We practically fly down the stairs to the main floor, heading straight for the workshop in the back. Unsurprisingly, the hard-working duo is present inside. But, it also looks like they have been expecting a visit, as both ladies excitedly face the entrance to their little crafting world. Seems like Sirgia couldn't stop herself from giving them a heads-up through our bond.
It doesn't take a minute for Mev and Niel to be on board with furnishing the newly acquired headquarters. They pack up some useful tools into spatial storages and are ready to go, pretty much abandoning whatever project they have been fussing over when we showed up. The entire group is too eager for me to say anything, so I decide to just let them be, even if I think they shouldn't drop their work like a hat just because they can do something for me.
Diana takes us to our destination, though it is a challenge to fit this many Dwarf girls in the saddle with me. Still, they insisted on huddling up together, so who am I to disagree? Since our smart driver doesn't rush ahead like crazy for our consideration, the rest of us can talk a little about the upcoming events. The girls ask some questions regarding the HQ, then we fill them in on the proceedings with Stockhawkers and such. They get even more lively after hearing about the deals with other families that I made earlier today.
When we return to the freshly purchased residence, the Oreads and my two highborn friends are giving it their all to make the place the most splendid mercenary base of operations that they can imagine. They almost miss my arrival, running around and handling various sections of the little mansion. Niel and Mev join in immediately, briefly introducing themselves to those unfamiliar with them yet.
I don't get to contribute much out there besides catching a few peeks at what our construction squad has already come up with as Sirgia steals me away without a single word. Using Diana's shadows, we show up in her family's compound a few seconds later. It doesn't take a genius to figure out why, and surely, she practically sprints to the small plaza where the unfinished archway is located. I do my best to make her slow down, but she ignores my shouting, deeply focused on the task at hand, aiming to finalise the gate before morning.
In a blink, a tiny mountain of tools, materials, and utensils appears on the ground near the portal, and she gets to work. The final bits are located by the brick floor, so she doesn't need to climb the structure, thankfully. A few onlookers gather as she dives into engraving the remaining circuits and patterns. Meanwhile, I serve as her assistant, passing her whatever she needs at the moment, our unspoken understanding and quick movements surprising quite some people.
They just don't know that she is literally shouting orders through the Whispers, almost certainly unknowingly, since my lovely little Dwarf wouldn't ever act this bold towards me. Can't wait to see her abashed look when she fully realises that after the heat of the job fades.
Nevertheless, as fast as Sirgia is, this is a complex and meticulous work which requires extreme concentration and above all time. The latter passes so quickly that it feels like we are skipping through reality, one hour per blink. It's dark as hell, and the area is bathed in moonlight when the last bits are carved into the arch. There's a brief flash, and the entire thing illuminates in the motion of a wave.
My genius artificer plops onto her butt with a deep sigh. "It's done… We made it before morning…"
Putting away the tools I've been keeping on hand, I kneel by her side, placing my palm atop her head. "Good job. It's been a while since I've seen you engrossed in something this much. It feels like you are too tired to even cash in on the reward for your hard work tonight."
A chuckle escapes my throat, and she peers up at me, her eyes widening in shock as the proceedings of the last few hours come to her all at once.
"Oh no… I'm so sorry, Master…" She starts to apologise, but I shut her down by pressing a finger to her pouty lips.
"Always happy to help." I smile at her and lean down for a tiny peck. "Now, come here, you little troublemaker."
A quiet squeak reaches my ears as I suddenly scoop her off the ground into a princess carry. With a cute flush decorating her cheeks, my dainty lover rests her head against my chest, trying to hide her adorable expression full of silly joy at being shown the affection she deserves. Thankfully, she doesn't require my prompt to relax in my arms.
"Everything is ready, then?" I ask gently, kissing her hair.
"Mhm." Sirgia rubs her cheek against me sweetly. "After I share the activation sequence with you, Master, you'll be able to turn it on anytime. And so will anyone you grant access to. At this point, I will need to register them personally, but I'll teach you how to do it later."
