“I still haven’t agreed to anything! Are you listening to me? Shit, I’m not a child!” Adelheid was fumio me in the back seat of the rather luxurious four-wheel drive car we were in. On my other side sat Karl, who was apanying us as Adelheid’s chaperone, in a way, and I was amused by his genuine resped affe towards the fiery girl.

  Towards the front sat the siblings, while the driver and the vehicle was one Sir Arthur had arranged for us, as he had es all throughout Europe, and we didn’t want to discuss anythi in an ordinary taxi, but time recious, so even the jouro the embassy could be used productively.

  “Really? You asked for a fight, I gave you one. I thought it was all settled?” I said, feigning surprise. It was impossible not to tease her, as her reas were so explosive, and with her adorable appearahe gap was intense.

  “Settled? Shit. Crap.” She swain, and I now knew why everyone always joked German was the best nguage to swear in, as the curses were guttural and intense.

  “Okay, enough joking.” I promised. “Look, what do you have to lose? You’ll be safer w with us, and you’ll also be.”

  “I don’t want to move abroad!” she pined. “I don’t evehe nguage.”

  “That’s easily rectified, as you told me when I mentioned my German. Learn English at least, Adelheid.” I didn’t call her Tanya this time was the topic was serious. “I don’t mind tut you.” She rolled her eyes at that, and as I was about to tinue, Karl spoke up.

  “While we will miss you, eist, we also pray for your safety. Us Godless, wretched men and women, who drift through life here oter streets of Luisenstadt, found new faith in the Furies you serve. A our weakness, jealousy over our lives, and avenging our sins. You were never meant to remain in such a small pce. You have been chosen.”

  Adelheid made a sour face, and I cajoled her. “It’s not a perma move. Oters are secure, I’ll need a representative fermany, just like I have for Britain and South Korea. And if we find an area with suitable elements, we set up a Ring Gate, and I travel between easily then.” South Korea es first though. But each additional Gate in the Hub uses up more of the earth element around Shirohebizumi. We certainly handle a few more, especially with Shiro’s buffs oree, but… I still like to be sparing. There’s the security risk until we upgrade the Territory to Rank four ahe Anchor Spire that allows us to modify the barriers as well…

  “Stop treating me as a child, or else…” Her expression ged to a childish, adorable one. “…I’ll start talking like this, mister, and everyone will think you’re a pervert kidnapping me!” Her singsong, teasing tone made me ugh.

  “Yeah, please don’t do that, my reputation is bad enough.” I shook my head. “You know, I don’t think I’m a bad deal. And like I said, I’m prepared to listen to reasonable ditions.”

  Seeing I was ear, she gnawed on her lip again, falling silent, and I turo Karl. “So, I’m curious, You say you were a businessman before. What industry?”

  “Pharmaceuticals. In fact, I was the President and major shareholder in a pany renowned worldwide, that I daresay even you have heard of. It was… quite the sdal.” Karl seemed dowened and guilty, yet his smile never faded. “Greed is a terrible poison. When one has wealth and power, only the desire for more remains. And cutting ers, making poor choices…” He looked at me seriously then, and Adelheid was listening closely too. “…I hope you uand the wisdom of knowing your limits.”

  I nodded. “Yeah. As long as my family and friends have a good life, that’s enough for me. Though sadly we do o gather wealth for a legitimate reason, to be everyone. Anyharmaceuticals, huh?” That was an area Ixitt had a passing i in, after all, Alchemy lent itself to such as one of its facets, but was hardly a focus. Yeah, there’s an idea…

  Ba the Boundary in Japan, Hyath was serving us some cold drinks. I was sweating profusely, the pain from the Berserk Blessing I was taking from Asha’s Tree shogly intehough every so often my Resiliencreased, which helped my motivation. That and the extra ether, of course. Daiyu was also here, alongside her Korean disciple Kim Eui, and they were Qi Refining steadily due to the higher ether density. Suk-ja was here as well, and she was squeezing out every st Winged Diamond, breaking them down as she had been taught, and feeding the crystal element into bluesteel batteries.

