Warlock Apprentice

Chapter 3223: Chapter 3224: Pixi Arrives

Ring Fort, level 5500, Soft Tooth Dyeing Shop.

Angel and Laplace’s consciousness has already returned to their physical bodies.

However, even though consciousness has returned, the heavy atmosphere surrounding them has yet to alleviate.

The passing Pirush shop owner noticed the glass window near Angel covered in the ”Illusion Technique”, obscuring the view from outside. He initially wanted to inquire about the situation, but before approaching, the oppressive atmosphere stopped him from speaking. He quietly retreated back to the empty counter where he could finally breathe deeply.

Not until the dye shop’s door was pushed open did the stagnant atmosphere begin to slowly ease.

Entering from outside the dye shop was a Red Skin Pippi, shorter than the shop owner by a head, reaching only Angel’s waist. He wore simple clothing, looked rather inconspicuous, yet the moment he stepped in, the shop owner jumped from the counter in shock.

”Pixi, Sir?!” the shop owner exclaimed, his high-pitched voice breaking.

After realizing his voice cracked, the shop owner quickly covered his mouth and ran attentively to the newcomer, speaking flattering, sycophantic words that flowed endlessly like water from his babbling mouth.

Pixi clearly enjoyed the praise, smiling so broadly that his eyes became slits.

If it were any ordinary day, Pixi might allow the shop owner to continue until he ran out of words; but today, Pixi was here on other business. After enjoying a few seconds of praise, he waved his hand to interrupt the shop owner’s words.

”Enough, that’s all for today.” Pixi coughed, ”I’ve come today to meet an important guest, move aside and don’t interrupt... Understood?”

The shop owner immediately nodded. Although he did not know why Sir Pixi would come to his shop to meet guests, Pixi as the ”Big Dad” to all merchants in Pipi Castle, was worshipped no matter what he did.

The shop owner glanced with sidelong eyes at Angel and Laplace not far away, and whispered, ”Sir, should I drive these two away?”

Pixi’s face froze instantly upon hearing the shop owner’s words.

”Do you know what you’re saying? These two are the Pi Luoxiu Clan’s most esteemed guests, how can you talk like that!” Pixi whispered furiously in the shop owner’s ear, ”It’s still the gathering period, so I won’t penalize you. But quickly get aside, and don’t let me see you again.”

The shop owner’s flattering expression turned pale in an instant.

These two humans are Sir Pixi’s guests?!

Why didn’t he greet them earlier? I... hopefully didn’t do anything excessive just now.

The shop owner wondered whether he should go up and apologize, but seeing Pixi’s angry expression, he felt intimidated, nodded humbly to Pixi, then quickly ran into the small door behind the counter, leaving the space for Pixi and Angel and the others.

”The air is finally clean!” Pixi exclaimed exaggeratedly, then walked to Angel and Laplace with an apologetic smile: ”Soft Tooth Dyeing isn’t familiar with the rules, and has neglected you. I apologize on his behalf to the esteemed guests.”

Pixi kept a smiling face, bowing deeply, making it hard for Angel and Laplace to say anything.

Actually, Angel didn’t feel the shop owner did anything wrong.

However, he understood Pixi’s actions. The Pirush aren’t well-liked for a reason; their malicious nature is their original sin. Pixi actually couldn’t tell if the shop owner had mistreated them, but according to past practice, assumes the worst-case scenario; and since the shop owner mentioned ”driving away Angel and Laplace”, Pixi naturally had to perform.

Yes, Pixi’s behavior was just a performance.

Despite the angry words, no real action was taken against the shop owner.

Angel and Laplace both understood but saw no need to point it out. It’s natural for Pixi to protect his people as the superior of Pirush merchants.

If Pixi had immediately sold out the shop owner without a word, they would have looked down upon him instead.

Angel: ”No need for apologies, the shop owner did nothing wrong.”

Pixi chuckled: ”Thank you for understanding... I know Soft Tooth Dyeing, he likes to take small advantages. Whether he did anything wrong or not, I’ll educate him well when I return.”

Angel: ... You better educate for real.

Speaking of which, the shop owner’s name is actually Soft Tooth Dyeing, naming his shop after himself, truly befitting the Pi Luoxiu.

