NOVEL WEB Chapter 225: Pasta Princess
Shadow.Q: "Are you certain about this one? If you are, I'll go ahead and lock it in for you, and then we can discuss the details."
Zoey: "Yes, I'm certain. Are you sure you can't detect any other skills it might have?"
As Shadow.Q messaged the bureau to lock in the Koala Green Wine for Zoey, she explained, "No matter how powerful an inspection skill is, it can't detect all abilities because not all skills are displayed on the skill panel, so they're outside the scope of detection."
Zoey asked, "Then, have you detected Nivalis's innate skills?"
Shadow.Q thought about her recently repaired earring. "… No."
With that, Shadow.Q had successfully locked in Zoey's choice of beast. Now came the more challenging part of the negotiation.
Shadow.Q straightened up, her expression serious. "We can help you contract with the koala, but we need you to add an additional 100 sessions of Hope's Hymn."
Zoey: "The koala is only level 11, with an A-rank talent, and when Black Jade was taken, you all had some responsibility."
Shadow.Q: "You mean the responsibility of helping you avoid a disaster?"
Zoey: "While the outcome worked in my favor, it doesn't erase the fact that you failed in your duties."
The two went back and forth, and Meow.Q and Asher didn't even dare to breathe too loudly, worried they might become scapegoats for the tense atmosphere.
Eventually, they reached a compromise. Zoey agreed to add 65 sessions, bringing the total up to 365, covering an entire year.
Shadow.Q: "Why not 388? Such a lucky number."
Zoey: "318 is luckier."
Shadow.Q: "Alright, we'll go with your suggestion. An entire year it is. But I have one last question: since we're filling up a full year, why not go for a leap year? 366 days."
Zoey: "…"
Through gritted teeth, Zoey asked, "65 sessions! Are you signing or not? If not, I'm leaving!"
Seeing that pushing further might make Zoey walk away, Shadow.Q reluctantly conceded, "Alright, alright, 365 it is. We're all friends here; no need to quibble over a day or two."
Zoey: "…"
Nearby, Meow.Q looked at Shadow.Q, hesitated, then finally asked in a serious tone, "Are there many people who know I'm your actual sister?"
Shadow.Q smiled lovingly. "Everyone knows. Now hurry up and level up."
Meow.Q: "…"
Asher thought to himself: Good thing I kept quiet today. Otherwise, I'd probably be dead from frustration.
…
While Shadow.Q and Zoey were negotiating, Rita was busy learning cooking fundamentals with her grandmother, who everyone called Pasta Princess… or "PP" for short.
After learning that Rita wanted to improve her cooking skills, Eleanor had her prepare a dish to showcase her abilities. Not wanting her dish to score too high, Rita selected a complex recipe from her repertoire, managing to keep the score at 76.
Eleanor tasted the squirrel fish Rita had prepared. She didn't scold her but instead assigned a large number of foundational tasks for her to practice.
One-third of the tasks were focused on cutting techniques, another third on seasoning and temperature control. Eleanor assigned these tasks as homework for Rita to practice on her own, but during her stay in B City, Rita would focus on learning one critical skill—how to select ingredients, spices, and seasonings.
Starting on the morning of the 18th, Rita followed Eleanor through the streets and alleys, exploring the local markets.
Accompanying them were Hannah, Harriet, and two others Rita hadn't met before, who were all responsible for Eleanor's safety.
Rita wasn't sure if Eleanor had bodyguards in her previous life. Many things were becoming different from her memories. For instance, Scarlett and Samuel never had a third child in the past, nor had they ever come to B City.
After all these years, Eleanor's nickname had remained the same. Everywhere they went, familiar elderly folks would greet her as "Pasta Princess." Closer acquaintances affectionately called her "PP."
"PP, out shopping?"
"PP, your granddaughter's visiting?"
"Pasta Princess, what's for dinner today?"
"Pasta Princess, are you selling today's dish? My son and daughter-in-law just sent me some game currency."
It was the same as when she was a child. Eleanor would hold her hand, and she'd hold Rick's, the three of them in a line. Scarlett would run ahead, snapping pictures of them with her phone.
Everyone they met greeted Eleanor in the same way. It seemed like nobody disliked Pasta Princess, as if everyone knew her. For a long time, Rita had even thought her grandmother's name was "PP" and that it was a family name.
According to Scarlett, young Rita once insisted on changing her name to "PP." Rita vehemently denies any memory of being that foolish as a child.
After finally exiting the alley and walking where no one else would recognize them, Nivalis turned to Eleanor and said, "So your name is Pasta Princess, PP! Your pancakes are the best!"
Rita: "… How old are you, and how old is my grandma? 'PP' is not for you to use casually!"
Nivalis: "Alright, then… Princess PP."
Rita clenched her fists at Nivalis. "Are you going through puberty or something?"
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Eleanor chuckled at the silly dragon, casually handing Nivalis a 100-rated pancake. "Here, take this. You can call me Grandma like Rita does."
Nivalis eagerly grabbed the pancake and flew up. "Thank you, Grandma!"
Rita sighed, recalling how cute Nivalis had been when they'd first met…
During breaks, Rita tried to inquire about blank skill crystals, as she hadn't forgotten she still needed to send a **[We're Not Familiar, but That's Okay]** skill crystal to her past self on the 15th.
Unfortunately, these crystals were heavily regulated.
Shadow.Q had none available, saying she'd already used her quota for the month. With recent restrictions on blank skill crystals, she had no way to help.
With no other choice, Rita turned to Hannah and the others.
That's when she learned that the strict regulation of blank crystals had started in B City. The rule had gradually been implemented nationwide, and some Special Affairs Bureau branches still didn't understand why it was necessary.
Not only did buying and selling blank crystals require registration, but Special Affairs Bureau players were also discouraged from selling their skills to others through skill crystals.
Hannah initially intended to make polite excuses, but after glancing at Eleanor and seeing Rita and Nivalis eating together, she decided to explain honestly. "There was an incident. A player here had a special skill that allowed him to cheat death. He enjoyed selling his skill to others, and people loved buying it. But one day, he realized that his skill had vanished…"