Puji the Slime went boing-boing-boing as it hopped through the dark corridors. Its pink, translucent body curled into a sphere in mid-air, looking like a little flying jelly.
In the past, Puji wouldn't have dared to bounce around so flamboyantly; it would only crawl slowly along the shadows of the hallways. When it saw high-ranking demons, it wouldn't even dare lift its head. Slimes were the lowest-ranked monsters in the Gloom Catacombs, even inferior to skeleton soldiers. Whenever heroes charged in, they were always sent to the front lines as cannon fodder, becoming nothing more than experience packs for heroes to level up on.
But today was different. Today—Puji had been summoned by the Demon King himself!
And this was already the second time!
You have to understand, many slimes go from birth to death without ever seeing the Demon King's royal countenance once, but Puji had seen it twice! It could brag about this to its little friends for a lifetime!
This Demon King was completely different from the previous ones. He didn't look at Puji with disdain, nor did he send Puji to the front lines as cannon fodder. Puji would always remember the last time the Demon King let it test the newly invented Magic Game Tablet. Puji played so seriously and offered so many suggestions. It thought the Demon King would surely be impatient, but to its surprise, the Demon King wasn't angry at all; he even praised it for doing a good job.
Puji was so happy that it spent the rest of the day spitting out golden bubbles!
What would the Demon King ask it to do this time?
Puji felt a bit nervous, but it quickly pulled itself together. Even... even if the Demon King asked it to fight a hero, it was willing! Because Puji wouldn't be going as cannon fodder; it would be sacrificing itself to protect the respected Demon King!
Finally, it reached the door of the Demon King's bedchamber. Puji tremblingly squeezed through a crack in the door and peeked inside.
The Demon King sat behind a stone table, focused intently on researching something. Lord Silas and Lady Serina stood behind him with grave expressions. Puji instinctively sensed they were in a bad mood. Something major must have happened outside.
Before Puji could make a sound, the Demon King discovered it.
"Puji? Come in." The Demon King pointed to the stone table.
The pink slime gave a "heave-ho" and hopped onto the table.
Lorne patted the slime's head (at least he guessed that was where the head was; being a blob of soft mud, it was hard to tell the front from the back) and couldn't help but let out a satisfied sigh.
The feel was simply amazing! Soft, bouncy, and super stress-relieving to squeeze! If he didn't feel like a pervert for constantly kneading a living slime, Lorne would have loved to rub it all day.
"Ahem, Puji," Lorne reluctantly let go of the pink slime. "I called you here today because I hope you can lend me a hand."
"Puji is willing to lay down its cheese for the Demon King!" the slime said in its squeaky voice.
It's "lay down its life," where did it learn that idiom... Lorne thought.
"I remember you slimes can spit out a type of mucus, right?"
Puji bounced twice, indicating "yes."
Mucus was the most common means of attack for a slime. Slimes were known as the scavengers of the dungeon because they weren't picky eaters; from ordinary bread to a hero's holy sword, a slime could digest anything without leaving a trace. They could convert the objects they swallowed into mucus stored in their bodies; this mucus was actually a part of them. When in danger, a slime would spit it out, coating the enemy's face.
Once the mucus dried, it became a transparent or translucent solid. Many monsters found this disgusting and thus forbade slimes from being near them. Puji often felt wronged; their mucus was clearly all-natural and biodegradable, and it definitely wouldn't pollute the dungeon. Why discriminate against them?
"Then please spit some mucus first. Not too much; I want to run an experiment," Lorne instructed.
This was no challenge for Puji. It held its breath, its color turning from pink to orange-red as it gathered primordial strength within its body, and then—
A fountain-like spray of mucus shot out. Lorne and Serina nimbly dodged to the side. The mucus flew past where he had been and coated Silas's face.
Silas: "..."
Lorne crawled up from under the stone table and surveyed the incubus, who was now covered in a suspicious transparent liquid.
Somehow... this scene looks very "not safe for work."
"Puji, I told you not to spit too much," Lorne scolded.
"Puji didn't! Puji can spit much more at full strength!" the pink slime said in its thin voice.
Lorne shook his head and scooped a handful of mucus off Silas. The wet, semi-solid substance dripped from his fingertips. He quickly used mana to hold the mucus and then used his mind to shape the mud-like glob...
