Chapter 165

Chapter 165

As one of the Eight Knights, the Divine Wind Knight Regiment still maintained its dignity and did not haggle over the price any further.

Soon, Lorant and Taylor agreed on the price for the eight animal skins and completed the transaction with a generous amount of points.

"By the way, Shopkeeper, the points from the Blue Star platform should be usable at the Animal Pet Shop, right?" Norton asked, holding the crystal card that had just been credited with points.

Lorant nodded with a smile: "Of course, if there's anything you want to buy now, you can make the transaction here."

Norton smiled, twirling the crystal card between his fingers before handing it back.

"Then I'll trouble you, Shopkeeper. Please exchange two hundred Windbreaker Horses for me first."

The Divine Wind Knight Regiment had already received quite a few Windbreaker Horses in bits and pieces, but they still hadn't reached the number of five hundred.

Although Lorant was trying to balance the number of Windbreaker Horses among the various Knight Regiments, due to production constraints and the large number of organizations vying for them, the number of pets each organization received was still insufficient.

Everyone knew that once the number of cavalry units exceeded five hundred, a unique chemical reaction would occur. However, apart from the Knights of the Thorns, no other Knight Regiment had managed to form such a unit yet.

Lorant smiled; the Animal Pet Shop could still provide two hundred Windbreaker Horses.

There were about three hundred Windbreaker Horses reserved for retail sales.

With a wave of his hand, he said, "No problem, Commander Norton. I'll send someone to deliver the Windbreaker Horses to your base early tomorrow morning."

As for whether there would be a shortage in retail sales, well, if necessary, they could pause the retail sales of Windbreaker Horses for a couple of days. After all, everyone was already used to the Animal Pet Shop running out of 'stock' from time to time.

The unscrupulous shopkeeper thought to himself with a straight face.

Since he was in a good mood today, he decided to give Norton and his companion a special favor.

Norton's face lit up immediately. He had originally thought that the money he paid was a deposit, never expecting to be able to take away two hundred Windbreaker Horses so easily.

With this, the number of Windbreaker Horses in the Divine Wind Knight Regiment would reach five hundred.

After a few more days of training, the Knights of the Thorns would no longer be the only dominant force.

Paul smiled but remained silent, watching as Norton and Taylor left contentedly through the teleportation array. Only then did he speak.

"Little Lorant, the craftsman you asked me to find has arrived in Mauplan. When do you plan to meet him?" Paul leaned comfortably in the sofa, turning his head to look at the young man.

Lorant was momentarily stunned but quickly understood what Paul meant.

During one of his visits to the Knights of the Thorns' camp, he had noticed that the buildings there were beautifully designed and more comfortable than most structures that focused only on appearance. So, he asked Paul to introduce him to the craftsman who designed the buildings for the Knights of the Thorns.

Paul was a very meticulous person, especially when it came to matters concerning the Animal Pet Shop.

Today, he not only helped his friend Norton by facilitating the introduction but also specifically came to inform Lorant about this matter.

Lorant exclaimed in surprise, "He's already in Mauplan? Didn't he say he was renovating a castle in Holland?"

Paul nodded: "That's true, but after I had someone notify him, he quickly finished his work and returned."

"Old Tom is a very experienced craftsman, so you don't need to worry about his expertise. As for why he's so eager, it might be because he has a mage son," Paul hinted.

Lorant immediately understood his meaning. The old craftsman was simply trying to get closer to the Animal Pet Shop to see if he could secure a Dream Weaver for his son.

Nowadays, getting a Dream Weaver wasn't just a matter of having enough money.

Far from being upset, Lorant felt even more reassured.

Regardless of other factors, knowing that the craftsman had something to gain from the Animal Pet Shop, Lorant believed he would be very dedicated to his work.

Early the next morning, the four mages Lorant had interviewed in Sakol arrived at the Animal Pet Shop, each carrying numerous bags and bundles.

None of them seemed to have valuable spatial items to help with their move.

