Chapter 206: The Unboxing Ritual

“Captain, Freya definitely wanted to talk to us about Furen. Why didn’t we take the opportunity to have a good chat with her?”

“I feel like her attitude was much better this time. She probably would have seriously considered what Furen wants.”

After Freya left, Lu Wei and Bai Ya led the donkey cart back to the small wooden cabin.

Bai Ya still naively believed that communication could solve any problem. She thought that since Freya had come in good faith, they should have struck while the iron was hot.

Lu Wei, however, was trying to figure out why Freya had suddenly become so… alluring.

He recalled that the last time they met, he hadn’t felt the slightest bit of desire.

Even though Freya was the most beautiful woman he’d seen since coming to this world, he hadn’t had a single impure thought.

But this time was clearly different.

It felt like it wasn’t just her attitude that had changed; her whole aura seemed different.

‘Wait a minute, I get it!’

‘She must be wearing Equipment that boosts her Charm!’

‘Well, I’ll be damned. It’s a honey trap!’

‘Have I finally made it to this level?’

Lu Wei had a sudden realization. He mulled it over for another moment before turning to Bai Ya.

“What did you just say?”

“…”

Bai Ya froze, then puffed out her cheeks and yelled, “I said, why didn’t we talk to her!”

‘Oh, because today isn’t a good day for negotiations.’

Recalling the results of his “divination” that morning, Lu Wei was being extra cautious.

‘Feudal superstition is nonsense, of course, but for something this important, it’s better to have a good omen on your side.’

“Because I’m busy.”

He gave her a dismissive answer, immediately grabbing the cloth bag from the donkey’s back and hoisting an empty Wooden Box before rushing excitedly to the backyard.

Bai Ya stood rooted to the spot, a confused look on her face. She had no idea what he was up to, so she just started unloading the hay and bran from the cart, piling them in a corner of the yard.

Then she found a few wooden planks, planning to build a trough for Xiaohui to eat and drink from.

That’s right—”Xiaohui” was the name she had given the little female donkey.

It was, frankly, a bit of a lazy name.

“This shouldn’t be too hard, right? I just have to nail the pieces together in the right shape.”

She first arranged the planks on the ground. Cupping her chin, Bai Ya pretended to ponder the design for a moment before deciding to get a hammer and nails from the toolbox.

But she couldn’t find it.

The entire toolbox was gone.

“Captain, did you take the toolbox?”

She came out of the cabin and headed to the backyard to ask Lu Wei.

But just as she rounded the corner, she saw him prodding at the lid of a Wooden Box with a small Wooden Stick.

He was acting as if there was something dangerous inside.

“Captain, what are you doing…”

Bai Ya stared, her mouth agape and her face a mask of confusion.

Lu Wei, however, paid her no mind, his eyes still glued to the box.

A few seconds later, he suddenly applied pressure—

“THUMP!”

Under Bai Ya’s astonished gaze, and with a muffled thump, a large cloud of white powder erupted from the box.

Lu Wei, who seemed to have anticipated this, immediately leaped back to avoid it, a look of delight spreading across his face.

“It worked!”

“Oh, so that’s what this is.”

“You scared me to death! I thought there was a Puji inside the box.”

“Huh? Didn’t I tell you before? When a Walking Mushroom senses danger, it sprays out poisonous spores. That looked just like it!”

About ten minutes later, Bai Ya let out a long sigh of relief, finally understanding what Lu Wei was up to.

After opening and closing the lid a few times, she asked curiously:

“But why make a contraption like this?”

“We’re selling Equipment. You can tell good Equipment from bad at a glance, right? What’s the point of using colors to differentiate them?”

“It seems totally unnecessary. And it just adds to the cost.”

‘Would the amateur please shut up?’

‘It’s for the sense of occasion!’

“It enhances the customer’s satisfaction when they get good Equipment.”

Lu Wei explained casually before squatting down again to continue examining the little contraption he had just installed.

The principle was actually just a simple lever trap.

A thin lever was connected to the inside of the lid. When the lid was lifted to a certain angle, it would trigger the mechanism, puncturing an inflated, thin-skinned pouch filled with powder.

