Pieces of Hope
Absolute Zero (Part One)

Xiang Yu slowly opened his eyes, his slightly blurred vision forcing him to rub his eyes and blink a few times. This was the first stop village, not far from Black Stone city after passing through the next village.

He woke up to the sound of a crowded merchant offering his goods.

Looking out at the carriages, he could see the carriages of the merchants full of goods. The young man continued to watch the activities of the swordsmen boredly.

Actually Black Stone city was a neutral city so many exchanges were various from other countries. Be it from the fruits, combat equipment, and jewelry of the Black Stone city into that item exchange shaft.

Naturally, being a neutral city should increase security in the city so as not to cause 'conflict'.

"Woi, you want lunch?" Luo Xiu patted Xiang Yu's dreamy shoulders. "If you want to feed yourself, Alice will love the money."

"Sure, I want to find something." The young man replied as he nodded. "Tan, menta gold."

Alice looked at Xiang Yu, her razor-sharp gaze making Xiang Yu sweat coldly. "One gold, I give you one gold."

"Fifty gold, I want to find cookware." Xiang Yu growled dissatisfied while looking at Alice with pleading eyes. "Tante, yes yes yes."

"Stop! Stop saying AUNT! I was young!" Alice felt furious with the name Aunt who attached to her while in the village of Emilia. Ever since she played with some little kids, she was called aunty rather than an older sister. "Ten gold! Can't go up anymore."

"Yes mba!"

Alice gave five gold reluctantly. He was still furious with the name AUNT like that, then after giving gold to Xiang Yu he snorted.

"You don't forget we're going to regroup here" said Alice, the girl glancing at her friend

"Yes Auntie~" The three of them replied at the same time.

Xiang Yu saw Luo Xiu and Whitey walking towards a nearby bar, while Alice and Rin were busy looking at the beautiful precious stones. He himself saw the stalls of merchants crowded with people. Walking for a while, his steps led him to go somewhere along the way.

"Hi, back!"

A food vendor yells at a little girl who steals sweet potatoes and bread. He chased with all his might through the people who were blocking his path. His face was so grumpy by the little girl.

It was a pity that the Girl instead hit Xiang Yu by accident. He groaned in pain while holding his head and then looked back, at the seller who followed him.

"Master— Ah, you've finally caught this damn brat."

The little girl's hand was firmly held, she was raised with one hand. Looking at the red face from anger The little girl tried to rebel strongly.

The little girl was dragged forcibly, she tried to move her body, twist or hit even though it did not produce results.

***

In a dark alley, in a moist land and a stinging stench.

The girl was lying down, her eyes opened closing her breath slowly. The small body covered in bruises from the blow made him groan in pain as he tried to sit on the wet ground.

Her long silver hair was dirty from the mud, her beautiful bright blue eyes were staring at the dark sky filled with stars.

His hands emitted an extreme cold temperature that could freeze the ground.

"Mom says I'm a smart and pretty boy. But why did Mom dump me? Mom said I was a great guy. Why do you think it is useless? Suppose I'm not mistaken anything ... yes, I'm just considered a monster in their eyes, to the extent that I want to be killed."

The girl muttered with the sadness of her life.

As he bowed his head, someone stood before him. He looked up slowly until their eyes met. It was the person he had hit earlier while fleeing earlier.

Why is he here? Is he gonna hit me like the salesman? Wait. I want to die. Yeah.. Let me die. His mind went crazy as the man crouched down before him, eyes that were staring at him coldly.

"What's your name?" The man asked, his tone was very flat as if he had no emotions

"Elysia Ethiru." The girl spoke with the rest of her strength

This trivial question made the girl open her eyes wide. He looked at the man for a while, no matter what, he really wanted to live but not this kind of life.

"Yes, I'm trying to live." Elysia nodded slowly looking at the man. "Sir, do you want me to be your 'servant?"

"Come with me." The man held out his hand

The little hand and the tick clasped the Man, he looked at the Man curiously whether he was not disgusted at grasping his dirty hand.

"My name is Xiang Yu. You should call me Brother Xiang later."

The girl simply blinked her eyes with a confused face. He hesitated for a moment before nodding slowly.

"Here, clean your face." Xiang Yu gave her handkerchief. "We'll buy some decent clothes later."

Elysia took the handkerchief, cleaning her face that was dirty by the mud.

Xiang Yu glanced for a moment, looking at the Girl, whose skin was smooth white even though the Girl looked well groomed coupled with her cute face.

"Thank you." The girl returned Xiang Yu's handkerchief

"Not to think about it, keep it." Xiang Yu slightly smiled.

Cruuuk~

The sound of the girl's stomach was loud enough to make her blush in embarrassment and turn her face away. He hoped that Xiang Yu would not hear something that was embarrassing.

"Are you hungry?" xiang Yu asked a glance at the girl who was silently nodding. He led the girl to a restaurant that was quite special in terms of its interior.

"Let's go in."

Leading the girl inside, the people inside looked at them with disdain. Surely the girl just bowed her head avoiding the gaze of the elitist pretender

Sitting at one of the empty tables, Xiang Yu took the initiative to call out to the maids. And a male servant came reluctantly.

"Please, I want—"

"I'm sorry, sir, we have a rule that a vagrant cannot enter here because he can 'bother' a customer." The waiter interrupted with a guilty face, he saw Elysia sitting on the bench.

"I have six gold please serve the best food." Xiang Yu did not accept such an excuse, he thrust out his gold just like a spell.

So many numbers!

The average price in this restaurant was only around ten to twenty silver. But this man took out six gold lightly.

"Sir, please wait." Of course as a waitress she understood the opportunity, she went to her manager's room.

Not waiting for long, the drizzly man with a thick well-kept mustache approached Xiang Yu. Like the other merchants, a smile adorned him as if looking at a fat sheep.

"Sorry please hold me, sir." He looked down saluting. "Six gold is enough to buy all the dishes that are amazing and very delicious." The man took Xiang Yu's gold quickly. "I'm Merchant Alvian, entertain you specifically."

Alvian clapped his hands, a series of waiters lined up pushing the food trolley. One, two, three.

The customers stared at Xiang Yu's table in disbelief, the food that filled the table was indeed tempting. What makes the dish is that all the food is not in the menu book.

"Food up" Xiang Yu said to Elysia quietly.

The girl looked at Xiang Yu in disbelief. He was like receiving a truly special miracle.

Although Gardis was timid he devoured with glowing eyes. He did not care about the people who saw him eating quickly and greedily. While Xiang Yu ate the Steak slowly, seeing the girl's belly round in fullness made her smile.