"It’s nothing. Go ahead and play," Kael said, waving them off.

  He certainly couldn't admit that he had just been verbally backhanded by a snarky, two-bit System.

  "Manager, do you really not have any more of those accessories from last time?" Lan Qing’er asked after scouring the shelves.

  "Not for the moment," Kael answered flatly.

  In truth, Kael hadn't pulled for accessories since his last ten-draw. Generally speaking, mercenary types like Blood Wolf wouldn't be caught dead wearing sparkly trinkets. Besides, he couldn't exactly have these girls wearing ten rings on each hand; even a "black-hearted" merchant has limits. He decided to wait for the right opportunity to market the accessories properly and make a real killing later.

  "Well, you have to let us know the moment you get more stock," Lan Qing’er insisted.

  "I will," Kael nodded. Not like anyone else would want them anyway, he added silently in his head.

  He watched them disappear into the Combat Simulation Room.

  [System: "Host, the upgrade task is complete. When do you intend to claim your reward?"]

  The sudden voice caught Kael off guard.

  "The Popularity bar is already full? Brilliant Academy moved faster than I thought." Kael knew it would happen soon, but the speed was impressive.

  What Kael didn't know was that his shop wasn't just being promoted at the Academy. Among the Orc tribes, strange legends had begun to circulate—tales of a shop run by a "Hidden Hero" in Cloud Mist City, selling weapons of devastating power and armor that could not be pierced. Though the rumors were somewhat mythologized, the location and the product details were spot on.

  The System factored all of this into the Popularity score. However, the System had no intention of telling Kael this, and Kael would likely remain in the dark for a long time.

  "Will the remodel be a noisy affair?" Kael asked.

  The System had remodeled the interior twice before, but the exterior had never changed. This "Total Shop Overhaul" sounded like it was on a much grander scale.

  [System: "It will not. However, this reward cannot be claimed while outsiders are present."]

  Kael nodded. He certainly didn't want anyone witnessing a building magically rearranging itself. It looked like he was taking Shier out for a late-night snack at the Drunken Cloud Restaurant again.

  Stolen novel; please report.

  "I'll hold off on the reward for now," Kael decided.

  That evening, Kael led Shier back to the Drunken Cloud.

  "Boss, why are we here again?" Shier asked. She knew the Drunken Cloud lived up to its reputation as the city’s premier restaurant—both in taste and in its wallet-crushing prices. Kael’s sudden invitation felt like "offering hospitality for no reason," which made her feel a little uneasy.

  "The last time we were here, the beast tide interrupted your welcome dinner. Consider this proper compensation," Kael explained smoothly.

  "Is that so? Boss... you’re so kind to me," Shier said, her heart swelling with emotion.

  To her, Kael was a Hero Rank powerhouse who lacked even a shred of arrogance. He had saved her from a desperate situation, provided her with protection, and now went out of his way to treat her well. Shier silently recorded this debt of gratitude in her heart. She decided that once she had her revenge, she would devote her entire life to the Manager to repay his kindness.

  Kael, however, was completely oblivious to Shier’s complex internal monologue. He was just wondering what the "Total Overhaul" would actually look like.

  "Let’s eat. You’ve been at the shop for a while now, and I haven't treated you to a proper meal," Kael said, picking up a piece of meat. He had specifically ordered the magical beast meat dishes tonight to see if they were worth the hype.

  "Okay!" Shier gave a cute smile and began her meal.

  Honestly, the magical beast meat was good, but not that good. Kael couldn't tell if it was because the beast's rank was too low or if the chefs used so much seasoning that they buried the natural flavor. It was a step above their usual fare and slightly better than Lan Zier’s BBQ, but the exorbitant price was clearly for the "physical strengthening" benefits rather than the taste.

  Still, Kael’s chopsticks didn't stop. No matter the flaws, it was miles better than buns.

  The meal didn't take long, but the System worked even faster. By the time Kael and Shier returned, the shop’s facade had been completely reborn.

  Shier froze in her tracks, blinking. "B-Boss... our shop is in this spot, right?"

  Kael didn't know how to answer. He hadn't expected the "Total Overhaul" to merge the two adjacent shops into a single, much taller building.

  The two separate entrances were gone, replaced by a single, massive set of sliding glass doors. The rough exterior walls had been swapped for sleek, polished marble. Instantly, the shop’s "class" had skyrocketed. The only thing missing was a sign. According to the System, Kael’s Manager Level was still too low to deserve an official signboard.

  Recovering his composure, Kael nodded. "Yes, this is it. Let's go in."

  Seeing Kael so calm, Shier wisely chose not to ask further questions. All she really cared about was Kael; the building itself was secondary.

  They stepped inside to find a space that was vastly larger than before.

  The Counter: Directly facing the door was a sleek reception counter for payments.

  The Ground Floor: To the left, there were now four rows of shelves, more than doubling the storage for goods. To the right, the crystal ball booths were arranged more efficiently—though there were still only twenty.

  The Second Floor: Behind the counter, a spiral staircase led upstairs. Kael also noticed the magic circle for the Trial Room positioned near the stairs.

  The second floor contained the new warehouse, but more importantly, it featured a master bedroom and a guest bedroom—the latter prepared specifically for Shier. It even came with a full kitchen, a bathroom, and a laundry area.

  Kael could only conclude one thing: this reward was worth every bit of effort.

  "Wow! Boss, is this my room?" Shier asked excitedly as she followed Kael to the second floor and saw the new bedroom.