Mushoku Impact

With the assistance of another Maid, Paul found himself at the entrance to a relatively large canteen. There was a self-service buffet located at the center of the room, several long tables that could seat up to twenty people each, and a roped-off lounge that was clearly reserved for senior staff and people summoned through the IOF.
"Jeez...that woman doesn't know the meaning of the word restraint..."
Hearing Paul's comment, the Maid who had escorted him, a young woman with cat ears, a tail, and long burgundy hair that extended past the backs of her knees, calmly replied, "Lady Ningguang encourages us to strive for excellence in all things. A person's private quarters and workspace are a direct reflection of their inner character and work ethic, so we continually strive to improve these underground facilities."
Shifting his gaze to the petite yet serious-looking girl, Paul could see the shadow of Ningguang lingering behind her. As far as he could tell, she had not a single hair out of place, and her Maid uniform, while a little short in the skirt department, was prim, proper, and without fault. Considering she was a member of the Beast Race, it was rather impressive...
As Paul gave her an appraising look, the burgundy-haired cat girl, known as Niah, involuntarily curled her tail into the standard s-shape that implied excitement. Her expression didn't change in the slightest, but having Paul, the man everyone revered as their Lord and Master, stare at her was like a dream come true...
Smiling wryly, Paul extended his hand to give the prim and proper girl a pat on the head as he said, "Thanks for showing me the way. You likely have other duties to attend, so I appreciate you going out of your way to guide me here."
Closing her eyes, Niah raised her head a bit, pushing into Paul's palm as she relished his touch. The words Paul had spoken the previous night had already spread through the Service Corps; they had the opposite effect of deterring the girls that dreamed of personally serving him. The more care and magnanimity he displayed, the more highly they regarded him.
Pulling his hand back, a soft chuckle nearly emanated from Paul's throat as Niah instinctually attempted to pursue it. She quickly stopped herself, but it was still pretty cute.&nbsp;
"Well, I guess I'll see you around. Good luck with your work."
Not wanting to linger and get the girl's hopes up, Paul raised his hand in a casual gesture of farewell before turning around to enter the canteen. The Mating Season had largely concluded at this point, but even if it hadn't, he had no intention of having sex with members of the Service Corps. Even if the vast majority of them weren't between the ages of twelve and sixteen, it just didn't feel right...
Seeing Paul turn around, a faint melancholy marred Niah's expression as she lowered her head and bowed towards his back. She knew the odds of Paul groping or accosting her were slim, at best, but so long as there was even a 1% chance, she would continue hoping for it.
"Enjoy your meal, Master..."
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After yoinking a piece of smoked sausage from one of the buffet trays, Paul made his way over to the lounge area that was guarded by one of the most Butler-like men Paul had ever seen and yet another youthful-looking Maid. The former has slicked back, raven black hair, angular red eyes, and facial features that almost made him resemble a vampire. As for the Maid, she had grey hair fashioned into a ponytail, pale pink eyes, and long, pointed ears that identified her as a half-elf.
Without stopping Paul or needing to ask his identity, the Butler/Maid duo each grabbed one end of the felt rope barring entry into the lounge area before pulling it aside and bowing steeply. There wasn't a single person in the Service Corps that wasn't intimately familiar with Paul's facial features and appearance, so he had free rein to go wherever he pleased, even the women's bath and dormitory.
Not that he had any intention of doing the latter...
Since neither of the bouncers had bestial traits, Paul offered them a curt, "Keep up the good work." as he made his way into the carpeted lounge to find Ganyu, Kokomi, and, somewhat surprisingly, a chestnut-haired girl he immediately recognized as Yaoyao. At the very least, he had never met a second person who wore oversized bells in their hair...
What Paul found rather amusing was the fact that Yaoyao had developed around the same amount as Xiangling. The only noticeable difference in her appearance was her height, increasing from around 126cm to 153cm. As for the rest of her...well, she and Diona probably got along very well.
As if she could read his mind, something Paul realized he would need to be wary of in the future, Yaoyao adopted a pouty expression as she said, "You're thinking something very rude right now..."
While gesturing for Ganyu and Kokomi to remain seated, Paul shook his head and replied, "There's nothing wrong with being cute. If you're not convinced, I don't mind giving you the same treatment as Diona..."
