Proofreader & Editor: Lotas

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"Although I appreciate the speedy delivery, isn't this a bit…" Asho watched the bustling drones as they swiftly and orderly returned to their own airspace, "too impolite? Isn't this like breaking and entering?"

 

"It's not too bad." Annan shrugged nonchalantly, "The 'Almo Drone Logistics' system ranks third on the 'Technological Revolution Leaderboard' over the past decade, top-notch in efficiency, safety, and interconnectivity of all things. Sure, companies like Belia and Tafa are close behind, but they're catching up thanks to Almo's technology… It was annoying at first, but you get used to it over time."

 

"Can't they be a bit more polite?" Igura, who valued his privacy, was also somewhat dissatisfied with the delivery system, "Like leaving the packages on the balcony…"

 

"There's a risk of damage if left outside, and the buyer might forget, so the delivery must be placed in the living room where the customer is most likely to notice it," Annan explained, "I haven't looked into it in detail, but this delivery system is definitely the most advanced, because companies like Almo are surely developing according to the guidance of the 'Gospel'. If they take a wrong turn or stagnate, Belia and Tafa will definitely seize the opportunity to catch up."

 

So, because it's guided by the 'Gospel', it's the most advanced; and because it's the most advanced, it's reasonable…?

 

Igura and Asho both felt there was something off about this logic.

 

While they were chatting, Lis had already gone to open her package. The parcel had a convenient clasp that even a little girl could open with her bare hands. Pancake squatted beside her and asked, "Need help?"

 

"No need!" Lis cheerfully replied, pulling out a blue velvet gift box, "For you!"

 

Pancake was taken aback, pointing to himself, "For me?"

 

"Yes, a gift for Brother Pancake!"

 

"Thank you!" Pancake accepted the box somewhat flattered to find a sapphire earring inside, exquisitely crafted and sparkling. He put it on himself, and although it looked good, it seemed a bit tacky and pretentious compared to Annan's amethyst earring, even overshadowing it.

 

Or rather, it was only with the sapphire earring as a contrast that Asho and the others realized the true value of Annan's amethyst earring—it was beautiful without being cloying, dazzling without being loud, enhancing the wearer's charm while naturally blending into their image, and it even seemed to contain miraculous effects like 'enchantment'.

 

Trading these rare accessories for their three lives, the Church of the Four Pillar God could be said to have been thoroughly fleeced by Annan.

 

However, Pancake was happily ruffling Lis's hair, "I really like it, thank you Lis."

 

Then Lis handed another gift box to Annan, who was sipping coffee, "Sister Annan, this is for you."

 

Annan raised an eyebrow slightly, "Thank you, can I open it now?"

 

"Yes!"

 

The gift Lis gave to Annan was a moon-white fox and dragon hairpin. Although it looked a bit childish, Annan seemed quite fond of it, pinning it near her ear, which made her aura more lively.

 

"And this one… is for Auntie Bokin!"

 

"Is it a dress?" Asho asked.

 

"Not exactly, but close." Lis took out something resembling a dress, "Auntie Bokin will definitely look great in it!"

 

Igura took it and found it was a skirt suit that could be worn over pants as an accessory. The skirt suit had many hidden pockets, and Igura was surprised to find that he had never noticed such a convenient clothing accessory before—a mental artificer who excels at planning and setting up the battlefield could never have too many secret pockets for pre-battle preparation.

 

Asho seemed to notice his satisfaction with the gift and teased, "Auntie Bokin, you surely don't like this kind of clothing, right? After all, you didn't spin Lis around in joy… How about you give it to me? I like this style!"

 

Igura glanced at him and beckoned to Lis, who was looking expectant, lifting her up and spinning around, "You're quite heavy."

 

Lis pouted and punched his head, "Auntie Bokin is so rude!"

 

"Sorry, little girls are not within my range of service."

 

At that moment, Harvey finally seemed to have settled his guests and came out of the room with an unlit catnip cigarette in his mouth, curiously observing the scene in the living room, "Hmm?"

 

"Uncle Harvey!" Lis found a gift the size of a notebook among the parcels, "This is for you!"

 

"I have a gift too?" The necromancer tucked the catnip cigarette behind his ear and calmly said, "Thanks… a notebook?"

 

"No, it's a black and white memory notebook," Lis explained, "You just need to press the paper, and you can imprint the images from your mind onto the notebook. Uncle Harvey, you often stand by the window looking at the scenery, I thought you'd definitely like drawing."

 

"That's not really drawing… but thanks." Harvey pocketed the notebook, hesitated for a moment, and pulled out a piece of candy, "Uncle's treat—"

 

Before Asho could react, his body bound by the contract had already rushed over and tangled with the necromancer. Harvey quickly blocked Asho's attack, saying, "It's real candy! I don't even have enough moon sugar for myself, how could I give it away! This is the real sugar I use to satisfy my moon cravings!"

 

"For safety's sake, Lis, you better not eat any candy from Uncle Harvey," Igura advised, "Although I can treat sugar addiction, it's a bit brain-damaging—damaging to the patient's brain. If Harvey gives the wrong candy, Asho might end up in a bloody fight with the necromancer because of you."

 

"Lis doesn't like candy, Lis only likes soft red velvet cream cakes."

 

After saying that, Lis went back to eating breakfast, while Asho pinned Harvey down, eagerly watching the little girl with white hair spread custard on her toast.