Setting aside the faults of their malicious nature, the Pi Luoxiu are always confident, as seen from these little details.

”Are you Pixi?” At this point, Laplace spoke: ”Did Luigi call you over?”

Luigi had previously purchased Pixi’s favor contract at the Mirror Dragon, and now Pixi appeared here specifically looking for them, clearly at Luigi’s behest.

Pixi nodded with a smile: ”Yes, it’s Luigi who asked me to receive you. He is currently with the Sage and is unable to leave temporarily.”

Previously, Pixi’s conversation with Angel was quite normal. But responding to Laplace, although his tone didn’t change, his eyes didn’t dare glance at Laplace.

From this, it’s evident that Pixi knows some inside information. Even if he can’t confirm Laplace’s identity, he is aware Laplace is undoubtedly someone significant.

Moreover, upon activating Hyper Perception, Angel noticed Pixi, facing Angel, showed not only reverent fear but also a hint of concealed joy, possibly thinking he might latch onto a big deal?

Indeed, the reality was much as Angel guessed.

Pixi used favor debt repayment, initially hoping to latch onto the Mirror Dragon’s leg. Unfortunately, he attached himself to merely a young dragon’s leg, which had forgotten about him entirely.

Pixi had almost given up when Luigi appeared.

As the past assistant to Duke Pishu, Pixi knew some details about Luigi. Luigi and Baba Ragon were close friends, and just this relationship placed Luigi as a ”big deal” in Pixi’s view.

And Duke Pishu had once hinted to him that Luigi was likely a Temporal Body, which might be connected to a great existence.

Even though Pixi wasn’t aware of who this ”great existence” was, it didn’t prevent him from categorizing Luigi as ”giant” level.

Being classified as ”giant”, Pixi naturally paid more attention to Luigi.

He knew much about Luigi, including his friends, some past journeys, hobbies... etc.

Yet, within Pixi’s intel network, Luigi had no friend named ”Laplace”.

However, when Pixi sought information from Luigi indirectly, he discovered Luigi and ”Laplace” had a very close relationship.

Laplace hadn’t appeared in past intel but was incredibly close to Luigi, leading Pixi to suspect Laplace might be related to that ”great existence”.

Therefore, when dealing with ”giant” Laplace, Pixi naturally showed a respectful attitude.

As for... the consideration of Angel being outside the intel system, Pixi cared much less.

Because ”Angel’s” human presence was too obvious, with no flow of Aggregation Energy on his body, and his aura incompatible with the Mirror Domain, he was undoubtedly a human from the Outer Domain.

No matter how powerful humans are, their living environment is ultimately different from that of the Mirror Domain. Pixi hasn’t fully embraced the powerful figures from this world itself; how could he possibly reach across worlds to cling onto someone powerful?

”If that’s the case, then let’s go.” Laplace nodded, indicating for Pixi to lead the way.

Pixi nodded respectfully: ”This way please, esteemed guests.”

Pixi didn’t take them outside; instead, he walked to a small door behind the counter: ”For the convenience of Pirush merchants transporting goods, each shop on this floor has a direct passage to their station.”

Naturally, this Tooth Dyeing Shop also has such a passage.

Upon opening the door, what they first saw wasn’t the passage, but the shop owner, Pisoft, peering out eagerly.

Previously, the shop owner Pisoft had hidden inside the small door, planning to come out once the people left. However, the door was opened before they left.

Pisoft waved awkwardly at the people outside: ”Uh, everyone...hello?”

”Alright, get out and continue working. I’ll properly educate you after we return.” Pixi coughed twice, signaling with his eyes for Pisoft to quickly come out.

Angel and Laplace tacitly kept quiet.

After Pisoft came out, Pixi immediately led the two inside the door.

Indeed, behind the door was a narrow passage, its end was pitch dark, with no end in sight.

The passage looked ordinary, but once Pixi entered, the wall on one side suddenly emitted a faint glow, projecting a light screen.

A face of a Green Pippi appeared on the light screen.

”Pisoft, are you applying to return to the station? Please respond within three seconds, three, two...” Green Pippi seemed busy with other work, not even lifting his head as he talked, instead addressing the documents on his desk.

