The shop owner looked toward Lu Fei's direction, near the warehouse, where an item shaped like a pair of sunglasses lay casually on a cardboard box.
"Oh, that's the Rapid Growth Sunglasses," the shop owner replied. He then added, "But it's a defective product. I just took it out of the warehouse and was preparing to return it."
Gesturing to the dazzling array of merchandise in the hall, the shop owner chuckled, "Why don't you pick something you like from the items outside?"
Rapid Growth Sunglasses? Lu Fei muttered to himself.
"What does this equipment do?"
"According to the inventor's original intention, this equipment would grant contract beasts an extra 50% experience during battles," the shop owner stated truthfully. However, a helpless wry smile appeared on his face, "But this item is defective; contract beasts cannot wear it."
Lu Fei was slightly taken aback.
"Why?"
The shop owner sighed and explained, "The applicable range for this equipment is for contract beasts from level 1 to level 30. In theory, any contract beast within this level range should be able to wear it. But there might have been an error in the manufacturing process by the inventor, causing even low-level contract beasts to be afraid to wear these sunglasses."
Lu Fei frowned, somewhat confused.
The shop owner, seeing his bewilderment, rephrased his explanation, "Let me put it this way: for a contract beast to wear these sunglasses, its combat power must exceed 200. However, any contract beast possessing this level of combat power would already be well over level 30. Therefore, these sunglasses are practically useless."
Lu Fei suddenly understood.
He wasn't one for impulsive purchases. An item costing half his savings? Not even a dog would buy it!
So, he prepared to leave.
"Old Lu, don't I look handsome, brother?"
Just then, a familiar voice called out from behind him.
Lu Fei turned to see Brother Ji striking a cool pose. Unbeknownst to him, Brother Ji was now wearing a pair of sunglasses.
"Brother Ji, where did you get those sunglasses?" Lu Fei asked instinctively.
Brother Ji pointed to the cardboard box.
Lu Fei blinked in surprise.
"Rapid Growth Sunglasses? Was the owner trying to trick me?" Lu Fei turned to the shop owner. "Sir, are these sunglasses really as peculiar as you described?"
He then gestured towards Brother Ji.
The shop owner looked over, his expression shifting to surprise. "Your contract beast's combat power exceeds 200?" At the same time, he quickly pulled out his Beast Taming Manual.
He shone it on Brother Ji!
The surrounding air suddenly solidified.
This...!
The shop owner couldn't believe his eyes.
"How is this possible!" He stumbled back several steps, clutching his head. "How can a contract beast with only 5 combat power possibly wear these Rapid Growth Sunglasses!"
Brother Ji looked at everyone with a confused expression. "Hmm... envying my handsomeness?" Brother Ji thought to himself.
"Brother Ji, if you're really uncomfortable, don't force it, take them off quickly..." Lu Fei whispered. He knew Brother Ji's nature; it would do anything to show off, which was the complete opposite of himself. Yes, he was very down-to-earth.
"I'm not uncomfortable! Don't you think I look more confident?" Brother Ji extended a wing and struck a pose with his claw under his chin, declaring, "Elegance is eternal!"
Lu Fei began to suspect the shop owner was deceiving him, thinking that this item was actually the shop's hidden treasure.
"Sir, are you messing with me?" Lu Fei's expression grew increasingly displeased.
The shop owner quickly waved his hands. "It's impossible! Contract beasts can't escape these rules!" After a moment of thought, he said uncertainly, "Unless it's not a contract beast."
Lu Fei was slightly taken aback.
The shop owner's words suddenly made some sense. He and Brother Ji didn't belong here, and Chu Huainan had mentioned that Brother Ji was just a domestic fowl.
The situation suddenly became clear.
Well... it should be like this. Lu Fei looked at the shop owner. "If it's not a contract beast, then these glasses would be useless to it, including the side effects?"
The shop owner nodded.
"Oh, then it's fine. It's not a contract beast, but a domestic fowl I'm raising."
The shop owner blinked, falling into thought.
After a moment, he finally recovered from his shock.
"So that's how it is," he sighed in relief. "You scared me to death; I thought there really was a contract beast that could defy the rules. Heh heh."
The shop owner wiped the sweat from his brow.
Suddenly, he heard a noisy chatter from behind him.
Turning around, he saw two contract beasts fighting, vying for the Rapid Growth Sunglasses!
Slinky Snake: "Give it to me! I want to show off too!"
Brother Ji: "You're too young! You don't need this!"
Slinky Snake: "I'm still a child, you have to let me have it!"
Brother Ji: "No way, Brother Ji needs this to find a sister-in-law for you!"
...
Unbeknownst to anyone, Slinky Snake had somehow escaped from its Beast Scroll.
Watching this scene, Lu Fei's face turned awkward. As a Beast Master, he couldn't even control his own contract beasts. For a contract beast to run out on its own without being summoned was an insult to any Beast Master!
He steadied himself, regaining his usual calm demeanor, and said nonchalantly to Ke Xin, "I advocate for freedom and equality. I give my contract beasts the greatest freedom on a daily basis." He couldn't keep up the pretense any longer, raising an eyebrow, he retorted, "Do you understand what I mean?"
In Ke Xin's eyes, Lu Fei's image was undoubtedly towering.
The innocent and naive young girl nodded emphatically.
Very good... Lu Fei breathed a sigh of relief.
Ah!
Another scream rang out.
Lu Fei jumped in surprise.
He saw the shop owner pointing towards the two contract beasts, his voice trembling, "It! It's also a domestic fowl?!"
Lu Fei was confused.
"Damn... what's going on!" He saw Slinky Snake posing on the counter wearing the sunglasses, while Brother Ji stood in the corner, dejected, with a large hole in its crotch.
It had to be said, Slinky Snake, with its intelligent eyes obscured, did have a certain coolness about it. Although it didn't look like its father, it might resemble the uncle next door.
The atmosphere in the shop suddenly became extremely awkward.
"Sir, are you trying to avoid selling it to me and just making excuses?" Lu Fei demanded.
The shop owner looked wronged. "No!" he exclaimed, pulling out a return slip. "See, the slip clearly states it's for return!"
Lu Fei glanced at the slip and confirmed that the owner was not lying.
So, what was going on... Lu Fei fell into deep thought.
"How about letting my contract beast try it?" Ke Xin volunteered.
"Yes, I think that's a viable solution," Lu Fei agreed.
Ke Xin took out her Beast Scroll!
"Come out! Shadowless Cat!"
A heroic and extraordinary black cat appeared in everyone's view, lifting its proud feline head.
"It's a Shadowless Cat! Its ultimate form is the Wave-Dancing Phantom Beast, an S-rank rarity!" The shop owner couldn't help but exclaim, paying even more attention to his guest.
Lu Fei beckoned to Slinky Snake. Slinky Snake obediently handed the Rapid Growth Sunglasses to Lu Fei.
Ke Xin took the sunglasses.
She crouched down, preparing to put them on Shadowless Cat.
Shadowless Cat was also pleased. It had seen the rather inferior-looking contract beast wear these sunglasses. Frankly, it looked a little cool. Although she was a female cat, coolness transcended gender.
She thus happily put on the sunglasses.
The next moment.
"Meow~~~~~~"
A piercing cat yowl erupted.
Shadowless Cat's fur stood on end. In a matter of moments, it collapsed onto the ground.
It was convulsing uncontrollably.