In Another World, All Milfs Will Be Mine-Chapter 169: [ - - ]

One month later!

It had been one month since the night Leo Dragomir had walked into Baron Volkov’s banquet hall and painted the walls with the blood of traitors.

And in that one month, the city of Auravale had transformed from a dying ember into a blazing beacon of prosperity.

The walls, once crumbling and manned by sleepy, corrupt guards, were now reinforced with stone, and was being patrolled by Blackfang bandits who looked like they would stab you for littering.

The administration, under Seraphine’s ruthless efficiency, ran like a clock. There were no bribes, no delays, and no mercy for incompetence.

But the real magic was the Golden Edict.

"No Taxes for One Year."

When Leo had announced it from the balcony of the Lord’s Mansion, the cheer from the crowd had been loud enough to shake the mountains.

The merchants loved him. The peasants worshiped him. And thanks to the Totem of Terror quietly humming in the town square, they feared him.

So with everyone eyeing him with love, Leo sat in his former Lord Caelum’s study, lounging in a high-backed leather chair with his feet propped up on the mahogany desk. He was tossing a gold coin in the air, catching it lazily.

DING!

A blue screen popped up in his vision, interrupting his thoughts.

[Hidden Quest Complete: The People’s Champion]

[Condition: Achieve 80% Approval Rating in a conquered territory.]

[Current Approval: 84%]

[Rewards:]

[+1000 EXP]

[Title: Local Hero]

(Passive Charisma boost with commoners by 10%)

[Gold Coins: +10,000]

[Frost Serpent Flesh]

[Golden Leaf Grass]

[Nine Yin Fruit]

"Nice," Leo muttered, dismissing the screen, "Local Hero. I am already making a name for myself."

But before he could have a look at his rewards, a timid knock at the door broke the silence.

"Enter," Leo called out, not bothering to take his feet off the desk.

The door creaked open, and High Priest Remus shuffled in.

The old man looked terrible. He had aged ten years in the last month. His robes hung loosely on his skeletal frame, and sweat beaded on his forehead despite the cool room. He clutched his staff like a lifeline, his eyes darting around the room as if expecting demons to jump out of the shadows.

He looked just the way he was when Leo first saw him.

"Lord Leo," Remus wheezed, bowing low, "I hope I am not disturbing you."

"Oh! Remus! Come come, have a seat," Leo gestured to the chair opposite him, "But what has happened to you? You look like wrathful ghost has been leaching on you."

Remus sat down heavily, wringing his hands, "It... it is worse than that Lord Leo. It is the Temple, my Lord. The hierarchy in the Capital... they are asking questions."

He leaned forward, his voice dropping to a terrified whisper.

"They want to know about the artefact. The... Blacksky. They want to know why I haven’t secured it. Why I haven’t sent it to the Holy Vault."

"I... I told them it was too dangerous to move, that it required specialized containment rituals, but they are getting impatient. They are talking about sending an Inquisitor."

Remus swallowed hard, his Adam’s apple bobbing.

"How is it?" he asked, staring at Leo’s chest with morbid fascination, " Is it growing? Do you feel it? When can we have it?"

Leo fought the urge to laugh, and instead sighed theatrically. He picked up a grape from a bowl on his desk and popped it into his mouth, chewing slowly.

"It’s a hungry bastard, Remus," Leo said gravely, "You have no idea. It wakes me up at night, whispering about eating the sun."

Remus flinched, clutching his holy symbol.

"I am feeding it," Leo continued, looking burdened, "Precious herbs. High-grade mana pills. Wind Wolf Meat. Azure Lotus and God knows what not."

"It eats gold like candy, Remus. I have already spent two thousand gold coins this month just to keep it sedated. Two. Thousand."

It was a lie. Well, he did spend maybe about a thousand on feeding this bastard in his stomach, but how could he not profit from the situation. He was after all lending his "womb" to that bastard to grow.

"If I stop feeding it," Leo shrugged, "I might deliver it dead."

"My coffers are bleeding, Priest," Leo said, narrowing his eyes. "I am saving the world here. Who is going to reimburse me?"

"By the Gods!" Remus paled, his skin turning the colour of an old parchment, Remus fumbled in his robes, "The Temple will provide! The Temple always provides for the faithful!"

He pulled out a heavy, platinum coin etched with runes. It was a Storage Coin.

He placed it on the desk with trembling fingers.

"Here," Remus whispered, "It is all I have on me right now. Five hundred gold coins, and some refined Mana Crystals."

"Please... Keep it well fed."

Leo snatched the coin up. He inspected it, feeling the weight of the gold stored inside.

"Five hundred?" Leo scoffed, "Is this it?"

"Don’t worry! I will send the rest later, along with more. You don’t have to worry one bit for the resources."

"Fine. I guess I am doing charity work now," He pocketed the coin, "Tell the Temple some lie to keep them out of Auravale for now."

"Yes! Yes, of course!" Remus nodded frantically.

The door opened again without a knock.

Seraphine walked in.

She looked magnificent. She had gotten rid of her mourning blacks completely.

Today, she wore a fitted gown of deep emerald green that hugged her waist and accentuated the swell of her hips. Her hair was braided in a complex, regal style, and she carried a stack of parchment.

