Chapter 995: Go Wild
Get a glimpse of "Primordial Villain With A Slave Harem" Chapter 993: Soon afterwards, the ladies began to leave the dungeon. Some went to the old fox... Continue the adventure now!
Soon afterwards, the ladies began to leave the dungeon. Some went to the old fox woman in hopes of persuading her to assist them in finding the needed veiling method that would let them keep their identities hidden. Rosie was told to accompany her mothers on this endeavor as they hoped her cuteness and the ancient foxâs obvious adoration for the dryad girl would help sweeten the talks.
Others went to the cities and Consortium territories in hopes of finding what they were looking for. Kitsara returned to her family in dogkin territory.
It was then that Jasmine, the last remaining wife in the room, turned toward Quinlan. She had a wry expression on her face.
"Quin... Rosie has gifted me such an awesome class as the Tyrant of Trade, yet I never got to use it properly before, as I feared being found out under the constant surveillance I was placed. And, even if I did use it and managed to make more money, itâd end up in Aurelionâs hands. As such, I kept going as if I were still a Merchant-classed woman."
Quinlan understood her meaning immediately. "Itâs time, huh?"
She grinned as her heart began beating excitedly in her chest. "It is."
Without another word, Quinlan reached into his pocket ring and pulled out a hefty chest and placed it before her with a solid thud. When he flipped it open, the unmistakable sight of a thousand gold coins filled the room with a warm, golden glow.
It was basically the entirety of the liquid assets he had to his name.
Jasmineâs eyes widened, and she raised her hands immediately. "Wait, I didnât say all this to ask for money! I was just informing you, not requesting capital!"
"I know," Quinlan replied smoothly. "But I also know a woman like you, surrounded by so many talented people, each excelling in their own field... must be itching to prove her worth in hers. You want to show us what youâre made of. Thatâs why you told me this."
Jasmine blinked.
Then squinted.
"Damn it. Since when can you read me so well?"
Quinlan chuckled. "One look at the fire in your eyes as you spoke was all the clues I needed. But fear not. This capital is not given to you because I donât believe you to be capable of showing off properly, but because you wonât just be showing off."
"I need money. Fast. The kingâs birthday party is coming up, and most likely, the prisoners from Greenvale will be sold off there. If I want to have a seat at that table, I need capital. We might need to make a high-profile purchase, bribe some nobles, or just flaunt some wealth."
He nodded toward the chest. "Take this. All of it. Flip it. Multiply it. In the short time we have, I want to see how far you can go with these restraints. No long-term plays, no time for a foundation. What Iâm asking you to do is to build a tower out of sand and make it gleam brilliantly."
The shift was immediate.
Jasmineâs eyes flared with amber light as the fire of competition ignited behind her pupils, stronger than ever. Her posture straightened. Her fingers twitched as if they were already calculating ratios and supply chains.
"Hah..." She let out a low breath, which was almost a growl of hunger. "Short term? High risk? Quick turnaround?"
She stepped toward the chest and closed it with a heavy thud.
"A perfect challenge to test what I can do without the bastardâs influence holding me back."
Quinlan nodded happily once he saw her confidence.
Then he turned his gaze toward Lyra, the only other woman in the room who remained besides Kaelira.
"Lyra, please take Kaeliraâs team and act as Jasmineâs team of guards. She will not only carry a truly immense amount of gold on her person, but I have a feeling she didnât get the âTyrantâ added to her class by being a nice player. Sheâll anger many opponents. Youâll have your work cut out for you."
"... Whatever could you mean?" Jasmine whistled innocently. She was thoroughly ignored.
"My Lord, may I ask why I was selected for the role of leading Miss Kaeliraâs team?" the pink-haired tanker asked.
"Miss dwarf-hater will have something else to do."
Lyra paused for a moment, considering the command. Then she gave a sharp, clean nod. "Understood."
