Mushoku Impact

With Klee sleeping soundly in her bedroom, watched over by quite a number of people, Paul freshened up with the intention of participating in that evening's auction. Most of the items on sale technically belonged to him, but he was still interested in checking things out as auctions were a fairly common trope in fantasy settings. Thus, with Ei, Ghislaine, and Lilia in tow, Paul paid the 10 AGC fee to secure himself one of the ten VIP booths typically reserved for high-ranking members of the nobility and Church.
"I hate this..."
As she wasn't used to wearing restrictive clothing, Ghislaine had a grumpy look on her face as Paul had asked her to don a predominately black, red-trimmed kimono. He had no problems with her usual outfit, consisting of a pair of loose-fit trousers and a black, bra-like top, but he didn't want any of the people attending the auction to mistake her for a slave. She might not care, but it bothered Paul to have people mistake those closest to him as 'lessers.'
Ruffling the 193cm tall woman's hair, Paul said, "Just put up with it for a few hours. I'll make it up to you once we return to the Inn."
Though she furrowed her brows, Ghislaine made no attempts to evade Paul's hand. Instead, she tolerated his caress, crossing her arms as she grumbled, "I don't understand why you care about the opinions of people you resent. You already ran rampant through the White Palace. If anyone gives us crap, we can just beat them up and be done with it."
Adopting a smile, Paul replied, "You're not wrong..." before patting his lap, prompting Ghislaine to eventually take a seat as he added, "The problem with resorting to violence is that you'll need to continue employing it to maintain control. It also serves as a corrupting force to the people using it and those around them. The moment a leader stops caring or considering the consequences of their actions, they become a despot and a tyrant..."
Maintaining her furrowed look, Ghislaine asked, "Does it matter? Even if you become a tyrant, you can still inspire people and improve the lives of your subjects. Caring too much about the opinions of others will give your enemies the impression you're weak."
Nodding his head, Paul mused, "Perhaps. But that isn't necessarily a bad thing. Those with the capacity to oppose us will do so regardless of what we do. If a couple of clowns mistake us as easy marks, it gives people like Ningguang the leverage she needs to 'justly' ruin them..."
Recalling her past interactions with Ningguang, most of Ghislaine's doubts vanished. She knew the former wasn't very powerful, but for reasons she couldn't fully understand, Ghislaine couldn't imagine defeating her. A certain sense of 'surety' exuded from Ningguang's every word and action. If Ghislaine didn't know better, she could have easily been convinced the peculiar white-haired woman was the descendant of an omniscient God...
Seeing Ghislaine abruptly fall silent, a wry smile adorned Paul's face. He knew better than most how capable Ningguang was, but it was awkward knowing Ghislaine had more 'faith' in someone she hardly interacted with over him, someone she had accompanied for years.
Fortunately, just as Paul was thinking about ways to salvage his standing, the lights within the auction hall quickly dimmed, followed by the central stage lighting up. Shortly after, a rather buxom woman with inordinately long pink hair stepped out of the shadows, her shapely figure garbed in what could best be described as an old-fashioned pantsuit.
Voicing the thought that had just crossed Paul's mind, Ghislaine muttered, "She's strong..." in a silent yet severe tone.
Nodding his head, Paul replied, "It makes sense, considering the value of the items up for grabs. If the people in charge were weak, they wouldn't be able to ensure the safety of their customers and stock..."
Though the pink-haired woman was at best a Sword Saint, even the cuff links she wore were enchanted with powerful Magics. She likely wouldn't be able to contend against a King, but the average Saint would struggle to leave so much as a scratch on her.
As if sensing Paul's and Ghislaine's thoughts, the pink-haired woman briefly cast her gaze to their elevated booth, narrowing her amethyst eyes in amusement before looking down to address the masked crowd below. The Fontaine Auction House mandated that all its attendees wear masks and hooded cloaks to prevent those in positions of power and authority from pressuring the other guests. That didn't stop certain people from shouting out the organizations and companies they were affiliated with, but the price of doing so was a life-long ban or a fine of 100,000 Royal Notes.
