When they returned to the first-floor shop, the Beast Tamer Association staff member responsible for delivering the redeemed resources had yet to arrive.
Xu Ran continued minding the shop, while Purple Cloud hopped onto the counter with practiced ease, tucked both plump paws against its chest, lowered its head slightly, and narrowed its eyes.
Not far away, Starlight found an open spot to stand, then slowly closed its amethyst-like eyes and dozed off.
The weather was clear. In the afternoon, heat kept rising from the street after half a day under the blazing sun, and even pedestrians had grown scarce.
After waiting quite a while without any new customers, Xu Ran felt drowsiness welling up too, seemingly influenced by the cool air-conditioning and the two Contract Beasts napping beside him after their training. He could not help yawning.
Just as he was about to doze off, the closed shop door slowly opened with a creak.
A customer?
Xu Ran quickly rallied, shook his head twice, and stood up. "Welco-"
Before he could finish, his voice cut off.
Looking at the burly figure before him, its arms folded over its chest like a muscular man covered in fur, with a cat's head and filthy human clothes all over its body, Xu Ran's drowsiness vanished in an instant.
Was this a person or a Contract Beast?!
Only after looking it over several more times did Xu Ran confirm that the big fellow before him was a Contract Beast he did not recognize.
"Where's your Beast Tamer?" he could not help asking.
Purple Cloud and Starlight, awakened beside him, also opened their eyes and looked at the big fellow with some surprise.
Contract Beasts with humanlike builds were not entirely unheard of, but one wearing human clothes like this was rather rare.
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