Ch 139: Guide to Running a Shop in Another World

The Emerald Star’s gaze swept over Lu Yao, finally resting on the orderly ranks of the guardian seals. “You seem quite fond of these little creatures.”

Lu Yao nodded without hesitation. “I have a Little Pet Cafe. With your permission, I’d like to hire them to work there.”

The Emerald Star beckoned, and the seal squad captain, wearing a pearl necklace, waddled forward.

The Deep Sea Goddess extended her finger and gently touched the captain’s forehead.

The seal captain let out a mournful cry, his eyes, round like grapes, glistening with reluctance.

The Emerald Star was resolute, and the guardian seals left the sleeping hall, looking aggrieved, leaving Lu Yao behind.

Half an hour later, Lu Yao emerged from the Deep Sea Goddess’s sleeping chamber.

The guardian seals were waiting in the main hall; upon seeing Lu Yao exit, they looked at her expectantly.

Lu Yao lowered her head slightly to hide her emotions and said in a steady voice, “The Goddess has entered a deep sleep.”

“Wuuu—”

“Wuu wuu wuu—”

The seals began to cry, their big eyes brimming with tears, letting out sorrowful sounds.

The Waterdrop Seals were chosen by the Deep Sea Goddess as divine envoys, with snow-white, adorable features and an understanding of human language. Their only shortcoming was their lack of combat skills.

The Deep Sea Goddess was powerful enough on her own, and when she initially chose her envoys, she was looking for companions, not warriors.

Contrary to popular belief, deities are not omnipotent.

In fact, the stronger the deity, the more strictly their powers are bound by rules.

As the mother of all life, the Deep Sea Goddess possessed the power to nurture life.

Yet the rule that bound her was “no taking of life.”

About twenty years ago, the Deep Sea Goddess accidentally violated this rule and suffered backlash, causing her divine power to continually decline. Around the same time, a godslayer appeared.

Rumors described the godslayer as ferocious and ruthless, destroying not only deities but also their divine essence.

The death of a deity would have profound impacts on the world, and if the Mother Goddess, with her many followers, were to die, the world might collapse entirely.

Worried that the weakened Goddess might be found by the godslayer, the guardian seals pleaded with her and hid her in the deepest part of the ocean.

But only twenty years later, a human had already found her hiding place.

The guardian seals felt defeated; on their own, they couldn’t protect the Goddess.

Perhaps the Deep Sea Goddess realized this too, and after a long conversation with Lu Yao, she decided to enter a deep sleep, entrusting her envoys and her divine domain to her.

Lu Yao’s expression was blank. “Once you’re asleep, what will happen to the Garbage sea and those lost in the deep sea?”

The Emerald Star took out her left eye, which transformed into a black pearl, and then produced a handful of pink-tinged pearls, weaving them into a bracelet with a purple seashell pendant in the center. She handed it to Lu Yao. “During my sleep, I grant you authority to act on my behalf.”

Lu Yao: “…Do all deities make such hasty decisions?”

Emerald Star: “Urgent times call for expedient measures. For the sake of my people and the world, this is a necessary compromise.”

Lu Yao: “…You make it sound like you’re quite the martyr. If the godslayer finds me, won’t this ‘acting authority’ just make me a stand-in?”

Emerald Star: “He will not kill you.”

Lu Yao: “Why not?”

Emerald Star wasn’t inclined to explain further and turned away with a wave of her hand. “It’s time for you to return.”

Sitting on the steps in the center of the main hall, Lu Yao absentmindedly reached for the nearest Waterdrop Seal, burying her face in its fluffy chest as she gathered her thoughts, unintentionally releasing her telepathic powers.

Lost in thought, she heard a clear, youthful voice in her mind: “Became… became a human servant… such a blow…”

Lu Yao looked up and saw the little seal with an expression of utter despair.

She put it down and picked up a smaller, rounder one nearby.

“Mother has abandoned us…”

“We have to go to a human’s place… to work…”

“Seals don’t want to work…”

The Waterdrop Seals lay sprawled on the ground, round and fluffy, collectively sulking.

Lu Yao, interrupted by their misery, couldn’t focus on her own thoughts. Gathering some of the pearls that had piled up in the trench and the palace, she clapped her hands and called out, “Alright, everyone, cheer up! We’re heading to the Little Pet Cafe!”