"Greetings, distinguished Lords, Ladies, and guests from afar. I would like to welcome you to the Fontaine Auction House. For those of you who are unfamiliar with our institution, allow me the honor of introducing myself. I am Baroness Christina Juliana Lawrence, heiress of House Lawrence and Chief Financier of the Lawrence Mining Company. I'm 23 and single, but if you'd like to try your hand at winning my wealth and favor, be prepared to prove your worth in a duel."
With Christina directing her final few words in the general direction of his booth, a somewhat wry smile developed across Paul's face. He wasn't exactly lacking in female companions, so while Christina was certainly a bombshell in terms of appearance and disposition, Paul wasn't as moved as he would have been a few years prior. The crowd below, however, was abuzz with excitement as, after joining hands with House Fontaine, House Lawrence had become one of the wealthiest in all of Milishion.
*snap*
Demonstrating the borderline heinous amplification effect of her gloves, Christina snapped her fingers with enough force to produce a weak but incredibly loud shockwave, silencing the crowd and deterring a few of the bolder guests from trying to challenge her on the spot. At the same time, yet another voluptuous beauty stepped onto the stage, this time wearing a fairly modern bunny suit and pushing a silver cart. However, rather than fake ears and a detachable tail, hers were the real deal, the distinct traits of the 'Warrior Bunny' tribe.
After pushing the cart next to Christina, the bunny girl bowed low before returning to the shadows. Immediately following her departure, Christina pulled away the covering concealing the item up for auction, revealing an ornate dagger with a jewel-encrusted handle.
"Our first item is a magical dagger recovered from the A-Rank Labyrinth, Palace of Greed. It possesses the unique ability 'Wound Agitation,' making even the tiniest of cuts potentially fatal. The inaugural bid is six Milis Gold Coins. If you'd like to bid for this item, the minimum increment is one Milis Gold Coin while the maximum is ten."
Following Christina's introduction of the item, a bidding war immediately broke out in the general seating area. Magic items were fairly rare in the market as most Adventurers kept them as heirlooms to pass on to their descendants. More importantly, the dagger brought out by Christina was uniquely suited to assassinations. Even if they had no intention of using it, the Nobles within the crowd felt compelled to purchase the dagger just to avoid finding it in their back at a later date...
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After witnessing more than a dozen relatively mundane items come and go, Paul began losing interest in the auction. Most magical items couldn't hold a candle to the equipment he obtained via the Intersection of Fate, so the only article that caught his interest was a mithril-infused kite shield purported to be able to reflect Saint-ranked Magic. However, as none of his companions specialized in utilizing shields, he decided to abstain from the bidding war that followed.
Fortunately, just as Paul was seriously considering retiring early, one of the rotating bunny girls brought forth a large red cushion bearing a single, silvery-white ring with a tiny blood-red gemstone. It wasn't nearly as eye-catching as some of the other items put up for auction, but its description caused tensions within the auction hall to become palpable.
"Our second-to-last article for the night is a magic ring discovered at the bottom of the S-Rank Labyrinth, Abyssal Plummet. Appearances aside, it possesses the exceptionally rare ability 'Sacrifice,' effectively granting its wielder a second life in the face of imminent death. The inaug-"
Before Christina could finish introducing the item, an incredibly deep voice emanated from the VIP box next to Paul's, stating, "100,000 Royal Notes." in a decisive tone. This was the equivalent of 50,000 Asura Gold Coins, so the only people who could contend against such a monstrous sum were those in possession of a Platinum Coin. However, as the voice originated from one of the boxes 'reserved' for high-ranking members of the Nobility and Church, no one in the general seating area was 'brazen' enough to contend the bid.
Undaunted by the bidder's status, Christina plainly declared, "It is against policy to state a bid before the inaugural bid is announced. Everyone who enters this hall agrees to abide by its rules and regulations, so I'm afraid the distinguished guest in booth number three is barred from competing for this particular item. Further violations will prevent you from competing in future auctions as well."
