BXBX NOVEL Chapter 18 - Negotiation with the Innkeeper!
Lin Yu climbed them carefully, thinking that it would be ridiculous if he survived the horrors of the game…
only to fall and die on the stairs!
That would be an absolute absurdity!
After cautiously reaching the third floor, Lin Yu found that the entire floor was quite simple in layout.
A dimly lit hallway lined with red candles on both sides led to the end, where a closed double wooden door with carved decorations and paper screens gave the impression of a woman’s boudoir.
Lin Yu understood at once.
This must be where the innkeeper resided!
Lin Yu felt a bit nervous, as he knew that the innkeeper of Yellow Springs Inn was surely the most powerful entity in this dungeon!
She was leagues beyond the cook’s strength!
Moreover, this invitation was from the innkeeper herself, and with no clue as to her intentions… Lin Yu would have to stay sharp!
After all, even as the innkeeper, she should be bound by certain “rules.”
Otherwise, she could have summoned everyone in and killed them instantly.
Still, caution was essential!
With this thought, Lin Yu approached the door.
The carved wooden door creaked open on its own!
Inside, he glimpsed a room filled with suggestive, hazy purple curtains, and beyond them was a chaise longue where the figure of a voluptuous and alluring woman lay, her robes lightly loosened as she reclined with crossed legs.
If he hadn’t known she was a ghost, and a powerful one at that, Lin Yu’s heart would likely have been racing!
But now, he remained calm, bowed slightly, and spoke. “Innkeeper… may I ask why you’ve summoned me?”
A soft chuckle sounded from beyond the veil.
“Master Lin, when you arrived at my Yellow Springs Inn, I failed to recognize you and had you working as a waiter… Please don’t hold it against me.”
To Lin Yu’s surprise, the innkeeper actually apologized!
He became even more wary, “Oh, it’s fine, just an experience!”
After this brief response, the innkeeper spoke her next line, as Lin Yu had expected, but with a twist!
“However, Master Lin’s ‘experience’ here has caused quite a stir in my inn…”
“I compensated for the broken dishes and cutlery at ten times their value.” Lin Yu responded calmly.
The innkeeper let out a light laugh at Lin Yu’s words.
“Yes… but the tableware is trivial!” Her tone suddenly grew sharper, “But Madam Zhang has been a loyal employee at Yellow Springs Inn for over a hundred years…”
Lin Yu feigned a look of regret and said sympathetically, “Yes, such a shame… that the cook killed her like that!
“But as a newcomer in a server role, how could I intervene in an inexplicable clash between two veteran staff?”
As he spoke, the innkeeper behind the veil fell silent at Lin Yu’s attempt to dodge responsibility.
In all her years as a ghost, she’d never seen anyone so shameless!
An “inexplicable clash”…
Clearly, he had instigated it!
After a long pause, the innkeeper realized… that playing mind games with Lin Yu was pointless!
She abandoned her sweet tone, reverting to her icy demeanor.
“Fine, no more beating around the bush!
“Master Lin, regardless of your powerful background or your reasons for coming to Yellow Springs Inn… provoking internal conflicts and causing my employee’s death is unacceptable!”
Hearing the innkeeper’s grudging respect, Lin Yu felt more relaxed, crossing his arms and looking at her with interest.
“So, what do you propose?”
“Madam Zhang made significant contributions to Yellow Springs Inn, and I carefully selected her. Losing her is a big blow to our business…” the innkeeper said, softly clearing her throat.
“You must compensate for the loss of Madam Zhang’s scattered soul.”
At this, Lin Yu nearly laughed aloud.
So, after all this, it’s just about money!
Money was the least of his worries!
Lin Yu looked at the innkeeper and asked. “What do you think would be fair?”
The innkeeper thought for a moment, then said.
“Twenty strings… no, fifty strings of copper coins!”
The innkeeper’s demand made Lin Yu’s eyebrow twitch. Fifty strings of copper coins meant 500,000 ghost coins… with a markup.
Apparently, one fierce ghost was worth about 500 teapots!
But Lin Yu wasn’t about to let this visit to the innkeeper’s chamber end in him being extorted, “System, use cashback crit card!”
【Ding! Cashback crit card used! Your next purchase will trigger a cashback of 2-10 times the amount spent!】
“Up to ten times… I wonder if buying a fierce ghost’s life counts as a purchase.”
After pondering for a moment, Lin Yu smiled at the innkeeper.
“System, exchange one million ghost coins!”
One hundred strings of ghost copper coins appeared in Lin Yu’s hands.
“I’ll give you a hundred strings… and as for that cook, he seems capable. How about he comes and works for me?”