Chapter 48 - 47: The Temptation of Coffee

Pei Guang: "We've finished sorting everything. Just put the similar items into the trash bins." Natasha: "Alright." Seele watched the scene unfold and was about to say something when Oleg, smiling, said, "Silly girl, help out! Our lives are going to get a lot easier now." Seele was good at fighting, but she didn't have the quick wits of Natasha and Oleg: however, seeing the two of them helping out, she decided to put away her weapon. Seele: "I'll help too!" But as she stepped forward to assist, she noticed Bronya lying on the ground: "Is she a Silvermane Guard?" Pei Guang looked up: "Yes! Here, take this. Keep an eye on her, and when she wakes up, give this to her." Seele: "Huh?" Seele looked at the coffee Pei Guang handed her, not quite understanding what was going on. Since everyone trusted this man, she decided to follow his instructions for now. Although Seele wasn't as experienced as Natasha, seeing all these foods, drinks, and supplies made her heart race as well. She wasn't foolish, just not as sharp as Natasha. She had fought countless battles growing up, often relying on her fast reactions and extraordinary instincts to overcome enemies. And now that she had embarked on the Path of the Hunt, she had a faint sense that Pei Guang wasn't a bad person. Besides, what was there in the Underworld worth coveting? To survive, they had to mine resources to exchange for survival supplies. They had nothing to lose, so there was nothing to fear. But... Seele remembered what Pei Guang had said earlier: if this Silvermane Guard wakes up, she should drink this black liquid. So what was this black liquid? Under the platform's lights, Seele focused all her attention on the cup of coffee in her hand. In the dim light, the coffee's dark hue seemed unusually enticing. Although there was no movement, ripples appeared on the surface of the coffee. Seele caught a whiff of a fragrant aroma, a scent she had never encountered before. At that moment, a strange thought arose in her mind. Voice in Her Head: "Lie down... Lie down... Just lie down here. After all, there are important people around, so a small figure like you can rest easy." Voice in Her Head: "Come on! Come on! Take a sip! Experience this soul-stirring pleasure." Her body struggled. She didn't know what was wrong with this cup, but the dark liquid seemed to have a magical allure, tempting her. But she had a strong will—how could she be tempted just like this? Just then, Natasha asked curiously, "Is there something wrong with that drink?" Pei Guang: "Nope! After drinking it, you'll feel refreshed and healthy. Just don't drink too much. Hey, you over there, if you really want to, go ahead and drink it, but save a sip!" Pei Guang's words were like the starting gun of a race, and Seele's body and mind could no longer resist the desire for coffee. She took a sip—delicious. Another sip—still delicious. Another sip, and another. Seeing only one sip left, Seele restrained her desire. She was a principled girl, even in the face of such a great temptation, and could control her actions. The marvelous taste of the coffee left a lasting impression on her, but then something strange happened—the coffee cup was full again? Did that mean she could drink some more? Seele hesitated no longer. She took another sip, and then another. At that moment, Seele began to feel dizzy. She sat down on the ground and eventually lay down. She laid beside Bronya and fell into a deep sleep, her consciousness fading away just like Bronya's. She smiled like a carefree child, enjoying a brief ten-minute slumber. March 7th noticed Seele's unusual behavior: "Ah Guang! Something's wrong! Did you forget to tell that girl not to drink too much coffee?" Pei Guang suddenly realized that the blue-haired girl might have had too much. Pei Guang: "I forgot... Keep an eye on her! I didn't expect her to be a coffee-loving girl too." March 7th: "Isn't your coffee that's the problem?" Pei Guang: "Is it?" Stelle: "Isn't it? Remember how many times we kept drinking that coffee just because it tasted so good?" Pei Guang: "It seems that way." Natasha noticed Seele's unusual behavior at that moment. "She's..." Pei Guang: "No need to worry. This is a specialty relaxation coffee from my hometown. After drinking it, the body enters a state of complete relaxation, falling into a deep sleep for ten minutes. After that, everything returns to normal." Natasha looked at the cup of coffee on the ground, its deep, almost abyss-like allure causing her to feel a sense of caution. She approached Seele and examined her carefully. Just as Pei Guang said, she was simply in a deep sleep with no adverse effects on her body. "May I take some of this liquid with me?" Natasha asked, noting that the cup of coffee was full again. She clearly remembered that Seele had drunk quite a lot, so why was there still so much left? This seemed suspicious. Pei Guang: "No problem, take as much as you like. The thing is, if you drink the last sip from the cup or consume a certain amount, you'll fall asleep. I'm not sure how this stuff was made, but whenever I look closely, I can see a black figure looking back at me. It's interesting. Oh! Could you keep an eye on that silver-haired girl for me? She's the daughter of the Supreme Guardian. If she starts to wake up, give her another cup. I've tested it before; drinking ten cups in a row doesn't affect the body, and it actually makes you more refreshed after sleeping." March 7th curiously looked at the coffee. "A black figure? What is that?" Pei Guang: "It's like a dark, egg-shaped thing with two eyes. I'll draw it for you later." March 7th stared at the ripples on the coffee surface with interest. "I don't see a dark egg... but it does look appetizing." As for taking another sip, March 7th didn't dare: back when the three of them were being reckless, they had drunk quite a lot. At that moment, Natasha's expression grew serious. The daughter of the Supreme Guardian had been captured by Pei Guang, and now she was here, having traveled down on the train? This was suspicious—very suspicious. While the train wasn't heavily guarded, it wasn't easy for just anyone to board. Pei Guang and his group didn't seem like they had fought their way through. Looking at the supplies they had, Natasha became more certain of her theory. Pei Guang and his group likely ventured down here with the cooperation of the Silvermane Guards. The silver-haired girl must have stumbled into their operation and been taken down as a result. It was possible... But Natasha wasn't about to spread this information. Even Oleg, standing nearby, wore a nonchalant expression as he organized the items Pei Guang didn't want. As a leader of the Wildfire on the surface, and one behind the scenes, they were both experts at reading the situation and knew exactly what to do. But regardless, the two of them silently agreed that as long as Pei Guang and his group didn't cause trouble in the Underground, they would remain silent if anyone from above came asking. They'd simply play dumb. Natasha and Oleg exchanged a smile. Having worked together for so many years, they knew each other's thoughts well. Meanwhile, Bronya began to wake up again. Once more, she saw a kind and gentle older sister, someone so warm and radiant. And again, a gentle, caring voice whispered in her ear. "Come on, it's time to drink some coffee."