moving cargo. From time to time, supervisors could be heard shouting. Amidst the bustling crowds, most of whom were strong men with their own companions, the sight of Raiden Ei walking alone through the port seemed somewhat out of place.
No one was unaware of the dangers of the sea, which was why they formed groups to set sail. Today, a Damselette had arrived alone, and her earlier method of making her ship disappear had inadvertently drawn the attention of countless people.
Raiden Ei scanned the port, located the exit, and walked forward. She planned to head into the city first to see if there was anything novel before finding a place to stay.
It wasn't time for ships to depart, so there weren't many pedestrians on the road. A few drunks were still fast asleep by the wayside. As Raiden Ei walked, a young boy suddenly ran up and blocked her path.
The boy looked at Raiden Ei with a bit of nervousness, but he still managed to say what he wanted: "Excuse me, big sister, is this your first time in the Hilton Duchy?"
Raiden Ei looked at the boy who had stopped her. He was dressed simply, not even reaching her shoulder in height, with black hair and black eyes, and he looked quite spirited. She wasn't surprised by his question; she was the most conspicuous person there, and anyone who didn't notice would have to be blind.
Raiden Ei's expression remained calm as she sensed even more gazes turning toward her. "Yes. Is there something you need?"
A happy mood showed on the boy's face, his lips curling into a wide smile. "Yes, yes! Big sister, do you need a guide?"
Raiden Ei replied, "I do, but can you handle being a guide properly?"
The boy tucked away his smile and spoke to Raiden Ei with determination, as if bolstering his own courage, "I can! I grew up here, and I know everything about this island."
Raiden Ei thought it seemed fine; it would be convenient and save her from having to ask around, and she didn't feel like she was employing child labor. "Alright, I'll leave it to you then. The Reward won't be small."
The boy nodded excitedly. "Big sister, my name is Quark. What would you like to do now? I can lead the way."
Raiden Ei said, "My name is Raiden Ei. You can just call me by my name. For now, let's head into the city! Tell me more about this Hilton Duchy on the way."
Quark hurried to lead the way, as this was his very first customer. "Okay! This way, Sister Raiden Ei."
At a corner, three men were whispering about something.
Raiden Ei didn't mind what Quark called her;'Sister' sounded quite nice. As they walked, Quark told her everything he knew.
"The Hilton Duchy is a member of the World Government, established in the year 1300 of the Sea Calendar. It's been around for nearly two hundred years now. The current King is Hilton III..."
As Quark continued his explanation, Raiden Ei learned more about the country. The two of them eventually walked out of the pier area, but several people suddenly approached, interrupting Quark.
The men walked up to Raiden Ei and Quark with smiles on their faces. "Miss, do you need a guide? It only costs ten thousand Berries, and there's nothing on this island I don't know."
Raiden Ei looked at Quark, seeing his nervous expression, and said to the men, "No need."
The men wouldn't give up. "Miss, won't you reconsider? I really do know everything."
Raiden Ei's expression turned cold as she released her aura, shouting sharply, "Move!"
Seeing this, the men immediately chickened out and turned to leave. They had thought she was a fat sheep, but it turned out she was a predator. Fortunately, they had experienced this many times; they had survived this long by relying on their keen eyes. Those guides with poor judgment had long since been killed by powerful individuals.
Quark felt a bit embarrassed. He hadn't expected to succeed on his first try as a guide. Looking at the overbearing Raiden Ei, his legs felt a little weak, and he found it difficult to explain himself. "I..."
Raiden Ei withdrew her aura and interrupted him. "Let's go. Since you are the guide, then lead the way. I will judge for myself whether you are worth the Reward I give you."
Quark swallowed the words he was about to say and continued his duties. "Sister Raiden Ei, is there anything else you want to know?"
Raiden Ei thought for a moment; she still wanted to see if there were any local specialties. "Since the Hilton Duchy has been established for two hundred years, there must be many famous shops."
Quark smiled again. "I know about those! The most famous shops in the Hilton Duchy are Paradise on Earth, the Kendo Hall, Cake Shop, the Simba Chamber of Commerce, and the Ankara Hotel. These are all very famous, and there are many others I haven't mentioned yet."
"Can you tell me in detail what those shops do?"
Quark said, "Sure! Paradise on Earth is where big shots go to eat. I've never been inside, but I've seen it from a distance. Many nobles go there. I heard a single dish costs hundreds of thousands of Berries. Many people feel that being able to eat there once would be worth dying for."
"The Kendo Hall is a place where people pay to learn how to get stronger. I haven't been there either, so I'm not sure what's inside. However, I've seen people who studied there; one person could take on ten others in the street with a sword without losing ground. Everyone wants to enter the Kendo Hall, but there's a tuition fee."
"Cake Shop makes desserts. I've had some, and they're delicious! Miss Raiden Ei, you absolutely must try them." A lingering look of longing remained on his face.
Raiden Ei felt her instincts kick in the moment she heard 'Cake Shop'. Her mouth felt a bit dry, and she urgently needed something to eat. She took out some fruit to eat and handed one to Quark. "Here. Let's go to Cake Shop right now."
Quark took the fruit and thanked her. "Okay! We're not far from Cake Shop now; we'll be there in half an hour."
Without realizing it, Raiden Ei and Quark had reached a busy street. Both sides were lined with residential houses and shops, and children were playing by the roadside.
Raiden Ei nodded. Her mind was now entirely filled with sweet desserts. Although she used to be a shut-in, she hadn't been particularly fond of sweets back then. She wasn't sure what was happening now, but before she could eat something sweet, she didn't want to do anything else.
Half an hour later, Raiden Ei and Quark were sitting at a table piled high with sweet desserts.
Raiden Ei picked one up and tried it. It was very sweet and delicious, giving her a sense of satisfaction. After eating one, she wanted another, and her lips curled up into an unconscious smile.
After eating several desserts, Raiden Ei realized she was acting out of character. She looked around and saw Quark still watching her. "You eat too."
Quark had seen the way Raiden Ei looked at the desserts earlier and hadn't dared to reach for any, fearing she might beat him to death. Now, seeing her return to normal, he asked with concern, "Sister Raiden Ei, are you alright?"
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