"This one."
With a wave of his hand, Han Feng summoned a manga from the bookshelf into his grasp.
"Dragon Ball?"
Kazuha's eyes lit up as he looked at the cover.
He had no idea what it was about...
But somehow, he instinctively felt it would be good.
This is the one.
After placing a bag of Mora on the counter, he turned to Beidou.
"Captain, I'm going to read my manga first."
"Go ahead."
Beidou smiled and nodded.
"I still have something I want to ask the boss."
"Alright."
Kazuha nodded.
Then he carried the manga toward the reading area.
To him...
Nothing was more important right now than the book in his hands.
After Kazuha left...
Han Feng leisurely took a sip of tea before smiling.
"So?"
"What did you want to ask?"
"Don't tell me something happened to the aircraft carrier."
"No."
Beidou shook her head.
"The carrier's fantastic."
"Everyone in the Crux Fleet loves it."
After a brief pause, she continued,
"I wanted to ask about Ningguang."
"Did she come to you recently looking for help?"
She watched Han Feng expectantly.
Originally...
She had thought she'd run into Ningguang here.
Instead...
The shop was empty.
And asking Ningguang directly would be rather awkward.
So Han Feng was her only source of information.
"She did."
Han Feng's expression turned a little strange.
"Don't tell me you've been provoking her lately?"
"Hahaha, I have."
Beidou admitted proudly.
"I sent her quite a few photos of the aircraft carrier."
"It's not every day I get to one-up Ningguang."
"Of course I wasn't going to waste the opportunity."
To Beidou...
Being ahead of her longtime rival, even temporarily...Was immensely satisfying.
She almost felt like celebrating with two bowls of wine.
The only regret...
Was that Ningguang had refused to come aboard for a tour.
"So that's what happened..."
Han Feng finally understood.
Previously...
He had assumed Ningguang was simply sentimental about the old Jade Chamber.
But now...
It seemed the bigger reason...
Was that Beidou had thoroughly provoked her.
Otherwise...
She wouldn't have dragged Keqing and the others to the shop first thing this morning.
"Boss..."
Beidou asked curiously.
"Has she found a way to upgrade the Jade Chamber yet?"
She always liked keeping tabs on her rival.
"Not yet."
Han Feng shook his head.
"Wait until tomorrow."
"If she succeeds..."
"I'm sure she won't forget to let you know."
"That sounds about right."
Beidou nodded in agreement.
After all...
She'd spent the last few days shamelessly showing off.
If Ningguang really managed to upgrade the Jade Chamber...
She'd probably be the very first person Ningguang video-called.
But...
That was tomorrow's business.
Today's priority...
Was manga.
After placing another bag of Mora on the counter...
Beidou walked toward the bookshelf.
"Hm?"
"There are new titles again?"
Her sharp eyes immediately noticed several fresh additions.
Her interest was instantly piqued.
Following her personal rule of always read the newest release first...
She considered her options for a moment.
Finally...
She picked up Granzort.
No special reason.
The cover simply looked incredibly cool.
With the manga in hand...
She headed toward the reading area.
Kazuha has arrived in Inazuma...
Han Feng thought to himself.
That means he'll probably head to Watatsumi Island afterward.
Looks like the manga shop is about to gain quite a few more customers.
After witnessing the shop's miracles firsthand...
Kazuha would definitely tell the Resistance.
By then...
People like Gorou and Sangonomiya Kokomi would likely visit as well.
And if they happened to run into Kujou Sara and the Shogunate soldiers...
That would certainly be interesting.
Just as Han Feng was contemplating this...
A familiar voice sounded beside him.
"Boss..."
"Thinking about the meaning of life again?"
Han Feng looked up.
Seeing the familiar fox priestess, he smiled.
"What timing."
"Raiden Ei just left, and now you're here."
At the mention of Ei...
Yae Miko's curiosity was immediately piqued.
"Speaking of which..."
"Boss..."
"What kind of reward did Ei get from you?"
On the way here with Sayu...
They had run into Ei.
To Yae's astonishment...
Ei had confidently declared that she now knew how to cook.
Not only that...
She'd proudly proclaimed herself an outstanding chef.
And had enthusiastically invited Yae to Tenshukaku for dinner.
Yae had found the whole thing extremely suspicious.
Did Ei know how to cook?
Of course she didn't.
If she could...
She wouldn't have become so embarrassed after being teased about it the previous night.
Something was definitely off.
Thinking back...
Ei had been walking from the direction of the manga shop.
Yae immediately guessed she'd obtained some kind of reward.
Most likely...
One related to cooking.
Yae knew exactly how miraculous the shop's rewards could be.
And if that was the case...
There was no way she was missing out.
Why refuse a free meal?
Not only would she go...
She was even planning to bring Sayu along.
"I won't spoil the details."
Han Feng waved his hand.
"You'll find out when you experience it yourself."
With the Delicious Seasoning, anything Ei cooked would undoubtedly taste incredible.
But...
Considering Ei's actual cooking skills...
The appearance would almost certainly be horrifying.
Imagine...
A charred black lump...
Giving off the most irresistible aroma imaginable.
Would you dare eat it?
After all...
The seasoning only guaranteed delicious flavor.
It never said the food wouldn't give you a stomachache.
Seeing Han Feng deliberately keeping the mystery...
Yae Miko became even more interested.
If not for wanting to read manga first...
She would've headed straight to Tenshukaku.
Thinking about manga reminded her of something else.
She turned back toward Han Feng.
"Boss."
"I saw Alice's balloon yesterday."
"Which manga does that reward come from?"
"Oh, that?"
Han Feng smiled.
"That's a camping gadget from Doraemon."
"And..."
"Ei's reward came from that manga as well."
So...
These two close companions had both set their sights on Doraemon.
Each hoping to obtain one of its incredible gadgets.
"So Ei read Doraemon too..."
"I understand."
"Thank you, Boss."
After learning the title...
Yae placed a bag of Mora on the counter.
Then she turned to head for the bookshelf.
But just then...
Two tiny hands grabbed hers.
A nervous yet hopeful voice sounded beside her.
"Lady Guuji..."
"What exactly is the thing that's supposed to help me grow taller?"
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