The little seals lifted their heads to look at her, then slowly got up and formed an orderly line.

Though they were anxious and afraid, the Waterdrop Seals still listened to Lu Yao.

Their ability to understand humans was a strength, but sometimes it also became a kind of restraint.

Since there were quite a few Waterdrop Seals, Lu Yao discussed with the seal squad captain and decided to leave half of them to guard the deity’s palace, rotating shifts every two weeks.

The journey back was a bit different. Attached to the bracelet the Goddess had given Lu Yao was a purple seashell that not only made sounds but also emitted a bubble-like membrane.

This bubble enveloped Lu Yao, and the seals formed a circle, lifting her up to the surface above the trench.

When they reached the clearing by the trash heap, the bubble naturally burst, leaving Lu Yao’s diving suit perfectly intact, with the garbage-collecting machine set down beside her.

She picked up the machine, turned back to the Waterdrop Seals, and waved, “Come on, let’s head to the Whale Room.”

On the way back, she’d been thinking: the Octopus Room already had cats, the Coral Room had dogs, the Jellyfish Room had birds, and the Sea Urchin Room was reserved for rabbits. That left the Whale Room, which would be perfect for the Waterdrop Seals.

Passing by the Jellyfish Room and the Sea Urchin Room, guests relaxing in the shop noticed the line of seals following Lu Yao, their eyes glued in amazement.

“So many seals!!!”

“They’re so round and adorable!”

“Are these the new furbabies?”

“Even seals you can pet—this is amazing!”

“Are they heading to the Whale Room?”

…

The guests followed all the way to the Whale Room.

Lu Yao opened the door, and the little seals waddled onto dry land behind her.

The Waterdrop Seals had waterproof fur, so in the water, they looked like fluffy balls, but as soon as they shook their heads on land, they turned into soft and cuddly fluffballs.

Harold squeezed through the awe-struck guests, stepping carefully around the round, fluffy seals, and approached Lu Yao, taking the machine from her hands. “Where did you go?”

Lu Yao removed her mask, tidied her hair, and answered casually, “Just at the trash heap. I ran into these Waterdrop Seals—they’re employees now.”

Harold crouched down, picked one up, and tested its weight, surprised. “This little chub’s pretty heavy.”

The “little chub” shivered all over, then suddenly began struggling fiercely, slipping out of his arms with a “plop” and rolling to a corner, looking like a sulky, round eggplant.

Harold: “…”

Lu Yao stifled a laugh. “You’ve upset the little chub. Go on, apologize.”

Harold: “…”

A nearby guest, watching this scene, couldn’t help but ask, “Wait, can they actually understand us?”

Lu Yao replied, “All things have spirits.”

She didn’t confirm or deny it directly.

The animals at the Little Pet Cafe were indeed more intelligent and empathetic than typical animals, but most people in this world were unfamiliar with pets and wouldn’t fully grasp the difference.

The guest, satisfied with the answer, turned their full attention back to the adorable seals, their gaze glued to the fluffy little creatures lounging defenselessly around the room.

Night Light City did have a zoo, but the tickets were expensive, and visits were time-limited. “Petting seals” was something they’d never even dreamed of.

Seals were harder to interact with than Marumaru Dogs or Wakaba Rabbits. And with the Waterdrop Seals, which retained their adorable appearance into adulthood, they were even more irresistible.

From that point on, the previously quiet Whale Room was bustling with activity.

During lunch break, Jiu Hua heard about the fluffy seals in the Whale Room, skipped her meal, and rushed over to cuddle them.

Before her shift ended, she was so relaxed that she transformed into a starfish and left the Trash Sea without realizing it.

Lu Yao watched the bubble drift out of the Little Pet Cafe, sighing in mild exasperation.

Half an hour later, Jiu Hua reappeared.

“Boss, I’ve found a seller with Wakaba Rabbits and placed an order for twenty. Delivery is scheduled in five days.” Jiu Hua eagerly shared the news as soon as she returned.

The seller was coming from Star City Two, and the journey by ship would take a few days; otherwise, they could have arrived even sooner.

Lu Yao thought to herself that Jiu Hua’s efficiency was incredible. With the successful introduction of the rabbits, her system task would soon be completed.

Since she needed to wait a few days, she decided to spend some time on a side quest.

