Chapter 36: Mergers and Acquisitions
Azathoth, pull up the coordinates for the return trip. We've finished our business in this kingdom. It's time to head back to the forest and see if the construction crews have finished the executive wing yet. I refuse to spend another night in a tent.
The air in the Dwelling of Spirits was still shimmering with residual energy, but for me, the world had undergone a high-definition upgrade. Floating wasn't just a physical act anymore; I could feel the "buoyancy" of the magicules around me, supporting my newly dense, obsidian membrane like a premium suspension system.
"You're really in a hurry to get back, aren't you?" Rimuru says, walking beside the children as we move toward the Labyrinth exit. He looks at me, his blue slime-intuition probably picking up on the fact that I'm no longer vibrating with "storage-full" errors. "But hey, you're looking great. That evolution really did wonders for your polish."
"It was a necessary infrastructure overhaul, Rimuru," I pulse, my voice resonating with a metallic clarity. "I was carrying too many fragmented assets. It was messy. It was inefficient. It was... un-Satou."
Notice. Authority [Universal Synthesis] is standing by. User possesses multiple overlapping law-fragments: [Beast-Skin Hardening], [Density Laws], [Enhanced Physical Constitution], [Corrosive Resistance], and [Partial Magic Interference]. Suggestion: Consolidate these redundancies into a permanent defensive framework to optimize Soul Capacity.
Finally. Let's do some serious portfolio management. Azathoth, execute the merger. I want a single, high-performance protective layer. None of this 'patchwork' armor.
[Universal Synthesis]
The sensation is far more pleasant than the evolution itself. It feels like watching a chaotic spreadsheet suddenly snap into a perfect, automated pivot table. The raw data of the Orcs' hide, the Beastketeer's resilience, and the Sky-Queen's interference aura are stripped of their biological "fluff" and woven into a single, cohesive logical thread.
Merging successful. Individual fragments deleted. New Permanent Passive Law established: [Obsidian Aegis]. This law provides constant Magic Interference and physical reinforced density without requiring active magicule expenditure. Soul Capacity usage: 20%.
Now that's what I call a clean balance sheet. I've gone from 49% stress to 20% stability while actually improving my defensive rating. Deadpool, if you're watching, take notes—this is how you scale a character without breaking the plot.
We exit the Labyrinth and make our way back toward the Kingdom of Ingrassia to finalize our departure. The children—Kenya, Chloe, and the others—are different now. They aren't "ticking bombs" anymore; they're stable, high-potential individuals.
"Bye, Sensei! Bye, Mr. Shiny!" Alice yells, waving her teddy bear as we prepare to board the carriage back to the Jura Forest.
"Keep your magicule consumption in check," I pulse at them, my voice cool but authoritative. "And don't waste your potential on low-ROI activities. You've been given a second chance at life; make sure it pays dividends."
As we leave the city gates of Ingrassia behind, the scenery begins to shift back toward the untamed green of the forest. But as we reach the border of the Kingdom of Falmuth's influence, the atmosphere changes.
Warning. [Analytical Appraisal] has detected unusual movement in the regional trade routes. Identification: Falmuth Kingdom border scouts. Their numbers are 300% higher than the seasonal average. Their equipment is geared for heavy conquest, not border patrol.
Azathoth, give me a risk assessment. Are they looking for a fight, or are they just jealous of our growth?
Analysis. Falmuth is a trade-reliant nation. The rise of the City of Tempest as a centralized trade hub in the Jura Forest poses a direct threat to their monopoly. Logic suggests they are preparing for a 'Market Correction' via military force.
"Rimuru," I transmit, my internal persona sharpening. "Our success has attracted some unwanted attention. Falmuth is mobilizing. They aren't coming to trade; they're coming to reclaim the market share we took from them."
Rimuru stops, his mask reflecting the setting sun. "They want to attack the village? But we haven't done anything to them!"
"We grew, Rimuru. In the world of conglomerate kingdoms, growth is an act of aggression," I pulse, my obsidian surface reflecting the darkening sky. "Get Ranga ready. We need to get home. If Falmuth thinks they can liquidate our hard-earned assets, they're about to find out that our 'Return on Investment' includes a very high cost for hostile takeovers."
Current Magicule Reserves: 98.4%. Location: Border of Falmuth/Jura. Status: Returning to Tempest. [Obsidian Aegis] active. Threat Level: Rising.
Chapter End.