After a full day of cleaning, Ali was surprised to see how much inventory Aok kept in the storeroom. He thought all the inventory simply took up space without bringing in any actual money but, after speaking to Aok, he learned that some of the goods were kept for moments when they could sell higher. The man was apparently stocking up on goods that could fetch a good profit later on based on the intel he gathered about the various faction sectors. Due to how profitable the delivery business had been, he could afford to stock goods while he waited patiently for an opportunity. The man did reveal that this didn't always work out as it was still a gamble at the end of the day.

We are probably contributing to how profitable the business has been…

Despite the thought, Ali still felt thankful to have met Aok and Lorn. Their group had been treated fairly and the four of them were learning a lot through their deliveries. It was obvious to them how dangerous the city actually was, though none of them missed the irony of the slums being the safest place. Unlike other cities, criminals and such avoided the slums of Naeleph due to the lack of protection from the other factions. According to Aok, all the factions kept their own group of criminals to perform tasks they couldn’t be caught doing. Therefore, one had to be wary of both the factions and the criminals they kept on leashes.

“Thank you for your kind gift,” said Ali as Miniya entered the storeroom.

It was nearing supper and she came to inform everyone that the meal was almost ready. The girl was initially unsure what Ali was referring to but, after hearing the teenager explain the matter, she nodded her head, saying the gift was nothing. Ali studied the girl and sighed.

Guess that’s the difference between the rich families in factions and us normal folks.

Deciding that Mika was better assigned to watch over Miniya, Ali didn’t recall his summonee. If necessary, the lightning mink could aid her escape. Yet, he couldn’t see Aok and Lorn getting defeated easily. He didn’t know where he had such confidence but, being around them, he felt they weren’t ordinary. Given the dangers that came with having Miniya with them, the two of them could easily abandon him and the girl for their safety. Not only did they not do that but they also went on with their lives without skipping a step.

One day, I must ask Aok how he could be so calm with all the possible threats around the corner.

During supper, Ali listened as Kurata and Kamis shared the stories during their deliveries. With seven people around the table eating, the teenager felt something he never felt before. Since he could remember things, he was either alone or was part of a small squad of up to four people. The scene made him realize what it would feel to have a family. While they didn’t share blood, they shared something stronger that bonded them together. The teenager had to try not to suppress the tears he felt welling up within him.

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I wish this moment won’t go away anytime soon. It’s nice to see so many smiles in one place.

The teenager then turned to Miniya to see how she was fitting in. He had expected her to be gloomy as she dealt with grief but she was smiling while Lorn joked with her. He wasn’t sure if the woman had an ability that could make girls smile because he recalled her doing the same with Belen when she was angry after returning from a delivery. The woman took Belen aside and, several minutes later, the teenager wasn’t angry anymore. He also felt that, at times, he just didn’t understand women.

“I have an announcement,” said Aok once he got everyone's attention. “From this day onwards, Lorn and I will accept Miniya as our daughter. I, as the father, won’t let any of you pick on her, understood?”

The news did surprise Ali who wasn’t expecting them to adopt the girl. After a minute of thinking about the matter, it certainly made sense. Miniya would stand out more if she had no family members and people investigated her past. If she was seen as a daughter of a couple in a small shop within the slums, most wouldn’t bat an eye. On the topic, he was suddenly curious why Aok and Lorn didn’t have children of their own. They were at an age where having two children wouldn’t be out of place. As he pondered on the possibilities, Kurata asked the question out loud.

“That’s entirely my fault,” replied Lorn. “I couldn’t bear children and Aok refused to remarry. Now, we have a daughter so I’d say we’re doing pretty well.”

After supper, Aok told Ali to bring Miniya’s bed upstairs. Aok and Lorn slept on the second floor above the store so it was only natural their daughter did the same. With Kamis’ help, the teenager got the bed up the stairs. As he was coming down, Miniya asked him if he had a moment. The two of them went to the courtyard where it was already dark out. The courtyard was slightly lit due to the street lamps nearby.

“You have a second summonee, don’t you?” the girl asked when she checked no one was around.

“Mika, that traitor! How dare he?!”

“Mika didn’t say anything. Have you ever wondered why I would possess summonee booster pill?”

“I thought all wealthy noble families in the city possess them. It’s a sign of wealth, right?”

“Nope! I’m a summoner myself! I personally made the pill to help any summonee my father gets me. Luckily for you, I’m also very generous.”

Ali didn’t believe the girl and asked Miniya to prove it. At the mention of that, the girl said that Lorn told her to never summon her companions as it would attract the worst type of attention. Seeing that Miniya was serious, Ali didn’t push the girl further.