A good night's dream.
Rama was very relieved that there was not a small figure standing by his bed when he woke up.
The device Rama used to contact Nahida was specially crafted into a ring, and now this ring could probably retire.
Carrying it with him might lead to some not-so-interesting incidents, so he decided to leave it in the factory.
"What kind of expression should I have now?"
Candace's expression was lazy.
Rama hugged her and gave her a gentle bite before seriously answering the question, "I suppose I should say something sweet, but I don't know what to say."
Candace hugged back and kissed him, not willing to be outdone, "How coincidental, I also don't know what to say."
Under normal circumstances, when neither knew what to say, they could only communicate physically.
But Rama thought for a moment, hugged her for a while, then voluntarily let go.
"You probably need some time to adjust to your new role, so let's leave this matter for the night."
Seeking pleasure during the day was not a big deal, and he wouldn't abstain after indulging.
But Candace had come with a burst of determination yesterday. After having eaten, he felt it necessary to give her some time to buffer.
It wasn't fair to look down on someone just because they had offered themselves.
"Eat and run?" Candace tilted her head.
"No need to provoke me like that." Rama was very serious, "If you really have nothing to do, then I will stay."
Gaining experience wasn't strictly about crafting by himself; he had plenty of time to waste.
"Hmph."
Candace snorted softly, "I'll let you off for now."
Rama raised an eyebrow but did not continue discussing who was letting whom off in such a place.
Candace's skill level was around LV4; her strength was a bit wasted on fighting a bunch of desert-gilded brigands.
Plus, with years of martial training, her elemental power was a bit lacking, but her combat prowess was higher than Rama's, who had no power-ups.
But Rama was not without enhancements.
If this were a game, his character would have at least a +4 enhancement tag.
Enhancing his body with alchemical potions had always been one of Rama's major research areas. If he could use it on Faruzan, promote it among the desert people, of course, he had a set of specialized alchemical potions for himself.
Even with no power-ups, he had to win because soon Candace would get stronger too.
Looking at his 8642 elemental power proficiency points, Rama was thoughtful.
He probably needed to do something, like dealing with the [Scarlet King Legacy], and maybe farm some experience points.
Losing face in the matters of the bed would not look good.
After Rama left, Candace lazily dressed and then left as well.
Rama didn't care about the tribe, so he didn't know she had brought a "maid" with her.
"Did you really... do that?"
Dehya used a very restrained description.
"You know me well, I know you don't like to read, you're just a rough person." Candace sighed, "So you really don't need to pretend to be shy in front of me."
"I really don't understand." Dehya bumped her shoulder, "After I was born, the mercenary group rarely talked about these things. They quite respected my father."
"Later I left the [Dakan Al-Ahmar] and formed my own mercenary group, the [Blazing Beasts], but those guys were shyer than me. I finally found two or three female mercenaries to balance the group's dynamics, but they just stared at them dumbfoundedly and scared them away."
Speaking of this, Dehya couldn't help but sigh, "These guys are destined to be single."
"Your mercenary group is a bit too masculine." Candace looked at Dehya and nodded lightly.
Dehya's [Blazing Beasts] was an idealistic team because Dehya was such a person.
She used her earnings to help desert orphans get an education in the rainforest. Generally, people who didn't share her ideals had no reason to join the [Blazing Beasts].
Some mercenaries were in it for the money, while others came with beliefs.
Dehya was the latter, being the leader, and so were her mercenaries.
With an idealistic leader who liked doing good deeds, didn't take your money, and didn't send you on dangerous missions for her kindness, why wouldn't you support her?
She didn't expect you to be kind like her either.
"So?" Dehya leaned closer.
"So, nothing to say." Candace pushed her friend's chiseled face away, "If you're so interested, I can introduce you."
Losing face to Rama might be recoverable, but she couldn't keep losing to Dehya.
Being teased by her?
Heh.
Candace smirked, "We could even lie together, aren't you interested?"
"You're getting ahead of yourself." Dehya didn't want to lose.
"I have no choice." Candace sighed, "Can you respect power and status?"
"If he loses, the Akademiya will hunt him to death, and they probably won't spare me either."
If they die, it's over, nothing more to say.
"But if he wins, he'll be the future king of Sumeru. You don't really expect a king to love only one woman, do you?"
She pinched her friend's cheek, teasingly, "Respect the value of power."
"But my newly met husband will surely have other women in the future; it's hard not to get ahead."
Dehya crossed her arms, "Why do you hold on to Aaru Village so tightly?"
"Let go, I've already handed it over to someone else." Candace said softly, "From now on, I don't need to guard this place anymore."
She had thought about changing Aaru Village's environment.
Before Candace, Aaru Village's guardians refused to interact with the outside.
Merchants passing through Aaru Village was due to the insistence of Candace and Uncle Anpu.
Even so, previous guardians opposed it.
They didn't want the village to contact the outside, but Candace suppressed all dissent with her martial prowess.
It hadn't been long since they opened up, and she had plans that needed some time to settle.
But it was no longer necessary; the future of Aaru Village could be handled by others.
(End of this chapter)