  “Hyath, a question? Oh, I guess this is to you as well, Daiyu.” At my words Daiyu opened her onyx eyes from where she was sitting uhe shade of Asha’s Tree and looked at me seriously.

  “Gooo on. Ask away.” Hyath said eagerly, and I mentiohe Faerie Dew that Selensha had been drinking to replenish herself during the Trial of Three where we first met. Hyath made a face at that, and nodded, pursing her lips.

  “Yes, Faerie Dew. It restooore one’s strength. But Hyath hates it. Tastes nasty, nooot fit to serve you or the mistresses.”

  Daiyu was clever, so immediately uood my angle. “I see. You mean cos aoratives ri Qi, or aether, I suppose. Perhaps elemental energies?” At my nod, she tinued. “Rare herbs such as a ginseng are flush with strengthening Qi. If Refined into potions, pills or even food, then it is greatly nourishing.” She paused for a moment, thinking more deeply. “I believe there are tales of rare jewels and minerals, or even crystallised lightning, which serves the same purpose, though in the me, such have almost entirely vanished. If the Incorruptible Jade carried out any from Kunlun, they have long been used up. After all, only a feills and talismans remaio us…”

  “I dooo not wish to serve unfitting beverages, but… Hyath make ooone.” she decred, and at my nod, she hustled off to grab the ingredients.

  Ba the Material, still in the car, I addressed Karl. “So, pharmaceuticals. That might be a suitable busio start up. It doesn’t flict with my current pns…”

  “If you are seeking my assistance, I have knowledge, but…” Karl’s expression was self-mog. “…I am no longer allowed to hold high position in any pany, nor be involved in any medial market. The oute of the case attracted widespread i, after all. I was fortuo escape longer impriso.”

  Adelheid looked ied at that. Seeing her curiosity, Karl ughed rustily. “I too am a sio be judged. But the criminal justice system is not as pure as the judgement of the Furies.”

  “You’re not an evil man, Karl.” Adelheid protested. “Not like those perverts and bastards… you helped me, helped others.”

  “Of course. I am a repentant man.” Karl agreed.

  I’ll o look into the sdal of course, but… “Expertise would be appreciated, but who knows. It might well be we make an exception for you. But that’s not up to me. Though I’d like you to meet my fia some point. She handles my business empire. Not now though, we’re on a tight schedule this trip.”

  “Whie?” Adelheid said snidely, but her blue eyes were strangely gentle. She’s prickly, but she does seem to care for Karl, I think.

  “Hinata. She’s not been on any of my high-profile appearances.” I said self-depregly. “But she’s managing a lot, despite her age. Her family has always been big in business. She’s the granddaughter of the owner of Nichibotsu.”

  Adelheid’s eyes wide that, though she then tried to pretend she wasn’t surprised, which was as a childish an a as her appearance. “At home, our television was Nichibotsu brand…” she admitted, though with the sour twist of her mouth it seemed like she didn’t relish talking about her past.

  “The East Asian sphere has a near monopoly on maronic products.” Karl agreed. “Nichibotsu. I see. You are a man with es.”

  “I have my own sources of ine.” I pointed out, not wanting to be seen as a kept man. Not that I should really let things like that embarrass me now. Hinata would say I’d be a fool not to use every tool at my disposal. But as a man, I have my pride. I o provide for my family, massive as it now is… aainly some sort of pharmaceutical deal could help. People always need medie…

  “That’s not the point!” Adelheid pined. “Stop distrag me! I said I haven’t agreed, this is kidnapping!”

  Karl spoke up for me, his tole. “Now, eist, stop being so noisy. You may struggle to trust, but you came willingly. Besides… he asked for your ditions, and you haven’t stated them yet. If you wish, I propose some that are fair? I am well-versed in tract w.”

