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MillionNovel > I Own a Brothel in Another World > Chapter 239 – Imitation Isn’t Always the Sincerest Form of Flattery

Chapter 239 – Imitation Isn’t Always the Sincerest Form of Flattery

    Chapter 239 – Imitation Isn’t Always the Sincerest Form of ttery


    <span style="font-weight:400">“So, they are going to be a problem?” I ask my knowledgeable lover as we continue towards the exit of the town.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Their family certainly doesn’tck funds or influence,” Sirgia replies thoughtfully. “They certainly aren’t an easy enemy to face. But, it all depends if this issuees from some small slight, an obscure misunderstanding, or an actual offence that no lineage can look away from.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">We both nce at the distressed Dwarf girl sitting next to me.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Mevana shakes her head with a disheartened sigh. “I haven’t done anything serious to them. The best I can think of is just <i><span style="font-weight:400">existing </i><span style="font-weight:400">in the capital and running my workshop. And it’s not like I have a lot of customers either. Sure, I sometimes talk shit about other artisans and merchants and their practices but who would care? Everyone does that. I’ve never insulted someone’s lineage directly.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“I can’t really say much about this since I don’t know how they operate and what’s the basis in this… part of the world, but big organisations where I’m from do tend to harass the smaller and more local ones just because.” I rub her back reassuringly. “Do you think we can somehow clear this up or did it get too far already?”


    <span style="font-weight:400">My genius lover rides in silence for a moment before standing in the saddle and turning fully around to sit facing us. “That depends on many variables, Master. Including the aspects I previously mentioned. If this is an order from the head of the family, they must have a reason for their actions and it might be impossible to change their mind. But if this hasn’te from the top but perhaps from an absorbed subsidiary or a low-positioned managerial member of the n, we might be able to negotiate.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“And if that doesn’t work, can we go to the n head?” I inquire, for a moment feeling like a typical Karen.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Her cute nose wrinkles a bit. “That’s risky. The person or people after Mevana would have had to go against some family code or rules, perhaps dabbling in something fairly illegal. If there was no good reasoning found, the head of the family would usually choose to defend its members. But, if we managed to dig up some serious dirt on the perpetrator, that could give us a chance to both get rid of them and gain some tiny favour from the n. Compensation wouldn’t be anything great, but it would be a basis for negotiation at least, where we could make sure Mevana is left alone in the future.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“There is no way I can do any of that…” Mev lets out a dejected groan. “I’m just an insignificant craftswoman… And they even put a bounty on me… This is the end…”


    <span style="font-weight:400">I scoot a bit closer to throw my arm around her wide shoulders, which does prove to be a challenge to some extent.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Nothing is set in stone,” I say with a warm but decisive stone, then chuckle lightly. “And even if it is, there are people who can manipte it anyway.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“We will see what we can do to help,” Sirgia offers kindly. “Our destination is the same. Even if we fail to find anything significant through our external investigation, there’s still my family to consider. Forgegravers aren’t the grandest, but as a powerful line of smith and artificers, they are capable of going against the Stockhawkers.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“I think you are forgetting one crucial element here.” I nce at her with a raised brow. “We first need to gain their favour and respect. You know I don’t mean to be rude but you are from an outer branch.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">She giggles charmingly. “That’s just a matter of time. They can’t hold a candle to you, Master. We will make all of them bow if they don’t listen to us and show you proper respect.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Rolling my eyes, I smirk at her. “Our objective was to convince them of <i><span style="font-weight:400">your</i><span style="font-weight:400"> greatness, not mine.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“One doesn’t exclude the other.” My cunning wife wags her finger at me. “Although I’m confident in my creations, that won’t stop the jealousy and animosity from less talented individuals or sessor lines, including the higher born. I might need your help with that as they will definitely look down on me and my results.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“No one is going to look down on you.” I stare at her with a serious expression and she shows a gorgeous little smile.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Are you sure, Master?” she asks, peeking at me coyly.


