Chapter 21: The Saintess and the Witch

As evening fell, the number of customers began to pick up.

Most of the people who came to the shop were residents of the apartment complex. For instance, the old man standing at the counter choosing cigarettes was someone Chen Xuan had seen several times already. When a shop has been open for a long time, regulars naturally follow, even if it is a convenience store tucked away in a remote corner without a proper sign.

Chen Xuan had considered putting up a new sign and changing the shop’s name to something more niche—like "Real Estate Sales" or "Convenience Insurance"—to deter the average resident, thereby freeing up time to solicit special clients. However, having invested most of his first pot of gold into instant noodle trading, his lack of capital forced him to shelve the plan.

"Then again… if I really hung up a sign for secondhand real estate, it might confuse those new customers looking for trading abilities," Chen Xuan muttered to himself, eyeing the patrons wandering through the store. If they hesitated and turned away, the cost would outweigh the benefits.

"Young man, which building do you live in?" the old man asked, handing over his chosen pack of cigarettes.

"That’ll be 22. Building 6."

"I'll scan the code." The man skillfully pulled up his payment QR code. "You look quite young. Are you working here, or helping your family run the shop?"

"Just working. It’s close to where I live and pretty easy. Here are your cigarettes."

Chatting with customers was a piece of cake for Chen Xuan. While he was at it, he used the scanner to peek at the old man’s abilities. He had discovered that as long as he didn't initiate a trade himself, the other party wouldn't see the trade interface. Naturally, scanning this way only revealed up to four abilities; he couldn't see the full hand of someone with a vast array of them.

[Business] LV1, White.

*So he does have an ability,* Chen Xuan thought.

He had originally assumed everyone possessed abilities, with the only difference being the quantity. But after scanning the customers coming and going, he realized only about half had any, and most possessed only one or two. Abilities appeared more frequently in those aged 10 to 30, and were closely tied to their identities. For example, he had seen the ability [Encyclopedic Knowledge] twice, and both times the individuals looked like students.

In contrast, the elderly were far more likely to be "blank slates." Chen Xuan speculated that they probably had areas of expertise when they were young, but as time passed, these skills had gradually faded or been forgotten. In other words, abilities were not eternal; they could be honed through constant practice or wither away with the aging of the body and mind.

As for someone like himself, who started with four abilities, he was truly one of heaven’s favorites. It was just that this "talent" was something few could detect, and even if they did, it wasn't particularly useful.

"Sigh, young people really should go out and strive for more," the old man said. Seeing Chen Xuan’s reaction, a look of disappointment flashed across his face.

*If I say it’s my family’s shop, won’t your next question be whether I’m seeing anyone?*

"I’ve strived, but I couldn't adapt," Chen Xuan said with a smile.

"Hmm… well, are you seeing anyone?"

*Huh? Why are you skipping the formalities, old man?*

Just as Chen Xuan was unsure how to respond, another customer lifted the door curtain and entered. He glanced over instinctively and immediately realized this person was extraordinary.

In the crisp autumn weather, when everyone else was still wearing short sleeves and shorts, the newcomer was draped in a grey-black cloak that covered him completely. The cloak looked filthy, as if it had been rolled in the mud. Such an eccentric outfit immediately drew everyone's gaze. Even the old man forgot about asking if he was seeing anyone.

Facing the stares, the man seemed hesitant and took a small step back, but he quickly steeled himself and walked toward Chen Xuan.

"Are you the legendary Envoy?" He leaned forward over the counter, his fists trembling on the surface as if struggling to suppress his emotions. "I need your help!"

*Great.* As soon as that tone and phrasing hit, Chen Xuan knew this person wasn't from this world. The problem was that the view outside the shop was still the apartment complex! How on earth did he get in?

"What kind of foreign language is he speaking? Can you understand him?" The old man put away his cigarettes in disgust. "Maybe you should just call the police."

"Uh… it’s fine. He’s a friend of mine. He loves playing LARPs, and he gets a bit too into character." Chen Xuan looked at the man and held up a finger. "Shh… go sit over there. I’ll be with you in a moment."

The man opened his mouth as if to protest, but eventually complied.

"I’m seeing people online, got a few of them," Chen Xuan said, turning back to smile at the old man. "Come back again soon."

