Chapter 70
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 70
Chapter Title: 15. Morning Relief. (2)
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- Come in.
Allen straightened his clothes in front of the door, cleared his throat with a soft hum, and carefully stepped into the room. In the opulent chamber sat Rudra Mercenary Leader, dressed in simple elegance at a rectangular table, awaiting her honored guest.
"Welcome, Allen Mercenary Leader."
"Yes, good morning, Rudra Mercenary Leader."
Though circumstances had forced him into becoming a morning solo artist, Allen took his seat with a perfectly composed expression. Rudra Mercenary Leader put on a leisurely smile as well, but inwardly she was far more tense than the man himself. ...Ever since hearing from him yesterday that he'd spent some happy time alone, she'd been in such turmoil she could barely sleep.
...Why had he said something like that?
Truth be told, it wasn't exactly something to hide. Men and women alike had urges, and spending a bit of happy time wasn't a big deal—! ...Of course, from a mercenary leader's position where she had to uphold her dignity, it might feel a tad embarrassing, but didn't that just prove how genuine and straightforward he was with her?
Could it be that Allen Mercenary Leader... harbored romantic feelings for her? Was that his roundabout way of expressing it?
The thought kept nagging at her. Spending happy time alone meant there was no woman to share it with, and him revealing that so indirectly left room to interpret it as, Be my woman. ...Frankly, it was hard to fathom a man as charismatic as Allen Mercenary Leader indulging solo like that.
As Rudra Mercenary Leader lingered in her awkward, dazed smile, Allen snapped her out of it with a polite cough.
Evidently, his casual mention of morning relief yesterday had shocked her more than expected. Still, a quick glance at her status window showed it hadn't left a negative mark. Good enough.
"Shall we... get started?"
"Ah, yes."
She plunked a pre-prepared money pouch onto the table with a heavy thud. A full thousand gold coins. Tiny as the coins were, a thousand of them amounted to serious bulk and heft.
"...And this is a token of my sincerity. Think of it as thanks for saving my life last time."
Beside it clung a smaller pouch she'd prepared separately, like a cub trailing its mother.
"No, I can't possibly...!"
Even as he spoke, Allen's hand had already grasped the smaller pouch and given it a subtle lift. The money fiend had long since mastered judging contents by weight alone.
One hundred gold coins—!
...But no matter how money-mad he was, wolfing it down outright would ruin his morning solo artist's dignity.
Allen muttered under his breath with a wry smile.
"...I didn't do it for the money, though."
"Of course not. How could I misunderstand your pure intentions, Allen Mercenary Leader? This is purely from me. It doesn't twist your sincerity one bit."
"In that case, I can't refuse your gesture. Thank you kindly."
And so Allen claimed a grand total of eleven hundred gold coins. Clutching the hefty pouches to his chest sent a thrill through him...! Every bit as electric as release itself.
Rudra Mercenary Leader offered an awkward eye-smile, her fingers fidgeting nonstop. She clearly had more to say, so Allen waited patiently.
"...Um, Allen Mercenary Leader."
"Yes."
"Just... out of curiosity. No other meaning."
The preamble alone screamed a loaded question incoming.
"Go ahead."
"...Why go solo for your happy time...?"
"Pardon?"
"Well, don't men around here... often visit the flower houses? It's awfully common... ."
Coming from a pleasure city, she'd grown up steeped in its risqué customs and held no prejudice against paid company. If anything, she saw it as mere entertainment.
Her question boiled down to: Why not hit up a brothel instead of jerking off alone in your room?
Classic open-minded westerner mentality—the most liberated on the continent. Allen, fielding the query, could only mock his own stuffiness.
"Didn't feel the need."
"...I see."
Naturally, Allen lobbed a cheesy line to rack up points. No guarantees it'd land, but keep prodding that money hole and something might tumble out—like the bonus hundred gold coins.
"Spending all this time with you, Rudra Mercenary Leader, must've raised my standards. Haha."
Her smile evaporated in an instant, eyes darting restlessly.
(I'm over the moon. Heart's racing like crazy. Keep the praise coming...)