Puji watched in amazement as the mucus was pressed by an invisible force into a thin, rectangular film. Then, the Demon King very carefully picked up a handkerchief, wiped the dust off a Magic Tablet, and applied the film to it.
"No bubbles, no dust. Perfect." He nodded with satisfaction. "My screen-protector application skills are as great as ever."
Although Puji didn't know what a thin film could do, the Demon King said he was satisfied, and nothing in the world made Puji happier than that!
Silas wiped the mucus from his eyes and asked, "Lord Demon King, this is...?"
"As you can see, a screen protector," Lorne said. "I've named it—the Anti-Magic Radiation Eye-Protection Special Film."
Silas froze for a long while and stuttered, "But, Lord Demon King, there is... there's no such thing as magic radiation in this world! That was fabricated by that hateful reporter and the forces behind him!"
"Of course there isn't," Lorne said leisurely. "But people believe there is, don't they? There's a saying: 'A rumor starts with one mouth, but those trying to debunk it run their legs off.' Proving the tablets don't have magic radiation would be very difficult, and people brainwashed by rumors are often hard to convince. Since debunking is useless, we can only fight fire with fire."
He rubbed Puji's head. "Puji, the slime clan is going to have to work hard next. Can you do it?"
Puji bounced vigorously. "Willing to lay down my cheese for the Demon King!"
"It's life... forget it." Lorne waved his hand. "Go gather the other slimes. Urgent production of these films starts now. We need at least five hundred in three days. We're going into the screen protector business!"
That morning, the editorial department of the Norelia Herald received a special guest.
He wore a long trench coat that reached his ankles, and a pair of large sunglasses covered half his face, while the other half was tightly wrapped in a scarf. This outfit was so "conservative" that the receptionist, an editor named Grace, couldn't tell for a moment if the person was male or female.
If he—let's call him "he" for now—walked down the street looking like this, he would surely scare many passersby. But as one of the top newspapers in the city, the Norelia Herald had seen all kinds of eccentrics. Thus, after her initial surprise, Grace naturally greeted the visitor.
"How should I address you?" she asked as she invited him to sit.
"Just call me Ghoulster," the visitor said in a muffled voice. "Madam, I would like to place an advertisement in your esteemed paper. Is that possible?"
"Certainly!" Grace beamed.
Placing an ad in the paper required payment, ranging from one silver coin to one gold coin depending on the size of the space. If one wanted to publish "exclusive news" on the front page—like that report on the dangers of magic radiation a few days ago—the fee was even more expensive. No newspaper would refuse an advertisement. Why turn away money that comes to your door?
Of course, the Norelia Herald had not published that magic radiation report. The author of that article had contacted every newspaper in Norelia except for the Herald. Grace felt this was likely because she was a staunch supporter of the Magic Tablets, calling them a great, epoch-making invention, and had even interviewed the supplier, Firehammer the Dwarf. If newspapers were divided into "Pro-Tablet" and "Anti-Tablet" factions, the Herald was undoubtedly the former.
Even if that author had come to her door, Grace wouldn't have taken his money. She highly doubted the Magic Tablets actually had radiation, but she didn't understand magic and couldn't produce decent evidence. She couldn't exactly barge into the Mage Tower and demand the wizards testify, could she? She wouldn't dare go there if she had ten lives!
Other newspapers laughed at her and the Herald because of her articles: "You call yourselves the 'Herald,' yet you have no foresight at all!" Grace was so angry her lungs nearly burst, but she had to swallow her pride.
But she digress. Personal grievances shouldn't affect her professional duties. She composed herself and asked with a smile, "What kind of ad would you like to place? Real estate? Second-hand furniture? A wedding announcement or an obituary? Sorry, that last one doesn't really count as an ad, but our paper handles those too."
"I want to advertise a product from my company. I've already written the copy." Ghoulster took a piece of paper from his coat pocket. "Please publish this advertisement exactly as it is. Money is no object."
So it was a sales pitch. Grace took the paper, scanned it quickly, and then her mouth dropped open, her chin nearly hitting the table.
"Anti-Magic Radiation Eye-Protection Film...?" she muttered in shock. "This is the first I've heard of it..."
