The next week was full of free time for the three of us inside the inn. It was almost funny, because Rem was so used to working hard nearly every day to earn enough silver and gold coins to live, and now she was richer than the lord of Faltra City. She almost didn't know what to do with herself as both Shera and I made her relax in the tub every night, gave her massages, brushed her hair, and groomed her ears and tail properly.
Shera was a bit bolder than her, since she started wearing a copy of Sylvie's white dress, the one that successfully covered the tiny rabbit-girl's small breasts... without upsizing it to fit her much taller and very busty body. The top ended up being barely thin white strips that only covered her nipples and the panties she wore ended up being little more than a thong that only covered her slit and nothing else. The skirt part was barely a loincloth split at the hips, too.
With her as constant visual stimulation, I was pretty much hard all the time, which Shera unashamedly took advantage of to rub herself against. Rem gave her jealous looks as she also tried to make herself look sexier and she grew more comfortable with her own larger breasts and more agile body.
The only time they didn't try to compete for my attention was at night, where they repeated their morning playtime from the other day and equally shared my tasty hardness between them without fighting. They did well, even tag-teaming me a few times with Shera using her breasts to stroke me and Rem sucking me off.
When it was time for me to shoot my load each time, they shared it and even kissed each other tenderly afterwards. Rem claimed to Shera that she only did it because she didn't want to waste such a tasty treat, with both Shera and myself knowing the truth. The cat-girl loved that we had accepted her for who she was and neither of us hated her for what she used to be. That gave her every reason she needed to show us that she cared about us.
Of course, a few times I did give them hints that I was awake, with an occasional pet of Shera's shapely ass when she was facing away from me, and a little tug on Rem's tail after she learned how to give me a very good deep-throating. It almost became a game to see how long they could keep pretending that I was still asleep while they had a lot of fun playing with me and enjoying themselves.
Our late night and early morning antics brought us closer together during the day as well. There were more unnecessary hugs, a lot of light affectionate caresses, and more than a few longing looks. Shera was more interested in going all the way than Rem was, however. The blonde elf wasn't locked into a heat cycle like the cat-girl was, so I made sure Rem received as much attention as Shera did without pushing things too far.
We also avoided every notice or summon that involved anyone with the Mage's Guild or was sent by them, either by proxy or as a quest to deliver notes or summons. No one was allowed to approach Rem without her permission and she thanked us every time we stopped people from coming near her.
*
When the week was over, Sylvie showed up to have breakfast with us and she also brought news. After eating and learning that a representative of the crown had brought the money owed to us, she gave us some distressing news. She had been in talks with the lord of the city after he received a notice from the Kingdom of Greenwood about Shera.
If their demands to return the princess weren't met soon, they would go to war with the Kingdom of Lyferia. In my opinion, it was severely overcompensating for Shera's refusal. From barely talking, to the royal guard threatening to take her by force, to the entire elven kingdom threatening to go to war for her. It was ridiculous. Of course, that wasn't the worst part of her news.
The worst part was her own brother had put a bounty on her head so large that even the lowest level adventurer would be set for life. Bounty hunters from all over would soon be in the city looking for her and she would be in constant danger if she appeared in public.
"What a rotten bastard." I said and Rem, Shera, and Sylvie gasped. "It's not bad enough he thinks he can force her to marry him and have his child, he thinks he can buy her cheaply, too."
"A-Atlas." Shera whispered, a little embarrassed.
"No, Shera. The idiot thinks someone as valuable as you could be bought for such a low price." I said and she looked surprised, as did Rem and Sylvie. "There's not enough gold in the world to afford you."
Shera blushed and ducked her head. She mumbled something about me lying too much and I reached over and took her chin in my hand and turned her head to face me.
"You are not a fair judge of your own worth." I said and leaned in close. "You brought me here to give you the strength to live your life on your own terms. I won't let you down, in anything big or small, and proving to you that you are worth more to me than any amount of gold, is the least I can do for you."
Shera's breathing sped up and she was on the verge of tears.
"Don't let anyone tell you different, not even yourself." I ordered and gave her a brief kiss.
A soft green glow covered her and Shera wiped at her eyes and nodded.
I turned to Rem and grabbed her chin and repeated what I said for her as well. I also reminded her that she asked to borrow my strength so she could live her life, too. Rem wiped at her budding tears and nodded as well. I gave her a brief kiss and she blushed and looked happy.
"You're really tempting me to try my hand at summoning someone like you, just so they'll tell me similar things." Sylvie commented.
"Why would you do that? I'm right here." I said and her eyes widened, then she blushed as she remembered the offer a week ago to come upstairs with Rem and Shera to join in the shared bath.
"Geez, Atlas." Rem huffed. "Are you trying to charm the armor off of everyone you know?"
