Mushoku Impact

Just as he had the day before, Paul took Venti, Ghislaine, and Xinyan to have their equipment repaired before moving to the Adventurer's District to begin their bar crawl.
Seeing how diverse the Adventurer's District was, catering to Humans, Beast People, and even Demons, Venti couldn't help remarking, "Wow, things are a lot livelier here than they are over in the Commercial District. If I didn't know better, I might have thought Milishion was accepting of every race and culture."
"We can thank the Adventurer's Guild for that," said Paul. "Their power increased exponentially in the wake of the Laplace War. Becoming an Adventurer is also one of the only ways most people can rise above the poverty line and make a name for themselves in higher societies. If the Church attempted to strip away that freedom, they would lose many of their would-be faithful."
Completely ignoring Paul's remarks, Venti sniffed at the air, her usual smile broadening as she remarked, "I detect the scent of adventure~!"
Pulling Paul's hand, Venti attempted to whisk him away in the direction her nose had decreed. Instead, Paul stood his ground, a relaxed smile adorning his face as he stated, "No need to rush. It's not like the local taverns will have anything of a higher quality than the alcohol we keep in storage. Let's take things slow and enjoy ourselves."
Though she relented to Paul's slower pace, Venti felt obligated to state, "Quality isn't what makes alcohol worth drinking. Even the most watered-down liquors can warm the soul if the environment is lively."
Adopting a marginally wrier smile, Paul remarked, "Just be careful. The people in this world can be...opportunistic. I won't hesitate to do so, but I'd rather not have to beat the shit out of every man who sees you as an 'opportunity' rather than a person."
Sticking out her tongue, Venti teased, "It's because you're around that I have the confidence to act without inhibition. Don't you know that it's the privilege of beautiful maidens to have their knight in shining armor defend them~?"
Nodding in affirmation, Paul's smile softened as he replied, "Then that's what I'll do..." in a somewhat defeated tone. This wasn't the first time he and Venti had gone bar crawling. So long as he didn't allow her to wander off, there shouldn't be any major issues...
...
..
.
While Paul was busy 'philandering' about, several hooded figures had gathered in a hidden location deep beneath the streets of Milishion. Most wore featureless white masks to conceal their identities, so the two that didn't belong stood out even more. The first was a ghastly-looking man with sunken eyes and a sickly complexion. He wore an eyepatch over his right eye, but his most striking feature was his seemingly perpetual smile. It was much broader than the average smile, so anyone who beheld it had the distinct impression the man was crazy.
Contrasting the man, though striking in her own way, the second figure was a fairly petite woman with crimson hair and red eyes. Her lithe frame was garbed in a black bodysuit, but her most prominent features were her curved, distinctly demonic horns, her crimson gauntlets, the collar around her neck, and the spear-like sword in her right hand.
Maintaining his perennial smile, the skull-faced man remarked, "Well, isn't this unusual? Even if it's thin, my bloodline is that of the Immortal Demon King. As members of the Demon-Expulsion Faction, don't you consider it a little 'heretical' to request my services? And not just mine, but one of the Succubi you loathe so vehemently..."
Representing the masked congregation, a deep-voiced man replied, "We did not invite you here to make conversation. Your target is Paul Greyrat, Special Envoy to the Asura Kingdom. His slights against the Holy Church and the Milishion Royal Family cannot go unpunished."
Crossing his arms, the skull-faced man mused, "Hooooo~? That kid has a knack for pissing off people in positions of power. I've received more than twenty requests for his head in just the past two years. It's a shame I can only collect a single bounty..."
Seemingly ignoring the skull-faced man's statement, the leader of the masked congregation expressed, "The Greyrat Houses are known for their vulnerability against Succubi. The two of you will work together to ensure the success of this mission. Failure isn't an option."
Furrowing her brows, the red-haired Succubus said, "I want seventy percent of my payment in advance..." in a cold yet strangely resonant voice.
Piggybacking off the Succubi's statement, the skull-faced man said, "I'll have to agree with the red-headed lass on this one. You people are pretty notorious for backstabbing your own. If you can't pay my fee up front, I'm afraid I'll have to wash my hands of this matter."
