"Me, running a trash can shop, and you think I'd sell you just the empty trash cans?"
Stelle replied with absolute seriousness, "What about my trash can, then? Trash without a trash can is meaningless. Have you ever thought about the feelings of the trash? That lonely, abandoned piece of garbage, cast out without a home."
"If you put it that way, then the real story is this," said Sylvester. "It was you who ripped the trash from the warm, cozy can. You're the one who tore them apart, separated them forever. You never cared about the trash's feelings—you only care about yourself!"
Oh ho, a master! To use my own logic to defeat me? Stelle couldn't help but look at Sylvester with newfound respect.
Normally, when she said things like this, March 7th would be beside her muttering, 'Your tastes really are unique…'
Rarely did she find someone whose brainwaves matched hers.
A spark of kindred spirit rose in her mind, the thrill of a duel atop lofty peaks swelled in her chest.
Stelle made her decision: out of respect for this rare opponent, she would go all out. She'd muster her boundless willpower and stamina to make him beg for mercy.
Qingque, watching these two lunatics duel like equals, let out a yawn. Why in the world were they bickering so fiercely over the life-and-death separation of trash cans?
And besides—since when did trash cans have life and death?
Stelle declared, "Trash without a trash can has no soul!"
Sylvester countered, "But the trash summoned an Aeon, and gave you the path of Elation. That means you absorbed the trash."
Stelle shot back, "I absorbed the trash? Then what about the can?"
Sylvester replied, "If the trash is gone, then what meaning does the trash can hold? It vanishing too is perfectly logical."
Stelle rubbed her chin and inhaled sharply. "Hsss. This guy's logic is airtight. Truly a top master."
"Hahaha." Qingque laughed dryly from the side. "I don't see any logic at all."
"No, no, no! For the honor of the trash cans, I can't just surrender like this!" Stelle rallied her spirit, ready to unleash another round of verbal combat.
But Sylvester was in too good a mood. Looking at the dozen or so trash cans left in the display case and the millions of Credits earned today, he felt delighted.
Forget it—there was no way he'd hit a hundred sales today anyway. So why not gift one to the Trailblazer?
After all, Stelle had been his most-played character before reincarnation. He could call it a parting tribute to his own youth.
He grabbed a trash can and set it on the counter. "Here. Let's call it fate. This one's free."
"Deal." Stelle accepted smoothly. "From now on, we're best friends."
Qingque was dumbfounded. "So, it was just about getting something free all along? What happened to 'I won't give up for the glory of trash cans'?"
So, the love of trash cans had been a lie? If Qingque were a trash can herself, she'd probably be furious enough to die from Stelle's shamelessness.
Wait, no—why was she putting herself in the place of a trash can? These two were so out of line, they were dragging her down with them.
Stelle pulled open the trash can. A flash of violet light burst out, and a crystal fell onto the counter.
She picked it up, turned it over, even sniffed it, but still had no idea what it was.
Sylvester checked the system description. "That's a Weapon Enchanting Stone. It holds the power of concepts. Any weapon strengthened by it will guarantee that a hit to the back of the head knocks the enemy out cold."
"Oh, that's actually really useful." Stelle took out her baseball bat, gently pressed the crystal against it, and a wave of purple light flared as it merged into the weapon.
She gave a powerful swing into the air. "Mm. Feels way better already."
Sylvester, amused, turned his gaze. "Qingque, not going to open a trash can?"
Qingque shook her head. "Nope. I may play cards all the time, but when it comes to gambling, I have zero interest."
"Eh?" Qingque suddenly froze. "Wait a second—how do you know my name? I don't recall anyone introducing me."
Ah, slipped up.
"Uh, Master Diviner mentioned you when They came by," Sylvester improvised without hesitation. "Said They hoped you'd pull a Curio that would make you more diligent. That's how I know."
"Master Diviner said that? But I'm doing my job properly…" Qingque's whole body bristled with rejection at the horrifying thought. "Ugh, today's just awful! First I got caught slacking by Master Diviner in person. Then when I tried to get snacks at Aurum Alley, the shop was closed for the day. And then, a whole horde of company people suddenly rushed out of Aurum Alley. If we hadn't been riding the Divination Commission's public starskiff, we'd have been stuck in traffic with them."
"The company's people, rushing out en masse?" Sylvester perked up.
The Interastral Peace Corporation's wealth was legendary—those were potential customers.
But their methods of squeezing profits were absolutely ruthless. Until he grew much stronger, doing business with them would probably leave him stripped bare.
After all, his trash cans weren't ordinary goods. Without the protection of the Xianzhou, countless factions across the cosmos would be clamoring to seize him.
"Where were they headed?"
Qingque thought back to their route. "Should be the Exalting Sanctum. Dozens of them. By now, they're probably already there. Their schedules are even busier than the Divination Commission's. Even after work, they still do team-building."
Team-building? Sylvester leaned back in his chair, tapping his fingers on the counter.
His instincts told him the company's people were actually after him.
Dozens of them… He pictured the scene. With the momentum from his and Fu Xuan's broadcast, he should be able to intimidate those hostile ones in the short term.
But their response still puzzled him.
He fiddled with the Jade Abacus in his hand. Forget it—he'd just take things as they came. Worst case, one call and Fu Xuan's kitty would drop in from the heavens.
On Luofu turf, the company wouldn't dare use overly aggressive tactics.
"This is the place, the so-called Curio Trash Cans?"
A voice—both familiar and unfamiliar—echoed from outside the door.
Sylvester's brows furrowed. That voice… familiar, but whose? He couldn't recall any male character like that. Certainly not in the gacha pool.
Skott pushed the door open, hands on his hips, scanning the room before fixing his gaze on Sylvester. "You're the shopkeeper?"
"Welcome. Curio Trash Cans, one million apiece, no haggling."
Ah, this guy. Sylvester remembered him all too well—the one who had lost a bet in Aurum Alley and had to bark like a dog for the Trailblazer.
And to be fair… his barking had been convincing.
He'd barked for so long that Sylvester half suspected he had a fetish for it, using the bet as an excuse to unleash his true self.
Skott glanced at the dozen or so trash cans left in the display case and sneered inwardly. This scammer's business was actually doing well?
But no matter. His mission was nearly complete.
Just thinking about the project's rewards sent a thrill of excitement through him.
He waved a hand, took two Jade Abacuses from his subordinates, and tossed them onto Sylvester's counter. "The rest of your trash cans—I'll take them all."