Three minutes later, a ssage finally arrived:
[I'm already on the way. It'll take about ten more minutes. I'll contact you when I arrive.]
Qiao Sang sent an OK gesture and put down her phone.
---
anwhile.
At the Beast Tar Center.
On the third floor, in the examination hall.
Fleur stared at his phone in silent contemplation.
"What's wrong?" McCarthy asked when he noticed.
Fleur put down his phone and asked, "If the person with the Ghostfire Essence is really the sa kid who teleported the Lava Beast last night, do you think you can take her in a fight?"
"What are you saying? She's just a kid. How could I possibly-" McCarthy trailed off mid-sentence, suddenly rembering the terrifying beast that had burst out of the volcano last night.
"Is she really just a kid?" Fleur continued.
McCarthy chuckled.
"What else? She looks like a minor."
"But her pet beast isn't sothing a minor should have." Fleur mused.
McCarthy hesitated.
"You an...?"
"Aren't there so pet beasts with abilities that can alter a person's appearance?" Fleur said seriously.
"The girl we saw might not actually look like that at all."
Hearing this, McCarthy's expression turned grim.
Indeed, he recalled a news story from a year ago: A man fell in love at first sight with a girl while traveling and pursued her relentlessly. On the last day of their trip, he finally won her over, and they began a long-distance relationship.
Over the course of their relationship, he transferred nearly a million to her, yet they never t again. Eventually, she broke up with him.
Unwilling to accept it, the man reported the case to the police as fraud, but in truth, he just wanted to see her one last ti.
After an investigation, the police discovered that she was actually a 48-year-old man. He had been cursed by a Ghost-type pet beast and temporarily transford into his daughter's appearance.
The man had traveled to avoid being seen by acquaintances after the transformation.
When the victim learned the truth, he was furious at first, but upon hearing that the transford appearance was that of the man’s daughter, he chose to forgive him.
Deeply moved, the older man introduced his real daughter to him.
Six months later, they got married, making it one of the strangest stories of the year.
Fleur continued, unfazed:
"Dealing with soone whose true identity is unknown is too risky. We should avoid direct contact as much as possible."
McCarthy nodded in agreent.
"I need to use the restroom." Fleur said, getting up.
He went down to the first-floor lobby and handed a small, square box to the service desk attendant.
"If soone cos looking for this and hands you sothing in return, give this to them."
"Understood, sir." The attendant nodded, accepting the box.
Fleur then walked to a wall about ten ters away and spoke into the air:
"Watch closely. If what she hands over doesn’t give you any reaction, take back the Yin Dynasty Pearl imdiately and leave."
"Keekee." A voice whispered from the empty air.
Fleur glanced toward the service desk, then picked up his phone. He deliberately waited a few minutes before sending a ssage:
[Do you have at least half a pound of Ghostfire Essence?]
---
Qiao Sang looked at the new ssage and replied:
[Yes.]
Fleur quickly responded:
[I've left your item at the first-floor service desk. Hand over the Ghostfire Essence to the staff and ntion that soone left a box. They'll give you what you need.]
Why the sudden decision not to et in person…?
Qiao Sang pondered for a mont and asked:
[How can I be sure your SS-rank Yin Dynasty Pearl is genuine?]
The reply ca instantly:
[You know what I look like. You could find anyti. Besides, an SS-rank Yin Dynasty Pearl has a fatal attraction to Ghost-type pet beasts. Let your Ghost-type pet beast sense it. If you're still doubtful, you can have it appraised before using it.]
He doesn’t even seem worried that I might be giving him fake Ghostfire Essence… Does he really trust that much?
No, when dealing with sothing this valuable, there’s no way he’d just hand it over without ensuring it’s real…
Qiao Sang recalled scenes from cri dramas and started suspecting a hidden agenda.
But then she thought of Yabao’s combat strength and Little Treasure’s teleportation ability.
Nothing to fear.
If trouble cos, she can handle it.
Strength brings confidence.
Qiao Sang stopped overthinking and followed the instructions to the first-floor service desk.
She handed over a bottle filled with half a pound of Ghostfire Essence and asked:
"Did soone leave a box here earlier?"
"Yes." The staff mber nodded and handed her a small square box.
"A gentleman left this."
Qiao Sang accepted the box, exchanged the bottle, and thanked the staff.
"Xun xun~"
Little Treasure, still invisible, let out a small call.
Qiao Sang remained calm, glancing toward the bottle.
Then she turned and headed toward the won’s restroom.
Five minutes later, she exited the restroom, walked out of the Beast Tar Center, hailed a taxi, and got in.
"To the airport, please." She instructed the driver.
At the Beast Tar Center entrance, Fleur held the bottle of Ghostfire Essence and watched as the taxi disappeared into the distance.
---
Inside the taxi.
Little Treasure revealed himself.
In 10th District, pet beasts suddenly appearing wasn’t unusual. The taxi driver remained unbothered, his hands steady on the wheel.
"Store this away." Qiao Sang said, handing the box to Little Treasure.
"Xun xun~"
Little Treasure removed his ring and stored the box inside.
Qiao Sang pulled out her phone, opened her chat with "SS-rank Yin Dynasty Pearl," and typed a ssage:
[Pleasant cooperation.]
The reply ca instantly:
[Pleasant cooperation.]
Qiao Sang put away her phone and gazed out at the scenery, feeling quite satisfied.
The SS-rank Yin Dynasty Pearl was indeed authentic.
She had done her research online beforehand. Aside from being highly attractive to Ghost-type pet beasts, SS-rank Yin Dynasty Pearls contained visible purple crystals at least 1 cm in diater and ford delicate, wing-thin purple threads when exposed to ghostly energy.
The pearls in the box matched all these characteristics.
---
The next afternoon, at 2 PM, Qiao Sang arrived in 1st District via airship.
As soon as she disembarked, she ford a hand seal and summoned Lubao and Gangbao.
With Lubao secured in her backpack, she followed her pre-researched navigation route.
An hour later, she arrived at a real estate agency.
A professional-looking black woman hurried over to greet her.
"How may I assist you?"
"I’m looking to rent a place." Qiao Sang said.
On Chaosu Star, only locals were allowed to purchase property. Beast Tars could only buy if they were classified as A-rank talents, sothing she had already looked into.
The agent asked, "Do you have any specific requirents for the property?"
She didn’t bother asking about the budget.
Just from the unfamiliar bird-like pet beast beside Qiao Sang, she had no doubt this young girl was wealthy.
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