*audible gasps*
Though the Fontaine Auction House was regarded as the most reputable in the entire city, none of the people in the general seating area expected Christina to stand against the voice emanating from the VIP booth. House Lawrence had risen to enviable heights in a relatively short period of time. Still, even with the backing of House Fontaine, it couldn't hope to contend against the families that had ruled the Milis Holy Kingdom for generations.
Contrasting expectations, the person seated in booth number three didn't respond to Christina's 'provocation.' Instead, a tense silence fell upon the entire auction house, broken only when Christina went on to declare, "As I was saying, the inaugural bid will start at 100MGC. If you would like to bid for this item, the minimum increment is 10MGC while the maximum is 100."
Despite the relatively low starting bid, no one in the general seating area dared to compete for the ring. Doing so meant incurring the wrath of one of the most powerful families in all of Milishion, a family that undoubtedly had the backing of the Church. The last thing any of them wanted was a surprise visit from the Inquisition, so the hall remained silent for nearly a full minute until Paul mused, "I'll raise the maximum amount."
Hearing Paul's bid, a clamor spread through the audience hall, not just because he dared to compete against the voice from before but because his bid originated from the centermost VIP booth. Said booth had never once been used during previous auctions, not because it was unavailable but because there was an unspoken agreement between members of the Milis Aristocracy that the most lavish accommodations were reserved for the Pope and his Archbishops.
Interrupting the clamor before it could reach a crescendo, Christina loudly proclaimed, "That's 200 Milis Gold Coins from the gentleman seated in booth number one! Would anyone like to bid 210? This is a fairly rare item, you know~?"
Despite Christina's words, no one in the general seating area raised their paddles. As a result, Christina had no choice but to begin the countdown that would have granted Paul the rights to the sacrificial ring. Before she could finish the countdown, however, a soft and feminine voice emanated from the second VIP booth, stating, "We shall bid 300."
Striking a pose, Christina shouted, "Now we're talking! I have 300MGC from the esteemed guest seated in booth number two! Can I get 310!? Perhaps even four~!?"
Once again contrasting expectations, Paul shook his head, choosing to abstain from further bidding. The only reason he put forth an initial bid was to spite the person seated in booth number three. Now that another VIP had made an offer, he didn't mind stepping down and allowing them to acquire the ring at an incredibly low cost. He originally planned to give the ring to Lilia, but as rare as the 'Sacrifice' enchantment was, it wasn't like it guaranteed the wearer's survival. It might save them from a fatal blow, but if the person who attacked them were still present, they would simply be prolonging the inevitable...
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(A/N: Christina is based on the character of the same name in Granblue Fantasy.)

Though there was still one more item up for auction, Paul figured it was probably best to leave before the person seated in booth number three came looking for trouble. Fortunately, while the VIP booths were located relatively close to one another, the passages leading up to them were entirely separate, affording the people leasing them the maximum amount of privacy when departing to collect their items.
Upon reaching the exterior of the Auction House, Paul briefly turned his gaze skyward, marveling at the star-filled sky overhead as he remarked, "It's still pretty early. Want to walk around for a bit before we head back?"
Speaking before Ei or Lilia, Ghislaine flatly replied, "I'd rather change out of these clothes first. After that, I'm down for pretty much anything."
Shifting his gaze to the busty, kimono-wearing cat girl, Thomas remarked, "I'm not going to force the matter, but you should get used to dressing in more formal attire. After all, you 'are' the Ambassador of the Great Forest. It might be a pain in the ass, but you'll have to &nbsp;meet and interact with all kinds of Nobles in the future."
Exhaling a steamy sigh, a byproduct of the frigid evening air, Ghislaine groaned, "What a pain in the ass..."
Empathizing with Ghislaine's plight, a wry smile developed across Paul's face as he said, "Look on the bright side. Most dignitaries hailing from the Great Forest are easily taken advantage of due to their lack of knowledge about the outside world. You have all of us to support you, so even if you aren't the sharpest tool in the shed, you don't have to worry about falling prey to the schemes of others."
Furrowing her brows, Ghislaine narrowed her eyes at Paul as she asked, "Are you calling me an idiot?"
Restraining a chuckle, Paul teased, "Everyone has their strengths and weaknesses. You might lack knowledge, but you're a genius at combat. Once you reach the Rank of an Emperor or a God, people will agree with you even if you say the sky is purple."