  Adelheid looked at Karl, surprised, her eyes fshing sullenly. “Fine. I admit I lost. I ’t beat you in a fight. If you came to kill me, I’d be dead… but…” Her tone was defensive. “…I’m no pushover.”

  “Don’t act like the offended liver sausage.” Karl chided her, and Adelheid flushed. I cocked my head, uanding all the words but not the meaning, w if the German I had learned was insuffit. On seeing my puzzlement, Karl chuckled and spoke in English. “You would say don’t be a sore loser, I believe. It is an idiom.”

  “I’m not! I just…” Adelheid scowled, and as the car pulled to a stop outside the Japanese embassy, she swung her legs angrily, almost kig me. “Fine! We’ll go in and talk!”

  Meanwhile, in the Boundary, Hyath bustled back, smiling to herself, holding a small gss of vivid e liquid. My Eye identified it as Faerie Dew, and the description was iing.

  Faerie Dew is a restorative elixir made from a bination of Fae fruits aars, with the addition of certain herbs. It restore a certain amount of Aether to anyone who es it, and this variety is also ri Water Elemental energies. Over time the brew matures, the ingredients releasing more of their true essence, and it absorbs more ambient energies, but the taste bees correspondingly more vile.

  “I dooo not think you should drink it, Akio. It tastes…” Hyath pursed her lips. “…most bitter, like brackish salt water ooor mossy mud. But it doooes work.” Her expressio distant, perhaps remembering something. We all waited patiently, and she snapped bato the present, before handihe vial.

  “I see. Well…” I passed it to Daiyu, who let her Qi flow into it, perceiving it. While Qi Perception was for finding other Cultivators and living beings in general, it was also sensitive to aether and other simir energies, and so while it wasn’t exhaustive, she could gather some information. Kim Eui looked on, a little curious, and after a while, Daiyu expined in her rudimentary yet improving English.

  “It is… resembles… yes, resembles a refined potion. I think… maybe I could make it. If I had… herbs.”

  Damn, nguage barriers are really a pain. Fae and Yōkai seem to work around it, but if we could make transts life would be so much easier… huh, wait a minute. I seemed surprised, so everyouro look at me, and I raised a point I hadn’t sidered.

  “You know how Haru and Tsukiko both now speak fluent Korean, because I ? I’d imagihey suddenly find themselves able to uand German too. It’s obviously because we have a e via the Throne. After all, how else could I restrict them?” Not that I had, unlike Na, who was bound uhe tightest rules by Haru, instead I basically just gave them privileges.

  “You are saying that because you are joined in mind and spirit…” Daiyu was ba ese now, as she o express her thoughts ly. “…you o have an uanding of each other to be so bound? It is often said that without uanding, a dragon has no greater wisdom than a sherefuage is part of this bond?”

  “Yeah, I also think it’s how the Fae unicate here in the Boundary.” I remembered one odd event, where Ulfuric was able to talk easily with the Oni Blue, despite them not sharing a on nguage. At the time I had dismissed it as unimportant, after all, Ulfuric was an important Fae, he might have learned Japanese, which the Hyakki Yagyō spoke… “So… if I could somehow replicate the smallest part of the Throne’s e, and replicate it in some sort of device, like a small ring or earring…”

  “Then you will have to learn many, many nguages.” Daiyu suddenly giggled, looking oddly charming. “And to think your time is already so precious. As, an Emperor may live in luxury, but the poor man lives more freely.”

  I groaned, realising she was right. Unless I could replicate how spiritual beings on the Boundary did it, which I had no clues on, theranstion devices would be lio me and my uanding of nguage, so would only work between those nguages I knew myself.

  Seeing that, Hyath patted me on the shoulder gently. “Dooo not worry. Hyath is here to sole yooou! But befooore that, we were talking about medies?”

