Chapter 126: Unexpected Gain

The lights in Cripple’s Tavern were dim. A few female attendants stood weakly behind the counter, while two others simply sat in customers’ seats, staring blankly.

Cripple led Lin Qi into the tavern hall, and only then did the female attendants regain a bit of vitality. They busily sliced a plate of sausages and a plate of ham, then served Lin Qi and Enzo a large cup of fine gin. Cripple himself only ordered a light sparkling wine, not choosing to gargle with strong liquor early in the morning like Lin Qi and Enzo.

“Business is tough, little Lin Qi!” Cripple crossed his legs, grabbed a few slices of sausage, and stuffed them into his mouth. “Damn this winter, I hate winter. I heard they hunted a Unicorn Whale King over in Dun Er Ke? Look, a place like Dun Er Ke still has business in winter, but what about here?”

He glanced at the empty tavern and shook his head with a pained expression. Clearly, the winter in the Imperial Capital was not easy for Cripple’s gang of ruffians either, something Lin Qi himself knew well. In this dreadful winter, the common folks of the Imperial Capital stayed holed up at home, struggling through the long winter, while the wealthy nobles enjoyed themselves behind high walls and deep gates. Cripple’s men couldn’t squeeze any profit out of those noble families.

Only when spring arrived and the shipping on the Sain River returned to normal, with merchants from other places flocking to the Imperial Capital for business, would it be the prime time for Cripple’s men to make money. As for winter, just like Cripple’s Tavern now, it was lifeless and devoid of vitality. It was only natural for Cripple to complain bitterly in front of Lin Qi.

The Imperial Capital wasn’t like a place such as Dun Er Ke. This was the residence of the Imperial Emperor, and opportunities to earn money were limited. Winter truly was hard to endure.

Lin Qi sympathetically raised his glass to Cripple and took a large sip of wine without a word.

Cripple curiously glanced at the two large chests beside Lin Qi and Enzo. He was very curious about what was inside them. However, Lin Qi acted as if he didn’t notice Cripple’s inquisitive gaze and had no intention of explaining. Cripple sighed helplessly, withdrew his eyes from the leather chests, grabbed his glass, and took a large gulp.

“Times are hard, little Lin Qi! Those damn fellows only eat and drink for free in winter. Oh, it’s not easy to support such a large family, little Lin Qi!” Cripple twisted his body in agony, gritting his teeth. “For a full four months, a full four months, they won’t bring in a single coin. I have to support them for nothing. Oh, I really envy those Whaling Ships in Dun Er Ke. They actually caught a Unicorn Whale King!”

Lin Qi chuckled a few times but still didn’t speak. The harder Cripple’s life was, the better Lin Qi felt. The more Cripple’s men struggled, the easier it would be for Lin Qi to recruit people when he waved around large amounts of Gold Coins and Silver Coins.

Raising his glass and taking another large sip, Lin Qi flattered, “No matter how tough the times are, they can’t truly bring down someone as shrewd as you, right? Just a tiny bit of your annual profits slipping through your fingers would be enough to easily support all those people!”

Cripple shook his head mournfully. Of course, he knew Lin Qi was right, but every winter, having to support a large group of subordinates who only ate and did no work truly pained him. Even a single Copper Coin—those Copper Coins were hard-earned through careful calculation—using them to support his subordinates for nothing really hurt Cripple’s heart!

With a pained expression, he stuffed another piece of ham into his mouth. Chewing the fragrant ham meat, he mumbled, “Eat your fill, drink your fill. This meal is on me. Oh, Happy New Year, dear little Lin Qi, Happy New Year! Hmm, in the new year, you’ll give me more good stuff, right?”

His eyes flickered as he stared at Lin Qi for a moment, then he suddenly let out a few hoarse laughs.

Lin Qi’s eyes lit up as he raised his glass and downed the gin inside. The stingy Cripple actually offered to treat? This was truly unprecedented. Lin Qi showed the nearly half-liter glass to the female attendant behind the counter and laughed loudly, “Dear, get me another one. Uncle Cripple is treating… Hmm, change it to a large glass, a one-liter large glass. Cut a few more smoked chicken legs. Do you have roasted meat? Roasted suckling pig would be best, but if there’s no suckling pig, a lamb leg would be good too.”

Cripple’s eyelid twitched violently. He glared at Lin Qi indignantly, then pretended to turn and smile at Enzo. “Enzo, where did you spend the New Year this year? Hmm, you’re a fine young man.”

Enzo wordlessly downed the gin in his glass. He also raised his glass, whistled sharply, and laughed, “Dear, get me a large one too, just like Lin Qi! Boss Cripple is treating, so hurry up. Hey, Happy New Year, can you give me a smile?”

The female attendants laughed heartily. They eagerly replaced Lin Qi and Enzo’s glasses with massive one-liter mugs and quickly brought over several plates of castrated chicken, smoked goose, lamb, and salted fish. Seeing the attendants bring so many dishes to go with the drinks, Lin Qi and Enzo grinned so widely their eyes nearly disappeared, while Cripple’s face turned as black as coal, his lips twitching intermittently.

To make matters worse, Lin Qi and Enzo had enormous appetites for both drink and food. After all, their Combat Qi had surged two levels in just half a month, and their bodies needed a lot of food to build strength and adapt to the sudden increase in Combat Qi. So the two of them swept through the food and drink on the table like a whirlwind, then shouted for the attendants to bring more meat and alcohol.

Cripple’s expression grew increasingly grim. He suddenly realized he couldn’t let Lin Qi and Enzo eat and drink for free like this. He immediately found an interesting topic to capture Lin Qi and Enzo’s attention. “Hey, Lin Qi, you’re not that young anymore. Do you have a sweetheart?” Cripple’s words were crude but carried a raw allure.

Lin Qi looked at Cripple curiously. He swallowed a mouthful of castrated chicken and asked in surprise, “Do you have a daughter who just came of age? Thanks, but I don’t need one.”

Cripple’s face twitched wildly in anger. He said sternly, “No, I don’t have a daughter. Hmm, a pair of lovely sisters came to the city—twin sisters, icy cold, very beautiful, so beautiful it intoxicates the heart!”

Lowering his voice mysteriously, Cripple whispered, “I heard rumors that many young masters from great Noble families are very interested in them! Someone offered a million Gold Coins to have their first night! Hey, that’s a huge deal!”

Lin Qi slowly put down his glass and exchanged a quick glance with Enzo.

Icy, beautiful twin sisters? Could they be the ones they had in mind?

Lin Qi asked quietly, “Where do they live?”

Cripple chuckled, looking at the messy plates and glasses on the table, deliberately staying silent.

Lin Qi reached into his pocket, pulled out a handful of Silver Coins and Copper Coins with a grim expression, and slammed them heavily on the table.

Cripple’s hand swept over the table, and the Silver Coins and Copper Coins vanished without a trace.

“No.1 Shenghui Street. You know what that place is! Hehe! A million Gold Coins, oh!”