6 : Wild Pet and Blood contract

Great Magus Pet Store...

Kent stood before the entrance of the pet shop with a serene smile on his face. Since childhood, he had always wanted a pet of his own. 

In the past, he used to fly on Thea's pet to run errands for her. But since last year, she hadn't even allowed him to touch her pet. 

"Finally, today my dream will come true," Kent muttered as he stepped inside the store. 

Meanwhile, Stella has already left the store, deciding to play hard games to attract Kent. 

The pet store was a single large room without any private spaces. Magical screens, displaying various pets, were placed in a single line. The store was packed with people, and staff assistants were personally helping a few rich customers. 

Kent walked along the line, looking for an empty screen to select a pet. Through the glass door outside, Kent had seen an open field where several types of pets were stationed for sale. However, house eagles were in large numbers among the pets since they were cheap and didn't require special feeding.

But even after waiting for a long time, Kent couldn't find an empty screen. The staff readily occupied the screens to engage rich customers and no one cared about Kent's presence, since his ordinary outfit didn't attract anyone.

Meanwhile, Kent's gaze landed on three empty screens placed opposite the single row of screens. These three screens looked different, with decorative frames and larger displays.

After hesitating for a second, Kent approached the screens and began swiping his finger over one to take a look at the images of different types. His eyes widened as the pets displayed on this screen were entirely different from the others and more attractive.

With a smile, Kent began examining every type of pet. He used the zoom feature to read their description, while the prices mentioned about them were also in the range of 400 to 700 gold coins.

"Ria, I will help this customer. Go to the VIP screen. We have a big customer there," Sony, the senior staff member, instructed Ria, a newcomer to the pet store.

Ria nodded and left without questioning. She knew that Sony had purposefully pushed her away. 

"Hmmhh… what a cunning lady! If he was really a VIP customer, she would be licking his shoes by now," Ria muttered while approaching Kent, who was staring at the screen with his eyes wide open.

Ria's frustration grew after seeing Kent on the VIP screen. The manager had already warned them to keep normal customers away from VIP screens. "If the manager sees that brat now, I will be doomed," Ria thought, hurrying over to Kent with quick steps.

"Sir… Sir, sorry for the interruption. These screens are meant for VIP customers who can afford costly pets. I will help you choose more affordable ones. Please come with me," Ria said, masking her frustration from Kent.

"Sorry, I really didn't know that these were VIP screens. But, miss, please don't misjudge me. I can afford these pets. Could you help me choose a good pet? I promise you... I will definitely buy one," Kent spoke honestly, preparing to take out his golden piggy card.

"It's okay… even if you can't buy one, I won't mind. I'm also new to this job. Let me show my skill," Ria replied, thinking of using Kent to demonstrate her skill in helping customers choose pets. 

"Hello sir, What type of pet were you looking for?" Ria asked with a cheerful smile.

"I want a defensive-type pet... It should be attractive and I would prefer it to have special abilities. Most importantly, the pet must be unique. I'm ready to pay the full cost at once," Kent stated his conditions and crossed his arms to see how Ria would respond.

"Hahaha, good choice, sir. You really came to the right place. Let me give you a brief intro to our defensive and attractive pets," Ria said with a smile and moved onto the screen to explain.

"Sir, there are three different categories of pets available to VIP customers. The first is Epic-rank pets, which cost around 400–600 gold; the second is Legendary-rank pets, which cost 600–800 gold; and the final category is Wild Beasts."

"Wild beasts aren't readily available. The head department of the Green Magus Pet Store marks a few beats, and when one customer orders a wild beast, we catch it, and a master Magus will tame it within a day. Most importantly, wild beasts have the feature of forming a blood contract with their Master," Ria explained while moving her fingers on the screen, showing different types of pets available in each category.

Kent smiled with an understanding nod while taking a look at the screen. "Miss, what is the cost of a wild beast?" he asked curiously, intrigued by the more imposing description of the wild beasts than the ones shown on the screen.

"Sir, they cost around 1,000 gold. However, their prices vary depending on the type of pet you choose. Also, our store is offering a 30% discount card on your pet decoration at any location in this city," Ria said with a proud smile and moved her fingers onto the wild beasts' tab.

"Sir, let me show you some wild beasts and their features. You can decide after taking a look. Feel free to ask any questions. I'm here to assist you," Ria spoke in a humble tone as she moved onto the holographic magic platform connected to the screen.

The next moment, a 3D model of a large beast materialized before Kent's eyes. Like a professional assistant, Ria manipulated the image to her desire. "Sir, as you requested a defensive, unique, and attractive pet, our store has found three options for you."

"This is a Griffin; notice its lion face–it's ferocious at the time of defense. The second one is Wyvern; this pet almost resembles a dragon and has the capability to soar high into the skies. And at last, we have a Kirin." 

As Ria switched the image to a Kirin, a horse-shaped beast with a dragon's face appeared on the 3D platform.

The Kirin had a single horn akin to a unicorn, glowing with a bright red and white combination. Teenagers and children who came for fun had already started gathering around Kent and Ria after seeing the advanced 3D models.

A loud murmuring started as the crowd gazed at the Kirin. 

Meanwhile, Kent focused on reading the pet's description. He was really impressed with the special features mentioned about the Kirin and couldn't help but wonder how it could fly without wings.

"Ms. Ria, if this Kirin didn't have any wings, how does it fly?" Kent asked, confused. Some adults who had been watching the 3D models smirked after hearing his question.

"Sir, the Kirin is a unique beast. It can fly with the help of momentum, and being a magical creature by birth, these magic beasts can control their movement with free will. So, do you like this Kirin, sir?" Ria asked, maintaining her professional demeanor. She enjoyed how everyone was focusing on her as she explained the details to Kent.

"Yeah… I liked this one. What is its price?" Kent asked, smiling as his gaze focused on Kirin.

"You can't afford it even in your next life," a young man among the onlookers murmured, laughing along with his friends. 

Ria ignored those remarks and checked the Kirin's current sale price on the screen. "Sir, after discounts, this will cost you 1049 gold. Also, I finished my demonstration. Let's proceed with your order." Ria replied as her demeanor changed from humble assistant to serious professional, her tall physique and slender figure provided a captivating sight for the onlookers.

"Miss, I would like to buy this one. Please process the order," Kent spoke, handing Ria his golden piggy card.

"Wah…"