“Until I came and gave a blanket discount of 20% on everything, right?”

He completed her sentence. A smile formed on his lips when he saw her pouting. She looked cute with her puffed-up cheeks and lower lip pushed outward.

“This was the first-ever deal I negotiated. And I even argued to get more benefits for us. Why did you give him such a big discount? That too, when he didn’t even help you against Patriarch Li and Manager Lian!”

“Think hard of the situation back there. What would have happened if Commander Du had stepped out? Now tell me whether Commander helped us or not?”

Xin Ruo was lost in her own mind as she replayed the events that transpired in the morning. In the meantime, Ikasa observed her.

Her dark hair was shining in the afternoon glow of the sun. A strand of hair had come loose from her simple ponytail. She pushed that annoying strand of hair behind her ear. As she realized the crux of the matter, her pearly white teeth bit her ruby red lip.

Mesmerized by this scene, Ikasa blurted the first word that came to his mind.

“Sexy!”

Xin Ruo blushed at his sudden slip of the tongue. She turned her head to look away from him. Ikasa also awkwardly scratched his head. He saw the alluring red spread to her neck from the corner of his eyes.

To break the ice, he cleared his throat and returned to their previous topic.

“Did you find the answer?”

Xin Ruo also recovered and composed herself. She put her conclusions before Ikasa.

“If Commander had come out to help you, the matter would’ve blown up. Patriarch Li and Manager Lian would’ve demanded that City Lord be the judge. It would’ve been impossible to resolve with just the arrest of Appraiser Jin Ping.”

Ikasa nodded, approving her chain of thought.

“Very good. But you are missing the point. Commander Du’s inaction actually saved me.”

“How?”

“If the matter was brought before the City Lord, what would’ve happened?”

“The City Lord would’ve judged the matter…”

Seeing Xin Ruo’s confusion, Ikasa shook his head.

“The matter would no longer be about who is in the wrong and who is in the right. But who can offer the most benefits and punishing whom would lead to least consequences.”

Her mouth gaped open as she saw the entire picture. She frowned and looked at Ikasa with worry as the implications set in.

“Wouldn’t that mean…”

“Yes. I would’ve been the one to be punished. Since I don’t have impressive support, punishing me has the least consequences.”

Ikasa sighed as he exposed his vulnerable side to Xin Ruo.

“But wouldn’t Commander Du protect you?”

“Why would he? He is City Lord’s subordinate. He wouldn’t publicly go against him. And even if he did argue my case successfully, City Lord will not let go of such a juicy piece of meat. One of the conditions for my freedom would be the method to create Spiritual Imprints.”

Her mind was overwhelmed as she discovered the many considerations behind one simple action. Then she thought about the agreement they had formed with Commander Du and became anxious.

“Wait! Wouldn’t the City Lord’s Manor take over our shop, if we rely on them?”

“Our Shop, huh?”

Ikasa asked with a teasing tone, and Xin Ruo blushed at her gaffe. He didn’t embarrass her further and assuaged her.

“We are not relying on City Lord’s Manor per se; We are in a business relationship. Using this relationship, we are only borrowing the City Lord’s name to act fierce.”

“So if someone did come after us…”

“If it is a small fry, Commander Du will help us warn them. In the event, that either of the two prestigious families acts, we are on our own.”

The callousness with which Ikasa uttered those words did not lessen their severity.

The atmosphere turned solemn when the shallowness of this business’s foundation registered in their mind. They went through different scenarios where they would have to fend off the covetous families. Sadly, they failed in every one.

The depressing atmosphere was broken by their first customer for the Hundred-Use Manual.

“Hello! We would like to order one Hundred-Use Dumb Belle’s Guide to Strength!”

Three well-built men knocked on the Shop’s counter. Shrugging off her gloom, Xin Ruo jumped into action.

“Welcome! One hundred-use manual is 1000 Gold. To preorder, you need to deposit 100 or more gold. Should I note you down?”

The three men looked at each other and came to a consensus. They didn’t know they would have to pay a deposit to place an order. But they didn’t hesitate to place it anyway.

That was the first and the last group who pre-ordered the Hundred-Use manual for the day. When the sun started setting in the west, Ikasa called out to Xin Ruo.

“Let’s pack up. I don’t think anyone will come to register for regular manuals anymore.”

While they were closing the shop, they saw a figure run towards them from the inner city. It was none other than Caretaker Han!

Caretaker Han was red-faced and out of breath. His limbs were trembling. He still did not rest. Instead, he delivered a message in his quivering voice.

“Master, they are holding the Kids hostage!”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep