Chapter 273: You Are My Important Employee!
Hearing Pekola say that her boss in the human world wanted to treat her to a meal, a look of surprise flitted across Lierre's face.
This development was truly unexpected!
She crossed her arms, resting one hand casually in the crook of her elbow while stroking her chin with the other. She pondered for a moment before looking up to ask, "Will Poporon and Pino be going?"
"Yes, they will be there."
Pekola nodded and answered honestly. Then she looked at Lierre, hesitating as if she wanted to say something but stopped, then wanted to speak again.
Just now, Yurine had @mentioned her in the group chat on Ryohei Tanaka's behalf, asking her to invite Lierre to the ranch for a meal. Everyone else in the group was also @mentioned—she couldn't help but overthink: If the talks don't go well later, will a fight break out right there?
She wanted to stop Lierre-sama from unleashing a great flood to cleanse the human world, but she also didn't want to see everyone ganging up to beat up Lierre-sama...
Whether they could win was another matter; just the fact of them fighting would be terrible!
She didn't even know which side to stand on. Standing with Ryohei Tanaka would violate her position, but standing with Lierre would violate her conscience.
Pekola was conflicted to death. Lierre looked at her, raised an eyebrow, and said, "If you have something to say, just say it. No need to hide it."
"Uh... I don't. I don't have anything to say."
Pekola waved her hands guiltily. Her eyes darted left and right—her left eye striving to look up, her right eye desperately looking down—and sweat poured down her face.
"..." Lierre narrowed her eyes halfway and stared at Pekola for a few seconds. Finally, she shrugged and dropped a sentence lightly:
"Fine, suit yourself."
...
Hokkaido, Stardew Valley Ranch, Complex Building Kitchen—
"The decisions made by the Lord are not easily changed. We definitely won't be able to reach an agreement, so we might as well strike first!"
With swirly circles in her eyes and a beaming smile, Pino shoved a bottle of grayish-yellow powder into Ryohei Tanaka's hand, inciting him:
"This is monkshood powder I collected. It contains the highly toxic substance aconitine. Just 0.2 milligrams is enough to be fatal."
"Later, we'll add a lot of this to the Lord's food. Even if it doesn't kill her, it'll make her suffer enough to shed a layer of skin. Then we can swarm her and take her out!"
As Pino spoke, she got fired up, dancing with joy, an abnormal flush appearing on her face.
"..." Ryohei Tanaka sweated a little looking at her. You pink-on-the-outside-black-on-the-inside girl, you're so despicable! You're actually inciting me to poison someone! It's truly the 'Lord's' blessing to have a subordinate like you!
Ryohei Tanaka casually stored the monkshood powder into his spatial storage and flashed a smile as refreshing as a spring breeze at Pino:
"Pino, do you have any other poisons on you?"
"Hmm? No more."
Pino was stunned for a moment, thinking Ryohei Tanaka felt one type of poison wasn't insurance enough. She held her ample chest with one hand and rested the other on top, biting her thumb in deep thought:
"But if you give me some time, I can go collect some more..."
"That won't be necessary!"
Ryohei Tanaka narrowed his eyes halfway, raised his hand to interrupt Pino, and continued, "I'm confiscating the monkshood powder. Don't cause trouble."
Before Pino could respond, Ryohei Tanaka sighed, "Asking a chef to poison someone... I can't believe you came up with that... I'll let it slide this time, but next time I'm definitely going to hit you!"
"..." Pino's amethyst-like eyes widened. She looked at Ryohei Tanaka in astonishment, followed by a burst of frustration—
She had already mustered the courage to burn her bridges and fight to the death, but Ryohei Tanaka was holding her back here!
"Ryohei-kun, you're too naive! It's impossible for you to persuade the Lord. Stop doing this useless work! Opportunity knocks but once; there won't be such a good chance next time..."
"Pino, calm down!"
Ryohei Tanaka soothed the agitated Pino and said patiently:
"I know what you're worried about, and I can understand it... However, I still hope you can let me handle this first."
"You are my important employee, and I won't just ignore you!"
After saying this, Ryohei Tanaka turned to look at Yurine, pointing at Pino: "Yurine, help fork this dangerous element out of here. Don't let her into the kitchen, and keep an eye on her."
"..." Pino, who had initially felt comforted and slightly at ease, was instantly choked by Ryohei Tanaka's words.
She looked at Ryohei Tanaka in astonishment, then narrowed her eyes, pursed her lips, and looked at him unhappily.
One second I'm an important employee, the next I'm a dangerous element...
And to think she thought Ryohei Tanaka was reliable just a moment ago!
"Okay."
Yurine responded reliably and stepped forward to drag Pino away.
Ryohei Tanaka looked at Poporon and Bincho-tan, who had come with Pino, and waved them off as well, telling them to keep a certain angel with severe persecution paranoia company.
"..."
"Ryohei-kun seems very confident about persuading the Lord."
The kitchen was quiet for a while before Lucoa hugged her ample chest and leaned in closer.
"Because I have you guys by my side, I'm very confident."
Ryohei Tanaka didn't stop his hands as he prepared other seasonings and sauces. Hearing this, he turned his head and smiled at Lucoa.
"What a cunning human!"
Petra suddenly interjected coldly. When Ryohei Tanaka looked over, she said, "If you want to borrow Elder Sister's power, that might not work. Because Elder Sister belongs to the observer faction, normally, she cannot interfere in such matters."
"But if Ryohei-kun asks me properly, then I could switch factions and put in some effort."
Lucoa raised her fair and delicate chin, placing her hand on her bountiful chest, her face written with 'Come and beg me quickly!'
Ryohei Tanaka instantly gave her a subtle look. He didn't take the bait but asked in confusion, "Why did you emphasize 'properly'?"
It made him think of something dirty for a split second!
"What do you think?"
The corners of Lucoa's lips curled up slightly, and she hummed ambiguously.
"..." Ryohei Tanaka didn't flirt back. After finishing the sauce for the steamed bamboo rice, he turned his gaze to Petra and said, "Actually, I don't need Lucoa this time. I still have cards to play."
Dealing with that Lord? It couldn't be easier!
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