Monroe alone made three trips through the teleportation array to bring all his belongings.

And he was the one with the least personal items among the four.

For research-focused mages, becoming a personal mage for an organization or individual was a significant event.

In most cases, once both parties agreed on a partnership, they would not part ways unless there was a major issue.

Lorant had prepared a space for his research team on the opposite side of the town, near the orphanage.

There were a few sturdy wooden houses he had renovated that these people could use temporarily.

Of course, they couldn't compare to proper Mage Towers, and everything about them screamed 'unofficial.'

Monroe was the first to arrive, accompanied by a tall man. Lorant noticed that this man seemed to be the one he had glimpsed through the door during the interview.

The tall man carried a massive longbow on his back, marking him as a 'Ranger.'

Among all the professionals, only those descended from the elven race used bows as their primary weapon.

He wore a hooded cloak, which looked somewhat peculiar on its own but appeared normal compared to Monroe, who was still wearing a robe adorned with tattered strips of cloth.

"Shopkeeper!" Monroe emerged from the teleportation array, excitedly approaching Lorant. "I'm not late, am I!"

Lorant shook his hand and smiled, "Of course not, you're the earliest to arrive. By the way, who is this?"

Monroe turned to look at the man who was dragging a large crucible out of the teleportation array, a smile spreading across his face. "This is my partner, Ranger Dominic. He's come with me."

The alchemist was very open about it. This was his publicly acknowledged partner, and they had held a ceremony in front of family and friends years ago.

They were always inseparable. When Monroe settled in Sakol, Dominic stayed with him. Now that they were moving to Mauplan, Dominic naturally came along.

Lorant nodded. He had already considered the possibility that the mages he recruited might have families. Therefore, when discussing the terms with them later, he mentioned that the Animal Pet Shop had prepared spacious accommodations for them, large enough to bring their families along.

Hearing Monroe mention his name, Dominic raised his head, revealing a handsome face. He politely removed his hood and extended his hand to Lorant.

"Hello, Store Manager."

As Lorant shook his hand, he noticed the tall, handsome man with golden curly hair. His ears had a small point at the tips.

Noticing Lorant's gaze, Dominic casually lifted the hair around his ear, fully exposing his elven ears, and said, "I am Dominic, Monroe's partner, and an elf ranger."

He confidently revealed his identity, smiling slightly to show two slightly sharp teeth.

Fortunately, Lorant was no longer the naive country bumpkin he once was. He no longer felt surprised at the sight of people from different races.

Moreover, Lorant had interacted with the half-elf Estelle quite a bit before, so seeing Dominic's ears didn't surprise him much.

After greeting each other, Lorant turned to Mo'er and said, "Mo'er, help Monroe and his companions move their things. Show them around first. The wooden cabins are mostly the same, so they can make do for now. We'll renovate their living quarters later."

Monroe nodded. He knew the Mage Tower promised by the Animal Pet Shop wasn't ready yet, but he wasn't in a hurry. He hadn't come here just for the Mage Tower.

Just standing in the corridor of the Animal Pet Shop's backyard, he could feel his heart pounding with excitement.

In that bush! On that pillar! They were all the Flower-spitting Roots he had longed for!

If Lorant weren't standing beside him, Monroe would have rushed over to grab those two creatures disguised as bamboo and thoroughly explore them.

He wanted to tap their shells and see if these little guys would spit out some flowers.

This place! It was his dreamland!

Seeing Monroe's excited expression, Dominic couldn't help but smile gently.

By evening, the four mages had all moved into the staff dormitories of the Animal Pet Shop.

The small wooden cabins prepared for the mages were all in the same area, surrounding a small square that had been cleared out.

Next to them was a larger wooden cabin, which used to be a restaurant for adventurers in the town. The town was close to the Black Forest, so there were many similar small taverns.

Their research tools were already properly placed in the tavern.

