There was only one hotel in town. The first floor was a restaurant, and the second floor had guest rooms. Ryker and I booked a room, went down to the first floor to eat. Valerie and Sterling barely had enough for their room, and after paying, they had no money left for food.
then
Sitting in the restaurant downstairs, watching Ryker and me order a table full of chicken, duck, fish, and meat, they were utterly drooling. Valerie shamelessly came over to borrow money.
“Sister, can you lend me some money? I’ll pay you back in the later stages.”
I still remembered how, in the second stage of my previous life, she’d swindled all my items, and I was almost eliminated by the system. So, I looked up. “If you were me, would you lend it?”
“If you don’t want to lend it, then don’t! What’s the big deal?!” Valerie stomped back to her table, grumbling about why Sterling hadn’t killed more boars. Sterling, looking even more wronged, said, “Didn’t you pull me back and make me run?”
“But I’m hungry! Figure something out!” Valerie’s spoiled attitude flared up. Sterling, helpless, turned and went outside. In a moment, he placed a charred, burnt object in front of Valerie.
“What is this?”
“It’s good, want to try?” Sterling tore off a piece of meat and chewed it.
“What is it, really?” Looking at the dark, unrecognizable thing, Valerie had no appetite. Pressed for an answer, Sterling finally admitted it was
rat meat.
