Chapter 126: Laras and Nita
"Good... good," Lein murmured softly.
"You may use this car to return and wait for my call," he said, pointing to the other car parked not far from them.
Grace and Joy nodded, then walked towards the car. The driver, who had been standing by the car, respectfully opened the door for them. "Please, Miss," he said.
Grace and Joy immediately took their seats in the back, not forgetting to wave at Lein before the car door closed.
Lein returned their wave with a smile. He was pleased with the two of them—both had high-level talent.
A moment later, the car carrying Grace and Joy started its engine and quickly moved away, leaving Lein standing by the roadside.
"Alright... it's time to head to Guandu Realm," Lein said as he took a deep breath.
"But before that, I need to meet Nita at the Teleportation Hub."
Lein then entered the remaining car, giving the driver instructions to head to the Teleportation Hub, and pulled out his phone to contact Nita.
***
Laras' Home - City of Light
In a very spacious room, two women were chatting casually. A woman with long hair dressed in white stood behind another woman with short hair.
The woman in white was styling the hair of the woman in front of her. With great care, she gently pulled each strand and arranged them to blend seamlessly with the others.
The girl in front of her looked at herself in the mirror. Occasionally, she would change her expression, admiring her beauty in the large mirror.
Yes, those two girls were Laras and Nita. After leveling up, Nita had hurried to Laras' house to hang out. Nita felt like Laras was her older sister, so their relationship was very close.
Laras continued to tidy Nita's short hair with great attention, occasionally smiling at Nita's playful antics in the mirror.
"Sis Laras, I'm sure if you're the one doing it, the result will be perfect," Nita said with a wide smile, watching every movement Laras made in the mirror.
Laras chuckled softly. "Yes, but you have to be patient. Your short hair is a challenge, but I'll make sure it looks perfect," Laras replied, slipping a few small pins into Nita's hair to ensure everything stayed in place.
"I've been thinking, maybe I should grow my hair out. So, you won't have any trouble anymore, Sis," Nita said, laughing.
Laras shook her head. "No need, Nita. Your short hair is unique, and it suits you well. What's important is that you feel confident with whatever you have."
Nita smiled sweetly, feeling encouraged by Laras' words. "Sis Laras always knows how to make me feel better," she said.
After a while, Laras finished with Nita's hair and moved on to her makeup. "Now, let's add a little color to your cheeks. Do you want a natural look or something a bit bolder?" Laras asked, picking up a makeup palette from the table.
"Just natural, Sis. I don't want to stand out too much," Nita replied, a bit shy.
Laras nodded and began to apply powder gently on Nita's face, followed by a soft touch of blush. Nita stayed quiet for a moment, amazed at Laras' skill in makeup. "Sis, you're so good. If I tried this on my own, it definitely wouldn't look like this."
"Everything takes practice, Nita. I used to mess up a lot too, but if you keep trying, you'll get better over time," Laras said as she finished the final touches.
When they were done, Laras suggested trying something new. "How about we cook together now? I have a great beef soup recipe. Want to try?"
Nita hesitated for a moment but finally nodded. "Sure, Sis. But I'm not good at cooking. I'm afraid I might mess it up."
Laras smiled and took Nita's hand, leading her to the kitchen. "That's okay, Nita. We'll learn together. I'll help you."
In the kitchen, Laras began taking out the ingredients for the beef soup while Nita watched intently. "First, we need to cut the beef. Can you try?"
Nita took the knife and carefully started cutting the beef, but her movements were awkward. "Sis, this is really hard. The beef won't cut evenly."
Laras chuckled and stood next to Nita, helping to guide her hand. "Just take it slow, Nita. The pressure needs to be just right, not too hard or too soft."
After a few tries, Nita's cuts started to look more even. "Wow, with your help, Sis Laras, everything is so much easier," Nita said excitedly.
Laras smiled warmly. "See? You're already getting the hang of it. Now, let's sauté the beef before adding it to the soup."
They continued cooking together, with Laras patiently teaching Nita each step, from sautéing the spices to simmering the soup. Although Nita made a few mistakes, like spilling a bit of water or adding too much salt, Laras always guided her with kindness and care.
