Chapter 54

After spending a few days on Dragon Island, and even being invited by Yanshajia to share a dinner, it was soon time to leave the island.

Afra looked at Chrisley and Rao Ke with reluctance. "Are you sure you won't stay a few more days?"

Seeing Afra's attachment, Rao Ke reached out and patted her on the back. "Once the space teleportation array is built, you can come visit us anytime. Don't be sad."

"Alright! Once it's up, I'll definitely come find you!" Afra said, her eyes welling up as she looked at them.

After their farewells, Chrisley activated the teleportation talisman, and the two vanished on the spot.

Afra watched them disappear, a hint of despondency flickering in her eyes, then clenched her fists with resolve. Time to go supervise the construction crew!

Rao Ke felt a flash before her eyes, and then she was standing on the fifth floor of the Keke Shop.

The teleportation array was now fully operational, so visitors could be seen emerging from various teleportation points from time to time. The one dedicated to Dragon Island was still under construction.

Rao Ke and Chrisley had arrived in a secluded corner, so they went unnoticed.

"Hey, have you heard about what's been happening recently?" A burly, bearded man whispered to his skinny companion.

The skinny man looked smug. "Of course. My third uncle's neighbor's son, who works in the imperial capital, told me—Dragon Island is about to make a comeback."

Chrisley and Rao Ke, crouched in their hidden corner, exchanged a glance. They hadn't expected the news to spread across the Kaqisha Continent in just a few days.

"It's only natural. News of Dragon Island's return would spread loudly and proudly—that's just how dragons are," Chrisley said without surprise.

Rao Ke nodded, and the two men continued talking.

"Oh, and I heard the dragons are connected to the shopkeeper of Keke Shop," the skinny man whispered to the bearded man.

The bearded man rolled his eyes. "No kidding. The sight of two dragons appearing right outside the shop was all over the neighborhood."

Rao Ke, suddenly the center of attention, looked at Chrisley's amused expression, pointed at herself helplessly, then spread her hands in a show of innocence.

"Since Keke Shop has ties with so many races, maybe dragons will be the first to officially partner with them this time," the bearded man mused.

The skinny man analyzed in a low voice, "I think it's very likely. Remember that new teleportation array? I happened to see it—the symbols on it are the dragon emblem."

The bearded man stared at him with sudden admiration. "Didn't know you had such sharp eyes."

The skinny man lifted his chin proudly. "When it comes to knowing what's happening around here, if I say I'm second, no one dares claim first!"

Behind them, Chrisley and Rao Ke shook their heads at the conversation, then quietly slipped away. The two men, still engrossed in their gossip, never realized their subject had just walked past.

Rao Ke and Chrisley left the fifth floor and took the escalator down to the fourth, planning to check out the library.

"The library's finally done," Rao Ke said, gazing approvingly at the cozy space filled with the scent of wood.

Earlier, the staff had been so curious about the library's collection that Rao Ke, with a wave of her hand, granted them access. So the employees had been browsing the misty aisles, picking out books to their liking.

The library was remarkably comprehensive—anyone could find something to enjoy here.

Since it had still been under construction when they'd left, this was the first time Rao Ke and Chrisley saw the finished library, which was equipped with four service robots.

The moment they walked in, the robots recognized them and dutifully escorted them to register for library cards. Borrowing and returning books required a card, which could be linked directly to the shop's mini-program.

Chrisley eagerly followed a small robot to the fiction section to scout his next read. Rao Ke trailed behind, picking out a set of 'Feng Aotian' novels as well.

Once they'd chosen their books, they followed the robots to the borrowing desk. Seeing the reading area empty, they sat down leisurely, chatting as they read.

"When does the library open?" Chrisley suddenly asked.

Rao Ke thought for a moment. "Next Monday, probably. We'll start promoting it soon."

Satisfied, Chrisley didn't press further.

Chrisley was absorbed in his novel, but Rao Ke closed hers after a while. "I'm heading back to my room. I prefer to read with a snack."

Too lost in the story, Chrisley gave a vague nod without looking up.

Rao Ke quietly stood and left the library.

On the elevator down, she ran into Xue Gali and greeted him.

"Keke, you're back!" Xue Gali said, surprised and pleased.

Rao Ke nodded. "Yeah, everything's done on Dragon Island, so we came home."

Noting his upward direction, she asked casually, "Where are you headed?"

"To the library. I want to find some niche dessert recipes—the dessert shop's due for new items." A gentle smile played on his lips.

Rao Ke was all for it. "Great, I look forward to it. You can come to me for taste tests."

Xue Gali's smile widened. "I just might take you up on that."

"I'll let you get to it then—good luck!" She waved.

"Mm." Watching her retreating figure, Xue Gali replied softly, then turned toward the library.

Back in the villa, Kalisa was strolling with the little peacock on the lawn. At the sight of Rao Ke, she gave a slight nod, and Rao Ke waved back.

