Chapter 38: Kelly!!!!

"Good morning."

Mael rubbed her eyes and yawned, greeting him as she walked past.

"Good morning, you're up quite early."

Yelin felt a slight sense of awkwardness. He was still wrapped in his quilt, lying on his side, while Mael was already in her pajamas, getting ready to wash up.

"Well, back when I lived in the forest, the morning mist and dew were always heavy, so I got used to waking up early."

Mael stretched her arms wide, the buttons of her pajamas struggling valiantly to hold their ground.

Yelin’s mouth twitched, and he sighed inwardly, "Terrifying... truly terrifying. I wonder if Paladin and the others are the same? I have to wonder if the Goddess of Wisdom, Nymiel, has some sort of fixation? Like, perhaps she was 'flat-chested' herself, so she made all her incarnations 'endowed with the world'?"

"Where's Shiate?"

"She's getting dressed."

Mael gave a naive, sweet smile, then looked down at her feet. "Oh, Mige, you're awake! Let's go together."

As she spoke, she bent down to pick up Mige.

"Mige, you're truly my best friend. I'll buy you some wine later."

He was almost moved to tears, considering Mael was facing directly toward his...

*Clang!*

Mael bent down to pick up Mige and gasped in surprise, "Sister Shiate, why are you holding your sword?"

"Mael, don't just bend over or squat down in front of people like that from now on. Do you understand?"

"Huh? Oh, oh, I understand..."

Mael walked away, looking confused as she carried Mige, leaving behind a cold-looking Shiate, who used her Hidden Dragon Greatsword to block the eyes that were trying to sneak a peek.

"Heh, shameless!"

"I really can't be blamed for this, Mige ran over on its own!"

"Couldn't you have just closed your eyes?"

"She was too fast, I didn't have time."

*Snap!*

Yelin scrambled up, breaking into a cold sweat. The corner of his bed—which was also the corner of the table—had been cleanly sliced off by the Hidden Dragon Greatsword.

"Are you trying to murder your own husband?"

"Heh, you were fast enough to look, why weren't you fast enough to close your eyes?"

Shiate sneered and sheathed her greatsword. "Wait until we’re done washing up before you come in."

***

"Fine, fine, fine."

As he got dressed, he fell into deep thought. Could the Shiate who had let him nibble on her ear yesterday have been Tana in disguise?

Yesterday, the atmosphere had been so intimate that he was nearly ready to "secure justice," and today she was pulling a sword and acting like she didn't know him!

Seria and Sosie had gone together to look for a storefront and check out locations, while Shiate and Tana had gone to that aristocratic manor. Mael, holding Mige, was left in a dilemma—who should she follow?

Just as Yelin was about to volunteer, Tana tapped his forehead with a smile and pulled Mael away.

Influenced by the Great Mage Mar, Hendon Myre was a city that highly respected magic and civilization. At the same time, it possessed the best pharmaceutical supplies and the largest quantity of materials for secondary professions in the world.

The Alchemist Guild, led by Norton, was very happy to serve adventurers, buying and selling various magic essences, goblin bones, cat demon claws, and elemental crystals. The trade was booming, attracting a large number of merchants and tourists.

After following the map, admiring the scenery, and stopping along the way, he finally arrived at his destined destination: Kiri’s mechanical building!

At the end of the street stood a two-story building with white walls and blue tiles, with a sign outside that read "Reinforcement Shop." Of course, the four or five buildings on this street were all Kiri's property.

However, the shop, which should have been bustling, was eerily quiet. Only two or three people were wandering around the "Weapon Shop" next door.

The weapon shop contained fine weapons that had been reinforced several times, with at least high-grade equipment ranging from +5 to +10.

"Strange, this doesn't make sense. It shouldn't be this quiet."

Yelin touched his chin, feeling extremely puzzled. He had stood outside for half an hour, and not a single customer had gone in.

