"If you want to play, go ahead. I can watch the shop today," Kael said.

  Standing outside the counter, he watched Zhong Lingyun and Ying Feng leave. He had noticed Shier’s gaze drifting toward the Combat Simulation Room next door and decided to speak up.

  "No, there is no need, Store Manager. This is my job," Shier replied dutifully.

  "It doesn't matter. There aren't many customers right now anyway. Though... perhaps in a few days, things will get busy," Kael said, looking out the door with a knowing expression.

  A shop's reputation had to be built bit by bit. The City Guards of Cloud Mist City were easy enough to manage; their strict military discipline meant they didn't have time to come play.

  But the students of Brilliant Academy? That was a different story. Just look at Ying Feng—he ran over here every chance he got.

  "Store Manager! Shier! Long time no see!"

  Just as he finished speaking, several familiar figures walked into the shop.

  Lan Ye entered with a beaming smile, greeting Kael and Shier warmly. Fei Xue and You Jiu followed close behind. Their armor and clothes were clean and tidy, suggesting they hadn't been in any recent battles.

  "Kael! Kael! do you have any other miraculous pills?" Nalan Qinqi darted in after them, throwing herself onto the counter and staring at Kael with burning eyes.

  "What happened?" Kael asked curiously, noticing that three members of their group were still missing.

  However, judging by their expressions, nothing bad had happened. In fact, they looked like they were celebrating.

  Xiao Ya, who had just walked in, heard his question and asked, "Store Manager, do you remember that Rising Dragon Pill?"

  "Of course."

  Kael nodded. If it was sold from his shop, the System had a record of it, even if he forgot. But he remembered clearly—that pill was the reason Lan Ye’s squad hadn't shown their faces since the beast tide ended.

  "Actually, after we left the shop that day, Zi'er took the Rising Dragon Pill. She immediately fell into a deep slumber. It turns out she was awakening a hidden bloodline," Fei Xue explained briefly.

  Lan Ye nodded and added, "For Zi'er's safety, we decided to leave Cloud Mist City temporarily until the process was finished."

  "I see," Kael nodded slightly.

  It seemed the System's pills were effective after all.

  "B-Big Brother..."

  At that moment, a timid voice floated in from outside the door.

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  Suddenly, Shier trembled violently. she darted behind Kael, hiding behind his back and gripping the corner of his robe tightly with both hands.

  "What's wrong?" Kael asked calmly.

  "Store Manager... there is a Dragon's aura outside," Shier whispered, her voice shaking.

  "A Dragon? Coming to a place like this?" Kael looked toward the door with interest.

  Dragons were incredibly rare, but every single one possessed immense power. They were synonymous with strength. However, aside from Dragon Island, they were rarely seen in the outside world. It wasn't that they couldn't leave, but rather that they were too lazy to. The human kingdoms had top-tier powerhouses capable of checking them, so Dragons couldn't just do whatever they wanted. And if they couldn't do whatever they wanted, why bother leaving home?

  Kael was quite curious to see what a Dragon in this world looked like.

  Besides, inside this shop, he was the supreme being. Whether it was a Dragon or an Angel, once they stepped through that door, they had no choice but to behave.

  However, the fearsome Dragon he expected did not appear.

  Following the timid voice, a petite, soft figure walked into the shop. It was a little girl with an exquisitely cute face—the kind one would immediately want to pick up and hug.

  But there was a difference. Two curved horns protruded from the sides of her head, and behind her, a short, adorable tail swished back and forth.

  Looking at the girl’s facial features...

  "Is this... Zi'er?" Even Kael couldn't hide his surprise.

  The change was drastic.

  Hearing Kael’s voice, the little girl ran to the counter and peered over the edge. "Big Brother, you can still recognize me? Did Zi'er become strange?"

  "No, you look very cute," Kael said honestly.

  Lan Qing'er walked in from outside. Seeing Kael’s expression, she couldn't help but smile. "Store Manager, are you surprised?"

  Kael reached out and patted Lan Zi'er’s head. "A little."

  He glanced back at the trembling Shier. "Zi'er must have Dragon blood in her veins now."

  "Correct," Lan Qing'er nodded happily. "The Dragon bloodline within Zi'er had always been dormant deep within her. We thought it would never awaken in this lifetime. We never expected that you, Store Manager, would possess such a miraculous elixir."

  When she spoke, Lan Qing'er unconsciously used a more respectful tone.

  No wonder, Kael thought.

  He now understood why Shier had reacted so strangely the first time she met Lan Zi'er. She must have sensed it back then. The Dragon bloodline was the sovereign of all beast bloodlines. As a Moon Spirit Cat, Shier’s lineage was naturally lower than that of a Dragon. Combined with the fact that Shier’s own power level was lower than Zi'er's, the fear from the bloodline suppression was natural.

  Seeing that Lan Zi'er couldn't yet fully retract her draconian features, Kael realized she likely couldn't control the aura suppression either.

  With a thought, Kael utilized his Store Manager Authority to sever the pressure of the bloodline within the shop. Shier’s expression instantly relaxed, and she stopped trembling.

  "Zi'er only woke up today, but she insisted we come over immediately to thank you," Lan Qing'er continued.

  "You're too kind. I actually thought you were going to use it," Kael said, shifting the topic smoothly without prying further.

  "I don't have Zi'er's luck. Even though we are sisters by blood, I don't carry the hidden Dragon lineage," Lan Qing'er shook her head.

  Biological sisters?

  Kael looked at Lan Qing'er and Lan Zi'er but didn't ask. That was their family matter, and it was none of his business.

  "Aside from visiting, do you need anything else today?" Kael returned to his expressionless business mode.

  Business was business. Emotions could be discussed privately, but under the System's constraints, talking about feelings just hurt the wallet.

  "Store Manager! When did your shop start selling rings and necklaces?!"

  A surprised cry interrupted Kael.

  Xiao Ya, who had drifted toward the shelves the moment she entered, finally noticed the accessories.

  Women generally had zero resistance to shiny little things. The only reason Zhong Lingyun hadn't noticed them earlier was that she had been too focused on the combat training. Otherwise, she surely would have bought a couple of pieces too.

  "This necklace is beautiful... but I wonder if wearing it will hinder my movement," You Jiu said, picking up a necklace to examine it closely.