"My head hurts..." Kael massaged his temples, feeling a sudden tightness in his chest that left him momentarily speechless.

  I knew it. Another weird quest.

  What on earth did "increasing the shop's popularity to a specified level" even mean? How do you even quantify that? And what the hell was a "Snack Vending Machine"?

  If he added snacks to the mix, this "General Store" would literally become a convenience store. Kael had known from the start that his product lineup was a mess, but he never expected it to become this eclectic.

  Previously, even with the addition of accessories and the Training Room, everything had remained strictly combat-oriented. But now, with this upgrade, the System was forcing a lifestyle product onto him.

  Fine.

  Kael had officially run out of energy to complain about this idiotic System. He would just go with the flow.

  "System, what exactly is this 'Popularity Value'?" Kael decided that even if he was in despair, he should at least clarify the mission parameters.

  [System: The Host only needs to focus his mind to see the Popularity bar in his field of vision.]

  Kael did as instructed. Concentrating, he saw a transparent progress bar appear before his eyes. It was mostly empty, with only a tiny sliver of white at the very beginning. It made sense—hardly anyone in the grand scheme of things knew about Kael’s shop yet.

  Forget it. I’m going to sleep.

  After a long afternoon of physical labor, Kael had zero desire to tackle a new quest immediately. Besides, weapons and armor were durable goods, not like pills. Once a soldier was geared up, they wouldn't need a replacement for a long time. To keep the business growing, he had to expand his market and boost his reputation.

  Consumables like pills were a different story. The Blood Wolf and Lanye squads came by almost every day to restock.

  Thinking about it, the System’s upgrade quest isn't just random—it’s strategic, Kael realized.

  But boosting popularity wasn't something that happened overnight. He’d take it slow. After making a killing from Qin Ming’s massive order, Kael could afford to live quite comfortably for a while.

  Checking the sky, he saw it was dinner time. Having been in this world for so long, this was the first time he felt truly "rich," so he decided to treat himself.

  He had heard of a place in Cloud Mist City called Drunken Cloud Pavilion, where the cuisine was said to be unparalleled. Even within the entire Desolate Yuan Empire, their dishes were legendary. Kael had seen the place once long ago, but back then, he couldn't even dream of dining there. Half the bill had to be settled in gold, and the other half in Spirit Crystals. It was a playground for wealthy merchants and powerful nobles.

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  But today, Kael was a man of means.

  "Tonight, we dine at Drunken Cloud Pavilion." Kael scooped a heavy handful of Spirit Crystals from the collection box and stuffed them into his robes.

  The Pavilion clearly had some backing; even with a Beast Tide looming, the staff remained calm and unhurried. Their wealth allowed them to hire powerful experts for protection. The shops that had hurriedly closed to flee the city were all small fry without any real power.

  Kael ordered a table full of delicacies and ate until his sides ached, yet he still couldn't finish it all. Not that he intended to. He planned to grind in the Arena tonight, and the leftovers would make a perfect midnight snack.

  In the dead of night, a petite figure fled from the Cloud Mist Forest into the city, her movements frantic and desperate. She was panting heavily, and drops of blood trailed behind her, dark against the cobblestones.

  As the moonlight hit her face, it revealed delicate features and a pair of slit-like pupils, like those of a feline.

  "Dammit... how did they catch up?" She clutched her chest and ducked into a remote side alley.

  Close on her heels were two towering silhouettes. They vaulted over the city walls without alerting a single guard and landed silently within the city limits. One of them dropped to all fours, his nose twitching as he caught a scent. The other stood behind him, his eyes glowing with a sinister, blood-red light.

  "Found her. Ahead, in the alley."

  The figure on the ground looked up, baring his teeth in a grin that glinted coldly in the moonlight.

  "The little brat sure can run. That 'Blood Escape' trick almost fooled us. Good thing we used the Great Wolf Clan's Pursuit Arts, or the Patriarch would have had our heads," the other shadow sneered.

  "Enough talk. Finish the job so we can go home." The crouched figure kicked off the ground with animalistic force, vanishing into the darkness.

  Shier stumbled through the alley, her senses suddenly hit by the aroma of delicious food.

  Based on the position of the moon, it was the middle of the night. Who would be eating at this hour? Shier clutched her stomach; she had been running for her life and hadn't eaten in ages. The two hunters behind her hadn't even given her time to stop for a drink of water, and her recent use of the Blood Escape had drained her physical reserves to the brink.

  The smell made her stomach growl instantly.

  No, I can't stop, she told herself, shaking her head. She knew that if she stopped now, she was dead.

  Creak...

  Just then, the door of the shop from which the aroma wafted cracked open. Kael poked his head out, holding a takeout box.

  "Huh? Someone's here this late?" Kael looked in surprise at the petite girl standing by his door.

  He had simply gotten tired of training and decided to take a break, coming out to toss some leftover bones. He didn't expect to find a beautiful girl on his doorstep.

  Seems my shop's popularity isn't doing too bad after all, Kael thought cheerfully.

  Shier was startled by his sudden appearance. She hadn't expected anyone to open a door in the middle of the night.

  "Found you." "Little girl, let's see where you run this time."

  In those few seconds of distraction, two tall figures emerged from the shadows. Their glowing red eyes made it clear they weren't friendly.

  "Oh no..." Shier’s legs gave out, and she nearly collapsed. Her stamina had reached its absolute limit; with her adrenaline fading, she could no longer find the strength to flee.

  "Why keep running? Just surrender, and I might give you a quick death," one of the tall figures said coldly as he stepped into the light.

  Kael leaned against his doorframe, observing the newcomers with curiosity. He noticed a pair of pointed, triangular ears atop their heads, and in the moonlight, he could see patches of dark fur covering their skin.