The next morning. The moment Lin Mo opened the store, he was greeted by a familiar sight. Customers were already lined up, eager to make purchases.
However, today, there was a noticeable difference. Among the crowd, some figures stood out. Wearing moss-green robes and an aura as baleful as the demonic beasts, an eye-catching group that had the other customers put a distance with could be seen.
Everyone was on guard around them and there were even City Guards ready to step up. And not far away, the City Lord Wei Xian was standing atop a roof, looking down at the area.
"Boss, that's them... I heard the others calling them Poison Demon cultists." Xiao Ya who successfully entered the store through the newly made 'Staff Entrance' pointed at the group from behind Lin Mo.
"Mhm. I can tell. That's some ominous aura around that old man." Lin Mo inwardly shook his head as he met the gaze of the one standing at the front. While his aura was definitely something you'd only feel from those who followed a demonic path, his pressure was similar to the Sect Masters or high-ranking elders that he had encountered within the store.
He probably didn't need to guess because standing behind the old man was the familiar face of Luo Ming, the Cult Priest who visited the store two days ago. The old man was definitely the High Priest of the Poison Demon Cult.
Luckily for him today's the last day for the Aura of Harmony. As long as they entered the store, they wouldn't be able to act up against him.
"Dear customers," Acting as unbothered as ever, Lin Mo started, "Please line up properly as you enter the store."
He took a step back and returned with Xiao Ya behind the counter where Liu Xiaoyu was grinning from ear to ear, watching the tide of customers about to come in.
"Hehe. Boss, leave the cash register to me. You do what you do best!"
"Girl, I remember you saying assisting customers is your calling?"
"When did I say that Boss? You must've dreamt of it." Liu Xiaoyu smirked playfully, cracking her knuckles as if warming up for the rush ahead.
Lin Mo just sighed, shaking his head. "Alright, alright. Just don't make mistakes."
As the customers poured in, the store immediately buzzed with activity as they spread around the isles. The usual crowd of mortal residents of the city, merchants, sect disciples and rogue cultivators made their way to the shelves, scanning through the products with enthusiastic eyes. Some of them already had an item in mind while most wandered to the snack or beverages sections, picking up different flavors of potato chips and soda.
Nonetheless, Lin Mo's attention remained on the Poison Demon Cult group.
Yangyang couldn't help but peek from inside the Shopkeeper's Quarters as she was truly wary of the followers of a Chaotic Deity.
Their presence stirred unease among the customers, many of whom subtly adjusted their positions to maintain distance from the robed figures. The City Guards followed them inside while the City Lord stood by the entrance. They're prepared to step in at the first sign of trouble.
The old man at the front, clearly the High Priest, strode in with slow tet confident steps. His face wasn't that old yet but indeed had traces of someone who spent his whole life dedicated to his faith.
Unlike the rest of his entourage, he showed no outward hostility. If anything, he appeared intrigued. It's as if he finally arrived at a place he had only dreamed of.
As he crossed the entrance, the [Aura of Harmony] took effect, immediately dampening the ominous pressure surrounding him. His brows lifted in mild surprise, though he said nothing.
Instead, he turned to Lin Mo and gave a smile that scared the hell out of Xiao Ya. She immediately ran behind Lin Mo, trembling.
"Shopkeeper Lin, well met." the High Priest greeted in a hoarse, almost friendly voice. "What my priest told seemed to be the truth. You're welcoming anyone as a customer. Such a fine establishment you have here."
Lin Mo returned a businesslike smile. "I'm honored, dear customer. Feel free to browse our store."
The old man chuckled but the sound of it made almost everyone not from his cult frown. It sounded so forced as if he hadn't laughed normally in his lifetime. "Then, I will not waste time and take my pick. I'm on the clock."
Upon saying that, he subtly gestured to the City Lord who probably allowed his entry with a condition. If he caused terror in the city, he, along with his followers would immediately face the wrath of not only the City Guards but also the surrounding factions.
Lin Mo kept his polite expression. "I welcome all customers equally, as long as they abide by the store's rules."
"I wouldn't dream of breaking them." The High Priest's gaze swept across the store before settling on a shelf of cultivation pills. "Ah, such high-quality products. Tell me, Shopkeeper Lin, do you supply to specific factions, or is everything sold to whoever has the spirit stones to pay?"
It was a loaded question. He clearly wanted his own supply route for the store items. But he naturally wouldn't give it to him easily as it could be misused and caused the loss of many innocent lives.
He may not align with the Righteous Sect but his morality from the peaceful Earth had been carried over.
"We do not discriminate among customers. If one has the means, one may buy. However, please be mindful of how you use our products."
The High Priest chuckled dryly again. "You mean to say, the other factions can use your products against us but we cannot do the same?"
"That's not what I meant, dear customer. I meant even if we welcome any customers, we have the right to choose when and why we're going to ban an individual or an entire faction from acquiring our products. We provide convenience, not a means to commit atrocities."
A hush fell over the store as Lin Mo's words carried through the space. The City Guards stood on alert, gripping their weapons in anticipation of a potential escalation. Even the ordinary customers had stopped what they were doing, their ears perked up at the tense conversation.
But Lin Mo was still unworried. The Aura of Harmony was still set in place. Besides, there's Yangyang who could surely take down this entire entourage of cultists.
The High Priest tilted his head, a slow, unsettling smile spreading across his lips.
"A fair stance, I suppose. It would be foolish of me to expect you to be indifferent to how your products are used." He turned his gaze to the shelves once more, his fingers lightly brushing over a row of neatly arranged cultivation pills and candy packages. "Still, I wonder… Will morality hold steady when profit is on the line?"
"The store operates under its own set of rules. You're free to purchase as you please, but if those purchases lead to undue harm, the system itself will take measures. That is out of my hands."
The High Priest's brows jumped with intrigue as if dissecting the implications of Lin Mo's words.
"Fascinating. Then, allow me to shop without further philosophical musings."
With a subtle gesture, he signaled for his followers to disperse into the store, leaving only himself and Luo Ming who immediately guided him into specific aisles. But because of the store's expansion, the Priest was also stumped.
Xiao Ya, still peeking from behind Lin Mo, whispered, "Boss… He's scary."
Lin Mo patted her head reassuringly. "Relax. As long as he's in the store, he won't do anything."
At this point, City Lord Wei Xian approached the counter, "Shopkeeper Lin, I apologize but this is the only time we will allow his entry. We cannot simply let a dangerous individual walk the streets of our city. It's fine if it's only their Priests but they have to declare their identity in order to keep an eye on their movements."
"I'm grateful for your consideration, City Lord. Please, do not mind our store's own policy. This is your city. We will welcome anyone but we won't supersede your authority."
"That's good to hear." The City Lord hummed in satisfaction. Shortly after, he pointed at the wall behind the counter, specifically the third poster. "By the way, what is that? Celestial Duel Platform Alpha Test?"