Chapter 25

Chapter 25

In the following days, Lorant handed over all the work at the shop to his mother.

With a group of Glass Ice Flame Dogs always ready for display, there were no questions from customers visiting the Animal Pet Shop that couldn't be answered.

Up until now, Lorant had never publicized the existence of the Animal Pet Shop.

Firstly, the number of pets he had was too small; currently, he could only accept pre-orders, which made large-scale promotion unsuitable.

Secondly, the Glass Ice Flame Dogs were expensive, and only professionals or nobles were Lorant's target customers.

However, even so, with the first batch of customers spreading the word, the Animal Pet Shop had been busy every day.

Moreover, with The Knights of the Thorns as a major client, Lorant hadn't even finished breeding the pets for the pre-orders, still owing debts. Naturally, he wasn't thinking about expanding the business.

But once the two types of Slimes were ready, it would be time for some promotion.

Lorant silently thought, watching the increasingly lethargic group of Slimes.

According to the guidebook, breeding these two D-grade pets would make the prepared secondary beasts disappear, but each breeding cycle would produce a considerable number.

Unlike the Glass Ice Flame Dogs, which hatched from eggs laid by Claw Wolves, Fluffy Slimes and Thick-Furred Slimes came directly from the division of ordinary Slimes.

After Lorant manipulated the ordinary Slimes with special techniques, they entered the unique breeding phase of Slimes.

Slimes were quite different from other beasts.

Slimes had no gender, unlike other beasts that hatched from eggs. Slimes split directly from larger ones.

A single Slime could split into four to five smaller Slimes at once.

Of course, the natural reproduction of beasts was entirely different from the pets Lorant bred.

Due to the translucent nature of Slimes, Lorant could clearly see that the secondary beasts fed to them yesterday had completely disappeared, aided by the "Dissolution Potion."

The Slimes' bodies were now noticeably larger than yesterday, all quietly resting in their cages.

Looking closely, one could see fine splitting lines slowly spreading through their bodies.

At this rate, by tonight, Lorant would have the second and third types of pets in the Animal Pet Shop.

"Come on! Let's see who gets to be D0001!" Lorant whispered encouragement to the limp Slimes in the cage.

If Slimes had eyes, they might have rolled them at him.

Do you even hear yourself?

Isn't this just wishing for our quick demise?

Unfortunately, Slimes lacked both the cognitive ability and vocal organs.

Lorant walked around the beast warehouse, preparing a large batch of potions to keep on standby.

The empty breeding room wasn't idle either; the breeding of secondary beasts couldn't stop.

Especially after Lorant confirmed that the important beasts in his future breeding plans wouldn't pose significant issues, the breeding of secondary beasts became crucial.

Every day, Lorant would perform part of the breeding work on schedule, ensuring his pet breeding process ran smoothly.

Secondary beasts also varied in quality. Typically, ordinary-quality secondary beasts wouldn't trigger any response from the guidebook.

However, high-quality secondary beasts could prompt notifications from the guidebook.

So far, Lorant had two good-quality "Explosion-Tailed Cats" and one excellent-quality "Glass Rabbit."

This Glass Rabbit appeared more crystalline and transparent than ordinary ones, resembling a living gemstone.

It was also larger, standing out among the Glass Rabbits.

In previous breeding cycles, Lorant hadn't used this excellent-quality Glass Rabbit.

Primarily because it had been less than a year since its birth, not yet the ideal age for breeding.

Now, it was finally the right age to start breeding preparations.

Lorant was considering pairing this Glass Rabbit with a stronger Claw Wolf to see if they could produce better Glass Ice Flame Dogs.

As for beasts, Lorant had yet to encounter any with varying qualities, making it impossible to confirm whether beasts had different qualities and how they might affect pets.

For secondary beasts, Lorant didn't go into such detail. He gathered a large group of Fire Squirrels and a large group of Fluffy Monsters into the breeding room.

He closed the door, sprayed the potion, and left.

Strange sounds from the beasts inside were contained within the small compartments.

Not suitable for children.

After finishing up at home, Lorant teleported directly to Earl's Castle and then proceeded to the Professionals Hall.

Since he had already established a trade with The Knights of the Thorns, Lorant canceled most of the beast acquisition tasks he had posted.

He kept only the Claw Wolves, Brain-Eating Monkeys, and other beasts needed for his established breeding routes.

After all, Lorant couldn't have enough of these beasts; even a hundred or eighty would be manageable.

Then, Lorant went to the Knights Academy and sent messages to the nine fully paid customers based on their contact information.