After returning from the Deep Sea Goddess’s palace, she was eager to complete the ultimate task and move on to the next world.

The side quest required her to clear the trash from the Garbage Sea and purify the ocean currents.

Lu Yao planned a two-step approach: first, clear all the trash from the area, then use crystal core energy and pearls imbued with the Deep Sea Goddess’s divine power to purify the water.

However, the sheer amount of trash made it nearly impossible to clear an entire section of the sea by herself in a short period.

Lu Yao came up with a few ideas for disposing of the trash, but the inability to convert it into points was a setback.

In the end, she decided to inquire about using the system’s machine.

Lu Yao summoned the system, “Can I exchange points to get additional trash-collecting machines?”

With more machines, Harold and the Waterdrop Seals could help with the cleanup, which would greatly improve efficiency.

The system, seemingly unaware of their recent disconnect, immediately rejected her: “There is only one machine available.”

Lu Yao proposed her second backup plan: “Can I use duplication magic to increase the number of machines?”

“Duplicates would only be able to collect trash, not convert it into points. If the host’s only goal is waste disposal, this could be arranged,” the system responded.

Lu Yao rubbed her chin, quietly dismissing the idea. “If it can’t generate points, that’s a waste.”

The system noticed that her inventory had acquired many new items and, after a slight pause, commented: “Host, there are so many pearls in the inventory that all slots are full.”

Lu Yao sighed at this reminder.

After upgrading, her storage capacity now had forty slots, each holding up to 2,500 items.

Most of the remaining thirty-odd empty slots were now filled to the brim with pearls, and there were still more left in the deep-sea trench that she couldn’t carry back.

Lu Yao replied, “Alright, I’ll handle the trash cleanup first and deal with this pearl issue later.”

“…Understood.”

The system was a bit sullen; it dared not pry too much without her admission. If the host realized it couldn’t fully track her whereabouts, her attitude would certainly be even bolder.

…

For the next two days, Lu Yao conducted dozens of small experiments.

The trash-collecting machine couldn’t be fully replicated, as duplicates lacked essential functionality and were inefficient.

Eventually, she took the machine to the snack shop and asked Meng Qin if he could disassemble it to analyze its components.

After examining it, Meng Qin said the machine’s structure was unique and couldn’t be taken apart.

Lu Yao decided to try the simplest approach. Late at night, she took the machine, called Harold to accompany her, and headed to the trash heap.

At that time, the reclusive fish were fast asleep, and the Waterdrop Seals set up a concealment barrier around the trash heap.

Harold shifted into his dragon form and cast an enlargement spell on the machine.

The small machine instantly expanded to several times its original size, and Harold carried it on his back.

Lu Yao lay on the little black dragon’s head, directing him in the cleanup effort.

With a swipe of its powerful mechanical claw, the now box-sized machine could scoop a huge gap in the mound, drastically speeding up the trash collection.

“Discarded TV, broken fridge, truck wreckage… total weight: 117 kg, popularity points +117,000.”

“Cans, glass bottles, plastic… total weight: 63 kg, popularity points +63,000.”

“Shipwreck remains, 359 kg, popularity points +359,000.”

…

The system watched her antics coldly over the next few days. Initially pleased to have finally stumped the host, it nearly lost its composure: “Wait…this actually works?”

Lu Yao complained, “What do you mean, ‘this actually works’? It wasn’t easy, okay? Without Harold and the seals, this plan wouldn’t have worked.”

System: […]

The next morning, the reclusive fish woke up feeling like the area around them was unusually bright and spacious. Turning around, their fish eyes bulged in disbelief.

“Where’s the trash heap?”

“It got flattened overnight?”

The area where the fish usually slept was like a fixed spawn point on a game map. Most of them woke up here each day, gradually realizing they’d turned into fish, with the nearby trash heap as a stark landmark, symbolizing something indescribable.

Transformed humans were much like the trash that had sunk to the ocean floor, decaying and stagnant.

But on this morning, the trash was gone, leaving a vast, dark gray seabed.

Sunlight poured down from the surface, casting shifting patterns that drifted with the currents, like clouds floating across the water’s surface.

Jellyfish drifted among them, blossoming like radiant flowers.

With an open view, the fish felt an unexpected sense of calm and peace.