...Not quite enough?
"You're beautiful, with an amazing figure and a gentle personality to boot... Where else would you find a mercenary leader like you—!"
The praise addict fell hook, line, and sinker for his sly flattery, convinced right then: He has feelings for me... Why else unleash such a torrent of compliments?
"Thank you... ."
Rudra beamed, flustered with joy, but no further yields from the prodding. No more flattery needed.
"Well then, I'll take my leave."
"Sure."
"...Oh, right."
As Allen turned to go, yesterday's visit popped into mind. She'd mentioned having something to say.
"Didn't you say you had something yesterday?"
"Oh, that... I was wondering about dinner tonight. You free?"
"Of course. How's this evening?"
"Perfect. Tonight it is. I'll send word later."
"See you tonight, Rudra Mercenary Leader."
Allen stepped out, cradling his precious pouches.
A windfall.
Allen pooled every coin he had, deducting essentials first, then a sliver of emergency funds. What remained: roughly a thousand gold.
...Not a fortune, but investable.
Jewelry typically doubled or tripled in value, so dumping all surplus could net up to two thousand gold profit.
Of course, if it were that straightforward, every trader would be loaded. Unlike staple grains, luxury baubles were tough to move, factoring in time and labor.
Grains were impractical too—hauling massive loads over long distances demanded wagons and horses aplenty.... Thus, portable jewelry emerged as the smart play.
After one last deliberation, Allen committed: western jewelry, as planned. This pleasure hub specialized in trinkets.
...A little sweet talk with Rudra Mercenary Leader, and she might snag some quality deals cheap?
As the city lord's daughter and praise junkie, she'd have prime merchant ties. Far better than street-hawking randos; vetted contacts streamlined everything.
Business wrapped, payout secured—no need to overstay. He'd come to the west for work, not vacation.
Come evening, with the sun dipping low, Rudra's messenger arrived at his room. Dressed sharp, Allen followed the guide from the inn, hopped a carriage to her mansion. ...It was practically next door, but protocol demanded wheels for an honored guest. Western nobles fussed over hospitality.
The mansion wasn't vast, but its interior dripped extravagance.
...Should've squeezed her for more...
Allen trailed the guide with that thought, arriving at a second-floor chamber.
A wide-open terrace framed a stunning sunset. Dreamy. Artistic.
"Welcome, Allen Mercenary Leader."
"Thank you for having me, Rudra Mercenary Leader."
He approached as she rose, brushing a light kiss to her hand. A mark of respect to her marquess lineage.
The square table groaned under platters of mouthwatering fare. True to the pleasure city, western cuisine skewed flashy.
"I worried the welcome might fall short... ."
"Fall short? Seeing your face, Rudra Mercenary Leader, fills me up."
With caravan business demanding nonstop merchant schmoozing, Allen revved up early. ...She made no secret of her delight this time.
"Shall we?"
Dinner commenced.
Allen sprinkled compliments now and then, but held off on caravan talk. Overt hints screamed ulterior motives. Even a praise addict had limits to her obliviousness.
Sun down, meal done.
They adjourned to the adjoining parlor. Allen figured one last tea, then bounce—but Rudra seemed... off.
"Mind if I ask something? Might come off rude... ."
"No issue. What secrets between us, Rudra Mercenary Leader?"
"...Do you... do it often? Alone?"
"Do what...?"
"Your happy time... ."
Whoa. Allen blinked, caught off guard. Her? Of all things.
"Ah, sometimes, yeah."
Western openness meant no shame required. They'd broached it before.
"Then... how do I rate?"
"...Pardon?"
Rudra fixed him with a smoldering gaze, her hand drifting to rest lightly on his thigh. A sultry smile curved her lips.
"Think I wouldn't notice? ...Naughty boy."
...Come again...?
"You make it so obvious... How could I not know? Allen Mercenary Leader... torturing me like this... Why not just...?"
Hot breaths came in pants as she licked her lips provocatively, leaning in closer. Her eyes melted into a hazy swirl.
"You want to fuck me."
...The prodded praise hole had gone into sudden estrus.
Utterly unexpected.