Though she was momentarily confused by Paul's words, Yaoyao's face became bright red once she had processed what he was implying. She knew it was only a matter of time before she got 'devoured' by the beast that was her Master, but she didn't expect Paul to be so 'brazen' during their first encounter in three years...
Fortunately for Yaoyao, Paul dismissed the transient notion of having her sit on his lap. He did, however, look to Ganyu and Kokomi, informing them that Ningguang asked to speak with them in her office. Since the two had finished eating long ago, Yaoyao subsequently found herself in a situation where it was just her and Paul in a relatively private setting.
"..."
Feeling nervous, especially with Paul sitting next to her, Yaoao focused intently on her nearly empty plate. She was tempted to just finish up and excuse herself, but she didn't want to make it seem like she was running away.
Interrupting Yaoyao's thoughts, Paul said, "Relax. I may have come here to eat, but that doesn't mean I'm going to eat you. I'm not such a horndog that I can't just sit and talk with people..."
Looking towards Paul with an accusatory expression on her face, Yaoyao retorted by saying, "Maybe, but what happens after you've eaten your fill? I heard from Xiangling that you spend upwards of ten hours a day having sex. Since it's just the two of us, it's only natural that I suspect something is going to happen..."
Rolling his eyes, Paul snitched a piece of half-eaten toast from Yaoyao's plate, musing, "Not with that attitude." in a teasing tone. There was a time when Yaoyao had been just as eager as Diona to 'prove' she was an adult. She also viewed Xiangling as something of a rival, so she was more than a little annoyed when the latter was allowed to cross the line into adulthood while she was forced to wait.
"Kuh..."
Resisting the temptation to activate her Dendro Vision's Elemental Ability and poison Paul, just a little, Yaoyao adopted a serious expression as she asserted, "You really are a beast..." before snatching what remained of her toast and munching it down like an angry squirrel. When she was finished, she piled her plate atop Ganyu's and Kokomi's, pushing them to the center of the table as she added. "I'm returning to my room. You're free to follow, but there's no guarantee I'll let you inside."
Having said her piece, Yaoyoa scooted out of the circular-shaped booth they were sitting in before storming toward the exit. However, instead of leaving outright, she turned back with an even angrier expression on her face as she asked, "Well? Are you coming or not?"
While wondering when Yaoyao had turned into a tsundere, Paul slid out of the booth to follow after her. She had turned to leave the moment he started to get up, but he quickly spotted her standing near the canteen's entrance. It was apparent she wanted him to follow, so Paul couldn't help pulling a prank on her when she rounded the first corner outside. Instead of taking a right and following after her, he took a left with no destination in mind.&nbsp;
Hearing the pitter-patter sound of feet, Paul broke into a sprint, passing several confused Maids and a single Butler as Yaoyao chased after him, shouting, "Stupid Master! You're going the wrong way...!"
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While Paul was busy teasing Yaoyao, a beautiful woman with dog ears, a fluffy tail, and peculiar brown and white hair was simultaneously dreading and making preparations for their reunion. This involved standing in front of a changing mirror and trying on various types of lingerie, not because she particularly looked forward to them being seen, but because she felt an obligation to at least try and look her best.
Experiencing an excessive amount of difficulty while trying to fasten the clasp of her bra, a depressed sigh emanated from the woman's throat as she groaned, "Don't tell me they're still growing..."
As her ears and tail drooped, the woman tossed the useless brassier off to the side before pulling retrieving a roll of measuring tape typically used by Tailors and Seamstresses. Luckily, even after measuring six times, she was relieved to confirm that her bust was still 'only' 88.3cm. The bra she was trying on had most likely just shrunk in the wash.
After trying on a different bra and confirming her suspicions, the brown and white-haired beauty went through the arduous process of changing into a teal-green kimono. She would have preferred to wear something less breezy, but as a resident of Inazuma, she believed kimonos were the pinnacle of womens' fashion.
Seeing her fully garbed figure in the mirror, the doggish woman's ears and tail, once again, drooped pathetically. The image reflected was stunningly beautiful, but that was actually the issue. She was a warrior, not someone to be gawked at and coveted by men who took one look at her figure and determined she was something to conquer or subdue...
