Chapter 121: Familiar face

Chapter 121: Chapter 121: Familiar face

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....

Kenny led Tolu through the busy streets of the capital, moving with the confidence of someone who already knew exactly where he was going.

Tolu followed beside him, still feeling the weight of the day’s events on his body. The competition had finally ended. The noise, the battles, the spectators, the constant pressure of having to prove himself—all of it was behind him.

For tonight, Kenny had decided that none of that mattered.

After walking for some time, they arrived before a large, brightly lit establishment.

A wide wooden sign stood above the entrance.

ILE AYO

The place was far more lively than the quiet establishments Tolu was accustomed to. Music drifted through the open entrance, mixing with the sounds of laughter, conversation, clinking cups, and the occasional shout from someone enjoying themselves.

People filled the spacious outdoor area, sitting around wooden tables beneath large canopies. Others occupied the more private sections farther inside.

The smell of roasted meat, pepper, spices, and smoke filled the air.

Tolu looked around.

"What is this place?"

Kenny gave him a look of disbelief.

"You’ve lived in the capital this long and you don’t know Ile Ayo?"

Tolu shrugged.

"I haven’t exactly had time to explore."

Kenny laughed.

"Ile Ayo is the most prominent relaxation house in the capital."

He gestured toward the establishment.

"Good food, alcohol, music, and enough space for people to forget about their problems for a few hours. If someone in the capital wants to relax properly, this is one of the first places they’ll think of."

Tolu looked at the people inside.

"It looks expensive."

"It is."

Kenny grinned.

"But don’t worry about that. The family is settling our bill."

Tolu stopped walking.

"Our bill?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

Kenny looked at him as if the answer were obvious.

"Because you’re their champion."

He grabbed Tolu by the arm and pulled him toward the entrance.

"And because they know I was the one who brought you here."

Tolu sighed but allowed himself to be dragged along.

Once inside, they were quickly shown to a table in one of the more comfortable sections.

They had barely sat down when several young women approached.

They wore traditional iro and buba, their outfits neat and colorful, with matching head coverings and simple jewelry. Each carried herself with the practiced confidence of someone accustomed to serving important guests.

One of them smiled politely as she placed two menus on the table.

"Good evening, sirs. Please take your time choosing."

Kenny immediately picked up his menu.

Tolu opened his as well.

There were pages upon pages of food and drinks.

Kenny scanned through his briefly before pointing at one of the options.

"I’ll take a whole roasted grass cutter."

The attendant nodded and recorded it.

Tolu continued looking through his menu.

After a moment, he pointed toward another dish.

"Peppered snails."

"One plate of peppered snails," the attendant repeated.

Tolu nodded.

The attendant smiled.

"Would you like anything to drink?"

Kenny looked at Tolu.

Tolu glanced through the drinks section before making his choice.

They placed their orders, and the attendants collected the menus.

"We’ll bring everything shortly."

The women bowed slightly before leaving.

Tolu leaned back in his chair and finally allowed himself to relax.

Kenny smiled across the table.

"Now this is how you celebrate."

Tolu looked at him.

"We haven’t even gotten our food yet."

"That’s why I’m saying it now."

Kenny leaned back comfortably.

"Tonight, you’re not thinking about cultivation, dungeons, competitions, money, or anything else."

Tolu stared at him for a moment.

Then he slowly nodded.

"Fine."

Kenny grinned.

"Good."

The attendants returned a short while later with their food.

Kenny’s whole roasted grass cutter was placed on a large wooden platter, its roasted skin covered in spices and still giving off heat. Tolu’s plate of peppered snails came next, coated in a thick, spicy sauce.

"Enjoy your meal."

The attendants left them to themselves.

Kenny immediately began eating, while Tolu picked up one of the snails.

After a few bites, Tolu turned his attention back to Kenny.

"So, how are things going with your plans?"

Kenny swallowed before answering.

"Better than I expected."

"Your trading business?"

"Yes."

A smile appeared on Kenny’s face.

"I’ve already started looking into a few routes around the capital. There are plenty of merchants here, so there’s a lot of competition, but there’s also a lot of opportunity."

Tolu nodded.

"You still want your own network?"

"Of course."

Kenny tore another piece of meat from the grass cutter.