"Great. You can handle things for now. Feel free to appoint a manager of sorts if you would like. Don't carry all the burden on your own. Maybe Niel or Cecil will be interested in giving you a hand. It could even help out their position in the clan a little, don't you think?" I share my thoughts with her openly.
"That's good thinking, Master." My petite mate grins at me from below. "I'll talk with both of them. I might ultimately pick Niel, not because I'm closer with her, but because Cecil's achievements are bound to soar when she starts doing jobs as a member of your mercenary corps."
"That is, if she makes it in." I snicker a tad. "I might have told her she has my support, but if Elea and the others provide sound arguments against, I will be inclined to listen to my wise advisors and instructors."
"I'm sure she will fit right in, Master." Sirgia gives me a knowing look, her grin growing even wider. "You've already confirmed her prowess yourself, haven't you?"
"Yeah. She handles herself well and is more than competent with her weap—" I nod at her, then pause mid-sentence. "You are talking about her sucking me off, aren't you?"
The most innocent giggle leaves her pretty lips as she stares right back into my eyes with a fierce blush.
Shaking my head, I lean down and capture her mouth in a passionate embrace. "This perverted side of you still baffles me sometimes…"
"Being able to satisfy Master's urges is the most important condition the members have to fulfil," Sirgia replies matter-of-factly as if she is quoting some undisputable rulebook.
"My urges my ass." I scoff at her playfully. "Last I remember, it's you who encourages me to mount every gorgeous Dwarf girl that crosses my path. Half of the city would be fucked by now if we had it your way."
"I'm sure she would rather like to be the one to mount you, Master, and show off her enviable riding skills." The short seductress continues her teasing. "And the other one. She's quite a mouthful. I bet those bratty lips would feel amazing wrapped around your—"
"Alright, enough." I start tickling her to shut the sly vixen up, enjoying her cries and giggles of protest. "We are going to sleep. You are so tired that your limiter fell off. Give me back my cute little Dwarf."
"Okay, okay, I'm sorry, Master, stop!" Sirgia's laughter echoes throughout the area. "I'll be good, I promise!"
Ceasing the torture, I give her one more look at which she turns even more crimson in shame and partial guilt. Easing that last one up a tad, I present my lovely mate with an appreciative kiss before letting her down. She knows I'm just jesting, but still, while we pack things up, she turns her adorableness up to eleven during it, acting like her past, extremely shy and timid self, so that she can do right by her promise.
Seriously, bashful girls who grew out of their shells are a hell to handle.
But, I wouldn't have it any other way.
I'm liking the confidence boost she's gotten from our trip to her homeland.
Soon enough, we are done there and move to the headquarters. It takes a few minutes of arguing, but we somehow manage to kick the ladies on site out so that they don't burn the night working on the task they received. They only leave after I agree to let them start super early in the morning, so that everything will be perfect for the inspection, which should happen in the afternoon or so. Cecil and Daisy head for their family's home while Mevana and Niel go with us to our shop.
No reason to mention the Oreads. Ianthe will have them continuing no matter what I say, reasoning that they don't need sleep and don't tire out much. I just won't tell the other four, and it should be fine.
The trio that I live with falls asleep the moment we hit the bed, showing just how dedicated they were to the pursuit of my happiness. Sure, they might have been excited as artisans, but deep down, everyone knows they've been pushing themselves to do their best for me. I would have shown my love for their care already if not for their exhausted states. We'll arrange for that tomorrow or soon after. Bringing the troops in from the village shouldn't take too much time.
In the morning, I wake up to an empty bed. It's way too early for the shop to be open, so I head down to the main floor in just my briefs without much care. The ladies have seen everything anyway. Sirgia is found in the back room, fully equipped in her adventuring gear, frantically patting out the decorative and ornamental elements of her outfits in front of a big mirror. She looks so nervous, you'd think she's entering a cosplay competition or something.
Noticing me, she brightens up and then notices the morning bulge, lightly nibbling on her lip. "Would you like… some help with that, Master?"
