Dimensional Codex System: I'm really not a cultist!

It turns out, Walnut's "face fruit" really packs a punch. The girl with the flaxen hair rummaged through the pile for a while and quickly picked out some commissions, handing them over. And sure enough, Walnut found a commission to head to Silver City.

"Look, I found it!"

Holding the commission slip, Walnut hurried over to Fang Zheng and Kurumi, waving it in front of them.

"The client is the Holy Silver Merchant Association. They need us to escort a batch of materials. We're to set off from here, take a ship at Gray Whale Harbor, and then head to Silver City. This one's it!"

Upon hearing Walnut's inquiry, Fang Zheng nodded and glanced at Kurumi, who smiled slightly.

"This one's good, let's prepare and set out soon."

"No problem, I'll go handle the paperwork right now."

After saying that, Walnut, carrying a shovel and holding the commission slip, dashed to the counter. Fang Zheng saw her pick up a pen and sign her name smoothly, then stamped it. The flaxen-haired young lady watched Walnut reluctantly wave goodbye as she left...

Just like a wife watching her husband depart on a distant journey.

And at that moment, Kurumi chimed in from the side.

"Today's interaction was quite good, somewhat introverted."

"What do you mean?"

Hearing Kurumi's remark, Fang Zheng glanced at her, and Kurumi smiled slightly.

"Walnut's popularity is unexpectedly high. There are quite a few fans of hers in this Mercenary Association; several young girls are utterly smitten with her. Today's one is okay—introverted, satisfied with just a few words. Last time, that pink-haired one was interesting. She came to me asking about my relationship with Walnut and said she wanted to confess and marry Walnut..."

"Really?"

This startled Fang Zheng, who hadn't considered the Main World's marriage issues since arriving.

"Of course, you wouldn't know about these young girls' dealings. Before, a few ignorant guys in the association gossiped and harassed Walnut out of boredom, but those young girls tricked them into taking commissions in the wilderness. Who knows if they'll ever come back..."

"And then?"

Now Fang Zheng listened like it was a story, growing more intrigued, and Kurumi covered her mouth, chuckling softly.

"Young girls are just young girls. They arranged to confess to Walnut but chickened out at the last moment, making Walnut think she was sick and took her temperature..."

While speaking, Kurumi mimicked taking her temperature, and Fang Zheng instantly got it.

"...Then the young girl fainted without confessing?"

"Exactly."

"How fascinating... Walnut didn't notice herself?"

"Walnut's character, you know..."

Kurumi paused, seemingly pondering something.

"...She hasn't noticed it, and it seems she deliberately avoids such topics, so she doesn't ask much."

Hearing this, Fang Zheng nodded without saying much. Everyone has their secrets. Fang Zheng doesn't know much about Walnut's matters, and he won't go prying with the "Ratziel" tome if she doesn't want to share. Whatever happened is in the past, and seeing Walnut so happy here is enough.

"Alright, let's set off."

Just then, Walnut happily returned to Fang Zheng and Kurumi, cheerfully announcing to them.

"The Holy Silver Merchant Association's contact person is in the Half Duck Inn. Let's go meet them, then prepare... Little Hong, are you ready?"

"Ready."

Fang Zheng nodded slightly in response, and he noticed a gaze upon him. Turning, he saw the flaxen-haired girl behind the counter watching him intently, her eyes a mix of anxiety, unease, envy, and a hint of threat...

Looks like Kurumi's words were indeed right.

Walnut had mingled here for several months, becoming a local fixture, understanding the surroundings well. Effortlessly, Walnut led Kurumi and Fang Zheng to the Half Duck Inn, where Fang Zheng saw a short ponytail-haired young girl with familiar eyes approaching. After exchanging a few words with Walnut, they got a response and proceeded to the client's room door.

"Knock knock."

Arriving at the door, the usually lively Walnut finally toned it down a bit. She reached out and knocked softly. Soon, a voice came from inside.

"Who's there?"

"Hello, we're the mercenaries who accepted the commission. We'd like to discuss the specifics of the task."

"Okay, please wait a moment..."

After Walnut's reply, the voice inside paused briefly, followed by a soft "click" and the door slowly opening.

"Come in."

Walnut seemed unconcerned, cheerfully walking in, followed by Kurumi and Fang Zheng. As Fang Zheng entered, he felt a sense of familiarity—perhaps he'd heard the client's voice before?

Inside, Fang Zheng scanned the room, noting it was an ordinary guest room—except that it was entirely empty.

Then the client's voice echoed again.

"Shovel? You're that... Miss Walnut?"

Since Walnut's surname in the Main World language is difficult to pronounce, akin to struggling with a tongue twister, over time, locals opted to call her either by her name or as "Princess Shovel." Walnut got used to it over time.

"That's me."

Walnut also curiously looked around, seemingly as intrigued as Fang Zheng about the client's whereabouts. Yet the client remained invisible, her voice low and somewhat timid.

"Where are you?"

"Ah, sorry... I'm not great with face-to-face meetings..."

With these words, a shadow flickered, then a girl in lavish attire suddenly appeared behind a chair. Clinging to the chair back like a soldier hiding from bombardment, she cautiously peeked out, nodding to everyone.

"Hello, I'm Katie from the Holy Silver Merchant Association..."

It's her!

Recognizing her, Fang Zheng recalled why the voice felt familiar. Wasn't she the Noble Lady with Legendary Rank stealth they encountered during a previous mission?

Quite lucky!

Seeing her, Fang Zheng subconsciously took a breath—a good thing he transformed beforehand. Had he met Katie without warning, he'd have blown his cover immediately, thwarting any stealth attempts. But now, even if Katie is clever, she wouldn't suspect Fang Zheng transformed into the Red Ponytail Magical Girl.

Though strictly speaking, that's not something to boast about.

"Hello, Miss Katie."

Walnut seemed unfazed, nodding at Katie. She checked the commission slip and spoke again.

"You're hiring two to three mercenaries to escort some goods to Silver City, right?"

"Correct... I will... accompany as well..."

"May I ask what kind of goods they are? Hopefully not anything illegal, right?"

"No, no, no!!!"

Upon Walnut's question, Katie shook her head vigorously.

"Just usual specialties and... valuable items, but they're all legitimate..."

"Alright, understood. When can we depart?"

"Tomorrow morning..."

Katie sighed, and Fang Zheng noticed a hint of fatigue on her.

It seems the Noble Lady's recent conditions aren't great?

PS: New Year's here, wishing everyone a prosperous new year with success and fortune (more rewards), and by the way, I'm seventeen again, wahaha.