 

Amidst everyone's subtle gazes, Asho helped Harvey up and then sat next to Lis, "Cough, cough, cough—"

 

Harvey slapped Asho's back hard, "If you're wheezing, just pat it, no need to thank me, consider it returning the favor from earlier."

 

Igura glanced at the embarrassed Asho, his lips curling up as he asked, "Lis, you bought so many gifts, is there one for the only 0-star genius in this house?"

 

"Yes." Lis replied with her mouth full of bread crumbs, "But someone is very angry and I don't want to give it to him."

 

"Why angry?"

 

"Because someone was tricked by a cunning scheme during last night's game, causing them to lose and stay awake all night in anger, so someone doesn't want to give him a gift."

 

Now everyone looked at Asho with a bit more disdain—stooping to dirty tricks even when playing games with a little girl, truly shameless, even Igura felt ashamed to be associated with him.

 

Even a con artist wouldn't deceive a little girl after the age of five!

 

"No way, you're still holding onto that after a whole night!?" Asho was shocked, "Aren't kids supposed to forget things easily? Your grudge-holding ability is on par with Igura's!"

 

Igura looked puzzled at Harvey, "Am I that vengeful?"

 

"I don't know much about you either," the necromancer replied, "If we ignore what happened to those who offended you in prison, then you probably don't hold grudges."

 

After finishing her toast, Lis drank a full cup of hot milk, turned to Asho and said, "If you don't apologize, someone will stay angry and won't give out the nice gift—"

 

"Sorry, it was my fault, I shouldn't have done that and caused you to fall."

 

"Hehe." Lis raised her hand to pat Asho, "Admitting your mistake is what makes a good daddy. So next time you play, you won't do it again, right?"

 

"Yeah, next time I'll make it look like a normal accident, so you won't realize it was my doing."

 

"…" Lis withdrew her hand, "Not just someone, but Lis is a bit angry too."

 

"But Lis, think about it from my perspective," Asho coaxed, "If you were about to lose a game, and your opponent in real life showed a weakness, wouldn't you seize that weakness, to teach her a lesson with a stormy victory, to let her know that a real player should also be flawless in reality?"

 

"Daddy, you do have a point…"

 

No, that doesn't make sense, does it? everyone thought.

 

But once again, they looked at Asho with new respect—everyone knows that little girls are especially unreasonable, yet Asho could feed his twisted logic to Lis with sweet words, and she completely accepted it. This proved that Asho was very good at dealing with children.

 

Or perhaps he could lower his IQ to the level of a child and then use his rich experience to defeat the little ones.

 

Whichever the case, it meant that Asho was now firmly tied to Lis, the two forming an impenetrable small circle of power.

 

For this startup company of only six people, Asho and Lis could be considered a formidable force.

 

Lis was completely convinced and handed a large box to Asho.

 

Asho gleefully opened the box, realizing this was probably the second gift he had received in reality—the first being the blessings from the old iron friends of the Four Pillar God, along with a complimentary all-inclusive VIP package at Shattered Lake Prison.

 

A deep red gradient trench coat appeared before Asho.

 

He paused for a moment, put on the coat, and felt as if he had donned a cloak of vanity.

 

"Lis has good taste, it really suits you."

 

"To be honest, given Asho's taste in clothes, anything Lis bought couldn't possibly make him look worse."

 

"I think it's quite nice, suitable as your funeral attire."

 

Ignoring the comments of the others, Asho asked, "Lis, why did you buy me this coat?"

 

"Because it suits Daddy," Lis said, "And feel the pockets."

 

Asho pulled out a card with numbers from the pocket, "This is…"

 

"It's a 'Saga' game recharge card, it came with the coat," Lis said, "Isn't the virtual game Daddy plays called 'Saga'? This 'Purgatory Coat' is their official merchandise, and it comes with a recharge card. I thought Daddy would like it…"

 

"Only for today, you are my real daughter!" Asho hugged Lis tightly, "Lis likes red velvet cake? Igura, find me a cookbook for baking, and after you learn it, make one and bring it over!"

 

Igura replied coldly, "Next time you ask for my help, I'll remember to have you bake a cake."

 

Asho blinked, "There won't be a next time… If there is, we'll talk then."

 

"Daddy, you're so dramatic." Lis giggled, wriggling out of Asho's embrace and went to tidy up the remaining parcels, "Then I'll go back to my room and continue opening gifts."

 

"Huh?" Annan asked, "What about the remaining dozen or so parcels…"

 

"That's right, they're all gifts Lis bought for herself!" Lis declared confidently, "I've encountered a lot of things recently, and Lis thinks she deserves a treat!"

 

Pancake helped carry the parcels, casually asking, "You bought so much, do you still have money left in your balance?"

 

Lis froze, didn't answer, and quickly retreated into her room, closing the door.

 

"Hehehe…"

 

Asho saw Igura covering his mouth and laughing, curious, he asked, "What are you laughing at? And why so sinisterly?"

 

"Nothing." Igura picked up a shrimp salad, "Just feels like someone is going to get scolded."

 

…

 

***

 

"Lis!"

 

The White Queen in the half-length mirror could barely keep her composure, "You actually spent all the money!?"

 

Lis knelt in front of the mirror, looking sincerely reflective and obedient. She suddenly presented a gift box, "Sister White , this is specially picked out for you."

 

The White Queen laughed in exasperation, "Giving me a gift is no different from giving yourself one. Do you think you can fool your sisters like this?"