[TASKS: Open 5 "Moonpetal Coffee" branches in 5 different regions in Felorin.
Establish a new business in another sector.
Give the new business a brand name.
Takeover a company that has already been established.]
[MISSION REWARDS: (will be announced upon completion of the mission)].
"System the f—" Lyria's exhaustion disappeared after seeing the mission. "How could you? Why?"
"..."
"Yeah, how could I be expecting a reply?" Using her hand to brush her hair backward, she added, "At least there is no time limit."
"Sighs."
"Lyria, what is wrong? You look even more tired than before." Tessa, who had just come back from the kitchen, couldn't help but ask.
"Tessa, we have a lot of work ahead of us."
Starting from the next day, Lyria and Tessa became very busy. A hiring poster was placed at the front of the café and likewise on their Pawgram page. Since Lyria was planning to open branches, she left the job of hiring to Tessa while she traveled around Felorin finding suitable places to establish a branch. The first place was the capital city, Feloris. She left home very early in the morning, then she boarded the Plumexpress heading straight to the capital city. Getting there, she lodged into a small, comfy, and affordable inn.
"I just need a warm bath and a nap before going for my tour."
By noon, Lyria left the inn. Then she went to the slum district. Moving around, she saw cubs playing in the dirt with dirty faces and witnessed fecunds selling their bodies. While passing through an alley, she noticed the presence of more than three people behind her. At first, she thought they were going their own way, but after a while, she realized she was being followed.
"Seriously?" she muttered before fastening her pace. After she started running, the footsteps behind her also picked up their pace. After running for a while, she ended up at a dead end.
"Today is just not my day." Lyria used her hands to brush her hair backward before turning to face the people. "Drop the bags!"
A beastwoman with raised claws closed in on her. "Yes, I will drop the bag," Lyria said, raising her hands as she dropped her bag at her feet.
"Move backward," the woman commanded. Lyria did so immediately. They took the bag, which was handed to their boss.
Seeing how easy it was for them to get the bag, one said, "How about we have some fun, boss?"
"Yeah, the pussy looks clean, and see those curves," another lackey said while licking her lips.
"I... I don't swing that way," Lyria said with a shaking voice.
The boss looked Lyria up and down. Her instinct screamed danger, but she shrugged it off. How could this weak-looking, pampered girl threaten her? Feeling her pride injured, she decided to take the lead.
"I will go first," she said with a lewd smile, earning praise from her lackies. As her hand moved to touch Lyria, her hand was gripped, and with a crack, the boss's hands were broken. With a blur, Lyria moved toward the lackies. Within a few seconds, screams echoed in the alley.
Bending down at the head of the boss, Lyria said, "You came at a bad time, and you just had to cross the line." Taking her bags, she left without turning back.
On her way out of the slum district, she saw a small, three-tailed fox with bloodied white fur. Seeing the injured animal, and already being in a bad mood, she turned to leave. After taking a step forward, she paused, and with a tired sigh, she took the fox into her arms. Then she went to a pharmacy to get bandages and disinfectant.
When she got to the inn, she immediately cleaned the fox and disinfected the wounds. Feeling that it was not in pain anymore, she laid it on the bed while she went to take a bath. As cold water from the showerhead flowed down her body, she remembered the side mission she got. As she had turned to leave the fox, the system had issued a mission.
Ding!
[SIDE MISSION: Save the injured fox and take care of it until it is perfectly healthy].
[REWARDS: Will be calculated based on how well the side mission was completed].
Leaving the bathroom, she dried her hair and then went to sleep. Late into the night, the fox opened its eyes, revealing cold emerald eyes flickering with intelligence more than that of an animal. If Lyria were to be awake, she would notice how those eyes flashed with murder intent. A gentle wind blew from the window. A reflection from the glass windows showed a naked man with furry fox ears and white shoulder-length hair gazing at the sleeping woman beside him.
Waking up, Lyria felt a furry, warm object besides her. Remembering the fox she saved, she decided to check its wound. Seeing it had stopped bleeding and there were no signs of infection, she cleaned up and then ordered breakfast while putting some processed chicken she got from the store out for the fox. Fenric, who had always eaten food from used to the finest fine-dining Felorin had to offer, glanced at the foolish woman disdainfully before using his legs to toss the chicken on the floor.
At first, Lyria did not notice this since she went to get the food from the waitress. When she did, she was surprised to see the chicken on the floor, and then she looked at the fox, noticing its disdainful glance. With raised brows and hands placed on her hips, she said, "You have got to be kidding me, Foxy."
Lyria picked up the chicken and placed it in the bowl again.
Clank!!!
The bowl was tossed on the floor again. "No breakfast for you, Foxy." Picking up the chicken, Lyria went to put it inside the fridge, only for her to see the fox eating her breakfast elegantly. Lyria then moved towards the fox, picking it up onto her lap while she sat on the bed.
Smack! Smack! Smack!
Fenric was shocked. Did this woman just hit his butt? Coldness flashed in his eyes which was later concealed. Looking at the fox's dazed expression, Lyria left it on the bed and then placed an order for another meal.
While in her mind, Lyria rebuked the system.
"How could you tell me to save such a temperamental animal? I didn't want to save that damn animal!"
"..."
"I wish you had a physical body; you deserve a spanking as well."
"..."
Lyria finished her meal, ignoring the glaring fox. "Foxy, I will be going out, so be a good boy and wait for me." The fox, as if understanding, rolled its eyes. Lyria just chuckled, thinking that this fox seemed enlightened.
While Lyria went from district to district, Fenric placed a call to his subordinates, who had been searching for him all night.
"Boss, where have you been? We've searched everywhere—" He was interrupted by a cold voice.
"Ben is a spy. Capture him and place him in the underground cell while you await my return." After that, the call was disconnected. Fenric wondered who the woman who saved him was; thinking about how daring she was, a smile—unknown to him—was plastered on his face.
Lyria came home with a tired face and a plastic bag.
"Foxy, I am back! I have finally seen what I came here for, so to celebrate, I will cook. Luckily for us, I was able to borrow cooking appliances and a portable cooking stove from the owner."
Changing her shoes into comfy slippers, she brought out the vegetables, rice, and the chicken that had been rejected by the fox. The fox just glanced at her from the bed before closing its eyes. After a while, its ears twitched and it sat up, looking at the woman who was busy stirring the food while humming.
What is she cooking? The aroma is like nothing I have ever perceived, he thought. Perhaps drawn to the savory scent, he swallowed his saliva.
Lyria started dishing the food. When she placed a plate for the fox, she said, "It is hot; be careful while you eat." The first taste transported Fenric to another world. Because of this food, I will forgive her. [1]
Lyria and the fox ate with gusto, clearing the plates within two minutes. After packing up the plates, Lyria took out a bottle of red wine she had bought on her way back. As she poured the wine, a feeling of nostalgia formed in her mind, remembering the vintage, fine, and exquisite wines she had in her previous life. Due to this, she ended up drinking the whole bottle.
Unaware that her new body's tolerance was very low, Lyria was wasted. Fenric, who was at first dozing off with a full belly, heard the woman crying. Wondering why, he left the bed and was surprised to see Lyria on the floor. As he moved closer, the smell of wine drifted to his nose.
Lyria, who was sobbing, looked at the fox. Seeing him, it felt as though he was mocking her, and her tears dripped more. "Foxy, no body wants me. I am so pathetic, even you seem to be mocking me. Waaah!"
"Foxy, why are there three of you? Foxy one, foxy two, foxy three..." blerg! "Foxy, stop spinning!". Placing her hands on her mouth trying to prevent... Blargh!
[1] Fenric's thought