Chapter 250: Inspection Day

Words : 1242 Updated : Sep 27th, 2025

Chapter 250: Inspection Day Hell could apparently be experienced in paradise. It was so close, yet so far—that kind of thing. And it wasn’t just them, for even the actual members could only gawk at this difference in treatment. If anything, just going into the shack had been a case of willpower, and he’d never seen his badge as more useful than it is today. Technically, they really were here for an inspection, for short of selling drugs or an underground fighting ring, what kind of legitimate thing could bring about another gathering of these people? And the last time the same crowd gathered, the Capital looked like a mess. So, they had to make sure to know just how to explain this. Especially when the students had gotten wind of this phenomenon. They were just spectators, but when several students started seeing relatives, parents, and their own goddamned pets, people started realizing that something was wrong. And the news spread like wildfire. Students were identifying their own pets, and obviously, this called for an investigation. Then, and only then, did they find out about the livestream they missed while attending classes. [This! This is outrageous! How could my dad be carrying our Astrocrab into a Pet Day Care?!] [Upstairs commenter, that’s your problem?! Look at my Dad carrying MY Moonpuff!!!] [Hell, at least your parents are carrying that! Do you see that man with a bottle?! My dad’s out there carrying a BEE!] [I cannot believe this betrayal. My mother, who said she’d never let our Crystalfawn out of the house, not even for a pet show-and-tell, is out there with her!] [I am calling my parents!] [+1] [+1] [+1] [+1] [+1] In a rare moment of confusion, at least one legitimate pet owner bought in two of her pets. Princess Nina initially thought she could only bring one and was distraught at the thought of having to pick a favorite. But then Butler Henry recommended asking her big brother if it was possible to bring both Mr. Quackers and Snowy. The wait almost killed her, but when she got word that it was fine provided they weren’t both large beasts, and she could pay the membership for each one, the Princess kept bouncing with joy. However, Butler Henry reminded her that she would have to inform her parents about this decision. Which was honestly more nerve-wracking than admitting that she ate all the banana chips meant for her mother. But surprisingly, her Big Brother had asked for permission on her behalf, provided she could remember to keep their relationship a secret. And so, the little Princess practiced saying just her brother’s name over and over, until Butler Henry said something about it. "Actually, Princess, you may not have the opportunity to use his name because, ideally, you’re not supposed to know him." "Oh," she sighed. But maybe she should at least bring all the stuff she prepared for her Big Brother and the generous chipmunk! And that was the young girl’s mindset even as she saw her uncle, the Marshal, approaching. The Imperial Princess sat proudly atop a massive white-furred wolf, its fluffy tail swishing lazily in the sun. While perched in her arms was a rather disgruntled-looking duck, whose beady eyes scanned the crowd as if judging the lesser peasants. "Your Highness?" Curtis blurted before remembering to give the proper greetings which the Princess effortlessly returned. "Uncle Julian! Lord Curtis and even Lady Eden! Wow!" The young princess grinned, waving enthusiastically. "Did you all come to sign up too?" "Sign...up?" "Of course!" She beamed. "Mr. Quackers has been awfully stressed. And Snowy has gotten stressed watching over him!" She said sadly as she patted her pets. "But they say that the Day Care has the best grass, so we have our fingers crossed!" And they really did. They just had to pass Ollie’s vetting and Kyle’s contract signing before they could see this. But with their magical inspection request, the three HQ representatives actually managed to get in, especially into the lounge, even without a membership. Of course, Ollie relayed this to the other guild members, and Xavier honestly warned them all about it. It’s just that the officers now understood what the holdup was all about. For on the floor were various nobles in varying degrees of states. Those who had stronger resolves, or those who were too shellshocked to move, managed to stand as the sudden gust of spiritual energy initially rammed them. It was like a shockwave, especially to those who weren’t fortunate enough to get their hands on any of the popular goods. But even their group, which had seriously been able to get their hands on a few, had to clutch their hands at this sudden jolting. And only when the feeling subsided were they finally able to see it with their own eyes. The sprawling expanse of greenery and shimmering water overturned their entire opinion of the shack. Plants, trees, and rock formations populated the space. And while landscaping wasn’t new to them, who could afford even a single pot of any spiritual plant?! And to landscape with it?! No wonder the air buzzed with spiritual energy, and even Eden, who wasn’t a mecha pilot, could tell. "Impossible." Curtis gaped. "This...This is what they’ve been hiding in this shack?!" The magnitude of the space alone was staggering. There were various space divisions, large and small ponds, and numerous pet care stations. In one corner, Curtis even saw a massive scratching post made of what honestly screamed like spiritual wood. And one feline was satisfyingly attacking it. But the most unsettling sight of all was the aforementioned VIP Lounge. For one, a lot could be said about most people’s expressions. There was evident longing. At that point, they were all in agreement that maybe being a pet wasn’t so bad at all. But even as some of them cried in disbelief, they’d still smile after taking a bite of their precious fruits and a measured sip of their complementary drink for the day. While they weren’t allowed to take any of these home—unless it was a purchase from the Guild Store—they could surely eat them all here. And if they were being honest, anything they get would likely not reach home with how tempting they were. Then the pet owners watched as the food bowls next to the glorified pet beds were filled with food, and some owners gasped while shooting up from their seats. "Seriously?!" Very much so, apparently. No wonder the beasts were being rehabilitated. Even the large turtle brought in suddenly walked with vigor after leaving that room. And that was likely one turtle that has outlived them all! "Marshal, what are we going to do?" "For one, we’re going to have to do something about the traffic protocols. Second, we’d have to intensify security." "And third, maybe we ought to talk to someone." They’ve always known that the prince was privy to important information, and as loyal subjects, they trust that he knows what he’s doing. And he probably did. But this scale was something else, and when jewels shine, some people can’t help but want them. And this wasn’t a tiny sparkle. This was a beacon. "Marshal, what about enrolling our own beast? Do you think they’d accept Eden? She’s practically an animal, after all." And just like that, one adjutant was elbowed in the gut.

Chapter 250: Inspection Day

Comments (0)