Then lingered on the fox.
Unfamiliar.
Potential risk.
The striped-tailed beast immediately puffed himself up.
"My Lady is here to trade."
"She has the means."
The guard's eyes narrowed slightly.
"That is not sufficient."
He gestured toward a circular stone basin set into the wall beside the entrance.
"Deposit proof."
The fox followed his gesture.
The basin was shallow, its surface engraved with faint runic markings.
A screening array.
Likely designed to test wealth or verify storage capacity.
Interesting.
The striped-tailed beast leaned closer and whispered.
"It checks whether guests can afford entry."
"Usually twenty mid-grade spirit stones minimum."
The fox looked at the basin again.
Then slowly at the guards.
"…A deposit?"
Her tone was flat.
Dangerously calm.
"What is it with this place?"
"Do all of you make your money through robbery disguised as refinement?"
The striped-tailed beast immediately found the tunnel wall extremely interesting.
Neither guard reacted.
Their expressions remained professional and unreadable.
The fox exhaled softly through her nose.
Of course.
Another fee.
Another "requirement."
She let her divine sense brush her storage pouch.
A pulse of spiritual light flickered.
A single high-quality spirit stone floated out.
Its facets reflected the blue lantern light with crystalline clarity.
Dense.
Pure.
The moment it appeared, both guards' attention sharpened.
Not greed.
Recognition.
The striped-tailed beast nearly swallowed his breath.
The fox noticed his reaction.
A faint, knowing smile touched her lips.
She tilted her head slightly.
"…Hm."
"It seems I brought out the wrong one."
She allowed the stone to hover for another moment.
Just long enough.
Then returned it to her pouch.
Her gaze drifted back to the basin.
"You said twenty?"
Without further delay, she released another pulse of spiritual energy.
Twenty standard-grade spirit stones rose into the air.
They dropped one by one into the basin.
Clink.
Clink.
Clink.
Clear crystalline sounds echoed through the tunnel.
The runes beneath flared to life.
Blue light swept across the surface—reading, verifying, accepting.
A low hum resonated through the stone walls.
Then the inner doors shifted.
Slowly opening.
The lead guard stepped back immediately.
His tone changed.
Smoother.
Respectful.
"Honored guest."
A slight bow.
"Please, proceed."
The fox stepped forward.
But paused briefly.
Her gaze flicked once more to the basin.
Her tail swayed once.
"…I will be expecting those back."
Not a joke.
A statement.
The striped-tailed beast gave a weak, uncertain chuckle.
The guards said nothing.
They simply stepped aside.
Beyond them, the tunnel opened like the throat of the mountain itself.
Dark.
Deep.
Cold.
Rich with pressure.
And possibility.
The fox walked in without hesitation.
Her steps silent against the stone.
Beside her, Little White floated calmly, still wrapped around his wine jar, golden eyes steady.
Behind them, the striped-tailed beast hurried to keep pace.
Ahead, the mountain's hidden heart waited.
The real trade was finally within reach.
The tunnel swallowed sound.
Footsteps faded.
Even the faint movement of air felt muted beneath the weight of stone and spiritual pressure.
Blue lanterns lined the passage at steady intervals, casting everything in cold, even light.
The path curved deeper.
The fox moved with quiet control—ears alert, senses extended, still watchful despite her earlier irritation.
Then—
a soft clink.
The lizard had finished his jar.
It tipped in the air beside him, now empty.
Without hesitation, he flicked it aside.
"Wait—!"
The striped-tailed beast lunged forward, nearly stumbling.
He caught the falling jar just before it struck the stone floor.
He held it tightly, as if it were something precious.
The fox glanced sideways.
"…Really?"
The beast straightened awkwardly, still holding the empty jar.
"My Lady…"
He gave a nervous grin.
"These Moonroot jars are valuable in themselves."
"They're made from spirit clay. Useful for storage, resale… even brewing."
The fox stared at him for a moment.
Then released a quiet breath through her nose.
Of course.
Even empty containers had value here.
Everything had value here.
The Hollow was built on extracting worth from every possible thing.
The lizard, meanwhile, drifted closer to her again.
Still floating.
Still calm.
His golden eyes turned toward her.
*Wine.*
The fox's ear twitched.
She glanced at him.
"…Can you not wait?"
No response.
He simply hovered expectantly.
Silent.
The fox narrowed her eyes slightly.
Then sighed.
"…Greedy little thing."
She reached into her storage pouch.
A sealed jar floated out.
Before she could even speak, the lizard flicked his tail, pulling it into his grasp.
He coiled around it midair, unsealed it instantly, and resumed drinking without pause.
The fox just stared at him for a moment.
Then shook her head.
Hopeless.
The striped-tailed beast, now carefully storing the empty jar in his pouch, edged a little closer.
Lowering his voice.
"My Lady…"
A hesitant grin.
"Master White…"
He glanced at the floating lizard.
"…does he always drink like this?"
The fox didn't answer immediately.
She kept walking, steps light against the stone, eyes fixed forward as if the question barely deserved attention.
Beside her, the lizard floated calmly, already halfway through the fresh jar of wine, utterly unbothered by everything around him.
The fox's ear flicked once.
Then a quiet snort slipped out.
"Unfortunately."
Her tone was dry, flat.
The striped-tailed beast blinked, then gave a nervous laugh.
"I see…"
He clearly didn't.
But he was sensible enough not to press further.
For a short while, the tunnel fell into silence again.
Only the steady hum of the blue lanterns followed them deeper into the mountain.
Then the striped-tailed beast leaned slightly closer, lowering his voice.
"My Lady…"
A cautious pause.
"Since we're heading to the Deep Vault…"
"You should know something."
The fox glanced at him.
"Meaning?"
The beast swallowed.
"In the Hollow, strength matters everywhere."
"But in the Deep Vault…"
"wealth matters more."
He gestured ahead.
"Everyone inside has something."
"Something rare."
"Something valuable."
"Something they'd kill to protect if a deal goes wrong."
The fox's lips curved faintly.
"That sounds more honest than the pavilion."
The beast almost smiled.
"Maybe."
A pause.
"But there's more."
His voice dropped further.
"The Deep Vault has rules."
"No fighting inside."
"No theft."
"No coercion."