Chapter 59: Corporate Slaves and Capitalists (33 Extra Chapters)

A sad piece of knowledge.

The coffee that some people nowadays consider a touch of bourgeois flair was once a beast-drug used to boost the work efficiency and endurance of livestock like oxen and horses.

But that's not the saddest part.

What's even more heartbreaking — the real ox-and-horse corporate slaves don't just drink coffee; they actively spend their own money to buy it.

All about that fine self-management awareness — whipping themselves with their own hand.

And even these pitiful corporate slaves still can't out-grind the true kings of grinding who don't sleep.

Right now, Herbert has become exactly such a sleepless king of grinding.

"Hehehe, now, my day has… twenty-four hours!"

He first let out a proudly deafening roar, then quickly realized the problem and blinked:

"Hiss, wait, that doesn't seem any different from before."

Well, regardless, this unexpected little bonus had successfully solved his current predicament of not having enough time.

This way, he'd gained at least a third more time in his day.

More than enough to let him take training at the Knights during the day, then go chat with the monster girls at night.

As for where he belonged next, Herbert had already been informed by Kaplan at the cafeteria.

Simultaneously belonging to both the Knights and the Tribunal — one person doing the work of two.

Mm, pure and utter two-household… ahem, a servant of two houses, as they say.

But Herbert himself didn't resist this arrangement, so he naturally accepted this unreasonable work assignment — though he didn't exactly have the right to refuse either.

Still, the nature of doing it willingly versus being forced isn't the same.

Since he couldn't resist, he could only enjoy it.

It's just work, after all.

Who hasn't held two jobs!

"Right, you'll have to pay me double for the labor… labor laws, hmm, probably not very useful in this world."

Friends, legal weapons don't work in another world!!!

"No choice, then — I'll just have to pick up the disciplinary weapon."

Herbert sighed a few words, walked out of the randomly chosen single cell, and headed toward Valentina's location.

The walls opened up in sequence before him, quickly forming a straight avenue.

"Just as I thought."

After this return to the alien prison, Herbert had a feeling — his control over the sealing arrays had grown stronger.

Perhaps, just as the Archbishop had promised, letting him give rewards to well-behaved prisoners could expand their range of movement within the area.

And within the Endless Maze of the First Area, this meant Herbert could merge several cells together to create a larger cage.

In fact, as long as he wished, he could create a following cage that constantly shifted wherever Valentina moved.

This also meant Valentina could now actually move freely throughout the entire Endless Maze.

Go wherever she wanted!

As long as he didn't let her see the real door — Herbert himself couldn't do it either; insufficient clearance.

When he himself wanted to leave, the prison door would appear at random after sensing his intent; even he couldn't make the door materialize right beside Valentina.

This was probably the final safeguard against a warden being bewitched by prisoners and helping them break out.

A moment later, Herbert saw Valentina staring at the ceiling in a daze.

Before he could even speak, the Hungry Dragon Young Lady twitched her nose and pouted: "You jerk, you clearly got here ages ago, yet you insist on hiding for ages."

She had long since caught the scent on Herbert and had been sitting here in a daze, waiting dryly for quite a while.

Despicable jerk.

Always leaving people hanging!

"Hehe, I was thinking about some things just now — sorry to keep you waiting."

He acted as though pushing a prepared meal toward Valentina, then after she started eating, gave a light cough.

"Um, you eat, and listen to me talk."

"Mm? Oh…" (chew chew chew)

Herbert watched Valentina's cheeks continuously working away, ignored the oily sheen at the corner of her mouth, and said with an earnest face:

"Valentina, you know, I've always thought of you as family."

Valentina:?

Hungry Dragon on guard!

Oh no, he wants to trick me again?

"So, this time I argued your case with the higher-ups and ultimately won you an excellent reward!"

"They've agreed to expand your cell — enough for you to return to your true form! How about it? Excited?"

Herbert paid no heed to her suspicious gaze, his face full of excitement as he spoke with passionate fervor:

"And in the future, as long as you keep behaving well, we can even expand your range of movement within this area!"

Did anyone say you had to hand out all the rewards at once?

No!

Then, hey!

Plenty of room to maneuver!

Especially when the entire Third Tribunal has only Herbert as its one multi-tasking employee.

Upstream procurement is me, midstream approval is me, downstream operator is also me!

Heh heh.

Who can say I did wrong!!?

But...

Valentina's reaction was unexpectedly calm, even frowning with a hint of distaste as she said: "Eh? Change back to my true form? No."

(munch munch munch munch munch)

"Hm? You don't want to change back to your true form?"

Herbert was greatly shocked, unable to understand why his family members were still hesitating in the face of such a good discount.

Is it because they don't work hard enough normally?

"I do want to, but if I change back to my true form, I'll get hungry even faster!"

She was already prone to getting hungry; relying on her human form let her endure a bit longer. If she didn't sleep in her giant dragon form, she'd be hungry in no time at all.

No way I'm doing that.

"No! Change back for me!"

At this moment, realizing the problem, Herbert dropped his true colors, no longer putting on an act, and said loudly: "Just once, even once is fine! Let me see your true form!"

Let me see!

At this, Valentina grew even more resistant, shaking her head vigorously:

"No——way——"

"Don't even think about it!"

"There's no way I'm letting you touch my tail!!!"

And while Herbert and Valentina were bickering and arguing, a team took advantage of the night to appear on the open fields of the Mist Mountains.

Their banner depicted their family crest — a pair of crossed longswords in front of a golden shield, with a pair of outspread silver wings descending to envelop the swords and shield.

This noble crest belonged to the Grand Duke of Silver Wings of the Frost Crystal Kingdom.

The night was deep, and they did not rashly press deeper into the fog-shrouded Mist Mountains, but chose to make camp on the spot.

They had brought a tightly wrapped package.

And... two letters.

One of them bore the Silver Wings crest.

This was the Grand Duke of Silver Wings' reply to his dear second son.

And the other...

Was stamped with another, even more splendid crest — a giant dragon rearing its head and spewing frost.

This was the royal crest of the Frost Crystal Kingdom, representing the royal status of the letter's sender.

And on this letter, there was also a name that might cause Herbert to feel a touch of dizziness.

Felicia Olivia.

The most beloved little princess of the Frost Crystal Kingdom.

Also... the one who caused Herbert to suffer unfair treatment, forced him to come to the Mist Monastery, and compelled him to swear an oath to prove his innocence...

The source of everything.

Thanks to reader 20200504015545393 for the tip

Three updates today, 6500 words, paid back one extra update (1/5)

Tomorrow is the day Sanjiang decides life or death, continuing with three updates.

Little Ba really needs everyone's help!

Please! Definitely! Absolutely! Keep reading! This is truly important to me!!!

If we can make it onto Sanjiang this time, I'll add 3 more updates, to be paid back after launch!

This is my lifelong request, Oneye—

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(End of this chapter)