Chapter 83: Buying Clothes

"Customers, if you want cheap cotton, go to the roadside stalls," the attendant said, blocking the aisle with a smile. "The robes here are made of fine fabrics. We don’t want common wanderers to stain them."

The young male attendant’s voice was loud enough to draw a few glances from the nearby aisles.

He crossed his arms and stood still, lifting his chin.

Nox clicked his tongue under his mask, his hand instinctively sliding toward the heavy siki pouch at his waist.

He was just about to shake it loud enough to deafen the boy when they heard a soft cough.

"Cough! Cough! Cough!"

A middle-aged man came out from the back storeroom, looking displeased, yet a perfect businessman’s smile was plastered on his lips. ℴℴ𝘮

"What’s going on here?"

The attendant boy shrank slightly, but it didn’t take long for him to lift his chin in a proud smile.

"Manager Daus, these people are making trouble here. We are already busy with so many customers, and they are just wasting time looking around."

Moon suddenly let out a laugh hearing this. His hands crossed against his chest as he rubbed his chin thoughtfully.

Though the bamboo hat was hiding half of his face, his sharp jawline still held some of his original beauty, giving off a mysterious, untouchable feeling if looked closely.

The manager looked at him for just a second before turning to the attendant.

"Is this how you greet customers, Arni? You haven’t even fulfilled your monthly sales quota yet. No wonder..."

The attendant’s face became red from embarrassment. He muttered, lowering his head, "But they are not here to buy."

"How do you know?" Moon asked softly.

"You clearly..." He could not complete his sentence, fearing the manager would scold him.

Sure enough, Manager Daus pushed him aside sternly.

He coughed twice and greeted Moon again. "Sorry, guest, don’t take his offense to heart. Which section are you willing to visit? Let me lead you..."

Moon chuckled and followed the manager inside. "It’s fine. He is just a kid."

The manager’s lips twitched hearing his words. ’Kid? He is the same age as you, young man,’ he thought.

"Please, come inside. What kind of fabrics are you looking for today?"

"I want ready-to-wear clothes, suitable for traveling and hunting," Moon said thoughtfully.

Lots of people went to travel and hunt, so this would not leave any suspicious clues behind.

"And some inner tunics, cloaks, and soft masks."

"Right this way! We have the finest silk and cloaks," the manager said, eagerly waving them toward the second-floor stairs.

Moon looked behind to Marina, wondering if he should buy her some.

"My mom will arrange my things," Marina smiled. But her eyes were still lingering on the fine red silks hanging in the case.

Moon shook his head. He waved at Nox to take Marina to the girls’ section to buy her something she liked.

As they stepped onto the wider upper floor, the scent of expensive incense filled the air.

But before they could even look at the rows of fine garments, a familiar, high-pitched gasp echoed from the premium section.

"You—! Why are you everywhere?!"

Moon looked up. Standing by a long mirror, holding an elegant layered silk dress with silver trim, was Lyra.

Her red-ponytail friend was right beside her, holding a pile of accessories, while her guards stood near the wall.

The moment Lyra’s eyes landed on Moon, her face shifted from pure annoyance to intense irritation. She forced a sweet smile.

"Oh, it’s the... gentlemen from last night again," Lyra said, stepping forward and swaying her skirts.

She held up the expensive dress she was holding. "Are you here to buy clothes? I must warn you, the fabrics on this floor cost hundreds of siki. It’s a bit different from ordering duck and grain down at a common tavern." Before Moon could answer, the curtain of a nearby changing room opened.

The young master from the Vesper Moon Pack stepped out, adjusting his vest.

The moment his eyes landed on Moon’s group, his hands froze in mid-air, and he stood stupefied.

But his momentary shock at seeing this same group again vanished just as quickly as it had appeared.

A familiar, arrogant smirk curled onto his lips as he casually strolled over to stand right beside Lyra.

He mocked, "Indeed, Lady Lyra. They probably think a single coin can buy a bolt of spiritual silk here."

Axe scoffed and pushed Moon aside. "We need to hurry, baby," he said to Moon.

Moon didn’t pay any heed to the others anymore and nodded.

He chose some tunics for regular use—the cheapest in the shop. Then he chose some cloaks, capes, bracers, and trousers, too. There were many people in his group, so he couldn’t just buy the expensive ones.

He still needed siki to buy his alchemy materials.

Seeing this, the Vesper guy sneered.

But when Moon went to choose some expensive and durable travel attire—with a coarse linen tunic, leather jacket, durable trousers, sturdy leather boots, and wrist bracers, along with a hooded canvas cloak, padded leather vest, tight trousers, knee-high hunting boots, and a belt sheath harness—the Vesper boy’s eyes narrowed sharply.

These would not be that cheap.

They might even be expensive for him-a boy who have a pack backing him up.

Not to mention, they were buying in bulk.

The Vesper boy leaned against a wooden pillar with his arms crossed, deliberately raising his voice to praise Lyra. "We have enough to buy whatever we want, Lady Lyra."

He was talking to Lyra, but his gaze was tracing Moon’s hand, which was very naturally checking the clothes—like he was very used to this type of shopping.

"Is that so?" Lyra tilted her chin up, a mischievous spark in her eyes.

She turned directly to Manager Daus. "Manager, I’ll take this dress. And those crescent moon wrist bracers they were just looking at? Wrap those up for my guards as well."

She looked at Moon and the others.

Moon let out a long sigh.

He turned and asked softly, "Young lady, I don’t remember having any grudge against you before coming to this city."

Lyra’s posture faltered for a fraction of a second.

Right.

She didn’t even know who this man was, but she had been so pampered from her childhood and so adored by all males that when this man refused to look at her, give her attention, or be intimidated by Vesper last night, she instinctively felt offended.