Exhaling a sigh, the woman, formerly known as Gorou and more recently known as Ms. Hina, fell onto her bed without caring about whether or not her kimono would become loose or wrinkled. In order to calm herself, she kept repeating phrases like, "You're doing this for the sake of the world..." and, "All the people of Inazuma are counting on you..."
Though she knew she wouldn't be the one to defeat Hitogami and save the world, Hina didn't doubt her reason for being here. As someone who had once led an army, she understood that even the lowest-ranking foot soldier served as an important cog in the military machine. If she could reduce the strain on the more critical members of their group, even just a little, she would contribute to their mission's success.
What Hina was most worried about was losing herself in a similar manner as Kaeya, unaware that she was now going by the name Kay. She did her best to ignore them, but she wasn't immune to the pheromones released by Beast People and even Humans. She wasn't sure how much longer she could hold out, so, now that Paul had returned, Hina wanted to at least try and perform the duty expected of her. If she did well, she might even be able to become a permanent member of Paul's party, contributing to their mission in a more 'proactive' manner rather than spending day-in, day-out digging tunnels with her Geo Vision...
While she knew her actions were actively contributing to the success of their mission, two and a half years spent primarily underground had left Hina feeling more like a mole person rather than a proud member of the Shiba Clan. If it meant leaving the compound and returning to active duty, she was willing to swallow more than just her pride...
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With Yaoyao eventually giving up out of frustration, Paul made it up to her by carrying her back to her room like a princess. She rejected his offer at the start, but it didn't take long for her to accept her fate after Paul picked her up regardless.
Following Yaoyao's directions, Paul soon found himself in one of the few sections of the underground compound he was familiar with. There were tiny, alphanumerical placards located at the ends of each corridor, so he quickly realized they were heading in the direction of his room.
Since it wouldn't be strange for the girls to be living in the same section of the compound as him, Paul didn't immediately call Yaoyao out. This ended up being the correct choice, as, rather than turning down the hallway that led to his chambers, her directions brought him to a handless door in the adjoining corridor. The curious thing about this was that the door was part of the same 'block' as his room, indicating they were side-by-side.
Though he knew it wasn't, Paul asked, "This is your room?" in a curious tone. In response, Yaoyao immediately replied, "No." before shifting in his embrace and adding, "And you can let me down now."
Resisting the urge to simply drop her, Paul set Yaoyao down and awaited her explanation. Instead, she placed her palm on the door and whispered, "Here our spirits commune, mind and body, for the sake of two worlds..."
Reacting to Yaoyao's words, the door's surface lit in a manner uncannily similar to the Intersection of Fate. However, instead of opening to a sea of clouds and mysterious stone pillars, the interior resembled a dressing room on one side and a strip club on the other. There was even a catwalk leading to a circular stage, complete with a pole in the center...
If the setting wasn't surprising enough, Paul was even more surprised to find that the room wasn't vacant. Xinyan was styling Xiangling's hair at one of the cosmetic stations while Jean and Barbara were in the process of changing into costumes that were little more than bikinis with cat ears and a tail. That would have been the most eyecatching thing if not for the fact that everyone in the room was sporting lingerie, including Eula, who, as far as Paul could tell, was teaching Razor, Ghislaine, Ei, and even Qiqi how to strut down the catwalk like a supermodel...
As the door lit up and produced a soft ringing sound when opened, Paul wasn't the only one caught staring like an idiot. The moment he entered, everyone in the room shifted their gazes to him before promptly freezing in place like a bunch of statues. The only notable exceptions were Xinyan, Ghislaine, and Eula, the former waving what appeared to be a rudimentary curling iron as she hollered, "Hey, it's about time you showed up...!" in her characteristically bold and cheerful tone.
Though he raised his hand by pure reflex, Paul's expression was still one of bewilderment as he looked down at Yaoyao and asked, "What's going on here...?"
While struggling with the clasps of her frock-style tunic, Yaoyao dutifully replied, "This is something Ningguang came up with to try and strengthen everyone's bonds. It was originally just a place where we could hang out, but it eventually turned into this after we took into consideration the type of person our Master is..."
After loosening her dress enough that she could pull it off, Yaoyao did precisely that before throwing it at Paul's face and adding, "Some of us were worried that you would have trouble choosing girls to sleep with. To that end, anyone who enters this place is effectively giving you an open invitation to invite them to your room. If that isn't an option, there is also a 'red' and a 'black' room in the back."
