Chapter 178: Can I Help You?


    Derek led the group up the stairs to the second floor. On the second floor, he walked down the hall and ced his hand on a door. Are yall ready?


    He pushed slightly, but before the door opened even an inch, Silvi jumped off his shoulder and mmed into it, causing the door to swing wide open.


    Derek shook his head and walked in behind the impatient bunny, who was now sitting in the middle of the dining room table with her head facing down. She obviously thought Derek would take them to the kitchen first. Unfortunately for the anxious bunny, he wanted to show off the dining room.


    As you can all see this is not the kitchen. Its the dining room. He walked to the side and ced his hand on a rune. A light fixture hung on the ceiling in the middle of the room, giving it a ssic feel. We can adjust the lighting however we want with this rune. We can adjust it at percentages instead of just on or off.


    At the center of the room was a luxurious dining room table made of a fine mahogany that Geoffrey had thrown in for free. Derek knew the man did him a solid, because hed seen that particr mahogany when he was viewing materials, and it was not cheap. In fact, if the Pixy Yew building was destroyed, the table might yet survive.


    As for seating, Derek had chosenfort over formality. Instead of going with the typical wood chair, Derek selected a set of cushioned chairs with great back support. Geoffrey begged him to go with something that would fit the table more regally, but he refused. He did eventually cave and let Geoffrey change the upholstered material to a material that matched the mahogany finish on the table.


    The chairs looked slightly out of ce, but not by much, and not enough to embarrass him as a host if the time came. Plus, they more than made up for it with thefort they provided.


    There were 12 chairs in total. Five on each side of the table, and one on each end. Derek walked up to an end chair and pulled it out. Sit. He motioned Malorie over.


    Malorie let out a slight chuckled, then sat in the chair. Her eyes lit out. Wow thats much morefortable than I expected.


    Right? Derek agreed. It seems like every meeting or dining experience Ive had while in this Kingdom has been marred by ufortable seating. It all started at Raynas Vige. Even the Crown Restaurants prefer quality overfort. It just isnt right.


    I never thought about that. The woman said.


    Derek nodded fiercely. Every ass needs a proper cushion at least at home. How else are you supposed to properly enjoy your dining experience? He said. I can forgive Ste, nah, and the rest of the Crown for it, though. Its a restaurant that gets its profits based on the amount of customers. If they hadfortable chairs, too many people would stay far longer once the finished their meal. It could be a problem.


    I want to try it. Brandi ran over and pulled out a chair of her own and hopped in. Wow! It isfortable.


    Derek smiled and nodded. He nced at Silvi and noticed her giddiness. Thezy bunny had be even more impatient. Alright enough about chairs. Whos ready to see the kitchen?


    Out of nowhere, Silvi appeared back on Dereks shoulder. He chuckled as he walked to the door separating the dining room from the kitchen and opened it. Again, Silvi was through the door before anyone else.


    It was an entertaining sight. They had all just watched Rudy run around his shop and office. Now they were watching Silvi do the same thing. Except with Rudy, they physically saw him move from one ce to the next, but with Silvi, she would disappear before reappearing next to a different appliance.


    Out of the corner of his eye, Derek could see Malorie fidgeting. She, too, wanted to examine the area. She would be spending a lot of her time here if she could receive a proper ss change the next time she leveled.


    The level 50 ss change wouldnt be toote for her to do what she truly wanted to. He knew she enjoyed cooking and also seemed to be drawn to the managerial side of things when he mentioned it. She would be the perfect store keeper. Plus, he trusted her.


    This is yours too. Derek told her. Go, have a look.


    He didnt have to tell her twice. She was much calmer than Silvi and Rudy as she walked over and examined everything. Brandi giggled, seeing her mother act like this.


    Derek gave them a rundown of everything in the kitchen. From the ovens and stoves to the sinks and runes. The kitchen was amazing.


    Soon, their group had calmed down, and everyone was standing around the kitchen ind.


    Silvi,e here. He said, and the bunny hopped across the kitchen ind,nding in front of him. So, I figured the green crystals were getting expensive, and youve been going through them so quickly that you needed an upgrade.


