Galehaven Comics was calm for once. Afternoon sunlight filtered through the front window, lighting up the small shop. The smell of old books, dandelion tea from a simmering kettle, and grilled meat drifting in from the alley made for a familiar atmosphere. Harlan Flint sat behind the counter, his jacket tossed over the chair, sipping tea. The system panel floated in his mind: [Task 1: 11/10 customers, 1 draw available; Task 2: 17/30 for exclusive reward]. He smirked. Business was good.
The door creaked open. Sarah from the Good Hunter stepped inside, still in her apron from work. Her hair was tied back, and her eyes scanned the crowded shelves and wall posters with cautious interest. "Oh—it's you!" she said, recognizing Harlan from a past conversation.
"Sarah. Thought you might come by after hearing about glowing dishes and wild flavors," Harlan said. They had talked before, back when he was teasing ideas from Little Master over a plate of skewers. Now curiosity had pulled her here. "It's 100,000 Mora a read. One comic per day. You want in?"
She walked up slowly. "People are saying you get real stuff from these books. Like powers, gear… food?" she asked, the last word tinged with genuine hope.
Harlan nodded. "It's real. Not every time, not always game-changing, but real. All random." His tone stayed casual. She hesitated. A hundred thousand Mora wasn't pocket change—it was rent money or more. But something in her pushed forward. She handed over the Mora.
"Go ahead—choose one," he said.
She moved to the shelf. One Piece. Digimon. Then she spotted Little Master. A young chef on the cover, a blade in one hand and a vegetable in the other. She pulled it down, clutching it like something valuable. "This one," she said, heading for the nearest chair.
As she read, Harlan watched. Liu Maoxing and his sister, trying to save their restaurant. A corrupt rival chef. A glowing tofu dish that turned the tables. Sarah was hooked quickly. "I want to taste that," she muttered.
Then the door opened again. Lumine and her group entered—Paimon, Wendy, Jean, and Diluc. They looked tired but excited. "Boss! Comics time—finally!" Paimon said, zipping to the counter.
Lumine dropped 200,000 Mora on the counter. "For me and her," she said, already pulling Paimon toward the shelves.
Harlan pocketed the coins. "Welcome back. Plenty to go around."
Wendy strolled in behind them, lyre slung over his shoulder. "I brought in half the city with my stories. Do I get today's comic free?"
"You earned it," Harlan said. "Today's on me."
Wendy rushed toward Digimon, humming a tune. Harlan considered Barbara. If Wendy had boosted foot traffic, Barbara could double it. Her Freeze Fruit power from earlier had frozen entire hilichurl groups in the forest. That would get people's attention. She had star power. It was a solid idea for tomorrow.
Jean approached. "Thanks, Harlan. What you gave us helped end the fight with Stormterror," she said. Her tone was sincere.
"You paid for it," Harlan replied, waving it off.
"Still, it mattered. Mondstadt won't forget it," she said, handing over her Mora.
She joined the others, leaving Diluc standing alone at the front. "Dark Knight, right?" Harlan asked.
Diluc nodded. "Heard stories. Ice powers. Dragons. This shop is behind it?"
"It is. Mora, a comic, and a bit of luck. That's all it takes," Harlan said, motioning to the shelves. "Barbara froze a forest. Jean broke a dragon's curse. What's your play?"
Diluc pulled out a pouch of Mora and handed it over. "Something that matches fire," he said, heading for One Piece.
As they all browsed, read, or joked, Harlan returned to his tea. Sarah had leaned deeper into Little Master. Lumine was reading Yu-Gi-Oh again. Paimon giggled over Digimon. Galehaven Comics was working. The system was holding up. The stories were drawing people in. And now, even knights and nobles were starting to believe.
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Reflection :Sarah became the latest customer to test the comics and was drawn to Little Master, gaining emotional investment and potential culinary power. Lumine's group returned with stronger interest and trust, while Jean confirmed that the system helped defeat Stormterror. Diluc entered the scene, cautiously intrigued. Harlan noted Wendy's influence and considered Barbara as a next move for more public reach. The shop's reputation continues to grow fast, and Task 2 inches closer to completion.