Originating from the other hooded figures gathered, a deep and feminine voice stated, "Even if you're the Death God, Randolph Mariann, killing Paul Greyrat is no simple feat. We can't have you forsaking the mission midway and fleeing with such a substantial sum..."
Shifting his exposed, crimson-red eye to the masked woman, Randolph asked, "You would question the capabilities of the man Ranked 4th among the Seven Great Powers? I've memorized your voice, scent, and build. You would be wise to avoid making enemies in the future..."
Though Randolph didn't release any of his touki, his words were enough to cause the usually arrogant woman's legs to tremble. The Order of the Temple was filled with opportunists looking to elevate themselves at the expense of their 'comrades.' If one of them reached out to Randolph and commissioned him to assassinate her, there was nothing she could do but clean her neck.
Speaking out before the woman could think to apologize, the leader of the masked congregation said, "Our words are not an underestimation of your capabilities, but caution in regards to your target. Paul Greyrat isn't simply the youngest King-Ranked Swordsman in history. The companions he keeps with him are monsters in their own right. At the very least, we suspect that there are five Kings and potentially even an Emperor among his entourage..."
Raising his brows, Randolph mused, "That would certainly explain the reward you're offering. 5,000,000 Asuran Gold Coins is the kind of price you'd offer for the head of the Pope or the Asuran King. You must think this kid's a serious threat if you want him dead that badly."
Hearing Randolph mention a commission fee of 5,000,000 AGC, the red-haired Succubi's brow twitched. She was only being offered 50,000 AGC for her services, so while she would never compare herself to the literal 'Death God,' the disparity in their remunerations left a bitter taste in her mouth...
Instead of responding to Randolph's probing, the leader of the masked congregation stated, "We have already made arrangements to have your reward transported to the Dragon King Kingdom via teleportation. Unless you possess a spatial storage device, transporting 140,000kgs of gold on your person might prove difficult..."
Rubbing his chin, the smile on Randolph's face broadened as he mused, "Fair point. However, considering the vast wealth of the Holy Kingdom of Milis, I'm certain you have at least one or two spare storage artifacts collecting dust somewhere. Place at least half the funds inside one and bring it to me within the next seventy-two hours. If this Paul Greyrat is half as dangerous as you make him out to be, I'll be imperiling the entire Dragon King Kingdom by openly antagonizing him. Two-and-a-half-million is a small price to pay for that."
Though the sounds of people grumbling and clicking their tongues could be heard throughout the chamber, the leader of the masked congregation only hesitated for a brief moment before answering, "We will agree on two conditions. First and foremost, Paul Greyrat cannot learn it was the Order of the Temple that hired you. If you are defeated and questioned, you are to implicate the First Prince of the Asura Kingdom. Furthermore, until Paul Greyrat has been killed, you will not target or accept commissions to slay a member of our Order. Are we in agreement?"
Adopting what could best be described as a murderous smile, Randolph replied, "Sure, why not~?" in a non-committal tone. He only really cared about killing powerful opponents, so losing out on the chance to slaughter a bunch of feeble clergymen and women wasn't a great loss.
"Then it's settled," said the leader of the masked congregation. However, before he could dismiss the gathering, the red-headed Succubus said, "I want the full 50,000 upfront. Compared to the 2.5 million you're offering my 'associate,' 50,000 is a fairly paltry sum."
Though their faces were concealed by masks, the red-headed Succubus could feel the hatred exuding from nearly everyone present. Fortunately, she wasn't alone. If she had been, there was a decent probability that the assembly would have turned on her right there and then.
Raising his hand to silence the congregation, the leader of the masked assembly waited until everyone had fallen silent before answering, "You will have your payment. However, should you fail in your task, know that our 'hounds' will hunt you to the ends of the earth. Not even that Queen of yours would be able to protect you..."
Resisting the urge to snort through her nose, the red-headed Succubus asserted, "No Succubus has ever lost to a member of the Greyrat Houses. If this Paul Greyrat is anything like his ancestors, Sir Death God might not even need to act..."
Amused by the Succubi's claim, a raspy, bone-chilling chuckle emanated from Randolph's throat. Fortunately, while her words could be seen as undermining his usefulness, the infamous Death God didn't take them to heart. After all, if Paul was so inept that he was done in by someone stuck at the Advanced Rank of the North God Style, he simply wasn't worth the effort of killing personally...
