Chapter 125: Ava's Pastry Shop (4/4)

Chapter 125: Ava's Pastry Shop (4/4)

After all, in the eyes of many, everything in this pastry shop is just like the people inside—filthy."

"The service fee, how much is it?"

"For them, it is forty Reals. For me, twenty," the woman said. "As you can see, I am getting on in years."

Karen produced a hundred-Real note and proffered it to her.

"Oh, no small change?" The woman looked a little troubled.

"I am sorry, none."

"Very well, I shall find you change." The woman retrieved an old-fashioned ladies' purse from some hidden recess, drawing out a fifty-Real note and three ten-Real notes to hand to Karen.

Karen reached out to accept the money, then drew out two of the ten-Real notes and placed them back in her hand.

"You may be older, but your craft is finer than theirs. You are worth it."

The woman laughed, a laugh of pure delight: "Hahaha..."

In her mind, the image of that bastard named Pavaro surfaced; every time he came to share the latest progress of his investigation, he would pay her the service fee, and it was always forty Reals, accompanied every single time by the words:

"Though you are older, your craft is superb!"

Karen rose and stepped out of the cubicle, leaving the document bag behind.

Staring at the document bag still resting upon her lap,

the woman smiled faintly,

preparing to put it away.

Yet at that very moment,

Karen retraced his steps, offering a gentle smile:

"My apologies. It is my first time coming for pastries, and I was far too nervous. Leaving just now, I felt a bit guilty and rushed, and completely forgot my things."

With those words,

Karen lifted the document bag from her lap and tucked it beneath his arm.

The woman braced herself with both hands against the wooden bedframe,

her legs parted,

leaning backward,

merely watching Karen, who had gone and returned.

She wore a skirt, and in such a posture, all her secrets would be laid bare;

yet there was not a trace of profanity in Karen's gaze, not because of her advanced age, but because in his eyes, she possessed a certain sanctity.

"That question you asked just now, could you ask me once more?"

The woman nodded,

inquiring:

"And you, what is it that you praise?"

Karen drew a deep breath and replied:

"I feel I am not yet qualified to answer that question for you, but I hope that the next time I see you, I can answer it quite naturally."

The woman shook her head and said:

"There is no need to be so extreme. Whenever you have need, you may come by at any time.

The reason Pavaro came so often was that we, too, can help pry into matters and investigate certain things."

"I see. Splendid, thank you. I understand."

"In any case, we welcome your presence—provided, of course, that you do not find this place filthy, nor find us filthy."

"How could I? An elder whom I respect above all once said something of the sort to me."

"Oh? And what did your elder say?"

"He said,

even the great and supreme God of Order Himself was raised by a prostitute."