Chuckling warmly, I reach her and move lower to greet her with a kiss. "Appreciate the offer, but I don't want to ruin your getup. And hair. Did you do anything to it? It's almost like it… I dunno, appears super extravagant and fresh while still in the same beautiful style that suits you every day."
My compliments cause her cheeks to redden as she fidgets timidly in place. "You noticed? It's nothing much. I just washed it very carefully. How do I look?"
"In one word, radiant." I smile at her dreamily. "Like the most dazzling heroine out of a legendary novel."
"Thank you." Sirgia presses a grateful peck to my lips, and I notice the faintest trace of fragrant lipstick on hers. "Now, you should quickly take a bath while I clean your gear. We don't have time to waste. Daisy and Cecil are going to research the slave market today, so you don't need to worry about that. Mevana and Niel are finishing the headquarters and will be ready to message us if anyone shows up early to mess with you."
She starts pushing me towards the spot where the briefcase-mansion is currently placed.
"Whoa, what's the rush?" I laugh lightly, letting her guide me. "And don't you think we are overpreparing a little?"
"Master, this is very important." Sirgia stops in front of me with a serious expression, which then shifts into a more uncertain, troubled, and shy one. "Ummm… I mean… We want to show our best when the inspectors come… Yes… They can't look down on us…"
"Okay. I get it. I'll stop messing around." I pat her head lovingly. "Give me five minutes. I'll clean up so nicely you'll fall for me again."
"I fall for you every time I glance your way, Master…" she whispers sweetly, gazing into the floor.
Acting like I didn't hear her mumbling, I jump into the suitcase and take care of myself as quickly but thoroughly as I can. A handful of Oreads help me out to speed up the process, surprisingly without the slightest hint of mischief. Their hands never wander anywhere inappropriate, save for the moments when they have to wash up those bits, and even still, every touch is professional and focused.
What is even going on today?
I'm done in a blink, including my hair and even nails on my toes. Haven't felt this fresh in ages, and I don't slack off on hygiene. Having access to such wonders of magical engineering lets one enjoy the effects of almost modern baths in this slightly less developed realm. When I reunite with my tiny mate, she has my uniform tidied up, my armour polished to an unbelievable shine, and herself looking even more prominent.
Swearing not to dawdle earlier, I don't comment on any of that and simply dress up, finishing in front of the mirror and looking dapper as fuck. Still quite menacing and intimidating in my black-purple mercenary leader gear, but also almost as presentable as in any noble getup.
These Dwarf officials must be really hard to impress.
Moving outside, we are met with a fancy carriage of the Forgegraver family, brought forth most likely so that we don't ruin our outfits by riding on Diana's back. Speaking of the wolf, it's bound to the chariot instead of the usual horses, gladly serving as the pulling power. A proud beast reduced to such a role and yet still looking my way, eager to please.
Daring not to question the understanding Sirgia and her must have come to, I follow my enchanting lover into our ride, and we depart for the estate. The journey passes in silence, no signs of any improper thoughts once more. My timid but also always cuddly partner doesn't even sit in my lap, choosing the opposite bench, peering out of the window with a thoughtful expression.
Soon enough, we are at our destination. The guards let us in without stopping the carriage, and Diana brings us directly to the plaza with the teleporter. A few more sentries than usual are stationed around, but that's to be expected. Even if the gate functions only in the hands of specific individuals, you can't completely trust it not to malfunction someday or for someone to find a way to hack through its magical systems. It's better to be prepared for surprises.
A minute later, we stand together in front of the archway. Sirgia plays around with a panel on the side before trotting to my side. The structure illuminates with a rainbow of glyphs, and the space inside begins to shimmer like hot air in a desert. It stabilises and displays the blurry image of a familiar village square. The visuals are fairly live as we can see unrecognisable silhouettes walking around, a few getting closer to inspect the activated piece of magic. Though it's all a tad laggy, like a faulty office presentation, one slide per second or even less.
But being able to see anything rather than just empty space or a single gradient is quite impressive.