...
..
.
After a lively but otherwise uneventful day, Paul was forced to carry the drunken and incredibly clingy Venti in his arms while Xinyan and Ghislaine followed close behind.
Seemingly oblivious to the disturbance she was causing, Venti puckered up her lips and said, "Gib me a kiss~" before seizing the initiative to steal Paul's lips. The taste of alcohol was pervasive within her saliva, but Paul didn't mind, obliging the overly affectionate Archon until she released him to giggle and catch her breath.
Adopting a wry but affectionate smile, Paul said, "We're almost at the Inn. If you want a 'proper' reward, you'll behave yourself until then..."
Puffing out her cheeks, Venti looked like she was about to complain but ultimately started laughing. She may have consumed her body weight in alcohol, but she wasn't actually intoxicated. Thus, as there were quite a few women Paul could turn to if she decided to be difficult, she decided to curl up and nestle against his chest for the remainder of the trip.
Kissing the top of Venti's head, Paul said, "Good girl," before returning his focus to his surroundings. There had been a number of people observing him and his group throughout the day, so he was on high alert despite the relaxed smile on his face.
Fortunately, while Paul's group was being monitored, they weren't without protection. Lynette and Shinobu had been shadowing them the entire day, and several of the people monitoring them were doing so at the behest of the Order of the Church and the Order of Instruction. The Pope and many of the Archbishops wanted to avoid another incident like what occurred at the White Palace, so they had nearly a hundred men keeping tabs on both Paul and the people tailing him...
...
..
.
(A/N: The emergency of the Death God O_O...)

*smack* *smack* *smack* *smack*
Though she was somehow even tighter than the first time he fucked her, Paul had no issues moving, his hips slamming into Venti's ass cheeks with enough force to send visible ripples through her body. Her back and toes curled as a powerful orgasm wracked her body, but Paul didn't reduce his speed. Instead, he gave the buxom Archon's already swollen ass cheek a firm smack, causing her body to tense as she gripped the sheets beneath her with a slovenly, intoxicated look on her face.
Holding his breath and gritting his teeth, Paul steadily increased his pace despite the interior of Venti's pussy becoming a faux-vacuum. It felt like the tip of his dick was about to explode, but he remained undaunted, his Mystic Eyes of Death Perception glistening as he pressed against the entrance of Venti's cervix and released enough semen to fill a small mug.
Clamping down like a vice, Venti released a sonorous, high-pitched moan as her back arched enough that she was able to stare directly at Paul. He supported and kissed her body in response, the two of them holding that position for nearly two full minutes as Venti's abdomen slowly but visibly inflated, her Anemo Crest shimmering brighter than an emerald under the sun.
Feeling a disconcerting movement in the depths of Venti's vagina, Paul loosened his hold on her body, allowing his penis to slip out of her with an audible pop. He knew what came next, but before he could lay her down, Venti hooked her hand around his neck, an indescribably passionate look on her face as she said, "Hold me..." in a pleading tone.
Nodding his head, Paul continued to cradle Venti in his arms as the bulge in her belly briefly inflated before depressing in an instant. Moments later, a softball-sized Anemo Seelie popped out, a sigh of relief escaping Venti's throat as she entrusted her full weight to Paul.
Adopting a wry yet affectionate smile, Paul kissed the top of Venti's head, whispering, "Good job..." in a loving tone. At the same time, he watched as the newly born Seelie got its bearings, various thoughts crossing his mind as the ethereal creature flittered around the room in excitement.
Forming a platform with her hands, Venti whispered, "Come to me..." in a somewhat longing tone, compelling the Seelie to pause before eventually perching atop her palms. Then, just as she had every other Seelie, Venti gave the nebulous blob a kiss, whispering, "Be free..." before releasing it like a dove.
Without tarrying for so much as a second, the emerald-green Seelie took off like a comet, phasing through the ceiling and disappearing from Paul's perception. Seeing it depart left him with a peculiar sensation of loss, but he didn't have much time to process it as Venti looked up at him, smiling like a Succubus as she asked, "Ready for round seven~?"