In her room, Xue Qiu was fast asleep in his nest, while Sesame Paste leaned against him, gaming intently.

"Oh, you're back!" Sesame Paste managed a greeting between button mashing.

"Mm." Rao Ke set her novel on the table and pulled out the gifts from her space. "Here, gifts for you." She placed them on the couch.

Sesame Paste, absorbed in the game, gave a perfunctory thanks without looking up. But the noise stirred Xue Qiu, who, spotting Rao Ke, pounced on her excitedly.

Caught off guard, Sesame Paste toppled backward onto Xue Qiu's dog bed. "Ah! Xue Qiu, what the heck!?" He scrambled up, snatching the console—the glaring 'DEFEAT' on the screen drove him to the brink.

Ignoring his frantic complaints, Rao Ke laughed as she caught the little wolf leaping at her, then took out the gift she'd carefully picked: a necklace strung with a cold crystal. She fastened it around Xue Qiu's neck and gave an approving pat on his head.

"Aren't you adorable, my little Xue Qiu." With satisfaction, she hugged him and buried her face in his fur.

Xue Qiu puffed out his chest, turning to give Rao Ke a grin.

Sesame Paste fumed at the heartwarming scene, then looked at his long game session and grew even more furious. "The two of you—how are you going to compensate for my game? I didn't even save!"

...

Ever since Rao Ke and Chrisley got back, the shop had been buzzing with library promotions. Word spread like wildfire, reaching every corner of the Kaqisha Continent.

People kept trying to sneak up to the fourth floor to peek at the library, but the ever-vigilant robots turned them away. That air of mystery only made the customers more curious.

Rao Ke scheduled the library's grand opening for the day before the Dragon Island teleportation array was completed.

Since the library had a limited capacity, she capped attendance at 3,000 people at a time, with real-time numbers displayed on the robots' systems.

To manage the crowd, she set up a lottery on the shop's Astrolabe circle, offering 3,000 entry passes. The spots vanished within a minute—astonishingly fast.

It was clear the library was a hit, and the opening day would bring a flood of guests.

To be safe, Rao Ke held a brief meeting the night before with her few non-robot employees, focusing on potential scenarios for the big day.

But verbal instructions couldn't prepare them for the actual sight.

Facing a crowd that looked like a swarm of zombies, even the usually unflappable staff grew tense.

"Guests with entry passes, please line up here to proceed. Those without, please queue here." Kalisa's voice repeated through a small megaphone.

Phylosain and Aodisite handled ticket checking and crowd control at the entrance.

Rao Ke sat in a corner, nervous and excited at the bustling scene.

"It's all small stuff. When the arcade and cinema open, that'll be the real chaos," Sesame Paste said, unbothered.

Rao Ke couldn't resist. "Easy for you to say."

She tuned out his rambling and went to help.

When the doors opened, the first batch of entrants streamed through the ticket gate. Gasps of wonder followed, and robots quickly moved in to maintain order.

Since this was a first, Rao Ke had designated the opening week as a period for everyone to get used to the library's rules.

The first visitors came from all races that had partnerships with the shop. Though their faces differed, they all showed the same amazement and curiosity.

After all, Keke Shop's library was unlike any bookstore on the continent. Most of those were filled with magic textbooks, encyclopedias, poetry, or travelogues.

Stepping into this quiet, mysterious space, the guests instinctively hushed.

Pica was a dwarf master from the underground city, skilled in forging strange life-use machines. Before Keke Shop, he focused on offensive and defensive artifacts, which were all the rage for mages. But after the shop appeared, everything shifted—life-use artifacts gained prestige and attracted a wider audience.

For Pica, the shop was a treasure trove waiting to be uncovered.

His family was well-off, so they'd always encouraged his pursuit of niche artifacts. Unlike the awe he'd felt on his first visit, he now saw the shop as a turning point in his inventing career.

He told a robot his needs, and it immediately guided him to the relevant section.

"!" Pica's eyes lit up like bulbs at the array of shelves. "This is a dwarf's paradise!"

"You may borrow up to five books at a time, and the loan period is half a month. Please choose what you can manage!" the robot reminded him gently.

"Alright." Pica decided to start with the basics, intending to grab just five. But as he browsed, the stack in his arms grew to a small mountain. He asked the robot painfully, "Is there no way to take more?"

"I'm sorry, but those are the rules!" the robot refused politely but firmly.

Pica looked forlornly at his enormous pile, unable to pick which to give up.

In his agony, he glanced around. He noticed several other dwarf masters also clutching huge stacks, their faces twisted with reluctance, as if ready to cry.

"Oh!" Inspiration struck. He scurried over and whispered a suggestion to them.

Their eyes lit up. "Great, let's exchange contact info."

"Alright!"

Pica's idea: choose five entirely different books each, and since they had half a month, swap among themselves to cover more ground. It was an instant hit.

"Then I'll take these." They picked their books, cross-checked to avoid duplicates, and then headed to the borrowing machine, satisfied.