"I don’t want to spend my entire life working under my brother. He’s going to inherit the family business eventually, and there’s nothing wrong with that, but I want something that belongs to me."

"What exactly do you want?"

"Caravans, routes, warehouses, connections. Eventually, I want to be able to move goods between kingdoms under my own name."

Tolu smiled faintly.

"Sounds like you’ve thought about it."

"I have."

Kenny grinned.

"And now that I have some of the resources from the dungeon, things are looking even better."

They continued talking, mostly about Kenny’s plans and the opportunities he had found in the capital.

Tolu listened as Kenny explained some of the merchants he had spoken with and the kinds of goods that seemed to sell well.

Their conversation continued comfortably until someone approached their table.

Tolu looked up.

His eyes widened slightly.

Aramide stood before them.

She was wearing traditional clothes, with tribal beads around her neck and wrists. She had clearly put some effort into her appearance, and the difference from the battle arena made her look even more beautiful.

She smiled when their eyes met.

"I had a feeling I’d find you here."

Tolu blinked.

"You did?"

Aramide nodded.

"You’re the champion now. I figured you’d probably come somewhere like this to celebrate."

She glanced at Kenny.

"And apparently I was right."

Kenny laughed.

"You’re welcome to join us."

Aramide didn’t need much convincing.

"If you don’t mind."

She pulled out a chair and sat with them.

Tolu looked at her.

"So you came here looking for us?"

"Not exactly."

She smiled.

"I was curious."

"About what?"

"You."

Tolu raised an eyebrow.

"Me?"

Aramide nodded.

"You have a lot of potential."

She leaned back comfortably.

"I realized that during our fight. You were exhausted, but you still refused to give up. Then you suddenly recovered enough energy to completely change the fight."

Tolu said nothing.

Aramide studied him for a moment.

"I don’t know what your secret is, and I’m not asking."

She smiled.

"But I’d be surprised if that was everything you’re capable of."

Kenny chuckled.

"You’re not the only one who thinks that."

Aramide glanced at him.

"I figured."

She looked back at Tolu.

"That’s why I wanted to talk to you before you became too important for ordinary people like me to approach."

Tolu frowned.

"Too important?"

Aramide laughed.

"You just won the biggest competition for our generation in the capital. Give it a little time. You’ll understand."

She reached toward the food on the table.

"Besides, I didn’t come here just to talk about cultivation."

Tolu relaxed slightly.

"Then what did you come for?"

Aramide smiled.

"To eat, obviously."

Kenny laughed.

"Now you’re speaking my language."

The three of them continued their meal together, their conversation gradually becoming lighter as the music from the relaxation house played around them.

Kenny leaned back in his chair, looking increasingly pleased with himself.

"Wait here."

Tolu looked at him.

"Where are you going?"

Kenny raised one hand toward one of the attendants passing nearby.

"Excuse me."

The attendant stopped and approached their table.

"Yes, sir?"

"Bring us two gourds of palm wine."

Tolu immediately shook his head.

"No."

Kenny looked at him.

"No?"

"I’m not drinking."

Kenny laughed.

"You just won the competition. You’re sitting in the most famous relaxation house in the capital, eating peppered snails, and you’re telling me you’re not drinking?"

"Yes."

Aramide smiled from across the table.

"Come on."

Tolu looked at her.

"You too?"

"You’ve spent the last few weeks fighting, cultivating, worrying about your....."

Tolu’s expression changed slightly.

Aramide paused.

"Your... cultivation."

Kenny gave her a suspicious look, but she continued without missing a beat.

"You deserve to relax."

Tolu looked between them.

"I don’t need alcohol to relax."

"Then don’t drink much."

Kenny grinned.

"Just enough to actually enjoy the evening."

Tolu sighed.

"You two are annoying."

Aramide smiled.

"That’s not a no."

Tolu stared at her for a moment before finally giving in.

"Fine. A little."

Kenny immediately turned to the attendant.

"You heard him."

The attendant smiled and nodded before walking away.

Not long after, two large gourds of palm wine arrived.

Kenny looked delighted.

He poured the drink into three cups and raised his.

"To Tolu. The champion amongst the younger generation of the kingdom. You deserve this for all your hard work."

Aramide lifted hers.

Tolu hesitated for a moment before picking up his cup.

"To surviving the competition."

They tapped their cups together.

Then they drank.