"A motorcycle"

Eulanda finally emerged from her lab, having eaten all the dozen or so self-heating bento boxes she had bought in one go at Dragon Flame Restaurant a few days ago. Hunger overcame reason, and when she looked at the magic machinery parts, but her mind was filled with images of fried chicken nuggets and grilled ribs, she knew she had to go out and find food.

She arrived outside the Dragon Flame Restaurant, once again complaining in her heart about why the restaurant couldn't be located downstairs from her lab. Wasting precious time on the road was simply unbearable.

The moment she entered the restaurant, Eulanda was immediately taken aback. She took two steps back, repeatedly confirming she hadn't entered the wrong place.

Lusen saw Eulanda and greeted her with a smile.

"Lusen, how come the restaurant's business suddenly became so good?"

Instead of answering her question, Lusen pointedly said, "Eulanda, you skipped the cafeteria meals again."

Eulanda didn't know how Lusen knew about this, and she guiltily responded, "Didn't I buy a lot of self-heating bento boxes last time? It's much more convenient than going to the cafeteria."

Lusen, resigned to Eulanda's erratic eating habits, asked, "So, are you here to buy self-heating bento boxes again?"

"yeah, I want to have lunch here first, and then I'll take 10 more self-heating bento boxes. For lunch, I want Chicken Mushroom Rice and Vanilla Ice Cream, and serve the ice cream after I finish the meal." Eulanda sat down. She loved all the various desserts in the restaurant, especially ice cream and bubble tea with its rich toppings.

Thinking of this, Eulanda called Lusen over. "Is Miss Ina here? I have something to discuss with her."

While noting down another customer's order, Lusen replied, "Miss Ina is not here at the moment, but she will be back soon." In reality, Lusen didn't know which branch Ina was in at this moment. However, since Eulanda needed to buy self-heating bento boxes, which only Ina could make, Lusen had already contacted Ina through the communication crystal, and she would arrive shortly.

At this time, Ina was instructing Dusì on how to cut trees.

The two were standing in a cedar forest on the frigid tundra. The trees here were rarely cut down and grew towering into the clouds. Their needle-shaped leaves were clustered tightly together, and the faint smell of pine was very refreshing.

Dusì raised a giant battle-axe high above her head and swung it at the enormous tree in front of her. With a sharp swoosh, the broad axe blade dug deeply into the tree trunk. Dusì yanked it out with all her might, only to pull out a bare axe handle. Holding the handle in her hand, Dusì looked awkwardly at Ina.

Ina had used one of the rewards from the festival mission: the "Strong and Sturdy" buff on Dusì, originally just hoping to cure her limp. But the system's enhancements were real. Dusì's physical condition rapidly improved over the next week. Not only was she agile, but she was also incredibly strong and energetic. If only Ina had a big enough farm, Dusì alone could plow ten acres of land.

But Dusì also had trouble controlling her power. She broke a table, crushed four pens, and accidentally let two chickens escape when helping Frank catch them.

Now, Ina had given her an axe and was trying to teach her how to control her power by chopping down trees.

When Lusen informed Ina through the communication crystal that she was needed at the imperial city branch, Ina dug out the axe blade deeply embedded in the tree trunk and instructed Dusì, "You need to practice more. You need to be able to exert and control your strength."

Dusì smiled and nodded, "Miss Ina, what should I do with the trees I've chopped down?" Four or five large trees had already been felled behind her, now scattered haphazardly on the ground.

"Don't you have a space ring? Take these logs home, your father's chicken coop will need this material."

After giving simple instructions, Ina returned to the imperial city branch.

Eulanda loved the bubble tea at the Dragon Flame restaurant, whether it was Taro Ball Pudding Bubble Tea, Taro Cake Bubble Tea, or Thick Red Bean Bubble Tea, she loved them all!

A few days ago, Eulanda ordered more than twenty cups of bubble tea at the Dragon Flame Restaurant, covering various flavors, sweetness levels, and temperatures. To maintain the optimal taste of the bubble tea, she categorically put them into boxes engraved with Eternal Inscriptions.

If you wanted hot bubble tea, the box would need to have both Eternal Inscription and a Flame Emblem. Room temperature and iced were simplest, just one Eternal Inscription was enough.

Eulanda did not keep these bubble teas to herself. She sent several boxes to her home so that close friends and family could also taste them. Everyone praised the bubble tea. As a businessman with a keen sense of touch, Eulanda's father proactively proposed to cooperate with the restaurant owner who made this bubble tea to open a tea restaurant and asked Eulanda to find out her thoughts.

