Lin Mo readily paid the money and took the Key handed over by the proprietress. Not in a hurry to return to his room, he took a seat at a table in the corner of the lobby and waited for a moment.
Before long, a beautiful young girl lifted the cloth curtain and walked out from the kitchen. She carried a tray holding several slices of white bread, a bowl of creamy soup, and a grilled steak about the size of two palms.
There wasn't a huge variety of dishes, but it was certainly a hearty meal. Even in the peaceful days of the past, such a dinner would undoubtedly be considered a luxury for the commoners in this small town. After all, the room rate of 30 Copper Coins was roughly equivalent to nearly a week's salary for a bottom-tier worker.
The young girl placed the tray on the table and cast a curious glance at the somewhat handsome guest. As she looked at him, something seemingly crossed her mind, and her gaze suddenly turned a bit peculiar.
Lin Mo didn't mind her strange look. He figured it was probably because of his odd clothing—or perhaps the bloodstains on him.
The texture of the white bread was quite good. Although it was nowhere near as sweet and fragrant as the bread from his previous life, it was undoubtedly a delicacy compared to the dry, hard black bread.
The creamy soup tasted surprisingly delicious. The rich milky aroma perfectly complemented the refreshing sweetness of the vegetables. As the warm broth settled in his stomach, his Spirit was instantly lifted, and warmth spread through his limbs.
The grilled steak had the richest aroma of all. Its slightly charred surface had just the right amount of crispiness. With one bite, the tender meat gave way, bursting with savory juices in his mouth.
The seasoning was actually quite simple, without any complicated cooking techniques. The steak was only sprinkled with a little salt, but because the ingredients were of such high quality, it tasted exceptionally good.
Before long, Lin Mo devoured everything. He let out a burp and leaned back against the chair, completely lacking the desire to move for a while. After resting for a few minutes, he finally got up and headed upstairs.
The first floor of the inn was the dining area, while the guest rooms were located on the second and third floors.
"Go up to the second floor and turn left. It's the innermost room."
Recalling the proprietress's directions, Lin Mo walked straight toward the very end of the corridor.
Halfway down the hall, he suddenly heard some strange noises. They rose and fell, sometimes high-pitched and sometimes low, sounding incredibly familiar. Lin Mo remembered that in his previous life, his cloud drive stored quite a lot of similar "educational materials."
He grumbled silently, "The soundproofing in this inn isn't great at all..." With that silent complaint, Lin Mo arrived at his door and unlocked it with the Key.
The room wasn't large, barely twenty square meters, but it was fairly tidy. Aside from a bed, there was a small table holding an oil lamp, with a cushioned chair beside it. Compared to the table, the chair seemed a bit too spacious. The backrest was tall and wide, perfectly suited for a person to lean fully against.
The bedding was neatly arranged, and the sheets were clean, looking as if they had been carefully washed.
Lin Mo placed his rusty Broken Sword by the headboard. Taking off only his coat and shoes, he lay down on the bed and let out a long, comfortable sigh.
His sudden transmigration had forced him to immediately plunge into a dangerous forest. If he hadn't had Skills to rely on, he would have likely ended up like his companions, forever left behind in those woods.
What should he do next?
Lin Mo tightly hugged his cloth bundle. Inside were some Copper Coins, and those Goblin ears could also be exchanged for a decent amount of money. The most important thing, however, was the Gold Coin he had found in the clay pot...
It was important to note that the value of one Gold Coin was equivalent to a hundred Silver Coins, or ten thousand Copper Coins! For a newcomer like Lin Mo, this was undoubtedly a significant windfall. This money should be enough to last him for a while.
But was that it? Having arrived in a Fantasy World where Supernatural Strength existed, was he just going to hide in a small town and be a lazy bum? He couldn't help but feel a bit unwilling to settle for that. Besides, although over ten thousand Copper Coins was a lot, they would eventually run out one day. Lin Mo had no desire to live a life surviving on three pieces of black bread a day, so his spending rate probably wouldn't be slow.
Raising a hand toward the dark ceiling, Lin Mo looked at the data panel hovering before his eyes and finally made up his mind.
He would go to the Adventurer's Association tomorrow and register to become an official Adventurer!
He had grown accustomed to a comfortable but boring life in his previous world. Now that he had reincarnated into another world, he might as well try out the feeling of adventure.
As his thoughts drifted, drowsiness slowly crept in. He pulled up the blanket, his eyelids drooping shut, and his consciousness gradually blurred...
KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK—
Just as he was about to fall asleep, the sudden knocking instantly jolted Lin Mo awake. He opened his eyes, sat up abruptly on the bed, and looked toward the door.
It was undoubtedly late at night by now. Who would be knocking on his door at this hour? A thief? This was an inn, so it was unlikely... And what kind of thief knocked on doors anyway? So, was it the inn's proprietress, or another guest?
Lin Mo quietly gripped the hilt of his Sword nearby and asked, "Who is it?"
"Um, guest... please open the door." A crisp voice came from outside. It was very soft and sounded rather timid.
Lin Mo didn't lower his guard. He put on his shoes and socks, stood up, and continued asking, "What is it? Can't you just tell me from out there?"
"Well..." The voice outside seemed hesitant before repeating, "Please open the door."
Lin Mo frowned. He lit the oil lamp and looked at the shadow beneath the door crack. It couldn't be a ghost haunting the place, could it? This wasn't a spooky folk tale world. Eventually, he stepped forward and opened the door, then immediately retreated, pointing his Sword at the visitor.
"Ah!" Startled, she hurriedly raised her hands. "P-Please don't misunderstand..."
By the dim light of the oil lamp, Lin Mo finally saw the young girl's face clearly. He froze for a moment and lowered his weapon. It was actually the same girl who had brought him his dinner earlier. An employee of the inn, probably?
"Is there something you need?"
"Um... it's just..." The girl looked a bit fidgety. With her head bowed, she fiddled with the hem of her clothes. "Do you need some service? It only costs 10 Copper Coins."
"Huh?" Lin Mo was utterly dumbfounded. "What do you mean?"
"I mean... that kind of service..." The girl in the Attendant uniform blushed and whispered an explanation, "Didn't you know? Inns located on Flower Cluster Street are places specifically designed for providing 'services'."
Everything instantly clicked into place for Lin Mo. No wonder the proprietress had asked whether he was here to stay or here to look for someone when he first walked in. No wonder he had heard those strange noises in the corridor. As it turned out, he had unknowingly wandered into a red-light establishment! He really didn't know whether to call this good luck or bad luck...
Feeling a bit helpless, Lin Mo massaged his forehead. "I'm from out of town. I didn't know about this." He just wanted to find a place to rest properly and get a good night's sleep.
"I-I'm sorry for bothering you!" The girl immediately looked embarrassed. She covered her face and scurried away.
Watching her flee, Lin Mo scratched his head in exasperation. To be honest, he had actually been a little tempted just now. Although she wasn't stunningly beautiful, she was quite cute, and her youth was certainly a plus. Most importantly, it was cheap. There was no price gouging—only 10 Copper Coins. For an innocent nerd who had never tasted the forbidden fruit, this was no small temptation.
But since she was already gone, he might as well let it go. Lin Mo closed the door, lay back down on his bed, and peacefully drifted off to sleep.