Her gaze moved toward Jasmine. She already anticipated the trouble this new mission would bring, but also the satisfaction of keeping her lordâs gold as well as his wife safe, and potential enemies sheâd get to crush.
Kaelira, on the other hand, blinked innumerable times in confusion. She didnât understand why her team would be given to Lyra when she was free to lead them herself.
"âMiss dwarf-hater will have something else to doâ?"
Before she could properly ask her questions, Quinlan lazily flicked a finger upwards.
Wind surged.
"H-hey!"
With a whoosh, Kaelira was lifted clean off her feet and into the air. Her long legs kicked out as she tried to resist, but it was like watching a majestic beast get swept up by a strong breeze.
"M-my Lord?!" she yelled, flailing like an angry cat.
Quinlan ignored the elfâs continued complaints as he guided her and Rykar through the air.
Destination: Kaeliraâs forge in his stronghold.
He had a tomboy muscle elf and a grumpy limbless grandpa to drop off because today, sparks were about to fly.
"Hmm... Quite bare bones, but itâll do, I suppose," Rykarâs words rang as they approached.
"You didnât even see the insides yet."
"I donât need to. I can tell from here."
"..." A vein throbbed on Quinlanâs forehead as he greatly struggled to accommodate the old manâs grating attitude.
This time, he wasnât alone.
"Lord Quinlan and I worked hard on the smithy together! A lot of money was poured into it, so much so that it can compete with the smithies of renowned artificers," Kaelira spoke while hovering next to the old man.
"Then the renowned artificers of this world are worse than I thought."
*Throb. Throb. Throb.*
"My Lord, your teacher reminds me of a tall dwarf," the muscly elf grumbled under her breath while sending a side eye glance to the man.
"What an apt description, Kaelira. He truly is a rude bastard. But as he is without limbs, he isnât even a tall dwarf, just a normal one, Iâd say."
Kaelira nodded sagely in response, and it was Rykarâs turn to examine the two with squinted eyes. "Why is this long-eared creature here anyhow? I took you as my student."
"Thatâs where youâre wrong, old man. I come pre-packaged with my sexy smithing elf. I refuse to enter a smelly, hot smithy if sheâs not present."
Kaeliraâs face lit up in a furious red the moment the words "sexy smithing elf" left Quinlanâs lips.
Three months.
Three long months since heâd disappeared from the face of Thalorind, and in that time, she had somehow started forgetting that this was how he always talked with the women he liked.
Disrespectful. Inappropriate. Shameless.
And yet...
Her lips curled upwards. Even as the blood rushed to her face, even as she looked away and crossed her arms in a huff, there was no hiding the glimmer of satisfaction in her eyes.
He called her his smithing elf.
Not just an elf. Not a tanker. Not a mercenary-for-hire.
His smithing elf.
She took pride in that ridiculous title. Even more so because of what it meant: Quinlan had let her, an elf whose race was known for being total failures when it came to crafting, have that role.
Kaelira hated being called sexy, however.
And sheâd punch anyone else who ever said it.
But coming from him... well... she wasnât about to admit she liked it. Especially not in front of this grumpy, stumpy old man.
Speaking of...
"If I donât take her in, you wonât train under me?"
"Exactly," Quinlan replied with a shrug, completely unfazed by the sharpness of the old manâs tone. "Iâm not some lonely hermit desperate to sit in a forge with a sour old man grumbling about tongs and alloys."
He gave Rykar a pointed look. "Iâm a family man first. A combatant second. If Iâm going to invest time in this... Itâs not going to be in silence and misery. I want my forge time to be thoroughly enjoyable."
He gestured toward Kaelira with a smirk. "And what better way than with my beyond awesome elven companion? Sheâs incredibly talented, easily rivaling the greatest dwarven talents from what I can tell. If that wasnât enough of a reason, sheâs experienced, fun to be around, and looks incredible when sweaty. Whatâs not to like?"
Kaelira looked like she wanted to scream.