Divine Convenience Store

"An intermediary, huh? So, you're like a divine secretary or… customer service representative?" Lin Mo's lips twitched into a faint smile as he leaned casually against the counter, his curiosity piqued.

Yangyang's face squinted and tried to avert her gaze, her professionalism momentarily faltering. "I-I suppose you could describe it that way, though I prefer the term 'functionary.' My role is to ensure smooth communication and address concerns. Zhenren Lihua thought it prudent to send me here to meet you, Shopkeeper Lin."

"Me?" Lin Mo raised an eyebrow, his interest in this stand-in growing. "I wonder what's so special to send someone else in their stead just to meet me? By the way, I have a question first."

"G-go ahead." Yangyang almost stuttered but she did her best to recompose herself, her finger nudging the side of her glasses.

With a straightened back, she met his eyes.

"You said you're a mortal born in the Celestial Realm. That's a different place than the Realm of Nine Heavens, am I right?"

"... Yes and no." Yangyang paused for a moment, deliberating whether to give this kind of information to Lin Mo. But upon recalling Zhenren Lihua's reminder, she made her decision. "Celestial Realm is also known as the Third Heaven. Meanwhile, this location of the Divine Convenience Store is in the First Heaven, the lowest of the Nine Heavens also known as the Earthly Realm. It is where mortals and cultivators vying for immortality reside. It's vast and diverse, filled with sects, kingdoms, and mortal cities. "

Lin Mo knitted his brows as he processed her words. "So, the Realm of Nine Heavens isn't just a fancy name. There are actual tiers of heavens? The Celestial Realm is two heavens above where we are now. Does that mean that the sky is false?"

Yangyang shook her head, adjusting her glasses. "Wrong. Each Heaven simply represents a higher plane. At the end of the day, all Nine Heavens are part of the same realm. I suggest the Shopkeeper not ask about this further. It will only confuse you as it's something you'll naturally learn in the future."

Lin Mo smirked, sensing that Yangyang was carefully choosing her words.

"Alright, I'll drop it for now. But it's truly enlightening to know there's more to this world. You see, in my previous world, everyone thought we were alone in the boundless universe, or if there was a chance another planet held life, it would be lightyears away from us. It was impossible to meet with our current technology."

"That is also enlightening, Shopkeeper. Your previous world must've been different from here."

"You can say that. So, what brings you here in person? Surely, it's not just to chat about celestial geography."

Yangyang nodded, her expression shifting back to a professional demeanor.

"Correct. I've been sent to give you the report about the hotline calls I've received during the day and provide some answers to questions you may have about the Divine Convenience Store's operations; the system, or the challenges you're facing. Zhenren Lihua informed me to tell you they wouldn't be visiting until the store reached the next tier."

"Reports, huh?" Lin Mo rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Alright, let me hear about it. By the way, you can sit down here, Miss Functionary."

Yangyang hesitated for a moment before nodding politely and taking a seat on the stool near the counter.

She adjusted her flowing celestial robes, her posture as rigidly professional as ever.

"Thank you, Shopkeeper Lin," Taking a deep breath to calm her nerves, she began, "The report pertains to the hotline activity over the past day. There have been a total of 52 inquiries, complaints, and feedback submissions. The most common topics include product availability, pricing adjustments, and requests for specific items to be stocked."

Lin Mo raised an eyebrow, impressed. "52? That's a lot for just one day. What kind of complaints are we talking about?"

Yangyang adjusted her glasses, her tone turning slightly wry. "The most frequent complaint was about the pricing overhaul. Some customers felt it was unfair, especially those who had purchased items before the adjustments. We've dealt with them by offering partial refunds. Shopkeeper doesn't need to worry about them claiming it in the store. We have our means to send it directly to them. "

He recalled the Emissary of the Verdant Sky Pavilion and how she left the store in satisfaction when she entered with clashing eyebrows.

"I see. So, that's what happened with Miss Yu. Nothing What about feedback? Any good suggestions?"

"Yes, there were several notable suggestions," Yangyang replied, consulting a small, glowing scroll that materialized in her hand. "Some customers have requested more variety in consumables, particularly in meals and snacks. Others have asked for items tailored for specific professions, such as alchemists, blacksmiths, and talisman masters. This one will also be dealt with by the Divine Pantheon or specifically, the ones making the store's products. We just needed to send the request to them."

"Sounds great. Does that mean you don't really need my input? Or suggestions?"

"I am here specifically because of that, I want to consult you about it. Should we order them all to be done right away or…?"

Yangyang's voice trailed there as her expression became filled with uncertainty.

Lin Mo shook her head with a smile, "I understand now what you by consulting me. Miss Functionary, those suggestions should be filtered. Even if they're all useful suggestions, applying them shouldn't be done in one go."

Yangyang tilted her head slightly, her expression curious. "Filtered? Could you elaborate, Shopkeeper Lin?"

"Sure. Rolling out everything at once might overwhelm the store's operations and confuse the customers. Instead, prioritize the suggestions that align with current needs or trends. For example, meals and snacks seem to be a hot topic. We only have the 'instant' meals as of yet and a variety of snacks. Expanding that selection could attract more customers who are looking for convenience. As for items tailored to professions, we could introduce them gradually, starting with the most popular professions like alchemists. However, considering we're already selling Pills and Talismans, the store should focus more on creating the tools for those professions like a fire source, cauldron, special ink, and papers."

Yangyang nodded slowly, jotting down his words on the glowing scroll with a flick of her finger. "I see. I never thought of it that way. A phased approach would allow us to monitor customer response and adjust as needed. That's quite practical."

"Exactly. Plus, it keeps the store feeling fresh. Customers will always have something new to look forward to. It's basic marketing. Keep them coming back."

Yangyang looked genuinely impressed. "Your perspective is insightful, Shopkeeper. I'll include your recommendations in the report to Zhenren Lihua and the product development team."

"Glad I could help," Lin Mo replied with a casual smile, holding back his grin of superiority. "Now, I guess it's my turn to ask questions?"

"Yes. I'll answer you to the best of what I'm allowed to say," Yangyang nodded, preparing another device that looked like a tablet computer.

Although intrigued by the technology within it, Lin Mo let it go after taking another look at the modern feel of the store itself. He could tell it was inspired by similar products on Earth as well.