"What are you grinning about?" Bob finally couldn't take it anymore and punched Burtram as he walked by, still lost in his daze.
"Come on, it's obvious! Sophie must have given him some great advice—they were whispering for ages!" Bowen's guess hit close to the mark.
"Uh..." Burtram snapped out of his fantasy, annoyed. Maybe he should've stayed away longer.
"Sophie, what advice did you give Burtram?" Sly sidled up to her as she tried slipping back into her tent. He was genuinely curious—what could make Burtram so happy?
"You really wanna know?" Sophie smirked at his eager expression.
"Yeah!" Sly nodded rapidly, hopeful.
"Come closer." She crooked a finger, glancing around theatrically.
"Okay!" Sly leaned in eagerly.
"...It's a secret." Sophie whispered the two words right into his ear before bursting into laughter and darting into her tent.
"You little—!" Sly stood frozen, torn between amusement and frustration, his ear tingling from her breath. His heart pounded wildly—even back when they were together, she'd never affected him like this.
"Sly, what's on your mind?" Byron clapped him on the shoulder, finding him standing there dazed.
"Nothing!" Sly laughed awkwardly, then changed the subject. "Byron, what's in short supply in the Beastmen Kingdom these days? Anything with good market potential?"
"Hmm... Probably food and clothing. We're always short on those. Same as before—just sell the caravan's fabrics and ingredients here. Profits should be solid."
"Got it." Sly nodded, then suddenly chuckled.
"What's so funny?" Byron asked, puzzled.
"I was just thinking—when we reach the kingdom tomorrow, will Sophie surprise us again? She's already given us so many." Sly thought of her Phoenix Bag—what other treasures might it hold?
* * *
"Ahhh—!" Sophie stretched luxuriously outside her tent the next morning, letting out a contented, catlike sigh.
"Morning." Sly stifled a laugh at her unguarded moment.
"AHH!" She shrieked, scrambling back. "Look, a real man doesn't hold grudges against little girls! Last night was just a tiny joke—it's been a whole day! If you retaliate, I'll tell everyone how petty you are!"
"Uh..." Sly sweatdropped. He'd already forgotten about last night—clearly, Sophie was the petty one. "Relax, I forgot ages ago. Didn't realize you'd take it so seriously."
"O-oh! Hehe... Sly, big bro! Had breakfast yet? I've got something yummy for you!" She whipped out a plate of pastries from her Phoenix Bag, offering them with an ingratiating smile.
Of course, other passersby "coincidentally" spotted this and extorted their share. Just another desert morning.
* * *
The earth-yellow city walls loomed ahead, devoid of greenery—lively yet lacking vitality. Was this really a desert city? Where were the lush oases of legend?
Inside the gates, the streets teemed with beastmen of all kinds. Towering buildings lined the roads, easily housing four or five massive beastmen. Sophie's head swiveled wildly, trying to take in all the exotic sights—lionmen, tigerkin, wolfmen, pantherfolk, bear tribes, minotaurs... and even serpentfolk with human torsos and coiling snake tails!
Her neck craned at impossible angles until—
*CRACK.*
"Ack—!"
Just as Sly feared, she'd strained it.
The entire caravan burst into laughter—even Sally, still fending off Burtram, cracked a smile.
"She smiled!" Burtram gasped, utterly entranced.
"Stop laughing! Ow—!" Sophie tried to glare at Sly, only to tweak her neck again. Her lips trembled, eyes welling up.
Seeing her pitiful state, Sly's amusement faded. After shushing the others, he leapt onto her Moni beast to console her.
But none of his healing spells worked. Desperate, he turned to the others.
"Any of you know how to fix this?"
Kyle shook his head rapidly. Bob scratched his head cluelessly. Burtram remained lovestruck. Bowen just shrugged helplessly.
All eyes turned to Byron, who stroked his chin thoughtfully.
"I believe King Connelly knows how. He cured his own stiff neck once."
"Connelly?!" The name drew shocked exclamations.
"Well, go get him!" Sophie yelped, unable to turn her head.
"R-right!" Snapping out of their daze, the group exchanged knowing smirks.
* * *
Back at their usual inn, Sophie sat in stunned silence.
The "Connelly" who'd fixed her neck was none other than the Beastmen King—a lecherous, henpecked lionman!
She nearly laughed recalling how he'd shamelessly flirted with her post-treatment—right up until a tigress stormed in, yanked his ear, and dragged him off. Apparently, "tiger wives" were just as formidable in this world.
The next morning, Queen Ieta summoned Sophie to the palace as apology for the king's behavior.
Sophie barely recognized the elegant, gentle tigress before her as yesterday's ear-twisting fury.
"Sophie, welcome to our kingdom." Ieta took her hands warmly, studying the human girl with relief. *Good thing I intercepted Connelly before his wandering eye got ideas.*
She gestured to a maid bearing a tray of gleaming cat's eye gems. "A small token of apology."
"Thank you!" Sophie accepted graciously—Sly had warned her refusing gifts insulted beastmen culture.
But what to give in return? The queen lacked nothing... until Sophie noticed the palace's stark lack of greenery.
"I know!" She presented Ieta with a living green dress—woven from enchanted vines, its leaves soft yet durable, adjustable via the waist's trailing tendril.
Ieta clutched it tearfully. "I've never owned a plant-grown gown before!"
Sophie sweatdropped. *It's just a dress...*
After enduring the queen's effusive gratitude, Sophie finally escaped—only to find Sly's caravan doing roaring trade, their human goods as popular as ever.
Watching the bustling crowd, Sophie's eyes gleamed.
"If even the queen loved that dress..." A slow grin spread across her face, a thin line of drool glistening at the corner of her mouth.
**What business scheme is Sophie plotting now?**