    <span style="font-weight:400">It takes me a moment to figure out what that’s supposed to mean and I snort to the side. “Fine, the only looking down we will allow is when you are on your knees before me.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Her face grows all rosy and she ducks her head adorably. For something she’s wanted to hear, it makes her more embarrassed than it should. Meanwhile, Mevana nces between us with a perplexed frown until she finally catches on and turns bright red too, escaping with her gaze to the side.


    <span style="font-weight:400">And on that note, we wrap up our discussion on the merchant wars and drive out of the town. It’s getting dark already so we hurry to increase our distance from the settlement in case anyone tries anything again. I’m not exactly sure how quickly our Nail can spread the word but a few hours might be stretching it. Plus, it still doesn’t guarantee everyone is going to believe it instantly. We might have to wipe out a few more groups before that.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Finding a spot isn’t a problem and we set up the pavilion once more, this time with Mev’s help as our stockypanion hands us the parts while our duo assembles the magnificent tent. She also witnesses how Sirgia and I fill it in with all the furniture and appliances straight from our spatial rings, her eyes going wide at the casual disy of such vast spatial storages. The suitcase remains a secret for now as we choose to introduce her to our identities step by step.


    <span style="font-weight:400">We wouldn’t want to overwhelm and scare our newest friend. Mevana seems like a nice person and I would honestly like us to work together in the future.


    <span style="font-weight:400">As we are sharing dinner and chilling around the main firepit in the middle section, the bodily girl nces up at me with aplex expression.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“So, are you guys going to introduce me to the friends you mentioned that night?” she asks pensively, possibly careful not to overstep her boundaries.


    <span style="font-weight:400">She must be aware we haven’t revealed everything yet, which isn’t a surprise considering she is another intelligent artisan like my petite lover.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“I just thought it would be a bit rude to have them stay outside now that I’m aware they are helping me,” Mevana adds as we are considering it with Sirgia. “You made it sound like wolves aren’t the only thing.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“I see no reason not to.” I shrug casually. “Just try to be open-minded and you’ll have a much easier time not being shocked constantly.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Thankfully, I’ve expected the no-so-thoughtful entrance of certain individuals and stopped them in time. As Mev still processes my words and their meaning, the p to the tent flutters and two almost identical women with green skin stroll inside instead of sprouting next to the campfire where a patch of ground is visible.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Good evening, Master!” the Lilies chant in unison and giggle sweetly.


    <span style="font-weight:400">They snuggle their majorly naked bodies into my sides while a line of pale and ashen girls makes their way in too, waving at the stunned female Dwarf cordially. Spreading around themonpartment, they find some spots to lounge on and pick up something to snack on from the kitchen, where Sirgia left a thing or two forter. Only Ianthe gracefully plops in myp and reclines into my chest with a blissful sigh.


    <span style="font-weight:400">And that’s how I end up buried between three naked figures while my lithe mate smirks at me amusedly.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“That’s… more than I thought,” Mevanaments, still a bit taken aback. “You are… an Oread?”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“I am.” The Den Mother elegantly bows her head with a hand to her chest. “Myself and my sisters serve the Den Master now. You will be safe with us as long as he intends to keep yourpany.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Nothing is set in stone, huh.” Mev finds my eyes and I spot the faintest curl to the edge of her plump lips.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Except for Master’s cock…” Ianthe replies, sensually sliding her palm down her alluring front. “How I wish he would set himself in my stone again…”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Our new ally chokes on empty air, trying not to follow the exquisite woman’s fingers to their destination.


    <span style="font-weight:400">I wrap my arms around the frivolous Oread and lean into her ear. “Stop teasing the poor girl or I’m going to bury my <i><span style="font-weight:400">sword</i><span style="font-weight:400"> so deep in your <i><span style="font-weight:400">stone</i><span style="font-weight:400"> whoever manages to pull me off will be crowned the next king of Utopia.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Sirgia chuckles daintily next to us while Ianthe bites into her lip strongly, giving me a nod of understanding. Raising her within my hold, I put the stonedy on the side so she can join the rest in sitting like a person with manners. Giving her onest scolding re, I sigh tiredly and freeze.