This is what created the effect she had just seen.

In his original design, the box was supposed to “glow” when opened.

Unfortunately, creating “light and shadow effects” was too difficult, and he couldn’t use his [Magic Tricks] in public. So he had to settle for the next best thing: using powder to simulate the effect.

The white powder was flour.

In addition to that, he had blue, green, and gold “marking powder.”

They corresponded to the four box Levels: Ordinary, Rare, Extraordinary, and Legendary.

As for the “thin-skinned pouch,” it was a fish bladder, dried and then soaked in a special potion.

It was very elastic and sold at the general store, where it was normally used to keep food waterproof and dry.

You could use it to wrap things like crackers, cheese, or spices, allowing them to last longer on an adventure.

Of course, it might have had… family planning applications as well.

Lu Wei couldn’t say for sure about that part.

In any case, adding this little contraption did increase the cost.

By his calculations, each time a customer opened a box, it would cost him an extra 6 Copper Coins.

But compared to such a “cool” effect, Lu Wei felt it was well worth the price.

Besides, it wasn’t like he’d be the one paying those 6 Copper Coins. The cost would be passed on to the customers anyway.

‘The amount of powder needs to be reduced a bit. That was way over the top.’

‘I could also delay the trigger. It would be best if it went off before they can see the Equipment inside.’

Recalling the test run, Lu Wei quickly identified two more adjustments he needed to make.

He then stood up and spoke to Bai Ya, who was still wondering why a customer would be satisfied just because a box sprayed out colored powder.

“Your turn.”

“Huh?”

Bai Ya asked, puzzled, “Why?”

Lu Wei stated the obvious. “Don’t you have [Skillful Hand]? You’re perfect for this.”

“Oh, okay.”

Bai Ya agreed, then asked hesitantly in a small voice, “Um, is there… wages?”

“Hm? Wages?”

Lu Wei paused, his expression instantly hardening. “I’m surprised. I never thought even you would become so greedy.”

“We’re partners. Shouldn’t we be helping each other out?”

“Did I ask you for a single Copper Coin when I bailed you out of the guardhouse yesterday?”

“Ah, I’m sorry, I, I…”

Bai Ya’s face flushed red, and she became flustered. She lowered her head and stammered, “I… I don’t need any wages.”

“That’s more like it.”

Lu Wei shot her a sideways glance, then paused before asking, “Are you out of money?”

“Um…”

Bai Ya fiddled with the hem of her tunic, admitting sheepishly,

“Because I bought new clothes, and yesterday I paid you back the two Gold Coins for bribing Uncle Reck, so…”

“Hmph. This is what you get for being a spendthrift!”

Lu Wei sneered. He then untied his coin pouch and counted out 9 Silver Coins.

“This is your cut from the bag of ears.”

“The total was 3 gold coins and 6 silver. You and Furen get 9 silver each.”

“Spend it wisely. If the Equipment mystery boxes make a profit, I’ll consider giving you a little.”

Handing the money to Bai Ya, Lu Wei, for once, offered her a “cut” of future profits.

Though when he said “a little,” he really did mean *just* a little.

“Thank you! I’ll be really careful with it!”

Bai Ya, for her part, was incredibly grateful. She nodded repeatedly, promising she wouldn’t waste her money again.

She was so grateful she even forgot that the 9 Silver Coins were rightfully hers to begin with.

A few seconds later, however, she realized something was off.

“Huh, that’s not right.”

“The bounty was 3 gold coins and 6 silver. You took half, and the remaining 1 gold coin and 8 silver should have been split between the three of us—Furen, Mirana, and me. So we should each get 6 Silver Coins.”

“Are you stupid? Mirana wasn’t even there that night. On what grounds does she get a cut?”

Lu Wei shot Bai Ya a glare and sneered. “Besides, she’s not on our team anymore.”

Bai Ya froze. “Huh? Why?”

“Because she betrayed Furen.”

As Bai Ya stared in shock and confusion, Lu Wei muttered venomously,

“But that’s not the most important thing.”

“The most important thing is that she’s a vicious person!”

“Don’t ask me why! Just know that she’s definitely vicious, and that’s that!”