The backdrop can also be propped up.

Chapter 50 The plan begins

When lunchtime arrived, Maria Elisa took the pocket watch and went to Pollard's shop for lunch.

Seeing that Maria Elisa had come again, Pallas was very happy. He quickly prepared the dishes and only charged Maria Elisa half the price—he hoped that Maria Elisa would come to their restaurant more often because of this.

The news that Maria Elisa had injured three armed robbers with guns and knives a couple of days ago had already spread throughout the area. Several other people who had been loitering around the shop earlier had left upon seeing Maria Elisa arrive.

There were noticeably more people coming to the restaurant for lunch, and Pollalid was a bit overwhelmed. He apologized to Maria Elisa, saying that he might have to wait a while before he could come and join her.

Maria waved her hand to indicate that she wasn't in a hurry—after all, she needed to eat, and she wasn't in a rush to show the pocket watch to Pollard.

Maria Elisa was eating while observing the restaurant. She hadn't looked at it carefully on her first day because she was distracted by the three teenagers halfway through her meal. Now she had the peace of mind to look around properly.

The interior decoration is rather ordinary, with some white and some black spots on the walls, as well as many traces of colored pencils—like those drawn by children—and several pieces of uniquely patterned cloth hanging elsewhere, which should be local ethnic characteristics of Itana.

The tables are mostly made of wood, and there are a few ornaments on the wall. One of them, a long strip of Maria and Elisa, was torn down and used to beat someone up a couple of days ago, so that spot is still empty.

Looking at it this way, Maria Elisa realized that the shop had been open for several years and had a considerable number of customers every day. No wonder Pollard's shop was taken over by someone else after her adoptive father died—it's normal for someone to be envious of a shop that can make so much money from so many people every day.

After seeing off the last table of customers, excluding Maria Elisa, Pollard finally sat down and spoke to Maria Elisa face to face.

“Sorry, Lisa, I’ve kept you waiting for so long,” Pollalid said apologetically.

“Oh, it’s alright, I understand you’re helping your father.” Maria Elisa took out the pocket watch and excitedly told Pollard, “Look what I found while I was wandering around, Pollard? A pocket watch!!”

"Lisa is actually interested in this kind of pocket watch?" Pollari was somewhat surprised. Although the pocket watch was exquisitely crafted, it was too old, and much of the gold plating had fallen off.

Pollalid knew about Maria Elisa's background and always felt that no matter how much Maria Elisa liked something, she couldn't possibly like a pocket watch that looked like it had been used by someone else and seemed a bit broken.

“I knew you’d find that strange, Boleyn.” Maria Elisa held the pocket watch in her hand and played with it. “But I have a natural fondness for things I find, not because they are beautiful or valuable, but simply because I like them, nothing more.”

“What’s more, there’s a picture of a beautiful person inside this pocket watch,” Maria Elisa said with a smile. “That makes me even more eager to keep this pocket watch.”

After hearing Maria Elisa say this, Pollalid became interested and wanted to see the pocket watch, but he was too embarrassed to ask.

Maria Elisa saw through Pollard's thoughts and readily opened the pocket watch and handed it over.

Pollard took the pocket watch and was stunned at first glance—he initially thought it was a mirror, but after looking closely and noticing the woman's long hair, he realized it was indeed a photograph.

"Where did you pick it up from?" Pollalid felt a sudden, inexplicable stirring within him.

“Ah, I picked this up on a garbage planet,” Maria Elisa said. “I don’t really recommend you go; it’s a bit dangerous.”