Three seconds passed without hearing Pisoft’s voice, then Green Pippi raised his head in confusion, looking across the light screen.

”Ah?! How is...Lord Pixi!” Green Pippi, seeing who was opposite, stood up in shock, his speech even stuttering.

Pixi waved his hand: ”Take a seat first, then help me record the information of these two guests, allowing them to use the internal passages freely without needing to apply.”

Green Pippi glanced at Angel and Laplace, didn’t inquire about their identities, simply nodded appropriately and swiftly made the registration.

After ten seconds, the registration signal came from the opposite side.

Only then did Pixi turn to them: ”Dear guests, if needed during the gathering, you may use the shops on this floor to enter the Pirush station.”

Although Angel didn’t think he’d return to the Pirush station for a second visit, he still thanked Pixi.

With ”identity” now, they finally stepped onto the path leading to the station.

Angel didn’t estimate how long the passage was, but along the way, they saw many doors, according to Pixi, each door led to different Pirush shops.

When Pixi spoke of these doors, he seemed rather proud, as within the Ring Fort, only the Pi Luoxiu Clan has such a merchant-exclusive passage.

And the driving force behind the passage’s setup was none other than Pixi himself.

Pixi might be stingy outwardly, earning the nickname ”tightwad” due to his penny-pinching; but internally, he’s attentive and deserved his position.

Merchants encountered along the way showed genuine respect towards Pixi, clearly evident.

After roughly five minutes of traversing through winding passages, they arrived at the Pirush station.

The Pirush station wasn’t grand like the Hundred-Dragon Divine Kingdom and didn’t have separate spaces, yet it was still expansive.

In the center lay a vast plaza capable of accommodating tens of thousands without feeling crowded.

This plaza was open to the public; anyone willing may come without conditions. Being open and without barriers, the plaza became Pirush’s window to the outside.

Almost all external facilities were on this plaza.

For example, the service desk for commodity inquiries, the material center for large-scale goods transactions, temporary desks for adding display pages, and various stalls, markets, entertainment facilities, all available here.

Furthermore, Pirush even set up a small display stage here, showcasing their own products, with Pirush members explaining their invention concepts on stage to attract venture capital.

Just now, Angel noticed a Green Pippi Lu dressed in a half-suit on stage, eloquently discussing a golden silk glove invention concept, claiming it to be a derivative of the Golden Silk Stomach Bag invention. Through special sensors and connections with the Golden Silk Stomach Bag, it allows items inside to appear directly in the hand.

This invention might seem ordinary with limited practicality, yet many were willing to invest, including other races besides Pirush.

The reason was straightforward: the Golden Silk Stomach Bag was an excellent Spatial Artifact, with sizable capacity and a reasonable price, but it had a flaw that many criticized: due to its trait, it needed to be implanted inside and linked to the esophagus, causing items to be ”spit out” every time they were retrieved.

Although ”spitting out” was merely a descriptive action, not implying the artifact necessarily ”passed through the mouth,” the perception wasn’t favorable.

Many from the Alien Clan, even interested in the Golden Silk Stomach Bag’s practicality, hesitated when thinking of retrieving items via the mouth.

This is why the Golden Silk Stomach Bag didn’t sell as well as anticipated.

However, if there was a golden silk glove accessory, the retrieval wouldn’t ”require spitting,” but directly the items inside the stomach bag would appear in the hand, greatly improving its aesthetics.

Despite the somewhat redundant effect, making little practicality for utilitarian parties, for many attentive to details, this would be an undeniable advantage.

Thus, many were willing to invest.

Ultimately, the invention concept received an investment of tens of thousands of Crystalline, and the Green Pippi Lu contentedly descended from the stage, signing agreements with the investors, and hastily departing to prepare for the invention’s practical creation.

Witnessing this scene, Angel sighed somewhat, as the Pi Luoxiu Clan’s inventive concepts greatly surpassed other races in the Mirror Domain.

Even better than numerous Witcher Organizations.

The most crucial aspect being the strong support from Pirush’s upper management, specifically preparing display platforms for these common Pirush members, offering even those in adversity a chance to soar.

It must be said, Pirush’s move in the invention field was an outstanding chess play.