    <span style="font-weight:400">ncing down, I find Sirgia crawling into her ce and wiggling her pert butt into my crotch to find the best position, taking a rest against me. She gives me a hopeful peek from below and I sigh again, pulling her more into me, knowing that she won’t be too unruly and just wants some of my affection.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“The horny one is Ianthe, and the two are Lilia and Lilie. They are a Liliraune. Basically, one being operating from two halves so they share everything,” I exin before anything else happens. “I’m sorry for all this improper talk and stuff. This is part of the reason why I didn’t want to bring everyone up right away. Nymphs can be fairly… amorous and they haven’t interacted with anyone else for decades. And the nt girls can technically be considered a distant rtive of Dryads.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“No, it’s okay.” Mevana waves her hands at us, her cheeks still a tiny bit rosy. “I don’t mind it. Trust me, this is nothingpared to spending time amongst most Dwarves. Your friends seem to at least have some ss while our people make every evening gathering into aplete obscenity in terms of crude jokes andnguage. The way we speak to each other can easily make others hurl. Who wants to listen to male and female bickering about whose genitals smell worse or how fucking oneself with a splintered mug would be a better option or so.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">My Dwarf wife shows a reminiscent expression. “She is right. I already forgot how bad it can be thanks to living inside Master’smunity. I hated men making dirty remarks and acting all vulgar but I have to admit I enjoy the way the females in the mansione up with witty puns and expressions for naughty things. And the guests seem to pick up on that, showing simr tendencies as the way of fitting in and also enjoying themselves.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Well, back at my birthce, they used to say that women are the eloquent gender with men beingplete savages incapable of coherent thought.” I snicker at them. “And it certainly makes a difference that this isn’t a typical sausage fest but rather a taco g instead.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Taco g?” Mevana’s forehead creases as she tries to decipher my words.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“It’s a type of food from Master’s vige. Take a circr piece of tbread, something like a pancake, fill the middle with meat, vegetables, and other things, then fold the opposite edges together to form a boat shape,” Sirgia paints the picture, already knowing both the product and the other meaning.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Okay, but I still don’t get it…” Ourpanion scratches her cheek awkwardly.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Before I answer and exin the joke, my craft wife hops out of myp and trots to the kitchenplex. We watch her work behind the counter briefly and she jogs back to us a momentter, retaking her spot with a simple taco in her hands. She showcases it to Mevana from all sides, then directs the open end towards her face and puts her tongue out, giving the dripping sauce a good long lick from the bottom to the top.


    <span style="font-weight:400">That does the trick as the other woman swallows thickly, traces of a blush surfacing on her tanned skin. Her eyes skip over all the females in the chamber andnd on me, the sole guy in this arrangement, finally understanding. I offer her a wry smile as my way too clever wife noms on the taco properly, giving me a bite too.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Sausage fest… Taco g… I think I’m going to steal those…” Mevana lets out a quietugh. “But I might need to keep thetter on me because the former is much easier to understand with just one gesture.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“It’s a quick dish. Perhaps you can offer tacos to your customers while they wait for some fast order.” I wink at her. “Just maybe not <i><span style="font-weight:400">your</i><span style="font-weight:400"> taco.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">She bursts into giggles, growing even redder. “Yeah… I think I’m going to save that one for special asions…”


    <span style="font-weight:400">After we all calm down a little and finish these silly and quite lewd jokes, the other girls take a chance to introduce themselves too. Mevana happily exchanges a few words with the Oreads and shares a confusing moment with the Lilies. Talking to one of them just to be answered by the other one throws her off a lot. Not to mention receiving a double reply.


    <span style="font-weight:400">In the end, she even convinces them to stay for the night. It takes a few attempts and nces my way but I approve the suggestion. Diana and her folks are more than enough to warn us about any pursuers or even handle them on their own. Therefore, the girls decide to host a massive sleepover in the middle while kicking me out to the sidepartment, threatening me with a good time not to eavesdrop.