"Of course, Madam, it is my own new invention," Ghoulster said. "I am an inventor—a magic scientist, to be precise. I am dedicated to studying magic through scientific means. Long ago, I discovered that magic produces radiation, so I built a set of equipment for myself to block it. A few days ago, while traveling to Norelia, I happened to see the reports in your newspapers. Only then did I realize that so many people are suffering from magic radiation..."
As Ghoust spoke, thick tears flowed from under his sunglasses—or at least Grace thought they were tears; they seemed more like a suspicious liquid.
"So, I modified my invention as quickly as possible and created the 'Anti-Magic Radiation Eye-Protection Film,'" Ghoulster continued. "By simply applying this film to the Magic Game Tablet, one can block the radiation and protect the user's health. From now on, no one needs to worry about radiation harming their bodies; they can play happily!"
"Is it really that miraculous?" Grace was amazed.
"Of course! True gold fears no fire. You are welcome to test it yourself. Once the film is applied, the magic radiation of the Magic Tablet drops to zero."
Naturally, Grace couldn't perform a test. She didn't even know how to measure it or what tools to use. But Ghoulster spoke with such absolute confidence, as if he weren't afraid of anyone verifying it. If he were a fraud, how would he dare say such things?
"That's wonderful then," Grace stood up and slapped the table. "I'll publish it immediately! On tomorrow's front page, if that's alright?"
"The front page!" Ghoulster shook slightly in his chair.
"For such a remarkable invention, even if you didn't pay a penny, I should write a special feature report!"
Once this ad was out, it would surely win a round for the Herald! Grace wanted to see who would dare mock her for lacking foresight then!
"Good, good... front page. That Lord will be very happy..." Ghoulster muttered. "Oh, can you also include the address of my shop in the paper? I hope readers who see the ad can come to buy the 'Anti-Magic Radiation Film' and start living healthy, happy lives as soon as possible."
"Certainly. What is your address?" Grace picked up her pen.
"221A Sunset Boulevard."
As she quickly wrote down the address, Grace froze. That place seemed so familiar, it was almost—
"Right next door to the Magic Game Experience Store?"
"Andy Mohawk! You're playing again!"
A hand snatched the Magic Tablet from Andy's grasp. Andy jumped up to try and get it back, but when he looked up, he saw his mother's rage-filled face.
Andy was a student at "Artichoke Hill Middle School," a public school in Norelia. About a month ago, while shopping on Sunset Boulevard, he accidentally discovered the Magic Game Experience Store. Brimming with curiosity, he was immediately drawn to the Magic Tablets and used the allowance he had saved for a long time to pre-order one.
As it turned out, his decisiveness was correct. Magic Tablets quickly swept across the city, and those who arrived late couldn't buy one even if they wanted to. When Andy walked through the school campus with his brand-new Magic Tablet, he instantly became the center of attention—the coolest kid in the whole school!
However, Andy's glory didn't last long. A few days ago, all the major newspapers in Norelia ran front-page headlines claiming that Magic Tablets had some kind of "magic radiation."
Suddenly, a panic set in. Andy went from being the star of the school to someone everyone avoided. Classmates who had flattered him just a few days ago just to play a round of Five-Color Stone Match-3 now refused to even look at him in the hallways. It was as if being near him would cause them to catch the radiation too.
But Andy's teacher said there was no such thing as magic radiation. However, that single sentence was clearly not enough to convince his mother.
Andy immediately cowered and gave a sheepish laugh. "Mom, I was just playing for a bit... I've finished all my homework! Didn't you say last week I could play once I was done?"
"It's different now!" Mrs. Mohawk stood with her hands on her hips, her already ruddy face turning purple with anger. "Haven't you read the papers? These Magic Tablets have magic radiation! It will burn your eyes, boil your brain, and eventually leave your body covered in sores!"
"Mom! That's way too exaggerated!" Andy shouted. "The papers didn't write it like that at all; don't just add your own spice! And the teachers at school said there's no such thing as magic radiation! It's all rumors!"
"If it's not real, why does every newspaper say so?" Mrs. Mohawk asked aggressively.
"Who knows," Andy grumbled. "Maybe they were paid."
