022. Chrono Academy Location

The slight creak of wood could be heard as Zhen walked into the front room, the bar. 

His clothes had been changed into fresh ones. There were no blood stains on his clothes or body. The silver-haired elf walked past 2 waitress before finally reaching the bar counter and sat down on one of the backless chairs lined up in front of the counter.

Zhen leaned against the bar counter as he watched Zaltar laughing and drinking beer with the group of bandits. 

"How's the hot water?" asked Nala from behind the counter.

"Quite satisfactory. Better than I expected, I thought there would only be cold water in the bathtub," Zhen replied without turning toward Nala. 

"Ara... Of course there's hot water. A woman needs skin care too."

Zhen chuckled and turned his body to face Nala. "Looks like you're right. Can I get three pumpkin pies and one beer?"

"Sure." Nala turned to the kitchen and sent someone to cook the elf's order. 

Nala then walked over to the beer cabinet and took out a rather fancy bottle. 

"By the way, I have something to ask you about the purple crystal on your back," said Zhen who managed to stop Nala's movement for a moment. 

Nala sighed heavily, "Examining a woman's body, that's a very bold request." she turned to face Zhen. 

Nala leaned forward and rested her elbows on the counter. "That would be as same as i giving up my most precious possession to you."

"And your body can't be bought that easily, is that what you mean?"

"Ara... You got it."

Nala poured beer into Zhen's wooden mug then straightened up.

"Clementine beer. For a remote place, it's amazing to be able to get a supply of this beer," Zhen said taking a sip of his beer.

"Ara... You know this beer?"

Zhen looked at the beer bottle with the volcano logo while smile a little. "Yep."

"I didn't expect you to have such extensive connections."

"When you spend your life adventuring, you'll have connections all over the place," Zhen said while raising his mug, implying an invitation to a toast. 

Nala accepted the invitation and smiled. She held up the bottle of clementine beer and the two toasted. Nala sipped the beer straight from the bottle while Zhen sipped the beer from the wooden mug. 

"If I can't get your body, can you at least tell me where the Chrono Academy is?"

Nala paused for a moment, a slight frown on her face followed by a rather long sigh.

"Do you really want to know about that damned project? What do you want to do after finding out?" asked Nala with a slight frown on her face.

Zhen chuckled slightly, "take it easy, I wouldn't experiment on a child, I'm not that lunatic."

Nala was a little hesitant, this woman felt a load of emotions every time she remembered the name Chrono Academy and the inhumane experiments that were carried out.

 But there was something different about Zhen, he didn't feel there would be any danger in giving information to this elf.

Nala sighed heavily, "You'll probably find out sooner or later anyway. Alright, I'll tell you."

"Really?" Zhen immediately stood up in excitement and accidentally touched Nala's hand on the counter. "Hehe... Thanks, I don't have to randomly travel around this continent anymore"

Nala looked at Zhen's hand on top of hers. "Araa... Ara... I don't hate brave men, but isn't this too soon?"

"Oh, sorry," Zhen said, raising his hand and sitting back down. 

"Chrono Academy is about 2 days' journey eastward from Dite Trade Town."

"Hmm... Eastward? But that's where the -"

Zhen realized an important piece of information that made him pause and then chuckle. "So that's what it looks like. It seems like a lot of interesting things have happened over the past 50 years."

"Do you know anything? Mr. Zhen?"

Zhen took a sip of his beer. "I'll visit the place and meet the person in charge of that place."

"Are you sure? You might be able to get the remains of their research data, but I doubt you'll be able to meet those old professors."

"Why are you so sure?"

"Skar came here to take his revenge on me. He should have done that after killing all those bigwigs. Considering..." Nala paused, her chest a little tight, her hands trembling slightly. "...considering his feelings for Maya."

"They're still alive. Even if Skar did kill them, they're still alive."

"What do you mean still alive?"

Zhen chuckled slightly, "It's okay. It's the best for you to not know about it. It's not good for your mental health."

The silver-haired elf took a sip of his beer while Nala was somewhat alarmed to hear of something possibly more horrific happening in Chrono Academy.

"Don't underestimate me!" shouted one of the bandits at the same table as Zaltar.

"I'm not underestimating you. You are strong, but five of you are not enough to fight me." Zaltar declared a sharp sentence with a very serious look. 

"Woi... Woi... I know you are Zaltar the Bearhill, but it's still impossible. Even with a sword, you're just a man with one leg and one arm."

"Do you want to prove it?"

All five men stood up, only Zaltar was still sitting at the table.

"You may be famous, but there's a limit to arrogance," one of the bandits said, pointing his sword at Zaltar. 

Nala clapped her hands once and raised her tone, "Remember, no fighting inside the bar."

"Let's finish it outside, Zaltar!"

The five bandits and Zaltar walked out of the bar and some people also came out to watch. 

Zhen took a sip of his beer as he glanced at the crowd "It's such troublesome to have people like them. Fights among the townspeople, it must be very frequent occurrence in here."

"Indeed, it's troublesome. But sometimes that's what makes this place exciting."

"Haha, that's right, watching gladiators every day for free."

Nala laughed a little at Zhen's response. 

"Hey, Nala. How about a bet?"

"A bet? You mean a bet on their fight?" 

"Yes, Zaltar can be considered my student, even though for only 2 days, his development is amazing. Do you want to bet?"

"Ara... Ara... Are you sure? Mister Zhen? Although they are weak scum, they are not that weak to be defeated by a crippled bandits."

"So? You want to bet?"

"What are we betting?"

"If Zaltar wins, I can do a quick inspection of the crystal on your back." 

Nala was surprised and was silent for a moment then smiled. She crossed her arms over her stomach and raised her crossed arms slightly upwards, making her large breasts puff out more. 

"Ara... Looks like you haven't given up on getting my body."

Zhen just chuckled, "Unfortunately I'm not the type of man to giving up quickly."

"Such a stubborn man." Nala smiled slightly. "I don't hate stubborn man."

"So, do we agree?"

"Alright, if I win the bet, you have to work for me for a month."

"Hahaha, fair enough. Let's bet."