Whether it was Xiangling from Wanmin Restaurant or Hu Tao from Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, he did not dare go up and ask if they would trade their items.
Anyone with a brain could see they would not sell.
Only ordinary people might choose to trade.
But he had not seen many ordinary folks walk out with visible tools. He did not know whether they had hidden them, or if their luck had just been bad and they got nothing. Everything was uncertain.
Hearing this report, Childe frowned and tapped his knuckles on the table in front of him. The knocks sounded one after another, "dong, dong, dong."
The room fell silent. It was so quiet that a falling needle would have been heard.
"Go back and continue to keep watch around the Jar Shop."
After a long moment of thought, Childe finally raised his head and spoke softly to the man. "See if the shop opens again tonight. Also, when you get there, if the shopkeeper has not returned, try to see whether you can push the door open and enter. Or find a way to slip in."
At that point, a hint of hesitation and doubt crossed Childe's face.
Judging from how the shopkeeper had left, and from the shopkeeper's ability, it made no sense that he would simply leave the Jar Shop unprotected.
Even the Millelith had left their post, which clearly meant the shopkeeper was not afraid of anyone stealing his jars.
Even so, Childe felt there was still a sliver of possibility worth testing.
After all, it was only a subordinate going to try. If nothing could be stolen, no loss. If something could, then it would be a huge gain.
If you never try, how would you know?
Even if the chance was tiny, what if it worked?
He himself would lose nothing, and he was not going in person.
Most importantly, he wanted to understand more clearly what sort of defensive formation that shop was using.
"Huh?"
Hearing this, the man widened his eyes. "Lord Harbinger, that shopkeeper left, and even the Millelith stopped guarding the door. That clearly means he is not afraid of thieves."
"That is true, but what if there is a chance?"
Childe replied calmly. "I understand what you are saying. I do not really think you will manage to steal anything. But trying costs you nothing, does it not? So why not? What if you really do get an opportunity? That would be a huge gain."
"You know how magical those jars are. If you managed to pull something big, you could rise to the top in one step, maybe even become a new Harbinger of Snezhnaya. It is not impossible."
"And with the shopkeeper gone, even if you cannot get in or steal anything, no one will notice you. Right?"
The man froze, then his face lit up with excitement.
Right, there was no downside to trying.
He would not lose anything.
At once, he nodded quickly. "Understood, Lord Harbinger. I will head over now."
He rushed out as soon as he finished speaking.
"Andrei, you must go open jars at that shop tomorrow morning. Put everything else aside first."
Watching the excited subordinate leave, Childe turned to Andrei and ordered, "The jars must be opened. They are more important than whatever is in your hands. Go first thing in the morning, open your jars, then come straight back. It will not delay your other work."
"I understand."
Andrei, the manager of Northland Bank, nodded.
Then a puzzled look crossed his face. "Lord Harbinger, you already know that shopkeeper cannot be provoked, and that it is almost impossible to have any chance of stealing from him. There is no need to give such instructions, is there?"
"Of course I know. Once the mysterious shopkeeper walked out, he would not leave that Jar Shop unprotected. The Millelith pulling back proves that he is not worried at all about thieves."
Childe smiled. "I only want that man to test the formation in the shop, to see what kind of protection it has. As long as it does not kill him on the spot, he will run back and report to me. That way I can learn more about it."
"If the formation kills him, that has nothing to do with me. I do not lose anything either way, do I?"
"I see."
Hearing this, Andrei understood.
Indeed, since the shopkeeper could leave and even the Millelith no longer needed to stand guard, it showed complete confidence in the shop's safety.
Why such confidence in a small building? There had to be formations.
The Harbinger was simply using a pawn to probe.
Worst case, he lost a single piece.
"Shopkeeper!"
While Childe and Andrei were talking, on the other side of the city, in the Chihu Rock food street, Felix was making his way along the stalls.
Everywhere he walked, rich aromas assaulted his nose. There was grilled fish, roasted potatoes, grilled vegetables, hotpot and many other delicious dishes.
At night, Chihu Rock was busier than ever, with people coming and going.
More than the crowd, it was their conversations that stood out.
"Wanmin Restaurant has this new instant noodle dish. It is really good."