Before Paul could respond, Diona exclaimed, "No! It's my turn...!" with her teeth bared. She had passed out after climaxing several times, but the sounds of Paul fucking other women made it difficult to sleep peacefully. Most of the other girls departed shortly after getting off, but Diona was the type to stick around, refusing to let Venti have Paul to herself.
Instead of attempting to argue, Venti adopted a catty smile and replied, "Sure, have fun~" before giving Paul a peck on the lips and adding, "I'll use this opportunity to grab us something to drink~" in a sing-song tone.
Shaking his head, Paul said, "You should go ahead and get washed up. I don't know the exact time, but I'm fairly certain the sun has already risen. Breakfast should be ready soon."
Clicking her tongue, Venti playfully mused, "You're no fun..." before leaving the room with her voluminous ass swaying as seductively as she could manage. It was admittedly quite the sight to behold, but Paul only spared the perfectly sculpted mounds a cursory glance before turning his attention to Diona, asking, "Want to cuddle?" in a hopeful tone.
Narrowing her eyes, Diona pointedly replied, "You always want to cuddle when it's just the two of us remaining. I'm not a pet..."
Adopting a faint smile, Paul softly remarked, "You're one of the few girls I can relax around. Do you not enjoy cuddling with me?"
Furrowing her brows into a severe pout, Diona firmly asserted, "You know that isn't true...!"
Raising his hands in a gesture of surrender, Paul maintained his smile as he offered a compromise, suggesting, "Then how about we do this? You lay on your side, and I'll hold you from behind. We can cuddle and have sex at the same time. Nice and slow."
Though she originally wanted Paul to do her the same way as Venti, Diona couldn't prevent her ears from perking up at his suggestion. She not-so-secretly preferred slow and gentle lovemaking, so she only hesitated for a brief moment before releasing an 'exasperated' sigh and answering, "Fine. But the next time we do it, I want you to treat me the same as Venti..."
Recalling the 'beastly' look on Paul's face as he pinned Venti to the bed, an itchy feeling spread through Diona's chest. She knew it wasn't a good idea to compare herself to others, but she couldn't help being envious of the girls Paul spent the most time with.
Understanding Diona's thoughts, a faint sigh escaped Paul's nose as he extended his hand to caress the cat girl's head. He couldn't do much about her envy, but he could at least give her his full attention when it was just the two of them...
...
..
.
After washing up and making his way to the lounge area, Paul barely had time to take in his surroundings when Klee came running at him, shouting, "Big brother~!" as she leaped at him.
Catching the petite pyromaniac out of the air, a faint smile developed across Paul's somewhat weary face as he replied, "Good morning, Klee. Did you sleep well?"
Nodding her head with a bit of vigor, Klee raised her hands and shouted, "I got to cuddle with Ganyu~!" in a cheerful tone.
Exhaling a light chuckle, Paul mused, "How envious." as he carried the bubbly girl back to the dining table. Xiangling had prepared a veritable breakfast buffet, so Paul fed Klee and snacked on a few finger sausages while Noelle and Ganyu recounted his itinerary for the day.
With her hands crossed neatly over her lap, Noelle revealed, "Baroness Lawrence asked us to convey that she is more than happy to meet with Master at his earliest convenience next week. Would you like me to pen her into your schedule?"
Furrowing his brows, Paul briefly considered refusing, but, as he was the one to propose rescheduling in the first place, he replied, "Sure. Pen her in for some time Tuesday morning. My instincts tell me I'll be indisposed tomorrow."
Though he was only scheduled to meet Varuna and Barbara for brunch, Paul doubted the two zealous women would let him go easily. Barbara was supposed to return to her convent by 5 PM, but it wasn't difficult for her to justify spending the evening with her 'sponsor.'
Bowing her head, Noelle replied, "I'll be sure to the Baroness of your decision." Then, after raising her head, she appended, "Other than that, Master is expected at the Fontaine Estate by 10:30 AM. Lady Jean and I will be attending."
Speaking before Paul could respond, Klee shouted, "Klee wants to go as well~!"
As it had been a while since she last met Barbara, Klee was excited by the prospect of spending time with her 'big sis.' Fortunately, Paul had already predicted this, patting the petite elfette's head as he said, "You can come, but only if you promise to stay with Jean the entire time. No wandering off on your own."