"No, not everyone." I said and stood. "Let's go to the lord's mansion and see what he knows about Greenwood."
Sylvie nodded and couldn't help admiring his new outfit. It was really snug and showed off that he wasn't hiding anything, like his modesty or shame. Her eyes did dart down to his manhood and she liked what she saw. An image of him taking her from behind and giving her a strong litter made her face flush red with need.
She barely managed to compose herself as she led the trio out of the inn and then down the street towards where the lord's mansion was located. It was huge of course, like all the other buildings in the city, and the grounds were opulent with hedges and flowers arranged in a neat orderly fashion. Sylvie also warned us about him and how rigid and strict he was.
We were admitted right away by one of the pretty maids and brought right to the man's overly large office. He looked a little displeased to see us, even though Sylvie was the Guildmaster of the Adventurer's Guild and was one of the strongest people in the city.
A brief touch of his thoughts told me all about the arrogant asshole and what he thought of half-breeds and beastkin, as well as him lumping all adventurers in with what he thought were the lower class of people.
"Excuse us, Lord Galford. We stopped by for clarification of what you wanted Atlas and his party to do about the elves." Sylvie said, almost sheepishly.
It didn't take a genius to realize she was afraid of him and his power, both physically and politically. A word from him could shut her guild down and he wouldn't think twice about it, because she was a filthy bunny-girl. Even her ears and tail were a dirty brown and he didn't like looking at them and the constant reminder of who and what she was.
"The difficulty of the quest is pretty high, so Atlas was wondering if he could get some more information." Sylvie clarified.
Galford's eyes narrowed. "I believe I already told you everything you need to know."
Sylvie looked slightly uncomfortable. "Ah, I guess... ah! Yes, could you introduce yourself to them?"
Galford sighed. "Good grief. Adventurers that don't even know the name of their lord?"
"You're not my lord." I said, already tired of him and his behavior.
"Excuse me?" Galford asked and looked slightly surprised.
"I'm not a citizen of the city or this country. I'm not even a native of this world." I told him and his eyebrows raised up.
"Atlas!" Shera, Rem, and Sylvie hissed at me. "Be quiet!"
"Why? He already thinks I'm unnatural for willingly associating with demi-humans. The only thing saving us from him throwing us all out is the slave collars." I responded.
The man slowly stood. "How dare you accuse..."
"Your clear distaste is all over your face." I pointed out and he immediately blanked his face. "You also aren't denying it."
Sylvie let out a growling sigh. "Galford, I apologize for..."
"Don't apologize. He already thinks you're weak and easily bullied." I said and put a hand on her shoulder. "Why else would he push the political situation with the elves onto you by issuing a quest in the first place? If anything goes wrong, you're at fault and he can't be held responsible for what rogue adventurers and elves do."
Galford kept his face blank as he drew his sword and held it at his side. "I am Lieutenant General Chester Ray Galford. His Royal Majesty has entrusted this fortified city, Faltra, to me." He raised the sword to point it at me. "Your accusations have defamed me and my character. I demand justice."
"No! Stop!" Sylvie said and stepped in front of me. "He didn't mean it..."
"As the party who's words are being questioned, I can chose where and when to hold the duel." I said and he nodded.
"NO! STOP!" Sylvie yelled and turned to look at me. "Don't you dare say it! You have much more important things to do than this!"
I looked down at her face and she looked worried, so I looked back at the lord of the city. "I'd like to meet the authority figure that's brought my money to me for doing your job for you by protecting this city at great harm to myself."
Galford's mouth frowned. "Do you think I would ever hand the kingdom's money over to someone that doesn't claim citizenship in it?"
"So, you're dishonest as well as a bigot." I said and Rem, Shera, and Sylvie gasped. "Are you going to keep the money for yourself and claim you paid the bounties off, too?"
Galford lowered his sword and shifted his feet to put himself into a fighting stance.
"I think that's enough posturing, Lord Galford." A woman's voice said as the door to the office opened and a well dressed and slightly armored woman entered. Her long brown hair reached down to her knees and she wore glasses. "I am Alicia Cristela, an Imperial Knight. I received orders from his Royal Majesty to address this matter."
I barely paused as the information about how only powerful people with proper lineage could become Imperial Knights. They were the elite of the elite in the kingdom's military and were pretty much the right hand of the king and did his personal bidding. I also had a slight buzz from my danger sense from her and not from Galford, which was funny.
I couldn't help giving Alicia a mental poke and felt something like a magical barrier around her mind. I could have easily smashed through it, except she would definitely detect that. I did pick up hints of deceit and hiding a secret when Alicia locked eyes with Rem, though.
"Do you have the money?" I asked and she nodded and waved a maid in. She carried a large chest and dropped it at my feet with a loud thunk. I waved at it and the maid opened it to show off the pile of gold coins. "Thank you for keeping your word and earning my trust."