The old man huffed and walked out of the store. Once the last few customers had left, Chen Xuan quickly pulled down the metal shutter and closed the curtains. Only he and the stranger remained in the shop.

*Is this a new customer? Why do I feel like he knows me? Calling me 'Envoy' the moment he sees me.*

The title "Envoy" sounded quite familiar, as if someone else had called him that before...

"There’s no one else here, you can take off your hood," Chen Xuan said, pouring him a cup of coffee out of habit. "Tell me your situation. What kind of help do you need?"

"My name is Gilles de Rais," the man said, removing his hood to reveal an extremely haggard face. "I am a general under the Maid of Orleans."

Chen Xuan had no reaction to the name, but the mention of the "Maid" reminded him instantly—when he parted ways with Joan of Arc, that girl had once called him by that title as well.

"You’re one of Joan’s men?"

He walked to the counter and immediately checked the man's data.

"Of course… no one but Lady Joan is worthy of the title 'Maid'." The man kept his head down, his eyes burning with anger and regret. "Yet, despite her great service to France, despite winning back Orléans and Reims, she has been framed by treacherous villains and thrown into a dungeon! I have received reliable intelligence that she is to be sent to the stake early tomorrow morning!"

*What the hell?* Chen Xuan was shocked.

*Hasn't she already changed history? She wasn't supposed to be captured at Compiègne.*

"Let me ask you, how long has it been since the Battle of Compiègne?"

"Almost… three years."

*Three years…* In the original timeline, there was only a one-year gap between her capture and her execution. History had indeed changed. Why, then, could she still not escape the fate of the stake? Was this that ridiculous "inertia of history"?

"Tell me slowly, how was she framed?"

"It’s all the fault of a woman called Mad Judy!" At the mention of the name, Gilles de Rais jerked his head up, the murderous intent in his eyes visible. "She is clearly the witch who practices evil magic, yet somehow she has become the guest of honor for King Charles! His Majesty not only appointed her as his chief advisor but allowed her to interfere in military affairs—it makes no sense! Now everyone in the palace is blinded by this damned witch, hanging on her every word… Lady Joan could not stand by and watch, so she stood up to oppose her, only to be branded a heretic. It is absolutely laughable!"

*Who is Mad Judy? Does anyone actually have that name?* Chen Xuan searched for the keyword but found nothing. Because history had veered off course, had a new butterfly effect emerged?

But who could guarantee that Gilles de Rais was telling the truth? In the end, he was just a general who had spent years leading troops in the field; his knowledge of court affairs was based on hearsay, and its credibility remained questionable.

"Lady Joan must not die at the hands of such people… the Maid of Orléans should not die in such a ridiculous way!" Gilles de Rais growled lowly. "With my strength alone, it is impossible to break into the Chinon fortress where she is held… it is heavily guarded; not even a bird can fly in. I was on the verge of despair… when I suddenly remembered a story she told me, a story about meeting the light in the endless night, a story about God granting her great power!"

"You are the Envoy of the Lord; you must understand that Lady Joan could never collude with heretics! She is the most devout believer in the Lord! I beg you, let the light disperse the darkness once more!"

*So that’s how it is.*

Chen Xuan was lost in thought. He hadn't come here to trade for abilities; he had come to this shop to save his superior.

*But is this allowed?* Just because of a story Joan told, his plea could trigger a response from the shop? That didn't seem to fit the rules of business. Or perhaps… because Joan, as a customer, was considered a valuable resource to the shop, it had opened a back door for her?

If that were the case, why didn't Joan ask for help herself? With the shop's capabilities, Chen Xuan felt it would be perfectly normal for it to open a door directly into her dungeon.

"How did you find this place? Did you go to the city of Compiègne?"

"No, I am in Chinon, near the royal fortress." Gilles de Rais shook his head. "Lady Joan once told me your story. She said that as long as one held a devout heart, one could see the light of the Lord anywhere. So I took a chance and walked in circles through the alleys of the nearby town… I never expected to actually find such an incredible shop."

Chen Xuan walked to the window and lifted the curtain to peek outside. The sky was still at twilight, but the buildings along the street had all turned into low, grey-tiled brick houses, with withered vines crawling over the old walls—just like the weathered face of the man behind him.