Several long-time “residents” of the fish group gazed out at the deep sea, their bodies surrounded by a thin bubble membrane as they slowly floated out of the Garbage sea.

One fish swam to the empty area and spotted Lu Yao and her group standing at the edge of the trench.

“It’s the boss, and that grumpy employee!”

“The seals are here too, all lined up so obediently!”

“The boss is always over here picking up trash. Could she be the one who cleaned it all up?”

Someone wanted to argue but remembered how the Little Pet Cafe had expanded into an amusement park overnight before, leaving them without a rebuttal.

Then someone whispered, “Just a thought… could it be that the boss is actually the Emerald Star herself?”

“Uh… that’s a bit hard to believe, isn’t it?”

“How else do you explain this?”

“The boss is amazing, but she doesn’t look at all like the Goddess in the statue…”

A heated debate broke out among the fish on whether the boss was the Deep Sea Goddess, with each side having strong arguments, but neither managing to convince the other.

At that moment, a nearby anemone fish drawled, “What’s the boss looking at? She’s been staring down into the trench.”

Though the fish continued to bicker, their curiosity grew, and gradually they turned in the direction of the anemone fish, swimming over to the trench’s edge.

They stopped at the edge, and the noisy chatter abruptly faded.

In the trench, a river of stars flowed—a cluster of golden lights, pulsing and flickering, floating like fireflies on a summer night or faint stars fading before dawn.

The fish gazed at the shimmering lights, feeling a warm current flow through their withered hearts, slowly easing their restless emotions.

Lu Yao watched in silence, a small smile tugging at her lips.

The power of a deity truly was extraordinary.

After a while, Harold tightened his grip on her hand and started pulling her back. “Enough staring.”

“Hm?” Lu Yao was confused.

Harold, looking annoyed, grumbled, “We worked all night, I’m exhausted. Let’s go back to sleep. Don’t forget what you promised me.”

Though this small task wasn’t nearly as intense as his usual sparring matches with Si Jin, something about the way Lu Yao gazed into the abyss unsettled him.

He couldn’t put his finger on it, but for a brief moment, he felt as if Lu Yao was far, far away.

“Alright, let’s head back.” Lu Yao held Harold’s hand and called out to the Waterdrop Seals, “Alright, little ones, great job! Let’s head back to the shop for a rest.”

Following Lu Yao’s instructions, Ji Feiming had prepared fresh little fish for breakfast. When the Waterdrop Seals returned to the Whale Room, they ate eagerly, then flopped on the floor to roll around and relax.

Unlike humans, marine creatures don’t need regular sleep, but when there’s no danger, they’re perfectly content to lie down and enjoy the peacefulness of life.

When guests arrived at the Whale Room, they found the seals lying around as comfortably as elderly gentlemen, exuding such a laid-back air that it was both amusing and entertaining.

Not wanting to disturb their bliss, the guests found a spot nearby to lie down alongside the seals, with the deep blue sea overhead and the plump little seals by their side.

If they got too close, the seals would gently nudge them with their soft flippers, making a cozy “purr” sound.

…

Lu Yao came out of the bath, secretly drinking two bottles of recovery potion.

Now that the trash heap was gone, she still had to purify the polluted ocean currents, and she planned to stop by the blind box store afterward.

Ji Feiming waited outside. Seeing her emerge, he glanced at the pearl bracelet on her wrist and approached. “Boss.”

“Something up?” Lu Yao knew her staff well enough to read their expressions.

Ji Feiming said, “The shop is definitely short-staffed; we need at least one person to monitor each area. We can’t find suitable candidates in this world. Do you think we should consider hiring from the marketplace?”

Lu Yao looked straight into Ji Feiming’s eyes.

He almost looked away but steadied himself, meeting her gaze with a calm and sincere expression.

Several months had passed, and the former envoy seemed to have nearly forgotten his original mission, enjoying a vibrant life of receiving shipments, delivering orders, and interacting with customers on the marketplace.

But yesterday, after Lu Yao returned from the depths of the sea, there was a new pearl bracelet on her wrist.

This was no ordinary bracelet—just a glance at the black pearl was enough to make his eyes burn.

He hadn’t slept all night. Initially, he thought Lu Yao wasn’t the person he was searching for, but now he couldn’t say for sure, and he was already deeply involved in her world.