My mate's slender fingers slip into mine, and she squeezes my hand reassuringly. Glancing down, I find Sirgia facing the passageway with an uncharacteristic amount of nervousness, making me realise that she's reassuring herself, not me. She appears almost scared of what's ahead.
Squeezing her hand back, I bring my face closer. "Is this dangerous?"
"D-Dangerous?" Her head whips towards me. "I would never do anything that could hurt Master! The gate is perfectly safe and comfortable, I made sure of it! It was tested earlier, and everything went right!"
I place my other hand atop hers, trapping her palm between mine. "I never doubted your talents or dedication. What's making you so terrified, then? If something is bothering you, let's put this on hold. I don't want to see you like this, sacrificing your peace of mind for my sake."
She winces at my worried tone, having just practically exploded at me. "Please, forgive me, Master. I didn't mean to shout. It's just… I'm being silly and I know it… There's nothing wrong with the gate or anything else… I promise I'm fine… So, let's just go, okay? Just hold my hand and I'll be good…"
I search her eyes for any hurt but find none, only pure honesty and some traces of guilt.
"Okay." I run my fingers through my hair. "But we are going to have a talk after this. You will explain the issue so that I can fix it and not see you this distressed ever again. I love you."
"I love you too, Master." She smiles ruefully. "And thank you. Everything will become clear soon. You'll most likely figure it all out right away with how smart you are, Master."
Fighting my urge to question that statement and everything else, I sigh softly and lead us into the unfocused surface ahead. It's true that she isn't worried about the transfer, as there is completely no reaction from Sirgia when we pass through, the air changing immediately with the slightest feeling of brief vertigo, not enough to make me dizzy or anything.
Just like that, we are back.
The gathered Beastkin and others give us a few cheers and applaud our arrival from the sidelines. I don't think anything warrants such a welcome, but some are even bowing to the ground religiously. Considering the numerous protruding stomachs visible on the numerous females, it seems that the blessing I left them with has worked wonders. We haven't been gone for long, but I guess other-world biology might work a bit differently. Especially when mixed with divinity.
My attention falls on two rows of badass ladies wearing our colour scheme who kneel three per side in front of us, creating a resemblance to a welcome corridor. Though their faces are dutifully directed to the ground, I catch their happy smiles and a few dancing tails. These women never miss a chance to cause a scene. But Elea is the one to blame for filling their heads with all that unnecessary worship.
Still holding onto Sirgia's hand, I look around for more familiar faces… and freeze when we turn towards the gate we've just emerged from… registering an extremely familiar likeness.
"What the…" I take a disbelieving step back as my gaze moves higher. "Are you fucking kidding me?"
While one edge of the archway is adorned by a statue of my father, the other side is now no longer alone, accompanied by a sculpture of an equal size that depicts… me. For some reason, in my full unobstructed glory. The only thing protecting my decency is the figure of a kneeling female with a child in her arms, atop whose head I keep my palm, the other hand raised in the air. And it works only from certain angles, obviously.
The only saving grace is that it doesn't stand at attention, thank the Goddess.
An unmistakably distinguishable chuckle arrives from behind. "I too find myself staring at this perfectly accurate depiction on the cold, lonely nights. Albeit, I have to admit, it's a shame it hasn't been captured in all of its glory."
We peer over our shoulders to see Chieftess Codae smirking at us with her fists on her sides.
Smiling wryly at the gorgeous, fierce woman, I slowly shake my head. "I'm honestly surprised no one has seen to it. Having in mind how open this community is."
"True, many insisted." She chuckles again, eyeing me up and down, especially down. "But in honour of our great saviour and hero, I fought hard to keep it down. Not like it's not impressive in that state already…"
"I'll have to thank you for looking out for me, then." I wink at her, causing the raccoon lady to chew on her lip expectantly. "I'm sure we'll figure something out in a bit. I just got to greet my unit and pass their new task onto them. After that, we should have some time to spare before I'm called back for an important meeting."
"I would love nothing else than that, but unfortunately, there's one more matter that you'll have to take care of," Codae replies in a conspiratorial tone. "Someone important you need to meet here too."
