Luo Shi nervously tugged the hem of his robe.

Looking at the fairytale-like city before him, he took a deep breath.

Escaping from the base wasn't easy. The price for getting away was that he had to do some other "favors" to repay those who’d helped clean up after him.

This trade was one of those favors.

Although he wasn’t actually a candy merchant—just someone running an errand—he held the merchant’s token and had the magical formation with him, which made him a valid substitute. That was more than enough to take the original merchant’s place. After all, aside from the candy merchant, any ordinary person approaching this city would be instantly captured and thrown straight into the dungeon of the Candy Factory.

That’s what the original candy merchant said. He had been reassigned by the higher-ups and didn’t have time for this trip, so Luo Shi was sent in his place.

“Well, let’s go in first.”

Luo Shi encouraged himself and then stepped into the border into Fairy Tale City.

Along the way, he was surprised that the city didn’t feel as peaceful and harmonious as the merchant had described. Instead, it felt a bit restless and uneasy.

He could hear the citizens arguing on the streets, and some even glared at him through their windows. But he didn’t mind. He figured it was just because they hadn’t seen him before and were being hostile out of unfamiliarity. Once he helped the mayor build up the city, those citizens would be kneeling in gratitude.

Luo Shi looked into the distance at a factory spewing thick smoke and couldn’t help but sigh, “The factories in the polluted zone are intense. You don’t even see this kind of hustle in the human world.”

Luo Shi strolled slowly along the main road. Once the mayor knew the merchant had arrived, he’d definitely send someone to pick him up.

Sure enough, not long after, a long limo made entirely of maple sugar arrived. Its exterior looked partially melted, like it had been through some extreme heat. Even one of the doors was hanging off—definitely not as luxurious as he’d imagined.

Luo Shi was somewhat displeased. Whether as a deputy director or a candy merchant, this melting candy car was far from a proper ride.

But it was his first time here. The pollution levels radiating off the other party were off the charts, so Luo Shi decided to swallow his displeasure.

A massive rabbit hopped out of the car—nearly as tall as Luo Shi. It had ferocious fangs, blood-red eyes, and a raspy voice.

Wait, wasn’t it supposed to be a gentleman rabbit? The kind that wore a bowtie? What is this thing—some kind of mutated version?

“Uh… hello,” Luo Shi tried cautiously.

The rabbit let out a strange laugh. “Why are you pretending like we don’t know each other? Didn’t we just have dinner yesterday?”

Luo Shi’s eyes went blank. What? Yesterday he ate in the car—he never even came here! This rabbit... might not be right in the head.

“I’m the candy merchant. I’m here for the deal.” Luo Shi emphasized his identity, hoping it would snap the rabbit back to his senses.

The rabbit waved impatiently, clearly annoyed. “Yeah, yeah. Where’d you take those people?”

Was this rabbit suffering from amnesia or something?

Luo Shi replied carefully. “I didn’t take anyone. I just arrived today. Are you sure you’re not confusing me with someone else?”

The rabbit grinned, its mouth splitting in three. “Still playing dumb, huh?!”

“Seize him!”

Luo Shi’s face went pale. He had never expected this kind of reception!

Two strong leopards leaped out at the rabbit’s command and pounced on Luo Shi in an instant. He was pinned to the ground, exposing his shiny, balding forehead, which gleamed fiercely under the sun.

Luo Shi screamed and struggled, but the rabbit ignored him and had him dragged off to the dungeon beneath the factory.

Luo Shi wanted to cry but had no tears. What the hell was going on? Did that guy send him here just to serve him up as a delicacy for the pollutants?

“Somebody help! I’m really the candy merchant! I came to trade—just continuing our previous deal! Don’t you remember?!”

Luo Shi howled.

The rabbit’s ears were long and sharp—he heard every word, but the shouting was so grating it made him want to claw his ears off.

“What’s going on? We caught the guy, but where’s the rest of the goods?” the rabbit asked Hua Mei.

Hua Mei, still bandaged and wounded from who-knows-what replied, “We searched everywhere nearby and found nothing. He hid it too well.”

The rabbit cursed under his breath. “He definitely used some weird tricks. Damn it. Left without saying a word, and now he is playing dumb? He’s totally messing with me! Humans are so damn shady!”

Hua Mei didn't dare to answer.

“Fine, let’s go ask him directly. I don’t care what it takes—crack his mouth open if you have to.”

The underground of the candy factory was massive, built specifically to hold human prisoners. Traces of human life were everywhere, so Luo Shi gave up shouting pretty quickly and just lay on the bed.

He didn’t understand it. There should’ve been a bunch of people here for the deal with the rabbit. But there wasn’t a single trace. Did the rabbit break the contract to kill all of them?

No… that didn’t seem likely. Maybe someone impersonated the merchant and took them away? That would explain the rabbit’s fury.

Yeah! That made sense! Luo Shi felt like he’d figured it out. “I’m the real candy merchant! The one before me was a fake!”

Footsteps echoed, and soon, the giant rabbit appeared before Luo Shi.

“You’re the counterfeit,” the rabbit said.

“I’m the merchant! I have proof!” Luo Shi held up the back of his hand where a violet emblem was stamped. “Look! This is my access mark! Without this, anyone else would’ve been caught and locked up immediately, right?”

The rabbit squinted at the mark and twitched his ears. “No, this doesn’t prove anything. Maybe you stole it. I don’t believe it.”

Luo Shi nearly spat blood. Then how the hell was he supposed to prove it?!

“Show me the method for the trade. If it’s real, I’ll consider it,” the rabbit said while twitching his whiskers.

