[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-idle-tycoon-system":3,"chapter-idle-tycoon-system-idle-tycoon-system-chapter-23":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Idle Tycoon System",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1828019,2431,"Chapter 23: Little Thief(2)","idle-tycoon-system-chapter-23",23,"\u003Cp>Noah considered it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The boy had a point.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A strange human following him back to his hiding place would look like a trap.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Okay.\" Noah nodded. \"Keep that loaf. It will help her.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Relief washed over Kip's face, his ears rising hesitantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Twitch-Twitch\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Really?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Really.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Noah nodded, giving the cat-boy the loaf of bread.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And if you need more, my shop is at—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before he could finish, Kip darted forward, his small arms wrapping around the loaf of bread.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he was gone, vanishing down the alley with the bread clutched to his chest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Noah watched him disappear, mouth twitching with mixed emotions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Life is tough whether you're on Earth or in a magical medieval world.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He continued toward his shop, the sword once again perched on his shoulder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One bread loaf wouldn't change the fate of two runaway slaves, but it might buy them a fighting chance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The bread should be enough to help with fever and illness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Esta's twin moons rose over the city walls.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sight was so beautiful that Noah found himself momentarily stunned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...Wow...what a beautiful view.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Noah reached his shop door, muscles screaming from Valeria's relentless training. The wooden practice sword felt heavier with each step.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside, he grabbed a fresh loaf from the shelf. The bread's familiar aroma filled his nostrils as he took a generous bite.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Warmth spread through his body. The dull ache in his muscles loosened, tension melting away like ice cream in summer heat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two birds, one stone. Food and healing in one package.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His momentary satisfaction soured as he calculated the cost of his package. Three golden coins.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Equivalent to three hundred dollars.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I just ate a three-hundred-dollar loaf of bread.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Noah's mouth twitched at the absurdity. In what universe was bread worth more than premium steak?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In this one, apparently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He consoled himself with a reasoning mind. The bread had accelerated his recovery, sparing him days of soreness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was an investment in his physical well-being.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Health is better than wealth... at least that's what people with health insurance say.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Satisfied and healed, Noah stepped through the portal back to Earth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His apartment materialised around him, quiet and unchanged. He checked his phone, checking the time difference.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Noah blinked at the screen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He'd spent roughly five hours in Esta—training with Valeria, chasing Kip through alleyways, walking back to his shop.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Five hours there. Two and a half here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A Two-to-one time ratio.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He collapsed onto his couch. For every ten minutes in the magical world, only five minutes passed on Earth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He closed his eyes—just a short nap.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He woke up clearer. Less fog, less strain in his limbs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He checked the time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only fifteen minutes. Not bad for a power nap.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or maybe the three-hundred-dollar bread finally kicked in?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Either way, he got up, washed his face, changed into something casual, and headed outside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The air was refreshing, with the sun overhead improving the weather.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I don't remember the last time I've headed out with such amazing weather\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wandered around his house.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had no plan, nor destination.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just walking for the first time in months or perhaps years without having to run an errand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He'd spent too long glued to a desk, buried in code, trying to make a startup work.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Across the street, an ice cream truck was parked by the curb.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He walked over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"One vanilla cone,\" he said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Sure thing,\" the vendor replied, already scooping.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Noah reached for his wallet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Snrk. Snrk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Something tugged at his pants.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A small girl stared up at him. Couldn't be older than five. She had round cheeks, wide eyes, and the kind of innocence that made the world feel less complicated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cuteness overload is a real thing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her fingers were still clinging to his jeans.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Uncle, can I have ice cream?\" she asked, her wide eyes blinking at him with absolute confidence that the universe would provide ice cream if asked politely enough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before he could answer, a woman rushed up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had a black cap pulled low and sunglasses on.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her straight black hair flowed, reaching her lower back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I'm so sorry, I was getting my wallet, and she just ran off.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Noah shook his head. \"It's fine.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked at the girl again, her expression a perfect blend of hope and expectation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What flavour would you like, little one?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Vanilla,\" she said without hesitation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He handed her the cone he'd just ordered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She clutched it like it might disappear, her tiny hands barely able to wrap around it properly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Thank you, uncle!\" She beamed, smiling at him with unfiltered joy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So cute!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I'll get another for myself. And one for you, too,\" he said to the mother.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oh, that's not necessary—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It's fine.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She hesitated, then gave a small nod.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They waited in line again. Noah glanced at the little girl, now licking her cone like it was her life's work.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What's your name?\" he asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Celine,\" she said, voice muffled through the ice cream.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The mother smiled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It means heavenly. It's from French.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Noah nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Very fitting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He passed her the cone when it was ready. She took it, thanking him once again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Noah gave Celine a small wave and walked off toward the park.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn't really need to buy the little girl and her mother ice cream.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Didn't need to say anything.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the little girl was cute.\u003C\u002Fp>",902,"2026-06-09T06:05:14.055Z",1,"novelbin.me","d44b8e3071a931250753e7eeb65589c8997aaef7df4b1373d967e6621b683762","idle-tycoon-system-chapter-24","idle-tycoon-system-chapter-22",438,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fidle-tycoon-system-cover.jpg"]