Ch 52: Guide to Running a Shop in Another World

【Game over, contract completed.】

Qi Jue woke up in his apartment, the black ring on his finger shattered.

He had survived.

Leaning back on the sofa, his in-game injuries were fully healed, but his body remained stiff, unwilling to move carelessly.

After a while, Qi Jue reached for his phone on the table and opened the Park Forum. Searching for a specific keyword, he found that post he’d seen before.

He read through it carefully once again and couldn’t resist replying:
“I met her. In my third time entering the black ring world, the NPC killed every player, leaving only me. I thought I was dead for sure, but she suddenly appeared and called the NPC away. I survived.”

The post had been ridiculed for a long time, with screenshots shared across high-level player groups for laughs, yet suddenly, it had been bumped to the top of the forum again.

Curious players clicked in to read, surprised to find a follow-up reply. This stirred even more interest.

“Is someone really ‘digging up this old post’? Could it be true?”

“She’s called away the NPC multiple times—could she really just be a player? Or is she some kind of game admin?”

“Does this game even have admins? No way!”

…

“Guys, check out the other post! There might really be admins involved!”

“What, what?”

…

Qi Jue scrolled through the replies, feeling a bit like the original poster must have. But having come out of the game alive, he felt calm in the face of doubt and filled with a deep sense of relief.

Just as he was about to check out the other post people were talking about, his phone rang.

“Hello, Zhuang Liang.”

“Did you just get out?” Zhuang Liang, who had returned home, had seen the forum replies and guessed it was Qi Jue.

“Yeah. I ran into Lu Yao,” Qi Jue admitted.

Zhuang Liang wasn’t surprised. “I know.”

Qi Jue was confused. “How do you know?”

Zhuang Liang explained what had happened with Xiao Zhiwei at the tea house, his voice tinged with fear. “Her lifespan has increased again.”

Qi Jue sounded relaxed. “So, if it weren’t for that Xiao guy, she wouldn’t have chosen to enter the game at that moment.”

Zhuang Liang: “…You’re right.”

Qi Jue, still curious about the forum, logged in on his tablet while talking to Zhuang Liang. He immediately saw the two posts pinned to the top—one was the one he had just commented on, and the other was a call-out post.

“Zhuang Liang, get on the forum. That Xiao guy is calling out Lu Yao.”

Zhuang Liang: !!!

…

On the Park Forum’s homepage, a new post was pinned, calling out Lu Yao. It included screenshots of her selling the black ring, accusing her of overpricing it by ten times, delivering defective goods, and running away with the ring after being caught.

Initially, the replies were full of people angrily condemning the seller.

But a few posts later, at reply #21, a user chimed in:
“I’ve bought a ring from her before. It was brand new, and she was very straightforward in the transaction. It’s not like what the original poster says. Judging by the claim of ‘overpricing by ten times,’ I’m guessing the OP wanted to buy the ring without paying full price and, when they didn’t get a deal, came to the forum to complain. Just a word of advice: the Park Forum isn’t like the outside world—be careful not to shoot yourself in the foot.”

Shen Ping, who had just finished a meeting during his lunch break, saw the post and found it rather senseless. He commented, having bought a black ring from Lu Yao before and being satisfied with the deal. Plus, Zhuang Liang’s attitude toward her had piqued his interest, so he paid extra attention.

Seeing this response, Xiao Zhiwei flew into a rage and started a tirade, leaving a series of insulting replies.

Recently, as the number of black rings had decreased, many had taken note of Lu Yao’s ring listings. Some had messaged her trying to negotiate, but those who attempted to haggle hadn’t received any follow-up. Now, seeing this post, they felt like they had found an outlet for their frustration, joining in the name-calling.

However, just two minutes later, the mysterious Park administrator suddenly appeared and directly responded within Xiao Zhiwei’s post.

[Admin 01: After investigation, player 20935183 violated trading rules by using verbal threats and force to coerce the seller into selling a black ring at a lower price. The transaction failed, and they proceeded to incite public opinion against the seller on the player forum, severely disrupting forum order. As a result, the gray ring will be reclaimed, and the account will be permanently banned.]

Xiao Zhiwei never expected that the administrator—who had never been seen before—would actually respond to him.

The situation took a drastic turn. Not only did he fail to retaliate against Lu Yao, but he also got his account banned.

Realizing that he could no longer reply and that the gray ring he had only used once had turned into a handful of dust, Xiao Zhiwei started to panic.

He had been banned. He could never enter the Park again.

His death was imminent.

Suddenly recalling Zhuang Liang’s attitude toward Lu Yao, Xiao Zhiwei’s fear grew.

What he thought was a young, naive person turned out to be someone far more powerful than he could have imagined.

The original poster was doomed, but the post itself became a hit.

A massive thread emerged, with users talking about all sorts of things.

“Holy crap! There really is an admin! Let’s take a picture with them!!!”

“This is wild! Looks like the original poster really shot himself in the foot!”

“Curious about what threats were used exactly, and how the seller contacted the admin?”