Lu Yao broke her gaze, responding casually, “If we’re hiring, I only want one more person in the kitchen. Do you have anyone suitable in mind?”

With the Waterdrop Seals on board, she wasn’t in a rush to hire anyone else.

However, Ji Feiming’s role as a courier kept him constantly on the go between stores, and as her workload grew, especially with plans to open a new store, they’d need more hands, including a reliable cook for the Little Pet Cafe’s kitchen.

Ji Feiming clenched his fist slightly. “I’ll reach out to my clan to select someone suitable. You can interview them, and if they’re a good fit, you can keep them on.”

Lu Yao raised an eyebrow. “That’s too much trouble. I could just find someone online.”

Bringing in someone from his family felt a bit extreme.

It seemed her staff had gotten some wild ideas in their heads.

Though online hiring carried more risk, she could conduct interviews off-site and screen carefully to find the right person.

Ji Feiming, however, was thrilled. “No trouble at all! You know about my family background. The marketplace is unique; they’d be more reliable than a random hire.”

Ji Feiming had changed so much.

The once rebellious man who’d followed Zhuang Liang to the marketplace now seemed like the earnest gatekeeper at a neighborhood entrance, or a relative pulling strings to secure a good job for a younger family member.

But Lu Yao sensed that the younger generation in his family might not be so appreciative. Sighing slightly, she said, “My requirements are simple: they must agree to the highest-level confidentiality contract, have solid cooking skills, speak clearly, and be patient.”

Ji Feiming nodded eagerly. “Understood. I’ll get in touch right away.”

…

At the blind box store, the staff was stocking shelves and arranging displays.

When Lu Yao pushed the door open, Lilly spotted her and dashed over, throwing her arms around her. “Sister!”

Wei Xuan and Nie Yu turned, glancing over. “Boss.”

The young tiger cub leaped down from the top of a glass display shelf. It had grown a bit but still looked adorably fierce and hadn’t managed to take human form yet.

“Rawr!”

Lu Yao reached out, and the cub lowered its head, nuzzling her hand and letting out a soft, gentle “rawr~.”

Lilly clung to Lu Yao’s waist. “Sister, you haven’t visited the shop in ages. The customers keep asking for new products.”

Though the Impermanence world had already detached from its fate, this world had faced ruin for twenty years and needed a long time to rebuild.

Centered around the blind box store, the abandoned buildings around the mall had begun to fill with new residents. In the early mornings and at dusk, the aroma of food now drifted down the streets.

People had started reclaiming parts of the city, attempting to grow grains, vegetables, and even mutated plants, constructing small water reservoirs, and repairing roads.

In this new world, just beginning from scratch, the magical blind box store had become a rare escape for people from their difficult lives.

“If customers are asking for new items, note them down and give the list to Xiao Ji later; I’ll review it.” Lu Yao added, “How’s the seafood series been selling lately?”

The Little Pet Cafe had a seafood stockpile that was almost overflowing, and Lu Yao sent a fresh batch daily to both the snack shop and the blind box store.

Lilly nodded vigorously. “The seafood boxes are plentiful and fresh, something people can’t get anywhere else. A lot of customers like taking them home in their boxes.”

Luo Hui’an emerged from the lab and brightened when he saw Lu Yao. “Boss!”

The chubby boy had completed his intensive treatment and was still on medication, needing a check-up every three months.

Lu Yao looked him up and down with a hint of joy in her eyes. “Have you lost weight?”

He had always had bright eyes, but with less chubbiness on his face, his eyes now seemed even more lively, and his lab coat fit a little loosely.

Luo Hui’an blushed slightly, “A little bit. Dr. Bai says that by next year, I’ll start reducing the medication and gradually slim down to a normal size.”

Lu Yao felt gratified.

Who would have thought that just a few months ago, this boy was counting his days, and now he was nearly like any other person—a promising young researcher with a bright future.

“Oh, by the way, I finished the solution you requested. Sister Zhong and I ran several tests and adjusted the formula to perfection.” Luo Hui’an informed her.

In the lab, Zhong Ruying and Xue Ge were busy with their experiments. When they saw Lu Yao enter, they stopped immediately. “Boss.”

The base had opened a new farming area. Old man Jiang, feeling healthier, had returned to oversee the garden and sent messages as needed through Jiang Han.

