"Huh?!" Alex and the rest stumbled, they didn't expect this kind of request.
"Well, since you are here I want to thank you for the pills you have contributed to the military."
"Hm... the pills were mainly made by Teacher. I don't deserve this gratitude."
"No, if it is not because of you, there will be no pills for the military like we have right now. So, as the War Minister, I want to express our gratitude on behalf of this country and the soldiers," the minister bowed his head.
"Sir Leyfon, if the pills are useful, then it's great enough," Alex scratched his head embarrassedly.
"So please, let me show you my gratitude in my house by inviting you to a dinner,"
"You don't need to do that... it's alright, really."
"I'll consider it as a 'yes', let me lead you to my house. My granddaughter- cough, I mean my wife already ordered many delicacies for our dinner tonight."
'You almost say 'Granddaughter' aren't you? As expected, that is your plan all along. And you even already ordered many delicacies. You have prepared everything for this day, right?' Alex cursed secretly in his heart, he looked at Alicia and Firia who were in silence. But contrary to them, Sherry immediately went to the front.
"Wuu... wuu... wuu, wuu... wuu!" Sherry looked at Leyfon hatefully. Sherry seemed to say, 'Master won't go with you to meet your daughter. I am enough for him,' or something along those lines.
Alicia and Firia looked like they already understood it enough. They immediately pulled Sherry to the side and whispered something to it.
"Sherry, don't worry. Alex won't be seduced by the likes of her," Alicia said.
"Yes, he already has us. Believe in him," Firia added.
'Oi, you girls! We can hear you from here!' Alex screamed in his mind. Meanwhile, the minister almost spurted blood, not only Firia, even Alicia was like that too.
After Alicia and Firia said that, Sherry's eyes glistened, she looked at Alex with starry eyes. "Wuu, I'm sorry Master!"
Then it walked in front of them again. It looked at the minister and said proudly as it raised her paw, "Wuu... wuu... wuu... wuu... (You won't be able to seduce my master. So your plan is useless.)"
Alex scratched his head embarrassedly. The minister was also somehow able to understand it, 'Wuu... wuu'. His face darkened, then he spat out, "You don't know that YET!"
The bystanders were dumbfounded. Leyfon, who was usually very strict, even argued with a fox. But their interaction was somewhat cute, especially the fox. Alex looked at the surroundings and shouted in his mind, 'Crap! What a mess!'
Alex and the rest ultimately followed Leyfon to his mansion. The mansion's size was similar to Rizertia's house back in the capital city. Well, it was understandable, he was a minister and a duke at the same time.
They waited inside the guest room first. There was still an hour before dinner time.
"Wuu... wuu (Master, I believe you)!" Sherry once again looked at Alex with starry eyes.
Alex was scratching his cheek with a weird smile while Alicia and Firia were giggling on the side, watching these two somewhat funny interactions.
One hour had passed.
KNOCK
KNOCK
"Princess Alicia, Sir Alexander, Young Lady Firia. The duke is waiting for you."
"Sure, please lead the way."
"Sherry, do you want to come too?"
"Wuu!" Sherry nodded, though it didn't need to eat human food since it has Alex's 'Nourishment'. However, it was still better than leaving it here alone.
Four of them followed the maid to the dining room. The minister already waited for them there with three other people. On his left side was an old woman with white hair, though her age made her look frail, but they could still see her brimmed with spirit and energy. On his right side was a middle-aged man with a weird beard on his face. His beard was shaped like a 'WW'. His stern face made him look like a strict man. Meanwhile, beside him was a middle-aged woman with short hair, but there was a noticeable trait on her face. There was a noticeable wound on her cheek which wasn't that big, but it made her look more brave and gallant. Although she was wearing a dress, it wasn't enough to hide her gallant aura.
Alex was somehow able to guess who they were. They must be the minister's wife, son, and daughter, though he didn't know which one was the blood-related one.
"Oh, we are waiting for you. Please, sit down," the minister said.
"Thank you for your hospitality. I'm sorry, Sir Leyfon, I have to bring Sherry with me as well."
"Oh, it is alright," then he turned to the maid, "Bring us more food."
"No… no, Sherry had already eaten. Its food is somewhat special so I fed her first before we came here. Now, Sherry is just accompanying us here," seeing Leyfon ordered food for Sherry, Alex explained hurriedly.
"Is that the case?"
Alex nodded.
"I see. Please, sit down. Let us wait a bit for my granddaughters and my grandson. While we are waiting, let me introduce you to my wife, Lisa Vorbes. This is my son, Andreas Rimbawon, and his wife Lidia Milfa."
Alex and the rest greeted them and sat down. Alex sat in the middle while Alicia was on his right and Firia was on his left while Sherry was comfortably lying on the floor behind Alex. They waited for a while before suddenly the door opened.
"Grandfather," a girl appeared behind the door. The girl was around 11 years old, with blonde hair tied into twin tails combined with her childlike face that was full of vigor. People would have the urge to protect this innocent smile of hers.
Unfortunately, Alex didn't find that kind of urge. On the contrary, he felt a mixed feeling at this moment.
'This move...' he already expected this kind of move. He prepared for it since all his focus was on Firia and Alicia. But he never expected that the minister would play this kind of trick as well. 'Isn't she a little kid! I already have Alicia and Firia, and I don't plan to accept another one... no no no, this is not the main problem here. The problem is I'm NOT A LOLICON!"
