In Another World, All Milfs Will Be Mine-Chapter 126: [ - - ] - Countdown begins

Ryana sat behind her heavy oak desk, a stack of ledgers spread out before her. She was wearing her usual grey travel robes, the heavy veil covering the lower half of her face, leaving only her emerald eyes visible. Those eyes were currently crinkling at the corners.

She dipped her quill in ink and circled a final figure at the bottom of the parchment.

"Two hundred percent," she murmured, a note of disbelief in her voice. "That arrogant brat actually delivered."

The contract from the Temple of Light had come through yesterday morning. It wasn’t just a small order for candles; it was an exclusive supply agreement for the entire season. Incense, robes, oil, parchment—High Priest Remus had transferred the Temple’s entire logistics budget to the Silver Route overnight.

It was a staggering amount of gold. Enough to secure her position against the Golden Scales for months.

"He is reckless," Ryana whispered to the empty air, leaning back in her chair. "He is rude. He is a pervert. But... he is effective."

She looked up at the two women standing guard by the wall.

Usually, her bodyguards were statues—silent, grim, and professional.

Darkness, the taller of the two with jet-black hair tied in a severe bun, was standing at attention, her hand resting on the pommel of her scimitar. She was scanning the room as if an assassin might jump out of the inkwell.

But Shadow...

Shadow was leaning against the wall, her posture relaxed, almost lazy. Her arms were crossed, but her fingers were tapping a soft, happy rhythm against her leather armor. And she was humming. It was a quiet, melodic tune that sounded suspiciously like a love song.

Ryana frowned beneath her veil.

"Shadow," Ryana said sharply.

Shadow jumped slightly, snapping to attention. "Mistress?"

"You’re cheerful," Ryana noted, her eyes narrowing. "You disappear for two days into the Endless Forest with a man I barely trust, on a mission that should have terrified you, and you come back... glowing?"

Darkness snorted from the other side of the room. "She hasn’t stopped smiling since she returned, Mistress. It is unnerving. She usually hates men. She usually threatens to geld them if they look at her wrong. Now she looks like she’s remembering a good meal."

Shadow flushed. Even behind her own veil, the redness was visible on her neck and ears.

"The mission was... successful, Mistress," Shadow said, her voice breathy.

"I know it was successful," Ryana said, tapping the ledger. "Leo returned. The High Priest is happy. But I want to know what happened out there. Why did it take two days? Was the combat difficult?"

Shadow shifted her weight, her thighs rubbing together. A faraway, glazed look entered her eyes.

"It was... intense, Mistress," Shadow whispered. "The obstacles were... large. Very large. Hard to handle at first."

She bit her lip beneath the veil.

"But Mr. Leo... he has incredible endurance. He navigated the... tight spots... with such force. He really knows how to take charge of a situation. He pounded through the defenses until there was nothing left but submission."

Ryana blinked. "Pounded through the defenses? Was there a siege?"

"In a manner of speaking," Shadow murmured. "He broke everything down. He didn’t stop until the job was finished. Thoroughly finished."

Ryana exchanged a look with Darkness. The older guard shook her head, clearly thinking Shadow had hit her head on a branch.

"You are speaking in riddles," Ryana sighed. "But fine. As long as he is alive and the contract is signed, I suppose the details of the skirmishes don’t matter."

BAM.

The heavy oak door to the office burst open without a knock, bouncing off the stone wall with a crack that made Ryana jump.

"Honey, I’m home!"

Leo strode into the room like he owned the building.

He looked fresh. He was wearing the fine black tunic and trousers from the party, his Twin Serpent Daggers strapped to his waist. He radiated health, vitality, and an arrogant confidence that filled the space instantly.

He didn’t have his Iron Saint bodyguard with him—the massive construct was likely waiting in the warehouse, too big for the stairs—but Leo’s presence was heavy enough on its own.

"You have a death wish," Ryana sighed, rubbing her temples. She didn’t reach for her weapon this time. She was getting used to his invasions. "And you have absolutely no manners. Do you know what a ’knock’ is?"

"Knocking is for strangers," Leo grinned, walking past the guards. "We’re partners, aren’t we? Intimate partners."

He stopped in front of Shadow.

He looked her up and down. He didn’t say a word. He just smirked, a dark, knowing glint in his eyes.

Shadow shivered visibly. Her knees knocked together. She immediately lowered her head, dropping into a submissive posture that shocked Ryana.

"Welcome back... Mr. Leo," Shadow whispered, her voice trembling.

"Missed me?" Leo asked, reaching out to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear.

"Yes," Shadow breathed.

"Good girl," Leo said.

Ryana watched the interaction, baffled. Shadow was an elite killer. She didn’t bow to anyone, not even Ryana. But she was melting under Leo’s gaze like butter in a skillet.

"Why is she so happy?" Leo asked, turning to Ryana but pointing a thumb at Shadow. "Must be my influence. I have a way of making life much more... bearable for the ladies. I relieve stress."

He turned his gaze to Darkness. The tall, severe guard stiffened, her hand tightening on her sword.

Leo looked her up and down, his eyes lingering on her chest plate.

"You look tense, sweetheart," Leo commented. "Shoulders up to your ears. You should join us next time. I have a cure for that. A very hands-on therapy session. Shadow can vouch for it."

"I am fine," Darkness snapped, though she took a half-step back, unnerved by his predatory stare.

"Sit down, Leo," Ryana scolded, her voice sharp. A spike of irrational irritation hit her chest. Why was he flirting with her staff? "Stop trying to seduce my guards. It is unprofessional."

"I don’t have to try," Leo smirked, dropping into the chair opposite her desk. He put his feet up on the wood, right next to her inkwell. "Shadow knows what’s up. Right?"