    <span style="font-weight:400">I have no intention of ruinning their fun so I take care of myself and rx alone, enjoying thepany of my own person in quite a while. Using the opportunity, I reach around within my connection and gather information on what’s going on everywhere else during this expedition.


    <span style="font-weight:400">As expected, there is pretty much nothing too serious as my capabledies solve all the issues themselves. They kindly don’t sugarcoat anything and let me know what they are dealing with, knowing that I’m going to worry a bit if they downy their struggles. I still feel a tad concerned during some reports, but listening to their solutions and results makes me only respect them more. And believe in them.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Most of them are now much stronger than any Human they can stumble on, rivalling the current peak of Humanity.


    <span style="font-weight:400">I spend a lot of time chatting with Cornelia, both because she is obviously my main target of worry and because she too is as nervous and uncertain. Being the doting husband that I am, I do everything I can to soothe her with my loving tone. I know she will be a great mother and the ns she shares with me prove it. She’s thought of so many things already to ensure our baby is safe and happy.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Before I wrap up this consultation, Lyona chimes in with a small question. They have supposedly received amission that might require the girls to move past the mountains that we passed. She is wondering if they will be able to use the passage without me or Sirgia now that we have explored it.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Therefore, I catch her up to speed with everything we did there and pass the way to solve the puzzle to her. Advising her to stay vignt no matter what since that ce hasn’t been fully explored and made safe, I also promise to speak with Ianthe. Perhaps one of the girls would be willing to go back and aid them. It shouldn’t take an Oread too long to travel the distance.


    <span style="font-weight:400">She thanks me deeply and informs me that the squad misses me greatly. They are working hard to earn some more rewards and praise. That makes me smile but I tell her to remind them that I won’t be able to always be there to dote on them. But, I’ll give them an appropriately good dicking when I’m back so they better get their pussies ready. <span style="font-weight:400">Lyona swears to keep them hot and wet for me.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Done for the night, I get some actual sleep. No attackse and I wake up to another lively greeting. However, it’s from the nt girls instead of my dutiful wife. Sirgia seems to still be in the main section. They work enthusiastically for their reward and share it like everything in their life. I wash up in the bathroom while they scout the premises and give me a green light to move out of my bedroom without spooking the Dwarves.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Then there’s breakfast, packing up, and continuing with our journey. It looks like Sirgia found some time to upgrade the wheels of the wagon with some very basic enchantments and Diana can now reach higher speeds without the whole thing disassembling on us in the middle of the road. We practically double our speed.


    <span style="font-weight:400">And, sure, we could stuff all the cargo into our spatial storages, including the cart, but it would be a tough fit with Mevana in the saddle. This way, she has somefort at least. And I don’t think she would be fine enough with being squeezed between me and Sirgia while our bodies rub together from the wild ride.


    <span style="font-weight:400">So, the next two days pass on uneventfully, with only one more group of idiots attempting to ambush us, during the day this time. They are dispatched swiftly.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Also, Ianthe has sent one of her subordinates to man the mountain pass for now, who is more than happy to serve. I made sure to show my appreciation with a few tender kisses and sensual touches. That brought up a few more volunteers but it was toote.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Near the evening of the third day, we catch the sight of the capital. First impression, it’s massive. The defensive walls are twice as tall and thick as they need to be, and even then, the heavy buildings still poke out from behind them. Additionally, the closer to the centre, the more monumental they be, with a huge fortress at the apex. The general style resembles something akin to a mix of gothic and industrial. There’s a lot of smoke and steam from all those workshops and forges.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Sirgia is silent as we follow the main road to one of the checkpoint gates. I wrap my arms around her petite frame and hug her lovingly. She presses herself into me and whispers a quiet thank you. She doesn’t need to because that’s what I’m here for. To support her in every moment.


