Lin Mo paid without hesitation and took the Key from the innkeeper.
He wasn't in a hurry to go back to his room. Instead, he sat down at a table in the corner of the main hall to wait.
Before long, a beautiful, vibrant young girl pushed aside the cloth curtain and came out from the back kitchen. She was carrying a tray with several slices of white bread, a bowl of creamy soup, and a grilled meat patty about the size of two palms.
The selection wasn't wide, but the meal was certainly lavish. Even in the peaceful days of the past, a meal like this would have been an undeniable luxury for the common folk of the town.
After all, the room fee of 30 Copper Coins was nearly a week's wages for a low-level worker.
The girl placed the tray on the table, her eyes lingering on the handsome customer with a hint of curiosity.
As she looked, her expression suddenly turned strange, as if she'd thought of something.
Lin Mo didn't pay any mind to the girl's peculiar gaze. 'Is it because of my strange clothes? Or maybe the bloodstains,' he thought.
The white bread tasted pretty good. While it was far from the fragrant, sweet bread of his past life, it was undoubtedly a delicacy compared to dry, hard black bread.
The cream soup was surprisingly delicious. The rich, milky aroma paired with the subtle sweetness of vegetables. The warm soup instantly invigorated him, warming his body and limbs.
The grilled meat patty had the richest aroma. Its lightly charred surface was perfectly crisp, and with one bite, the tender meat burst with juices in his mouth.
The seasoning was actually very simple, with no complex techniques involved. The meat patty was just sprinkled with a little salt, but because the ingredients were high-quality, the flavor was exceptionally good.
He finished everything in no time, let out a satisfied burp, and leaned back in his chair, not wanting to move at all.
After resting for a few minutes, he finally got up and headed upstairs.
The first floor of the inn was for dining; the rooms were on the second and third floors.
"Up to the second floor, turn left, and it's the room at the very end."
Recalling the innkeeper's directions, Lin Mo walked straight toward the end of the hallway.
Halfway down the hall, he suddenly heard some strange sounds.
They rose and fell, fluctuating in pitch. It was a very familiar sound.
Lin Mo was reminded of the similar "study materials" he had stored in his cloud drive back in his previous life.
'This inn's soundproofing is terrible…'
Grumbling inwardly, Lin Mo reached his door and used the Key to open it.
The room wasn't large, less than twenty square meters, but it was tidy enough. Besides a bed, there was a small table with an oil lamp on it, and a cushioned chair next to it.
Compared to the table, the chair seemed a bit too spacious. Its back was also high and wide, big enough for a person to lean their whole body against.
The bedding on the bed was neatly made, and the sheets were clean and tidy, looking as if they had been washed carefully.
Lin Mo placed the rusty Broken Sword by the head of the bed, took off only his jacket and shoes, and lay down on the bed, letting out a long, comfortable sigh.
A sudden transmigration had thrown him into a dangerous forest. If it weren't for the Skills he possessed, he probably would have been left behind forever, just like his companions.
'What should I do next?'
Lin Mo clutched the cloth bag tightly. Inside were some Copper Coins, and the Goblin ears could also be exchanged for a good bit of money. Most importantly, there was the Gold Coin he had found in the clay pot…
One Gold Coin was worth a hundred Silver Coins, or ten thousand Copper Coins!
For Lin Mo, who had just arrived in this world, this was undoubtedly a significant windfall.
This money should be enough to last him for a while.
'But is this it?'
'To come to a Fantasy World with Supernatural Strength, only to hide in a small town and be a slacker?'
'Somehow, that doesn't sit right with me.'
Besides, while over ten thousand Copper Coins was a lot, he would eventually spend it all.
Lin Mo had no desire to live on three pieces of black bread a day, so he would likely spend his money quickly.
Raising a hand toward the dark ceiling, Lin Mo looked at the data panel that appeared before his eyes and finally made a decision.
'Tomorrow, I'll go to the Adventurer's Association and register as an official Adventurer!'
'In my past life, I was used to a comfortable but boring life. Since I've been reborn in another world, I might as well try experiencing some adventure.'
As he thought about it, drowsiness gradually crept over him. He pulled the blanket up, his eyelids slowly closed, and his consciousness began to fade...
KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK—
Just as he was about to fall asleep, a sudden knock on the door jolted him awake.
He opened his eyes, sat up abruptly in bed, and looked toward the door.
It was undoubtedly the middle of the night. Who would be knocking on his door at this hour?
'A thief? This is an inn, that's unlikely... besides, what kind of thief knocks?'
'So, is it the innkeeper, or another guest?'
Lin Mo quietly gripped the hilt of the Sword beside him and asked, "Who is it?"
"Um, customer... Please open the door."
A clear voice came from outside. It was quiet and sounded timid.
Lin Mo didn't let his guard down. He put on his shoes and socks, stood up, and asked again, "What is it? Can't you just say it through the door?"
"Well..."
The voice from outside seemed to hesitate, then repeated, "Please open the door."
Lin Mo frowned, lit the oil lamp, and looked at the shadow under the door.
'It can't be a ghost, can it? This isn't some ghost story.'
He finally went and opened the door, then immediately stepped back, pointing his Sword at the visitor.
"Ah—!"
She jumped in fright and quickly raised her hands. "Pl-please... don't misunderstand..."
In the faint light of the oil lamp, Lin Mo saw the girl's face clearly. He froze for a moment, then lowered his weapon.
It was the same girl who had brought him dinner. 'She must be an employee here?' he thought.
"Is there something you need?"
"Um... well..."
The girl fidgeted, looking down and twisting the corner of her clothes. "Do you... require service? It's only 10 Copper Coins."
"Huh?"
Lin Mo was completely dumbfounded.
"What do you mean?"
"You know... *that* kind of service..."
The girl, dressed in a servant's uniform, blushed and explained in a hushed voice, "You don't know? The inns on Flower Cluster Street are places that specialize in providing services."
It all clicked for Lin Mo in an instant.
No wonder the innkeeper had asked if he was staying or looking for someone when he first came in. No wonder he had heard those strange sounds in the hallway. It turned out he had unwittingly stumbled into a place meant for entertainment.
He really didn't know whether to call this good luck or bad...
Lin Mo rubbed his forehead in resignation. "I'm from out of town. I had no idea."
He just wanted to find a place to rest and get a good night's sleep.
"I-I'm sorry! I've disturbed you!"
The girl in front of him was suddenly mortified. She covered her face and ran off.
Lin Mo watched the girl flee in embarrassment and scratched his head helplessly.
'To be honest, I was actually a little tempted...'
'She wasn't stunningly beautiful, but she was cute, and more importantly, young.'
'The most important thing was the price—it was cheap, no gouging. Just 10 Copper Coins.'
'For a pure-hearted otaku who'd never been with a woman, this was quite a temptation.'
'But she's already gone, so oh well.'
Lin Mo closed the door, lay back down on the bed, and peacefully fell asleep.