With the Windbreaker Horses, moving supplies within the Animal Pet Shop became very easy. Besides Monroe, the other mages could easily use Mage Hands to complete the moving tasks, making the process quite smooth.

During this period, they would conduct their research here.

That night, the Animal Pet Shop held a welcome ceremony on the small square for the new members. Everyone got to know each other well.

Beside the flame-wrapped exotic meat, everyone spent a pleasant evening.

The next morning, Lorant led the four mages to the backyard of the Animal Pet Shop.

Maomao circled around him, its size now quite impressive.

When it stood on all fours, it was almost as tall as Lorant, and when it rubbed against him, its head reached Lorant's face.

However, from various details, Maomao was still undeniably a puppy. Its baby fur hadn't started to shed yet, and it looked like a big, fluffy ball.

It was just very well-nourished.

The four mages looked at Maomao with shining eyes. Even without studying the Crystal Ice Flame Dogs, they could tell that this one was extraordinary.

This was the first time they realized that pets could have such significant individual differences.

"This is the training and entertainment area for the Crystal Ice Flame Dogs. I usually call it the Ice and Fire Land," Lorant said, leading them around the backyard to familiarize them with the surroundings.

These people would need to study the pets at the Animal Pet Shop, and it would be ridiculous if they didn't even know where these little guys were.

After showing them the control panel in front of the Ice and Fire Land, Lorant explained, "We are still exploring whether the Crystal Ice Flame Dogs' enhanced temperature tolerance is related to regular training in extreme temperatures."

"However, I personally believe there is a connection, and you can confirm this through data later."

Lorant briefly recounted his previous findings during temperature tests, and everyone nodded, taking note of this.

Now, they were the research mages of the Animal Pet Shop. Normally, in a Mage Tower, someone like Jacqueline would set the tone for the entire tower's research projects.

Others would base their work on this foundation.

Of course, if other mages had a project they believed in, they could propose it to the Mage Tower. Upon approval, they would receive funding to conduct their own small-scale research.

However, the issue with the Animal Pet Shop was that there was no powerful ruler like Jacqueline, so Lorant became the person who could approve research topics.

But the mages didn't see this as a problem. In matters of pets, there was indeed no one more authoritative than Lorant.

So, the four listened to Lorant very attentively.

"This is the area for the Windbreaker Horses. Note that Little Qing has a bad temper, so try not to provoke it," Lorant said, waving his hand. A bolt of green lightning raced toward him from a distance.

In the blink of an eye, it was by his side.

The tall Windbreaker Horse let out a soft whine, subtly pushing Maomao away from Lorant. It tried hard to nuzzle its large head into Lorant's chest, seeking to be petted on its neck, showing no signs of being difficult to approach.

Lorant wasn't worried; the mages would understand why Little Qing was "difficult to provoke" after spending more time here.

Practice makes perfect!

On the way, Lorant also explained to the mages how to find Flower-spitting Roots hidden in the bushes, how to make little ghosts stay on their shoulders, and how to get Bamboo Lanterns to light the way in front of them, sharing many interesting little tips that satisfied everyone.

After the tour, Lorant took the mages to rest in the corridor and shared his thoughts with them.

Kimberly, the only Level 6 mage, naturally became the spokesperson for the group. After listening to Lorant, she summarized, "So, our current research tasks are as follows."

"First, follow up on the daily data of all animal pets, record it, and conduct an analysis."

"Second, through the study of Flower Root, seek a method to preserve its energy flowers for a long time, thereby completing the extraction of fragrance and subsequent research."

"Third, attempt to obtain a substance as transparent as crystal from minerals through firing or other methods."

"Finally, research how to increase crop yields."

Lorant nodded, very satisfied with this employee who had prior experience in a large Mage Tower. He had just proposed that these mages first figure out how to produce glass, perfume, and fertilizer.

These were the most needed results for the Animal Pet Shop at present.

A mage skilled in spell improvement thought for a moment and asked with some doubt, "Regarding the last point, a 'Fertility Spell' can already solve the problem well. What is the purpose of our current research?"