Though she was slightly annoyed at Paul's quip about her being a little dull, Ghislaine couldn't help smiling as she imagined herself as a Sword God. Such heights seemed beyond her reach just a few years ago. Now, thanks to the power of her Anemo Vision and an abundance of powerful training partners, she could already trade blows with an Emperor at the relatively young age of twenty-three. If she could handily defeat one of the existing Kings, Gal may even bequeath her the title of Emperor right then and there...
Interrupting Ghislaine's reverie, Paul remarked, "How about this? Once we return to the Inn, we'll have Ganyu take your measurements. If it's her, I'm certain she could make you an outfit that's both elegant and easy to move in. If not, we could always modify one of the outfits from the IOF to make it fit you. I'll ask Katheryne to lend or sell me the catalog so you can take a look."
Though her cat-like ears perked up, Ghislaine crossed her arms and averted her eyes from Paul as she replied, "You shouldn't waste money. Just pick something you think suits me. If it sucks, I'll be sure to let you know."
Nodding his head in affirmation, Paul shifted his gaze to Ei and Lilia to ask if they would also like something from the IOF. All three girls were already wearing clothing acquired in such a way, but variety was one of the spices of life. Wearing the same attire every single day might be convenient, but it was also a surefire way to get people to gossip about your finances and lack of sense...
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Since he didn't want to force Ghislaine to walk around in a restrictive kimono, Paul and co returned to the Inn for an impromptu, late-night fashion show. The unplanned event cost Paul a whopping 2300AGC, but, as even the swimsuits acquired from the IOF could be considered S-Rank Magical Artifacts, it was well worth the expense.
What surprised Paul was that the catalog had an entire section devoted to crossover outfits. One such outfit, originally reserved for Beidou, was the tattered yet stylish white kimono worn by Baiken in the Guilty Gear series. It wasn't exactly the most 'appropriate' attire for social occasions, but it suited Ghislaine to such an extent that Paul couldn't help purchasing it the moment he saw it.
Though she was initially put off by the idea of wearing another kimono, Ghislaine quickly learned that Baiken's 'bancho' attire was anything but restrictive. It emphasized her cleavage to an almost ludicrous extent, but, as Baiken was a master swordswoman, her attire was even easier to move in than Ghislaine's usual outfit. The only downside was that it wasn't even remotely suited to formal occasions, so Paul forked over an additional 100 AGC to acquire her a fairly modern-looking pantsuit. He originally tried to get her to wear a smock-like dress with a corset, but Ghislaine refused to even humor the idea of wearing a piece of clothing that compressed her diaphragm and made it difficult to contort her body. Her swordsmanship revolved around her natural agility and flexibility, so the only corset she would consider wearing was the lace one Paul sometimes had her and the other girls don in the bedroom...
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After yet another sleepless night, Paul was relaxing with Diona curled up in his lap when Noelle arrived to inform him that Dimsaul wished to meet with him. He wasn't really in the mood to entertain guests, but he thanked Noelle for her report before rousing Diona and getting ready for what he expected to be a long day.
*twenty minutes later*
Seeing Paul enter the lounge, Dimsaul and his adjutant immediately rose to their feet, bowing respectfully as the former said, "Good morning, Sir Paul. And thank you for agreeing to meet with me on such short notice..."
Gesturing for the duo to raise their heads, Paul said, "Don't mention it," before taking a seat and asking, "So, what is this I hear about a group of Inquisitors raiding the warehouse we're leasing from House Fontaine? I understand they're an organization of zealots, but that's a transcendental level of stupidity."
Adopting a slight smile, Dimsaul replied, "Such is the way of those who have been in power for too long. They're so used to getting their way that they scarcely consider the consequences of their actions."
Approving of Dimsaul's words, Paul gave a slight nod before asking, "What are the damages?"
Retrieving a document from his adjutant, Dimsaul handed it to Paul as he explained, "Several of our wares were labeled as contraband and seized despite us having completed the necessary customs forms. We were told the items would be returned to us after an audit was performed, but such procedures generally take between six months to an entire year."
