Chapter 8: Ouyang Shanshan

"Ah! It's really a wolf!" The woman's face changed as she stepped back cautiously, her eyes fixed on the wolf cub.

But then she quickly realized it was just a little wolf pup. What was she so afraid of?

Relaxing, she patted her chest with a sigh of relief. "You're so naughty, little brother. You almost scared me to death!"

"Big sister, do I really look like I'd try to scare you?" Grayson asked with a helpless smile. This woman was far too comfortable acting familiar.

Taking out her phone to check the time, the woman said, "I've got to go now, but give me your number. I'll come by to see the little wolf again."

Grayson stared at her in surprise. This woman was truly unpredictable. One moment, she seemed scared out of her wits, and the next, she was completely at ease.

Noticing his confusion, she handed him a business card with a smile. "I know who you are, Grayson. Pretty impressive, huh? I was watching you during the tests a couple of days ago—from the second floor."

"What a coincidence meeting you here today." She extended her hand playfully. "Allow me to introduce myself properly—Ouyang Shanshan. I own Emperor Garden."

"So you're the boss lady?," Grayson said, standing up quickly to shake her hand. This was his superior's superior—someone he couldn't afford to offend.

"Don't call me 'boss lady.' Just 'boss' is fine. I built Emperor's Garden myself." Her expression darkened momentarily, as if recalling something unpleasant. Clearly, she had her own story.

Grayson smiled politely, choosing not to pry into her personal life. "So, Boss Ouyang, what brings you here? I can't believe someone as busy as you would come looking for a humble security guard like me."

Ouyang Shanshan's smile turned seductive. "I like how straightforward you are. Next month, I'll be heading to Tank City with some friends. It's a chaotic place, so I need a strong bodyguard."

"Oh? I see. Sure, but let's talk about the price," Grayson replied. He wasn't about to act like some love-struck fool just because she was a stunning beauty.

A flicker of appreciation appeared in her eyes. Far from underestimating him, she found him even more intriguing.

Ouyang Shanshan chuckled. "You're direct—I like that. Let's make this simple. We're going there for a big deal. You don't need to know the details, but you'll receive 1% of the transaction as payment."

She leaned in slightly, her voice lowering. "By the way, this deal is worth billions."

Grayson frowned. "I'm guessing it's also quite dangerous, isn't it?"

"Of course," she said casually. "We'll be dealing with some desperate people. But danger and opportunity often go hand in hand, don't you think?" She winked playfully.

Grayson's expression shifted, but after a moment, he nodded. "Alright, I'll do it. Call me at least two weeks before departure." He handed her his phone number.

He knew that even if he didn't, someone with her influence could easily get it. Asking him directly was a sign of respect.

"Pleasure doing business with you! See you soon," she said with a grin, leaving with a swish of her curvy figure.

Grayson shook his head, amazed at how a casual stroll had led to this. Still, the timing was good. He needed money, and the hefty payment would not only improve his life but also help his family back home.

But before all that, Grayson knew he had to get stronger. Without enough power, he wouldn't survive the dangers ahead.

The next day, he woke up around noon and attempted to fuse two pets. As expected, both attempts failed.

Yet the failure triggered a realization. He'd been stuck on the idea of capturing low-level wolves because his paladin level hadn't advanced. But weren't there higher-level wolves in the East Valley Logging Camp?

Feeling annoyed at his oversight, Grayson decided to test his theory the next day.

For now, he checked the time and got ready for work at Emperor's Garden.

Being his first official day, Grayson took the security team veteran's advice seriously. Before patrols began, he studied the duty roster and mapped out the patrol routes.

"How's it going, Grayson? Settling in?" a familiar voice asked.

Looking up, Grayson saw the middle-aged man from his test standing in the security room.

"It's fine. For someone who trains in martial arts, this is nothing," Grayson replied with a smile.

"True enough," the man said with a nod. "Listen, I came to warn you about something. Lately, there've been a lot of suspicious characters around Emperor's Garden. During the day, I can keep an eye on things, but at night, we'll need your help."

Grayson handed him a glass of water. "What's going on? Can you explain in more detail?"

Taking a sip, the man sighed. "It started three months ago. At first, it was just a few small-time thugs loitering around. We'd chase them off, and that was that.

"But things escalated. Now it feels like the entire place is being watched.

"What's worse, even when we reported it to the police, they brushed us off. No action, no investigation.

"We suspect Emperor's Garden has been caught up in something bigger—a mess we didn't ask for."