"I think that teacher of yours is incompetent! I told your father we should send you to a private school no matter what, but he said public schools were fine because he graduated from one. And now?" Mrs. Mohawk snorted and grabbed Andy's arm. "We're leaving!"
"Where to?" Andy asked, tears of pain welling in his eyes.
"To return that Magic Tablet! I won't allow such a thing to endanger my child!"
Andy started shouting, "I'm not returning it! I bought it with my own allowance! What right do you have to return it!"
"Your allowance came from me! If I say return it, we return it!"
Andy knew there was no point in struggling further, so he followed his mother with a slumped face.
The mother and son arrived at Sunset Boulevard. Andy had sneaked here yesterday and found that the once-thriving Magic Game Experience Store was deserted and in a pathetic state. He had felt quite heartbroken for it.
He thought today would be the same, but to his surprise, as they turned onto the block, they saw a long, dragon-like queue. The scene reminded Andy of the day the Magic Tablets were first released. The street was packed with people.
"You see? So many people are here to return their items; my decision was clearly..." Mrs. Mohawk stopped mid-sentence.
She realized the long queue wasn't leading to the door of the Magic Game Experience Store, but rather to the shop next door. A colorful neon sign hung high over the door: "Ghoulster's Screen-Protector Shop."
A group of newsboys carrying papers skipped across the street.
"Extra! Extra! Read all about it in the latest Norelia Herald! Magic Inventor Mr. Ghoulster launches 'Anti-Magic Radiation Film'! I was shocked after reading it!"
"A shocker! A great innovation in the world of science! Come see the miraculous 'Anti-Magic Radiation Film'! The Herald! Two copper coins each, fair prices for all!"
Mrs. Mohawk wrung her hands uneasily, her gaze shifting between the long queue outside the film shop and the experience store next door. She waved to a newsboy. "Child, give me a copy of the Herald!"
Two newsboys ran toward her at the same time and collided. They glared at each other unpleasantly.
"Knight, she was waving at me! Don't steal my business!" "I got here first; first come, first served! You idiot, Deck!"
Andy sighed, pulled out two copper coins, handed them to the boy named Knight who was closer to him, and pulled a newspaper from his basket. He opened it, and the first thing that met his eyes was the extremely bold and striking headline on the front page:
THE WHOLE CITY IS IN AN UPROAR! HE CHANGED THE ERA WITH A SINGLE FILM!
Friend, have you heard of magic radiation? Do you fear it will harm the health of you and your loved ones?
Here's some good news! You no longer have to worry! Because the great magic scientist Mr. Ghoulster has come to Norelia with his 'Anti-Magic Radiation Eye-Protection Film,' developed over ten years of painstaking research!
"The current situation in Norelia pains me deeply. I didn't expect people to only realize the dangers of magic radiation now, and even less did I expect that the people here haven't mastered a way to resist this threat!" Mr. Ghoulster said with great distress during an interview with our reporter. "Fortunately, I have come here. Perhaps this is the divine will of the gods!"
Regarding the 'Anti-Magic Radiation Eye-Protection Film,' this learned gentleman told reporters with absolute confidence: "This film is my life's work. It is mixed and pressed from several all-natural extracts. It is completely non-hazardous, non-polluting, and biodegradable—of course, the formula is a secret." Mr. Ghoulster gave a playful wink. "Simply applying this film to a Magic Game Tablet effectively blocks radiation, preventing harm to the user, while also providing an eye-protection effect."
When asked about the film's effectiveness, Mr. Ghoulster laughed: "I can guarantee it blocks 100% of radiation! If you don't believe me, you are welcome to test it. If a Magic Game Tablet with my film applied still shows any magic radiation, I am willing to pay that brave tester one thousand gold coins!"
...
After reading the report, Mrs. Mohawk looked at the long queue with a mix of surprise and confusion, starting to question her reality. Andy pouted and turned the paper to the comics page, saying to his mother, "Mom, don't believe this. It's just reporters and editors making things up, or they were paid—Mom! What are you doing?!"
Mrs. Mohawk walked timidly toward a noblewoman leading a pet dog and asked carefully, "Good lady, are you all here to buy this... film thing?"
