In the bustling Lumina Square, the streets were filled with passing pedestrians, office workers, and students out for fun.
However, despite this, our Suixin Grocery Store remained just as deserted.
For the entire afternoon, Furina watched the shop without a sound, sighing with worry.
“Sigh~”
Looking at the Hydro coin balance of only 487, her heart inexplicably began to sink, and she started to panic.
“Awoo~”
Just then, the sound of chewing rang out.
Furina glanced to the side, where a blonde snake was busy eating, and her previously anxious heart began to sway.
As the sky grew dark, Furina finally chose to face reality.
“Well~ no need to panic.
Once Nicole helps sell this batch of potions, there will definitely be profit.
Plus, we’ve stocked up on plenty of herbs underground, so we can restock at any time.
Let’s just leave it at that—”
Standing up, Furina stretched her slightly stiff, slender waist, her tail swaying as she turned to look.
She saw that the blonde snake was already leaning against the side, fast asleep.
Lifting her foot, she nudged the other’s little bottom, and Furina called out to wake her up.
“Let’s go, we’re heading upstairs to sleep~”
Shaking her head, Cissia stretched, nodded, rubbed her sleepy eyes, and stood up, heading upstairs first.
Before going upstairs, Furina noticed that the sign on the door hadn’t been flipped, so she walked over with a slightly lazy gait.
“Sigh~ if only one or two customers came by a day, that would be fine… It was hard enough for one to come today, and it even cost me four Hydro coins~”
Muttering to herself with a hint of complaint, the White-haired Cat Girl was just about to flip the sign and lock the door when suddenly, there was a knock at the door.
Furina, who was still feeling sleepy, was instantly startled.
She took a few steps back and then adjusted her posture.
“Who is it?”
“Hello~ Shopkeeper of the General Store, are you still open for business?”
An elegant, mature male voice rang out.
The person was very polite; even though he knew the lights were on inside, he still chose to ask first, as it was late at night.
“We are.
Please come in, sir~”
Upon receiving permission, the door was pulled open, and a tall, burly white-haired werewolf dressed in a crisp butler’s uniform walked in.
He wore an eye patch and a muzzle, his gaze sharp and shrewd, yet his demeanor was elegant and easygoing.
Lycaon?
Furina recognized him, but since it was their first meeting, she didn’t show much expression on her face.
Lycaon had one hand behind his back, while the other held a classical box.
His eyes looked toward the White-haired Cat Girl in the blue-black dress standing before him, especially at those heterochromatic, water-droplet-shaped eyes.
After a long while, he finally made a move.
Lycaon bowed slightly and said with a hint of apology.
“I apologize for the late-night intrusion.
Madam, are you the owner of this Suixin Grocery Store~?”
“That’s right, it’s me.
Is there anything I can help you with?”
After a brief moment of surprise, Lycaon rubbed his chin with the hand behind his back, speaking thoughtfully.
“According to rumors from some old clients, I heard that this General Store is very mysterious and long-standing, but I didn’t expect the shopkeeper to be so beautiful, young, and noble…
It’s quite surprising.”
Waving her hand, Furina naturally understood the intent behind his words.
She turned around and, unhurriedly, walked behind the counter to sit back down on the recliner.
She gestured, saying,
“Thank you for the compliment.
Please, have a seat here, guest~”
Tap, tap, tap~
His mechanical legs made a unique creaking sound and a dull friction noise against the wooden floor.
Lycaon arrived at the counter and waved his hand slightly.
“No need.
Let’s get down to business…
The item in this box was entrusted to me by a client who hoped I could bring it to the Suixin Grocery Store and sell it.”
Nodding, Furina patted her slightly crooked collar, then picked up the monocle hanging nearby and put it on.
She reached out and opened the box.
Inside was an exquisite small teacup, its handle still gleaming under the light; it wasn’t hard to see that it had been well maintained.
[Jade Teacup]
Quality: Rare
Estimated Price: 120 ~ 135 Hydro coins
Although she had already discerned its value, Furina, in order to demonstrate her professionalism and mystery, picked it up and examined it carefully for a while.
Only then did she carefully place it back into the box.
She took off the monocle, pinned it to her collar, and looked up at Lycaon.
“Do you want to exchange it for denny or Hydro coins?”
As soon as this question was asked, Lycaon paused slightly, then recalled the voice from his client’s phone call.
