The three-day journey was an intense, immersive education. Seraphina was a relentless tutor, drilling Kenji on the names, allegiances, scandals, and secret desires of every major noble house and merchant guild in Aethelgard. She wasn't training a servant; she was sharpening a weapon.
When they finally arrived, Kenji understood the scale of his new world. The capital was a breathtaking behemoth of white marble towers, sprawling manors, and bustling avenues that made his old town look like a forgotten pebble. The Valerius estate itself was a fortress of commerce and elegance, its gates guarded by men whose polished steel armor was worth more than Elara's entire forge.
As he was shown to his quarters—a luxurious room larger than the entirety of his previous home—the system chimed in with a new, overarching directive.
[Core Objective Activated: The SSS-Rank Harem]
[Description: A true hunter does not settle for one prize. Your destiny is to weave a tapestry of love and devotion with the world's most magnificent women. Capture the hearts of the designated S-rank and higher targets.]
[Current Harem Members: 0]
[Objective: Secure the first cornerstone of your harem.]
Kenji smirked. The system had finally laid all its cards on the table. He wasn't just here to gain influence; he was here to conquer hearts.
His first test came the very next day.
"You will accompany me to a meeting," Seraphina announced, her tone leaving no room for argument. "I am negotiating a trade route through the Western Shires. The maps are controlled by the Royal Cartographer's Guild, headed by Lady Genevieve Beaumont. She is meticulous, proud, and notoriously difficult. Your task is to observe her. Use that 'perception' of yours and tell me what I'm missing."
Lady Genevieve Beaumont. Kenji's mind raced through the dossiers Seraphina had made him memorize. S-rank beauty, a widow, fiercely intelligent, and a woman who saw flattery as an insult and viewed most merchants as vulgar profiteers. She was a perfect first target.
They met in a private study in the Royal Library, a hallowed space that smelled of old paper and beeswax. Lady Genevieve was exactly as described. Her silver-streaked hair was pinned in a severe but elegant bun, and sharp, intelligent eyes peered at him from behind silver-rimmed spectacles. She was beautiful, but in the way a perfectly crafted, lethally sharp dagger was beautiful.
She greeted Seraphina with curt professionalism and ignored Kenji completely.
As they spoke, the negotiation quickly stalled. Genevieve refused to release the latest survey maps, citing arcane regulations and the sanctity of her Guild's work. Seraphina, ever the pragmatist, was growing frustrated. This was his chance. Kenji focused, activating [Keen Insight]. The world shifted, and he could see the faint, shimmering outlines of Genevieve's core motivations.
[Ambition: To have the Crown recognize cartography as a high art and a vital state secret, not a mere craft.]
[Insecurity: Fears her life's work is seen as merely 'drawing maps' and will be forgotten.]
[Desire: To be intellectually stimulated; she is bored by the sycophants and dullards of the court.]
The void. Seraphina had told him to find it, and here it was: a deep, aching need for her life's passion to be truly seen.
Seizing a momentary pause, Kenji interjected smoothly. "Lady Beaumont, forgive my impertinence."
Both women turned to look at him, Genevieve with an expression of pure annoyance at being interrupted by a subordinate.
"I was just admiring the triangulation chart on your wall," he said, his voice calm and respectful. "The use of celestial bodies for longitudinal reference is revolutionary. Most would simply see lines on paper, but I see a bulwark against famine and a shield against invasion. A kingdom that knows where its grain grows and where its enemies march is a kingdom that endures."
He paused, letting his words sink in. "Your work isn't just maps, my lady. It's the silent, unsung scripture upon which the history of this nation is written."
He had deployed [Flawless Compliment], but infused it with the genuine desires he'd gleaned from [Keen Insight]. He hadn't praised her beauty or her dress; he had praised her life's work, her very soul.
Silence. Genevieve stared at him, her lips slightly parted. The icy annoyance in her eyes melted, replaced by a flicker of stunned surprise, then a spark of genuine interest. No one had ever spoken of her work with such profound understanding. Seraphina watched the exchange, a flash of shrewd approval in her eyes.
Unspoken Emotion from Genevieve: "He… sees it. He actually understands."
A slow, tentative smile touched Genevieve's lips. "You have a cartographer's soul, young man. An unusual quality in a merchant's aide." She turned back to Seraphina, her entire demeanor softened. "Perhaps we can revisit the topic of the Western Shires surveys. There may be a conditional release I can authorize for someone who so clearly understands their importance."
As the meeting concluded on a far more successful note, and Genevieve gave Kenji a long, thoughtful look upon her departure, a series of blue panels erupted in his vision.
[Target Acquired: Lady Genevieve Beaumont (S-Rank)]
[Affection Meter Unlocked!]
[Genevieve Beaumont Affection: 15/100 (Intrigued)]
[You have successfully woven the first thread. She will not forget you.]
Kenji allowed himself a small, internal smile. The game had begun. The first piece was on the board, and the Grand Stage of Aethelgard had just met its newest player.