"Yes."

The palace maid nodded with a sweet smile, "Ten low-grade Xuan stones for a cup of tea, and twenty low-grade Xuan stones for a serving of tea snacks."

"No, you didn't say this would cost money?" the customer asked subconsciously, looking dazed.

There is no such thing as a free lunch.

The palace maid smiled and said very politely, "Otherwise, you should have refused when I asked earlier."

"Shouldn't you have explained it beforehand?"

The customer said somewhat angrily, "This lousy pastry isn't worth twenty low-grade Xuan stones!"

"Guest, you're mistaken. This isn't a cheap snack; it's imperial cuisine."

Upon hearing this, the maid's smile vanished, and she said in a deep voice, "Besides, you specifically requested the snacks just now. Are you trying to dine and dash?"

"Bang..."

Enraged by being questioned like that by a mere palace maid, the guest threw the pastries in his hand to the ground and was about to utter a threat, "I'm going to eat them all!"

"Who wants to dine and dash?"

But before he could finish speaking, a crow strode closer, its head held high, and stared coldly at the customer. "You're trying to dine and dash?"

"No...no, absolutely not!"

Upon hearing the crow speak, all the guest's dissatisfaction vanished instantly. He shook his head frantically and quickly took out the Xuan Stone to hand over, saying, "I... I am an honest man and would never do anything immoral."

"Tch~"

Seeing the change in the guest, everyone around him raised their middle fingers and booed.

"Pah! If you're so capable, then don't give me the Xuan Stones!"

Despite being stared at like that, the guest didn't feel embarrassed at all; instead, he tilted his chin up and retorted.

Anyway, he's definitely going to get scammed. There's no reason why he'll be the only one getting scammed while everyone else is fine.

So, if you're going to scam someone, you have to get scammed too!

"You're trying to dine and dash?"

Sure enough, the crow immediately squinted its eyes and scanned the guests who still had a bite of pastry in their hands.

"..."

A wave of negative energy came from the guests.

At this moment, everyone suddenly felt that the originally delicious tea and snacks had become tasteless, and they all took out their Xuan Stones and handed them over in a very miserable manner.

Everyone was heartbroken and in tears. The Black Martial Gang truly lived up to its name—ruthless and unreasonable!

I've never seen anyone earn Xuan Stones like this before. The city is full of tricks! They want to go back to the countryside, sob sob…

As for those who didn't drink tea or order pastries, before they could even celebrate, they too, with tears streaming down their faces, bought some thanks to the crow's "enthusiastic" recommendation.

Now, everyone in the hall was truly in the same boat, sharing both joy and sorrow.

"Thank you, sir. Wishing you prosperity and good fortune."

As for the palace maids responsible for collecting the money, their eyes all crinkled into pretty little crescent moons with laughter.

They've really struck it rich this time. After being palace maids for so many years, this is the first time they've felt so happy. The Duke is truly a great man.

The guests: "..."

They're not getting rich at all; they're clearly losing money!

Inside, Crow was in charge, while outside, Ji Fanya was in charge of receiving guests.

Whenever a guest wanted to turn back halfway, Ji Fanya would warmly persuade them to stay, and in the end, almost all of them would stay.

Those who didn't stay... cough... they're lying on the ground. I guess they'll come to their senses and stay after they wake up.

"Damn it, you piece of trash, how dare you be so ungrateful! I'll beat you to death!"

Ji Fanya was happily collecting Xuan Stones when suddenly a discordant chorus of curses erupted from a nearby shop.