“What’s with those faces? Don’t tell me you two are talking bad about me, for goodness’ sake.”
Daphne hugged the cat in her arms tightly, arching one eyebrow.
“Of course not. We were praising your experience, Lady Daphne.” Saifina turned her head, displaying her signature smile.
After living nearly a thousand years, of course she was experienced.
“Since fate has brought us together, may I have the honor of inviting you to our tavern for a while?”
Daphne’s gaze slid toward Lin Shu, who stood beside Saifina.
“Considering your human familiar helped return my cat’s tail, I suppose I can.” She paused, then continued, “But didn’t something happen to your tavern tonight?”
Several shops were attacked by troublemakers at the same time, and the news had already spread throughout the capital.
“We’ve already cleaned up most of it. The private rooms on the second floor are available.”
“Alright then.” Daphne wore a knowing look, took a few short steps forward, and reached out her small hand to grab Lin Shu’s finger.
Lin Shu felt her index finger wrapped in a soft, tiny palm.
Meeting Lin Shu’s puzzled gaze, Daphne tilted her face up and replied in a childlike voice, “What’s wrong? Help me along, will you?”
The private room on the tavern’s second floor.
Although troublemakers had just wrecked the place, the staff had worked quickly, restoring everything to order.
The room was clearly cleaned, the wooden floors and sofa spotless. The air was thick with the mellow scent of wine.
Daphne set the cat down and plopped onto the sofa without hesitation. Laicai also hopped lightly onto the table.
Cheese and dried meat snacks from the tavern’s reserves were brought out one after another. Saifina went to arrange drinks, leaving only Lin Shu and Daphne in the room for now.
“Little cat, you can have some cheese.” Daphne broke half of the purple cheese and shoved it toward Laicai’s mouth.
Laicai turned its head away, clearly uninterested. It let out a “meow,” then bounded over to Lin Shu.
Lin Shu got the hint, tore off a piece of dried meat, and held it under Laicai’s mouth.
The cat promptly bit down, holding the meat and gnawing on it repeatedly.
Lin Shu tried reaching out to gently stroke its back. Laicai squinted its eyes in contentment, purring softly.
“Oh? Quite practiced, aren’t you?” Daphne observed Lin Shu’s cat-petting technique.
Lin Shu smiled faintly. It was just experience accumulated from spending time with the cats downstairs back in her original world.
While petting Laicai, she said, “Laicai seems pretty friendly.”
“Nonsense. It’s a bad cat.” Daphne waved her hand. “Except for me, it only cares about money.”
“Money?”
Daphne explained, “Whenever this guy comes across something valuable, it can recognize it immediately—more accurate than most appraisers.”
“That’s why it’s your familiar?”
Lin Shu was surprised. It was her first time hearing about a familiar with commercial instincts.
“Of course.” Daphne looked proud. “Tonight at your master’s clothing shop, it immediately spotted that ball of thread made of magic spider silk in the corner and played with it like crazy. That thing really is good.”
“But I was so caught up in shopping that when I turned around, Laicai was gone.”
“When it came back, I realized its tail was missing. Must’ve gotten broken off in the chaos.”
“Without its tail, it’ll definitely have trouble identifying goods.”
Lin Shu glanced at the cut end of the broken tail. “Can’t you reattach it?”
The half of the tail that had been wrapped around her wrist was now lying limp and lifeless on the table.
“It’s not that simple.” Daphne took a bite of cheese, speaking with her mouth full. “Restoring the tail requires a rare material as a catalyst. There’s no way to buy it in the capital.”
“What material?”
Daphne swallowed the cheese. “Crimson Stamen.”
!
That name triggered a memory in Lin Shu’s mind.
That’s right—this rare material was the next target on Liya’s list after obtaining the Demon Flower.
She’d read the relevant records and learned about its growing place and characteristics.
“Click.”
The door opened.
Saifina entered, followed by a staff member carrying drinks. He placed three goblets filled with different colored liquids on the table and left the room.
“Fortunately, we still have some wine in the cellar. Sorry for the limited hospitality, Lady Daphne.” Saifina took a seat across from them.
“Saifina, you invited me here to discuss a partnership, didn’t you?”
Daphne brushed cheese crumbs from her hand, getting straight to the point.
“If you prefer directness, that suits me.”
“I want to know—what can you offer me?” Daphne scooted back, sprawling carelessly on the sofa. “Every deal has to be worthwhile.”
“The Drago family’s brewing techniques and tailoring skills have a good reputation among the demons. They’re both worthy of your investment.”
“Those are things you can find on the market. I’m not interested.”
Suddenly, Daphne sat up straight, her mouth curving into a “w” shape as if an idea was hatching in her mind:
“What’s truly valuable to me is right beside you.”
The one beside her was, of course, Lin Shu.
Lin Shu didn’t expect the conversation to suddenly turn to her and instinctively glanced at Saifina.
Saifina’s smile faded, her expression turning grim.
Daphne grabbed her small backpack. “Your family is probably completely isolated now, isn’t it? Timely financial help is crucial right now.”
She pulled out several heavy bags and placed them on the table. The contents clinked noisily.
“The bone coins in here are enough to get several shops back in business.”
Saifina forced a smile. “Your offer is indeed generous. I’ve never doubted your wealth.”
She looked up. “But if what you want is her, I refuse.”
Daphne sighed. “Ah, boring, boring. Didn’t expect you to be so stubborn. The family’s about to collapse and you’re still putting up a front.”
“I don’t think the Drago family can make a comeback.”
Saifina’s face darkened further.
Lin Shu couldn’t bear it. Why—why say such malicious things?
Even though Daphne could do as she pleased because of her wealth… this was also the quickest way to help the family. They couldn’t afford to miss it.
She spoke up directly. “Lady Daphne, I have a proposal.”
“Go ahead, go ahead.” Daphne raised an eyebrow with interest.
“The Crimson Stamen you mentioned just now—I can help you get it.”
Saifina looked surprised but didn’t interrupt.
Daphne’s heterochromatic eyes lit up, but she still asked cautiously, “Explain.”
“I know the properties of the Crimson Flower. It grows in the underground jungle west of the demons’ lands. To get the stamen, you have to go deep into the jungle and harvest it while it’s blooming.”
“If we help you get the material to heal Laicai, you invest these funds in the Drago family. How about it?”
Lin Shu met her eyes, resolute.