Two days later is the Animal Pet Shop's open day. At that time, all customers who have purchased pets can bring their families to the Animal Pet Shop for the event.

The open day will be from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

Each customer can bring up to three family members. The Animal Pet Shop will provide a buffet lunch for those who need it.

Lorant left the pre-prepared crystal cards at the academy's front desk.

This method of contact is acceptable for Lorant, given there are only nine official customers currently.

However, if the number of customers increases, this form of communication would become too cumbersome.

Thinking about the long list of names in his reservation book, Lorant couldn't help but shudder.

He hopes that six months from now, he will have solved these issues.

Otherwise...

Mauplan, one of the five most prosperous main cities within the human domain, still has its share of problems typical of this era, but it remains a bustling metropolis.

The "Honor" district, where professionals gather, is the uppermost area of Mauplan. In this region, there are almost no ordinary people.

"The Grand Market" is a well-known street here.

Various adventurer teams, members of the Knight Regiment, and traveling mages can find what they need here.

Similarly, those who set up stalls here are all professionals without exception.

Lorant wandered around the market casually.

Though called a market, it looks more like a collection of street vendors.

Professionals spread out a piece of canvas on the ground and display their goods for people to choose from.

Most of the stalls sell intact carcasses of exotic beasts. These corpses differ from those Lorant acquires; the exotic beasts here are whole.

The most valuable parts of exotic beasts—magic crystals, sharp claws, and tough hides—are all available here.

Not only that, various magical potions and alchemical items are also plentiful.

Occasionally, one might see a few young clerics from the church selling their "Cure" spells at prices slightly cheaper than at the church itself.

As for the effectiveness, the Cure spell should be sufficient for those who can walk around the market.

On both sides of the Grand Market are formal shops selling items related to professionals.

Lorant's destination was a fabric store here.

"Welcome," said the clerk enthusiastically as the wind chime made from "Wind Howl Beast" bones rang at the entrance.

"Is there anything I can assist you with?"

The clerk's enthusiasm seemed genuine, which Lorant attributed to the suit he wore, made from the hide of a Level Two exotic beast worth several gold coins.

"I'd like to learn about winter clothing," Lorant said, looking up at the clerk. "The weather is getting colder, and I want to buy some soft bedding for my home."

"Oh, certainly, sir," the clerk led him inside.

The shop wasn't large and appeared somewhat cluttered.

Tall wooden cabinets lined the walls, divided into small compartments filled with folded fabrics.

Some looked quite dusty.

The fabrics here were clearly different from those at Blue Lavender, which focused on designs and aesthetics, with exotic beast materials serving as embellishments.

This store specialized in exotic beast fabrics, featuring many leathers and scales.

However, Lorant wasn't interested in protective properties or special attributes; he just wanted to know if any were suitable for winter.

"This is the hide of a 'Snow Plaything,' a Level Three exotic beast living in polar regions," the clerk brought out a fluffy white hide. "It has excellent insulation and is very soft, typically used for making close-fitting winter garments."

"You can feel how good the texture is."

Lorant touched the hide; the short white fur had a woolly feel, and beneath it was a thin layer of leather, treated to be both thin and soft, perfect for close-fitting clothes.

"Do you have other options? Not necessarily hides, as they can be a bit stuffy."

The clerk thought for a moment and then brought out a light gray fabric.

"How about this? It's made from the hair of a 'Hair Demon,' woven into fabric. It's lightweight, breathable, and has excellent insulation. It can also resist low-level mental attacks." The clerk showed Lorant the fine weave of the gray fabric.

"However, since it's the only valuable part of a Level Six exotic beast and requires weaving, it's quite expensive."

"After all, this small piece of fabric requires an entire 'Hair Demon' and a weaver who spends two to three days completing it."

"A weaver?" Lorant was puzzled; it was a profession he had never heard of.

"A weaver is a professional who processes exotic beast fabrics. As you can see, such finely woven fabrics are made from materials as thin as hair."

"It feels very soft. What's the price?" Lorant felt the fabric, which seemed like a piece of cotton, light and soft.

"Seventeen gold coins, sir. We're having a promotion in the shop right now. How about I give you a discount at seventeen gold coins?" the clerk looked at Lorant expectantly.

"This kind of fabric has the effect of resisting mental attacks, and this price is already very reasonable."

The clerk promoted it enthusiastically.

Lorant looked around again: "Are there any others?"

"Of course, sir!" The clerk was not impatient and brought out a large number of fabrics once more.

In the end, Lorant placed an order for a large quantity of fabric, arranging for it to be delivered to the Animal Pet Shop tomorrow. He made sure to return home before the sun set.