Furrowing his brows, Paul retorted, "What a farce. Someone is either attempting to keep us here or taking advantage of the fact we're in a 'hurry' to return to the Asura Kingdom."
Looking over the documents provided by Dimsaul, Paul noted that many of the items listed were, in fact, considered contraband within the city of Milishion. However, that was in regards to selling, not transporting them. So long as they paid the required tariff and signed documentation that affirmed they would not be distributing contraband within the city limits, storing and transporting such goods was entirely legal.
Folding up the document, Paul slipped it into his breast pocket as he said, "Just leave this to me. I'll be meeting with the Lady of House Fontaine this coming Sunday. If this matter isn't resolved before then, I imagine it won't take much longer."
Though the Order of the Temple could doctor or 'misplace' the customs records, one of the things that made Varuna so feared was the 'Blessing' she was known to possess. Her ability to discern whether or not someone was speaking the truth was on par with the highest-grade lie-detection artifacts. She also didn't hesitate to subject herself to a similar degree of scrutiny, so she was the nemesis of anyone that attempted to abuse their power and authority for deceit. The moment news of the raid reached her ears, Paul had little doubt that Varuna would be conducting an audit of all the people involved. If not for her inborn sense of justice, then to receive his praise...
Imagining his impending reunion with both Varuna and Barbara, a wry smile adorned Paul's face as he asked, "Is there anything else? If not, I'll leave the two of you to return to your duties."
With Paul promptly rising after he spoke, Dimsaul found himself in a rather awkward situation as he rose to his feet and hurriedly stated, "Ah, please wait a moment, Sir Paul. There was one other matter..."
Raising his brows, Paul turned to meet Dimsaul's gaze, asking, "What is it?" in a confused tone. Noelle hadn't informed him of any other matters, so he was in a hurry to return to his quarters and rest the remaining half hour before breakfast.
As he wasn't really in a position to delay Paul, a cold sweat broke out across Dimsaul's body as he explained, "Baroness Christina Lawrence reached out to us earlier this morning and asked us to inquire if you might accompany her mid-morning tea..."
"Ah..."
Recalling his mental image of the buxom, pink-haired auctioneer, Paul was genuinely tempted to accept her invitation. Unfortunately, not that he was complaining, he had already made plans with Venti, Ghislaine, and Xinyan. They were going to spend the day sampling the local wine and delicacies, so, as tempted as he was by Christina's invitation, Paul felt that pandering to the regional nobility was significantly less important than tending to his women.
Adopting a faint smile, Paul stated, "Please convey to Baroness Christina that I am grateful for her offer. However, as I already have quite a number of prior commitments, I must reluctantly refuse her invitation. If she'd like to reschedule for sometime next week, speak with Jean or Ganyu to make the arrangements."
Bowing alongside his adjutant, Dimsaul replied, "As you will, Sir Paul." He personally didn't think it was a good idea to blow off a rising member of Milishion's Nobility just to 'play around,' but he dared not question Paul's decisions. Even the weaker members of Paul's entourage were Saints and Kings, so he was clearly doing something right...
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"Hot damn..."
Though he had seen it the previous night, Paul couldn't help gawking at Ghislaine in Baiken's attire. If he wasn't aware of the outfit's origins, he could have easily been convinced it was custom-made specifically for her.
Crossing her arms in a manner that accentuated her breasts, Ghislaine pretended to be annoyed as she flatly remarked, "Yeah, yeah, I get it. You like big-breasted women. Do you really have to be such a horndog all the time...?"
Answering in Paul's stead, Venti animatedly replied, "Of course he does, my dear cat-eared friend! How else is he supposed to meet the needs of dozens of women~? You might only get horny during mating season, but some of us are active year-round, twenty-four-seven~."
Punctuating her statement, Venti clung to Paul in a way that sandwiched his arm between her borderline ludicrous bust. She was easily the woman Paul slept with the most, but that did little to quell her passions. Rather, every time she birthed a Seelie, she felt an almost overwhelming desire to produce another.