Lorant was well-prepared. He pointed to a nearby cotton tree: "Everyone should have already learned about the situation of this cotton tree, right?"

"Our ultimate goal is to entrust all planting processes of this cotton tree to ordinary people, so no spells can be used during this process."

"You can try to extract a stable product that everyone can use based on the existing mage model to complete this research."

George nodded; he didn't want to contradict his boss. After understanding the intention, he obediently accepted the suggestion.

Lorant was quite satisfied with his private team of mages. None of the four were eccentric or difficult to work with, which would have given him a headache otherwise.

He didn't dislike people with personalities, provided their abilities were significant enough to make others overlook the trouble caused by their personalities.

Eccentric and unsociable without ability, unless they were his children, Lorant couldn't think of a reason to tolerate them.

"Alright, that's roughly it. Within the entire Animal Pet Shop, except for the exotic beast warehouse, everyone can move around freely."

"If you need animal pets to assist in your research, you can take them away without harming them. Of course, if it's really not possible, you can ask Mike and Taya for help."

"The Animal Pet Shop provides meals every day. You can come here to eat, or you can have the floating octopus deliver them to a designated location. However, if you need delivery, you need to inform Kongqi one day in advance."

"That one is Kongqi. If you can't tell them apart, just ask, and the floating octopus will answer your questions with small pieces of paper."

Lorant pointed to a floating octopus that was doing something with Kongwu nearby.

Monroe and the others nodded blankly, unsure what their boss meant by having them order meals from this pet.

Perhaps, the boss was hinting that they shouldn't change their dining locations?

After all, even if the pets were smart, they shouldn't be able to understand this point.

Seeing the expressions of the mages, Lorant understood that they would need some time to fully adapt to life at the Animal Pet Shop.

But it didn't matter; time would make everything reasonable.

Not long after settling the mages, the craftsman Old Tom, whom Lorant had asked Paul to find, arrived at the Animal Pet Shop.

"This time, I plan to completely renovate the entire town and build the framework of the Animal Pet Shop in one go," Lorant said, sitting on the sofa with Lancelot, addressing the elderly craftsman opposite them.

"I understand." Old Tom nodded. As an experienced craftsman who had overseen the construction of more than ten castles, he naturally understood Lorant's meaning: "Shopkeeper, please detail your requirements."

Building a qualified framework to facilitate future content filling was not something Old Tom hadn't done before.

After all, employers' demands were always varied.

"First, I need to designate a small area of the Animal Pet Shop that can be open to the public. This part will become the main area for receiving guests in the future," Lorant began detailing his requirements.

"There needs to be an indoor space similar to the current storefront for cashiers and registration."

"Additionally, there should be some outdoor activity spaces capable of hosting gatherings of five to six hundred people."

"I think it would be best to plan a garden or some other outdoor venue, with some semi-indoor spaces in the middle."

"The location should be convenient, allowing quick access to all animal pet activity areas to facilitate transactions."

Lorant gestured as he spoke, while Old Tom nodded and scribbled notes in his notebook.

"Then there's the orphanage area, which needs to be expanded by at least twice its current size, ensuring that future children can live comfortably within it."

"Facilities currently lacking, such as a children's cafeteria, should also be added. It's not good to have them queue for food outdoors all the time."

"On the side facing the Black Forest, I want to reserve space that can be modified for other uses in the future. In front of the outpost, in the busiest area, I need a tavern."

"A large tavern that can accommodate over a hundred people at once, and it should also provide accommodation. The specific area can be adjusted according to the actual situation, and we can discuss it later."

"Most importantly, the overall backyard planning. I hope to design the entire area with a garden concept, introducing the Holy Shield River, planting beautiful flowers, and leaving enough space for the animal pets to play."

Lorant seemed like a capricious client, continuously bombarding the contractor with various requirements.

Old Tom wiped the sweat gradually seeping from his forehead, feeling that this job would be a huge challenge!