"Oh, of course!" The noblewoman looked Mrs. Mohawk over. "Once you put it on, you don't have to worry about magic radiation anymore, right? We can play with the Magic Tablets as much as we want from now on!"
Mrs. Mohawk read the newspaper carefully one more time, then turned and grabbed Andy's arm, heading toward the end of the queue.
"Mom, you're not actually going to buy it, are you?!" Andy was shocked. "I told you there's no such thing as magic radiation! Don't waste your money!"
"Shut up, you brat!" Mrs. Mohawk said with exasperation. "If I weren't afraid of you being affected by radiation, I wouldn't bother spending money on you!"
Andy blinked. "Oh, so that means you're letting me keep playing with the tablet? Ouch, take it easy!"
Just as they joined the line, a fashionable woman in a professional suit walked past them. She didn't join the queue but instead headed toward the Magic Game Experience Store.
A young man with silver hair dressed in black walked out of the shop. He stood with his hands tucked in his sleeves, looking at the woman with a smile.
"You must be the owner of the Magic Game Experience Store and the boss of 'Dungeon Entertainment,' Mr. Lorne Dungeon?" The woman pulled a pen and a pocket notebook from her bag. "I am Grace, a reporter and editor for the Herald. May I interview you? Just a few questions."
Andy stood on his tiptoes and craned his neck, trying to see everything clearly. He had been to the experience store a few times, but the boss was never there; he was always served by that beautiful clerk, Miss Serina. (At the thought of Serina, the hot-blooded teenager couldn't help but feel his heart race.)
"So he's Lorne Dungeon!" Andy whispered.
It wasn't the first time he had seen the silver-haired man, but he hadn't known his name back then. It was a day several months ago; he and his friends were heading home from school when they encountered a strangely dressed man. The strange man asked if they were interested in becoming heroes. Andy naturally refused and told the story to his classmates as a joke afterward.
Thinking back now, wasn't that weirdo Lorne Dungeon?! When he asked if they wanted to be heroes, was he doing market research for Hero's Legend? It must be! Everything had a logical explanation now! Andy didn't want to be a hero, but if you asked him if he liked Hero's Legend, the answer was a resounding yes!
Becoming a hero, gathering companions, banishing the darkness, and saving the world—what hot-blooded youth could resist such a temptation! As for the woman named Grace, Andy remembered her name too. He had even read her exclusive interview with Firehammer the Dwarf!
The great reporter Grace was interviewing Lorne Dungeon! His two idols were meeting! What a dream collaboration!
"I would be delighted to accept an interview, Miss Grace," Lorne said calmly.
Grace asked, "You are already aware of the 'Anti-Magic Radiation Film' invented by Mr. Ghoulster, correct? What are your thoughts on it?"
"I have the utmost respect for Mr. Ghoulster's wisdom," Lorne said. "I didn't expect someone to conquer the difficult problem of magic radiation; it truly leaves me in awe. Indeed, there is always someone better out there!" He let out an exaggerated sigh and looked up at the sky with a look of yearning.
Grace continued, "Mr. Ghoulster opened his specialized film shop right next to yours. Do you feel this is a demonstration of force or a declaration of war? Do you think its presence will affect your business?"
"Not at all. In fact, if Mr. Ghoulster had opened his shop on the other side of the city, I would be the one with a headache. Think about it: a customer buys my tablet and has to cross half of Norelia just to buy a film—isn't that a waste of time? Now, customers don't have to go out of their way; they just exit my door and turn right. Isn't that better?"
As Grace quickly jotted down Lorne's words, she asked, "What changes do you think the appearance of the 'Anti-Magic Radiation Film' will bring to your business?"
Lorne smiled brightly. "To be honest, I have already ordered films for the fifty Magic Tablet demo units in my shop so that customers can play with peace of mind. Furthermore, I plan to start a strategic partnership with Mr. Ghoulster to achieve a win-win result."
"Could you be more specific?" Grace's eyes lit up.
"For instance, in the future, all Magic Tablets will come with an 'Anti-Magic Radiation Film' pre-applied at the factory, saving customers the trouble of running back and forth."
"Wouldn't that increase your costs? Will the price of the Magic Tablets rise because of it?"
"We have no plans to raise the price at the moment. Dungeon Entertainment has always considered the interests of our customers as our top priority..."