Luo Shi hesitated. He was told to only reveal it after the contract was signed. If he showed it now, would the deal still go through? And if it fell apart, would the people who’d helped him before still have his back?

The rabbit scowled. “You’re fake.”

Luo Shi gritted his teeth. “Fine. Look if you want!”

If he couldn’t even save his own life, what was the point?

He pulled out a parchment from his pocket. On it was a complex magic formation, filled with intersecting geometric lines, humming with faint magical energy.

Luo Shi puffed his chest proudly. “How’s that? Only a real merchant could provide something this detailed. There’s only one like it in the world! And this method—it’s a powerful protective formation. Your city lacks defenses. If you carve this into key points, it’ll form a defensive network to protect your city.”

But the rabbit had heard those exact words from the previous merchant.

He gave a subtle signal to a nearby monkey, who immediately snatched the parchment.

Rabbit: “I’ll test it first.”

Luo Shi was so anxious that he jumped up and down: “You damn rabbit! We’ve traded so many times! I never cheated you before. Why do you have to be on guard against me like this? You have no sense of contract at all!"

The rabbit just sneered and walked off.

Luo Shi bit his nails anxiously. What now? The whole thing was messed up. He was locked up, and if that damn rabbit didn’t come back to get him after testing the parchment, he was done for.

About three hours later, the rabbit returned—empty-handed.

Luo Shi grabbed the bars. “Well? Now you believe I’m legit, right?”

The rabbit shook his head. “The method is real. But you are fake.”

Luo Shi exploded. “F*** your mom! You’re just trying to steal my method! Do you think I’m scared of you?!”

He pulled out a gun and fired wildly, but somehow the rabbit vanished. When he reappeared, there were only bullet holes in the wall behind him.

The rabbit shook his head. “A fake is still a fake.”

After a while, Hua Mei caught up as the rabbit exited the dungeon.

“Mayor, that guy had the merchant’s token. Even if he’s not the real one, he was probably sent by him. Why do we have to lock him up?"

The rabbit glanced at him. “The one we signed the contract with was the fake (RX). He’s the one who engraved the formation. Remember how effortlessly he drew those complex patterns? That complicated design—he didn’t even need to look at a reference. Drew it in one go, like he invented it.”

Hua Mei’s eyes widened. “Yeah… this guy with the access mark even had to use a stamp. He gave us the design, and we had to carve it ourselves. And the effect? Not nearly as strong as the fake’s…”

The rabbit muttered, “Now I really want to see the ‘fake’ merchant’s true face.”

—

Ruan Xing checked the hidden magic formation again.

At the center, the magic crystal floated quietly, but its bright purple hue had started to fade into a dull gray.

There wasn’t much magic power left.

Ruan Xing channeled more magic into it but estimated that it wouldn’t last more than three hours.

Meanwhile, Su Xiaona’s awakening ritual was almost done.

Most of the newly awakened people had one thing in common: swollen faces with a bright red handprint. Fu Gui weaved through the crowd, handing out bottles of magic potion.

Those who applied the potion immediately felt relief from the burning pain. One stared at the red liquid with glowing eyes. “Is this a new research breakthrough from the Research Institute?”

Ruan Xing didn’t confirm or deny.

Some of the team, seeing Su Xiaona approach, couldn’t help but show an unconscious flattery in their smiles. “Sister Xiaona, thank you for your hard work.”

She nodded. “Next time, try not to faint.”

To them, that translated to: Next time, don’t make me slap you again.

So they nodded frantically.

Fu Gui twitched its beak. “Now I get why people call her ‘Sister’ Xiaona.” (T/N: 姐 jiě - Older/Big Sister)

Ruan Xing pinched him. “Don’t gossip behind a girl’s back.”

Su Xiaona overheard, and her eyes softened instantly. “Our little Xingxing is so sweet. I wonder which lucky soul will get to marry you—”

Ruan Xing cut her off. “Let’s not rush.”

Su Xiaona immediately changed the topic. “By the way, we’ve been missing a while now. Why is it still so quiet outside?”

Ruan Xing calmly said, “They’re probably busy dealing with the factories and have no time for us.”

Su Xiaona: “Then we should strike while the iron’s hot and take down the polluted zone in one go.”

They had only meant to explore but were captured. Now, getting out wasn’t even guaranteed.

She frowned. “Too bad I can only hold off the boss temporarily. The crazy workers and this massive candy factory are going to be a pain... Even with bombs, it’d take a while to blow it all up.”

Fu Gui had already told them that the candy factory was likely the pollution source.

Ruan Xing said, “Actually, it’s not that bad. In fact, after signing the contract with the rabbit, I discovered some bugs in the city…”

Fu Gui clicked his tongue as he listened. Man, it's too shady that it's already black. So this is how mages operate? If it’s really like he says, this Fairy Tale city would probably turn into hell.

Su Xiaona’s eyes lit up. After hearing him out, she patted Ruan Xing’s shoulder vigorously. “Good job, kid. Not bad at all!”

Ruan Xing coughed. “Still gotta trouble you.”

Su Xiaona smirked. “Relax. I’m used to this kind of thing.”

—

That night, darkness blanketed the Candy City as its citizens fell into peaceful slumber.

Mayor Rabbit, dressed in his favorite pajamas, finished his busy day and lay in bed, paws folded over his belly, fast asleep.

Suddenly, a distant muffled boom echoed in his ears.

The sound grew louder until a violent explosion roared in his ears as it shattered the night, shaking the entire Candy Factory to its core.

Mayor Rabbit’s bloodshot eyes snapped open with blazing anger.

Author's Note:

Weekend chapters are always long—this arc is about to wrap up, and there’s a surprise at the end~