Finally, their beef soup was ready. Laras tasted a bit and then handed the spoon to Nita. "Try it. What do you think?"
Nita tasted it, her eyes lighting up. "Wow, Sis! This is so delicious!"
Laras laughed proudly. "Of course, like I said, if we learn together, we can definitely do it. You did a great job, Nita."
Laras and Nita sat down together at the dining table, enjoying the warmth of the beef soup they had just made. The enticing aroma of the spices filled the room, while the soft midday sunlight streamed into their dining room through a large window. Nita, full of excitement, scooped up her soup, unable to hide the wide smile that spread across her face.
"Slow down, Nita," Laras said with a smile, watching Nita eat as if she hadn't eaten for three days. "We still have 30 minutes before 1 o'clock. No need to rush."
Nita giggled but didn't slow down. "It's not because I'm in a hurry, Sis, but this beef soup is just too good!" she replied, sipping the broth with pure enjoyment.
Laras smiled contentedly, seeing how much Nita enjoyed their cooking. It warmed her heart, like the feeling of an older sister watching her younger sibling grow and learn. Nita always made her feel like a real sister, and Laras cherished these simple moments together.
After finishing their lunch, Laras and Nita got up from the table to make some small preparations before leaving. They were going to Guandu Realm, a place they had planned to visit together with Lein.
Nita had talked to Laras earlier, asking for permission to join the trip, and Laras had agreed without hesitation. For her, the event contribution points she had accumulated were already enough, so there was no need to rush things.
The journey to the Teleportation Hub took about ten minutes. When they arrived, Laras and Nita immediately saw Lein waiting calmly amidst the crowd.
"Ah, you finally arrived," Lein greeted them with a calm voice as he saw them approaching.
"Sorry, Big Brother, I was learning to cook with Sis Laras earlier," Nita explained with a shy smile, feeling a little guilty for making Lein wait.
Laras, standing beside Nita, also nodded and said, "Hello, Mr. Lein. I'm sorry... I'll be joining you this time," she said, slightly embarrassed.
Lein smiled softly, signaling that everything was fine. "It's no problem, Laras. Your presence is very welcome."
They then walked further into the Teleportation Hub, a vast area bustling with activity. There, they saw crowds of people coming and going, using the portals scattered throughout the area to travel to various islands and other worlds. The portals stood tall, emitting light in different colors, creating a scene almost like a dream.
Around them, heavily armed guards stood watch, ensuring the safety of everyone using the facility. The towering lightning defense towers provided additional protection, ready to unleash deadly bursts of energy if any threats approached. Other advanced security technologies were also visible around them, adding layers of protection for the city and all its inhabitants.
After chatting for a while, Lein led Laras and Nita to one of the portals that would take them to Guandu Realm. They walked with confidence, though there was a slight tension, especially for Laras, who was visiting the place for the first time. The portal they were about to enter glowed with a soft blue light, reflecting gently around them.
Lein stepped in first, followed by Laras, who gently held Nita's hand to give her some comfort. With a slight flutter in their stomachs and bated breath, the three of them finally stepped into the portal, feeling a cold sensation enveloping their bodies as they transitioned to Guandu Realm.
***
"Hey, did you know who they were earlier?" An old man asked a few people behind him. It seemed that the people behind him were his children and grandchildren.
"Who? I feel familiar with those two girls. But I can't recall from where," said a middle-aged man.
"It's natural that you recognize those two girls. The one with long hair is Laras, the Goddess of Light. And the other girl is the owner of the City of Life, where we are right now," the old man explained to his son.
"And that man is the owner of the island you're standing on right now. He is also the leader of the World Market Trade Alliance," the old man added, with a slight warning to his son.
"What? So young?" The middle-aged man widened his eyes in shock. How could that be?
It wasn't just the old man's family. Many people around the Teleportation Hub recognized Lein, Laras, and Nita. But they couldn't approach, let alone ask questions.
All because Lein had established a strict, unwritten rule not to treat himself as a celebrity or idol.