The atmosphere in the yard was a little awkward.

  The people from the intelligence department who came over with Borg more or less knew something about the situation, so they all looked at Blaze and the others disdainfully.

  Borg glanced at Blaze and Bennett, who were frozen, and squinted. He really did his best when it came to ruining the reputation of the Gray Temple and the justice it aimed to uphold.

  “My apologies. The Gray Temple will give all of you an explanation on this matter. I guarantee that the Gray Temple will deal with those that displayed questionable conduct strictly, and bring the real culprit to justice.”


  Mag looked at Borg, and solemnly said, “I hope this will not happen again. After all, the citizens of Chaos City rely on the Gray Temple’s law enforcement for protection. If we can’t even trust the Gray Temple, it will not be long before the system that the city prides itself on collapses.”


  “I’ve already reported this incident to the Lord of the Gray Temple. Those involved will be dealt with severely to ensure the fairness and power of the Gray Temple.” Borg nodded. Judging from how much the Lord of the Gray Temple respected Mag, the latter could not be an ordinary restaurant owner. Besides, what he just mentioned was what worried him as well.

  “Elizabeth, let them take over from here on,” Mag told Elizabeth, whose back was facing him.

  Elizabeth hesitated for a while, but still put her hand down. The chill in the air disappeared all of a sudden, but the ice statues did not thaw.

  Borg heaved a sigh of relief. He looked at Rena for a while, and noticed that she was holding her tummy. He said, “Medic, treat this young lady.”


  “Yes!” A female magic caster came forward, and checked Rena’s injuries. After that, she started chanting a spell, sending a few waves of white light onto Rena. Rena’s pale face finally regained some color, and her knitted brows eased out.

  “Thank you. I’m all better,” Rena thanked the magic caster. It felt a little miraculous. It was her first time being treated with healing magic, and it was wondrous. Princess Irina and Big Sister Xixi had also treated her mother with such powerful healing magic.

  Mag looked a little more relieved seeing that Rena had been healed, and was not so angry at the Gray Temple’s unprofessionalism. After that, he brought all of them out.

  “Sir, don’t we have to take their statements?” a small official asked softly.

  “If you’re not afraid of Krassu and Urien tearing the Gray Temple apart after finding out that their beloved disciple got attacked, and the attacker was even from the Gray Temple, go ahead,” Borg spat out as he walked towards Blaze.

  “Then……” The official took a deep breath of cold air in and shrank. “Let’s forget it. The intelligence department doesn’t really need any witnesses. The culprits are the best witnesses.”


  ***

  “Boss, I’m sorry we had to delay the restaurant’s opening hours because of me,” Rena mumbled reproachfully as she walked behind with her head hanging low.

  Night had already fallen. It was too late to operate tonight.

  Mag, who was holding Amy’s little hand, suddenly stopped and turned around. Rena, who was following behind, was caught off guard, and walked right into him. Luckily, Mag blocked her with his hand, so she did not hit his chest.

  “It’s alright if we can’t open for the night. You don’t have to vent your anger on me,” Mag said with a smile.

  Everyone laughed along.

  “Argh……” Rena took two steps back embarrassedly. Her face and ears were red. As she looked at the group of smiling people, who did not seem to blame her at all, she felt a stinging sensation in her nose, and her eyes reddened.

  “I’m sorry, Rena. This incident happened because of the hot pot soup base recipe. I caused you to be targeted, and it was also because of my carelessness that you were endangered.” Mag looked at Rena in the eye, and seriously said, “I am very touched by your character, and I admire it a lot. However, I hope that if something similar happens in the future, promise me, nothing is more important than you are.”


  “Boss……”


  Rena could not hold her tears in. She ran into Mag’s embrace, and let out all the emotions that she had been suppressing—grievance, fear, gratefulness……

  She had been a very timid person since she was young, growing up with her mother in fear in the slums. She had been trying her best to live her insignificant life while protecting her mother.

  She did tiring and laborious jobs for meager pay, and grew as lowly as the dust and dirt amidst her employer’s scoldings.

  But right now, when she was put in a hopeless situation, just as she thought she was about to die, Boss, Amy, Miya, and the rest appeared.

  They stood in front of her and defeated all the baddies, and were even concerned about her.

  That was when she knew that there were people other than her mother who actually cared for her.

  That there would still be someone who would tell her that she was more important.

  On the dark, chilly, long street, Mag patted the young girl on her back gently. He could understand the fear she was feeling after going through such an ordeal. Letting it all out might make her feel better.

  Miya and the rest stood silently, blocking out the chilly wind on the long street.

  “Big Sister Rena, don’t cry. We’re all a family. If there’s any baddie who dares to bully you again, Little Amy will beat them up.” Amy tugged gently at Rena’s sleeve and tip-toed as she passed her a purple floral handkerchief.

  “Yes. The restaurant is just like our home, and we’re all a family,” Yabemiya said with a sincere smile.

  Everyone had a similar smile on their faces. To them, the restaurant was indeed a very special place.

  Rena received the handkerchief and looked at Amy, and then at everyone else. She tried to hold back her tears and nodded. “We’re all a family.”


  “Let’s go. If we don’t go back, the customers are going to tear the restaurant down. It’s rude that we didn’t even put up a notice in advance,” Mag said with a smile. He walked to a bigger road and flagged a horse-drawn carriage, and then he got Miya and the rest to send Rena home first while he brought Amy, Gina, and some others back to the restaurant on a second horse-drawn carriage.

  When they were almost at the restaurant, Mag could already feel the rage from all the chowhounds.

  “Boss Mag! Open up!”


  “We’re starving!!”


  “If you don’t open up, we’ll die right here!!”


  “Did this Boss Mag do something heinous? Why are there so many people causing a ruckus?” the coachman muttered under his breath curiously.

  “No, he was just held up by something, so he was a little late to open his restaurant.” Mag coughed softly as he tried to hide his embarrassment.

  “Heh, delayed opening? Serves him right!” The coachman laughed at his misfortune. “Back then, when I could still wield a knife, I was still a presentable person until I started standing my customers up…… Look at my right hand and left leg. They were maimed.”


  Mag glanced at his bent left leg and awkward right hand, and shuddered.