The atmosphere was a bit heavy as the two ate.
"Life is getting tighter and tighter now."
During the meal, the neighbor, Amy, suddenly sighed and spoke.
"…"
Durin didn't speak, but fell silent.
"Alas! The rent has gone up now! Food prices have also gone up, and the tavern owner found a girl younger and prettier than me, and he wanted to fire me. It was only after my desperate pleas that he agreed to give me a month to find another job. But he also cut my salary for this month to one silver lun coin…" The neighbor, Amy, looked up at Durin and began to speak. However, the more she spoke, her voice began to choke, and her eyes unconsciously started to well up.
Durin silently scooped his rice, quickly finishing it in a few bites before putting down his bowl. He then fumbled in his pocket for 6 copper circle coins, arranged them on the table, and after carefully choosing his words, said, "Hmm… I understand. Miss Amy, you don't need to pay for this meal. Zaun will get better, this is just for a while. Everyone can get through this if they just grit their teeth."
At these words, the neighbor, Amy, lowered her head with a crestfallen expression, silently eating the paste in her bowl.
But she did not make a sound, instead burying her head in the bowl in silence.
Durin dared not say more, so he silently stood up from the chair, then left Amy's room, closing the door behind him.
He knew the purpose of Amy inviting him for dinner, even though Amy never mentioned the word 'borrow money' from beginning to end.
Firstly, this was Zaun, and half a year of experience had made Durin realize that he couldn't easily trust others' words. Secondly, Durin didn't have much money on him; he only had 7 silver lun coins and 46 copper circle coins.
Excluding 2 for rent and 2 for food and drink, herbs were probably more expensive now, so he estimated he would spend 3 silver lun coins each month.
In other words, Durin only had enough money for this month's expenses.
Back in his room, Durin lay on the bed and sighed, lamenting, "It's getting harder and harder to get by in this world."
...
Early the next morning, Durin first went to the slaughterhouse to find his supervisor and asked for a day off.
Originally, he wanted to find a temporary job in the morning to pass the time and earn some money, then go to work as a mage's assistant in the afternoon. However, the Piltover Enforcers who came down yesterday basically searched most of Zaun's shops repeatedly under various pretexts. Forget about Chem-Tech; even the nearby horticultural merchants selling green plants were regarded as concealing dangerous chemicals.
"Damn it, isn't it just a potted plant? What the hell is so dangerous about it? Is it pollen allergy or something? I'm not going to smash a blue-hat's head with a flowerpot," the garden shop employee muttered, carrying a potted plant back into the shop.
These flowers were originally shipped from Zaun's inner sea, and the profit was already low. Now, they were all messed up.
They didn't understand what had happened in Piltover that made these blue-hat Enforcers go to such great lengths in Zaun. "Damn it, did your Piltoverians houses get torn down or something?"
"Hahaha! Maybe you ran off with some Enforcer's mom, so of course, they have to investigate thoroughly."
Everyone burst into laughter. Since they couldn't do business, they might as well watch the show.
Durin could only shake his head helplessly at this,
"This is your pay for today."
Upon seeing the copper circle coin handed to him, Durin's face immediately broke into a bright smile. He quickly took it with both hands and said, "Thank you, Kreslin, I'll be going now."
"Mm."
Durin gleefully stuffed the copper circle coin into his inner pocket, then left 753 with light, cheerful steps.