When is the last time he had seen the protagonist?

It's been a long time, maybe ten or twelve years since Jin Wei last laid eyes on Laurem. Back then, Laurem was just a wild and rowdy kid, dressed in rags and covered in filth. Jin Wei wouldn't even call those garments, as they barely concealed the child's emaciated frame.

If it weren't for Jin Wei's sudden intervention, Laurem would have endured a few more months in that pitiful condition.

Jin Wei had only seen Laurem during his most destitute moments and had never actively sought him out, even after hearing about Laurem's rise to fame. Just as his youngest sibling had pointed out, Jin Wei had led a rather luxurious life, spending his days lazily sleeping or secretly binge-watching dramas with System 777, while leaving the flourishing family business in the hands of his brothers.

He had retired quite early.

It must be at that moment of carelessness that Jin Wei failed to notice that the person entering the pub was none other than the protagonist himself. Although it had been a long time since he last saw Laurem, a single glance was all it took to recognize that this man was the favored character of this world!

Just look at him!

He wore extravagant garments adorned with powerful magical defense runes, worth a fortune of a hundred thousand gold coins! Even the bag he carried was a limited-edition item, so exclusive that not even Jin Wei could possess it, as it was reserved for individuals with exceptional achievements and could fetch millions if sold.

His attire alone could buy an entire town.

But that's not all!

His appearance had undergone a remarkable transformation since his days of malnourishment as a child. Every inch of his sun-kissed skin exuded a masculine allure, complemented by his strong eyebrows and deep brown eyes that could captivate anyone who laid eyes on him. Even without a smile, his icy demeanor had the power to melt any lady's heart!

Jin Wei struggled to find any resemblance between the past and the present. The extent of this change defied all logic!

This kind of change was simply beyond scientific explanation!

Where were the tattered clothes? Where was that filthy image? Was this how the protagonist hitting through puberty the correct way?

Of course, it is masochistic enough to compare himself to the world's favorite. Nevertheless, this sudden occurrence of speaking of the devil and the devil appearing had truly startled him. If he hadn't mastered his emotions so well, he would have surely been caught right now.

Milo did not know why Jin Wei suddenly acted strangely like this but Jin Wei's position obviously shows that he is hiding from someone. Milo pretended to scan the area but he was unable to see anything suspicious. He scooted closer to Jin Wei, mirroring his cautious posture, and asked in a hushed tone, "Boss Jin, is there something wrong?"

"Yes! There is! It is wrong for me to come here today!" is what his heart screaming but his face only showed a stiff reaction. He cautiously peeked from the corner of the menu bar, catching sight of the feline informant casting curious glances at him, with the side profile of the protagonist visible behind. Another informant stood beside Laurem, engaged in a conversation that was inaudible to Jin Wei.

Jin Wei let out a sigh of relief, realizing that the protagonist hadn't noticed him. He motioned for the feline informant to come closer, and Milo obediently complied. Jin Wei discreetly pointed toward the person behind Milo, prompting him to glance over his shoulder.

"That... is he the one... um, that magician?" Jin Wei whispered.

Milo, thinking that Jin Wei was referring to the renowned magician, nodded eagerly. "Yes, that's Boss Laurem!"

So it is really him!

Despite Jin Wei's confirmation that it was indeed Laurem, he remained somewhat skeptical. After all, it had been many years since he had last seen him. There was a resemblance, but that alone didn't convince Jin Wei (He is trying to 'not' convince himself). It was Laurem's innate ability to emanate an unusual aura that confirmed his suspicion.

"I almost forgot that he often comes here at this time," Milo suddenly muttered.

"Huh? What do you mean?" Jin Wei sensed there was something important he needed to know.

"Boss Jin, you see, this Boss Laurem often visits here during school breaks. It seems like he's searching for someone," Milo casually mentioned while nibbling on some biscuits.

Looking for someone? Jin Wei furrowed his brow.

The protagonist is searching for a person?

He racked his brain, trying to recall the plot details provided at the checkpoint, but he couldn't recall anyone connected to Laurem. His mother was deceased, and his father was somewhere in the demon's territory. With the plot taking an unexpected turn, Laurem had missed his destined encounters with his harem, making it impossible for them to be the ones he was searching for.

Milo further revealed that Laurem had been visiting this place during every school break for many years. Does that mean Laurem has been searching for this person for quite some time now?

Who is the person he is looking for here?

As Jin Wei pondered the mysterious figure that had captivated the protagonist's interest, Milo's own thoughts raced, and suddenly, an idea dawned upon him. Interrupting Jin Wei's contemplation, he suggested, "Why don't we approach Boss Laurem regarding your query? After all, he's a mentor at that school and might be able to assist you with hiring, Boss Jin."

Wow, that's a brilliant idea, truly remarkable. Under different circumstances, Jin Wei would readily accept. However, he's not prepared to confront the protagonist just yet. For the past decade, he's lived a carefree life, unaware that it wouldn't last. He needs to prepare his mentality at first to deal with it.

Milo noticed the shift in Jin Wei's expression, from tense to troubled. He had heard from his colleagues that Boss Jin did not like to interact with people very much. Milo decides to adjust his approach.

"I mean, I could ask Boss Laurem about the situation inside the school. Don't worry, I won't tell him that it is from Boss Jin. It is the secret between the client and the informant. He will not know."

Jin Wei guessed what Milo is thinking but he did not correct it.

"You do whatever you want. I... I have something to do. I will go right now."

After casting a final glance at the protagonist, Jin Wei nodded at Milo. He then turned away, setting the menu aside and pausing to take a deep breath. Steadily, he rose from the barstool. Silently and without any unnecessary motions, he began to walk away.

Laurem, with his heightened hearing, was instantly startled by the movement. His eyes swiftly locked onto the figure and instinctively tracked its every step.

His eyes watched as the person walk stiffly toward the door but accidentally hitting a nearby chair making the other person curse lowly. Laurem couldn't help but raise an amused eyebrow and subconsciously curl the corners of his lips as if laughing. The person hurriedly scurried away in a fluster.

Beside him, the informant noticed that his client was no longer paying attention to him.

"Boss?" The informant called.

Laurem cleared his throat as he focused his attention back on their discussion. He is confused about why he suddenly got distracted. This never happened before. He lowered his head as he took a sip from his drink. The informant continued with his role, unfazed by the sudden interruption.

However, Laurem's concentration seemed to wander once more. This time, his gaze fixated on a beast kin informant who was talking to that clumsy person who just left next to him, who was casually munching on the remnants of a snack. The feline informant engaged in a casual chat with the bartender, discussing some trivial matters.

The bartender retrieved a clear glass left by the previous customer to clean it. As Laurem idled away, a familiar scent reached his nose – seemingly emanating from the glass that the bartender had taken. He suddenly froze, his eyes looking at the glass.

The people around did not notice Laurem looking at the glass intently as the bartender placed the clear glass in the stainless sink to wash it.

It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that Laurem had become fixated on that particular scent that just a faint whiff was enough for him to recognize it. His gaze remained fixed on the glass, and then he shifted his sight to the chair beside the feline informant, and finally, to the direction in which that clumsy figure had departed.

A surge of hope unexpectedly welled up in his heart.

His informant, Milo, and the bartender were taken aback as Laurem abruptly stood up. The informant was just about to ask something when Laurem swiftly turned around and left, leaving all his belongings on the counter. Milo observed the hasty departure of the enigmatic figure before recalling the reason he was still seated.

He hasn't asked Laurem about Boss Jin's request yet!