“Ahem…
Exchange it for Hydro coins and put them into this box.”
Nodding, Furina scanned the teacup with the cash register’s scanner and clicked the exchange button on the screen.
In an instant, the teacup turned into a pale blue orb of energy that drifted toward the back door, in the direction of the warehouse.
Furina glanced at it briefly before pulling open the side drawer.
Inside, 120 Hydro coins were already lying neatly.
Furina then reached out with her white-gloved fingers, pinched out 6 of the Hydro coins, and placed them into the front drawer of the cash register.
“According to our acquisition rules, I am charging a 5% fee.
Please count the remaining 114 Hydro coins and place them in the box, sir.”
Watching the scene before him with a hint of surprise, Lycaon came back to his senses, then began counting the Hydro coins from the side drawer and placing them neatly into the box.
The atmosphere gradually returned to silence, and Lycaon, seemingly curious, asked.
“Pardon my intrusion, but what is the purpose of these Hydro coins?”
“Haven’t you heard from your client…”
Shaking his head, Lycaon smiled slightly with a touch of shame.
“I’ve only heard slight rumors about the Suixin Grocery Store and just assumed it was a legend.
I know very little about it…
I hope the Shopkeeper can enlighten me.”
“Hydro coins are the exclusive currency of this store and can be used to purchase items.
Of course~ because we just opened recently, currently we only have the potions on that shelf over there.”
After stacking the currency, Lycaon gently closed the box and turned to look at the shelf.
On the shelf, bottles of crystal-clear red liquid were arranged neatly.
“What kind of potion is this?”
“A life recovery potion.
It’s been refined for a while.
It can treat your wounds and restore your life status.
But this is only the primary version, so the effect is limited.
If you want to increase the recovery effect, you can increase the amount used.”
“However, this method has a limit.
You can also…
wait for me to refine higher-grade potions.”
Nodding, Lycaon had a general understanding after hearing Furina’s introduction.
He naturally knew the general importance of the Suixin Grocery Store, so since there was an opportunity, he had to build a connection.
After thinking for a moment, he took an old silver pocket watch out of his pocket.
“Then, could I trouble you, Shopkeeper, to acquire this as well…”
Oh my, not bad~ Lycaon even does buy-one-get-one-free.
Furina was naturally happy to oblige.
She put her monocle back on and took the pocket watch to examine it.
[Pocket Watch Crafted by Famous Old Capital Watchmaker Sophis** (Damaged)]
Quality: Rare
Original Estimated Value: 110 ~ 115 Hydro coins
Damaged Estimated Value: 25 ~ 30 Hydro coins
“Hmm~ a nice pocket watch, but it’s already damaged~ the price will be heavily discounted…”
After speaking, Furina aimed the scanner at the pocket watch and pressed the exchange button.
Instantly, the pocket watch, like the teacup before it, turned into blue energy and drifted toward the warehouse, and 30 Hydro coins appeared in the empty side drawer.
Furina picked up 2 coins and stuffed them into the cash register, then gestured with her hand.
“5%, rounded up, is that okay?”
“Of course…”
Lycaon had no objections.
After taking out the 28 Hydro coins from inside, he placed 4 more on the counter.
“I would like to buy some life recovery potions~ after all, the upcoming commission carries some risks.”
“Alright, then sir, please go ahead and take them yourself.”
After Furina finished speaking, Lycaon didn’t move immediately.
Instead, he took a business card from his breast pocket and placed it next to the 4 Hydro coins.
“I am Lycaon, a butler from Victoria Housekeeping.
If there is a need, I may visit your esteemed shop again.
Of course, if you have any commissions or needs, you can also contact us…
This is my business card; the details are all described within.”
Nodding, Furina reached out to stuff the Hydro coins into the cash register, then took the business card in her hand to look at it, before slowly placing it into the first drawer of the counter.
“Okay~ I will.
Mr.
Lycaon.”
“Then please forgive my presumptuous late-night visit once again, Shopkeeper.”
“Just call me Furina.”
Nodding, Lycaon bowed slightly, picked up the box, and turned to walk toward the door.
“Very well, Store Manager Furina.
I wish you sweet dreams, goodnight~”
“Right…”
As he passed the shelf, Lycaon paused slightly, reached out to pick up two bottles of potions, and then continued walking without stopping, pushing the door open to leave.