"Mr. Sylvester, I've had terrible luck lately. Could you check if I'm possessed by some evil spirit? Please help me lift the curse." A customer slumped over the counter of the Curio Trash Cans Shop, asking urgently.
Sylvester replied helplessly, "Drink more hot water."
A customer in an anime-girl shirt leaned in and whispered, "Boss Sylvester, I keep going crazy over my 2D waifus… it's even affecting my work. What should I do?"
Sylvester snapped impatiently, "Lust brings disaster. Cut it off, cure it forever."
A skinny man, looking half-dead, asked weakly, "Shopkeeper, my house is haunted. A ghostly woman presses on my chest every night—I wake up exhausted every morning. What should I do?"
Sylvester gave him a sharp glare. "Talk with the ghost woman for a few more days. If you're lucky, she'll leave tomorrow. At least you'll get ten months of peace."
"Wait, that doesn't add up." Sylvester checked the clock—it was only seven. "If you're that drained, how do you even have the strength to wake up this early?"
"I… didn't sleep at all last night." The man collapsed onto the chair, his expression drenched in sorrow.
"Ssshh~" Sylvester leaned back dramatically, his shocked gaze embodying 'solemn respect'.
"Go to the Ten-Lords Commission. Find Judge Hanya, or a trainee judge named Huohuo. They're experienced in handling paranormal cases."
"Thank you, Boss Sylvester." The customer staggered toward the Ten-Lords Commission, legs trembling, determination etched in his steps.
Sylvester nodded, respect flashing in his eyes. "Such a stubborn will to survive. May he live through the night."
"Boss Sylvester, I—"
Respect aside, seeing the next customer open their mouth, Sylvester quickly cut them off. "Opening a Trash Can: one million. Solving curses and ailments: one hundred million."
He had no idea why, but ever since Aventurine suffered misfortune in his shop and Sylvester resolved it, rumors had spread that he could undo curses and spells.
And the rumors only grew wilder. Now he was painted as a master of geomancy, curse-breaking, spirit-channeling, rare-ailment curing, foot care, lockpicking—every dirty job imaginable rolled into one miracle worker.
Today, not a single one of the first ten customers had come to open a Trash Can!
It was utterly exasperating.
Had he not seen it himself, Sylvester would never believe the Xianzhou harbored so many strange folk, each one plagued by some bizarre illness.
And apparently, they had all gathered here for a meeting!
He thought he was the one good at stirring chaos—but clearly, the locals had given him a taste of Xianzhou shock.
Sylvester even suspected his recent fame had grown too loud. Now every kind of so-called hero, freak, and spirit-seeker wanted to bond with him over shared "work."
And all it did was add to his workload.
Outside, one customer snapped after hearing Sylvester's words. "What the hell, raising prices on the spot?!"
"A hundred million? Just to cure athlete's foot? I'd rather cut off my tongue and wait for it to grow back!"
"You do realize it's athlete's foot, right?" Sylvester's fury meter maxed out. "How the hell does your tongue even catch athlete's foot—you seriously have no clue?!"
"Uh…" The man deflated instantly, his whole demeanor collapsing. "Why else would I come here instead of the clinic?"
Was that… an admission?
Was it exactly what everyone was imagining?
The crowd stared at him with shock, disbelief, reluctant respect—and even envy.
"I-I-I… ahhhh!" Under the merciless bombardment of their gazes, the man's psyche finally broke. He fled in tears.
Sylvester stomped back to his chair in a huff.
Where were all these people coming from? On normal days, not a trace of them—now they were arriving by the masses.
Just as his irritation peaked, the crisp click of high heels rang out.
He looked up.
A refined beauty stood before him, her long wavy lavender hair flowing down.
A jade necklace hung from her neck, its pendant resting just above the valley of her chest. Her gradient blue triangle-pattern dress trailed from her right side to her ankles, like a mysterious serpent coiling around her body—dangerous allure spilling from every motion.
