After finally filling his stomach, Zane stepped out of the mess hall and ran straight into Shelby.
"Yo," Shelby greeted him. "I heard everything that happened in the bamboo grove—from your wife. Get ready. Your name's already up on the fighting board."
"I'm ready. Let's go—" Zane paused when he noticed Erlin walking out behind him.
"Wait a minute."
He turned back into the hall and returned a few minutes later.
The moment he stepped out, he was met with Erlin's sharp glare.
"What?" Zane asked innocently.
"Nothing," Erlin replied flatly. "I already paid for the dishes. You didn't need to tip them again."
Zane waved it off. "Relax. I was just selling my bounties to them. Nothing more, nothing less. I don't squander my hard-earned wealth."
"Hard-earned?" Shelby sneered. "Last I checked, most of that was your wife's dowry."
Zane's mouth twitched, but he didn't argue.
Because… it was technically true.
