Chapter 27

"Ding-a-ling~"

The next morning, Rao Ke was roused by the sound of her alarm clock.

After a set of tai chi exercises in bed, she finally managed to get up. She sat on the edge of the bed for a moment, staring into space, then headed to the washroom to freshen up.

She splashed water on her face to wake herself up, then glanced at the neatly pressed dress hanging nearby.

By the time she had finished getting ready and descended to the first floor, she found Ningfuer, clad in an exquisite robe, greeting her with a wave.

Rao Ke had just taken a seat when Xue Jiali set down a cup of soy milk, a steamer basket of shrimp dumplings, and a red bean bun in front of her.

"Thanks." Rao Ke picked up a shrimp dumpling with her chopsticks and began enjoying her breakfast.

Ningfuer smiled as she sat down beside her. "Don't worry, I'll be going with you today."

Ningfuer was the Fourth Elder of the Elf Clan, and for this meeting with the Elven King, all twelve elven elders would be present.

The elves were taking this so seriously that it made Rao Ke a bit nervous.

After finishing breakfast and saying goodbye to Xue Jiali, Rao Ke and Ningfuer set off together for the Elven King's court.

After passing through layers of security checks, the two finally entered the meeting hall. At the center of the hall was a large round table, where four elders were already seated.

Ningfuer greeted them, then led Rao Ke to sit down off to the side.

The elders glanced at Rao Ke with curiosity, but quickly averted their gazes, so as not to make her uncomfortable.

"It's fine." Ningfuer smiled and patted Rao Ke's shoulder reassuringly.

After a while, the Elven King and the remaining elders arrived.

Contrary to Rao Ke's impression of the elves as stunningly beautiful men and women, the Elven King was a graceful, gentle-looking old lady.

"I've gathered you all today to discuss the elves' desire to establish a Teleportation Array connection with the Keke Shop," the Elven King said in a mild tone. The other elders remained silent, clearly having already held a meeting beforehand.

The Elven King's emerald eyes, which seemed to embrace all things, turned to Rao Ke. "What do you think, shopkeeper?"

Rao Ke, though suddenly called upon, didn't panic—Ningfuer had already given her a detailed briefing the day before.

"Of course. The Keke Shop would be delighted to establish a Teleportation Array with the Elf Clan." Rao Ke smiled with appropriate poise.

The Elven King received the answer she wanted, her smile deepening as she then laid out her terms.

"The Elf Clan is willing to pay an annual teleportation fee of 10 million gold coins. In addition, the magical plants and spirit fruits grown by the elves will be given priority to the Keke Shop, and the Elf Clan will not interfere with any Teleportation Array deals the Keke Shop makes with other races."

Rao Ke listened to the Elven King's conditions and readily agreed.

It was clear that the elves' terms were modeled on the Beast Emperor's offer, but with the benefits doubled.

Given that the terms were acceptable and would help her complete her quest, Rao Ke had no reason to refuse.

"Then let's sign the contract." The Elven King smiled and produced a contract.

Rao Ke took it and read it over, but didn't sign right away. Instead, she asked to have her teacher review it first.

The Elven King nodded in approval, and Rao Ke sent the contract to Chrisley and Sesame Paste to scrutinize.

Only after both parties confirmed everything was in order did she sign her name and press her fingerprint.

With the matter resolved, Rao Ke took her leave.

As she stepped out of the Elven King's court, she spotted Xue Jiali standing outside, waiting.

Golden sunlight spilled over Xue Jiali's snow-white hair, adding a touch of warmth. Xue Jiali's expression was calm, and the warm light lent her an almost divine air.

"Xue Jiali!" Rao Ke waved in her direction.

A faint smile appeared on Xue Jiali's usually impassive face, and she walked over to Rao Ke.

"What are you doing here?"

"Just passing by. I happened to meet a friend." Xue Jiali's tone was casual, but her hands unconsciously clenched into fists.

Rao Ke's eyes lit up with understanding. "Ah, I see. Did you meet them?"

"Yes. Let's head home." Xue Jiali stood beside Rao Ke.

The two stood shoulder to shoulder, chatting as they walked back.

A gentle breeze rustled through the trees, casting dappled shadows.

"By the way, when should we head back?" Xue Jiali looked down at Rao Ke, her expression relaxed and gentle.

