"Ow! That hurts!"
Qingque squatted down, clutching her little head and rubbing the sore spot where she'd been hit.
Sylvester withdrew his chopping right hand, his voice full of irritation. "At least show some respect for the wages paid by the Divination Commission!"
"It was just a joke," Qingque pouted. "I wouldn't actually dump my work on someone else."
With that, she cheerfully went out for breakfast—though, truth be told, most people were already done with lunch by now.
After Qingque's little disruption, Sylvester found himself feeling hungry as well.
Might as well take an early break, he thought. Head over to Aurum Alley, grab a bowl of red chili–oil beef offal noodles, and maybe a couple of fresh crispy pastries. Hm, it'd be perfect if the chef was that purple-haired twin–tailed girl shaped like a dumpling.
But heaven rarely grants such wishes. The thought had barely crossed his mind when a new customer stepped into the shop.
He shook his head with a smile.
Qingque's luck really was something—if she'd left thirty seconds later, she would've been stuck here.
A striking woman with long gray hair and violet eyes entered. Though she wasn't tall, her porcelain–doll features exuded grace. If not for the visible joints in her hands reminding everyone she wasn't made of flesh, she would have surely drawn countless admirers on the street.
Her nearly expressionless face emitted a cold voice that carried no warmth despite being a greeting. "Hello, Shopkeeper Sylvester. I'm Herta from the Genius Society. I'm very interested in the power of concepts. I came here specifically for it."
She always got straight to the point—announcing both her name and her purpose without hesitation.
Unnecessary secrecy only led to misunderstandings with potential partners, wasting both time and resources. Though she and Sylvester weren't exactly collaborators, her high regard for this matter made her choose the most efficient approach.
"So that's how it is."
Sylvester nodded. Many came to open the trash cans with specific goals in mind. But faced with the vast catalog of Curios, most left empty-handed.
He chuckled. "To obsess over a single kind of Curio is to miss the forest for the trees. I've sold several related to the power of concepts. But I can tell you this for certain—even among those already sold, they weren't the strongest. Curios such as those watched by the Aeons are not rare either, so you may as well keep your expectations high."
Herta's confidence grew at his words.
She wasn't interested in obscure oddities she'd never heard of, but hearing that concept-related Curios weren't the pinnacle only made her more eager.
If that was the case, didn't it mean there was a greater chance she'd find something even better?
Excitement flickered in her eyes, though her voice remained icy. "No, I only care about the power of concepts."
"Very well, good luck to you," Sylvester said with a smile before swiftly adding, "Welcome to the Curio Trash Can. A standard trash can costs one million Credits each. A Bountiful Trash Can costs five million, unlocked after purchasing fifty standard cans. Each person is limited to ten cans per week."
Herta handed him her account card. "You don't have to return it yet. Just deduct the amount once I get what I want."
Sylvester accepted the card and gestured in understanding.
Herta stood before the shelves, contemplating carefully, inspecting each option.
It was said that once a can was opened, it vanished—leaving only the Curio inside. She wondered, would the contents change over time? Or perhaps even shift depending on the person opening it?
Sylvester watched her silently. Customers like her were always the most time-consuming—those who wouldn't rest until every possible scientific, even superstitious, angle had been considered.
Looks like lunch will have to wait, he thought.
He couldn't help but envy Qingque even more. She was probably at a restaurant already—maybe even eating by now if luck was on her side.
But just as Herta was still choosing her trash can—
Qingque returned.
She marched into the shop with puffed-up chest and confident strides, moving like a robot before sitting perfectly upright in the rest area.
Sylvester eyed her suspiciously. "Weren't you going to eat? Why'd you come back like this? Did someone reprogram your brain?"
Qingque replied solemnly, "Shopkeeper Sylvester, please don't speak nonsense. I have always been a model employee—deeply committed to General Fu Xuan's directives and fully devoted to the future development of the Xianzhou."
Sylvester nodded slowly.
So, she's eaten then. Or maybe… taken the wrong medicine?
Was this really the Qingque he knew? In the blink of an eye, she'd started spouting bureaucratic jargon.
For her to be this fired up, there could only be one reason…
Sylvester looked toward the door.
Sure enough, moments after Qingque entered, a pink-haired figure carrying a lunchbox appeared—Fu Xuan. Her eyes swept sharply toward Qingque as she strode into the Curio Trash Can.
On the surface, Qingque looked composed, but inside she was miserable.
Unbelievable… if I'd left thirty seconds later, I wouldn't have been caught by the Master Diviner herself!
Fu Xuan regarded her subordinate with a calmness that was terrifying in itself.
The calmer she looked, the more Qingque panicked.
Fu Xuan was never one to suppress anger. If she was this calm, it only meant she was furious beyond measure—so furious she'd gone full circle to tranquility.
It's over. I'm doomed. My easy job is gone. I don't wanna go back to overtime…!
Unexpectedly, Fu Xuan didn't reprimand her. She sighed softly and said, "As it happens, I came to deliver food. If you're that hungry, just eat."
With that, she took out two insulated containers from the lunchbox, tossing one to Qingque.
Qingque held the warm lunchbox in disbelief.
This can't be real… Did I fall asleep in Sylvester's shop? Is this a dream?
No way the Master Diviner personally brought me food. Did I just ascend to Qingque the Great?!
She didn't dare move, fearing this was some kind of reverse psychology—that one wrong move and she'd be reassigned on the spot.
Fu Xuan crossed her arms and huffed. "What? Do I look like the kind of superior who lets her subordinates go hungry while they work?"
This girl… utterly lazy as ever.
"Hehe." Qingque finally relaxed, smiling sheepishly as she began devouring her meal.
Fu Xuan handed the other lunchbox to Sylvester, turning her head aside and speaking in an overly formal tone. "Ahem, don't get the wrong idea. I came specifically to deliver food to Qingque. You just happen to benefit from it."
Sylvester stroked his chin, amused by her behavior.
Of course, he understood what she meant, but he didn't call her out. Instead, he accepted the box and smiled. "If only I could 'happen to benefit' every day."
"In your dreams." Fu Xuan scoffed and sat in the rest area, mumbling to herself as she thought aloud, "Every day, huh…"
Qingque, seizing the moment while Fu Xuan wasn't watching, sneaked a glance at Sylvester's lunchbox.
She grumbled internally.
The Master Diviner is so sneaky. Using me as a cover like that—why's his food better than mine? Poor me, working—uh, accompanying her for years, and now I'm just the 'by the way' one.
"Ah." Qingque swallowed a mouthful of rice—along with all her complaints.
Those thoughts were definitely best left unspoken.