    <span style="font-weight:400">We split after joining the queue of merchants, which is clearly separate from the one for travellers and residents. Diana keeps herself as calm and docile as possible, preventing any unnecessary panic attacks from the other beasts of burden. Mostly animals, though. But, it doesn’t stop the incredulous looks we are getting.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Finally, our turnes, and the trio of guardsmen on the side gapes at us in stunned silence.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Don’t worry. She doesn’t bite.” I smile cordially, trying my best not to follow up with the <i><span style="font-weight:400">swallows whole</i><span style="font-weight:400"> line.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“What is a Human doing this far into Dwarvennds?” one of them asks.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“I’m an escort to this beautifuldy behind us. stair Carter, Utopia’s First Regiment, Eden Alpha,” I introduce myself while leaning quite a bit to the side to pass him the <i><span style="font-weight:400">contract</i><span style="font-weight:400">.


    <span style="font-weight:400">The trio examines the scroll and the leader looks up from it. “Never heard of such apany.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“No wonder, we are from Humannds,” I reply.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Why did you cross the mountains, then? The signing town of this deal is on our side,” he further inquires.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“A differentmission.” I point with my eyes at Sirgia in the seat in front of me. “Returning someone home after their apprenticeship journey across the realm.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Just to show that we arew-abiding people, I hold the second scroll to him too and they check it just as well. Exchanging a few looks, the trio grunts with some shrugs and I receive the papers back.


    <span style="font-weight:400">The leader turns to Mevana. “You?”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Mevana Shaftmiller, back from a trip to sell my products and purchase materials. My shop is on the corner of Irony and Willowy Street,” she responds, reaching for her own identification.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Just pop them up for us.” The head guard waves her off while moving to the back of the wagon.


    <span style="font-weight:400">This seems to be a standard procedure as Mevana doesn’t say a word about it and hops onto the carriage’s bed. She obediently lifts the lid of whichever barrels the man points at, unseals a few crates, and opens up some chests. The inspector pauses at one, then snorts and heads off the cart. He keeps a somewhat disguised scowl on his face as he returns to his initial position.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Free to go. Don’t cause trouble, Human.” He throws me a light re, but much weaker than the one he directs at Mev.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Were these guys bought by Stockhawkers too? He reacted rather weirdly to her products. And she didn’t warn us about smuggling anything dubious beforehand. Mevana isn’t someone who would put us in such danger without saying anything.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Not wanting to make the people behind us angry, I instruct Diana to move on and we slip into the proper city. The streets are extremely tidy and structured with well-thought-out order. They are solid and perfectly t, made of cleanly cut blocks of stone in various shades. From what I can gather, the colours have some importance as they don’t mix save for intersections so they either symbolise what can be found on these streets or at the end of the trail.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Mevana directs us vocally where to turn and where to head while Diana follows her instructions without my input. The paths are wide enough for two carriages to pass so we have no issues moving forward. Well, save for everyone stopping whatever they are doing or wherever they are going to stare at the proud wolf pulling our load. At least some people quickly make way, scared to see what she might do when annoyed.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Just as my Dwarven friends mentioned before, the capital is a bit more diverse in terms of height standards. Most entrances and passages are made with other races in mind. I can spot a few individuals strolling by, mostly Elves and Beastkin. Humans seem rather scarce here but it’s not that unexpected. When our kin started to fight back in the past, Dwarvennds were the safest with their mighty fortresses and thus sheltered everyone during numerous assaults.


    <span style="font-weight:400">About fifteen minutester, we reach one of the streets Mevana mentioned to the guard, announced by a stylish que repeating itself from time to time on the buildings. This particr road has a yellow shade and it seems that workshops dominate this section. Mostly dealing in various artisanal trades.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Finally home.” Mev sighs with relief, smiling at us warmly as we make the corner. “It’s nothing much, but at least it’s your own, as they say. I hope you can excuse the mess. As you can imagine, I didn’t do much cleaning—”


    <span style="font-weight:400">She cuts herself off, and I can’t really me her. The two of us also pause as our eyesnd on what <i><span style="font-weight:400">should</i><span style="font-weight:400"> be the talented woodworker’s cosy store. Even Diana stops in ce, her big head and clever eyes directed at the shop.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Or what’s left of it.