After hearing Eulanda's explanation, Ina was slightly hesitant. She had considered cooperating with the business association but eventually quashed the idea. If they were to open a tea restaurant, how many would they need to open at once? The business associations in the imperial city were all wealthy. After tasting the bubble tea, all they could think of was to promote it, hoping to have branches all over the empire.

But could Ina still control the quality of the bubble tea if they expanded like this? Should she hand over the recipe for bubble tea, or should she install food transporters in all the tea restaurants, all managed by her? Not to mention whether the system would allow her so many food transporters, the sheer number of stores would surpass Ina's control.

Furthermore, the production of bubble tea was limited by the availability of tea leaves and milk. Milk was cheap and readily available, but the quality of the tea leaves sold in the business associations varied greatly and was expensive. Currently, Ina used tea leaves picked from a tea plantation in Misty Town, which had very low costs, so the price of bubble tea was affordable. If a few tea restaurants opened all at once, the current supply of tea leaves would certainly be insufficient. What would be the pricing then? The high or the low?

Eulanda observed Ina's expression and felt that she didn't seem very interested. Eulanda was not planning to become a merchant and didn't have any negotiation skills. She just felt that this venture might fail, so she hurriedly played her trump card.

"The cooperation is very simple. My father wants to give you a shop to open a tea restaurant. We don't want any profits."

When she said this, even Lusen couldn't help but look sideways. What kind of cooperation method was this? Wasn't this a pie falling from the sky?

Ina looked at Eulanda with interest, "If you give me the shop to open a tea restaurant, what benefits will you get?"

Eulanda choked, "Er, the benefit is, you'll open a tea restaurant there!"

After some explanation, Ina understood what Eulanda's father meant. Eulanda's father's North Wind Trade Association had purchased an entire street of shops in the imperial city, planning to make it a high-end leisure area for the nobles, and this tea restaurant was one of the shops that had been confirmed.

But after tasting Ina's bubble tea, Eulanda's father believed his tea snacks were far inferior to Dragon Flame Restaurant, and he believed this kind of bubble tea had huge potential. If a bubble tea-selling tea restaurant was opened on his commercial street, the noble ladies would definitely come in droves, driving sales in the surrounding area.

Moreover, he heard from Eulanda that the restaurant's owner was a mysterious and powerful mage. He knew such big figures didn't like complicated profit-sharing conditions and strict contract terms. Considering his trade association was large, they could afford to lose one shop. He simply gave up all profits and offered the shop directly to Ina. He had high hopes for this tea restaurant, hoping it would attract the nobles of the entire empire!

Indeed, it was like a pie falling from the sky, but would Ina take it?

Seeing a slight change in Ina's expression, Eulanda added fuel to the fire, "The shop's location is excellent, right next to the nobles' district, and all the decorations and furniture have been prepared."

"Can I go and take a look now?"

Eulanda immediately nodded, "Of course! I'll call for a carriage."

"No need," Ina stopped Eulanda, "I can take you on a motorcycle, it's faster." She said while tying her long hair into a high ponytail.

What was a motorcycle? Eulanda was completely confused.

Ina changed out of her long skirt, found a set of motorcycle gear, and walked out of the restaurant with a dazed Eulanda, waving her hand to summon her vehicle, the Laser Motorcycle.

Eulanda's eyes widened as she involuntarily circled the colossal machine. She had never seen such an exquisite magical mechanism! The streamlined body, the color-shifting paint under the sun, and materials that Eulanda couldn't recognize.

Ina straddled the motorcycle with her long legs, and patted the back seat, "Miss Eulanda, come and sit, we're about to leave."

Eulanda walked over in a daze. This kind of magical machinery was to be controlled like riding a horse? She cautiously sat behind Ina, her hands fluttering with nowhere to rest.

"Hold my waist, and remember to guide me."

"Ok, ok!" Eulanda subconsciously complied, wrapping her arms around Ina's waist, "Go straight along this street first...wow!"

Her voice had just fallen when Ina started the engine. The paint of the heavy motorcycle under the sun presented a dazzling black, roaring out like an angry lion in its coolness.

In the roar of the engine, Ina comforted Eulanda, "Miss Eulanda, don't be afraid. It may sound a bit ferocious, but it's generally obedient."