Though Varuna's estate should be fairly secure, Paul knew better than to underestimate zealots. Klee could take down hordes of S-Rank monsters without breaking a sweat, but people were a lot more dangerous. Klee was very trusting, so, knowing what he knew about the world of Mushoku Tensei, Paul had at least three people watching her at any given moment.
Nodding her head, Klee replied, "Okie-dokie~!" in high spirits. She would have liked to sneak off in search of adventure, but Paul had promised to let her do whatever she wanted once she matured. Thus, at least for the time being, she didn't mind his overprotective nature. Rather, it made her feel warm and fluffy to know he cared so deeply for her. Not as much as the medicine she had to take every morning, but more than enough to put a smile on her face...
...
..
.
With the Fontaine Estate being one of the few located in the Business District, it didn't take long for Paul, Jean, Noelle, and Klee to reach it via carriage. Varuna had sent one over to escort them, so they were able to enter the estate grounds directly, a stark contrast to the many individuals lined up outside the main gate.
Observing the crowd through the carriage's privacy blinds, Jean couldn't help remarking, "Lady Varuna appears to have quite a few admirers..."
Adopting a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes, Paul replied, "Well, she is a remarkable beauty. Given her power and influence within the church, I imagine even foreign Nobles are trying to court her..."
Nodding her head, Jean appended, "Still, it's clear from the amount that Lady Varuna rarely takes time off. We'll need to be careful when it comes time to depart. A lot of eyes will be on us."
Returning a nod of his own, Paul was about to say something when Klee abruptly exclaimed, "Wow~!" with stars in her eyes. The grounds of the Fontaine Estate were unlike any other. In place of the usual hedges and flower bushes, there were fountains, statues, and aqueducts littering the estate like a water park. There was even a giant sphere of water floating in the center of the motor court, complete with a variety of fish swimming within.
"As expected of the Hydro Archon..." remarked Jean.
"No kidding..." replied Paul, his expression slowly cramping as a familiar sense of 'dread' began to settle within him. Fortunately, while his meeting with Varuna was inevitable, the people that came out to greet them were an assortment of knight-like maids, each garbed in the distinct blue and white armor of Varuna's personal guard.
Representing the group, reminding Paul a lot of Lynette, was a young woman with silvery-white hair and a cold expression, introducing herself as Persha Silverlake, Sub-Commander of the Fontaine Knight Order. Her power was only around the level of an Advanced Swordsman, but the glistening 'gemstone' adorning her bow-like choker made it clear she was more than a simple knight.
Though he recognized the gemstone as a Hydro Vision, Paul didn't say anything as he was the one who permitted Varuna to bequeath them to whoever she pleased. She had a habit of converting people into zealots, but that was actually a good thing considering her status and the mission assigned to her. Even someone as powerful as an Archon needed a few reliable people they could trust.
At Persha's behest, Paul soon found himself in a private study, separate from Jean, Klee, and Noelle. The former bowed respectfully and waited in the hallway, so he was the only privy to the breathtaking sight within, that of an indescribably beautiful woman with long silvery hair flowing past her waist. More notably, the only articles of clothing she was wearing were a topless white bunnysuit, a rabbit-eared headpiece, and a distinct, almost slave-like collar...
Seeing Paul staring at her with a dumbfounded look on his face, a faint smile developed across Varuna's as she remarked, "I'm glad I decided to go with this outfit. I initially prepared cat ears and a tail, but I changed my mind at the last moment. If your reaction is anything to go by, I made the right choice..."
By the time she was finished speaking, Varuna was standing less than an arm's length from Paul, the disparity in their heights forcing her to look up at him with narrowed eyes and a slight smile. Then, while Paul's brain was still trying to process the sight in front of him, she removed the top of her bunnysuit, her smile becoming more prominent as she mused, "The fabric around the groin and anus is also detachable..."
...
..
.
(A/N: O w O...)

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...
...
..
.
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...
...
..
.
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...
...
..
.
"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...
...
..
.
(A/N: If you want to see Ghislaine in a Baiken outfit, click this comment.)

Chapter 212: Machinations