  I nodded. Yeah, I’m definitely going to study the Throer this, but right now we’re thinking about a new business, and also a way to be stronger. “Yes, we were. My biggest weakness is sustain in battle. Now, I have far more aether, elements and other trump cards than I used to, so in ordinary fights I endure, but against powerful foes, despite having more to call upon, I still run out as I’m burning through resources rapidly. Mana potions are cssic, though I suppose I should call them aether potions here. And healing potions would be great too… imagine having portable Ether Healing at high level, even if it wasn’t targeted. But to do so…”

  “I see.” Daiyu suddenly had an idea. “Asha, she enhand create many stras. It is quite beautiful, at times. It reminds me of home…” Daiyu sighed wistfully. Indeed, Asha had created numerous beautiful ndscapes around the heart of our Territory. Cherry and other fl trees grew in groves, and roses and other flowers bloomed, to say nothing of the trees heavy with fruits that all could eat from as they wished. I knew Asha had also replicated the style of Daiyu’s mountainous home in one small er, and she liked to meditate there when I wasn’t around.

  “…she also use her Inspire Growth.” Daiyu tinued. “She never misses a day to mio her Tree, and the other Rhyming Trees. It is slow, but they grow. Perhaps one day they shall mature.” I her words, knowing it would be great if the Trees could Rank up, though the effort was a slow and steady process. “Pnts with powerful natures are not easy t into being or ge, else this nd would be full of Rhyming Trees. Yet perhaps things such as ginseng and other Cultivation resources could be seeded?”

  Yeah, while we have the nds around the Spring too, that Shaeu’s managing, if we wao make signifit quantities of products, enough to sell, we’d need a huge amount of raw materials. “I’d thought of that too.” I admitted. “I’m loathe to ask her to work so hard while pregnant, but…”

  “Asha will looove to do so. The Daughters of reckless Oriooon are oooh nature. Pnts, flowers, trees, herbs, grasses… they looove all such things. Besides… as we all dooo, she wishes to help.” Hyath promised. “I will too. Hyath is gooooood with nature. You showed me that, that I do nooot only have the power to hurt, to harm.” Reckless? Seeing her gentle, sad smile, I pulled her into a hug, before patting her head. I then did the same to Daiyu, while Suk-ja, still w oask, looked on with some amusement, and Kim Eui gnced away, sn.

  “In that case, things are fairly calm oerial right now, at least until tomorrow, so I dedicate more of my Split Thoughts to here. We might as well do some experimentation. Asha’s taking it easy atop her Tree, so if someone could fetch her?” A maid ran off at my words, and Daiyu spoke up.

  “Speaking of tomorrow, your sister is extremely excited. She says she will not be able to sleep until the cert.”

  “Yeah, I know she loves idols. But she’s got to go back to Nishimorioka first and pick up Yae and Rika-san, right? She’s got a whole day to go yet. If anyone’s excited, it’s Suzu-san. I know she’s been practising here in the Boundary almost non-stop…”

  We chatted until Asha arrived, a warm smile on her face, and we soon put our heads together, trying to e up with nts Asha should bloom ience. Ba the Material, other than the wrathful pain I was feeling, as it would sooime to get Shiro to drop and reapply her Berserk Blessing, and the awkwardness of the differen time dition, which I was rgely used to, my mind was calm. Though I do admit to some great amusement. If Shiro, or Hayato-kun and the gang were here, they’d be dying with ironic ughter now…

  “Marvellous, little Fr?ulein, you look adorable!” The staffer at the embassy obviously spoke German as well, no embassy would employ staff that didn’t speak the loguage. Right noere taking a picture of Adelheid for her passport dots, and her Ministry registration would be processed as well. There were certainly some issues regarding whether the German gover would be happy to see us give dual nationality to a Chosen from their try, but in terms of diplomacy, we could ha, I was fident.

  “Fr?ulein is offensive!” Adelheid protested, fuming. Regardless, with her hair bed properly, and her face lightly made up, she at least looked a little closer to her actual age. “This isn’t st tury! Shit, crap, I hate this!” She turo Karl for support, only to see his amused smile and curse even louder.