Though her face was bright red by the time she was finished, Yaoyao still managed to remove her tube-top style bra, revealing diminutive yet well-shaped A-Cups. This left her wearing little more than a pair of pure white knickers and stockings as she half-turned away and said, "I'm gonna go find something to change into. You should head over to the bar and read the rules..." before scurrying over to a circular rack filled with some very skimpy-looking outfits.
"..."
Noticing that people were watching but not approaching him, Paul shook his head and made his way over to a small yet fully stocked bar. It had all the fixings and equipment to indicate a bartender worked the counter, but it was currently empty. That wasn't too surprising, considering Diona was probably still asleep in the next room.
Upon reaching the counter, Paul noticed that the board on the left listed twenty-six rules while the one on the right displayed the names of various cocktails. Most of the rules only applied to the girls, mentioning things like wearing the provided clothing and staying in groups of three or more, but a few were set aside, specifically, for him.
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1: Touching is permitted, but it must occur over the clothes.
2: Kissing is permitted, but it must involve all members within a group.
3: If you have sex with someone in the showroom, you must accept responsibility for everyone present at the time.
4: Service acts within the showroom should be for educational purposes only.
5: There is a registry hanging outside of the Red Room. If possible, please refer to it before deciding whether or not to make use of its facilities.
6: The Black Room is Off-Limits without qualified medical personnel and a supervisor present.
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Though he got goosebumps reading the last rule, the others weren't that big a deal. He imagined it would be pretty uncomfortable for the others if he suddenly started making out or fucking someone without some kind of stipulations involved.&nbsp;
Looking to his left, Paul noticed a dark hallway he previously believed to contain bathrooms. It probably did, but the thing he focused on were the red and black doors located on either side of the hall.
Ever the curious individual, Paul pretended not to notice the many gazes following him as he made his way over to the red door. Hanging next to it was a simple clipboard with several sheets of paper resembling a sign-in sheet. To his surprise, the first seven pages were already completely filled in, each line representing a one-hour time slot.
Flipping to the eighth page, Paul wasn't as surprised to find the names of Jean, Barbara, Eula, Ei, Ghislaine, and Xiangling recorded. To get to them, however, he would need to spend nearly three hundred hours having sex.
Assuming he was allowed to skip the names of individuals who weren't present, Paul flipped back to the first page. There, he found that Yaoyao's name was listed before Xinyan, so she would technically be the first if he decided to follow the list.
"Hmmm...?"
Seeing a few names he didn't recognize, Paul muttered aloud, "Who the fuck are Hina, Kaede, and Betty...?"
Though an image immediately popped into his mind when he voiced the name Betty, likely referring to Bennett, Paul wasn't entirely sure who the other aliases belonged. The only thing he had to go on was the fact that Hina and Kaeda both sounded Japanese. If that were the case, the most likely candidates would be Gorou, Kazuha, and Thoma...
Deciding to worry about matters of the future in the future, Paul set down the registry and returned to the showroom. As he did, nearly everyone in the room briefly shifted their gazes toward him before at least pretending to focus on other things. The room was meant to be a social club of sorts, so one of the rules prevented the girls from approaching or crowding him.
Despite feeling as though the rules bordered on bullshit, Paul made his way over to the stage group consisting of Eula, Razor, Ghislaine, Ei, and Qiqi. Instead of joining them, however, he plopped onto the leather sofa surrounding the stage and decided to enjoy the show. He was curious to see how the girls would behave if he just sat and watched them, so that's exactly what he did...at least for a short while...
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After sleeping in well past noon, Diona eventually awoke with the sort of groan commonly attributed to night owls. She had never been a morning person, but the previous night's exertions made her want to sleep in the entire day. Part of that was predicated on the possibility of spending yet another night with Paul, but sex, unfortunately, wasn't the only thing her body was craving.
"So hungry..."
Freeing herself from Amber's embrace, Diona only stared at the former's face for a brief moment before promptly crawling to the edge of the giant bed. It wasn't hard to imagine how Amber had come to be in Paul's room, but, as grateful as she was, Diona had more pressing things to consider...
Having familiarized herself with Paul's room long before his arrival, Diona made her way over to a closet, retrieving a garment similar to a bathrobe before walking over to the nearby bookshelf. Placing a certain number of books on the third shelf caused a mechanism to trigger in the bathroom, revealing a secret tunnel just large enough to accommodate an adult male crawling on all fours.
