Chapter 5: The High-End Dividend
"We are moving, Boss," I command. "Before I decide to 'appraise' the Minister's cape while he's still wearing it."
Rimuru bounces along beside me, still reeling from the speed at which we just mass-produced a small armory. "You were pretty intense back there, Shinji. But hey, we got the job done! Kaijin said he'd take us to the best place in town!"
"Intensity is just another word for speed-to-market," I reply, my dark, translucent body hovering a steady three inches off the gritty cobblestones. "And if this 'best place' doesn't have a high-thread-count seating arrangement, I'm billing you for the emotional labor."
Notice. Target destination: 'The Butterfly of the Night'. Analysis: High magicule concentration from multiple high-level humanoid entities. Atmosphere: Hedonistic. Suggestion: Maintain high external composure.
Azathoth, if you're telling me there are elves, just say there are elves. My internal monologue already has the 'Deadpool' soundtrack playing. Just don't let me get drunk; I don't want to wake up as a puddle on a barroom floor.
We follow Kaijin and his brothers through a series of increasingly upscale tunnels until we reach a door that actually looks like it's been dusted. The sign depicts a shimmering butterfly.
As we enter, the air changes. It's cool—not quite air-conditioned, but the stone is magically cooled. The scent of soot is replaced by expensive perfume and fermented honey.
And then, the elves appear.
"Welcome, Kaijin!" a chorus of voices chirps.
Warning. Multiple high-level sensory inputs. Suggestion: Activate [Analytical Appraisal] to filter visual clutter.
Shut up, Azathoth. I'm enjoying the aesthetic ROI for once. Look at that velvet. Look at the gold leaf on those pillars. This is finally a world I can work with.
Rimuru is currently being buried in a sea of elven "hospitality." He's blushing—which, as a slime, just makes him turn a lighter shade of pink.
"Oh, look at these cute little things!" an elf coos, reaching for me.
I move half an inch to the left, a silent, cold refusal.
"I am a business partner, not a stress ball," I pulse, my voice resonating with a level of calm that borders on the divine. "However, if you have a tray made of silver or polished obsidian, I would be happy to negotiate a seating arrangement."
The elf blinks, her eyes wide. "He's so... dignified."
"He's a corporate ladder with a grudge," Rimuru giggles, getting squished between two very enthusiastic hostesses.
Kaijin is laughing, finally relaxed now that his twenty-sword nightmare is over. "Eat, drink! It's on me!"
I find a corner booth that is relatively secluded. Using [Luxury Manifestation], I convert a tiny fraction of magicules into a small, floating glass of the Vintage Elven Wine I confiscated from Vesta earlier. If I'm going to celebrate, I'm using the villain's budget.
Notice. External threat detected. A familiar magicule signature is approaching the establishment. It is Minister Vesta. He is accompanied by high-ranking military police.
Of course. He's the type to double down on a bad investment.
"Rimuru," I transmit, my internal voice losing its sarcasm and turning into a sharp, clinical edge. "The Minister is here. He's brought the authorities. It seems our 'hostile takeover' of the blacksmithing contract has led to a legal counter-suit."
"Already?" Rimuru sighs, though he looks less worried and more annoyed.
The doors burst open. Vesta marches in, looking even more disheveled than before. He points a shaking finger at our table—specifically at Kaijin and the two slimes.
"There! Arrest the traitors and their monster pets!"
The patrons scream. The elves scatter. I don't move. I don't even let my wine glass wobble.
[Transaction Domain]
I don't exert pressure this time. I exert gravity. The area around our booth becomes a zone of absolute corporate authority.
"Minister Vesta," I pulse, the words vibrating through the floorboards. "You are currently interrupting a private executive retreat. The penalty for this 'overhead' is going to be... substantial."
Current Magicule Reserves: 99.1%. Location: The Butterfly of the Night. Status: Confrontation initiated. ROI: Imminent.