  “You should be pleased, eist. After all, matters are settled, are they not?”

  “Yes, but…” Adelheid squirmed as the picture was taken, her cheeks red. “Look, piss off then! I don’t care. You abandoned me… do whatever the hell you want!”

  “Now you don’t mean that.” I pointed out, and she hissed at me like a feral cat. It was too te though, as her photograph had been captured and was dispyed on the monitor on the wall, which was also Nichibotsu brand, an irony not lost on her. Soon her dots were being printed, and as the staffer left to deal with the final bits of bureaucracy, Adelheid stalked over and sat down on a seat, crossing her legs, clearly infuriated, but also happy, if I wasn’t mistaken.

  “Anyway, you’ll have a substantial sary, aodation provided, opportuo train and progress, and you’ll be in charge of the Territory we’ll establish around Luisenstadt at a ter stage. And I’ll pensate you with the required ether, and you’ll have support from my forces.” Adelheid’s Territory was only Rank 2, and she had disma, breaking her e to it now everything was settled, but holy, if she wasn’t alone and stantly running into trouble, she easily could have been Rank 3 by now. It was as I expected. Rank 3’s were very viable now, it had been over a year in Boundary time sihe start of all this, but due to the dangers of upgrading, most would work on bolstering their Rank 2’s as much as they could, rather than ce it, uhey either had a solid alliance, or were in an isoted area. Likely only those with great fortune such as me, or those sponsored by a state are able to push for Rank four though. I’d be surprised if there will be more than two or three a year from now…

  “I know all that! I’m not as stupid as you are!” She puffed out her cheeks as she insulted me. “I… okay, fi’s not a bad deal, and you don’t seem a bad guy, I suppose I cede that, but… you’re just so annoying!”

  “I’m hurt.” I chuckled. “But anyway, I’ll start teag you English. With your stats you should be fine.” Noere at the embassy, I’d given her a brief expnation of how I measured things, and had a g her Favour. I couldn’t glean all her details, as she wasn’t boo me or one of my Chosen Heroes, but her Divine Favour, the Eririad Of Judgement, was fasating. Basically, her Jealous Judgement, of Megaera, worked on Karma, and the more sins one had itted, the more the target would be ensnared and slowed down in both movements and thoughts. Unluckily for Adelheid, I was rgely immuo it due to my Spiritually Pure Physique, and while my hands were far from , even when I was being hard on myself I didn’t think I was an evil man.

  Then there was Furious Judge of Alecto, whicreased her Might, Fortitude, Acrity and Precision the more angry she became. That made up for the fact that her Favour didn’t give her a huge Status boost, but was more baowards her Aether. Lastly, Tisiphone’s Avenging Judgement was a rebounding effect as I was already aware of thanks to asking Yasaka-san before my visit. It had limits, of course, and didn’t stop Adelheid getting hurt, but when you bined all three aspects of the Favour, it had incredible potential.

  “Stop looking at me. I’m not on dispy!” Adelheid grumbled, and I realised I was lost in thought for a moment, likely due to most of my attention being in the Boundary, where Asha was trying to grow some gio Daiyu’s standards. In addition, Daiyu was also rememberiails of various mushrooms and fungus she had seen in her Sect’s scrolls and ptes, such as the reishi mushroom. Obviously, ordinary ginseng and mushrooms had no spiritual properties, so a lot of trial and error would be required, but Hyath was eager to find mushrooms that did, so she could use her own spores to replicate them as she did the Ring Gates.

  “Sorry, you were just surprisingly adorable.” I smiled, amused. The brash girl definitely brought out my urge to tease her, and I’d only known her for a few hours, but I already felt a little protective towards her. Aiko will be annoyed, looks like I’m pig up another little sister. But again, Eri will just ugh and say turnabout is fair…

  “Oh shut up. If that’s all you want, I totally be all cute and polite…” She started elongating her vowels and speaking in a sickly-sweet tone, like a young child. “…but then it’s abuse making me fight, isn’t it?” She tilted her head, and again the parisons to the famous Tanya were undeniable.

