“No problem.” <br><br>Amid the buyer’s anxiety, Xavi nodded gently. “We can sell you a night’s worth of safety. However, I have another matter I’d like to discuss…” <br><br>Before Xavi finished speaking, the new guest immediately became agitated. “No, this way, you, raising, the price!” <br><br>Xavi chuckled. “Don’t misunderstand. It’s just a personal curiosity of mine. If possible, I’d like you to let me see what you look like… But of course, I won’t force you if you’re unwilling. Let me clarify—it won’t affect our deal, whether you show me or not.” <br><br>“Really?” <br><br>Xavi nodded. <br><br>The new guest seemed to contemplate for a long while before finally nodding. A hoarse voice replied, “Okay, but only, you, can look, no, telling, others.” <br><br>Xavi was absolutely safe within the club; this had been explicitly stated in *The Guide for Clubmasters*. <br><br>After all, it was the first time in his life seeing what a legendary monster looked like. His strong curiosity made him agree easily. He asked You Ye to wait in the inner hall, then eagerly awaited the guest to start removing the coverings from its body. <br><br>The guest seemed hesitant still. “I fear, scare, you.” <br><br>Xavi shook his head and, to ease the tension, said, “Don’t judge me by my appearance. I actually enjoy horror movies and zombie flicks. Those are probably the limits of terror or ugliness that humans can imagine… But if you truly don’t want to, I won’t push you. Perhaps we can talk about where exactly you’ll have to stay tomorrow night—the so-called outdoors.” <br><br>“I, understand, now.” <br><br>The guest slowly stood up, beginning with the scarf wrapped around its neck, unwinding it layer by layer. When it was entirely removed, Xavi saw a dark green, wrinkled surface covered in sparse, dried hairs. Just the sight of the neck alone was enough to evoke a sense of revulsion. <br><br>Still, it was within bearable limits. Xavi took a deep breath, focusing entirely on the guest’s face. <br><br>The hat was taken off, sunglasses removed, the mask pulled down, and even the black trench coat enveloping its body was stripped away. <br><br>With each item removed, Xavi’s eyes flickered, and his breathing grew incrementally heavier. <br><br>Now he understood the price of curiosity—but knowing this was his choice, he forced himself not to dwell on it excessively. <br><br>The appearance of the guest in front of him delivered an *Eye-Catching Effect* far beyond anything from films. <br><br>Its alien-like body was covered in the same dark green wrinkled skin as its neck, riddled with cracks and wounds. Some scabbed-over green tissues hadn’t fully peeled off, and green liquid occasionally seeped from the lesions. <br><br>Insect-like claws protruded from the sleeves of its white shirt. As for its head, it was entirely that of a massive insect. <br><br>A huge, round oral cavity with syringe-like teeth replaced a mouth, seemingly devoid of a nose. Two enormous black eyes without eyelids were positioned above the oral cavity, one on each side. <br><br>Xavi saw no ear-like structures, nor was there any sign of hair. <br><br>Even the head displayed areas of skin ruptures, resembling decay. <br><br>... <br><br>When Xavi came back to his senses, the guest had already redressed and asked, “I, didn’t, scare, you, did I?” <br><br>Xavi took a deep breath, steadied his nerves, and said, “It’s alright.” <br><br>“No, need, to lie. I know, very, ugly.” <br><br>Xavi shook his head. “It’s just another form of life. I imagine there’s a reason you turned out this way. Human aesthetics differ, but to your kind, you might even be considered beautiful.” <br><br>The guest murmured, “Originally, not, like this. Not, this, ugly. Human, contamination, food, bad, became, this.” <br><br>Was it eating contaminated food that led to the body’s decay? Xavi sobered up. This monster appeared to be an actual *Bug Fiend*—so much for the saying *No Monsters Post-Revolution*, since a living one was standing right before him. <br><br>What do insects typically eat? The first thing that came to Xavi’s mind was plant roots, stems, and leaves. <br><br>He’d heard of acid rain caused by industrial pollution damaging vegetation, as well as factories discharging chemically laced or metal-laden wastewater, contaminating water sources and causing diseases. <br><br>He hadn’t realized, though, that human pollution had grown so severe even monsters couldn’t withstand it. <br><br>Xavi placed the jade token back into the wad of newspaper and pushed it toward the guest. “Take this jade token. Our rule is payment upon delivery. Until tomorrow night, you can stay here if you’d like. But if you prefer, you can come back tomorrow evening instead.” <br><br>The guest was startled. “I, can, stay?” <br><br>“Of course. There are plenty of empty rooms here,” Xavi replied with a smile. “And if you don’t mind, I’d like to chat with a monster… about monster things.” <br><br>After a moment of silence, the guest asked, “You, don’t, mind?” <br><br>Xavi shook his head. “I’ve said it before: an *Eye-Catching Effect* doesn’t mean anything. To humans, you might look hideous, but to your kind, you might just be normal—or even beautiful. I just want to learn more about different life forms.” <br><br>He clicked his tongue and added, “Of course not. If anything, I find it fascinating.” <br><br>The *Bug Fiend* seemed to hesitate, but in the end, Xavi didn’t hear the answer he wanted. It declined his offer and left the club in a hurry, only leaving the specifics of their meeting time and place for the next evening. <br><br>Once the *Bug Fiend* left, You Ye came out from the inner hall. <br><br>She exited carrying a black pistol on a tray—if Xavi wasn’t mistaken, it was the one taken from Gold Fortune. <br><br>A little surprised by the maid doll’s action, Xavi reached out and took the gun from the tray. <br><br>“If protection is required for the guest tomorrow night, You Ye might not be able to ensure the master’s safety. However, it’s impossible for anyone to harm the master,” You Ye said softly. “I just thought, if the master feels bored, he could use this pistol for some fun.” <br><br>Xavi was taken aback, then chuckled. “Monsters… afraid of bullets?” <br><br>You Ye replied calmly, “Weapons created by humans are indeed feared by many monsters. Monsters are also a type of life form. Though they possess abilities far beyond humans, they are still flesh and blood. Most cannot withstand the high-lethality weapons humans create. Otherwise, if there were so many different types of monsters in the world, why are they so rarely known by human society, and why don’t they reveal themselves publicly?” <br><br>Weighing the UPS pistol in his hand, Xavi suddenly said, “It’s because, compared to humans fearing monsters, monsters fear humans even more.” <br><br>“Does the master know how to use a gun?” You Ye asked with a faint smile, shifting the topic. “I can teach a few basic techniques.” <br><br>Xavi shook his head. <br><br>But then, his body shifted to face a wall in the club. His feet spread slightly wider than shoulder-width, knees bent. His toes pointed slightly inward, and his arms extended naturally. His right hand held the gun, while his left hand supported the weapon by cupping the gun grip from underneath, wrapping around the trigger guard. <br><br>Finally, he made a mock aim at a vase on the wall. <br><br>“When my father was around, he taught me a bit,” Xavi reminisced.")