“They reclaimed the ring and banned him? Does that mean he’s permanently barred from entering the Park? Newbies like me are trembling!”

“Am I the only one curious about the seller’s identity?”

“I have a bold theory. If you look at the top trending post and the second trending post together, you’ll notice a terrifying coincidence.”

Minutes later, people returned from the second trending post, replying in a frenzy.

“Whoa! In the original poster’s thread, it says the seller fled into the game and never came back. But in the second post, someone claims they encountered a female player who could command NPCs, and the timing of these two posts strangely overlaps. Could the seller and this player be the same person?”

“Not only that, but if you revisit the details in the second post, this player wasn’t commanding NPCs for the first time. If this is true, could this player actually be an admin in disguise?”

“Oh, wow! Let me expand on that: the admin disguised themselves as a player selling a ring, got threatened by the buyer, and the buyer then called them out on the forum, only to be banned in return. This is both terrifying and oddly satisfying!”

“Both players survived their third black ring world after meeting her. I have no ulterior motives—I just want to latch onto this golden opportunity! Does anyone know her? Ready to connect!”

“Count me in: 1.”

“Count me in: 2.”

…

“Count me in: 10010.”

…

Qi Jue and Zhuang Liang silently followed the threads.

After a long pause, Zhuang Liang asked, “Do you think it’s too late for me to latch onto her now?”

Qi Jue: “Not really necessary.”

Zhuang Liang: “I’ve still got one more round left with my black ring. You almost didn’t make it—how could I possibly survive the third round?”

Zhuang Liang was wealthy and had used plenty of white and gray rings before getting a black ring, so he was experienced and sharp, quickly grasping the game mechanics.

But the black ring world was on a completely different level from the others.

The first two rounds had left him traumatized, and he wasn’t planning to enter a third time.

Now, after seeing a random player and Qi Jue survive thanks to Lu Yao, and realizing he actually knew her, how could he not be tempted?

Qi Jue: “…Based on my observations, she really dislikes people bothering her.”

Zhuang Liang: “…”

So many opportunities to connect with a key player had been in front of him, and he hadn’t taken them. Now, all he felt was regret.

..

In another world, Braibis City.

The roads were wide and smooth, with rows of shops lining both sides, and the flow of carriages and people seemed endless.

Everywhere, knights in gleaming armor, wizards wearing tall hats, adventurers carrying enormous weapons, and even fur-covered beastmen setting up stalls could be seen. Burly dwarves tried to attract customers… It was a bustling, prosperous city.

Amidst the bustling crowd, a black-haired boy with a high ponytail held a stack of colorful flyers, distributing them expressionlessly to passersby. If anyone hesitated to take one, they would immediately receive an intimidating glare, causing a chill to run down their spine, prompting them to subconsciously accept the flyer.

Some who took it initially intended to toss it away, but after a glance, they noticed how captivating the flyer was. The front page featured three animated nail art designs. Even people with no interest in manicures couldn’t help but take a second look.

The first design showcased Si jin’s “Stellar Gem Manicure”—a simple design but featuring valuable gems embedded into the nails. Anyone with basic magical knowledge would be instantly drawn in.

The second design was Madam Sid’s “Rose Branch Nail Art,” focusing on an oil-paint-like texture and the elegant beauty of roses resting on fingertips—sure to capture the attention of any lady passing by.

The final design was the High Priest Carlos’ “Ink Lotus Couple Nail Art.” The sophisticated design and dynamic elements were already eye-catching, and the flyer included Carlos’ prestigious name in small print below, which was certain to attract his followers.

Each customer had been informed beforehand that their nail designs might be used for promotional purposes, and most were more than happy to agree. The shop had plenty of other eye-catching designs, like Harold’s gemstone nails, but Lu Yao deliberately left those out, knowing Harold would be the one handing out the flyers—his nails alone would draw enough attention.

While the three stunning nail designs were the visual hook, the real draw lay in the text below. It advertised a magical nail salon, one that had served nobles, grand wizards, and even the High Priest himself. The promotion was a special two-day, 90% discount offer—where customers could experience simple color or gradient nails for only 18 copper coins, down from the original price of 188, and enjoy stamp nails for just 25 copper coins, discounted from 256.

The flyer’s bottom section included the salon’s name, address, teleportation coordinates, and promotion dates.

In the world of Alexander, such advertising was novel, especially with those three vivid, high-definition animated designs. The sparkling gems, delicate artistic detail, and the high-status clientele all combined to pique the interest of onlookers.

Even for those who weren’t initially intrigued, the special offer—offering a luxury experience for the price of a meal—was hard to resist.

Some who had initially avoided taking the flyer turned back in curiosity after seeing others inspecting it. When they approached Harold for a copy, his expression remained stern as he handed them a flyer. The gems on his nails gleamed under the sunlight, dazzling onlookers and sparking even more interest.