    <span style="font-weight:400">In better times, it was one of those simplemercial locums with two big window panes on the sides and a heavy door embedded in chiselled columns, taking the form of an architectonic portal. A wide signboard hung over the entrance, announcing who the workshop belonged to. The interior design based mostly on wooden furniture certainly greeted the passersby with a homey insight into the inner workings of the shop.


    <span style="font-weight:400">The crucial thing is, that was in the past.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Instead, we stand in front of fully shattered windows, a breached door hanging only by upper hinges while most of it lies on the floor in pieces, the signboard cracked in half as it dangles awkwardly towards the ground with the other half missing, and from what we can see, an utterly demolished interior.


    <span style="font-weight:400">I don’t think this is what Mevana meant when she asked us to pardon the mess.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Jumping off Diana’s back, I help Sirgiae down too. Turning to our merchant friend, I find her already on the ground, slowly walking around the wagon to finally stop before the ruined storefront. She gapes at it expressionlessly as her fingers slowly tighten into fists. I expect her to start throwing expletives at the perpetrator just like when we met, but I couldn’t be more wrong.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Her lower lip trembling a little, she falls to her knees, her head dropping low.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“What’s even the point of going on…” she whispers with an audible struggle.


    <span style="font-weight:400">One that makes it clear she doesn’t exactly mean continuing to fight or even work.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Unhurriedly approaching the distresseddy, I kneel behind her and gently wrap her in a tender hug, which she doesn’t fight in the slightest. I can feel her shaking and hear the quiet sobs she attempts to hold in, spotting a few trails running down her plump cheeks as I rest my chin atop her shoulder. She lets me hold her without any protest.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Mevana… You are an incredibly lucky girl…” I speak slowly and clearly into her small ear.


    <span style="font-weight:400">She jolts in my arms for the first time.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Lucky?!” Her voice cracks a bit as she tries to shout but her throat refuses to cease its sobs.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Storefronts can be renovated,” I continue as affectionately as I can. “Lives can’t be restored.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">I wait for her to respond in case she feels the need to confront my words, but she remains silent so I tighten my embrace.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“You would have been in danger if you were here when this happened. Thankfully, you were away. You can’t call it anything other than luck,” I exin softly. “Now, you have a chance to continue your work, develop your passion, and one day, get back at whoever did this to you. All of that would be gone if you got gravely hurt defending your precious workshop.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">She shivers in my hands as more tears fall, but keeps listening, raising one fist to clear her eyes a bit.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Burn this image into your memory and use it to fuel your will and determination to keep walking forward. That’s the very thing these people don’t want you to do. They want you to lose all your drive and give up on everything. The worst that can happen to their n is for you toe out stronger, better, and fresh out of mercy.” I emphasise thest point with a harsher tone.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Mevana manages an awkward giggle between her much more controble sniffs.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Take your time to collect your thoughts. After you feel ready, we are going to get in there <i><span style="font-weight:400">together</i><span style="font-weight:400">, assess the damage, and immediately n out how to fix it. No, rather than that, improve it. We will do whatever we can to turn your shop into an object of envy with so much presence no one will dare to even think of messing with it, while at the same time retaining the general feeling of your previous workce which you must have cherished dearly,” I add at the end and focus on embracing the troubled girl.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Sirgia shows up next to us with a sad smile and ces her palm on Mev’s shoulder, giving us a tiny nod. Mevana takes a few deep breaths, rubs her eyes into her sleeves, and tries to stand up, which prompts me to let go. She stumbles a little, falling into my front, and graces me with an embarrassed but grateful smile.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Thanks,” she whispers softly. “You are a really nice… Human.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">I smirk at her and give the broad vixen a light push. She waves her arms to catch her bnce and attempts a cute pout at me but breaks it by chuckling to herself. d to see her well enough to joke around, I catch up to our troubled friend and lead us all inside, watching carefully for any threats. There might not be anyone waiting for us, but damaged furniture can be just as dangerous.


