Autumn winds saw off the summer, and spring rains dissolved the winter snow.
In the blink of an eye, Magnolia entered the early spring of X690.
The warm sun hung in the sky, and a gentle breeze brushed against the face.
Flowers and green grass swayed from side to side, appearing to dance in the wind; the flowing water gurgled, playing a pleasant and crisp musical movement.
Everything within the town, every single thing, appeared so full of vitality.
Suddenly, a row of black shadows passed overhead.
Passersby looked up and discovered that soaring above the town were not birds returning to the south, but spirited cats!
Three months had passed since the Exceed race joined Magnolia.
In those three months, the residents living here had come to remember one thing very deeply: things that can fly in the sky aren't necessarily birds, they can also be cats.
Whoosh—
A white cat streaked across the sky above the street.
On the path it passed, a tiny water droplet fell, landing on the street with a "splat."
A few seconds later, a group of laughing and playing children rushed out from a nearby alley, running forward as they stepped through the water. One child fell while passing the flower shop but did not cry; he simply stood up, patted the flower petals off his clothes with his palm, and then continued chasing after his companions.
The petals were blown high into the air by the warm wind, circling twice under the sun before slowly drifting in front of a catering shop two streets away.
This shop was quite novel, tidy, and bright.
Flower beds were piled up on both the left and right sides of the entrance, filled with various brightly colored and fragrant flowers.
Above the flower beds were glass windows. Inside the window hung a square wooden sign that read "Open," and above the window, the name of the shop was written in bright colored paint, allowing passersby to see it at a glance.
On the ground at the entrance of the tea restaurant sat an advertising board with an eye-catching slogan written on it: The first cup of "Meow Meow Milk Tea" of spring, for the one you love most in your heart!!
This was precisely the catering shop established by the Exceed race in Magnolia—
Meow Meow Tea Restaurant!
Here, from the shop manager running the business down to the employees doing the legwork, everyone was an Exceed.
Due to this unique dining environment, Meow Meow Tea Restaurant attracted a large number of guests every day. Business was incredibly booming; in just three short months, it had squeezed its way into the "Magnolia Restaurant Rankings Top 3."
However, Meow Meow Tea Restaurant was not the Exceeds' own property.
When they first arrived in Magnolia, the Exceeds were not only few in number but also had empty purses. Relying solely on themselves, it would have been difficult even to secure a place in a human town, let alone open a restaurant like this.
Fortunately, they met a big financier like Weston.
With Weston's strength and reputation, wanting to establish a catering shop in Magnolia was, naturally, an easy task.
However, he was the Master of Fairy Tail and did not have the spare time or energy to manage a shop, so he had never made a move in this area before.
But since the cats had now taken the initiative to come to his door to work as employees, he didn't mind his wallet having an extra source of income.
Inside Meow Meow Tea Restaurant.
A female cat wearing a waitress uniform landed on a table carrying a tray, bowing respectfully to the guest in front of her.
"Dear guest, here is the Omurice you ordered, as well as the 'Guji Guji Meow Meow Good to the Point of Exploding Milk Tea,' large cup, no ice, 30% sugar. Please enjoy!"
"...Thanks!"
The guest took the fried rice and milk tea and gave a word of thanks.
The female cat waitress did not rush to leave; instead, she tucked the tray under one arm and began to chat with the other party: "Dear guest, you look like a new face. Is this your first time at our shop?"
"Ah? Yes."
"Our 'Meow Meow Tea Restaurant' is currently holding a 'Member Top-up' event. As long as you top up 1000J, you can become a member of our shop. Additionally, we will give you an extra 800J and a membership card. With the membership card, you can enjoy discounts on all consumption in the shop!"
"I wonder if you're interested in getting one, guest?"
Upon hearing this, the guest's eating movements paused, appearing somewhat moved, but after thinking about it, he shook his head: "No need. I'm just traveling through here and will leave in two days. I won't be staying in Magnolia for long."
"Is that so? That really is a pity!"
Failing to sell the membership card, the female cat waitress immediately shifted her "offensive" to a different direction: "Is the guest an adventurer?"
"I suppose so..."
"Then you must have been to many places, right?"
Due to the cat waitress's talkative nature, the guest unknowingly became more loquacious as well: "Of course! I'm not bragging, but there isn't a major city in the Kingdom of Fiore that I haven't been to!"
"How wonderful!"
The female cat waitress exclaimed, her eyes sparkling, adopting a posture of being captivated by the other's rich experience and wonderful life: "Then in your opinion, how does Magnolia compare to other towns?"
The guest thought for a moment and replied: "Magnolia has beautiful scenery, enthusiastic residents, and the strongest magic guild in Fiore, 'Fairy Tail,' as well as the 'Fairy Commander' Weston stationed here. No matter which aspect you look at, other towns cannot compare."
"Oh, and cats like you who can talk and fly, that's also something I haven't seen in other cities!"
"I think in due time, this place should become a major city in the Kingdom of Fiore, second only to the Royal Capital!"
The female cat waitress looked at the other party in surprise again: "I didn't expect you to have such a high opinion of Magnolia, guest!!"
"Hahaha... I'm just speaking the truth."
"Then I wonder if you have any intention of settling down in Magnolia, guest?"
The guest looked stunned: "Eh?? You mean settling down...?"
"Yes indeed!"
"Didn't you just say this place is very good?"
The guest scratched his head: "That's true, but... housing prices in Magnolia surely aren't cheap, right?"
"There's something you don't know, guest!"
"Recently, the Mayor and guild master Weston of Fairy Tail are preparing to jointly develop the land to the north of Magnolia. They plan to build new commercial districts and residential areas there to attract more people to settle in this town..."
The female cat waitress spoke incessantly about "insider news" that someone of her status shouldn't have known, while the dining guest silently committed her information to heart.
So, Magnolia plans to develop land and build new commercial districts?
Then...
If he bought land there now, once the town construction was complete, wouldn't the value increase by dozens of times?
By then, he could comfortably become a landlord, with no worries about food or drink, and no longer have to wander the world living a hard life of exposure to the elements!
Thinking of this, the guest showed a look of determination.
"Miss Cat, there is something I need to trouble you with."
The female cat waitress was all smiles: "Please, at your service!"
"The card! Sign me up!"