“Oh, Your Majesty, I like that title.”
The Rat King seemed quite satisfied. He took a step back, and two mouse-race beastmen immediately rolled up the red carpet and hoisted it onto their shoulders.
The Rat King continued to gaze at Cheng Shuili, seemingly more and more pleased with what he saw. Finally, he bowed like a gentleman and offered a blessing: “My dear friend, you will grow even more powerful in the future. Although you only possess two auras of kingship right now, I look forward to the day you become the King of Ten Thousand Crowns.”
Two auras of kingship? King of Ten Thousand Crowns?
Cheng Shuili clearly failed to grasp the meaning behind these words, but the Rat King had already stepped back onto his palanquin. He waved at Cheng Shuili and gave a final instruction: “I look forward to your letter.”
Cheng Shuili nodded and watched his entourage depart.
Not a sound stirred in the black market until that figure had completely vanished. The gaze of every beastman was fixed upon Cheng Shuili.
As for Cheng Shuili herself... she was lowering her head, contemplating what the two auras of kingship could mean.
If the title 【Supreme Monarch】 counted as one, what was the other?
She furrowed her brows in deep thought for a long while before dredging 【The Fang of Austin】 from the depths of her memory.
That was it. This was the token of a wolf-race king. If that was the case...
Cheng Shuili suddenly lifted her eyes to look at the old wolf. The latter jumped, immediately flashing a fawning smile.
She had truly forgotten about this treasure just now. However, it wasn't quite what she had expected; this item didn't actually take effect while inside the Abyss Ring.
Cheng Shuili coughed lightly and withdrew the wolf fang from the ring. Under the old wolf’s wide-eyed, stunned gaze, she stuffed the fang into her clothing pocket.
It wasn't that she didn't want to wear it; it really poked her neck.
However...
It should be taking effect now, right?
Cheng Shuili raised an eyebrow, watching the old wolf with a relaxed, composed expression.
The other party had been in a state of shock, but upon meeting Cheng Shuili’s gaze, his knees went weak, and he dropped to his knees with a thud.
Before Cheng Shuili could even say a word, he knocked his head against the ground three times with loud thuds, then suddenly looked up and let out an “Awoo” howl toward the sky.
Immediately following this, several chaotic footsteps echoed through the black market. Several more figures wrapped in black cloth knelt in perfect unison before Cheng Shuili. After kowtowing, the group of wolf-race beastmen shouted in unison: “Greetings, Boss!”
The kneeling beastmen had stood up, but their gazes hadn't drifted away yet. Now that these few had knelt, those with active minds were itching to kneel as well.
This was the perfect time to build a connection!
The beastmen glanced at each other, but seeing no one else step forward, they suppressed the urge.
Su Rui’s gaze swept over the beastmen... looking at those pairs of pitch-black pupils exposed outside their coverings, she silently stood behind Cheng Shuili.
Is this even your boss? You’re just calling out!
This is my boss!
Cheng Shuili was also baffled by the term. She asked: “Aren't you supposed to call me ‘King’?”
The old wolf scratched his head, looking somewhat embarrassed: “We’re just beasts who know how to hustle; we don't know much about those kinds of etiquette...”
Beasts who know how to hustle...
That reason was acceptable.
Now that the old wolf was one of her own, what about the one who had just been shouting “buy it or don't,” and even threatened the old wolf...
Cheng Shuili’s gaze fell upon the trembling old dog to the side.
The old dog, who had been secretly trying to shrink away, suddenly froze, as if struck by a paralysis spell, not daring to move a muscle.
His tail seemed to be bristling; even though he was wrapped in black cloth, Cheng Shuili could tell.
Cheng Shuili coughed lightly. Before she could speak, the other party’s knees went weak, and he slid to his knees, polishing the stone floor until it shone.
“M-My Lord!” His voice was trembling, entirely devoid of the arrogant aura he had at the start. His forehead hit the ground with another thud. Once the kowtow was finished, he cried out: “This small one was blind and failed to recognize a true master! This small one was... no, no, no, this small one has no eyes at all!”
As he spoke, he suddenly began to slap his own face frantically, blurting out a new idiom with every slap:
“A dog’s mouth cannot spit out ivory!”
“My brain was caught in a door!”
“My whole family is full of idiots!”
The old fox watching from the sidelines silently buried his face in his paws.
It was too embarrassing for the beastmen; this dog had shamed every merchant in the black market.
But it didn't end there. He slid on his knees to Cheng Shuili’s feet, holding a key high above his head with both hands: “This is the key to my warehouse! You can pick any of the fifty strong servants inside! This small one really isn't unwilling to give more, I just really don't have any more!”
As he spoke, he suddenly tore open his lapels to reveal an inner lining sewn full of pockets. “Look! These are my savings from all these years, I offer them all to you, I only beg you to spare my life, wuwuwu!”
He kowtowed while weeping. The entire black market was deathly silent, with only the old dog’s heartfelt wailing echoing in the air.
A certain human player watching from the sidelines muttered: “This acting... it could win an Oscar in the real world.”
His companion shook his head: “More than that...”
There were also some foolish beastmen who hadn't caught on yet, asking in a low voice: “Doesn't the black market forbid violence? What is the old dog afraid of?”
Another beastman sneered, answering in a hushed tone: “Forbid violence? That’s to restrain people like us or those ordinary humans! Who is this? Did you see that little crown? What’s the difference between seeing that item and seeing the Rat King himself? This human could start a fight right now, and who would dare to fire a shot?”
“Keep your voice down! Do you think others can't hear you?”
Indeed...
Do you think others can't hear you?
Cheng Shuili glanced over there thoughtfully, then raised her hand to take the old dog’s key. She looked at the old dog’s so-called savings; they were indeed things dogs would like, useless to humans, and humans wouldn't be interested in them anyway.
She gave a half-smile, not saying whether she would spare his life or not, only saying: “Let’s go pick up the goods first.”
The old dog nodded and bowed repeatedly in agreement.
The few wolf-race beastmen standing to the side looked at each other. Just as they were hesitating whether to follow, they suddenly heard Cheng Shuili call out: “Old wolf, follow along!”
The old wolf’s eyes lit up. He was a beast who knew how to handle things! Of course, he knew exactly what the boss meant by calling him now!
He and the old dog were in the same line of business; peers were enemies, and a place like a warehouse was of utmost importance to a businessman!
The boss calling him at this time was absolutely a sign of her intent to support him!
The old wolf felt grateful in his heart, his eyes even becoming a bit moist. Ever since he grew up and ventured out, aside from his brothers in the wolf race, every beastman had been bullying him...
Wuwuwu...
Beast life is not easy. Meeting the boss is his good fortune!
The old dog walked in front to lead the way, the old wolf followed closely, and both the guide and Su Rui followed behind Cheng Shuili.
The group traversed almost the entire black market, but no other incidents occurred along the way.
The black market was large, but there were many little mice. The little mice would pass information to every stall owner, so now every stall owner knew that this human...
Must absolutely not be provoked!
Cheng Shuili had originally found it novel, looking twice everywhere she went, but after spotting a few tricks meant to fool people, she lost interest.
Rate on N.U.