As she was quite a bit smaller than an adult male, Diona had absolutely no trouble crawling through the passage. When she reached the other side, a ventilation grate blocked her exit, but it was fairly easy to remove so long as you knew the trick.
Pushing up on the grate rather than outward, Diona's ears twitched at the sound of ball bearing hitting the end of a hidden track. After that, she just needed to hold the grate in position for 2-3 seconds before it would pop loose on its own.
With the grate eventually giving way, Diona pushed it to the side before crawling out and bouncing to her feet behind the previously vacant bar. She immediately noticed the presence of several others, but that wasn't particularly surprising. What left her feeling a little annoyed was the fact that Paul had a front-row seat as Ei and Eula seemed to be competing to see who could perform the best pole dance.
Resisting the urge to shout and ask what the hell everyone was doing, Diona poked her head under the counter and slid open a cooler made possible thanks to Albedo's research. It was where Diona kept most of her ingredients for cocktails and, more importantly, where she kept her favorite snack, a type of ice cream produced from a certain blue-haired Adepti's milk.
Though she always felt a little guilty whenever she saw Ganyu's stressing out over the disappearance of her milk, Diona couldn't just let her dispose of it off the edge of a cliff located near one of the Red Dragon Mountain Range's peaks. The quality completely outclassed cow and goat milk, so whenever Ganyu was looking particularly 'tender,' Diona would look for a chance to swipe one or two of the dozen or so bottles she produced each month.
While doing her best to ignore the sounds of people having fun a few meters away, Diona rocked her body from side to side with a gleeful smile on her face as she finished off her current reserves. Fortunately, now that Ganyu was back from her unexpected trip to the North, and with Paul, no less, Diona knew it wouldn't be long before she could replenish her stock.
Others might not notice such things, but Diona could tell that Ganyu had produced even more milk than usual this month. Sleeping with Paul likely ramped up her production, so even though she was a little annoyed that the former was having fun while she was asleep in the next room, Diona's heart and stomach had already forgiven him...
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"So your plan is to enter the capital, ensure the safety of your children, and then flee if things go South?"
After enjoying a brief, twenty-minute cuddle session, Ningguang and Paul eventually got around to discussing the reason for his surprise visit to the Strife Zone. She had already received a report from Ganyu, but Ningguang believed it was important to hear things from Paul's point of view. He was, after all, the lynchpin upon which all their futures hinged.
Nodding his head in affirmation, Paul asserted, "Even if I don't think I'm ready to be a father, I don't want to be the type of shitbag who tries to avoid responsibility for his actions. It isn't their fault they were born into this world, so I have an obligation to keep them safe until they figure out a path for themselves..."
Though she smiled approvingly in response to Paul's words, Ningguang felt an atypical urge to roll her eyes. As for the reason, well, it was fairly straightforward...
"Well, if that's the case, you'll be relieved to know that your children aren't in the capital. The Water God, Reida, had enough foresight to deliver them in secrecy. At the present moment, the two of them are living safely within the Notos Estate."
"..."
Since he already knew his kids were staying with his parents, Paul wasn't entirely sure how to respond to Ningguang's words. The reason he was so worried was because it was only a matter of time before they were forced to relocate to the capital. At the very least, that's what he believed due to his upbringing as a Greater Noble...
Seeing the mixed emotions in Paul's expression, the most prominent being frustration, Ningguang quickly realized what must have happened. He had likely jumped to conclusions due to his general contempt for the Nobility, seemingly forgetting he wasn't the only one concerned for the twins' well-being.
"While it would be beneficial to have the twins relocate to the capital, that is a matter for the far future. More specifically, I intended to convince you to nominate your children for the position of-"
Interrupting Ningguang before she could finish, Paul answered, "Princess Ariel's Guardians. Yeah, I already figured that much out on my own. The problem here is that I don't want to use my kids as pawns to increase my power and influence. I get that it's a perfectly normal thing for people in my position, but I honestly couldn't care less about this world's common sense."
"Hmmm...I see..."
Though Paul's words invariably made things more difficult, Ningguang didn't blame or try to convince him to stick with her plan. Having his kids become the Guardians of Ariel might be the most straightforward way of improving relations with the Asura Kingdom, but it was far from their only option. The others were just a little more...aggressive...