Observing Venti's behavior, the annoyed look on Ghislaine's face became genuine as she remarked, "You're even worse than a Succubus..."
Instead of being offended by Ghislaine's statement, Venti covered her mouth and snickered in a manner reminiscent of Kishirika. She and the two Demon Empresses had grown fairly close during Paul's stay in the Demon Continent, so many of their more 'demonic' traits had rubbed off on her.
Interjecting before a potential fight could break out, Paul teased, "The two of you got along well during the last Mating Season. What's with the sudden hostilities~?"
Clicking her tongue, Ghislaine averted her eyes and refused to answer Paul's question. She refused to admit she was envious of the attention Venti received, so she just remained silent, her tail swishing behind her in a manner that clearly conveyed her frustration.
Seeing Ghislaine genuinely upset, Paul was about to console her when the final member of their party, Xinyan, awkwardly raised her hand. She had become increasingly more reticent over the past two years, wearing her hair down and gaining a markedly more 'feminine' aura.
As the gazes of Paul, Ghislaine, and Venti all shifted to her, the look on Xinyan's face became marginally more awkward as she suggested, "We should probably get going. We're beginning to draw a crowd..."
Looking around, Paul noticed that quite a few people were observing them. The vast majority were stealing glances at Ghislaine's chest and Venti's partially exposed panties, but there were a few with disgruntled looks due to the commotion they were causing. After all, they were in the middle of the Commercial District.
Nodding his head, Paul extended his free hand to Xinyan as he said, "Then let's be off," in a sing-song tone. His actions caused the bronze-skinned beauty to visibly shrink, but it only took a moment for her to step closer and accept his hand. She may have mellowed out a bit during their stay in the Demon Continent, but it wasn't to the point she would refuse to hold hands with the man she loved...
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(A/N: If you want to see Ghislaine in a Baiken outfit, click this comment.)

With time to kill until Barbara's day off, Paul decided to spend time with the girls, taking advantage of the fact they were located near the center of the Commercial District.
As the name implied, the Commercial District was where most merchants had set up shop within Milishion. This included blacksmiths and tailors, so Paul set out with Jean, Eula, Klee, Xiangling, and Ganyu to have their non-Vision-based equipment repaired and to purchase local ingredients.
"Big brother, over there~! Klee wants to go there next...!"
With the spirited Elfette leaning against the back of his head and pointing in the direction she wanted him to go, Paul, with Klee riding his shoulders, made his way over to what could best be described as an old-fashioned toy store. There were objects such as wooden rocking horses and hand-whittled animals on display, the former of which was powered by a Magic Stone that allowed it to sway back and forward of its own accord.
Seeing how expensive even a simple wooden top was, Paul couldn't help frowning. The shop clearly catered to the nobility. However, considering most peasants, serfs, and slaves didn't really have time to play around, it wasn't too surprising.
"Do you want me to buy you a toy?" asked Paul. "The ones you make are much higher quality than anything on display here."
Catching Paul a little off guard, Klee giggled before saying, "Silly, Big brother. Klee isn't a little kid anymore. Klee wants to buy presents for all the children working at the Auction House. Big brother always says it's important to play as hard as you work, so Klee wants to reward them for working super hard~!"
Piggybacking off of Klee's words, Jean explained, "Several of the Beast Race children we picked up have chosen to apprentice with the Teyvat Trading Company. They wish to repay the favor of having their lives spared, so they're currently learning basic arithmetic alongside speaking, reading, and writing the Human and Demon God languages."
"Ah..."
Recalling how much the average Beast Person struggled with reading and writing their native language, a wry smile marred Paul's face. Members of the Beast Race weren't exactly stupid, but they were less reliant on verbal and written communication than other races. Their communities were also socialistic and extremely hierarchal in nature, so they didn't rely on things like currency to denote the value of goods. Everyone was given a purpose based on their capabilities and often dedicated their entire lives to the job assigned to them by their respective Chieftain. Thus, with few exceptions, most members of the Beast Race simply had no need for things like math, reading, and writing. They just did as they were told.