The interview was held in the open, quickly attracting a crowd of onlookers. No matter how much Andy stood on his tiptoes, he could no longer see the two of them. He couldn't help but curse himself for not growing taller. As a shorty, he didn't even have the right to watch a spectacle!
He dejectedly lowered his heels and followed his mother as the queue moved forward. After waiting for nearly half an hour, they finally entered the shop.
They were greeted by a woman with blue hair. She reminded Andy of a fairy tale book about mermaids he had read as a child.
"Welcome, Madam, Sir. How can I be of service?" The blue-haired woman spoke with a strange accent, like a foreigner. The Herald said the inventor Ghoust was from out of town, so this blue-haired woman must be his compatriot! Andy provided his own explanation.
"I want to buy a film for my son's tablet," Mrs. Mohawk said nervously. She was always aggressive and domineering in front of Andy, but when it came to anything involving "magic," she became as cautious and apprehensive as any ordinary citizen of Norelia.
"One film is two and a half copper coins," the blue-haired woman said.
"That cheap?!" Mrs. Mohawk couldn't believe it.
"Mr. Ghoulster invented the 'Anti-Magic Radiation Film' with the aim of protecting people's health; making money is secondary." The blue-haired woman's tone was righteous.
What health? It's complete nonsense! Andy thought gloomily. He even suspected that the inventor Ghoulster and the people slandering the Magic Tablets in the papers were in cahoots—claiming the tablets had radiation on one hand while selling anti-radiation films on the other to make a killing!
But he couldn't change his mother's mind. Mrs. Mohawk obediently paid the money, and the blue-haired woman took a film from the counter and handed it to her.
"Clean the dust off the surface of the tablet first," the blue-haired woman said. "Then peel off the bottom layer, apply it, and then peel off the top layer. If you don't know how or are afraid of messing it up, we offer free application services. You just need to wait a moment. If you're in a hurry..."
"You apply it for me!" Mrs. Mohawk put the film back on the counter and withdrew her hand, wiping her palms on her skirt repeatedly, fearing she would leave a fingerprint on the precious film and cause it to fail.
The blue-haired woman called upstairs, "Luna! Come down here for a moment!"
With the sound of "thump-thump-thump" footsteps, a little girl about Andy's age rushed downstairs. her hair was messy and silver-gray, like a vigorous and lively little wolf.
"Apply the film for this guest," the blue-haired woman instructed.
The girl named Luna took a handkerchief and a bottle of cleaning fluid from behind her back like a magic trick and gave Andy a haughty look. "Where's your tablet?"
Under his mother's urging gaze, Andy took out his tablet. His mother, fearing radiation, had wrapped the tablet in a heavy cotton coat as if that could block the danger. Opening a cotton coat in front of Luna made Andy's face burn.
She must think I'm stupid, Andy thought. He didn't want Luna to look down on him.
Luna took the tablet and flipped it around. "Did you drop this?" she asked, pointing to the wear on the corners.
Andy's face turned slightly red. "I just accidentally dropped it once..."
"You child, how could you be so clumsy!" Mrs. Mohawk glared at him. "Such a valuable thing, what if it broke? Do you think Mom and Dad's money grows on trees?"
"...Mom, didn't you just want to return it?"
Mrs. Mohawk ignored him and turned to Luna. "This wear won't interfere with the film, will it?"
"It won't. But if you keep being this careless, the tablet will break eventually," Luna said. "Then you'll have to play games while staring at a cracked screen."
"What should I do then?" Andy's heart skipped a beat, half out of worry for his tablet and half out of joy that Luna was concerned for him.
"If you want to protect your Magic Tablet more, then I recommend—" Luna pulled back a cover on the counter, revealing a whole row of products. "—Magic Tablet Cases." She puffed out her chest proudly. "Another invention by Mr. Ghoulster! Made of all-natural materials, eco-friendly and tough, they can absorb impacts. Over here are the transparent and solid-colored ones, which are cheaper. And over here are the collaborations with famous art masters—a bit more expensive, but the drawings are all licensed by the authors! So, would you like to buy one to protect your precious tablet?"