My confused frown evokes a quite naughty wag of her precious tail as she steps aside, revealing the approaching figure whose approach she has been intentionally obstructing with her admittedly distracting person. Sirgia's grip on my palm tightens to an almost painful degree, the first hint of presence from her since our transfer.
And I finally get to understand why.
At first, the stylish adventuring clothes that the man who appears is wearing don't provoke any special reaction, but that changes the second my eyes glide further up, reaching the mysterious individual's visage. And when that happens, the world itself stills almost to a lull, time slowing down to a complete snail's pace. Everything around becomes a blur, just like the image visible in the archway, with one crucial difference, one person is unaffected by the sudden lack of focus.
All at once, an avalanche of flashbacks swirls through my mind like a continent-devouring typhoon, causing a total mess inside. New visuals clash with old, each side trying to push their version forward as the true one. Even though the differences between them are negligible. Just some slightly aged lines here and there, some minor scars from scratches, and most noticeably, the haircut. Still, to me, every single one of those details seems to glow like a glowstick in the dark.
With the ghost-of-a-man finally reaching our spot after what feels like hours of walking in slow motion, he stops before the two of us with a slightly sorrowful smile that conveys thousands of words. And I know all of them. I've seen it numerous times. The most memorable of those times being shortly after he learned about my living situation while he was away.
Although there's one thing amiss that doesn't match that memory.
The perspective.
It's way too high up.
But then, as if the world itself listens to my thoughts, it shifts lower, back to that familiar level where my head matches the man's waist, more or less, forcing me to look up, like I always did. A few muffled words reach my ear from the side, but their meaning is completely lost in the heavy pounding that assaults my hearing. Through slightly hazy vision, I watch the newcomer's expression quickly morph into deep concern as he moves down to match my position.
Only his words are perfectly audible through the cacophony of other noises.
"Are you okay?" he asks, placing his palm atop my shoulder as he peers into my eyes worriedly.
"D-Dad?" The words leave my throat with the effort of a club being wrested out of an Orc's grip by a Human child.
The man smiles once more, his gaze turning glassy with the amount of wetness pooling in there. "Hey there, buddy. It's been a while, hasn't it?"
Soon, he reaches his limit and tears streak down his scarred cheeks, and after a moment of silence, he lunges forward, enveloping me in a bone-crushing hug. As I slowly reciprocate it with my entire body shaking, resting my chin atop his shoulder in turn, I realise that the cloudy effect in my vision has been the result of my own tears, which must have started pouring down way ahead of him.
"It's alright… I'm here… I'm back…" Connor, because that is my father's honourable name, mutters under his breath, then chokes a little on his unexpected chuckle. "Well, I'm not exactly back, I think… But you are here, so that counts… You've come quite a way to meet me… Africa to Europe doesn't even come close… Fuck, it's been a long time…"
A strained laugh escapes me. "Language…"
Dad matches it. "My brain might be trying to trick me into thinking that you are still that little bastard I've last seen on earth, but we both know that you can most likely teach your old man how adults swear by this point…"
"Oh, Goddess… You have no idea what I have to listen to every day…" I shake my head with a snicker.
"Actually, I might have an inkling…" He peels himself off me to look me in the eye again. "The girls back in your mansion tend to use quite a… colourful dictionary…"
"That's the understatement of a century." I snort to the side. "Wait, you've already been there? Ah, shit, there goes months of my preparation to slowly explain everything bit by bit without completely losing my image in your eyes. Years of academic training wasted!"
"To be honest, I still know barely anything. The ladies vehemently avoided most topics related to you and your history in this world. However, there was one thing nearly impossible to miss." Dad squeezes my shoulder. "Everyone loves you."
"Yeah, that's definitely the word they used. For sure." I sigh while fighting down my grin. "Totally not another one which correlates to a similar aspect of affection."
"Words weren't necessary to convey it. Just one look was enough. I mean, that gorgeous hazelnut-haired lady in glasses who is constantly rubbing her swollen belly with an enamoured smile? Would anyone need any words in front of such a scene?" His eyes slip past me as he reminisces about his visit.