The remaining research team at the blind box store consisted of Luo Hui’an, Zhong Ruying, Xue Ge, and Lilly, with the tiger cub sometimes lending a hand.

Lu Yao examined the purification solution. The effectiveness was impressive, with the efficiency maximized.

According to Luo Hui’an, this solution could purify not only seawater but also freshwater to potable standards—a new, improved version of the purification solution.

With the purification solution in hand, Lu Yao left the blind box store, crossing the sun-baked, worn streets. Cicadas droned, and warm breezes brought the scent of osmanthus blossoms.

The Mid-Autumn Festival was approaching.

…

Lu Yao had the snack shop staff craft fifty special water guns, each filled with “ammo” that lasted for forty-eight hours.

She ground pearls infused with the Deep Sea Goddess’s divine power into powder and mixed it with the purification solution, loading it into the water guns for a fun event at the Little Pet Cafe.

In the former trash heap, now a jellyfish meadow, the shop’s staff and guests engaged in a water gun battle.

The Little Pet Cafe fielded the boss, staff members Harold and Jiu Hua, plus the seal guardians—twenty-five members in total. Customers drew lots to select twenty-five participants.

The solution in the water guns was a pale gold, staying on the skin for ten minutes, making hits easy to spot.

Each side battled it out, and if sprayed, a participant would be eliminated.

The last person standing was declared the winner.

The sole winner would receive a special prize from the Little Pet Cafe—The Tear of the Goddess, while each member of the winning team would receive a shop-exclusive badge.

The Tear of the Goddess was, in fact, a drop of the Deep Sea Goddess’s tear.

Lu Yao had selected a pearl to make into a necklace as the prize.

The moment The Tear of the Goddess was revealed, everyone’s gaze, except for Lu Yao and Harold, was immediately drawn to it.

Pearls containing the Mother Goddess’s power held an extraordinary allure for people in this world and for the current divine envoy.

The match itself was already thrilling, and with such a precious prize at stake, both sides were instantly fired up.

Lu Yao wasn’t initially interested in the competition, but Harold sulked, threatening gruffly that if she didn’t join, he’d turn into his dragon form and wipe out the poor, self-isolating fish in minutes. She stared at him in silence for a full five minutes before raising her hand to join the game.

Once the water gun battle began, the shopkeeper’s team held a strong advantage, mainly due to two particular participants.

In the water, the Waterdrop Seals moved with agility, gripping the water guns tightly with their flippers.

Meanwhile, Jiu Hua had transformed into a starfish, clinging securely to one of her seal teammates, with two arms firmly gripping a water gun, racking up quite a score.

On the guests’ team, there were octopuses, jellyfish, and seahorses with flexible tentacles or tails who moved independently. Some were smaller fish, sea snails, and mantis shrimp, or other benthic creatures who chose to team up, attacking opponents together.

The water gun game soon turned into an intense simulated battlefield. Lu Yao was tagged while goofing off and exited the game, followed by Harold.

With the humans eliminated, it became the guests’ main stage.

Some self-isolating fish were having so much fun that they suddenly got caught in bubbles and were whisked out of the trash sea mid-match.

Their abandoned water guns were picked up by their teammates, and the fight continued.

The battlefield eventually expanded to cover the entire trash sea, with participants switching in and out, playing well into the night.

By dawn, Jiu Hua, who had been hiding among the coral all night, was locked in a final showdown with a guest.

This guest was a massive mimic octopus with agile tentacles.

Jiu Hua remained calm and poised, riding on a Waterdrop Seal and holding her water gun with fierce determination.

Just as she was about to fire her most impressive shot, Lu Yao appeared and called the seals back to the shop for breakfast.

The Waterdrop Seal that had carried Jiu Hua all night took off like an arrow, dashing back to the Whale Room.

Forced to forfeit, Jiu Hua left the field speechless. “…”

The day after the water gun match, Lu Yao, accompanied by the Seal Guardians, set off to Night Light City to pick up the Wakaba Rabbits. On the way back, she received a notification from the system.

【Side quest completed with an astonishing 100% completion rate! Congratulations, host, on unlocking the ultimate task!】

🛍️🛍️🛍️🛍️🛍️

Thingyan: I have a strong feeling that this godslayer is the red eye guy