Rao Ke thought for a moment. "How about three days from now?"

"Once we get the Teleportation Array set up between the Keke Shop and the Elf Forest, you can come and go as you please." Rao Ke smiled at Xue Jiali.

"Mm." Meeting Rao Ke's bright smile, Xue Jiali nodded in agreement.

Meanwhile, back in No. 7 Wandering Town, Kalisa was enjoying her afternoon tea, flipping through a file.

"!" Suddenly, Kalisa clutched at her neck in pain. A complex, intricate contract mark had appeared on her once-immaculate skin, now glowing with an eerie, dangerous red light.

"Long time no see, Miss Kalisa~"

As the red glow dimmed, a shadowy projection materialized in the room.

The figure was dreamlike and indistinct, its features impossible to make out.

"Phylosain, what are you doing here?" Kalisa eyed the shadow warily.

The figure seemed to pick up on her tension. "No need to be so on edge. This is just a projection of mine."

"I heard a peculiar shop has appeared near No. 7 Wandering Town." Phylosain brought it up with a casual air.

Kalisa forced herself to calm down, though her tone remained frosty. "Yes."

"Well, I've just been pestered by some white-feathered bird lately, and I'll probably be passing through the Adventure Forest soon. So I'll leave it to you to be my host when I arrive~" Phylosain said, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

It made Kalisa's hands itch. "Understood."

"Tsk, it's after me again." Phylosain clicked his tongue in annoyance. "Alright, that's all. See you later."

The contract mark dimmed, but the lingering warmth of it left Kalisa feeling irritable.

"Hmph, I hope that angel just burns you to ashes." Kalisa cursed venomously.

After calming herself, she rose gracefully, intending to make her daily trip to the Keke Shop for reconnaissance.

Meanwhile, Rao Ke was in the Elf Forest, helping Xue Jiali water the plants in the small garden.

Little did she know what a motley crew of employees awaited her back home.

"What? Teacher, you want to introduce an employee to me?" Rao Ke chatted with Chrisley while watering the flowers.

"Yes. That old bat has been asleep for nearly two hundred years now. Her castle's probably fallen to ruin by this point." Chrisley's tone carried a hint of mockery.

Rao Ke was taken aback. Asleep for nearly two hundred years?!

She knew her teacher was well-connected and influential, but she still got surprised from time to time.

"Of course, that's fine." Rao Ke didn't hesitate to mentally pencil her in.

"Don't worry, I'll make sure she goes through the proper process. Her strength and experience alone would crush the current applicants." Chrisley wasn't about to let her student get the short end of the stick.

Rao Ke nodded. "Xue Jiali and I will be heading back soon. We just finalized the contract for the Teleportation Array with the Elf Clan."

Chrisley was a bit surprised. "You didn't get taken advantage of, did you?"

"No, the Elven King's terms were quite generous." Rao Ke smiled as she spoke, casually steadying a small fairy that was about to tumble off a leaf.

"Good." Chrisley nodded, satisfied.

If the elves had dared to pull anything on her student, she would have personally led the other witches to have a 'chat' with the elven elders.

"Alright, bye-bye." Rao Ke ended the call.

At that moment, in Kastar City, nearly two hundred kilometers north of the Adventure Forest.

Phylosain had finally managed to shake off his pursuer, and was now resting in a deluxe suite at a high-end inn.

"Hiss—" He winced as he looked at the holes that had been torn through his wings. Grumbling about his rotten luck, he began to heal himself.

Phylosain was a high-ranking demon. Unlike his kin who preferred to stay in the Demon Abyss, he was particularly fond of the world beyond.

So on the day he came of age, he packed his bags, hid it from his family, and sneaked out of the Demon Abyss.

The outside world was indeed as different and fascinating as he had imagined.

But Phylosain also knew how terrible the demons' reputation was outside, so he had been maintaining a disguise spell, posing as a bat beastkin.

That was until a peacock beastkin saw through him. She said she would willingly offer her soul, as long as he helped her get revenge.

Phylosain thought it sounded interesting, so he agreed.

Things were going well, until an angel who had come down from Heaven somehow discovered him.

Despite Phylosain's insistence that he just liked the outside world, the stubborn angel wouldn't listen and insisted on dragging him back to the Demon Abyss.

"What a pain in the ass!"

