Chapter 174: 173 will be eaten in one bite?
“Welcome to Lilith’s Dessert Shop!”
As Shane was still stunned, what seemed to be the shop owner had already approached him, flashing a trademark smile.
However, the shop owner’s gaze lingered on the little girl tugging at Shane, with an indescribable fondness in his eyes.
The little girl had not noticed anything and was merely pointing at the desserts displayed in the showcase.
“I want that one… and that one… and that one… oh, and that too!”
The girl had nearly ordered one of everything in the display case.
The affection in the shop owner’s eyes suddenly turned to a look of difficulty.
Just when Shane thought that maybe the desserts were display pieces, not for sale, or that the girl had ordered too much, the owner said:
“I’m sorry, but our shop’s goods are advanced products especially for nobles. Not only are they expensive, but they also require proof of noble status to purchase. I wonder if you two…?”
The shop owner tentatively uttered these words.
“One must be a noble to buy them?”
Shane, too, was surprised.
“Yes,” the shop owner responded with another trademark smile, “because all the goods in the shop are made from very high-quality ingredients. These ingredients can even be used to create magic potions, and they also have certain edible magic effects, like restoring energy or relieving fatigue, among others. They must be aided by specialized magic tools during creation, and the ingredients are also shipped in from all over the world through merchant caravans. Therefore, not only are they costly, but they are also exclusive to nobles. Commoners who wish to purchase them must have either a recommendation letter from a noble or a token.”
That really was a heap of trouble, no wonder this shop was only located in the Noble District.
If Shane had been alone, he would probably have turned around and left by now.
But the little girl was still holding onto him, looking up expectantly.
Disappointment was evident in the girl’s voice.
Seeing her , not only did the shop owner feel distress, so did Shane. Having come this far, to say that he could not buy them would be a blow to his pride, wouldn’t it?
“Please pack them for me.”
Shane sighed as he instructed the shop owner.
The shop owner’s face showed difficulty once again.
Shane immediately rolled his eyes and removed the pendant he wore around his neck, tossing it into the owner’s hands.
“This… What is this!?”
Seeing the pendant, the shop owner’s eyes widened, and he turned pale.
“Can I buy them now?”
Shane asked, as if to tease someone.
“This… Of course!” the shop owner exclaimed, hurried and flustered, “I’ll pack them immediately… no, for you! Please wait a moment!”
After speaking, the shop owner hurried off, only to rush back in a fluster, fearfully returning the pendant to Shane, then stumbled away to pack the goods.
This scene gave Shane a slight taste of the thrill of showing off and fixing a situation, as depicted in those urban dramas.
“Truly boring and tasteless,”
Shane commented, as he calmly put the pendant back around his neck.
Unseen by Shane, the little girl beside him also stuffed a pendant back inside her clothes.
Upon closer inspection, the pendant bore a dragon head, and was entirely black.
In the future, having learned about this incident, Shane was more than once thankful that he had used Luoqi’s pendant to resolve the situation.
Otherwise, if this little girl were to show off her pendant, I’m afraid the entire Royal Capital would plunge into chaos. The King and the nation’s senior officials would scramble over each other to pay their respects without the slightest hint of delay.
About ten minutes later, with the shopkeeper’s polite farewell ringing in his ears, Shane walked out of the shop with the little girl.
He not only left with a mountain of sweets in large and small packages, but also with a face full of pain.
“Just a few desserts, and they cost me a whole fifty gold coins—damn, that’s ridiculously expensive.”
Shane finally understood what “expensive” truly meant.
It simply wasn’t something the average person could afford.
Even nobles probably wouldn’t buy a pile like Shane had, right?
But considering that these desserts had effects similar to magic potions, perhaps the steep price was somewhat understandable.
As soon as anything was related to magic, it became exorbitantly expensive—such was common knowledge in the world.
“Luckily, I no longer need to buy suitable weapons; otherwise, I really couldn’t afford this.”
Shane reflected on how he had almost blown through the money Riley had provided him, leaving only a little remaining.
In contrast, the little girl beside him hugged a pillow with one hand and grasped a piece of cake with the other, nibbling away with relish.
Watching her do as she pleased, Shane had a feeling.
“You wouldn’t happen to be some big shot, would you, little lady?”
Remembering the little girl’s mention of deals worth tens of thousands of gold coins, Shane seriously began to suspect this.
But the little girl furrowed her brow.
“I’m not a little lady,” she said, looking up at Shane. “My name is Ai Yi.”
“Ai Yi?” Shane repeated the name.
“Mhm,” Ai Yi nodded. “Just call me that, especially if it’s you.”
Shane didn’t understand the latter half of her statement, and he didn’t try to.
“Well, then, Little Ai Yi, I’ve bought the things for you, and you should head home now. Your uncle—I mean, your brother has some things to do and can’t keep you company anymore. We’ll meet again if it’s meant to be.”
Shane patted Ai Yi’s head, ready to say goodbye.
“Don’t add ‘little’ to my name; I’m not little at all.” Ai Yi, clearly displeased, brushed Shane’s hand away but still looked up at him. “Are you leaving?”
“Yes,” Shane said without concern, sighing. “I’ve been targeted by a little witch, and who knows if I’ll become her plaything next. With a cute kid like you tagging along with me, if that little witch found you, she might just gobble you up.”
“…Really?” Ai Yi raised an eyebrow and seemed to ponder for a moment before responding, “Then you should take me with you.”
“Huh?” Shane was taken aback, then replied with a wry smile, “Did you not hear what I just said?”
“I heard.” Ai Yi said nonchalantly, “It’s precisely because I heard that I want to go.”
“Why?” Shane was baffled.
Then, Ai Yi gave him this response:
“I’m always the one who gobbles others up; no one has ever gobbled me up.”
Her words carried a dangerous edge.
“So, I want to see for myself who it is that can gobble me up.”
With that, Ai Yi was ready to take a step.
But right then, a pair of hands embraced Ai Yi, lifting her into their arms.
Ai Yi was suddenly startled.