"Cornelia…" The name comes to my lips before my brain even registers it.
A prick of jealousy tickles the back of my head. He saw her precious baby bump before I even had the chance. Ignoring the fact how come it's already this much visible, but that's something to ponder for later. And there might be some ideas already.
Regardless, I shake off that silly feeling, trying to catch his focus again. "How is she? It's been a moment since we spoke. I know she's busy back there, but it's almost like she's been ignoring—and I think I just figured everything out. Oh, just you wait. I'm going to tie you up real good when I get back home. You'll see what happens when you keep your husband in the dark."
"Why would you tie up a pregnant woman?" Dad blinks at me in confusion and a pinch of worry.
"Don't worry, it's nothing bad. Just trust me on it." I wave him off. "So, it turns out we do have quite a bit of catching up before us."
"Seems like it." He thankfully lets the topic drop. "But, this might not be the best position and place to start with that."
Now it's my turn to blink at him owlishly as the surroundings gradually return to their rightful state. Once more, I notice the people gathered around, where we are, and that I'm somehow on my knees, which explains the perspective shift from earlier. They must have given up one when the flashbacks hit.
Accepting my father's arm, I let him pull me up from the ground. I almost drop back down as my legs shake with effort, but someone slips under my armpit and offers their trusty support. One glance to the side reveals my lovely Dwarf mate, valiantly keeping me straight with an anxious look in her pretty brown eyes.
To think I even forgot about my sweet little Dwarf genius in the heat of the moment.
I flash her an appreciative smile, which helps ease her expression and bring a pinch of rosiness to her previously pale cheeks. With her assistance, I regain my composure and stand up properly, once again face-to-face with my old man. It's such a weird sight.
Shortly after I achieve horizontal and vertical stability, Sirgia pops out from under my arm and takes a step forward, suddenly bowing halfway to the ground. "Hello! My name is Sirgia Forgegraver! I might appear small, but I'm seventy-two! I'm a Dwarf and I specialise in artefact crafting! My hobbies include that, and also cooking! I still have a lot to learn, but I hope you might wish to try my dishes out someday, as Alastair always enjoys them! It's an honour to finally meet you, Father-in-law!"
Words fly out of her mouth like a full salvo from a mounted machine gun, everything fitting one breath, one magazine emptied out with one attempt. Her speech is obviously prepared in advance, and explains why she seemed so nervous in front of the teleport. She's been beating herself down about the first introduction.
This silly girl…
"Uhhh…" My dad eloquently responds to her abrupt greeting. "Nice to meet you too…"
Then, the fierce chieftess appears by his side.
"Before you two start cracking down on all of this, I think you should debrief your subordinates." Codae cocks a brow at the six females who have circled us protectively. "You did say they have a job to do."
I let my eyes roam and meet the gazes of all the members of Eden Beta present in the main square. They straighten up under my scrutiny, but a few individuals can't hide their joy and pride due to their animal appendages. Though, the effort to keep those still is more than impressive. They must be training hard to fight those subconscious instincts.
Before I can address them, the Raccoon woman chimes in again. "Finish what you need in peace. I'll bring Connor to Ayumi's house and let her know you two will be joining us for breakfast. Since this was a surprise, we weren't sure if you didn't have any pressing arrangements to escape immediately, so she needs a heads-up."
Ending it there, she turns him around with a respectful nod towards me and begins pushing him forward by his back.
"Codae," I call out to her while crossing the distance between us.
She barely twists her face back when my fingers slither into her hair and yank the back of her head towards me. Her eyes widen as my lips crash into hers, but the moment she experiences the wild, passionate kiss, she melts into me, her eyelids fluttering shut. Becoming almost putty in my grasp, the feisty Beastkin releases quiet moans under the firm onslaught of my mouth and tongue. Something akin to a mewl escapes her every time I bring her into me harder, pulling on her thick mane.
When I inevitably pull back, she chases after me for a brief moment, opening her eyes to reveal a hazy film over those gorgeous irises, full of need and desire.