Her gentle smile carried a queen's undeniable dominance.
One of the Ten Stonehearts. The mistress of Bonajade Exchange.
"Greetings, Boss Sylvester. I am Jade of the Interastral Peace Corporation. I've long admired your reputation. My colleague Aventurine was under your care, for which I must thank you." She greeted with ladylike grace.
"Hello, Ms. Jade." Sylvester replied with the same coolness he used on other customers.
But inside, he was relieved.
Finally—someone here to actually buy Trash Cans!
"Hey, hey, hey! Don't just start chatting! We're here to buy Trash Cans too. Just because she's pretty doesn't mean she gets to cut in line!"
Not everyone was here to bother him. More than ten were still queuing properly, and seeing Jade slip in first amidst the chaos sent them into an uproar.
"That's right! We're all paying customers. Who's more important than who? There should be rules!" a foxian man shouted.
"Yeah, move aside! There's only a few Trash Cans each day—first come, first served!"
Seeing this, Sylvester put on a regretful face. "Ms. Jade, you can see for yourself. I'm afraid I can't make exceptions."
"No matter." Jade smiled faintly and stepped outside. Addressing the crowd, she declared, "Greetings, all. My name is Jade. Perhaps you've heard of me, perhaps not. Regardless, I will conduct a pawn exchange here today. The collateral will be your positions in line!"
One foxian scratched his head. "Jade? Pawn exchange? That name rings a bell…"
A Vidyadhara beside him smacked his shoulder. "You idiot. She's an Executive of the IPC. The famed mistress of Bonajade Exchange—the one who promises to fulfill any desire. Remember now?"
"Ah, right, right. That one. But even if she's big, she can't just cut the line! She owes us an explanation."
"Yeah, that's right—give us an explanation!"
"Hmph." Jade chuckled softly. "Today I intend to buy ten Trash Cans. That means at most ten of you will lose your chance. As compensation, I will offer twenty million Credits—equivalent to twenty Trash Cans' value—to distribute among you. Consider it payment for waiting one extra day."
"Twenty million?!" The people in line were stunned.
Just to cut in line—she was throwing down twenty million? Split among them, that was over a million each. Had they heard right?
Many were immediately tempted—especially those in the back.
The line wasn't long, but Trash Cans were limited. Unless everyone up front bought only one each, those in the rear had almost no chance anyway.
And a million plus for simply waiting? Who could say no?
"I'm in!" The last man in line shot his hand up and rushed to Jade.
Without hesitation, Jade scanned his Jade Abacus, and the receipt chime rang.
"Haha, jackpot!" He was already planning to resell any valuable Curio—now he didn't even need a buyer. It was free money.
"Me too!" More followed, inspired by the first.
Soon, only two hesitant customers remained. They glanced at each other nervously, unwilling to give up but reluctant to miss the payout.
Finally, one rolled his eyes, handed over his Jade Abacus. "Alright, I'll take the deal."
But instead of leaving, he obediently lined up behind Jade.
The other man blinked.
Of course—only three left. They couldn't both buy ten Cans.
Overjoyed, he handed over his Abacus as well, grinning at his sudden windfall.
"Mr. Sylvester, is that acceptable now?" Jade turned back with her poised smile.
"Such generosity—it makes me envious. If it were me, I'd rather wait an extra day." Sylvester returned her smile.
Few were ever this desperate to buy Trash Cans. Just as Jade said, there were new ones every day. Why spend to cut in line?
Could it be… she hated waking up early, like him?
No—there had to be more. His curiosity was tinged with caution.
Jade's professional smile never wavered. "Opportunity is the highest form of wealth."
This was her only short-term loophole. As for twenty million Credits?
Heh. A mere drop in the ocean—nothing to fuss over.
"Hoo~" Sylvester exhaled, then delivered his standard greeting.
"Welcome to the Curio Trash Cans Shop. Ordinary Trash Cans, one million Credits each."