Believing it would be good for the children to have something to distract them during their off time, Paul, Klee, Ganyu, and Xiangling made their way into the store while Jean and Eula remained outside as a deterrent. The duo was serving as Paul's escort, so their attire was nearly identical to the Knightly Maid attire worn by Noelle. The latter had become the de facto uniform the girls wore while on duty, so Paul gave off the impression of a 'proper' Noble to anyone that happened to be observing his group's foray through the Commercial District.
Reinforcing this sentiment, the clerk within the toy store enthusiastically greeted Paul's group with a stooped posture the moment they stepped inside. It was a little unorthodox for a Noble to walk around in public with someone riding their shoulders, but the aura surrounding Paul's group and the quality of their clothes and equipment made it apparent they were, at the very least, exceptionally wealthy.
Before responding to the somewhat fat, incredibly nervous-looking man, Paul removed Klee from his shoulders, allowing her to look around with Xiangling while he conversed with the owner. He had little interest in most of the items on display, but those powered by Magic Crystals and Stones were worthy of attention.
Making the portly store owner tense, Paul asked, "Are you responsible for creating these trinkets? I noticed several of them are enchanted. Are you a Mage?"
Instead of answering Paul's question, the store owner took out a cloth to wipe his brow, asking, "Are...I mean, is the esteemed gentleman affiliated with the Order of the Temple?"
Understanding the man's concerns, Paul adopted a relaxed smile, shaking his head as he answered, "Be at ease. My companions and I hail from the Kingdom of Asura. I was just curious as I never expected to encounter a Magic Craftsman conducting business within the Holy City. You must have quite the backing to avoid persecution from the Templars."
Exhaling a sigh of relief, the store owner adopted a broad, yellow-toothed grin as he happily revealed, "It's all thanks to Her Grace, the Venerable Lady Fontaine. She will not hesitate to punish those who persecute and oppress others, so businesses like mine have managed to gain a foothold beneath the banner of the Demon Acceptance Faction. Members of the Demon Expulsion Faction occasionally come around to cause trouble, but they aren't nearly as brazen as they used to be."
Recalling how Varuna had threatened to kill him if he failed her test, Paul didn't need a detailed explanation to understand what happened to those who wielded justice and faith as weapons to oppress others. The moment Varuna learned of their tyranny, she would have slain them without mercy.
"I see," said Paul. "It appears Milishion is on the verge of a much-needed change. I hope your store continues to thrive in the far future."
Adopting an even bigger grin, the store owner mused, "The esteemed gentleman's business would go a long way toward ensuring that. I can confidently state you won't find a broader selection of magical trinkets and baubles in all of Milishion, so you would be remiss to leave without purchasing anything."
Directing his gaze to Klee, the store owner's eyes glistened a bit as he mused, "They say you can't put a price on a child's happiness. I'm sure the esteemed gentleman wouldn't want to make his younger sister sad by departing empty-handed~."
Exhaling a faintly amused snort, Paul remarked, "You're not wrong," before pulling out a billfold filled with Yen-like banknotes. The pale green variant, known as a General Note, was valued at around a single Asura Silver Coin, while the pale pink denomination, known as a Holy Royal Note, was worth around half an Asuran Gold Coin. Paul's billfold was stuffed with the latter, so the store owner's eyes became as round as saucers as the smile on his face strained the muscles of his cheeks.
Interrupting and simultaneously stoking the man's greedy thoughts, Paul stated, "I need seventy-three toys suited to Beast Race children. I expect a reasonable price and a matching quality. If you attempt to scam me with inferior goods...well, let's just say things won't end well."
Though Paul didn't exude his aura, the narrowing of his eyes was enough to send shivers through the store owner's plump body, prompting the man to raise his hands and exclaim, "I wouldn't dare!" in a fearful tone.
Adopting an approving smile, Paul remarked, "Good," before handing over the billfold and adding, "Make sure the items are of similar quality. I don't want the children fighting over them. Once you are done, take them over to the Fontaine Auction House. Ask for a man named Dimsaul and tell him Paul Greyrat sent you. He'll take care of the rest."