He screamed in his mind. Alicia and Firia looked at him with a dangerous glint. He knew what they meant with that look.
"Oh, Daisy. Come here, let your grandfather hug you."
Of course, the girl immediately leaped to him.
"Let me introduce you, this is my granddaughter, Daisy Rimbawon."
"Waa, what a cute animal!" She didn't pay attention to her grandfather's words when she found Sherry. She immediately went to it.
"Aahaha..." Leyfon made a weird smile.
Noticing someone was approaching her, she immediately raised her body. She knew that she couldn't attack anyone in this place, so the only option was to run.
"Wait for me!" Seeing Sherry run away from her, Daisy immediately shouted anxiously.
The two circled the dinner table, so Leyfon immediately grabbed Daisy, "This is a bad manner you know. Don't you see we have guests here?!"
"UU..." after reprimanded by her grandfather, she pouted.
"Sherry, come back here. You can't run like that here. Apologize to them," Alex said.
"Wuu!" Sherry apologized to them, though reluctantly.
"Look, Daisy, apologize to them too," the minister said.
"UU... I'm sorry," she looked down and apologized.
"Don't worry about it," Alex gently smiled. "I'm Alexander, nice to meet you."
Daisy timidly nodded, "Nice to meet you too. I'm Daisy."
"This is Alicia and Firia and Sherry."
"Nice to meet you, Daisy," both Alicia and Firia said.
"Wuu!" Sherry also greeted her.
Another two people came. The first one was a youthful young man with blonde hair on his shoulder. Combined with his warrior aura, he gave off a different charm. The other was a beautiful woman who seemed to be the same age as Alex. Her hair was tied into a ponytail reaching into her waist. Big breasted and a full endowed body proportion. But she still couldn't be compared to Firia or Alicia.
"Greetings, Princess Alicia and Lady Firia," she greeted them, but when she looked at Alex, "Hmph!"
"Greetings, Princess and Lady Firia," the young man greeted them, he almost could be considered as a middle-aged man, Alex thought. His age seemed older than Alicia's eldest sister, Lea, by a few years. But he seemed like he was glaring at Alex. He only frowned.
Alex paid them no heed. Firia was also discontented by their action, while Alicia sarcastically said, "Such an attitude, am I right, Sir Leyfon?"
Leyfon's face darkened, "Princess, they are still young. Please forgive them. I will punish them later."
He was somewhat disappointed by his grandchildren, son and daughter actions. His son also frowned, while his wife felt worried.
The atmosphere became tense. Alex patted Alicia's shoulder and shook his head, "It's fine, no need to make such a scene."
Alex then turned to Leyfon, "I'm very sorry, Sir Leyfon. It seems like we are not welcomed here. So we will excuse ourselves."
Alex started walking to the door, Alicia and the rest also followed him.
"Ah!" Daisy, who was still looking at Sherry, got disappointed.
"Hmph!" The young woman snorted. While the young man said, "A toad wants to eat a swan. Snort."
Alicia and Firia couldn't take it anymore. There was a sudden drop and rise in temperature. On his right, there was a temperature rise, and of course, it was Firia. While Alicia on his left let out a chilling aura and the temperature started to drop.
At this time, Leyfon was thoroughly disappointed by his two grandchildren. Did he spoil them too much? "Stop it, you bastards!"
Leyfon slapped his grandchildren.
Alex also chopped both Alicia and Firia heads. "Alright you two, calm down!"
He didn't put any strength into that chop, he just wanted to make them focus their attention on him.
"Alex, don't stop me. I want him to apologize to you," Alicia said with hatred.
"Yes!" Firia nodded.
Alex sighed, "What are you two going to do if your enemy uses my name like that or says something vulgar? Will you lose your temper like this again? That is just going to be a suicide, cool your head down a bit."
"But..." Alicia and Firia were frustrated.
Alex smiled gently and patted their head. "It's okay to keep that blazing feeling in your heart. But don't show it outside. Your enemy will be frustrated if their psychological attack on you is not working and you can control the battle's situation. Or you can do the opposite. Putting up an angry front while keeping your heart cool and making your enemy feel off guard."
Alicia and Firia looked down.
Leyfon was very shocked by Alex's words. All of his words were true and profound. He always kept his cool when the enemy spouted some 'nonsense' to him. But he never thought about the latter. With Alex's words, he learned that he really could catch his enemy off guard if he put an angry front as Alex said. He was shocked by Alex's wisdom. He looked at Alex and sighed, he felt more and more disappointed at his two grandchildren, he thought he could make Alex closer to his grandchildren but these two...
"Forgive me, Sir Leyfon. We need to prepare for tomorrow. So we will excuse ourselves."
Alex seemed a bit adamant to leave this place.
Yeah, there was a reason why Alex seemed rushed to leave this place. It was because...
'Bang!'
The door opened and a soldier came in.
"Sir! There is a monster outbreak. They will reach the fortress in about an hour. There is an injured soldier who reports this to us. When they were patrolling, there was a group of monsters marching here. His group was attacked and he was the sole survivor. Their number is about a few thousand. According to the report, he saw a few rank 6 monsters. So we can assume that there might be a rank 7 monster in their group."