Chapter 63: The Office Slave and the Capitalist (Bonus Chapter 33)

A sad piece of knowledge.

Coffee, now considered a bourgeois indulgence, was once a veterinary drug used to boost the efficiency and working hours of livestock like oxen and horses.

But that’s not the saddest part.

What’s truly heartbreaking—men weep, women cry—is that real human livestock don’t just drink coffee, they actively spend their own money to buy it.

They pride themselves on excellent self-management, whipping themselves.

Even these pitiful human livestock can’t compete with true workaholics who never sleep.

Now, Herbert has become one of those sleepless workaholics.

“Heh heh, now my day has… twenty-four hours!”

He first let out a thunderous cry of triumph, then quickly realized the problem and blinked:

“Huh, wait, this doesn’t really differ from before.”

Well, regardless, he’d at least solved his current time shortage thanks to this unexpected boon.

This meant he gained at least a third of an extra day.

Enough to train with the Knights during the day and chat with the monster girls at night.

Herbert had already been informed by Kaplan about his future assignment.

He’d be jointly assigned to both the Knights and the Inquisition, serving as two people in one.

Hmm, purely a dual-family servant… cough, a man serving two masters.

But Herbert himself didn’t resist this arrangement; naturally, he accepted the unreasonable work assignment—though he had no right to refuse.

But there’s a difference between willingness and coercion.

Since he couldn’t rebel, he might as well enjoy it.

It’s just a job.

Who hasn’t held two jobs before!

“By the way, my wages should be doubled… labor laws, uh, probably don’t apply in this world.”

Friends, legal rights don’t work in this world!!!

“No choice—only the weapon of discipline remains.”

Herbert sighed, stepped out of the randomly chosen single cell, and headed toward Valentina’s location.

The walls opened before him in sequence, swiftly forming a straight path.

“As expected.”

Upon returning to the alien prison this time, Herbert felt—his control over the sealing array had strengthened.

Perhaps, as the Grand Archbishop promised, rewarding well-behaved prisoners allowed them to expand their movement range within this zone.

Within the endless labyrinth of the first zone, this meant Herbert could merge several cells into one larger cage.

In fact, if he wished, he could create a moving prison that followed Valentina wherever she went.

This meant Valentina could now move freely throughout the entire endless labyrinth.

Go anywhere she wanted!

As long as she didn’t see the real gate—Herbert himself couldn’t do it either, lacking the authority.

When he wanted to leave normally, the prison gate appeared randomly upon sensing his intent; he couldn’t even make it materialize beside Valentina.

This was likely the final safeguard against wardens being swayed by prisoners into helping them escape.

Moments later, Herbert saw Valentina staring blankly at the ceiling.

Before he could speak, Miss Hungry Dragon twitched her nose and sneered: “You, you’ve been here for ages, yet you hid for so long.”

She’d already smelled his scent and had been waiting here, lost in thought, for a long time.

Damn guy.

Always teasing!

“Heh, I was just thinking about something. Made you wait.”

He pushed the prepared meal toward Valentina like a server, then cleared his throat after she began eating:

“Uh, eat while you listen.”

“Huh? Oh…” (chew chew chew)

Herbert watched Valentina’s cheeks constantly moving, ignored the grease on her lips, and said with sincere expression:

“Valentina, you know I’ve always treated you like family.”

Valentina: ?

Hungry Dragon on alert!

Oh no, is he trying to trick me again?

“So, I fought hard with the higher-ups on your behalf—and won you an excellent reward!”

“They’ve agreed to expand your cell enough for you to revert to your true form! How exciting, right?”

Herbert ignored her suspicious gaze, beaming with excitement and speaking passionately:

“And if you continue behaving well, your movement range within this zone can expand even further!”

Who says you must give all rewards at once?

No one!

Then, hey!

Plenty of room for maneuver!

Especially when the entire Third Discipline Hall has only one employee—Herbert—juggling multiple roles.

Procurement? Me. Approval? Me. Operations? Me!

Heh.

Who dares say I’m doing it wrong!?

But…

Valentina’s reaction was unexpectedly calm, even disdainful as she frowned: “Huh? Go back to my true form? No thanks.”

(chew chew chew chew chew)

“Huh? You don’t want to revert to your true form?”

Herbert was stunned—he couldn’t understand why family members hesitated over such a great deal.

Had he been working her too hard?

“I do want to… but reverting to my true form makes me hungrier faster!”

She was already prone to hunger; her human form let her endure longer. If she stayed in dragon form without sleeping, she’d starve in moments.

No way.

“No! Change back!”

At that moment, Herbert dropped the act, revealing his true self and shouted: “Just once! Just let me see your true form once!”

Let me see!

Valentina grew even more resistant, shaking her head violently:

“Noooo!”

“Don’t even think about it!”

“You’ll never touch my tail!!!”

As Herbert bickered with Valentina, a group appeared on the open plains of the Mist Mountains under cover of night.

Their banner bore their crest—a golden shield crossed by two long swords, with a pair of outstretched silver wings draping over them.

This noble emblem belonged to the [Silver Wing] Duke of the Frost Crystal Kingdom.

Deep in night, they did not rashly advance into the fog-choked Mist Mountains, but chose to camp in place.

They brought a tightly wrapped package.

And… two letters.

One bore the Silver Wing crest.

It was the Duke’s reply to his beloved second son.

The other…

Was sealed with a more ornate crest—a dragon rearing up, spewing frost.

This was the royal crest of the Frost Crystal Kingdom, indicating the sender’s imperial status.

And on this letter, there was a name that might make Herbert momentarily dazed.

Filia Olivia.

The most beloved princess of the Frost Crystal Kingdom.

The very source of Herbert’s unjust treatment, forcing him to the Mist Monastery and compelling him to swear his innocence.

The origin of it all.

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(End of Chapter)