She walked past Remus, the scent of jasmine and authority trailing behind her.

Remus’s eyes followed her. He stared openly at her ass as she walked, his tongue wetting his dry lips.

"My Lord," Seraphine said, placing the papers on the desk. "There is some..."

"Eyes up, Priest," Leo’s voice cut through the air like a whip.

Remus jumped, tearing his gaze away from Seraphine’s tempting ass, "I... I was merely..."

"You were merely wondering if a man of God is allowed to appreciate a fine ass," Leo finished for him, smirking dangerously, "Even if she belongs to some man?"

Remus turned beet red, "I would never! She is the lady..."

Seraphine ignored him completely. She looked at Leo, her amber eyes serious.

"There is news," Seraphine said, "Malcom’s letter has arrived."

Leo sat up straighter, "And?"

"He is with them," she confirmed, "The Royal Inspectors. They are one day out. They will be at the North Gate by tomorrow noon."

The room went silent. This was it. The real test.

"One day," Leo mused.

He looked at Seraphine.

"Prepare the stage," he ordered, "I want the town to look like paradise. Decorate the streets. Flowers, banners, music. I want the people to look happy."

He leaned forward.

"And if there are people who don’t want to look happy... tell the Blackfangs to ask them nicely to reconsider. A smile is mandatory for the next few days."

"Understood," Seraphine said, a ruthless glint in her eye. She turned and swept out of the room, leaving Remus trembling in her wake.

A moment later, the window swung open.

Belladonna dropped into the room, landing silently in a crouch. She was wearing her leather armour, a new cloak of wolf fur draped over her shoulders. She looked fierce, wild, and incredibly happy.

"I just got the news," Belladonna said as she went ahead and sat on Leo’s lap, not caring about Remus’s presence one bit.

"Well, Make sure our old guests don’t inconvenience our new guests."

"Don’t worry, Master. Perimeter is locked," she reported, standing up and stalking towards the desk, "Volkov is silently staying in his room again."

"But just in case," Belladonna shrugged. "I doubled the guard. No one gets in or out of that mansion without my permission."

"Good," Leo said, "Keep him alive. We don’t need him to look pathetic but presentable when the Inspectors arrive. Wash him if you have to. Use a hose."

Belladonna grinned, stealing a grape from Leo’s bowl, "Consider it done."

She vaulted back out the window.

And without a second’s delay, the door opened a third time.

Ryana walked in. She was followed closely by other bodyguard of hers, wearing her veil and tight assassin’s gear.

"Ryana. Darkness," Leo greeted them with a grin, "The gang’s all here. Can’t stay away from me for long, can you?"

Ryana didn’t smile. She looked stressed. She walked up to the desk, ignoring Remus.

"You heard the news?" Ryana asked.

"Inspectors. Tomorrow," Leo nodded.

"I have handled the Guilds," Ryana said, her voice clipped. "The Masters of the Golden Scales and the Iron Caravan... they never returned."

"I have absorbed their operations," Ryana continued, "The trade routes are secure. The warehouses are full. But Leo..."

She leaned over the desk, her hands gripping the edge.

"Don’t mess this up. The Crown isn’t Volkov. You can’t just kill an Inspector and hope it goes away. They have mages. They have communication crystals. If they smell a rat..."

"They won’t smell a rat," Leo assured her. "They will smell only reses and lavender."

Ryana stared at him for a moment, then sighed, "I hope you are right."

She turned and left, Shadow trailing behind her like a ghost.

Leo was left alone with Remus.

He turned to the High Priest, who was sweating profusely.

"See?" Leo sighed, spreading his hands helplessly. "So many women to please. So much work. Being a Lord is exhausting, Remus."

He stood up, walking around the desk. He stopped right next to Remus’s chair. He placed a hand on the old man’s shoulder.

Remus stiffened.

"Remus," Leo said softly.

"Y-Yes, Lord?"

"Make sure those Inspectors love me," Leo whispered. "Sing my praises. Tell them I am the second coming of the Light. Tell them I saved kittens from burning trees."

He squeezed Remus’s shoulder. Hard.

"Because if this goes wrong... if they arrest me... if I get executed..."

Leo leaned down, his lips brushing Remus’s ear.

"I would be very disappointed if ’Blacksky’ suddenly vanished."

Remus turned white. He stared at Leo with eyes full of absolute terror.

"I... I will testify!" Remus squeaked. "You are a hero! A saint! I will tell them everything!"

"Good man," Leo patted his cheek. "Now get out. I have a performance to prepare for."

Remus scrambled out of the chair and practically ran out of the room.

Leo stood alone in the office. He walked to the window, looking out over his city. The banners were already going up. The stage was being set.

DING!

[New Quest Generated: The Masquerade]

[Objective: Secure your legitimacy as the Lord of Auravale.]

[Reward:]

[Silver Coins: 2,000,000]

[Dragon Heart Flower]

[Ten Thousand Year Ginseng]

[True Yan Pill]

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[Author’s Note: If you are enjoying the story, do support the story with Power Stones, Golden Tickets and Gifts.]