CHAPTER 258: BEING FOLLOWED

He quickly looked around the shop, trying to find out who was watching him.

But just as quickly as it came, the feeling suddenly vanished, leaving him puzzled.

Frowning slightly, he shook his head and dismissed it, thinking it might have been his imagination or a fleeting spiritual fluctuation.

He then turned his attention back to Jessa, pressing her once again for a private audience with their leader.

But by now, Jessa had lost all patience for the man’s persistent demands and subtle arrogance.

"If there’s nothing else, sir, please take this number. We’ll call you when your supplies are ready," she said sharply, her tone polite but firm.

Without waiting for his response, she handed him a small wooden token.

Then ended the conversation, making it clear he wouldn’t get another word.

Elena and Ethan quietly watched from a distance as the persistent man continued trying to convince Jessa to let him meet with the leader.

His tone remained respectful, but his eyes betrayed his determination.

Despite his efforts, Jessa held her ground, unwavering in upholding the shop’s rules—no special treatment for anyone, no matter how insistent they were.

Satisfied that Jessa could handle the situation, Elena shifted her focus and soon noticed two more unfamiliar men quietly moving through the crowd.

Both carried faint traces of spiritual energy.

These men were likely part of the same group, sent to investigate or perhaps to confirm suspicions.

But no matter how hard they tried, the most they could gather were surface-level observations.

The Golden Tablet Mark concealed everything beyond that, and Elena was confident it would hold.

Deciding not to waste any more time on them, she and Ethan made their way to meet with General Mason.

As they entered the secure unit, they found the general already seated, waiting for them with his usual calm authority.

What caught Elena’s attention were the new faces seated around the room, particularly the one beside Brother Elias.

Her eyes narrowed slightly as she noted the spiritual energy quietly radiating from each of them.

’Interesting!’They must be from the monastery.’

Seeing them enter, General Mason and General Kaiser immediately stood and gave a respectful salute before motioning for them to take their seats.

Their gazes then lingered briefly on Elena, with a hint of curiosity in their eyes.

It was sweltering outside, yet the masked woman wore layers of thick clothing.

The sight was puzzling, but they quickly dismissed the thought—after all, the Paradise Shop staff had their own peculiar ways, most of which were beyond their understanding.

"I apologize for the sudden summons," General Mason began, his tone both formal and sincere.

"But we’ve run out of options. We urgently need more supplies.....especially medicine for heat stroke."

There was a faint weariness in his voice, as if the relentless heat was wearing down both his men and his patience.

He went on to explain the situation around the evacuation center—many soldiers’ families had been severely affected by the extreme temperatures, and their condition was worsening.

Because of this, the military was requesting a favor: they wanted to purchase a large quantity of medicine to help ease the suffering.

Elena’s eyes narrowed slightly, a hint of respect flickering within them.

The military, it seemed, truly lived up to its duty of caring for its people.

Well, she felt they were the ones doing her a favor—after all, the jade and antiques they traded in exchange for goods were exactly what she needed to recharge the Golden Tablet.

"No problem. I’ll provide you with our newly developed medicine for heat-related illnesses."

The formula had been perfected only recently.

Aunt Liza had been working tirelessly over the past few days, blending carefully chosen herbs and well water.

And with Shantel’s assistance, the process had become swift and efficient.

Together, they had produced a potent remedy that not only countered heat stroke but also helped soothe heat blemishes, ensuring quick relief for those affected by the scorching weather.

However, the production capacity was limited.

They could only make a small quantity, and giving everything to the military was impossible.

Paradise Shop also had loyal customers who eagerly waited for their products.

"Besides that, we also need as many purification tablets as you can provide," General Mason added.

This time, Elena’s smile faded into a slight frown.

She had already sold them a considerable amount of purification tablets, and her sources for acquiring more were nearly exhausted.

Still, she decided to agree.

In her mind, once this extreme heat passed, a new phase would begin—ability user will start to awaken.

When that time came, water ability users could generate clean water, making purification tablets less essential.

"Alright," she said after a pause, "but I’m afraid we’ll soon be out of stock. Please use them wisely."

With that settled, negotiations shifted toward other supplies the military wanted to purchase.

Ethan naturally took the lead, speaking with calm authority, while Elena sat back and silently studied everyone at the table, just as the visiting abbots were openly doing.

The discussion paused when a soldier arrived carrying a tray of cold water.

The glasses were set before them, and each person took turns drinking, savoring every cool drop as though it were a rare luxury.

The heat in the room was steadily rising, beads of sweat forming along brows and necks, making the air heavy and uncomfortable.

"I assume the temperature is climbing again," General Mason remarked grimly.

A soldier saluted sharply before reporting, "Sir, some of the cooling devices are damaged," then stood at attention, awaiting orders.

"I see....don’t worry about it," General Mason said, waving it off. "We’re almost done here."

The negotiation concluded shortly after.

They agreed that the medicine and purification tablets would be sourced from Paradise Shop, but larger-scale needs—like bulk water supplies and non-perishable goods—would be discussed once the floodwaters had completely receded.

"Alright," Ethan said, rising from her seat.

"We’ll have the supplies ready tomorrow. Just prepare the jade and antiques for payment."

"Of course," General Mason assured, shaking Ethan’s hand firmly.

"We’ll have them prepared in the other unit. Thank you for your continued support."

"Hmph. If there’s nothing else, we’ll be on our way," Ethan said curtly.

The couple left the meeting room and made their way upstairs, seeking a quiet place where they could enter the space without prying eyes.

From the corner, Brother Elias watched them intently, his expression tense.

He longed to speak with them, to warn them of something important, but with the other abbots keeping a close watch, he dared not act openly.

As Elena and Ethan climbed the stairs, they both felt a presence trailing behind them.

An abbot, cloaked by a strange talisman that rendered him nearly invisible, was shadowing their movements.

Elena chuckled but chose not to confront him yet—instead, she silently observed, curious about his true intentions.