While selecting, Pica flipped through his picks. At the detailed, beautiful illustrations, he felt a mix of awe and gratitude.

The shopkeeper was so selfless—freely lending out things that could easily be family heirlooms. She was practically a philanthropist. From now on, he'd support Keke Shop even more.

As Pica and the other dwarf masters left, they crossed paths with Rao Ke and gave her looks brimming with emotion—gratitude, respect, wonder.

Rao Ke, clueless, could only respond with a faint smile.

That only deepened Pica's admiration. He nodded at her, silently vowing to spread the word about the library back home.

Still baffled, Rao Ke thought: why is everyone looking at me like that?

Vis was a wood elf from the Elf Forest, famous for growing berries. He'd come to see the new library thanks to an invitation from his friend Axi, and also because he'd heard Keke Shop would soon stock a fresh batch of berry seeds.

As the foremost berry cultivator, Vis wasn't about to be outdone. He figured the shop's seeds might come with farming guides in the library, so he'd come early to study up.

His friend Axi, meanwhile, was more into flower cultivation and hoped to find books on that.

Inside, the two parted ways, each led by a robot to their desired section.

Vis scanned the shelves and selected a detailed guide on strawberry cultivation. Of all the novelties the shop had introduced, strawberries were his favorite—luscious, red, and bursting with juice. They'd conquered him completely. He considered them the rose of his heart.

Though elves excelled at growing fruits, vegetables, and flowers, the cultivation methods and recommended techniques in these books still felt fresh and magical. Vis felt like he'd struck gold.

He closed the book and picked out four more, weighing his options carefully. Given the rush, everyone wanted to grab their choices and free up space for others.

Over in another aisle, Axi had chosen five flower guides that matched his tastes and came looking for Vis.

The two met up, each clutching their picks, and went to the borrowing counter.

"Vis, this library is incredible. We have to recommend it to the other elves when we get back," Axi said, smiling.

Vis nodded with a warm smile. "It really is."

"You know, I thought something like this would be a private collection. The shopkeeper choosing to open it up for borrowing is just... amazing." Axi's eyes sparkled.

"Truly," Vis agreed, nodding toward Rao Ke.

Clueless as ever, Rao Ke returned a smile. Everyone's been acting strange all day—giving me odd looks and smiling at nothing, she mused.

Tiger beastman Ruixi and his family had all won entry passes. They'd been so excited the night before that they'd gotten up early, washed up, and dashed over.

Little tiger cub Ruiya obediently held her parents' hands, and the trio passed through the checkpoint in no time.

"I'll take Ruiya to find her comic books. You go explore on your own," the tiger dad said, getting dumped the moment they were inside. As usual, he resigned himself and nodded. "Let's meet here in half an hour."

The mom and daughter walked off, and the dad wandered around. He spotted a friend tucked away behind a bookshelf, absorbed in reading.

He strolled over, patting his friend's back lightly. "What's so gripping?"

The friend, startled, saw who it was and launched into a passionate recommendation. "This is brilliant! I don't think any adventure journal I've read can match it. After this, everything else feels like a waste."

"Really? That good?" The dad picked up a copy and flipped open. The opening featured a genius turned cripple. "Interesting." He continued, and before he knew it, he was hooked.

"Alright, let's go borrow these. We're holding up the line," his friend said, patting his shoulder as he headed off.

"Oh, right!" The dad closed the book, grabbed the next four volumes, and made his way to the meeting point.

At the meeting spot, he found his wife and cub. They shared a knowing smile.

"Small world—we found some fantastic books too!"

"Same here!" The cub clutched five comic books, grinning from ear to ear.

While the dad was lost in the underdog power fantasy, the mom had let Ruiya pick out her own comics in the kids' section. The mom then browsed nearby, grabbing a thriller novel. She got so engrossed that she broke out in a cold sweat.

"Mommy, I'm done!" Ruiya tugged at her sleeve, snapping her back.

Realizing the time, the mom grabbed a sequel to the thriller and led Ruiya to find her husband.

"I found a fantastic travelogue today!" the dad shared excitedly.

The mom smiled. "Me too—something I've never seen before. We can swap."

"I want to swap too!" Ruiya piped up, hugging her comics.

"Sure!" Both parents looked at their daughter with gentle smiles.

"It's really great the shop opened a library," the mom remarked.

"Mm, now we have somewhere to pass the time when we're bored." The dad agreed with a grin.

After a tiring day, Rao Ke threw a small celebration to help everyone unwind. The opening and promotion had gone off without a hitch—well, there were a few hiccups, but they were resolved quickly.

"You all worked so hard today!"

Aside from the occasional odd glance or unearned bow, Rao Ke felt the day had been a success. And the library's reputation was stellar—the Astrolabe circle was flooded with recommendations and praise.

"Yeah, the library promotion was a huge success!!"

Rao Ke pumped her fist, satisfied.

The tiger dad found himself reading on without meaning to.