Hendon Myre only had one reinforcement machine, and that was Kiri's. Since she was able to become a famous and wealthy person by relying on that machine, there was no reason for it to be like this.

"Could it be that something happened?"

He stepped forward and quickly headed toward the reinforcement shop. If something had happened to Kiri, he would naturally applaud, but Kiri’s people must not be harmed!

"Yo, newcomer, you're quite handsome~"

Unlike Tana's slightly teasing tone, Kiri's remark was purely polite, intended to lure in a customer.

"Thank you for the compliment."

On the right side of the hall stood a large, pot-bellied machine about the height of a person that looked very familiar. In the center of its belly was a circular entrance that emitted a shimmering, mystical light.

The reinforcement machine—the source of all evil!

What was more surprising was that next to the reinforcement machine stood a disassembly machine with two giant gears constantly rotating. Wasn't that Norton's work? Why did Kiri have one here?

"Sorry, handsome, we're not open today. Taking the day off to study magic."

Kiri, who was in a half-reclining position, excitedly raised her right hand. A flame suddenly rose from her palm, but it vanished in an instant.

She wore a blue jumpsuit, goggles resting on her forehead, and her long hair was held up by a hairpin. The tightened belt showcased the fit, healthy physique typical of a Celestial.

Kiri's appearance wasn't exactly world-shatteringly beautiful, but having fought in the Arden Highlands for years, she possessed a heroic spirit that her peers lacked—a look that grew on you.

Moreover, Kiri was actually quite young—only twenty-six. It was the harsh environment of the Lawless District that made her look a bit older.

***

"I was introduced by Sosie. I want to buy that manor under your name—the one where you both teamed up to swindle the nobles of the De Los Empire."

Yelin stated his purpose directly. Kiri’s strength was definitely above that of an Awakened; he would need a complete and safe plan to make her go weak at the knees...

Until then, he’d better behave.

"So you're a friend. See that reinforcement machine? The price list and required materials are posted on it. Get your equipment to +10, and I'll sell it to you at the original price."

Kiri gave a sly smile. Since he was one of Sosie's people, it meant selling the manor was essentially doing Sosie a favor; she didn't really need it anyway, so why not?

But before that, a little bit of swindling shouldn't be too much, right?

"Only +10?"

"What do you mean 'only'? Handsome, have you ever used a reinforcement machine? Ordinary equipment has a chance to shatter at +7, and rare gear has a chance to shatter at +9 and +10. Even if you have an Artifact, did you know it could drop back to zero several times before reaching +10?"

"Reinforcement refers to forcing the energy of furnace carbon or small colorless crystals into the equipment to enhance its attributes. The more energy you fuse, the more likely an accident is to occur. Did you know that?"

Because he was one of Sosie's people, she didn't feel right about swindling him to death, so she explained the operating principle of the reinforcement machine again.

"This is the Flame Sun, an Artifact."

Yelin took out his weapon to show Kiri—a raw weapon with no reinforcements.

"I advise you to use high-grade equipment instead."

He took out a +10 Equipment Reinforcement Ticket and tore it open. A surge of powerful magic runes flew from the ticket, attached themselves to the surface of the Flame Sun, and transformed into the same reinforcement energy as the furnace carbon.

+10 [Flame Sun], get!

Kiri froze. A strong sense of crisis rose from the bottom of her heart. *Something's wrong, a major crisis!*

*What is this?*

How could this kind of magical scroll be similar to the items of those noble lords in the Celestial Realm? But those items were rarer than Artifact equipment, and a single one was worth a fortune!

*Snap!*

With a snap of her fingers, the doors slammed shut. She had to get to the bottom of this, or it would mean the end of her livelihood.

A revolver was instantly pressed against his head. Kiri was Kiri—willful and unrestrained.

Fifth Element activated!

The revolver pressed against his forehead instantly turned soft. Kiri stared in astonishment at the mud-like revolver in her hand, unable to react for a moment.