Keep a Low Profile

Tasks like these, such as separating the black shells from the white ones, are usually handled by the laborers.

There’s a President Succession Ceremony coming up. All our Herb Division laborers have been reassigned, so I’m afraid you’ll have to do the sorting yourselves.

Grace could only nod. “Alright, I guess.”

Remember, the furnace starts this evening. Make sure you hand the white shells to the Department Head ahead of time.

Grace considered it; if she, Bobby, and Rina Chu all worked together, they should finish by this afternoon. She nodded in agreement.

The three of them spent most of the day sorting out two large baskets of black and white shells.

Just as they were about to finish, someone outside suddenly shouted, “Fire! Fire! Everyone, come quickly!”

Smoke drifted in from outside, thick and heavy.

Startled, all three rushed out.

Turns out a small side room next door was on fire.

Everyone scrambled to put out the fire, and luckily, there wasn’t any real damage.

The three of them went back to continue sorting their black and white shells.

But when they returned, the three were stunned.

All the black and white shells they’d spent most of the day sorting were mixed together again!

The black and white shells were all jumbled up again!

“What the heck! Who did this?” Bobby shouted.

“I really wanna punch someone right now!” Rina Chu said, clenching her fists.

Grace frowned.

It was obviously done on purpose.

With less than an hour before the pill furnace started, there was no time to re-sort everything.

Grace immediately went to find Mason Fu and explained what happened, asking if he could get more people to help with the sorting.

“Oh, come on!” Mason Fu raised his eyebrows. “The Herb Division manages all the medicinal materials for the Eastern Alliance—everyone’s busy! If I ask them to help you, who’s going to do their own work?”

“But this is an emergency!”

“Not my problem! I don’t have any authority anyway!” Mason Fu said. “I’ve already handed the work over to you—whatever happens, you handle it yourself!”

With that, he walked away.

Watching his back, Grace suddenly realized that Mason Fu was probably the one making things difficult for her.

Maybe he was jealous because Ms. Rachel Zhang was so nice to her, making her an assistant right away.

“Grace, what do we do?” Rina Chu frowned. “Should I go round up a few people to help?”

Grace shook her head. “We’re new here—we’ve got to keep a low profile.”

Rina Chu: “Okay!”

Grace pulled out a pile of Mystic Spirit Jade from her storage and slammed it down in front of them.

Both Bobby and Rina Chu stared at her, wide-eyed. “What are you doing?”

Go to a crowded spot and shout. Say anyone who helps gets...one tael...two taels...half a pound! Each person gets half a pound of Mystic Spirit Jade! Limit twenty people.

What? You’re not joking, are you?' Bobby looked pained. 'Mystic Spirit Jade! Half a pound!'

Did you forget? We’ve got our own mine!' Grace smiled calmly.

Bobby and Rina Chu exchanged glances, stuffed the jade into a sack, and left.

At the door, Rina Chu turned back and asked, “Is this really keeping a low profile?”

Not too bad, right?

Alright then…

They went to a small plaza, where many laborers were resting.

I don’t think this is a good idea,' Bobby said, frowning.

Why not?

It’s too tacky!' Bobby said. 'They’ll look down on us. Besides, the Eastern Alliance isn’t short on money!'