Alicia flinched slightly at that and barely hid the look of embarrassment she briefly had.
I reached down to close the chest, stored it and made Galford, Alicia, and the maid gasp. "As for the duel..."
"NO!" Sylvie, Rem and Shera yelled.
"Here and now." I said and stepped to Galford's side.
I grabbed his sword arm and froze his blood inside of him, bent his arm backwards with a loud crack, then I cut off his head with his own sword. Galford didn't even flinch as his severed head slid off of his neck and the head and body dropped to the floor with a much softer thump than the chest of gold did.
"Duel over, I win." I said and walked back over to where the others stood, staring at the body that wasn't bleeding like it was supposed to. "I froze the blood so it wouldn't make a mess." I patted the maid on the arm. "You're welcome."
The maid fainted.
"Atlas..." Sylvie whispered and her usually perky bunny ears were flat against her head. "Do you know what you've done?"
"Yes." I said and turned to Alicia. "Congratulations, Imperial Knight Cristela. You are now the ranking Imperial subject in the city and can assume the office of lord."
Alicia looked deathly pale. "Wh-what... no, I... there no way..."
"You can deny the call to office and can send to the capitol for a replacement, or you can assume power here and live your life how you want to. The lord's words are the law, aren't they?" I asked her and her mind whirled over the possibilities. "Just be sure to never try to repeat the same actions to endanger either myself or my party and you'll be fine."
Alicia did not miss the implication and she straightened her back. "I can't rescind the issued quest to deal with the elves until it hasn't been completed for a week."
"I suppose it's the same with Prince Greenwood's bounty as well?" I asked and both she and Sylvie nodded. "Then I'll take both quests."
Everyone stared at me like I was crazy and I smiled.
"Crazy like a fox." I said and they gave me odd looks. "I'm sorry, it's a saying from my old world. It means it seems crazy to you right now, until you see the clever plan work out."
"Ohhh." They all said and nodded, getting it.
"I'll deliver Shera to the elves, claim the bounty, then I'll deal with the elves and claim that bounty." I said and they stared at me with their mouths open. "Don't worry, Shera's never going to leave my sight and we'll only be gone long enough to get to the woods where they are lying in ambush."
Shera's shocked look faded and she looked sad and confused. "Atlas, you... you..."
"He's never going to give up on you, not if he's willing to plunge two different kingdoms into war to try and bring you back to him." I said and took her into a hug. "It's insane and kind of romantic at the same time, isn't it?"
"Yes." Shera said and hugged me back. "But, can't you just..." She stopped herself from saying anything and then sighed. "You're right. Even if I want to forget about him, about everything he's done, he won't stop coming after me until he gets what he wants."
I pet her hair and she let out a soft sob. "It's okay, my dear. It's okay."
We all stood there in the office with the body of the previous city lord on the floor and the maid groggily sat up, saw the lord's severed head, and fainted again.
"I'll put her out in the hallway." Sylvie said and easily picked the much larger maid up and carried her out though the still open door.
Alicia looked conflicted for several seconds before she huffed. "Atlas, I expect some results to report to his Majesty by the end of the day."
"You'll have them." I promised.
Sylvie came back into the room and shut the door. She looked from me to Alicia, then back to me. "Atlas, did he really..."
"He believed he was slumming with the riff-raff and only kept his post because of how important Faltra is to the kingdom's overall defensive strategy." I said and she nodded. "I think you and Lord Cristela have a lot to talk about, especially where it concerns a particular Mage's Association."
"Don't you mean Lady Cristela?" Rem asked.
"No, the city is a lord posting. The lady would be the city lord's wife." I corrected.
Alicia sat behind the large desk and looked a little proud. She glanced down at the body and smiled a smile that meant a lot more than just politeness. It was almost like she had gotten something more from his death than just the lordship. The deceit feeling was also gone, as was the slight danger sense I felt.
"Rem, you can come along or stay here with..." I started to say.
"I'm going with you." Rem said adamantly and cut me off. "I'm not making that mistake again."
Shera let me go and pulled the shorter cat-girl into a tight hug.
"I'm not doing it for you!" Rem almost shouted. "It's for my own peace of mind!"
"I know." Shera said and nuzzled her ear.
Rem started to purr and closed her eyes to enjoy it more.
I held in my laugh at Shera using one of her own weak spots against her friend and gently picked the both of them up, with Shera on the bottom of the princess carry and the smaller Rem cuddled up on her lap. "We'll be back."
I carried them out of the office and shut the door behind us with telekinesis. We had a bounty to cash in and then even more elves to take care of. With luck, I could do the same thing I did in the Man-Eating Woods and freeze all of the idiots before they had the chance to pounce on us.