Chapter 153

"...ter."

"...ster."

"Master."

*Blink-Blink*

Leon slowly opened his eyes and found Elis standing right in front of him.

"Hmm...?"

"Master, it's been five hours. You ordered me to wake you after five hours, should I wait another five hours ?" Elis asked, her voice flat and emotionless.

"Right..." Leon yawned and sat up on the throne, stretching his limbs tightly.

*Yaaawn*

'Fuckin' hell... I need to stop banging girls all night. My sleep schedule's screwed. Then again—fuck the schedule. I'd rather drown in MILFs than dreams any day.' Leon thought with a perverted smile.

'Maybe I should make a skill that protects me in my sleep... something passive, auto-trigger. That'd be neat.'

He looked around the room and spotted Fruela and Reina sleeping soundly on the cold stone beds.

"Wake up, Fruela. Time to kill some people," Leon said loudly as he looked at Fruela.

Fruela's eyes snapped open. She sat upright immediately, alert and sharp, her eyes fixed on him.

"What the hell ? You have got some sharp senses huh ?" Leon asked, noticing the intensity in her stare.

"I never told you my name and you just called me by my original name," she said, her tone quiet but tense.

"Yeah, I know. Crazy isn't it ?" Leon smiled as he looked at Fruela.

"How did you—?"

"Doesn't matter. Get your daggers, we are leaving" he interrupted, walking toward her.

"Mmm...? What's going on?" Reina stirred awake, rubbing her eyes. She blinked at the sight of Leon and Fruela ready to leave.

"Keep sleeping. We'll be back soon. If you want something to eat, Olga will help you." Leon reached out, grabbed Fruela's wrist—

*Swish*

And both of them vanished into thin air.

"...Okay..." Reina muttered groggily and curled back on the stone bed.

First Floor, Dungeon

*Swish*

Leon and Fruela reappeared at the edge of the first floor. Both of them started walking toward the exit.

*Tuk-Tuk-Tuk-Tuk*

The rhythmic pounding of a hammer echoed through the dungeon. A chisel against wood, repeating again and again.

As they neared the exit, Leon spotted a large circular wooden bathtub set near the wall. Kai was crouched beside it, working meticulously.

"Is it done?" Leon asked from behind, his tone casual.

"Fuck, man!" Kai jumped, startled. "You've got to stop sneaking up like that. You are going to give me a damn heart attack."

"What are you so afraid of?" Leon asked with a smile.

Kai looked up, wide-eyed. "Let's see... I'm inside a dungeon, surrounded by slime monsters just one floor below me ?"

"I already told you—they won't touch you unless you disturb them." Leon replied with a neutral expression.

"Yeah, well, my grandpa said the same about forest wolves. Got eaten by one in front of my damn eyes... So don't tell me that." Kai replied with a serious expression.

Leon smirked. "Fair enough. Is the tub ready

"Still carving out the final designs . Then I'll polish it. Might take me another three hours—probably sleeping here tonight." Kai replied as he pointed towards one of the designs on the tub.

"What about your family ? Won't they ask if you didn't go back ?" Leon asked, raising a brow.

"Already told them I'm on a trade trip to the beastkin kingdom. They won't worry." Kai replied with a neutral expression.

"You're a carpenter. Who the fuck believes that ?" Leon asked with a confused expression as he looked at Kai.

"My wife and kids. They think business is booming... that I'm making good money every month." Kai spoke with a disappointed and sad expression.

Leon's expression shifted slightly. "You've taken loans, didn't you ?"

Kai looked away, ashamed.

"Yeah... three silvers. Shop's been dead for months. I'm barely hanging on, that's one of the reason why I took this job." He replied with a sad expression.

Without a word, Leon reached into his coat and tossed him a pouch.

Kai caught it.

Clink.

He opened it—and froze.

"Wh—HOLY SHIT?! T-This is-"

"Ten silvers. Consider it advance payment. You'll be making more things for me soon." Leon replied with a smile.

Kai stared, stunned. "You... sure about this ? What if I run off with it ?"

Leon gestured toward Fruela. "You see this dark beauty? If you vanish, she'll track you, gut you, and burn your house down with your kids inside. So don't even think about it.

But you are an intelligent man."