Feeling the oncoming wind, Eulanda experienced an unprecedented thrill. Even if the wind was so strong that she could hardly open her eyes, she wanted to carefully watch the rapidly retreating scenery around her, enjoying this lightning-fast speed. Hearing Ina's words, Eulanda shouted, "I'm not! Ah! Not scared! I think! Oh! This is so cool!"

"Miss Ina! Turn left! Woo! Ah!"

Ina: This young lady seems to be a bit too excited, what should I do, waiting online, it's quite urgent.

When Ina arrived at the address of the tea restaurant with Eulanda, Eulanda reluctantly got off the motorcycle and started to tidy up her hair. Although Ina had told her to tie up her hair, it had come loose on the way, and now the ends were tangled together, making Eulanda look like a noble lady who had eloped with someone, been chased all the way, and now looked in a state of disarray.

Ina put away the laser motorcycle and changed back into her original attire. She looked gentle and quiet, showing no trace of the wild motorcycle ride just moments ago.

The servants left here saw Eulanda and immediately invited the steward over. Because Eulanda's father valued the construction of this commercial street very much, the steward was a very capable partner in Eulanda's father's business association, and Eulanda was his junior.

"Eulanda, how can you be so improper in front of a distinguished guest?" The steward looked at Eulanda's messy hair and fluttery step, unable to help to frown.

"Uncle David, if you had experienced what I just did, you wouldn't behave any more decorously than a monkey that just escaped from a circus," Eulanda retorted. She had just experienced a few minutes of thrilling and dramatic moments, and her eyes were now frighteningly bright.

David sighed, no longer dealing with his niece whose emotions were obviously off. He bowed to Ina, "Good day, Mage Ina, are you here to inspect this tea restaurant?"

Ina nodded, "I'm a bit interested in this collaboration."

David led Ina into the tea restaurant in front of them. The place had been tidied up neatly, with a predominantly white, beige, and light gray color scheme, looking soft and non-irritating to the eyes. The two-story tea restaurant had a patio in the middle. Ina looked up to the light source of the whole restaurant on the patio, where a group of white birds was swirling and chasing a huge pearl in the center. Each bird emitted a luminous glow, and the central pearl was even more dazzling.

"Mr. David, what is the energy source of this light?" Ina casually asked.

"It's a magic crystal." The positioning of this tea restaurant was aimed at the nobility, and this specially customized magical lamp powered by magic crystals was an extreme luxury. Just lighting the lamp each day would burn a magic crystal worth one gold coin.

Once this tea restaurant became hers, the first thing she would do was replace this money-burning lamp, Ina thought as she walked.

Ina went around the tea restaurant and was very satisfied with every part. She turned to look at David, "Your company is so generous, aren't you afraid that I might not be able to attract the anticipated customers after taking over the tea restaurant, causing a loss to the company?"

David didn't seem to mind, "Your restaurant quickly expanded its fame in a short period of time and gained unanimous approval from the students and faculty of the Star Academy. The company greatly admires your ability. Besides, it's not a bad thing to have the chance to get to know a mage like you."

"I didn't even know about this, but you guys got the news first." Eulanda, who had been watching, couldn't help but intervene.

"Eulanda, you need to step out of the laboratory to see the world," David glanced at her. He had heard about his niece's obsession with magic machinery research and her tendency to not even step out of the laboratory.

In the end, Ina signed an agreement with the North Wind Merchant Company, Eulanda's father's company. The contents of the agreement were quite simple. The shop at this location would be transferred to Ina for free, on the condition that the owner couldn't be changed for ten years, and the user must remain as a tea restaurant.

Once again riding her laser motorcycle back to the Star Academy, Eulanda, with her cheeks flushed, knocked on her tutor's door.

"You want to give up on the development of the mechanical wind wolf?"

"Yes," Eulanda stated logically, "I don't think there's any significance to developing a mechanical wind wolf. With the same price, the cost of making one mechanical wind wolf plus its daily maintenance cost can hire a mage of equivalent strength to work for ten years."

When she mentioned this, her tutor couldn't help but sigh. The popularity of magical machinery was declining, not only because of the high cost of energy and materials but also because of the expansion of the Star Academy's enrollment. They allowed orphans to waive their tuition fees, and after civilians graduated and paid back a portion of their tuition, the number of low-level mages greatly increased. More and more nobles and merchants were willing to hire a civilian mage instead of buying expensive magical machinery.

"So, are you going to give up on magical machinery and go home to take over the family business?" Eulanda's tutor looked at her with regret.

"Not at all, professor," Eulanda said seriously. "I want to study another type of excellent magical machinery."

"What is it?"

"A motorcycle."