Chapter 105: StarNet Shopping Center

The snake moved in its basket, those silver eyes looking at him curiously.

"Don’t look at me like that," Neville muttered.

It slithered out and began exploring, moving across the surface. Neville grabbed it and patted it to stay put while he continued browsing the StarNet.

After a while, Neville pursed his lips in frustration and called out to Shelly.

[Finally! Research time!] Shelly materialized in his peripheral vision, bouncing with excitement. [I’ve been waiting for this! Let me pull up the care guides!]

"Start with Mexican Black Kingsnake variants. Interstellar species, specifically." Neville commanded.

[On it!]

Information flooded Neville’s vision; multiple holographic displays appeared before him. Each one had the habitat requirements, dietary needs, and temperature preferences of the little black snake. He skimmed through it all, making mental notes.

The interstellar variant was apparently similar to Earth’s version but with some crucial differences. They were more intelligent. Capable of surviving in various environments. Omnivorous rather than strictly carnivorous.

He opened the StarNet Shopping Center and started adding items to his cart. A proper terrarium. Heat lamps. Substrate material1. Water dishes. Various food options from the extensive pet supply section.

The orders were processed quickly. It was one of the benefits of living on a major planet. Within thirty minutes, delivery drones began arriving at his front door and dropping the packages.

Neville set up the terrarium according to the guides. He arranged the rocks and plants in what he hoped was an appealing place for the little black snake.

Then came the food test. He had ordered several types of cosmic beast meat, trying to figure out something that the little black beast might want to eat.

The first option was labeled "Level-5 Cosmic Beast Meat—Premium Quality." It came vacuum-sealed in silver packaging.

When Neville opened it, the meat inside looked vaguely chicken-like but with an odd blue tint.

It smelled... wrong. Not spoiled, but something was off.

He offered a piece to the snake, who took one sniff and dramatically pulled away from it.

[Yikes! What did you even buy, host?]

Neville frowned at the mess in front of him. "It said Level-5 premium quality. I thought that meant it was the best the interstellar era could offer."

[Oh, host.] Shelly’s tone carried a tinge of pity. [Level-1 is the highest grade. Level-5 is basically...—anyways, it was the kind of thing that you can only see in the table of the wealthiest people in the slums. Honestly, I don’t wanna know what’s in that box.]

Neville stared at the package in his hand. Then, there were the three other vacuum-sealed portions sitting on his desk.

Neville blinked. "That’s... that’s false advertising."

[Welcome to the StarNet Shopping Center!] Shelly said brightly, like a salesman giving a cold sales pitch. [Where all the five-star reviews are written by AI, the delivery bots are shady, and quality control doesn’t exist!]

"No way I’m feeding you this," Neville said as he pinched the bridge of his nose and decisively threw the meat into his recycling chute. "I wouldn’t eat it myself."

The little black snake watched this with what looked like approval, then resumed its exploration of the items that Neville had bought.

He took out the other items he had purchased to inspect each one. The bedding material was too coarse. The water dish was the wrong size. The decorative rocks somehow managed to look both ugly and crumbly.

Each item was a disappointment, not quite matching the descriptions or reviews.

[You know,] Shelly floated close to him after the fifth defective product fizzled out, [the System Mall does guarantee quality—at a slightly higher price, of course. But you get what you pay for!]

Neville sighed. "You mean, I should’ve just used the System Mall from the start?"

[Exactly! Learning experience, host! Look at you, growing wiser already.]

"Wiser and broke," Neville muttered.

[Well... yeah. You don’t have points, so you’ll need to dip into your savings. But hey—think of it as investing in your future failures!]

Neville groaned. "Shelly."

[Uh, ehehe...] Shelly sheepishly looked to the other side away from Neville.

"I’ll manage." Neville sighed, clearing away the disappointing purchases. "For now, let me observe this little guy and figure out what he actually wants and needs."

He picked up the little black snake carefully, cradling it in his palms. The little black snake coiled around his wrist, settling into a comfortable position with its head resting on his thumb. Those silver eyes looked at him with what seemed like contentment.

Neville studied it more closely now, taking his time.

"It wasn’t a complete snake, so what is it?" he muttered to himself as he petted the little black snake. "Not a yinglong1 either. Those have feet."

[Host? What are you mumbling about?]

"Chinese mythology. Trying to figure out what kind of creature this is." He paused, thinking. "Maybe it’s an enlightened snake? Something that’s evolving into a dragon?"

[Oh! Like in those cultivation novels! The ones where snakes train for thousands of years to become dragons!]

"Exactly like that. Except..." Neville looked at the very modern, very sci-fi room around him. "This is the interstellar era, not ancient China. Is it a very rare one that has probably become almost extinct? That’s probably why it didn’t appear in the StarNet. It just happened to have proto-dragon features? Sounds like some collector would keep."

That seemed the most logical explanation.

The little black snake rubbed against his fingers affectionately. Neville felt that protective instinct stir again. It might’ve been an absurd situation, but this little black snake chose to trust him and asked him to keep him.

[So,] Shelly’s voice took on a teasing tone, [What are you going to name your new friend? Can’t just keep calling it "the snake."]

Neville considered this. The little black snake watched him, seeming to await his decision.

"How about..." He paused, feeling slightly ridiculous. "How about Lucky? Since finding you was either very lucky or very unlucky, depending on how the next few days go."

The snake’s tail curled around his wrist more snugly, as if in agreement.

[Lucky it is! What a cute name! Very appropriate!]

a base material on which processing is conducted. This surface could be used to produce new film or layers of material such as deposited coatings.a winged dragon from Chinese mythology that is also featured in Japanese mythology