Chapter 88 The New Member

"Brother Ikasa, My wish is to let this little fox live with us!"

Ikasa looked at the speaker of the voice and the hopeful faces of the kids behind her. He was put in a dilemma.

Not only was the fox a powerful beast and thus a safety hazard, but also an intelligent creature capable of thought. When Ikasa's contemplative gaze turned to the little critter, he saw it mimic the hopeful face, matching the kids.

His lips twitched as he came to understand that there was no other choice but to accept this request.

Denying the request would dishearten Hei Ying. She is mature enough to understand when explained but other kids are not as mature as her.

Then comes the problem of this powerful fox! If it is getting along well with the kids, it will find a way to mingle with them anyways.

Killing it is out of the question as even Sense Realm can't detect it if it hides.

On the contrary, befriending it has so many more benefits. Not only can it be a powerful ally, but the abilities it has displayed can also be used for espionage!

Once Ikasa started to think about the positives, his eyes shined as he looked at the little fox.

'Yes, I need to do whatever it takes to bribe and befriend this little baby!'

Ikasa looked at Hei Ying and casually placed a palm on her head. Gently caressing her hair, he smiled.

"I promised you a wish. Of course, I am going to keep my word! This little fox can stay with us."

Hearing his words, joy bloomed on the kids' faces. Qiqi bent down and picked up the little fox. When she smushed its face against her cheeks, she nearly gave a heart attack to Feng Yan and Ikasa!

The fox accepted this display of affection by happily waving its tail.

Ikasa and Feng Yan exchanged a glance filled with relief. Only now did they wipe a sweatdrop that rolled down their forehead.

'Is this how our future is going to be? A walk on a tightrope?'

Ikasa wondered as his heart went on a rollercoaster ride every time the kids made some intimate gesture. Finally, Feng Yan couldn't take it. He decided to warn the kids of the dangerous side of the fox.

"You may have decided to keep it, but you should treat it with respect. It is not only cute and little, but it is also a spirit beast. Remember that when playing with it in the future so you don't offend it!"

The old man's words brought some calm to the crazy behavior of the kids. They distanced themselves from the fox but still looked at it with adoration.

The little fox was not happy with this change. It glared at the retreating figure of Feng Yan with animosity. It craved intimacy; wanted casual hugs and snuggles. What was the point of acting cute if it was going to be deprived of them?

Its anger abated when Luo Qiqi bent down and picked it up, holding the little fox against her chest. Scratching the little one behind its ears, she snorted.

"Hmph! What does Uncle Feng know? This is such a cute baby. It needs hugs and pats. Why would he treat it as if it's a dangerous animal?"

Luo Qiqi's words combined with her actions won her the approval of the Fox and it sagely bobbed its head to support her words.

"This little cutie!"

Its actions melted the heart of the other girl in the group.

Hei Ying, the most rational one in the group, took the lead to tickle the exposed fox's belly and the other kids also lost their inhibitions.

At that moment Ikasa knew that the warnings had fallen on the deaf ears. He helplessly smiled and shook his head.

"Hey! Take your new friend out to play! Don't make a mess in this room."

The Kids listened to his words and took the fox downstairs. Ikasa did not miss the look of longing the fox threw to the jars filled with Energy-infused water.

He took a full jar and gave it to Hei Ying.

"Offer this to your new friend when it gets thirsty, okay?"

She gratefully accepted the jar, but a grin appeared on the canine face peeking from around Luo Qiqi's shoulder.

During the time it took to resolve the issue of the fox and the Energy-infused Water, the sun neared the end of its journey.

Ikasa locked the room with the precious Energy-infused water and got into the carriage with Chu Kuang.

"Uncle Chu, how long until the others from Sal city can move to this residence?"

The bald man checked his notes and counted the remaining rooms to be renovated.

"Around 30 more need to be renovated while 210 are ready for habitation. We can start bringing in the people. My only concern is that fox…"

Chu Kuang replied in a queasy voice.

"Don't worry about it. It will most likely move in with the kids and even if it doesn't, as long as no one provokes it, it will be happy to play some pranks and leave you alone."

Chu Kuang lowered his head in acceptance. It's not like he had other options.

Ikasa noticed his manager's gloom. He changed the topic to the Herb plantation.

"Uncle Chu, now that the fields are brimming with energy, have you decided on which seeds or saplings you want to plant?"

A glow returned to the middle-aged man's eyes.

"I haven't had the chance to study which medicinal plants are most in demand in this city. However, we can plant all varieties since we have such a large area available…."

Ikasa listened to the man speak passionately about his plans for the Herb Garden. He nodded occasionally to signal he was paying attention, but he was already lost in his thoughts.

'Which Sense should I strengthen tonight? Sense of Hearing or Sense of Smell?'

The carriage came to a halt before the Villa. Ikasa got down and sent the carriage back to fetch Feng Yan and the kids.

".... the blue mist flowers are also good but we should definitely go for ginseng and other roots like luoba."

Chu Kuang finished his briefing when they finally entered through the gates.

"I am glad to know that you have given this such a deep thought, Uncle Chu! Since you have a plan, I will be assured if you see it through."

Ikasa smiled genially at the man who was caressing his bald head with shyness. On the inside, he lamented the loss of this manager.

'Another one who wants to follow his passion! Tsk Tsk'

​ Ikasa was reminded of the pile of resignations he had received during the startup boom. Within the next month, more than half of them reapplied for their previous positions.

'Hopefully, this startup will be successful.'

He prayed as they entered the dining room. The Kids arrived in the next carriage but the little fox was nowhere to be seen.

Ikasa assumed it had stayed behind and regretted that he missed the chance to see Xin Ruo's outraged reaction.

After enjoying dinner with everyone, he made a hasty retreat. He was excited to enhance his senses!

In the pitch dark of the night, a young man lay unconscious on his bed, the printer still connected to his chest.

He had used 2 CP to enhance his auditory senses. After experiencing sharp buzzing and excruciating pain in his brain, he passed out from exhaustion.

A small form of the fox sneaked into his room when he was in his most vulnerable state. The little critter covered his mouth with one of his paws to hide the mischievous grin.

It jumped onto the bed and tickled Ikasa's nose with his furry tail. But it received no response. The fox moved his tail to Ikasa's ears. Still, nothing.

Out of concern, it sniffed Ikasa's face. Upon ascertaining he was still alive, the fox curled up on his chest to provide its body's warmth to the unconscious young man.

A few hours later, when the sun rays shined in the room, Ikasa opened his eyes. He felt a weight on his chest. As he lowered his vision, he was greeted by the adorable sight of red and black fur sprawled on his chest.

Its little red ears drooped to the side. The naughty critter used its fluffy black and red tail as a pillow. Ikasa could see its cute little canine tooth spilling out from one side of its mouth.

It stirred when the sun's rays shone on its still closed eyes and tried to block them with its tail. He gently scooped up the fox and placed it on the bed, covering it with a sheet.

Grinning at the endearing little beast, Ikasa stretched and yawned, moving to get ready for the day.

As he checked his calendar, he realized he had fallen behind schedule for opening his shop. He went through possible locations for the shop in his mind. A location was stuck in his head.

"The Grandma's shop on the same street as the Blacksmiths would be perfect. I should talk about it when Mo Fan arrives with the Team today."