My name is Yuba, and I am a skunk born naturally beautiful and uniquely fragrant.
I don't know why I smell good.
I don't know why I'm white.
And I have no idea why I'm so clever.
What I do know is that being adorable is both an asset and a weapon.
And I possess this kind of asset and weapon.
Because of this, humans are willing to let me live.
They know that a living me is far more valuable than a dead one.
I understand this perfectly.
So even though I've lost my freedom, I'm not panicking.
At least not until... I met that indescribable man.
Inside the eerily quiet weapon shop, Maude and Sunny stood one behind the other, staring at the limp white skunk lying on the counter.
Sunny sighed regretfully, "So it's not edible?"
"It's not a matter of whether it's edible or not. Eating it would just be a waste."
Maude pried apart the skunk's hind legs for a quick glance and mused, "It's male."
Sunny tilted her head, puzzled. "Does its gender matter?"
"Not really. I just considered whether it could be bred. But thinking about the hassle, it's better to just sell it."
Maude explained briefly, a thought suddenly crossing his mind.
"Sunny, do we still have the auction catalog?"
"Yes."
"Bring it over for me."
Sunny rummaged through a cabinet and quickly found the small booklet.
Maude took the booklet and flipped through it.
Last time, Sunny had breezed through it since she wasn't interested in exotic animals. At the time, Maude had only caught a quick glimpse of two short lines of description.
"Found it."
Maude soon located the entry introducing the white skunk.
There wasn't a picture, but the page was filled with detailed information about the animal.
Maude read it line by line, realizing that the white skunk was a hybrid species with physical and coloration traits distinct from ordinary skunks.
Sunny leaned in to read the entry as well.
The description explained that the skunk's unique glands emitted a pleasant fragrance, making it highly valuable for auction.
Creatures like this, capable of exuding delightful aromas, were often sought after by perfume companies.
Yet somehow, this particular white skunk had ended up in the hands of pirates, likely purchased on a whim by someone like Abby who fancied having a pet.
"Definitely not your average skunk."
Maude gazed at the white skunk on the counter as though appraising a pristine fine blade.
"Eating it would indeed be a shame."
Sunny, too, stared at the white skunk, seeing it as a bulging bag of money.
Feeling their scrutinizing gazes, the skunk, now resigned to its fate, lay motionless like a lump of mud.
"Sunny, treat its wounds first so it doesn't end up crippled. Also, do we have chains or something similar in the store?"
"Yes, I'll get them right away."
Realizing the skunk was essentially a mobile money pouch, Sunny sprang into action.
She went to the basement and returned with medical supplies and a thick chain.
After tending to the skunk's injuries, she bound its upper body tightly with the chain, as if wrapping it like a rice dumpling to ensure it couldn't escape.
By the time she was done, more than half an hour had passed.
Sunny, satisfied with her handiwork, nodded approvingly but raised an important question.
"Where should we keep 'Bailey'?"
In the short time spent tending to the skunk, Sunny had already come up with a fitting name.
Maude glanced around the empty weapon shop. "How about leaving it here in the shop?"
"No way."
Sunny shook her head, dismissing the idea.
Maude pondered for a moment before coming up with an idea.
"Let's hang it in the bathroom. What do you think?"
"The bathroom..."
Sunny thought about it seriously.
Considering Bailey's fragrant scent, she found the suggestion quite reasonable.
Though the idea of moving Bailey in and out of the bathroom during use seemed a bit troublesome, it was a small inconvenience compared to the air purification benefits.
"Alright, the bathroom it is."
She sealed the decision decisively.
On the counter, Bailey, forcibly christened with his new name, saw no bright future ahead.
Why are you doing this to me?If there's a hell, surely it must be here.
Three minutes later, Bailey was hung in the bathroom, serving as an air freshener.
Maude returned to his room, strapped on his leg weights, and then went back to the shop to continue his workout while keeping Sunny company.
It was then that Sunny, belatedly curious, asked about Bailey's origins.
How had an exotic animal from an auction ended up in Maude's hands, injured no less?
She couldn't help but ask.
"It's a long story," Maude said, not bothering to hide anything, and recounted the afternoon's events.
Sunny's gaze toward him turned peculiar.
"Bailey was an unexpected bonus. I didn't realize how valuable it was when I picked it up. If I had known, I wouldn't have tossed it aside. Luckily, it ended up back in my hands," Maude said with a hint of gratitude.
He had almost missed out on a windfall.
As for any threats from Abby and Kazte, as long as he stayed in the shop, he had Sol's protection.
Sunny nodded seriously. "Good fortune indeed."
As evening approached, Sol's weapon shop wrapped up another income-less day of business.
Sunny went to the kitchen to prepare dinner.
Maude locked up and began cleaning the shop.
After tidying up, he joined Sunny in the kitchen to lend a hand.
Though his cooking wasn't as good as Sunny's, his dishes were still decent.
"Don't forget to prepare a portion for Bailey," Maude reminded, thinking of the skunk hanging in the bathroom.
"Ah, almost forgot."
Sunny grabbed two extra meat patties and some vegetables from the fridge.
Maude glanced at the meal Sunny was preparing for Bailey.
When it came to food, Sol's weapon shop spared no expense.
As the two busied themselves in the kitchen, Sol, who had just woken up, came downstairs.
Still groggy, he headed straight for the bathroom.
Seconds later, a terrified scream erupted from the bathroom.
"HELP!!!"
The voice, young and trembling, was filled with sheer panic.
Hearing the unfamiliar plea for help, Maude and Sunny froze mid-task, exchanged a glance, and hurried to the bathroom.
They arrived to find Sol gripping Bailey by the head, seemingly moments away from crushing it.
Bailey's wide, terrified eyes locked onto Sunny's, and with great difficulty, he croaked out a plea:
"M-mama, save me!!"
"...?"
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