Ace was sitting behind the counter in the Feline Alchemy Shop, accompanied by the cute and lively Leah.
At this moment, Ace's eyes shone with a mysterious light as he muttered, "Evil Slaying Division, huh?"
Leah, who was telling him about her spirit coin collection, finally looked at him with a pout as she noticed he wasn't paying attention to her, "What evil, Badass Ace?"
Ace quickly snapped out of his thought process and looked at the little girl before he pulled a charming smile, "Nothing, I was just mumbling to myself. Where's your sister?"
It's been over a week since he was hired' as a shopkeeper in the Feline Alchemy Shop. He had been spending his days in forging as he finally completed the 99 heavenly weapons, enough for his first Universal Black Ascension Physique's refinement. Strangely, Zaria didn't disturb him until he came out of his own accord today, and neither did Leah. But he was sure that Zaria was monitoring him.
Today was his first day as a shopkeeper, and Leah would supervise him, which made the little girl extremely happy. But Zaria was instantly gone after giving him stern instructions, which were more of a threat so that he wouldn't run away.
But Ace wasn't paying any attention to Leah since he was fully focused on what was happening to his Avatar back at the PHW King Sect, and now that his avatar seemed to have officially joined the sect, he was both relieved and apprehensive since he was very suspicious of the PHW King Sect.
Nonetheless, Ace can always retreat if things go awry, so he isn't overly worried. In fact, this was just the start of his plan of robbing the wealthiest sect of the Mortal Ascension Heaven!
Leah looked at Ace suspiciously, but since she had no idea what was going on, she quickly dropped the topic and said, "Big sis, only leave when she collects protection money for Leah!" Her eyes instantly brighten when she talks about money.
At this point, Ace had already guessed that Leah loved spirit coins more than anything else, and Zaria seemed to give all the coins to her. But he still felt strange whenever he heard 'protection money!
Ace couldn't help but ask, "So, all the money Boss gathers goes to you, right? Where do you spend it?"
Leah's eyes brightened even more since money was her favorite topic, but she wouldn't be talking about it to just anyone. Other than Zaria, Ace was the only one who trusted enough to share.
"Of course! Big Sis gives me all the coins! But why would I spend it?" She asked curiously.
Ace was startled by this strange response and replied, "You do know how money works, right? Just like others give you spirit coins for protection, you also require money to buy things. Don't tell me, you never spend any?"
Leah suddenly opened her big eyes wide as she heard something extremely horrible. She said, "Didn't this mean if I spend my coins, they will decrease?!"
"Yeah? If you spend it, then it means it'll be decreased." Ace replied with a strange look.
Leah shivered and quickly shook her head, "No! I don't want it to be decreased! This spending is evil! Leah must make sure to stay out of evil! Now I understand why Big Sis said the outside world is full of evil and bad people! I must never leave the shop, or my coins will be decreased!"
Ace was speechless when he heard this unexpected response, and from the terrifying look in Leah's eyes, he knew she wasn't pretending at all.
So, she likes to collect wealth but considers spending it evil? What a miser, she's more qualified to be a thief than me. And yet, she was even willing to give me her coins to stay behind despite her love for them... 'Ace chuckled softly as he looked at Leah, who was muttering, 'Stay away from evil at all cost, and he found it quite cute, 'She and Cyrus would definitely get along just fine...
Ace was about to tease her more when suddenly the shop's door opened, and he looked over. He knew this shop was more of a forbidden zone, and no one who knew about it would be willing to enter it, so whoever came here was either ignorant like him or they were here for 'protection.
Leah also looked over curiously and with great anticipation since any customer means spirit coins and quickly pulled her 'professional' face.
But the newcomer was none other than Zaria as she gracefully entered, showing her charming curving and holding the tobacco pipe as a stream of smoke was rising through it.
Leah instantly became disappointed, but she still called 'Big Sis' cheerfully since Zaria was more important to her than coin collection.
However, Ace noticed Zaria's expression was grim and wondered who could've provoked his madwoman.
Seeing Leah's lively smile and hearing her call, Zaria quickly pulled a gentle smile as she nodded, "How's my little Leah doing? Come tell your big sis if our new shopkeeper bullies you; I'll seek justice for you!"
Ace was instantly alarmed and cursed inwardly for her being so unreasonable. He clearly didn't bully anyone, especially not a little girl like Leah. In fact, he was the one being bullied.
Leah giggled as she looked over Ace and said, "Badass Ace didn't bully me. He was telling me how evil the outside world is!"
Zaria raised her phoenix-like eyebrow and curiously asked, "Oh, tell me what he told you?"
Leah quickly told her about spending money without hiding anything in an extremely solemn manner. A strange glint flashed past Zaria's eyes as she looked at Ace meaningfully, making him somewhat uneasy.
Zaria nodded and added, "He's right, you know. If you go outside, you need to spend your coins, which means they will decrease. But don't worry, as long as you're with your big sis, no one will take your coins. Those sons of bitches have to meet my claws if they dare to ask for your coins!" She instantly raised her chin heroically.
Leah instantly became happy as her eyes shone with adoration, while Ace was speechless and decided not to comment at all.
But at this moment, an aged voice filled with helplessness rang, "You're teaching your sister weird things again, huh?"
Ace was startled while Zaria's eyes narrowed dangerously and filled with hostility when she heard that voice, and the next moment, a tall, burly man appeared right in the middle of the shop; he appeared right out of thin air.
On the other hand, Leah instantly hollered when she saw the man, "It's the Stinky Old Pervert!"