Shadow nodded enthusiastically. "Yes... Mr. Leo. You are... very skilled."

Ryana froze. "Skilled? At what? Combat?"

"At everything," Shadow murmured, her face burning.

Leo waved his hand dismissively. "She respects my authority. Unlike you, Red Queen. You’re no fun. All business, no pleasure. You should learn from her. She knows how to use her mouth for things other than haggling."

Shadow let out a small squeak and covered her face with her hands.

"We bonded," Leo said vaguely. "Trauma bonding. Very effective."

Ryana glared at him. "You are a pig."

"I’m a rich pig," Leo corrected. "And I’m the pig who just doubled your quarterly earnings. So maybe a little respect is in order."

Ryana cleared her throat, forcing herself to focus on the ledger. "Fine. You delivered the Temple contract. I admit, I was... surprised. Remus is usually tighter with his coin."

"I can be very persuasive," Leo said.

"So," Ryana leaned forward, clasping her hands. "Why are you here? Do you have another horn to sell? Or perhaps more weeds? I have the gold ready this time."

"Think bigger," Leo said.

He took his feet off the desk and sat up straight. The playful, lecherous look vanished, replaced by the cold, calculating gaze of a warlord.

"I’m not here for a quick sale, Ryana. I’m done with small transactions. I’m here to offer you an empire."

Ryana paused. "An empire?"

"Look at the map," Leo said, gesturing to the wall. "The Iron Caravan supplies the army. They have the weapons market locked down. The Golden Scales sell to the nobles. They have the luxury market cornered. You? You’re even fighting for scraps. You’re the third wheel."

Ryana bristled. "The Silver Route is growing—"

"Slowly," Leo cut her off. "Too slowly. You want to overtake them? You need a monopoly. You need something they can’t get."

He pointed South.

"The Kingdom of Zarth," Leo said. "The Endless Forest."

Ryana scoffed. "The South is closed. The forest is a death trap. The Zarth tribes kill outsiders on sight. There is no trade."

"There wasn’t," Leo corrected. "Until now."

He reached into his pocket and pulled out the Elder’s Token. He tossed it onto the desk. It landed with a heavy, iron thud.

Ryana picked it up. She recognized the sigil immediately—the three-eyed goat skull.

"This is..." Ryana whispered. "This is an Elder’s Seal. A Tribe Token."

"The Silent Moon Tribe," Leo said. "I have a pact with them. I can find a safe route through the forest."

He leaned in.

"Think about it, Ryana. The Endless Forest is full of resources the Kingdom is starving for. Rare herbs that don’t grow here. Monster parts for alchemy. Ores that the Empire doesn’t even know exist. And Zarth? They need steel. They need grain. They need what we have."

"I can give you a monopoly," Leo said softly. "Exclusive trade rights with the Beast-Kin. You would be the only guild bringing in goods from the South. You wouldn’t just beat Gamon and Drax. You would bury them in gold."

Ryana’s merchant soul caught fire. She stared at the token. She imagined the caravans. She imagined the prices she could charge for Zarth silks and exotic poisons.

"Exclusive trade rights..." she murmured. "That... that would make the Silver Route the most powerful guild in the Kingdom."

She looked up at him, her eyes gleaming with greed.

"You can really deliver this?"

"I can," Leo said. "But there’s a price."

Ryana nodded. "Of course. Shares in profit? A seat on the board? Name it."

"I do want those things... But before that, I want something else...," Leo said. "I want a head."

The room temperature seemed to drop ten degrees. The air grew heavy.

"Whose?" Ryana asked slowly.

Leo looked her dead in the eye.

"Lord Caelum Dargan."

Silence.

Absolute, terrifying silence.

Darkness gripped the hilt of her sword so hard her leather glove creaked. Shadow, for the first time, looked serious, though a faint smile touched her lips as she looked at Leo with admiration.

Ryana stood up. Her chair scraped loudly against the floor.

"Are you insane?" she hissed.

She leaned over the desk, her voice dropping to a frantic whisper.

"Caelum might be a bastard, Leo. He might be incompetent. But he is a Lord. He is the King’s appointed representative in this territory."

She paced behind her desk, her robes swirling.

"You can’t just kill a Lord! That is treason! That is rebellion! You are talking about regicide by proxy!"

She turned on him, her eyes wide with fear.

"The King will not stand for it. He will send the Royal Army. He will send the Marshals. He will burn Auravale to the ground to make an example of you if he has to. You are talking about starting a war you cannot win!"

Leo didn’t blink. He sat there, relaxed, watching her panic with a look of mild amusement.

"You sound worried, Ryana," he teased softly. "If I didn’t know better, I’d say you care about me."

Ryana flushed deep red beneath her veil. She cleared her throat loudly and looked away, crossing her arms defensively.

"I... I do not care if you die," she stammered, her voice losing its edge. "It would just be... a waste. A waste of a profitable client. I am thinking of my investment. Dead men cannot open trade routes."

"Sure," Leo laughed. "Whatever you say."

He stood up. He walked to the window, looking out at the city of Auravale sprawling below them. He looked at the Lord’s Keep in the distance, flying the Dargan banner.

"The King won’t attack," Leo said confidently, his back to her. "Because he won’t know it was a murder. And he won’t know it was me."

He turned back to face Ryana. His eyes were dark, swirling with a scheme that was as brilliant as it was ruthless.

"I have a plan, Red Queen," Leo said. "A plan to make the Lord’s death look like the greatest tragedy this city has ever seen. A martyr’s death. An accident of fate."

He walked back to the desk and picked up the Elder’s Token, flipping it in the air.

"And when the dust settles... when the Lord is in the ground and the city is looking for new leadership..."

He smirked.

"You and I will be the ones holding the keys."

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