In addition to casual passersby, the flyers caught the attention of many magic academy students, street vendors, and even various non-human races. Those who took a flyer often brought it home to show their wives, daughters, or friends—ensuring a wider spread of interest.

Lu Yao’s goal was simple: to attract at least 35 people willing to participate in the two-day discounted event. However, she hadn’t anticipated just how widespread the interest would be, leading to an overwhelming number of customers later on.

A group of magic academy students soon gathered around Harold, not wanting to leave after taking a flyer. They begged for a closer look at his nails.

With visible impatience, Harold frowned deeply but reluctantly extended his hand, waving it slightly in their direction. The gems on his nails refracted dazzling rainbows, causing the students to squeal in admiration.

The nails were stunning!

Each one was adorned with real, rare gemstones, and there was a magical aura on the surface—truly fascinating!

After admiring Harold’s nails, the students glanced back at the flyer. The first “Stellar Gem Manicure” design was breathtaking, the second rose oil-paint design was enchanting, and the High Priest’s “Ink Lotus Couple Nail Art” left them clutching their chests in awe—it was simply magical!

Some students had heard of the Emeraldstone Town nail salon before but couldn’t afford the steep price, with each design costing over a hundred copper coins. However, the 90% discount promotion was highly tempting. With prices between 10 and 20 copper coins, many students were eager to gather their friends and try it out.

Not far from where Harold was handing out flyers, a luxurious red carriage had quietly stopped at an intersection.

Helena pulled aside the curtain, staring in Harold’s direction, her expression filled with uncertainty.

The black-haired boy’s posture and appearance were strikingly similar to Drex, a figure from a hundred years ago.

Drex was already dead, but could this boy be the one the Kinklay family had been searching for?

If he really was that person, then Zelan was no longer useful.

Hidden beneath Helena’s sleeve was a bone-carved bracelet, exuding a faint, ominous black mist when touched.

As she gently stroked the bracelet, her eyes flickered with a dangerous light. She stepped out of the carriage, lifted her skirt, and began walking slowly toward Harold.

…

Emeraldstone Town, Lu Yao’s Nail Salon

After sending off the last customer of the day, Lu Yao turned to her three apprentices. “Get ready. I’ll be back soon.”

Mumu, Tina, and Eugenia knew that when Lu Yao returned, their apprentice assessment would begin. Naturally, they felt a bit nervous. Throughout the afternoon, they had been practicing while Lu Yao attended to customers, and they could clearly sense the gap between their skills and the shop owner’s.

About ten minutes later, Lu Yao returned, accompanied by three women. The one wearing a floral headscarf was Mrs. Cramer from the neighboring fruit shop, the one in the mustard-yellow floral dress was Mrs. Grott from the bakery across the street, and the somewhat dazed-looking woman at the back was Mrs. Brown from the tailor shop on West Street.

Eugenia immediately stood up, surprised to see Mrs. Brown. She hurried over, asking, “Mom, what are you doing here?”

Mrs. Brown looked a bit embarrassed, glancing at Lu Yao before whispering, “The shop owner invited us to help out.”

Eugenia was confused about Lu Yao’s intentions and looked at her hesitantly.

Lu Yao gestured for the three ladies to sit down and explained simply, “No need to worry. These ladies will be your customers today. You’ll need to listen to their requests and give them a manicure.”

Earlier, Lu Yao had explained to the three neighbors that they would be helping with the apprentices’ assessment by acting as customers and experiencing the salon’s nail services.

The residents of Emeraldstone Town had always been curious about the nail salon. Mrs. Cramer and Mrs. Grott, in particular, had been keeping a close eye on the place every day. However, rumors about dragons and magical creatures had kept them from entering the shop. When they heard they could try a free manicure, they agreed without much hesitation.

Mrs. Brown had initially been reluctant, but she was curious about Eugenia’s working environment, so she decided to come along.

The apprentices, who had thought the test would involve working on nail samples, suddenly found themselves having to interact with real customers, making the assessment much more challenging.

Lu Yao poured water for the three ladies and, seeing hesitation in her apprentices, raised her eyebrows slightly. “What’s wrong? Are you scared?”

Tina, being a dragon, couldn’t stand this kind of taunt. She was the first to sit in front of Mrs. Grott, mimicking the way Lu Yao usually greeted customers. She presented three nail design samples and made an effort to smile. “Hello, I’m Tina, and I’ll be your manicurist today. These are three designs—please take a look and choose your favorite.”

Mrs. Grott, who had been feeling a bit nervous, relaxed when she saw the beautiful designs. After a moment’s thought, she chose the stamped nail design.

Mumu, still in his slime form, noticed fear in Mrs. Brown’s eyes, so he skipped her and sat in front of Mrs. Cramer. Mrs. Cramer often saw Mumu waiting outside the nail salon in the mornings and had some doubts about how a slime could do nails. However, she didn’t voice her concerns and didn’t refuse the service.

Eugenia, naturally, sat with her mother, Mrs. Brown.

And so, the apprentice assessment began.

🛍️🛍️🛍️🛍️🛍️