"Thank you," is all I say.
Her mind clears up partially, crimson flush creeping up onto her face. "Everyone here has now seen you treat me like your bitch…"
My hand slithers down until it reaches her throat.
"I'll make it up to you later." A mighty shudder shakes her frame as my fingers tighten ever so lightly. "And I know you can easily whip them back into line later, my badass chieftess."
She swallows thickly and reluctantly steps back out of my grasp, her eyes longingly attached to my palm. Shaking her head, she spins around and gives my father a shove. He seems to make some unfortunate comment her way as the loud growl she lets out in reply causes him to jump aside and is audible even here.
I turn my attention to Sirgia, who looks after them with a tiny smile. She peers up at me when I ruffle through her hair, reddening a tad as she most likely recalls her recent introduction. Chuckling quietly, I move my focus to the six females.
Ressia, the half-blood Wolfkin Archer and their captain. Oniri, the half-blood Foxkin Assassin. Yuru, the pure-blood Leopardkin Warrior. Fullen, the High Elf Healer. Besfi, the Tiefling Tank. Mauve, the Oni Mage.
They instantly drop to one knee and put their fists to their hearts.
"Greetings, Esteemed Leader!" the party shouts in unison.
"At ease," I reply, trying to ignore the audience all around as they get up. "I appreciate you looking after my father during his journey back home. It's quite a way from the Human capital. You have my gratitude."
"Boss, with all due respect, we were just doing our job." Ressia puffs her chest out, contrary to her words.
"Yeah?" I smirk at her lightly. "And I'm sure the other six thought the same, totally uninterested in gaining favour by escorting someone precious to me. How did they even lose this time, drawing shorter lots?"
"Our team composition has been carefully picked with advice from Branch Manager Lyona. She was the one who handpicked the most capable members for this operation. Everyone agreed with the final result, and I assure you there was no discord nor ulterior motives amongst the crew, Boss," the wolfgirl answers quickly.
"Hmmm…" I stroke my chin thoughtfully. "It looks like I'll need to raise the level of my intended reward then…"
They all perk up a bit after hearing that. It's so cute seeing those animal ears twitch and turn.
"The other six might not be here, but that doesn't mean I should delay my appreciation of you." I saunter closer to the captain. "Let this be a taste of what's to come."
Ressia watches me carefully as I lean forward, and her lips part shortly before they meet mine. The kiss she receives isn't as aggressive as Codae's, but she doesn't freeze on the spot like the other woman. Her hands go to my back as her tail swings wildly during our brief exchange.
She is the one who backs off this time, and it's clear why. I move onto the next person, and then next, and next. One by one, every member gets a kiss, some pats, ear rubs, tail brushes, and so on. All to the accompaniment of purring, whimpers, moans, and mewls. By the time I'm done, almost the entire troop is blushing hard.
"Now, the rest will have to come later. There are way too many eyes around for what I have in mind." I wink at them and notice a number of thighs squeezing together. "As you've heard, there's work to do. Get through that gate behind me and use the carriage to get to our second headquarters. You'll meet two Dwarf ladies and a bunch of Oreads. Treat them kindly as they are our friends. Help them turn that place into a worthy residence for our current and future units. When they inform you about an incoming inspection, let me know immediately. Understood?"
They smack their chests with a resounding thud and answer unanimously, "Sir, yes, sir!"
Then, Ressia starts barking orders, and they line up into two rows. Sirgia triggers the archway for them, and we watch the ladies march into the blurry depiction of the Forgegraver household. After it disappears, I peek down at my adorable lover.
"Well, then." I extend a hand to her. "Shall we?"
She takes it gladly. "Yes, Master. I hope I can get him to like me."
"There's no sane person in my world who wouldn't find you likeable." I smile warmly, beginning to lead us home. "Plus, we share the same genes. He'll be all over you as quickly as I was. But don't worry. I'll do my best to keep him pinned so he doesn't squish you with his affection."
Allowing herself a cute giggle, she follows me with a trace of skip in her step.
Time for the big talk.