--- The Fallen Empire

Reaching the sisters place, he saw that they were already closing. He helped Shiela by stacking up the chairs, putting them on the side. Sherryl was inside doing the dishes.

"Big sis, you closed pretty early huh?"

"Well, we run out of supply."

"Oh... too bad." He said a bit sad.

"Come inside. I'll cook for you!"

"Eh! No it-"

"Come inside. I'll cook for you..." Before he finished his sentence , she cut his words short by repeating what she said. With a scary smile.

"A-alright!"

'Haaaah... she's being forceful again. But somehow, it doesn't feel so bad at all. Rather, it felt nice?'

"Big sis, i always wondered, why do you open a small restaurant? And you two are doing everything from cooking to serving to washing the dishes... i mean, you both are strong, why do this?"

*Flicks!* "Ah!"

Flicking his forehead, she said, "Fool! Do you need a reason do to what you liked?"

"Heeh heeh~! Our mom used to own a small restaurant before she met dad. Dad was a regular to her small businesses you know~?" Sherryl added while looking at him with a glint on her eyes.

"I see...! That's right, no matter how far you reach, you'll never forget your old hobby and will go back to it at some point in your life. Some do fishing and some do gardening. It is something that gives you some kind of tranquility..."

"Right!? And this one is for me and Sherryl..."

"But Sherryl is still young an-"

His words were stuck on his throat after a fierce glare from Shiela.

The sisters sat on the same table eating while having chat about random life stuff and stuff about Gaia.

After the meal, Chris tried to pay once again. But this time, he earned another flick on his forehead from Shiela, making him surrender. He left with a wide smile on his face going back his home within a few minute.

This morning, before upgrading his system, he also repaired and upgraded his furnitures. He was especially happy with his bed as it become comfy.

After a bit of relaxation, he entered Gaia. His body vanished out of thin air.

[May you have an epic adventure...]

Spawning on the middle of the village, he started to roam once again to get some daily quest.

With his outstanding Charm And Luck, he got nearly 30 quests at which is enough to make 50 to trigger the village elder's hidden quest.

He marched towards the south towards the huge forest biome.

*******

Meanwhile, just right after Chris left the sisters resto, two men can be seen walking towards their door.

*tok!* *tok!* *tok!*

The girls were doing the final cleaning while talking about the man who just left. Sometimes the younger was teasing the elder about him, when they heard a knocking sound.

''Huh? Did he left something behind?''

Is what the girls thought. Sherryl decided to go open the door.

*creaaak...*

"Eh? The mayor~! Good evening!"

"Good evening young Sherryl may we have a conversation with you and your elder sister?"

"Oh~ alright please!"

The person was a white haired old man with a long white beard holding his cane. He's the mayor of Glaze City, Darius Martin. He was 89 this year.

Beside him, a black haired middle aged man in a butler uniform. His name was Orson Rio, he was 75 years old but he looks like a middle aged man, because unlike his lord, he was a player.

The two entered the house and was directed to the second floor living room where the sisters lived.

"Please sit down and i'll call big sis!"

The old man sat while the butler stood behind him.

A few minutes later.

"Old Martin, to what do i owe this visit?"

Shiela said while sitting on the other sofa. She had a clear surprise on her eyes as the old mayor was too old to move around.

*Clink!*

"Please help yourselves~!"

Sherryl appeared afterwards, putting tea and snacks on the table.

"Thank you young Sherryl! Ai! Time flies too fast, and you both have become even more refined young ladies, especially young Sherryl, i remembered your naughtiness back then. Now look at you... been 6 years was it?"

Said the mayor while stroking his beard, sipping the tea remembering the past.

"Heehee~!"

"Haaaah! And you've gotten too old... Are you sure you're not gonna enter Gaia?"

"Ai! I had no interest on extending my stay on this world. I had seen alot and that's more than enough. Besides, my beloved wife and daughter is waiting for me up above, i can't let them wait any longer can i now?"

"""..."""

The old mayor said with a deep longing on his eyes. While the three just listened unable to say anything, only deep respect to the old mayor.

"Now, onto the bussiness... may i know who the person that beat up Andre's goons yesterday?" The mayor said. Earning a deep frown from the girls.

"Ai! I'll be too direct. I want him to succeed me!"

""What!!?""

"What do you mean old man? And to what basis?" Shiela asked, still dumbfounded with the old man's words.

Stroking his beard, he said "Hm...first and foremost is his strength. Did you know, after beating up two of Andre's men here, he's gone to thier hideout crippling my adopted son. Then afterwards, crippling Andre and his men."

"Eh~!" "This! To think he will do that..."

"I had concluded that he did that for your sake. Ai! So you had a man that care for you now..." Said the old man while the half was in jokingly manner, making the girls blush.

"He destroyed his enemies before they retaliate. And i know he knew who was he messing with but did anyways, means that he had a way to deal with the power behind them. And he probably knew your strength so he wasn't worried about you both being in trouble."

"But still, it was not enough to make him qualify. Your decision is still a bit rash."

"That's right~! And since your adopted son lost his qualification, don't you still have Mr.Bert here~?"

The mayor looked at his butler making the butler move forward.

"I came from a long line of butlers m'lady! I was born butler and will die as one. Ruling is not for me. The one my lord chose as the next hier is someone i will pledge my loyalty to!"

""...""

They looked at the butler dumbfounded, unable to say anything. And another respect was given as shown from thier eyes.

"Ai! Now you know my dilemma. So please? I can't just give the position to other people to which i can't trust. And my gut is telling me that the mysterious man of yours is the best choice..."

"You...who's man!?" "ehehe~"

The girls blushed again after saying another half joke on his second sentence which the girls seems to hear just that and the former, ignored.

"Haaaah... fine! But if he declined, please respect his decision..."

"Of course! Besides, if he declined, then i'll use the favor you owe me to make one of you two as my successor. hohoho!"

"You!" "Ehhh~!"

A real dilemma for the girls. They knew once this old man made a choice, he will stick to it.

"Still, will the current ruling clans of country Z-12 might not approve of this?"

"Hmph! They can try if they have the balls! They might be doing something behind the scenes, but that's just trivial and futile. Even sending a woman of thiers to marry my adopted son? Heh!"

"..."

"Since i completely trust you both, i will tell you a secret..."

"..."

"The fallen Dragon Empire who used to own this territory, The Dragon Empire's guardian obelisk was erected somewhere in the mountains. While this city holds the second key."

""What!!?""

"Impossible! Everyone knows that it was in the capital of country Z-1, called 'the terminal'."

"That's what everyone knew. Aside from his highness the prince, his two remaining retainers, me and Bert and now you both. No one else knows even the 'younger brother' of his highness Charles..."

"Unbelievable..."

"And the very second key that i was protecting, indicates where the true guardian obelisk is. But without the blood of his highness, no one will be able to open it. Ever!"

""...""

*Thud!*

Bowing on his knees, "So please, help me. Until his highness returns, the secret must be protected for a little bit more. Please..."

"M-my lord!"

"Get up old man. But, are you sure about this? We sisters were from the neighboring enemy empire you know...?" Shiela said with a bit playfulness in her eyes.

"My gut was never wrong. I'm sure about it! Besides, you girls won't just choose any man right?" The old mayor retorted , giving another tick mark on Shiela's beautiful face.

The two left the sisters house after a few more words and setting up the meeting date.