The girl stared at him for a while, then helplessly untied a small gourd and tossed it to him, saying it was spring water from home that would quench his thirst. Then she continued climbing upstairs.
The Mage Tower wasn't a place anyone could enter, especially not for outsiders. It was a forbidden area. However, hoping to feel a trace of care and warmth before leaving this world, Crassus opened the gourd and took a sip, only to discover that it contained Life Milk, even more precious than the Fountain of Life.
There were only three drops, but those three drops of Life Milk extended his life by more than ten years.
She gave this precious item to him, an old man she'd just met, as casually as if it was a gourd of spring water she'd brought from her hometown, without even asking his name.
Later, he learned that she was an elven princess, the sole heir to the throne, and that the Life Milk had indeed been something she'd casually brought from home. She thought it was just right for quenching thirst, and seeing his frightening cough, she'd given it to him without hesitation.
That was her first time visiting the Los Empire, accompanying an elven minister on a friendly visit. Somehow, she managed to fool the guards at the entrance of the Mage Tower and climbed all the way to the thirty sixth floor. At the top, she wrote, "The Elven Princess was here!" before descending the tower, completely satisfied.
Because of her special status, the king couldn't blame her. He even left her the line of green writing on the top of the Mage Tower as a testament to the peace and friendship between the two races.
"Okay." Bringing his thoughts back, Crassus smiled and nodded at Amy. Perhaps because she had half elven blood, this little girl's features did resemble hers quite a bit. He pushed open the door and left the restaurant.
He hadn't received any greetings from the elves for several years. All news of that incident back then had been sealed off, and he had only heard rumors. General Alex had been mortally wounded and died in the demon ambush, and there had been no news of her in recent years. Apart from a small group at the top of both races, no one would connect the two events.
"It seems the owner doesn't want the little girl to leave him. Should I let him go to the Mage Tower with me?" Crassus glanced back at the restaurant, muttered to himself, and slowly walked away, leaning on his mage staff.
"How did that guy get out of that coffin tower?" At the nearby magic potion shop, Yulian, dressed in black robes, stood at the entrance, squinting at Crassus as he slowly walked away. A ball of dark green flame danced in his hand. Suddenly, he turned to look at the restaurant not far away, where Mai Ge was leading Amy, who was carrying the Ugly Duckling, out of the restaurant. His gaze fell on Amy, his brows furrowing even deeper, and he muttered to himself, "Does that old man want to take this little girl as his apprentice?"
Mai Ge had also noticed Yulian's gaze from afar. Although he knew Amy was a genius, but the feeling of being watched was still inexplicably unpleasant.
Moreover, Crassus seemed more upright. The position of royal's guest was an honor, but it also represented a responsibility and constraint. This neighbor, dressed in a black mage's robe, gave him a sense of unease, as if he was a dark mage. His appearance, voice, and slow movements all exuded a chilling aura.
"Good morning, Grandpa Turtle Shell! Good morning, Black Charcoal, Green Bean!" Amy stopped and greeted them with a smile.
"Turtle…" Mai Ge raised an eyebrow. Although Yulian was a bit hunchbacked, most people wouldn't like being given a nickname for something like that. It was rather impolite. Amy might not understand, but Mai Ge was too embarrassed to let it go so easily and was about to apologize.
"Good morning." Yulian raised his eyelids slightly and responded with a voice that sounded like the friction between two pieces of metal, a bit harsh and frightening.
Mai Ge swallowed back the words he was about to say. He didn't seem to mind, but his gaze at this moment seemed to be exactly the same as the gaze he had just seen on Crassus. If this man also wanted to take Amy as his apprentice, he was in for a headache.
"Amy, what's that ugly thing you're holding?" Black Charcoal, still with two leaves clinging to it, leaned closer and asked, looking at the Ugly Duckling in Amy's arms.
"It's much cuter than you! But aren't cats only white and black? Why is it orange and white?" Green Bean also leaned in, first giving Black Charcoal a disdainful look, then asking curiously.
"Meow!" The Ugly Duckling meowed at Black Charcoal, stretching out its pink little paws, seemingly wanting to show off its claws, though even its meow now had a soft, babyish tone.
"A cat!" Black Charcoal jumped back in surprise, but looking at the Ugly Duckling in Amy's arms, it raised its head proudly and said, "How could Fama • Odin • Highness be afraid of a mere ugly kitten with an abnormal color?"
"It's not a cat, it's the Ugly Duckling." Amy shook her head, reached out and stroked the Ugly Duckling's head to comfort it, and looked at Black Charcoal and said, "Black Charcoal, you're clearly the ugliest one here. The Ugly Duckling is only second now, and it will grow up."
Hearing this, Black Charcoal became a little nervous again. Looking at the Ugly Duckling wagging its little tail proudly in Amy's arms, it said with some disdain, "This prince is not afraid of this little thing. With its short legs, do you think it can jump as high as the cage? Besides, growing up in a restaurant will make it so fat oh."
"Little Amy, let's go. I need to go back to the restaurant to prepare ingredients later." Mai Ge smiled and patted Amy's head. The ingredients for the La Zhi Rou Jia Mo needed to be prepared in advance, and being watched by Yulian made him a little uncomfortable.
"Goodbye." Amy waved and followed Mai Ge away.
"Perhaps I could also investigate her. If she's suited for dark magic, it would be interesting to snatch an apprentice from that old man Crassus…" Yulian muttered to himself, watching Amy's retreating figure.
After buying goat milk from the market, Mai Ge first filled bottles for Amy and Ugly Duckling. Watching the two little ones happily sucking on their pacifiers, he poured himself a cup and drank it down. Although improving his physical abilities wouldn't be completed in a day or two, he could still feel his strength slowly increasing.
While kneading the dough, Mai Ge looked at the task progress chart in his mind. Selling 1000 Rou Jia Mo wasn't a problem. At the current pace, it could be completed in about six days.
Of the 1,000 people who came to the restaurant, only 10 were new customers in the morning. The number of regular customers was too large, and this growth rate made him a little anxious.
"I need to improve efficiency. Taking orders and serving food are taking up too much time, and Amy is clearly not up to the task. It seems like I should probably hire someone." Mai Ge thought to himself.
As for purchase limits, he still didn't have that idea. If customers who come early to order can only eat until they're half full and then can't eat anymore, are they supposed to go hungry, or do they just go to another restaurant?