"There are three options that are readily available to you. Two require you to place yourself in a relatively precarious position, but they are your best options if you want to ensure the safety of your entire family, not just your children. The first is to follow my original plan, demonstrating your loyalty to the Kingdom by serving as the King's envoy. As for the second..."
Drawing a line over her neck, Ningguang adopted a predatory smile as she added, "The second option is to expose yourself and play the part of a prophet. If you can convince the King you have knowledge of the future while also exhibiting power that presents an active threat to the Kingdom, he will have no choice but to consider your words carefully..."
Adopting a marginally more serious expression, Ningguang explained, "The problem with that method is that entities such as Perugius, Orsted, and Hitogami will begin monitoring your every action. Countless people will try to assassinate you, and, in the worst-case scenario, Orsted may hunt you down for no better reason than removing an unknown variable..."
Furrowing his brows, Paul asked, "And how is that supposed to help me protect my family...?"
Holding up three fingers, Ningguang answered, "Zhongli, Kusanali, and Ei. If you display their power and attest to being the Master of three Greater Elemental Spirits, the First Prince and his Faction will be too afraid of the consequences to take overt action against you or your family. Sure, some will try, but House Notos wouldn't have endured for thousands of years if it was vulnerable against assassins. That just leaves convincing the King you're not a threat, or, more specifically, a threat to his reign..."
Pulling out her pipe, Ningguang allowed Paul a moment to think as she packed it with a substance resembling processed hemp. She had far more potent substances available, but she knew Paul wasn't particularly fond of smoking. He never chastised her for it, but he would always adopt a frown and keep his distance...
Seeing Ningguang packing her long pipe, Paul, unsurprisingly, furrowed his brows. In response, she turned her eyes up at him and said, "Relax. I wasn't going to light it..." in a playful tone.
"Uh-huh..."
Since he knew Ningguang probably had other things going on besides entertaining him, Paul planted a surprise kiss on her lips before asking, "And the third option? I'll do it if I have to, but I'm not really in a hurry to expose myself to those three monsters. I still want to grow a bit stronger before I start walking around like I own the world..."
Though she took a moment to touch her lips, Ningguang eventually went on the state, "I thought you might say that. That's why the third option is to remain here in the Strife Zone. Here, you can spend time with everyone while focusing on expanding your power and influence. Didn't you want to start expanding your Teleportation Network...?"
"Mmm..."
Noticing the conflict in Paul's gaze, a soft chuckle emanated from Ningguang's throat before she leaned her head against his shoulder and asserted, "No matter what you choose, we will continue to support you to the best of our ability. And, who knows? If things go well tonight, we may have even more options to work with..."
Since Paul had already revealed his intentions to do a mass summoning, Ningguang informed him of all the gold she had set aside for him. She had effectively seized control of every operational mine along the 'wings' and 'spine' of the Red Dragon Mountain Range. Few yielded prized resources such as gold, silver, and platinum, but that didn't really matter since Paul had managed to acquire Albedo.
Though she was incapable of turning lead into gold, Albedo's mastery of the 'Art of Khemia' had almost universal applications. With the assistance of people like Zhongli, Kusanali, Yoimiya, and even Qiqi, she had managed to create antibiotics, several types of fertilizer, and some rather terrifying explosives. She had yet to make any progress towards finding a 'solution' to long-term separation from Paul, but the simplest way to deal with that was to prevent him from thinking about them.
Paul wasn't aware of it, but it was his desire/longing to be reunited with certain people that caused them to feel increasingly stressed when they were apart. While it was true their bodies would become unstable if they didn't periodically receive his 'essence,' it wasn't as bad as Kay's situation made it out to be. So long as they didn't overexert themselves, they could persist almost indefinitely so long as they consumed mana-rich foods and liquids. They would simply never feel completely satiated, a condition that invariably led to all kinds of problems.
While tracing her index finger around one of the buttons on Paul's tunic, Ningguang added, "If you manage to attain another one of the Seven, those that have been forced to sit idly these past three years will finally be able to move. I'm personally hoping for Lady Murata, but even Venti would be a tremendous boon if you decide to take Jean with you to the Capital..."
