Chapter 9：The Price of Sweetness

Chapter 9：The Price of Sweetness

The morning light in the warehouse mingled with the scent of dust.

Loy awoke to a dull ache, finding Riko already up. She was lounging by the window, her fingertips gliding across her Personal Terminal. Ling was still asleep, but her breathing was much steadier. Keiko sat quietly beside her sister, like a docile cat.

"You're awake? Slept like a log," Riko said without looking up, her magnetic voice raspy from sleep.

"Mind your own business." Loy rubbed his neck and sat up. "We can't stay here forever. We're almost out of food and water, and Ling needs a better place to recover."

"Well, well, it seems our dear engineer is finally using his head." Riko put down her terminal and stretched, her dramatic curves thrown into sharp relief by the morning light. "You're right. So... I have a proposal."

She turned, a familiar, mischievous smile playing on her lips—the kind that always put Loy on guard. "We need to find a place to lay low, restock, and try our luck. I know a spot."

"What kind of spot?"

"A rabbit's warren," Riko said, winking her pale gold eyes. "But to get there, we'll need to dress up first."

She pulled some crude masks and a full-coverage helmet from a crate and tossed them to Loy. "This is the city's Gray Zone. A lot of shady characters operate here. Hiding your identity is basic etiquette."

Loy donned the cold helmet, his vision instantly narrowing. Riko and Keiko put on their masks, leaving only their eyes visible. They helped a masked Ling to her feet, and the group stepped out of the warehouse.

Amidst the oppressive gray, an incongruous splash of pink appeared on a street corner. A sign, featuring a cute rabbit, read "Sweet Dream."

"Are you sure this is the place?" Loy's voice came out muffled from inside the helmet.

"Of course." Riko pushed the door open, triggering a pleasant chime.

The interior was warm and sweet. A figure immediately fluttered towards them like a butterfly.

"Riko! Keiko!"

It was Bunny. Though they were all wearing masks, she recognized Riko and Keiko at once, linking arms with them affectionately. "You finally decided to come see me!"

She then looked curiously at the tall Loy and the supported Ling. "And who are these two?"

"New partners." Riko removed her mask, and Keiko followed suit. When Loy and Ling also revealed their faces, Bunny's gaze lingered for a moment on Ling's draconic horns and Loy's mechanical prosthesis. A barely perceptible, assessing glint flashed in her pink eyes.

Just then, the holographic screen on the wall switched to a news channel.

"...Last night, the highly anticipated Stardust Auction concluded. Among the items, an ancient relic of unknown origin, was acquired by the Novalette Group for an astronomical price..."

A complex metallic disc, like an astrolabe, appeared on the screen, etched with ancient, elegant patterns.

Ling's body jolted. The Tear of the First Dragon necklace around her neck suddenly emitted a bright, ethereal blue light, resonating with the disc on the screen.

"It's it..." Ling's voice trembled with disbelief. "It's the one!"

The news broadcast continued: "It is reported that this precious artifact will be sent to the planet's most prosperous metropolis—Solaria—for public exhibition at the Novalette Group headquarters' top-floor gallery."

All eyes turned to Ling.

"My, my," Bunny said, looking from the glowing necklace to Ling, her smile becoming more meaningful. "It seems our distinguished guests are quite interested in that disc."

Riko's lazy demeanor vanished. She looked at Bunny, her tone turning serious. "Change of plans. Bunny, we need all the intel you have on the Novalette Group and Solaria. How to get in, how to get near that gallery."

"Oh?" Bunny propped her chin on her hands and leaned forward, her smile utterly innocent. "That's premium information. It's very expensive."

Loy took a step forward, pulling a bank card from his pocket.

But Bunny extended a single finger, gently pressing down on his wrist. She plucked the card from his hand, twirled it playfully between her fingers, and then, with a light laugh, tucked it back into Loy's breast pocket.

"In here, bank cards are the most worthless things." She glanced around at the group, her eyes finally settling back on Ling and Loy. "What I want are 'scarce commodities.' But for Riko's sake... I'll give you a chance."

Her smile grew even sweeter. "The four of you will work part-time at my shop for a week, and you are not to leave the premises. Let me see... your 'value'."

Loy’s expression froze instantly.

Half an hour later, his suppressed roar echoed from the changing room.

"I'd rather die, jump from here, than wear this thing!"

Riko, already in her uniform, was calmly adjusting Keiko's bowtie. She glanced at Loy, her tone leaving no room for argument. "Hush. Keep it down, you'll scare the customers. You wouldn't want our little dragon princess to miss out on her favorite toy, would you?"

Loy looked toward the doorway, where Ling was leaning, her eyes filled with a pleading hope.

When he finally emerged from the changing room wearing a cat-ear headband, his face a deathly mask, Bunny was laughing so hard her own rabbit ears were trembling with delight.

A day of "sweet" work was a hellish ordeal for Loy.

When night fell and the café closed, Bunny placed a data chip on the table.

"What you asked for. Intel on the Novalette headquarters, surveillance blind spots in Solaria, and a few smuggling routes to get you in."

Loy bolted to the changing room to switch back into his own clothes, feeling his very soul being cleansed. He came out just in time to see Riko reaching for the chip.

But Bunny pinned the chip to the table with her fingertip.

"Not so fast, Riko."

She looked up, that same sweet, harmless smile on her face.

"The deal was for a week's labor, remember?"

"I haven't had my fun yet."