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"Since you'll be going to Drial Cenit soon, I'd like you to pay attention to certain things about the kingdom. And, if possible, I'd also like you to settle in its capital for a while," I say, inside Melisa's house, as this is the place where she said we could chat in peace.
We are both reclining on the sofa in the house, talking about how well the project I entrusted to her is progressing.
When I arrived in Danes City, near dusk, I was confronted with a surprising reality.
Despite the late hour, the city streets are still full of people, with workers and carts going back and forth with various boxes full of objects or transporting construction materials.
When Beatrice and I delved a little deeper into the city center, we saw that several colossal warehouses were being built near Melisa's house, from which the noise of the builders at work constantly emanated.
And that almost everyone walking the streets had those warehouses as their destination or starting point.
It's almost as if the whole city was focused on building these warehouses.
"That won't be a problem. The capital is one of the first places I thought of for a second base of operations for the company..." she says as she snuggles up against me and caresses my chin with her nose while massaging my neck with her hands.
"... Things are already well underway here, and I have many trusted people who will make sure that the pace of work continues as it has been."
"I was very surprised to see how well everything is going. It seems that, despite your initial doubts, you do have a knack for this kind of thing. It almost seems like you have the whole city working for you," I say with a smile and a slightly teasing tone, as I affectionately stroke her head and kiss her on the forehead.
As we talk, I slowly edit her status, strategically placing all the free points the woman has earned in the time we haven't seen each other.
In her case, the Intelligence stat is extremely important.
And even more so now that I know she plans to travel to Drial Cenit.
I know perfectly well that Melisa has nothing to worry about in that kingdom, but even so, I can't help thinking of that kingdom as 'the enemy'.
Despite that, I was eventually planning to ask her to travel to Drial Cenit, but I never imagined she would decide to do so on her own.
But it makes sense.
I asked her to found a multinational trading company, and the Drial Cenit kingdom is the closest place to Castemira, both in terms of distance and in terms of economic power and history.
'Actually, now that I think about it...
I think I was the one who told her that I wanted the company to focus mainly on trade between Castemira and Drial Cenit.'
"Haa... Yes, 80% of people who are able to work are working for me. But there are some stubborn ones who refuse to work for me, no matter what pay they are offered..." she says in a calm tone, but suddenly her expression tenses with irritation and she continues speaking.
"... Like that dirty old man Gerald. Before, it seemed like he was going to die any day, so he wasn't someone I would call 'able to work', but for some time now, he has somehow undergone a surprising physical change and now devotes himself almost exclusively to seducing women half his age..."
Melisa's anger is such that she unconsciously begins to tighten her hands around my neck, digging her nails into me slightly.
"... But if they're stupid enough to fall for his tricks, I'm not going to waste my valuable time opening their eyes."
"Ahh.... Hahaha. Yes, Gerald is working for me. Maybe that's why he refused to work for you. And... I was responsible for his physical transformation," I say with a slightly nervous tone, as I don't know how angry Melisa is with the old man.
"I should have guessed..." she says, snorting in exasperation, but her anger vanishes as quickly as it appeared, and her hands loosen around my neck and resume their massage.
"... After all, he was the original reason you came to this city the first time. Haa... And about the speed at which everything is progressing. That's only to be expected, considering the absurd amount of initial capital I started with."
"Yes. Hmm, you know I don't know much about the subject, but I suppose you're right... Anyway… Going back to what I was saying before, when you're in Tianri City, I'd like you to pay special attention to the social situation in the kingdom and how positive the relationship between the nobles and the commoners is," I say, without giving her too many details, as I think she'll be safer if she doesn't know what my real objectives are.
I'm afraid that if I explain my plans to her in detail, she'll start investigating too much in Drial Cenit and end up attracting the attention of dangerous people.
"Yes, I figured you'd want that, so I've already been thinking about the best ways to do it," Melisa says with a satisfied smile.
"Oh, really?" I say, perplexed by the woman's confident words.
'I have to be more careful about what I say in her presence...
I must have let some details of the plan slip when I explained about the company.'
"Yes. After all, this whole company thing is mostly to have an inside contact at Drial Cenit so that it's much easier for you to get revenge for Alessia, isn't it...?" she says with an affectionate expression.
"... I find it incredibly sexy that you're willing to take on a kingdom for one of us."
Emir: !!!
"I... You... How do you know about Alessia's past?" I say, extremely taken aback by the words of the brown-haired farmer.
"She told me..." she says, frowning as if she doesn't understand my question.
"... What? Did you think we didn't communicate with each other? Even before we had these useful rings, Alessia always made sure to keep in touch with me..."
'Damn...
I should have thought of that...'
"... We used to use carrier pigeons, but now we have a much more effective method."
'... My girls probably talk about a lot of things behind my back...
But then that means...'
"Melisa, I want you to be cautious about how you gather the information I just told you to gather..." I say, looking her straight in the eye with a serious expression and a tense voice.
"... Your safety comes first, do you understand?"
"Loud and clear, boss," she says playfully.
"I'm serious! If you're not careful, I... Agh... Damn it!" I exclaim in exasperation.
