A Series of Unfortunate Events!

Morty looked at the many patrons who were buying off the pajamas on display so as if they were not going to do anything but sleep for the next couple of hundred years.

It wasn't just the fact that they were cool that was attracting the customers, the kitten knew.

It was the fact that Dobri had managed to get his fair share of the winnings even from that Free Stuff Hunter Fairy!

The kitten knew that with such an owner it was not going to have any hungry days soon. Or, it was better said, ever.

So, the kitten did its best to purr, letting itself be petted, and babbled at.

Humans, vampires, werewolves, and what-have-you all had one thing in common.

They were gullible when it came to cute things.

Morty was going to demand an entire fish for his contribution, of course. There was a fish stand just two stands away.

The kitten knew its worth.

****

Dobri looked at the bartered goods, nodded in approval when he saw that he had managed to earn 150 gold coins, and then began the small ride to the Cold Palace.

He still wanted to see the former empress. To supply her with the silk gotten from his own silk spiders.

To see her smile.

The Cold Palace was just as loud as it had been the previous time. The long-forgotten concubines were going around in shorts and sweatshirts, no longer feeling the need to be pretty, and drinking their lives away.

Dobri didn't understand them. He would have tried to get a divorce, if he were in their shoes. But they crowded around him once more.

This time, no one tried to take from the silk. It was when the former Empress in her flowing Hanfu glided from the palace's doors, that the ladies began to pick their silks.

"You know, Sir Gnome," the Empress said, who was no empress, but everyone treated her as such. "You can start giving us hanfus instead of the silk directly? Do you have a tailor in your employee?"

Dobri blinked. He had no idea if Matthew could sew anything but robes.

The man had never tried to sell him t-shirts, much less hanfus.

"Sorry," the small merchant said. "But I don't want to ruin your silks. Don't you have a seamstress?"

The Former Empress shook her head.

"We are forced to sew our clothing ourselves. You must understand that not just silk is needed for a good hanfu. One must also have high-quality thread. And that is something we lack, unfortunately."

The gnome's heart softened. The Baron had not wanted to see him. He knew that the man was probably treating the lovely ladies in the Cold Palace with the same coldness.

"I will see what I can do for you all," Dobri said. "Can you please tell me your measurements?"

Dobri was ready to make Matthew sew the hanfus in exchange for the books from the library, if he had to.

The former Empress nodded, took the yellow silk once more, and then made a sign for the other ladies to take their silk bushels.

Dobri left the cold palace with a box of sweet treats and 100 golden coins richer.

A business plan was already in his mind.

****

The sun was rising; the old librarian was walking to the library with a bored expression on her face.

She didn't know why the library was located in the Black Market and not in Mirstone.

The wizards who came by to get her books rarely returned on time. Always getting sidetracked by the many wares of the Black Market.

She was a veteran of a thousand and one made library cards. Lara had thought she had seen it all.

Only to see a gnome with a pony waiting before her library. There were three trolls sitting by a bench.

She could not explain this to herself.

"Hello, kind lady!" The gnome said, as he took out a list. "I would like to register in this library and take out these books!"

Lara knew a scam when she saw one. The books on the list were about rune crafting.

The gnome had the markings of a normal merchant.

But there was something kind about the pony, which had a kitten on its saddle, that just made her heart soften.

She nodded at the bench with the three trolls.

"Are those with you?" She asked as she reached out to run her fingers through the pony's soft mane. It was well-taken care of.

Lara already liked the gnome!

"Yes. Let me just bring Dan and Morty to them!" Dobri took Dan's reins and then slowly led him to the trolls.

Lara approved that the gnome had not rushed the pony.

Soon, she was taking books off the shelves. For the 5 gold coins library card, she knew that she could only give out 20 books at a time.

But she really approved when the gnome sat on a chair and waited, his eyes darting all around him.

"Here you go," the lady told him as she packed his books in a bag.

"Kind lady, do you have books on runes that would sew hanfus?"

Lara blinked. Were all these books for the gnome? A gnome who was thinking about his future was a rare thing indeed!

"Yes, I have some." She went to the Home Crafts section of the library. The rune in there had the rank of F. She was sure that the gnome, who was apparently already quite the runesmith, could power up a rune like that.

"There are other books in here as well!" The lady told him, as she opened the book to show off her favorite runes. "There is a washing rune. There are some beginning mana exercises. Not to mention that this book comes with a 1-hour rune crafting tutorial!"

Dobri's brain began to work overtime. Why buy from Matthew when he could start doing his runes? His little greedy heart began to beat like a caged bird.

Already imagining that he could get a whole chicken each week! Instead of having to eat lawn clippings when the going got tough.

"Thank you, my lady!" The gnome stood up from his chair and bowed his head low.

Lara smiled.

Finally, someone who was taking their education seriously!