    <span style="font-weight:400">We step into the main section which is used to disy products in stands, crates, barrels, and such, plus doing business behind the counter. Unfortunately, everything is broken and thrown upside down as if someone was angrily searching the ce while doing as much harm as possible. The doors to the storage and the actual workshop are broken too. Mevana confirms that everything is ruined there as well. She mentions that she had nothing too valuable anywhere here so what’s lost is pretty much the fruits of herbour that she didn’t fit onto the wagon.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“At least they haven’t set it on fire.” I shake my head as we gather in the lobby again.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“That would put the culprit in a lot of trouble with thew and order department. Causing a fire hazard in the middle of a town is a much more serious crime than a simple break-in which has most likely been categorised as burry,” Sirgiaments. “I know they have already put a bounty on your head, but is there really a need to go this far?”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Our gazes slide to one of the wooden walls. Someone used green paint to write the words <i><span style="font-weight:400">THIEVING BITCH</i><span style="font-weight:400"> on the surface, covering the entire section with them.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“I think I’m beginning to figure out what’s the problem…” Mevana drags a hand down her face. “Could I ask for your help, Al?”


    <span style="font-weight:400">I exchange a slightly confused nce with Sirgia but follow her outside. She points at one of the chests, which seems to be the same one the guard didn’t like, and I help her carry it inside. My strength doesn’t surprise her much after the things she’s seen that fateful night. Setting it down where instructed, I step back to stand by my mate’s side.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Giving it a good kick, Mev flings the lid open and reaches in, pulling some kind of a wooden figurine out, and showing it to us.


    <span style="font-weight:400">No. Scratch that. It’s not a figurine.


    <span style="font-weight:400">That’s a penis.


    <span style="font-weight:400">I take one of the <i><span style="font-weight:400">products</i><span style="font-weight:400"> into my hands and examine the wooden sculpture. Made of deep mahogany, it clearly depicts male genitalia. While the handiwork is better than fine, the design isn’t exactly the strongest part. It takes the form of a slightly curved upward shaft, tipped with a fairly sizable mushroom head. The bottom part includes a decent depiction of a sack too. It’s not exactly a masterpiece, but it definitely gets the job done. And that’s what matters in the end, doesn’t it?


    <span style="font-weight:400">Plus, I think this exins the <i><span style="font-weight:400">ident</i><span style="font-weight:400"> she mentioned during the trip. Artisans love to test their own creations.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Did you…e up with this on your own?” Sirgia asks tentatively.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“You got me.” Mevana chuckles quietly. “No, it’s just something I copied recently. Not directly, of course. I just saw the idea in one store and thought I could make something simr on my own. It was a fun challenge, honestly. I put it on disy for shit and giggles, but it suddenly exploded in poprity and started making most of my ie. With the side effect of men stopping toe by after learning what kind of products I started to offer, but hey, I’ll take women who know what they want over prissy guys who want to rob you blind with every purchase.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“These aremon here?” I raise a curious brow at her.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“I wouldn’t saymon, but certainly popr. Now that I think of it, after they appeared in the city a few months back, they flooded all the general shops before disappearing almost overnight, only found in one branch afterwards. I should have realised what happened so much earlier but I haven’t been thinking about it too deeply, first fascinated by something new to try, then by the unexpected sales boom. As you can guess, the only merchants selling such things now are under Stockhawkers,” she exins. “Can I ask for another favour?”


    <span style="font-weight:400">As she nces at me, I nod, very eager to hear the rest of the story, simr to Sirgia. Mev points at one of the upturned standing disys and I give it a mighty shove,unching the weighty piece of furniture into a corner. She snorts and crouches above its previous resting ce, which was in the spot part of the counter should be in if it wasn’t shattered. Pressing into the floorboards, she reveals a hiddenpartment with a few personal things and a wooden box.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Its size and shape points to the obvious.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Surely, opening it up, she reveals another fake cock, this time made of ss, I think, passing it to Sirgia. It’s much closer to the real thing, with a shapely tip and even veins running down its length. The balls have more definition and texture too. I’m not an expert in these things, but I have a hunch that this model is made by blowing hot ss into a form like many winter ornaments.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“This is the toy I <i><span style="font-weight:400">bought</i><span style="font-weight:400"> with my own money,” Mevana says, scowling at the painted wall. “As you can see, it’s far ahead of my version, and I’m not upset to admit as much. I didn’t make mine topete with it, but it looks like that’s how that has been taken. I think this is the reason behind all of my troubles.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Stepping a little closer to her, I give Mev a few pats on the back. “You couldn’t really know. It’s not like you were selling their products without permission or—”


