Mr. Zhongli, we can't slack off anymore!

Steambird News front page headline: The Golden Sparrow Merchant Guild announced its dissolution this morning! Who is the mysterious hero?!

Today's newspapers sold out. Good news about the disbandment of organized crime groups is everywhere.

The lower classes rejoiced, while the upper-class nobles issued arrest warrants for the mysterious hero. Patrols, normally uninvolved in maintaining public order, were mobilized in droves to investigate suspicious individuals and apprehend the wanted criminals.

At this moment, the wanted criminal is... shopping.

Navelette sat in the VIP section of the luxury store, waiting for the sales assistant to put a hair accessory on his head, like a child waiting obediently to sit and wait for his mother to come back after negotiating the price.

"Oh dear, madam, you need to buy one more item to get a discount," the saleswoman said, using the discount as an excuse to push her expensive children's clothing. She could tell that although the lady was simply dressed, she was willing to spend money on her child.

"Look, it's all covered in dust. It's obvious nobody buys it," the traveler challenged the astronomical price tag.

"Our store takes a high-end approach, and the works of masters await their destined owners."

"I've never heard of that master you're talking about in Fontainebleau. Are you trying to scam outsiders?"

"This..." Usually, wealthy foreigners are intimidated by what the shop assistant says, but I didn't expect this customer to actually go and check.

What can you do when the traveler has no money?

Normally, travelers don't haggle, but after spending a lot of time with a certain gullible guy who goes all in, I had to learn a little bit of the trick in order to save him some money on meals.

"You've put me in a difficult position, Madam. Oh! By the way, Madam, we've received a new arrival. Why don't you buy one for your husband too?" With that, the shop assistant brought out an elegant wooden box and took out a garment from it…

Isn't that Violet's official outfit?

So that's where you bought it!

"This one is by a famous designer..."

"I want it."

"Madam is so agreeable!"

Ugh, I feel so uncomfortable if I don't spend this money.

"Buy three items for an even better price!"

That's enough...

"Don't you think these dresses match the men's clothes we just saw? If you were to wear another dress, madam, the three of you would attract a lot of attention on the street."

"No…"

"Patrol searching for criminals! This is an arrest warrant!" Several Fontaine patrol soldiers burst into the shop.

They're definitely here to arrest me!

A traveler's sixth sense is very accurate.

“You’re right! I’ll try this one on!” Before the patrol team entered the VIP room, the traveler grabbed little Navelette and hid her in the fitting room.

Through the door, the traveler overheard the conversation between the patrol team and the shop assistant.

Have you seen a young foreign woman with a child?

“My customers do meet the criteria you mentioned, but those who can afford to patronize our store are all wealthy and influential. How could there be wanted criminals among them? Please don’t disrupt our business.”

"Where is she? We need to check."

"Oh dear! No, Madam is changing clothes, you can't go! The report said the prisoner has the Eye of God, but my guest doesn't."

"The report only stated that the prisoner could use elemental power."

"But how can one use elemental power without the Eye of God and not being a god?"

"Never mind that! Let me see." The patrolman shoved the shop assistant aside.

"That's incredibly rude of you! You can't come in!"

The traveler knew things were going badly and had no choice but to leave. However, he couldn't afford to pay for the damaged expensive items in the shop, and once he left, the loss would fall on the shop assistant's shoulders.

How to do it……

"Ugh..." Little Navelette's face was full of discomfort, her little face scrunched up.

The house leaks and it rains all night.

"Are you alright..." The traveler was worried about his health, wondering if something had happened to him.

Blue water elemental particles overflowed from his body and enveloped him.

The figure within the light gradually grew larger.

"You can't go in! How can you go into the ladies' changing room!" The shop assistant still tried her best to stall for time, clinging tightly to the patrol captain's clothes.

"Are you trying to obstruct official business? Arrest her too!"

"A lady is changing her clothes, how dare you force your way in!"

Squeak—

The door to the fitting room opened.

A well-dressed gentleman and a dignified lady emerged from it.

The people who emerged were Navelette in her male form and the traveler.

“A man and a woman…it seems they are not the people we are looking for,” the patrol captain concluded.

"Why don't we arrest them and interrogate them? Maybe they know where the prisoner is?" one soldier suggested.

The captain slapped him on the head: "Why are you risking your life for 2000 Mora a month! Catching criminals is too much trouble! Back to base!"

The traveler breathed a sigh of relief once the patrol had left the shop.

"Oh dear? Where's that child?" The shop assistant looked around.

"Ha...haha...actually..." It seems it's not time to relax yet. The traveler needs to come up with a foolproof lie to explain the current situation.

*

The hotel where the traveler stayed was shut down, and the owner was taken away.

To stay at a hotel, you need to get a foreign tourist ID card with a value of 10 mora.

Fortunately, my wallet was bulging, and 10 Mora was just a small amount, a fraction of the cost of Vilette's outfit.

I thought getting a certificate would involve a lot of questioning, but it was done in just ten minutes.

The so-called identity document is just a small card.

With enough money, you can stay in the best hotels in Fontaine's commercial district, with an unparalleled experience. Forget a single room, just book a luxury suite. Room service is all arranged, and you can see Fontaine's famous landmark—the Opiclave Opera House—right from your window.

After a full Fontaine Spa treatment, the traveler swayed as he passed through several doors and headed towards the edge of the suite's pool.

Navelette was soaking in the pool, her clothes dripping wet.

"How are you feeling?" The traveler lay back in his chair, reaching for the champagne beside him to drink.

It truly lives up to its reputation as Fontainebleau's most expensive wine. I'll try to bring a few bottles back for Mr. Zhongli sometime.

"Thank you for your concern, I'm much better. But I have a question: don't humans feel uncomfortable going into the water wearing clothes?"

You know it's painful, huh...

"Actually, we humans usually wear swimsuits when we go into the water. I'll go to the front desk and get you a swimsuit in a bit. You can take off your clothes first... Ahhhhhh! Don't take them off now! How can you take off your clothes in front of a lady..." The traveler's relaxed nerves tightened again, his brain was congested, and he fled back to his room.

The soft, large bed caught the traveler's attention, and she sank into it, falling into a deep sleep embraced by the blankets and mattress.

Finally, I can get some rest. This is what life is all about!

Until... she was awakened by another noise.

Doesn't this Fontainebleau landscape let anyone get any sleep?!

"Is that Vilette, you?"

"Shadow Hunter - Charles Marini sends you his sincerest greetings, Miss Criminal."

It's a strange voice!

Before the traveler could even use her elemental powers, several withered vines bound her body as she abruptly stood up.

A strange man lit a candle in the darkness, and the traveler could see clearly that he was a gentleman dressed in hunting attire, with the Eye of the Grass Element hanging from his hat.

*

boom!

The patrol soldiers closed the door to the detention cell.

The traveler sat on a simple wooden bed in his pajamas.

The quality of life plummeted from the sky to the bottom.

The man, who identified himself as Charles Marini, said, "I've locked you and your accomplices in a detention cell, so I'm sure you won't be lonely tonight."

The traveler turned around and saw Navelette sitting in the corner.