Though they had more Cryo and Hydro allies than Pyro or Anemo allies, Ningguang wasn't in any hurry to have Paul summon the Tsaritsa. Varuna was also widely regarded as a 'justice nut,' so her presence was bound to affect the group's stability. As for Murata and Venti, the former only really cared about fighting, a perfect fit for the Strife Zone, while the latter had a flair for the dramatic and a penchant for heralding revolutions.
With Ningguang bringing up Venti, a 'serious,' contemplative expression appeared on Paul's face as he seriously considered whether she would actually look any different. Before Mihoyo made a statement about it, the entire Genshin community had mistaken Venti as a petite, rather adorable female bard. When it was eventually revealed that she was, in fact, a he, a lot of people were understandably pissed. It didn't help that 'his' Archon outfit had her wearing almost panty-like shorts with absolutely no sign of a bulge...
Seeing Paul with such a serious look on his face, Ningguang decided not to interrupt him. She didn't know what he was thinking about, but it must be something important to him.
When Paul finally came back to his senses, Ningguang elected to reveal, "We have around 138,000 AGC in our coffers, but it's been separated into various caches around the Strife Zone. If you need additional funds, I can only provide you with around 15,000 at the present moment."
Shaking his head, Paul said, "That shouldn't be necessary. I don't know the exact amount, but I still have a metric fuck-ton of gold sitting in the IOF. If I can't acquire at least one Archon with all of that, the system is rigged..."
Though they both felt as though Paul had just jinxed himself, Ningguang managed a supportive smile as she mused, "Then I'll leave it to you. For now, there are a few matters that require my attention. If you could send Ganyu and Kokomi to assist me, that would be a great help. Xingqiu and Yaoyao have done their best to pick up the slack, but Ganyu's thousands of years of experience make her an irreplaceable asset..."
Hearing Ningguang casually refer to Ganyu as an asset, Paul couldn't help furrowing his brows. He knew she didn't mean anything by it, but he didn't like hearing the lovable Qilin being objectified.
Resisting the urge to roll her eyes, Ningguang gave Paul a nudge with her shoulder, saying, "It's a business term. With one apparent exception, no one values Ganyu more than I do. Not in terms of her actual value, but as a friend and confidant. There is a reason she is the only one I allow to see my vulnerable side..."
While it is was true she used to view Ganyu as an extremely convenient relic of the past, living and working together for seven years had a way of breaking down such sentiments. She would never admit it to anyone, not even Paul, but she would often rest her head on Ganyu's smooth, slightly cool thighs after a particularly tiresome day of work.&nbsp;
Paul wasn't the only one who benefitted from Ganyu's calming presence...
Deciding to take Ningguang's words at face value, Paul nodded his head and said, "I'll send them over. After that, I'll probably spend the rest of the day looking around and meeting up with everyone I haven't had the chance to talk to. I know I shouldn't tease her too much, but I'm kind of looking forward to seeing how Gorou is going to react now that she has developed in such an extreme manner..."
"Ah..."
Recalling how Gorou had hidden away for several days following her 'explosive' development, a wry smile developed across Ningguang's face. Gorou had since gotten used to being a buxom and attractive beauty, but it had taken a lot of outside support to get her out of her depressive state.&nbsp;
It didn't help that nearly all their male staff and more than sixty members of the Beast Race had attempted to court her this mating season alone...
"Just try not to stare too much. Gorou gets really self-conscious about the size of her breasts and butt. Also, as enticing as they may be, you should avoid attempting to caress her head or touch her tail. She needs to be the one to make the first move, or she might suffer a mental breakdown..."
Feeling nervous all of a sudden, Paul's smile cramped as he tentatively inquired, "Should I just avoid her then...?
Shaking her head, Ningguang's expression became serious as she said, "You should just be yourself, minus the perversion. Gorou knows what she 'needs' to do, so she will eventually take the initiative so long as you don't view her like a piece of meat. She will doubtlessly be extremely awkward at first, but it shouldn't take her long to open up since you're the type that can't help feeling genuine concern for others..."
"..."
Recalling that Ningguang and the others were effectively able to sense his thoughts through their empathic connection, Paul now had a better understanding of why everyone regarded him as a good person. Even if he presented a casual and easy-going smile on the surface, they had been able to sense the worry and concern hidden beneath his mask of calm...
("Fuck my life...")
...
..
.

Chapter 109: MI109: Lingering