Hearing Paul's name and the intended destination of his goods, a cold sweat broke out across the store owner's body. Paul's 'assault' on the White Palace was currently the talk of the town in Milishion. Even before that, he was world-famous as the youngest Water King in history, so the store owner couldn't help swallowing as he nervously inquired, "Are you truly Paul Greyrat...the King's Greatsword?"
Narrowing his eyes ever so slightly, Paul placed his hand on the man's shoulder and replied, "Don't disappoint me..." before retracing his hand and rejoining the girls. Klee had wanted to pick out toys for each of the Beast children, but Paul managed to convince her to leave it to the store owner before placing her on his shoulders and departing a few minutes later. Shortly after that, the store owner closed up shop before plopping to the ground, staring at Paul's billfold as if it were a pinless grenade...
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Though Paul had carried her around for most of the day, Klee fell asleep on the return trip to the Fontaine Auction House. It had been a long time since she explored such a populous city, so she was completely tuckered out, nestled within Paul's embrace with a contented smile as she clung to his neck and rested her head on his shoulder.
Unfortunately, Paul wasn't able to carry Klee all the way to her room as it wasn't just Dimsaul, Lilia, Ghislaine, and the girls from the IoF awaiting him outside the Fontaine Auction House. A very familiar carriage was also present, attended by a group of Knights wearing the distinctive, dark blue armor of the Order of the Temple.
After entrusting Klee to Jean, Paul approached the group's representative, none other than Ralkan Latreia, the presiding head of House Latreia. With him was a fairly handsome man in his late twenties to early thirties, the former possessing the distinct, golden-blonde hair of House Latreia while the latter had chestnut hair closer to Paul's original color; before it gained streaks of white.
Earning disproving looks from the two men, Paul dismissed with the usual formalities, maintaining a completely casual demeanor as he said, "Well, if it isn't the Lord of House Latreia, Earl Ralkan. And I suppose this is your would-be successor, the second son of House Caras, Sir Carlyte Caras~?"
Suppressing his very obvious disdain, Ralkan placed his hand over his chest and gave a proper Noble bow as he said, "It is a pleasure to make the acquaintance of the Asuran King's Greatsword, Sir Paul Greyrat."
Emulating his father-in-law's behavior, Carlyte also gave a proper bow and said, "And I am Carlyte 'Latreia...'" in a manner that emphasized his last name. Ralkan had adopted him into House Latreia as its future Lord, so referring to him by his original surname was an egregious insult.
Getting directly to the point, Paul asked, "So, what brings the two of you here? I would have thought the two of you would be pretty busy after the fiasco in the White Palace."
Raising his head, Ralkan stared directly into Paul's eyes as he replied, "I came here to apologize on behalf of my son. His foolishness allowed him to be taken advantage of, casting suspicion and bringing shame to all of House Latreia. Know that his punishment was not light..."
To emphasize his point, Ralkan gestured to his Chief Steward, Benson DeBois. In response, the elderly man stepped forward, presenting a box containing a severed left hand and multiple teeth. Rudigan's actions had nearly brought ruin to House Latreia, so Ralkan had unhesitantly turned him over to the Order of the Temple's Department of Inquisition. Their internal investigation concluded that Rudigan had no direct connection with the 'saboteurs' that had infiltrated the White Palace. However, as his ineptitude and folly had threatened the unity between the Holy and Asura Kingdoms, he would be spending the remainder of his short life in a prison cell.
Unmoved by the severed hand, Paul responded with a curt "Neat" before meeting Ralkan's gaze and asking, "Is that all? If so, I have other matters to attend. As for your apology, it is appreciated but unnecessary. I harbor no ill will toward House Latreia, and Archbishop Asheron has already mediated the matter on behalf of the Holy Kingdom. That being said, see you around."
Finished with what he had to say, Paul turned around and attempted to walk away, raising his hand as he did so. His behavior caused Carlyte's expression to darken, but the chestnut-haired man ultimately remained silent with a glance from Ralkan. The latter would have preferred to forge friendly relations with Paul, but avoiding an antagonistic relationship was far more integral to the survival of House Latreia...
...
..
.
(A/N: Ralkan may be opportunistic, but he isn't dumb...)

Chapter 210: Evening Auction