On the main thoroughfare of the city center, past its prime, walked two out-of-place individuals hugging the sidewalk.
One scanned every passerby with vigilant eyes, hand near her thigh, ever ready to react to a crisis.
The other gazed around curiously, deeply interested in the steampunk-style architecture, a hint of excitement in her eyes.
"We've arrived at the place. You can let go of my hand now, right?" FrostNova forcefully pulled her hand back and put some distance between herself and Tian An.
Tian An looked into FrostNova's eyes, noticed her slight aversion, and didn't press further.
Once I get Theresia's okay, I can totally snuggle with you, Miss FrostNova~
Doesn't matter if your body temp is low or high, I'm Xiao Te and I'm proud!
"Selling tofu~ Selling tofu!" A vendor by the street constantly hawked his slogan. Fried tofu pieces tumbled in the wok of hot oil, emitting a rich aroma.
"Gulp." Tian An swallowed, occasionally glancing towards the vendor.
If Her Highness Theresia were here, she definitely wouldn't be swayed by such food.
But standing here is our little glutton, Tian An!
"Do you really want some?" FrostNova asked, seeing Tian An's obvious interest in the stall.
"N-no," Tian An quickly turned her head away.
"This should be enough to buy some, right?" FrostNova suddenly produced a gold nugget, not too big, not too small.
"Where... where did you get that?" Tian An was astonished where FrostNova had procured the gold. The Trotter behind her seemed to smell the gold and started getting agitated.
"I took it from that little girl just before we left," FrostNova stated calmly. "That thing called a Warp Trotter's gold."
Tian An had underestimated FrostNova's skills. It seemed she had consistently treated her like an ordinary girl, forgetting that FrostNova herself was a battle-hardened, experienced leader. How could her abilities be weak?
Although she really wanted to refuse, Tian An accepted the suggestion.
The two walked up to the vendor, and Tian An began choosing items.
"Hello, ladies. What would you like to eat?" The vendor smiled amiably, greeting them warmly.
"A bit of this... hmm.. and a bit of this too. FrostNova, are you having any?" Tian An asked.
"No," FrostNova shook her head.
"Give her another portion of what I just ordered," Tian An said to the vendor with a smile.
"Right away!"
Since you were going to order it anyway, what was the point of asking me...
Various ingredients were placed on the counter, then deep-fried repeatedly in the wok. The vibrant colors absorbed the seasonings, and white steam billowed out, filling the entire street with the lively scent of cooking.
"Young folks like you strolling outside at night are getting rarer and rarer. The Fragmentum is rampaging too severely."
"Fragmentum?" Just as FrostNova was about to speak, Tian An cut her off.
"Indeed. Excuse me, is there a hotel nearby? Preferably close to the Administrative District," Tian An smiled at the vendor.
"Yes, of course! Go straight down this road, then turn right. That's the biggest and best hotel in our Belobog," the vendor pointed outwards with his right hand, while his left continued brushing sauce.
"Thank you," FrostNova finally managed to interject, though briefly.
"Don't mention it. Your food is ready. How will you be paying?" The vendor bagged the food and handed it to Tian An.
Tian An looked towards FrostNova.
FrostNova revealed the gold nugget she had been clutching and presented it to the vendor.
"Will this do?"
"..." The vendor's smile froze on his face. In that instant, it seemed he replayed every bad deed he'd ever committed in his life.
"Is it not enough?" FrostNova asked, seeing the vendor's stunned expression.
"No, no, no, it's enough, more than enough! It's so much I can't even make change!" The vendor forced his smile back.
"Oh dear, this is too large, I can't break it. How about this, I'll find someone to exchange it for smaller change for you, hah!" The vendor left his stall, ran in the opposite direction, and took out his phone.
"Emergency, emergency! Silvermane Guard uncles, I've encountered two suspicious characters trying to fence stolen goods! They don't look too bright!"
"Calm down, speak slowly."
"They're heading to the hotel later, hurry up and come!"
Seeing the vendor red-faced and stomping his foot anxiously, Tian An had a bad feeling.
"I think we should go. Don't you have anything smaller?" Tian An said.
"No, I only took a little. This was the smallest piece," FrostNova replied.
"..."
Tian An took the gold nugget from FrostNova's hand, gently broke it, and a smaller gold particle came off.
"Alright, let's go."
Tian An pulled FrostNova away again, leaving the vendor still talking animatedly over there.
"Wait, can you repeat the description of those two?" A girl's voice came from the other end of the line.
"One has horn-like things, the other has ears on her head," the vendor repeated.
"Understood. The Silvermane Guards will be there shortly." The girl hung up. She sat at her desk, pondered for a moment, then made a second call.
"Hello, is this Lynx? This is Pela. Those two missing companions you mentioned might have been found."
...
"Seriously, you meet all sorts these days," the vendor hung up his phone and walked back the way he came, only to find the two from earlier were gone.
"Where'd they go?" The vendor looked left and right.
"They could have at least left me the gold dust!" The vendor pounded the counter angrily, unaware that a tiny golden particle, dislodged by the vibration, had been flung to the roadside and buried in the dust.
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Theresia Little Theater
"Doctor, Doctor, what kind of skirt do you think Miss Theresia suits?"
"Me.... I think..... the shorter... cough cough, never mind."
"You hood-head, what nonsense are you spouting again? Her Highness looks beautiful in anything!"
"I think uh..... I should have some say in what she wears, right?"
"I think.... the original sister is the most beautiful."
"Prison Cat, what do you think?"
"What did you just call me?"
"Pris— Doctor Kal'tsit."
"mo3ter, time to close up shop."
"Roar! (Excited roar)"
"Nooo, Kal'tsit, for the sake of our shared Te-men faith, spare me! I have free Theresia photo albums, how about it?"
".....Can be considered.."
"You two little cuties... what are you discussing?"
"Cough cough... N-nothing..."
"This table is really... really table-like, ha... hehe."
Question: How many characters appeared just now?