Chapter 60: Chapter 60: Reya’s Follow-up Quest

After Jon finished his morning exercises, a female attendant soon found him on the training grounds. She bowed respectfully and said that the young lady had invited him for breakfast.

’Here comes the main event...’

Jon knew full well that Reya hadn’t sought him out just for a simple breakfast.

After all, one of the tenets of the followers of the Sun was that all kindness must be repaid.

This was one of the fundamental reasons he had been willing to risk helping Reya.

It sounded a bit mercenary, perhaps, but everyone in this world had to be chasing something. If you wanted for nothing, wouldn’t that make you a saint?

In any case, Jon was no saint who sought no reward. His goals had always been crystal clear.

So, after saying a quick word to Evans, he took a fast shower, changed into a fresh set of clothes, and then leisurely followed the same female attendant who had greeted him with Pascal before, making his way to the dining hall of the Golden Maple Leaf Trading House.

The atmosphere here was well-appointed—neither overly ornate nor too plain.

After taking his seat, Jon first looked at the red-haired girl sitting directly across from him.

Compared to when he had first seen her—stark naked—or her later disheveled state, wrapped in a cloak and animal hides, the Reya of today was undeniably radiant.

She wore a long, pale green dress adorned with lace. A touch of light makeup on her face made her fair skin seem all the more translucent.

A few perfectly placed gold-and-red ornaments on her earlobes, chest, and in her hair gave her a regal air without being overly ostentatious.

In this state, she already possessed some of the nobility and dignified grace that he associated with the Flame-haired Princess of his memories.

Then Jon’s gaze drifted unconsciously to the silver-haired woman sitting beside Reya, her expression serene, as if nothing at all had happened.

Today, she wore a light gray blouse and a long, black, simple skirt, paired with deerskin ankle boots. Combined with her neat, short silver hair, she had the competent and stylish air of a modern career woman.

Especially when compared to the alluring, soul-snatching nightgown she’d worn last night, the contrast was enough to make his heart itch with a tantalizing feeling.

It was just... having completely devoured her older sister last night, and now having to discuss payment with the younger sister... even with Jon’s thick skin, it felt a little strange.

But he quickly shook off the pointless feeling and nodded to the two women in greeting.

"Good morning, Miss Xavier. Good morning, Lady Bennett."

"Good morning, Mr. Jon."

Reya replied with a cheerful grin and gestured invitingly.

"I heard you were sparring with Sir Dean this morning. You must be starving. Come, try my sister Rosalind’s cooking."

’Rosalind cooked this?’

Jon looked at the sumptuous meal laid out on the table in numerous small dishes and gave his follower a surprised glance.

’She prepared so much... Does this mean she didn’t rest at all after she went back last night?’

But despite his internal surprise, his expression remained largely unchanged.

He simply gave Rosalind another courteous nod.

"Then I won’t be shy."

With that, he casually took a small plate of cured meat and placed it in front of him.

Reya followed his lead, picking up a plate of cake to sample. She chattered away with small talk to liven up the atmosphere, and Jon chimed in with a few words here and there as he ate.

Only Rosalind remained silent, gripping a thin spoon and stirring the oatmeal in front of her. Her silver eyes were fixed on Jon, but when she noticed his teasing gaze, she discreetly looked away.

Yet, after a moment, she couldn’t resist looking back.

’What an interesting woman...’

Recalling the sensation of holding the outwardly cold beauty in his arms last night, Jon chuckled to himself. At the same time, he subtly steered the conversation toward the day’s real business.

"Miss Xavier, after yesterday’s events, does your esteemed association have a new course of action?"

"Well—"

The red-haired girl, clearly unaware of the sacrifice her sister had made the previous night, covered her mouth with a napkin and gave Jon a playful wink.

"Of course we do."

"But isn’t calling me ’Miss Xavier’ a bit too formal? I already told you, just call me Reya."

Jon was happy to oblige.

"Alright then, Reya. Tell me about the arrangements for the coming period."

The red-haired girl was clearly delighted to hear Jon use her first name. She put down her napkin, sat up straight, cleared her throat, and began to explain in a businesslike tone.

"Ahem! Here’s the situation."

"To deal with the current crisis facing the United Commerce Association, my father will be deploying more defensive forces to Birch Town. That includes a Knight and a Mage, as well as twenty Soldiers."

"He himself will request personal protection from the Noble Council until the identity of the mastermind behind this is uncovered."

"Speaking of which, Mr. Jon, there’s something I personally wanted to talk to you about."

The girl paused, her emerald eyes fixed on the tall Warrior sitting across from her, making no attempt to conceal the fiery passion within them.

"Could I ask you to continue protecting me? It would be a formal request, you know?"

From the look on her face, she might as well have had the words "Please stay by my side" written on her forehead!

Even Rosalind, who had been silent the entire time, shot him a look of faint concern.

Jon didn’t answer immediately. He took a light sip of his milk tea, his gaze lowered.

As Reya finished speaking, new quest information popped up before his eyes.

——

[Another Choice II (Rare - Chain Quest)]

[Reya Xavier, daughter of Yed Xavier, president of the Heta County Noble Union Chamber of Commerce, has issued a request for her personal protection. What will you do? Will you accept, refuse, or perhaps...?]

[Option 1: Accept her request and protect her until the threat is eliminated.]

[Option 2: Refuse her request and sell her information to certain parties.]

[Option 3: Refuse her request and leave.]

[Option 4: Other]

[Basic Reward: 4,000 general Experience Points, 1,000 reputation with the corresponding organization.]

[Additional Rewards: Based on quest completion, you will receive additional experience and reputation reward multipliers. Depending on your choice, you may also have the opportunity to receive tangible and monetary rewards from the corresponding faction.]

"Note: Depending on your choice, you may be attacked by different factions, and your reputation will change accordingly."

"Note: Choosing to refuse the request and leave will be considered abandoning the quest, and no rewards will be granted."

——

That was the way with chain quests; the rewards increased significantly with each link.

Besides, after the "deal" he’d struck with Rosalind last night, Jon had no reason to refuse.

Still, he had to go through the motions.

He put down his teacup and looked back at Reya, seeing the expectant light in her eyes. He spoke softly.

"Reya, you do realize that the more deeply I become involved in this, the greater my price will be?"

"I know!"

The red-haired girl tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear, her expression serious.

"Mr. Jon, ever since my father heard about how you helped me, and how you helped our United Commerce Association, he has made a promise."

"Whatever Mr. Jon requires, the Heta County Noble Union Chamber of Commerce will do everything in its power to provide! Those were his exact words."

After she finished, she seemed to think of something. A blush crept onto her fair cheeks as she added, a little embarrassed.

"And of course, I feel the same way!"

’Provide everything... huh?’

Hearing this, Jon’s gaze swept discreetly over Rosalind’s face, and the corner of his mouth curved into a slight smirk.

"Excellent. I’ll take the job."

[Ding! Quest information has been updated.]

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