'Haa...
I can't stop her from going to Drial Cenit...
Nor can I order her to be careful...
Everything would be easier if she were my slave too...
Don't be an idiot, Emir!'
Disgusted by my thoughts, I look away and cover my face with my hand.
"Don't worry, Emir. I'll be careful..." she says, keeping her playful tone.
"... Don't you trust me?"
"I do trust you, but—" I say in a stressed tone, but she interrupts me.
"Then you have no reason to worry. I know how to deal with people, Emir. It's something I've always been good at..." she says, moving away from me to look me in the eyes with a tender expression but now speaking with the same seriousness as me.
"...I have my methods for ensuring my own safety. I promise you I'll be up to the task. Not all fights are resolved with strength and agility."
' - Poison and drugs are much more effective weapons for this kind of thing. And I know perfectly well how to work with both... Besides, having virtually unlimited capital will also help a lot... If Emir knew everything that can be achieved simply by amassing enough money... But he doesn't need to worry about that... that's my job.'
"Haa... I guess you're right..." I say, pulling her toward me and hugging her tightly.
'But I'm still going to add a few extra points to your resistance to curses. Just in case.'
"... Anyway, I'll feel more at ease if Arya accompanies you to Drial Cenit, so I'll bring her here later. I don't know if she will be of any use to you in terms of the business venture, but I imagine you'll think of something."
"Haa... Okay. If it makes you feel better, I guess I'll have to accept her company. But I don't think that elf likes me very much," she says, after which she kisses me on the cheek.
"It's not you. Her problem is with humans in general... It's to be expected, considering her history with our race… But I trust she'll know how to behave..." I say with a sigh, still somewhat uncomfortable with the idea that Melisa might become a target in enemy territory.
"... By the way, what's the name of your company?"
"You mean 'our' company..." says Melisa with a slightly irritated expression.
"... I just provided the land, but the seed is yours."
'That almost sounds like...
Haha...
I guess she's doing it on purpose, but if it makes her happy, I'm not going to deny her the illusion.'
"Yes, well, our company. What's its name?" I say with a hint of a smile.
"The fruit of our love is called 'Exceptional Destiny'. The truth is, I didn't want to name it without you being there. After all, you are its father..." she says with a voice that shows how proud she is of the result of her work.
'Hahaha... yes, I was right.'
"... But I knew from Alessia that you were busy, so I decided not to bother you. However, I didn't think it was right for me to be the only one to name our project for the future, so I asked Alessia and Delia for help in choosing it."
[Melisa] [Farmer Lvl 60] [Harem member Lvl 40] [Swordsman Lvl 17] [Lancer Lvl 19] [Archer Lvl 23] [Adventurer Lvl 24] [Explorer Lvl 20] [Mage Lvl 17] [Warrior Lvl 15]
[(Exhibitionist Lvl 4)]
HP= 20 || MP=3
Agility=23|| Strength=20
Intelligence=30 || Luck=17
[Resistance]
Physical=2 || Magic=0
Poison=1 || Curse=12
'All right...
With this status and Arya's help, I think she'll be completely safe in Drial Cenit...
And if not...
Haa... She can always ask me for help.'
"I think it's a wonderful name..." I say with a smile full of love for the woman beside me.
"... And since you want to think of it as our daughter, here's some more 'nourishment' for her to keep growing big and strong..."
After my words, I leave a small pile of runes at our feet.
"... I imagine that with this, the pace of construction of the company's warehouses will be able to go even faster."
"Those warehouses are an expansion for the future, but it's not really urgent that they be finished. I already have enough warehouses..." she says, laughing at me as she makes the runes disappear, storing them in a storage ring.
"... I remind you that before you met me, I already owned 30% of the arable land in this city. I have plenty of warehouses on my properties."
"Right... I don't usually think much about that kind of thing," I say, laughing too now that I realize how silly I just sounded.
"It's okay... That's one of the things I love about you..." she says affectionately and stands up, then extends a hand to me, inviting me to get up.
"... But I think, like her father, it's about time you met our daughter. Do you have time for a little tour?"
"Haha, yes, I have time. The truth is, I had other things in mind, considering we're already at your house..." I say, accepting her invitation and standing up.
"... But I intend to spend the night here, so there will be plenty of time to have fun in bed."
"I... Erm... I know I was the one who just invited you, but your counteroffer has made me change my mind," says Melisa, biting her lip as she looks toward her room.
"Ahh, no, ma'am. You're not going to deny a father the opportunity to meet his daughter," I say playfully, pretending to be offended.
"Haa... Damn... Caught in my own words... But it's okay. You have the right to know how I am investing your money," she says with a sigh, but she seems anything but convinced by the idea.
"Don't worry, Mommy. Later we'll have plenty of time to have fun while the baby sleeps," I say with a mocking smile.
"Agh... Stop it! I'm tired of the joke. We both know you have no intention of being a father. Follow me. Let's go outside..." she says with some exasperation as she walks toward the door leading outside.
"...The sooner we finish the company tour, the sooner we can come back here and move on to a much more intimate tour."
"Haha... Yeah, you're right," I say and follow her.