AZI Volume 4 Chapter 53

Not including its cellar, the Lan Si Restaurant possesses a total of six floors.

To the restaurant's right is a large parking lot.

Appearance wise, the restaurant possesses elements of traditional architecture and modern design.

However, traditional elements in this case are definitely the more plentiful one—due to the body frame of the restaurant being made out of painted wood.

Modern elements in this case are demonstrated mostly through the restaurant's glass-paneled windows, which are decorated with red grills.

"…"

"…"

Dressed in a white dress shirt—with a pair of dark pants, Long Hua stands at the front entrance of the restaurant with Tian Cheng.

Using the makeup kit, Long Hua had added a beauty mark near his right eye, and he is currently wearing a long-haired wig that is tied into a tail.

"Right then, let's go."

Entering the restaurant's front entrance, which is made up of two glass doors, Long Hua sees a reception counter on each side.

Beyond the reception counters—centered to the wall, and separated by equal intervals, are three elevators.

During busy periods, both reception counters would be active, but right now only the left-sided counter is active—with a worker dressed in a red qipao greeting Long Hua with a subtle bow.

"Welcome to the Lan Si Restaurant. Does dear guest plan to dine, or…?"

Towards the question, Long Hua answers—

"Registering items for the auction."

"I see. Please wait while I call for an appraiser."

Nodding her head, the female worker makes a call.

Shortly after, a male worker—who looks to be in his fifties, wearing a pair of glasses, arrives.

"Pleased to meet you. My name is Zhōu Jǐn. For the sake of privacy, I ask that dear guest follow me over to a room."

Towards Zhou Jin, who is dressed in a black changpao, Long Hua nods.

Following Zhou Jin, Long Hua looks to the ceiling of the restaurant.

At set intervals a red lantern would be present.

To the far back of the restaurant's first floor—a stage with a podium, and a display pedestal are present. That is most likely where the auction items will be shown, along with the bid caller.

Arriving on the second floor, the hallway is noticeably wide, with two chairs and a small table in between them—positioned closer to the right side upon entry. Anyone seated there would have a good view of the first floor's stage.

Momentarily—

"Here we are."

Long Hua and Tian Cheng are led into a spacious room.

The back wall is filled with a round window, and on both sides of the room is a large TV. Guests can view the auction through these monitors if they choose to do so.

Situated in the center of the room's ceiling is a lantern-styled chandelier, and beneath it is a large table surrounded by 12 chairs.

The top of the table has a rotating round panel of glass—meant to move food around during a gathering. Utensils have been cleared away ahead of time.

Overall, the entirety of the room is red with gold accents—giving it a rich feel.

As Zhou Jin shuts the sliding doors, and seats himself three chairs away from Long Hua's left, Long Hua asks—

"Are all your rooms like this?"

"Of course. The first four floors of the restaurant are free to anyone, while the fifth floor is reserved for special guests only."

"I see. Well then, let's get down to business."

Turning to Tian Cheng, who replies with a nod, she stands up from her seat, and gradually begins to fill the table up with the treasures that she had acquired from the ruins.

Jewelries, household decorative pieces, and even weapons; at first, Zhou Jin didn't think much of the situation, but as more and more items are being piled onto the table, he quickly raises his hand, and says—

"Stop, stop. I wasn't expecting this much…"

In all his years of working at this restaurant, this is the first time, Zhou Jin has seen such a collection, causing him to think—

(This guy… He must have been one of the Sinners who made it into the ruins' treasury.)

Due to this restaurant also serving as an auction house, they naturally have access to information—regarding the recent excavation of ancient ruins.

That being said, a few other individuals have already dropped by recently to register their loot, but quantity wise, Long Hua has all of them beat as an individual seller.

Adding onto the fact that all these visitors had storage devices, seeing another individual with them no longer fazes the workers here.

Clearing his throat, Zhou Jin asks—

"May I ask how much you have?"

Towards the question, Tian Cheng answers—

"Enough to fill this room."

"Ah, that's…"

An awkward expression appears on Zhou Jin's face, as he adjusts his glasses.

Crossing his legs, and pressing a fist to his cheek, Long Hua says—

"I'm looking to maybe purchase some items in the auction as well. Do you think I can deduct the amount that I would be spending—off the sales of my ware during the event?"

"With this many items, we most certainly can, dear guest. Due to you having so much to register, it's going to take some time to draw up a full invoice, do you mind waiting for a bit?"

With there being a grudge between him and the proprietress of this restaurant, Long Hua really didn't want to have to spend too much time here; hence, he had moved everything along so quickly.

Raising a sigh on the inside, Long Hua answers—

"…Understandable."

"In the meantime, would you like something to drink or eat?"

Towards Zhou Jin's question, Long Hua raises a chuckle, and answers—

"No need."

Recalling the Owner's words about one plate of food costing a minimum of 1,000 NWD, Long Hua isn't too keen on doing a taste test.

Contemplating for a bit, Zhou Jin smiles, and says—

"I have a feeling dear guest is most likely going to be a frequent visitor in the future. It would be discourteous to not give you some preferential treatment. While you wait, you may order whatever you like—all of it will be on the house."

The fact that this individual is able to come in, and casually drop so many treasures down, Zhou Jin would have worked in this restaurant for nothing over the passage of a decade—if he didn't have an eye for people.

"Oh? Very well."

"May I ask for the storage pouch?"

Due to the need to perhaps hand their storage pouch over, Tian Cheng had transferred all her combat supplies to Long Hua ahead of time.

"Thank you."

Receiving the storage pouch, Zhou Jin adds—

"I shall have a waitress come by momentarily to give you a menu. Ah, might I know how I should address you?"

Smiling subtly, Long Hua answers—

"My surname is Zhen. Call me Zhen-shao."