The Berrypheasant Skewer was the size of a soup pot—its crimson fruits gleamed brilliantly, encased in a layer of crystalline sugar that shimmered in the sunlight. The light refracted through its glossy surface, scattering dazzling glimmers across the room.
It was, without question, the perfect Berrypheasant Skewer—utterly mouthwatering.
…Or so it should have been!
Yunli glared furiously at the person-tall skewer in her hands.
She was certain—absolutely certain—that she had been deceived by that scheming trash can. The skewer's rod wasn't even wood—it was a meticulously carved metal staff! What possible reason could there be for such extravagance other than tricking her into pulling it?!
This… this had to be a mistake, right?
Was this supposed to be a Curio?
Granted, the fruit was impressively large—each Berrypheasant fruit was the size of a human head, glowing faintly with an almost mystical allure.
A million credits, gone! And what did she get? A snack!
Her red envelope money, no less!
The image of her shattered piggy-bank flashed across her mind, and her heart quivered in regret.
Her small face trembled with indignation—she even raised the skewer, fully intending to smash it into the ground.
But after several false starts, she just… couldn't bring herself to do it.
Because—it really did look delicious. The glossy fruits glistened temptingly; just one whiff made her mouth water.
So, out of sheer frustration, she took a giant bite.
Logically speaking, with the sugar coating so thick and the fruit so large, it shouldn't have been tasty for a human-sized mouth. She half expected to bite off nothing but sugar shards.
Yet the moment she sank her teeth in—
Crunch.
The texture was perfect. The taste—sublime. In fact, it was the best Berrypheasant Skewer she had ever eaten.
Suppressing a laugh, Sylvester remarked, "That's the [Overlord Berrypheasant Skewer]. The fruits retain their natural tartness, but are now four times sweeter, and dozens of times larger. The sugar coating is special too—though it looks like it's outside, it's actually fused into the fruit itself. That's why it's both crisp and rich in flavor with every bite."
Yunli didn't even reply. She just stuffed her cheeks full, gnawing on the skewer with a vengeance—as if every bite could avenge her lost savings.
…And honestly? It was really, really good.
Her mood was still sour, but after a few enormous bites, acceptance began to settle in.
She turned, ready to open the next trash can—when Sylvester casually added, "Oh, one more thing. That [Overlord Berrypheasant Skewer] never runs out. As long as you plant the metal rod upright, it'll regenerate every night at midnight—up to eight fruits at a time. Even half-eaten ones will be restored, all fresh and perfect."
"…Huh?"
Yunli's gloom evaporated instantly. Her golden eyes lit up with stars.
Did that mean… she now had unlimited bird skewers for life?!
She quickly ran the math in her head—six hundred credits per normal skewer meant… one million credits could buy… um… lots and lots of them!
If she ate one every day, that would last her four or five years at least!
And she still had nearly a thousand years of life ahead of her!
One skewer a day, each heavier than she was—how could life possibly get any better!?
Sylvester watched her bouncing excitement with mild amusement.
The way her expression had flipped—from sulky kitten to radiant, purring bundle of joy—was a sight to behold. It was just like a little cat that had finally gotten the can of fish it couldn't open, and was now devouring it happily, all grievances forgotten.
"Ahem. N-not bad, I suppose," Yunli muttered, clearing her throat and trying to suppress the grin tugging at her lips.
Ugh, she had just been grumbling about this thing—and now she was glowing with happiness the moment she found out it regenerated. If anyone saw this, they'd totally think she was just a glutton!
No way. Too embarrassing. She had to act like a mature adult.
Head held high, she marched back toward the shelves, pretending not to care.
Sylvester couldn't help chuckling quietly to himself.
Now she was worried about appearances? A bit late for that.
If he teased her right now, she'd probably explode in embarrassment. Tempting—but perhaps a bit unkind.
So, he held his tongue.
Qingque, meanwhile, remained utterly uninterested—head down, recording everything mechanically. She could see straight through the little girl's thoughts, but all she wanted was to finish logging the event and go back to bed.
Yunli stabbed the skewer into the ground, grabbed two trash cans from the shelf, and yanked both lids open at once.
Twin bursts of green light shot upward. This time, she wisely shielded her eyes.
When the glow faded, she found herself holding—
—a pair of tall, black leather boots, and a pair of white stockings with floral embroidery.
"Uh…" Yunli blinked.
She didn't even need Sylvester's explanation to know what they were.
The stockings were… tolerable. She'd never wear them, but maybe someday—probably, possibly—they'd come in handy.
But those boots—what in the stars were those?!
Not only were they far too mature for her style, but the heels—good grief! They were as tall as her thumb and forefinger combined!
Just looking at them made her ankles ache. If she wore them outside, her feet would probably swell like radishes!
Another million credits, wasted.
"Don't be too upset," Sylvester said lightly. "You'll find a use for them eventually."
Though even as he said it, he eyed her up and down thoughtfully. Given how slowly Xianzhou bodies matured…
Maybe… two hundred years?
He glanced over at the half-dozing Qingque and thought again.
Then again, maybe never.
Of course, Yunli wasn't moved by his hollow reassurance. Pouting, she reached for another can.
Another burst of green light.
"Ahhh! Not again!" she wailed, holding up a small, rainbow-colored bottle. She didn't know what it was, but judging from the glow, it couldn't be anything valuable.
Four hundred thousand credits down the drain—and still no sword in sight!
Sylvester hesitated. There wasn't much one could say to console an unlucky customer. What such people truly needed wasn't comfort—it was golden light.
Still, he explained calmly, "That's [Shimmercoat Long-Lasting Nail Polish]. One coat lasts an entire month, completely fade-proof. The glow is bright enough to illuminate half a footstep in the dark."
Yunli pressed a hand to her forehead, envisioning the nightmare: herself sprinting through the night, body invisible but with twenty rainbow lights flashing through the darkness, tracing out the shape of her hands and feet.
She'd look like a haunted disco ball. The Ten-Lords Commission would probably arrest her for disturbing the afterlife!
And rainbow colors, too? How tacky! What was she, some flashy street punk dyeing her hair neon green for attention?
If she had to get cosmetics, at least make them elegant! Something that made her look more mature!
Taking a deep breath, she faced her second-to-last can.
Please, she prayed silently, give me a sword—something strong enough to send Yanqing flying into a crater!
After her brief ritual, she grabbed the lid and pulled it open in one swift motion.
A soft thunk—and a small, smooth pill landed neatly in her palm.
"What's this?" she asked, turning to Sylvester.
He rubbed his nose sheepishly. "That would be a [Fenglong Pill]. It's designed to make women more… mature. It can enlarge any chosen body part by one full size. It's been tested by high-ranking clients—works like a charm."
Yunli stared blankly at the pill in her hand.
She had wished to be more mature… but come on! What she needed right now was a sword, not… whatever this was supposed to do!