UTOPIA

'Well, that's a lot of research-' did this guy love talking and deducing or something?

We were at the count's office and boy did he laugh talking.

"This wine is amazing!" Normally, I never drank at places like this but this time it was mandatory; after all, I had to make him believe, I trusted him. It was really good and so far, no fast-acting poison. Anyway- "Well, if I did have something in mind, wouldn't I have just come with her and then demanded a reward?" I said.

"Yes, you do make a fair point. But I don't believe you saved my daughter for no reason at all?"

The count wasn't someone I could just play dumb with. But I had to dumb down the conversation at least to some extent.

"And you're right. I was kind of bored- kind of starving. And I'm not sure if you know but Sahagin Chief meat is one of the best and once you eat some- you can't forget the taste."

And I sure made sure to stash away quite a portion for me and the cats.

He let out a faint chuckle. "At least make it a bit more believable." He sighed. "I do have to give you something- after all, I have an image to keep. Besides, now that the royal palace has heard about this- they're also pressuring me to reward you. Is there nothing I can give you?"

'Now we're talking.'

"Hmmm…. I'm an adventurer and I know this might be a bit selfish, but can I get express permission; maybe get first dibs in a specific part of the forest near the north coast? And maybe charge a small fee whenever someone gets in?"

I made it sound like it wasn't a big deal- but it was.

After all- the north coast was where all the hobs lived… and it was also the place where a certain river connected with the ocean…

"That's it?" The man chuckled, not quite believing things.

'Yeah, that's it but-' But of course, there was more. "That'd really help my cause out. Maybe have some of the wild things, get first priority, and-"

"Sure- I'll talk with his highness and we might be able to even get you the land too-"

'Bingo-'

In the world of reward-seeking, if you ask the exact same thing you want- you lose. But- if you could somehow get the other person to suggest that- not only would you win- you'd also be able to have that reward. Basically, you could both have and eat your cake.

After all, just getting the land meant- I'd automatically be getting a promotion to my noble rank too.

So-

Win-win.

Heh!

"That would help a lot, my lord." A nod from me-

And the man grinned. "Alright, now that's out of the way, would you be interested in sharing dinner with us tonight?"

So- he was basically going to push on a job to me…

The rewards would probably be good but-

"I'm afraid I still have my adventurer's duties. So maybe another time."

He was also probably going to thank me in private along with his family.

I'm sorry- but I didn't have so much time.

"That's a shame."

The man was a bit disappointed but my work here was done, and I didn't have time to go party-

So- "However, if I can make time, maybe sometime next week- I hope you'd invite me again- my lord."

A bit cocky but given I'd saved the life of his daughter- this ought to do it- besides, just ranking up once- wasn't good enough. I was going to have to take over this whole town and then this whole country and eventually this whole continent.

For that- I needed quite a few connections and people I could trust and use…

"But of course- Sir Gain. That would be all so you may leave. And-" He stood up and spread his hand. "The betterment of the country-"

"And the people-" I shook his hands- while also cheering with our glasses-

Grins!

And with that- we came out.

Exhale-

The whole time Amiya was far too quiet. Actually, the count didn't bother asking her anything either… not important enough, I guess.

Just outside, Dracao was standing by- "Alright, I'll show you out."

I already knew my way around so I didn't need him. But I guess he was wary of me. Of course, he was, I was a stranger who just showed up yesterday!

***

Regardless- we were led out of the mansion and the front gates closed-

"Mind explaining now?" I said, staring at the Harpy with my peripheral vision.

"It was all your show so my input wasn't necessary. Besides, I just went in there for fun and curiosity anyway."

Yeah, I doubted that…

But the count probably thought she wasn't a noble, hence he didn't bother speaking with her… and that probably would have happened to me too if I wasn't one… I'd just have been given some coins and maybe thanked once and be done with it…

Hopefully, they wouldn't find out that I was just a pretend noble… ahem….

"Not that-" We started walking. "I'm talking about the whole covering your face thing from last night."

"Oh…" A faint smile- "I could just show you but- they'd kill you if I bring you unannounced. So would you give me some time to convince them before you meet them?"

The streets were pretty crowded even in the middle of the day too…

This place really was something-

I chuckled. "I don't think they can kill me that easily…" Especially when I had the cats.

She chuckled again before turning around and just leaving.

Amiya was definitely hiding something.

And this woman was certainly trouble.

I underestimated her far too much.

However-

I already made up my mind to free and use all the slaves here- there was no going back. I wasn't going to do that because of her- rather, I was going to do that because I needed to. 'But wouldn't that mean they'd just be changing employers?'

No matter what- no matter how good life was, a slave was a slave.

Even if you treated that slave with kindness and compassion- he was still going to feel like a slave.

And slaves wanted freedom. They wanted to be free- free from oppression and free from the abuse- even if the abuse was never there.

Which meant-

I had to build a land where there were no slaves yet they happily worked for me- a land where people chose to work for me- where people chose to make my dream come true-

A land for all- with no discrimination.

And land- to give life for-

Basically-

'Time to make a utopia.'