    <span style="font-weight:400">The two of us jump a little as the sound of shattered ss reaches our ears, our gazes snapping to the Sirgia. My lovely wife stands in front of us with her hand raised just as before but with no dildo between her fingers. Instead, bits and pieces of it lie on the floor while she curls her dainty fingers into a fist so much it shakes visibly, multiple streaks of blood pouring from her enclosed palm and dripping on the floor.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“How <i><span style="font-weight:400">dare</i><span style="font-weight:400"> they nder a talented and honest artisan while having the <i><span style="font-weight:400">audacity</i><span style="font-weight:400"> to fabricate another’s work!” she hisses with so much venom even I shudder on the spot, and her trusty hammer materialises in her other hand. “Where are they?!”


    <span style="font-weight:400">My always so timid and quiet mate turns to us with pure fury twisting her adorable face, enraged so much it causes Mevana to squawk and fall onto her ass. After a second or two of remaining in utter shock, I finally register what has happened and charge straight at my beloved.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Are you an idiot?!” I shout back at her, making Sirgia flinch and blink at me confusedly.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Smacking the weapon out of her grip, I grab her other wrist and bring it closer. She winces when I pry her fingers open and find multiple pieces of ss lodged deep in her skin and flesh, her palm painted scarlet from all the blood. She notices it too and lets out a gasp, atst understanding what she has done.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Carefully but decisively, I pull all the fragments out while making focused use of Rejuvenate, ignoring the muted whimpers she releases with each action, my heart tightening at every single sound. Getting rid of all the ss, I pour my waterskin onto her hand to once again take a good look at it before borrowing the strongest Healing Magic at my disposal, invoking it to quickly mend the wounds until not even the slightest scars remain.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Exhaling heavily when I’m done, I let Sirgia’s wrist drop. She stares up at me with the most guilty expression I have ever seen, further enhanced by her teary eyes from all that difort. Getting down to her level, I hug her gently, brushing my fingers through her soft hair.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“I’m so sorry, Master…” she whispers weakly.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“It’s okay. Emotions, I understand. But I’ve never seen you so worked up over anything. Well, anything other than me, I guess.” I ce a loving kiss on her cheek and move back.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Sirgia crouches to the floor and picks up the bottom half of the broken cock. Careful not to cut herself again, she rotates it my way while offering it to me. I take the shattered ballsack and take a nce at the t side.


    <span style="font-weight:400">There’s a symbol carved into the base.


    <span style="font-weight:400">A heart, with horns, and a spaded tail. There’s a letter S ced in its centre.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Ah, fuck.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Ummm… What happened?” Mevana hesitantly speaks up, peering at us from the side.


    <span style="font-weight:400">My genius artificer sighs and flicks her wrist. An stic dildo appears in her hands and she tosses it at the other woman, who barely catches it in time. Then, as our just as crafty and clever woodworkerys her eyes on it, they widen to the brim.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“This… looks almost identical to the one I bought…” She ys around with it. “How?”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Approaching her, Sirgia tilts the cock so the base faces the ceiling and points at the dark purple brand. I join them and hold the broken piece the same way next to it, lining up the exact same picture on the side. Mevana’s gaze switches between the two with a baffled expression.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“This is the fruit of Master’s thoughtful mind that I brought to life with my own two hands.” My talented wife ces a finger on the rubber one and then moves it to the side. “And this is a cheap copy that didn’t even bother to erase <i><span style="font-weight:400">my</i><span style="font-weight:400"> brand.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Oh, boy.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Somebody gone and fucked up.


    <span style="font-weight:400">She is <i><span style="font-weight:400">pissed</i><span style="font-weight:400">.
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