"You will not believe this, but I saw a roast suckling pig jumping around in Wanmin. It was insane. Chef Mao told me it was a living creature whose appearance just happened to be like that. I do not believe it. What kind of illusion makes something look like that?"
"A moving roast pig? Are you pulling my leg? A fully cooked pig that still moves?"
"If you do not believe me, go to Wanmin and see for yourself. Why would I lie? I even asked Chef Mao. He said it came from the Jar Shop."
"Sigh, I have heard of that Jar Shop too, but each jar costs 100,000 Mora. Someone like me cannot afford even one."
"Tell me about it. My wife is sick, I have two sons to feed. Where would I get money to buy jars and change my fate? Those things have nothing to do with someone like me."
One person after another talked, and their words drifted into Felix's ears, making him chuckle.
Anywhere in the world, ordinary people are the majority.
His Jar Shop had only just started attracting attention in the last two days. Obviously not everyone in Liyue would know about it yet.
But as time went on, he believed it would only get more famous.
Before long, Felix arrived at the entrance of Wanmin Restaurant.
Right now, several tables inside were empty, while some guests were eating and chatting.
"Shopkeeper!"
Chef Mao, who was at the counter, saw Felix and lit up with surprise. "You are here to eat? Please, come in, come in."
He hurried out from behind the counter to welcome Felix inside.
His face was full of genuine delight.
He clearly had not expected Felix to actually come.
He had thought Felix was only making a polite remark at noon when he said, "If I have time tonight, I will come eat."
He had not expected him to really show up.
"Who is that guy? Why is Chef Mao treating him so warmly?"
"He is so young, and so good looking. Since when did Liyue have such a handsome young man? How come I have never seen him before?"
"Is he a visitor from another nation?"
"Does not seem likely. If he were just a foreigner, why would Chef Mao be that excited?"
"What are you guessing for? Just go ask Chef Mao and you will know."
"I remember now. Chef Mao called him 'Shopkeeper'. If I am not mistaken, that is the Jar Shop owner!"
"Him? I heard about that magical Jar Shop today, but I never went, since I cannot afford to open jars. Did not expect him to look like this."
"Yes, he is the Jar Shop owner. I walked past the shop earlier. I did not go in to open jars, but I got a good look at his face. That is definitely him."
"He is that young? And he still sells those magical jars? Why not keep them for himself?"
"Who knows. You can go ask him yourself."
Seeing Chef Mao speak so respectfully and excitedly to a young man, the diners were stunned.
Who was Chef Mao?
He was the famous head chef of Wanmin Restaurant, a household name in Liyue. But today he was treating a young man like this, which shocked them.
He was as warm as if he had just met a member of the Liyue Qixing. Yet no one had ever heard of a Qixing that looked like this.
Soon, someone recognized Felix and pointed out he was the Jar Shop owner.
Those who had heard of the Jar Shop suddenly understood and looked at Felix with amazement.
So it was this person. No wonder.
They knew Wanmin's roast pig had come from his shop.
Many had spent the whole day discussing the Jar Shop.
They had not expected its owner to appear right in front of them, and to be such a young and handsome man.
Those who had never heard of the Jar Shop were quickly filled in and stared at Felix in wonder.
He was the one selling jars filled with mysterious items.
"I just came for some instant noodles."
Seeing Chef Mao's enthusiasm, Felix shook his head with a wry smile. "If you do not have any left, it is fine. No need to make a fuss."
"We have them, we have them. Please sit inside, Shopkeeper."
Chef Mao beamed.
He knew very well that without Felix, Wanmin would not be this popular now.
And the recipes they had pulled would allow Wanmin to become famous all over the world.
For that alone, Felix deserved a lifetime of respect.
On top of that, having a good relationship with him and becoming familiar could only help, never harm.
Under Chef Mao's enthusiastic lead, Felix sat at a table in the corner.
Chef Mao quickly took out a block of instant noodles and placed it into a bowl of pork bone broth to soak.
At the same time, back at Wangsheng Funeral Parlor...
Old Meng, standing at the entrance, looked at the returning Hu Tao with excitement. "Director, you are finally back. What are you holding this time?"
Their Director had finally returned.
"Hehe, hurry up and come help me with an experiment."
Carrying the speaker and cradling the pet egg, Hu Tao giggled, set down the speaker and picked up the Soul Staff.
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