    He flicked his wrist and a purple cor with two blue crystal-like studs appeared in his hand. While meeting with Geoffreys jeweler to getmunication crystals, I thought of this. He ced the cor around Silvis neck.


    One of the crystals are connected to everyone elses crystal, so you can call on any of us when you want. The other crystal is only connected to the crystal next to it. So, when you connect the two of them, you can talk out loud. Just like with the green crystals, but these wont break. He exined. Try it out. It may be difficult moving mana through your neck like that, but it just takes practice.


    It turned out, it wasnt difficult for the bunny. Shed been using <strong>Mage Hand </strong>and <strong>Telekinesis </strong>so much, that controlling the pure mana was childs y for her. In an instant, her childlike voice sounded out.


    Like this?


    Exactly like that. What do you think? Derek asked.


    Its easy. Dont have to use paws. Can talk while cooking. The voice chimed.


    Good. Do you like the kitchen? Derek asked.


    I love it, I love it, I love it. We need to cook now. This instant. Missed lunch the other day have to make up for it. Itste outside, dinner time. Come, Mal lets use our kitchen. Silvi hopped up and into Malories arms.


    I guess were going to make dinner. She said.


    Do you have the ingredients? Derek asked.


    She nodded. I spent most of the gold you gave me on different ingredients. I stuck to cheaper items, but we should be able to make some good food for the next couple of weeks. She said.


    Actually. Derek interrupted. If you n on changing sses to something that involves cooking, you need to rapidly increase your <strong>Cooking </strong>skill. Which means working with higher-level materials. Ill be hitting some dungeons soon, so theres that, but youll need other ingredients as well.


    What do you suggest? She asked.


    Im going to bring you to the bank soon and give you ess to my ount. Other than the rent that has to be paid monthly, you will have full ess to everything. The Crown will automatically deposit my earnings at the beginning of each month. He said. You can manage the shop and all the business here. Essentially, being my Ste.


    Malorie stared wide eyed at Derek. Really? You would trust me with all that?


    Youve done nothing to lose my trust, and you want to do everything you can for Brandi. Shell need someone with ess to the funds to help get her material, too. I would suggest looking for whole carcasses. She can <strong>Dismantle </strong>them for the materials, then you and Silvi can use the meat to cook. He exined.


    It would be my pleasure. Malorie said.


    Good. I also suggest spending some Skill Points on any business rted General Skills you can find. Do you have Skill Points avable? He asked.


    She nodded. I have a couple left from the dungeon we ran a while back.


    Oh?


    Yeah I didnt spend any of them because of how many skill points thest ss skill costed. She said.


    I see. Heughed. Then thats good. Im sure business skills will grow extremely well in this environment. Whenever you raise the skills to your satisfaction, Ill take you somewhere to level you to level 50 for a ss change. Hopefully, something goodes out of it.


    Malorie nodded. Thats good. I just hope I can get a ss as good as the one I have now. It would be terrible to go from an umon growth type ss to a basic lifestyle ss.


    Thats why you really need to focus on your General Skills. Derek said.


    Malorie nodded.


    Lets go, lets go, lets go! Silvi repeated.


    Go ahead. Derek dismissed everyone.


    A little over an hourter, Derek andpany had their first meal together at their new ce. They were only missing Rayna and Jacks, but those two were scheduled to be back soon.


    The next morning, Derek opened his eyes to a knocking on the front door of the shop. <em>Maybe theyre back? </em>He wondered. Nobody else was awake, and he had chosen to meditate for the night. He walked down to the shop and looked out the ss pane on the door.


    Two figures in wearing cloaks stood outside. However, the hoods werent covering their heads, so they werent hiding, at least not from him.


    Derek opened the door.


    One man had shoulder length white hair and intense blue eyes, not the deep blue Derek used to have, but a lighter blue that seemed to contain electric currents. The other man stood with neatly shaven brown hair. His eyes were a fierce crimson.


    The man with the brown hair looked familiar.


    Can I help you? He asked.