Ben Robert's words stopped because a veiled woman walked over from the side.
"Ben, you go back first. I have something to discuss with Mr. Dorin."
"Oh."
Ben Robert obediently walked away. I was extremely curious about the second half of what he wanted to say. It was like a cat scratching at my heart, unbearably tantalizing.
At that moment, Helen Robert, the leader of the merchant caravan, suddenly knelt down before me.
I was a bit stunned and quickly went to help her up.
"Don't do that, Madam. There's no need for such a grand gesture. I haven't done anything particularly remarkable. The reason the bandits attacked us was also due to our route change to reach Rapan quickly.
"It is my responsibility to protect your caravan.
"These are all things I should have done."
Madam Helen did not rise with my assistance. She remained kneeling and said:
"No, Benefactor. It is I who used you.
"I had heard of your great name long ago. When I was in the Asura Kingdom, I heard of a mage named Daolin Prodia Grellat who once trapped and killed 500 undisciplined soldiers.
"After hearing your name, I planned to take this route with you, hoping to use your help to kill those bandits.
"Because those bandits are the ones who killed my husband.
"So it was I who used you."
I did not help her up again, letting her kneel on the ground. I had found it a bit strange along the way; this woman didn't behave like a normal merchant at all.
Although she didn't interact with me, she seemed to have been observing me constantly. And when we finally encountered the bandits, she was also nervously watching my expression.
I had only thought at the time that she was afraid we would run away, hence her tension.
I never imagined it was all part of her scheme. Indeed, she was a woman of meticulous thought. She could continuously grow her caravan after her husband's death and also seek revenge for him.
She certainly had some skills. I was becoming a bit interested.
I used Earth Magic to generate a stone chair and sat down opposite her.
I said to her:
"Look at me. Remove your veil."
She obeyed. She revealed a face that was charming and graceful, yet simultaneously resolute, decisive, and sharply defined. Her eyes were red and swollen, proving she had been crying for a long time.
Her face was well-maintained, indicating she wasn't actually very old.
She was indeed an impressive woman.
"Helen Robert, since you've been to the Asura Kingdom, you should know my identity, right?"
"Yes, Mr. Dorin. I know you are the grandson of the greatest noble in the Asura Kingdom, Darius Prodia Grelat. You are also the direct heir of the Prodia Family."
"Good. In that case, I can forgive you for using me. But I have a request. I wonder if you will agree?"
"Lord Dorin, since my husband's death, all my efforts have been to avenge him. Since you have helped me fulfill this wish, I am very willing to meet your request. Even if you wish to... enjoy my body, it would be no problem."
"No, it's not something so simple. I want your loyalty. I intend to establish a faction in the Northern Three Great Magic Nations. Later, I will bring this faction to Asura. I need this faction to develop and grow quickly.
"I will provide you with funds, an amount you could never earn in a lifetime. When the time comes, I need you to become my subordinate, absolutely loyal to me, to help me manage this faction."
Helen Robert did not hesitate much. She made her decision in the blink of an eye.
"Very well, Lord Dorin. From now on, you are my master. I will serve as your servant and carry out all your instructions."
She was about to prostrate herself on the ground to kiss the tip of my shoe. I immediately used Earth Magic to generate a stone pillar to block her advancing body.
"Not a servant. I don't need slaves. You will be my subordinate, a subordinate bound by contract.
"I will pay you a salary, and you will receive corresponding status upon achieving merits.
"Remember, I don't need slaves. I only have subordinates."
She seemed somewhat taken aback but quickly regained her composure. Using her magnetic voice, she said:
"Yes, Lord Dorin. What about this caravan of mine? Do you need it? If not, should I disband it?"
"No need. After we reach Rapan, you can explain to your caravan members. Those who wish to follow me can stay. I can offer them a salary three times higher than what they earn as your guards.
"Of course, if they wish to remain on the Bekalite Continent, that's fine too. We can part on good terms."
"Yes, I will act according to your instructions."
"Hmm. We won't stay in Rapan for long. Don't disband your camel train; keep the camels and wagons. Sell off all the caravan's goods. The money is yours.
"When the time comes, I will exchange Asura gold coins for your new sars. Use the money to purchase magic crystals and magic stones in Rapan. Buy as many as you can.
"We will stay in Rapan for at most two months, then leave the Bekalite Continent. I will inform you of the specific route later."
"Yes, Lord Dorin. I respectfully obey your command."
Helen then returned. She even invited me to sleep in her tent, but I refused.
I told her that before reaching Rapan, she should interact with me as before. Everything can change after we return from Rapan.
Afterwards, Ben Robert never came back either. I waited for Rudeus and the others to come take over the watch, then went to sleep.
The night deepened. I was somewhat exhausted, perhaps due to the strain on my body from the 18x Time Flow. I slept deeply. Elinalise, showing no consideration, slipped into my bedroll in the middle of the night.
Half-asleep, I felt a familiar softness. Her breath was warm, carrying a faint, pleasant fragrance. Her closeness made my heart race. My hand involuntarily slid to her waist, feeling her increasingly voluptuous curves lately. Her pert backside gently rubbed against me, as if teasing.
Just as I was about to proceed further, my hand touched an entirely unfamiliar softness, a sensation that definitely did not belong to Elinalise! My palm could hardly cover the astonishing fullness, as if holding two ripe, full fruits.
This was completely different from the armrests I usually used.
My eyes snapped open. By the faint light, I saw the purplish-black hair and coffee-colored skin.
"Anya?!" I hissed, both embarrassed and angry. This girl actually dared to ambush me!
But the battle had already begun. She had launched her attack on me. I had also opened my eyes while grasping the mutated armrest.
I was somewhat embarrassed and angry, wanting to draw my meteorite sword and disengage from the battle.
But, as expected of a muscle-bound woman?
I tried many times. Her attacks were too swift and fierce; I simply couldn't parry them.
The hilt was gripped so tightly by her that I couldn't draw the sword at all. In the end, I had to suffer a very humiliating defeat.
I was actually defeated by a young girl in just a few moves.
Defeat in battle means losing something important!
But she underestimated me too much.
When I was about to fire the elementary Water Magic, Water Ball, I combined it with the magic Icicle Field, creating an Icicle Field inside the cavern to block and freeze the Water Ball.
Hmph! She had no idea what kind of powerful mage she was up against. An invincible man like me—she probably could never defeat me in this lifetime.
As long as I don't want it, no woman can bear my child. Hmph!
Although I performed the evasion maneuver, she was unaware I had such a contingency.
Then Anya left happily.
Sigh, that was close. At the critical moment, I managed to preserve my freedom.
I don't want the bloodline of the Prodia Family to spread to some small village on the Bekalite Continent.
Such a thing is unacceptable to my values.
The journey continued the next day. No further incidents occurred, and we finally arrived at the labyrinth city of Rapan on the Bekalite Continent.
I told Rudeus and the others to go to the Adventurer's Guild first to look for Paul. I, citing an important matter to entrust, sought out Helen Robert.
I handed over the 1000 gold coins I carried with me to her. These coins were roughly equivalent to 5 million new sars.
I instructed her to help me, over the next few days, gather as many magic crystals and magic stones as possible within the city of Rapan, the more the better. I also discussed a method of contact with her.
Afterwards, I went to find Rudeus Greyrat.
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