"I’m just joking, Boss! But if you ever feel the urge to offer a discount, I’m your guy," Tiger-Hunt said, instantly changing his tune with a flattering grin.

  "Not happening. Discounts are impossible. They won't happen in this lifetime," Kael added flatly.

  Blood Wolf couldn't help but chuckle. "See? You still don't know the Boss well enough."

  "Need something?" Kael asked, ignoring their banter and getting straight to business.

  "The usual. It's not like you have anything new in stock, Boss," Blood Wolf said, his eyes scanning the familiar shelves.

  Tiger-Hunt nodded in agreement. "I remember you used to get new stock pretty fast. Why the dry spell? Have you been slacking off lately?"

  By now, they were used to hanging around the shop even when they didn't need to buy anything. If the general store was too crowded, they’d go next door to the Combat Simulation Room. Those leather sofas were incredibly comfortable.

  "There will be new stock in a couple of days, though you guys... might not need it," Kael said, recalling the System task.

  In about two days, the Accessory Gacha should be unlocked. In truth, Kael’s shop had a decent variety of gear; it just lacked equipment for specific slots like helmets, leggings, or belts. But this new Accessory pool...

  Kael took a long, measured look at Blood Wolf and Tiger-Hunt.

  They probably won't need jewelry, he thought.

  "Manager Kael, did I hear that correctly? New stock in two days?"

  The shop door was suddenly pushed open.

  "Welcome. How can I help you?" Shier greeted the newcomer immediately.

  Qin Ming gave a slight wave of his hand and stepped inside.

  "City Lord Qin? What brings you here so late?" Blood Wolf and Tiger-Hunt greeted him in unison.

  Qin Ming nodded to them. "The beast tide has settled for now. The monster cores have been tallied. Your rewards will be delivered tomorrow."

  "Thank you, City Lord," Blood Wolf said politely.

  Qin Ming waved off the thanks and turned his focus back to Kael. "Manager Kael, I heard you mention new stock. Is that true?"

  "Most likely," Kael nodded.

  "Then... would there happen to be any Combat Gauntlets this time?" Qin Ming asked, unable to hide his anticipation.

  Kael glanced at Qin Ming. The man wasn't carrying a weapon. There weren't many classes that fought unarmed, and Grappler was the primary one. While some Grapplers used tonfas or batons, Qin Ming’s question confirmed he was a strike-focused specialist.

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  However, the reward for the current quest wasn't an expansion of the Weapon pool. Moreover, gauntlets were considered a niche weapon.

  "There's a chance," Kael replied, not wanting to give a flat 'no.' Who knew if the System would have a sudden lapse in logic and spit out a pair of gauntlets?

  "Good. I’ll be waiting then." From Kael’s tone, Qin Ming gathered that gauntlets wouldn't be appearing anytime soon.

  It made sense. Forging gauntlets was significantly harder than making common weapons like swords or spears. The material requirements were strict—ordinary metals would break too easily, and rare hides or furs suitable for gauntlets were incredibly hard to find. For example, the armor of the Iron-Mountain Behemoth was too rigid and unsuitable for flexible handwear.

  "Mmhmm. If you need anything, help yourselves," Kael said with a slight nod.

  He habitually focused his mind to check the Popularity Meter to see his progress on the upgrade quest. To his surprise, the bar had suddenly jumped forward by a significant margin.

  "Huh?"

  Kael looked up, his eyes shifting between Blood Wolf, Tiger-Hunt, and Qin Ming. No new customers have walked in recently. Why did the Popularity points suddenly spike?

  "Is something wrong?" The three men, sensing Kael’s scrutinizing gaze, asked in confusion.

  "It’s nothing," Kael shook his head. Though he couldn't explain it, a spike in points was usually a good thing.

  However, Qin Ming suddenly became alert. He frowned and shifted his gaze toward the shop entrance.

  Blood Wolf and Tiger-Hunt followed suit a second later. They felt a prickle of danger—a sensation like needles pressing against their backs—yet they couldn't pinpoint the exact location of the threat.

  "Stop hiding. I know you're here!" Qin Ming called out, his voice ringing through the shop.

  Blood Wolf pushed the door open to regroup with his squad members outside, everyone shifting into a high-alert defensive stance.

  The Boss is truly a master. He sensed this killing intent way before we did, Tiger-Hunt thought, feeling a wave of admiration for Kael’s vigilance.

  So that’s why he was looking at us like that. He was trying to warn us.

  Meanwhile, Kael was completely baffled.

  What's wrong with them? Why the sudden 'final boss' energy? It wasn't that Kael wasn't vigilant; it was just that being inside the shop felt too safe. There was no need to worry. Whether you were a dragon or a tiger, once you stepped into this shop, you followed the Manager's rules.

  Suddenly, the darkness outside shimmered.

  Blood Wolf raised his sword to parry. His battle instincts, honed through endless deaths in the Combat Simulation Room, allowed him to react with lightning speed despite being the one on the defensive.

  The shadow outside struck once and immediately retreated, having no intention of getting bogged down in a fight with Blood Wolf.

  After a sharp metallic clink, the shop door was kicked open.

  Three silhouettes blurred into the room. Qin Ming and Tiger-Hunt lunged forward, attempting to intercept them.

  Slish!

  A flash of cold steel. A thin red line appeared on Qin Ming’s cheek, followed by a few droplets of blood.

  So fast! Qin Ming’s pupils dilated. If that strike had been aimed at his throat instead of his face, he realized with a cold sweat that he might not have been able to stop it.

  But the silhouettes had already bypassed his defense, charging straight for Kael.

  "They're after me?" Kael was confused, but his reflexes took over as he pulled Shier behind him.

  Protecting the staff was the Manager's duty. Besides, Kael knew he couldn't actually lose.

  "Boss, look out!" Tiger-Hunt roared. He drew the Furious Greatsword, spinning it in a wide arc before thrusting the tip toward one of the intruders.

  But the three figures were incredibly fast. In the blink of an eye, they were on top of Kael. Even Tiger-Hunt’s intervention only succeeded in slowing one of them down for a fraction of a second.

  "Damn it! They're Assassins!" Tiger-Hunt cursed.

  As a Berserker, high-agility classes were his biggest headache. It wasn't that he couldn't beat them, but rather that he couldn't hit them. A Knight could ignore an Assassin's speed due to their sheer defense, but a Berserker was built for power, not tanking.

  "Who did I even piss off?" Kael muttered inwardly.

  The Thousand-Machina Sphere materialized in his hand. With a thought, it transformed into a long blade, which he gripped in a reverse-hand style.