When the moon reached its zenith, Ghoulster's Screen-Protector Shop finally closed for the day. After seeing off the last customer, the blue-haired woman closed the door, hung the "Closed" sign, drew the curtains tight, and began counting the day's earnings.
A tall, thin figure came downstairs unsteadily. He wore an ankle-length coat and sunglasses, with the other half of his face covered by a scarf.
"Miss Siren, is everyone gone?" he whispered.
"Only our own people are left. Heavens, Ghoulster, can you take off the sunglasses! It's night; you look really suspicious like that!"
"Sorry, sorry." Ghoulster hurriedly removed the sunglasses and scarf. Its bleached white skeleton was covered in a layer of translucent pink, jelly-like solid molded into the shape of muscles, which propped up the clothes. After Ghoulster took off the coat, this layer of translucent pink solid fell to the ground with a "splat" and aggregated into a slime.
"Puji saw! There were so many customers in the shop!" the slime said in its thin voice. "Sold so many films! Puji helped a lot! Puji is so happy!"
Luna and the two newsboys from the street were carrying brooms and cleaning the shop. Although they all looked like children, their strength was astonishing; they could lift tables and counters that even adults might struggle with using only one hand.
"It's not fair! Why do you get to work in the shop while we have to run around the streets?" the newsboy named Knight complained loudly. "I want to sit comfortably in the shop too!"
Luna shot him an "eye-dagger." "It's because you're so clumsy; you can't even apply a film properly! Do you know how many you've ruined! Puji even started crying, okay!"
Knight made a face at her. Luna, annoyed, gave him a sharp smack on the rear with her broom. Knight gave an "ouch," and a furry tail popped out from his trouser leg.
"Knight! Your tail!" his cousin Deck screamed.
"Luna! It's all your fault!"
The three children started chasing and playing in the shop. The blue-haired woman shouted "stop playing and work seriously" several times, but they turned a deaf ear. Ghoulster, afraid of being bumped into, could only huddle in a corner, pretending to be a human skeleton model.
The blue-haired woman sighed, turned, and knocked on the wall with her knuckle. "Lord Lorne!"
A teleportation gate glowing with a faint blue light appeared on the wall. A figure stepped out of the gate. He was slender, dressed in black as if wearing the night itself, with silver hair flowing over his shoulders like moonlight and a pair of crimson eyes glowing brightly in the dark.
The three children froze instantly, like three bizarre little statues.
"Good work, everyone," Lorne said with a smile. "How was the first day of the film shop's business?"
"Business was booming," Siren said as she reviewed the ledger. "You are truly brilliant; with one small trick, you've turned the tide. Not only have those rumors been neutralized, but we've also gained an extra source of income!"
Lorne waved his hand modestly. He wasn't brilliant; he just had experience living on Earth. Fight magic with magic, fight rumors with rumors.
"But this is not over yet." Lorne splashed cold water on the joyful monsters.
Ghoulster asked, "Why, Lord Lorne? We don't have to worry about 'magic radiation' anymore! No one could possibly detect any radiation anyway."
"I have a feeling that the mastermind behind this won't give up so easily," Lorne said.
Ghoulster and Siren exchanged fearful glances. "You mean they'll start another rumor?"
"I'm afraid it won't just be rumors, but something... more troublesome." Lorne's gaze swept across the rows of films and cases, finally landing on the monsters. "We must find out the identity of this mastermind."
Ghoulster scratched its cranium. "I heard from that lady at the newspaper that the mastermind sent press releases to many papers. If we start from there, we might be able to follow the trail back to him. Should I go and ask around at the newspapers?"
Siren stood up. "I can use my voice to charm those editors who took the press releases. They will surely tell me everything they know."
"Too risky." Lorne shook his head. He had Siren and Ghoulster act as his agents to manage the film shop's business, so they had to remain in the public eye. The behind-the-scenes work was best left to other monsters.
He rubbed his chin and turned his gaze to the pink slime. "Puji, since you slimes can change shape at will, can you spread yourselves into a thin film, just like the screen protectors?"
Puji thought hard with its little head for a while. "If it's a very small slime, maybe!"
Lorne nodded slightly. "That's good. I already have a few candidates for the mastermind's identity. They will surely study the Magic Tablets in depth to find a better strategy to deal with us, so I plan to..."