  “Holy, while I do feel very bad about it, we do have one elementary schoolgirl who has fought. Though it’s ducted with extreme safety margins, and only to Level her up, against mindless beasts.” Marika- was going home tomorrow. No, due to the time differe’s after midnight in Japan nht? So I guess it’s today. Speaking of…

  “Bah.” Adelheid looked like she was going to spit again, but looking at the , polished floor, she merely made a sour expression. “It’s a shitty world, where even young girls have to fight. But has it ever been any different? The weak only bme themselves when they get no justice.”

  “True. But I do believe those of us who are strong and should aid the weak. But better, we help the weak to be strong.” I agreed.

  “Fine. You win this time.” Adelheid snorted. “So, Karl, what are you going to do?”

  “Simple.” The man expined. “I will return and we of these streets shall meet and discuss whether repared to work for him.” He me. “I think the majority will not dee. Then… I shall wait until the time is right.”

  “I’ve already started w on pns.” I said, surprising them, which made sense as they didn’t know about my ability to be both Material and Astral at the same time. “But yeah. Hinata will either see you herself e a representative.”

  I then turo the siblings. They were looking far more rexed now that their main tasks were done. “As for you two…” I switched to English. “…good job. We secured the Favour and our little Tanya here…” Though she didn’t speak English, Adelheid reised the name, and scowled. “…so you take some time off for a few days. Then we have more work for you.”

  “It’ll be good to take a break and not be bothered by my brother’s idiocy.” Sophia muttered. “I just want to rex and go shopping…”

  staook offeo that, pining that it was ‘his idiocy’ that got them this job, which would pay more than Sophia’s work, and as they bickered, the staffer at the embassy returned with Adelheid’s dots, a set of passports, as well as her Ministry identification card, and a Japanese bank card lio an at with the ability to make iional withdrawals. Adelheid looked at that, oddly amused.

  Seeing me looking at her, she flushed again, putting it away in her faded purse, which was a cute design. She glowered at me, blue eyes hard. “What? I don’t have the moo buy anythier.”

  “Actually you do.” I chuckled, cheg my watch. “We have a few hours before Hinata’s flight arrives, so you need a lot of things for the trip.”

  “Trip?” Adelheid asked, and I nodded.

  “Yeah, since we have you now, you’ll be an asset at our destination. After all, nobody expects a cute young girl to be capable of bat, right?” As she protested she wasn’t a young girl I turo Karl. “I know most German shops aren’t open that te, so do you have any reendations? Somewhere Adelheid get some suitable outfits, as well as ies?”

  “I see. What sort of clothes?” Karl asked, with a knowing smile, and I found myself smiling as well.

  “Ordinary clothes obviously. But we’ll also need some party dresses too, something suitable for a very distinguished affair.”

  As Adelheid gave me a death stare, Karl chuckled. “I see, I see. eist is moving out of the shadows. It just so happens that not everyone has fotten me, I know some people. Let me make a call.” As he pulled out his phoo make arras, he fixed me with a stern gre of his own. “Our meeting has been iing, Herr Oshiro, and I am extending you the be of your reputation and words. Just remember… the Geist is of Luisenstadt now. No matter where she goes, we shall send her our prayers and well-wishes. And while we may be the fotten, the lost and the reviled, we are also those with little to lose. Do not betray our trust and disappoint us.”

  As Adelheid looked away, clearly embarrassed by Karl’s words, I nodded seriously. “Don’t worry, I’m a man of my word. Besides, I’ve already been judged, right?” As I said that to her, the little blonde woman looked away, unwilling to answer, and Karl’s hearty ughter filled the room…

  ShipTeaser