Meanwhile, the object of Phylosain's grievance—the angel Cecil—was using healing magic on his own injured wings.

His large, fluffy white wings were marred with a few bloody holes and bare patches where feathers had been forcibly torn out.

"Cecil, forget about Phylosain for now. Our main task this time is to go meet the Divine Envoy." Cecil read the message sent by the Archangel.

He replied briefly.

"Understood."

Cecil decided to drop the matter of Phylosain for the moment and headed for the Keke Shop.

But fate had a peculiar sense of humor. Cecil found himself staring at Phylosain across the entrance, both of them falling silent.

"Hey, if you start a fight inside the Keke Shop, you'll get blacklisted!" Phylosain ran a hand through his hair in frustration. "Don't you drag me down with you. I do not want to get blacklisted."

Though he'd only been here for two days, Phylosain had already been completely won over by this incredible shop.

"..." Cecil stared at Phylosain for a moment in silence, then turned and dropped his application form into the submission box before heading off to browse the store.

Phylosain watched Cecil's retreating back, then nudged Kalisa beside him. "What did he just drop in there?"

Kalisa covered her face with her fan, rolling her eyes. "An application form. The Keke Shop is currently hiring new staff."

"What?! Why didn't you tell me?" Phylosain looked at her with an aggrieved expression.

Kalisa got goosebumps from his gaze. "You never asked. And aren't you the type to just wander around all the time?"

"Wander around?" Phylosain frowned. "I call it traveling."

"Forget it. Give me a form. I'm signing up too!"

"The forms are right over there. Help yourself." Kalisa pointed with her fan at the stack of paper next to the submission box.

Phylosain ran his fingers over the smooth, pristine paper, thinking that his second brother would definitely love this.

Kalisa frowned. It was precisely because she'd worried Phylosain might take an interest in the hiring that she'd purposely kept it from him.

And now it was all ruined! Damn that angel! Why did he have to put his form in right in front of Phylosain?!

Phylosain filled out the application form with meticulous care, then carefully placed it into the box.

"Let's go."

Kalisa watched Phylosain, who looked so pleased he might as well have been floating on a cloud of flowers, and her irritation was practically overflowing.

Near the edge of the Adventure Forest, Chrisley was waiting for someone, with Wenni beside her, sipping a bottle of sweet milk.

"It's been how many years, and that Aodisite still can't be on time."

"Oh, I've been asleep for over two hundred years. My body's still a bit stiff, and my magic isn't quite up to par yet."

Just as Chrisley finished speaking, a black vortex tore through the air. A black combat boot stepped out first, followed by Aodisite herself.

Aodisite's long black hair swayed lightly, her crimson eyes shimmering. Her baby face was given a sharper edge by a set of prominent fangs, and she was clad in a black, frilly dress.

It was easy to tell at a glance that she was a vampire.

"It's been so long since I slept, and the world has changed so much." Aodisite looked around, sighing with amazement.

Chrisley quipped, "That was two hundred years ago, old hag. Could you stop with the reminiscing?"

Aodisite bristled. "Don't call me an old hag!"

"Fine, fine. Let's get a move on, Your Grace, the great Vampire Sovereign, Lady Aodisite~" Chrisley teased.

"Seriously, it's been so long, don't you miss me at all?"

"Did you mess up your brain sleeping for two centuries? Why are you being so sappy?" Chrisley rubbed her arms, which had broken out in goosebumps.

"Hahaha, alright, I'll stop joking." Aodisite burst out laughing.

Chrisley shook her head, exasperated. "Let's go."

"You said you'd find me a place to stay. Were you serious?"

"Of course I was. But you'll have to work to earn your keep." Chrisley nodded.

Aodisite let out a sigh. "I knew it."

The two chatted and laughed as they made their way back to the Keke Shop.

...

Time flew by, and soon it was the day for Xue Jiali and Rao Ke to return to the Adventure Forest.

Rao Ke and Xue Jiali said goodbye to the reluctant elves, promising that once the Teleportation Array was built, they'd be more than welcome to visit the Keke Shop.

Sitting in the off-road vehicle, Rao Ke thought about the message Chrisley had sent her last night.

"This round of recruitment brought in some real characters. You'll have quite a selection."

If even Chrisley was this intrigued, Rao Ke couldn't help but feel a sense of eager anticipation.

"Let's go, back to the Keke Shop!"