Kai nodded so fast it almost broke his neck. "I-I can't thank you enough, Mr. Leon! I swear I'll give you my best. This bathtub will tell you what I am talking about."

"Good. If you get hungry, head to floor seven. Olga will give you something to eat." Leon replied with a neutral expression.

Kai blinked.

"...Wait. There are seven floors in this dungeon ?" He asked with a confused expression.

Leon didn't answer. He and Fruela had already turned and begun walking up the stairs.

Forest Exit

*Swishhh*

'Looks like it's about to snow again tonight.' Leon thought with a neutral expression.

The cold wind greeted them as they exited the forest. Leon immediately spotted a wagon approaching from the village's direction.

He raised his hand. The driver saw him and stopped immediately.

"Where to?" the driver asked with a polite smile.

"Fucking hell..." a man inside the wagon muttered the moment he saw Fruela.

"Shit, it's a slave. And a dark elf, no less," a woman beside him sneered with a disgusted expression.

"Hey, driver! Don't let those freaks in! I'll pay you an extra copper!" A young man called from the back, grinning mockingly at Leon.

The driver hesitated. He looked at Leon as if gauging the situation.

Leon smiled and pulled out a small pouch. "I'll give you ten coppers if you kick all three of them out and take only us."

The driver's smile widened as he immediately stepped down and walked upto the backside of the wagon.

"Alright, fellas. Time to get out. I have got a family to feed."

"W-What?" the man stammered with a confused expression as he looked at the wagon driver.

"You can't just throw us out! It's cold—we'll freeze out there! Just because this brat is paying you more money, you can't do that to us." the woman protested with an angry expression.

"Sure I can. It's my wagon. Unless you've got ten coppers, I'm with the rich kid." The wagon driver replied with a smile as he looked at the woman.

The young man jumped out from the back, sword in hand. "Alright, you little shit. Since you've got so much money, how about a donation ?"

Leon didn't flinch. "Oh, we're pulling weapons now?"

"Yeah. You and that freak slave are going to hand over the pouch, and then get lost." The guy spoke with a smile as he pointed his sword at Leon.

"Rick, don't—" the older man started, but the woman interrupted him.

"Shut it! Our boy's going to teach this brat a lesson. Rick! Make your mama proud!" The woman spoke with a wide smile as she looked at her son holding the sword.

"Yes, Mom." Rick grinned and stepped forward, holding his sword tightly.

Leon turned his head slightly. "Darling... Show him how it's done. But don't kill him. And don't use your dagg—"

*Crack*

Fruela's foot slammed into Rick's groin.

"F-FUCK—!"

*Clang*

The sword hit the ground. Rick doubled over, face red, gasping in agony, not a single word escaping his mouth.

Before Leon could even blink, Fruela followed up with a slap.

*SLAP*

Rick hit the dirt hard.

*Thud*

He went nconscious immediately. White foam leaked from his mouth.

"Rick! My son!" the mother screamed in fear.

"Rick?! Are you okay?!"

Both parents scrambled out of the wagon, rushing to his side.

Leon just stared at them.

"...Holy shit. She really fucked him up." He spoke in a low whisper.

"He'll wakeup in three hours," Fruela said casually as she looked at her parents.

"You bitch... What have you done to him ?" The woman asked with a serious expression.

"Don't shout... Or I will do the same to you." Fruela spoke as her eyes shined brightly pink.

Leon looked at Rick again with a sympathetic expression. 'Gerald was right. If her collar ever comes off... she'll fucking annihilate everything in her path. This kid... he's never going to be a father. Poor motherfucker.'

'I can control her but for some reason, I don't feel like controlling her actions. She can be a really useful tool for me in the future.' Leon thought with a neutral expression as he looked at Fruela.

"So... uh... where to ? A storm is brewing, I don't want to be stuck here." the driver asked nervously, already back on his seat.

"Golden Slave Traders, take us there." Leon said as he stepped into the wagon.

Fruela froze. Her eyes widened, confused. She had no idea what Leon was planning but she followed him into the wagon.

"J-Just to confirm... No pressure. Am I still getting paid ten coppers ? I-I don't mind taking the regular fee o-or even no fee is fine." The wagon driver spoke with a hesitated expression.

"Just drive..." Leon spoke with a neutral expression.