Chapter 93: Tonight She Is a Fox Spirit
This was Roger’s first time seeing the Empress of Eternal Night in such a state.
She must have just finished bathing. Instead of her usual overbearing presence, she was now lazily at ease, her features softened, exuding a more feminine charm.
Even in her robes, which didn’t accentuate her figure, subtle curves could be discerned. The mystery of what lay beneath, left to imagination, only amplified the allure.
Compared to her, Princess Tassika, even with binding charms, seemed too “immature.”
The Empress of Eternal Night didn’t need to open her eyes; merely by listening to Roger’s thoughts, she knew he was perving on her.
She wasn’t angry. Instead, she obligingly struck a more seductive pose, feeling a flicker of pride at his silent admiration.
An empress should be dignified and aloof. No matter how beautiful, she couldn’t openly seduce her subjects.
Even though she was letting loose now, she intended to project an enigmatic, powerful, and unpredictable image to the world.
But who would praise her beauty then?
For that reason, she could only tease Roger in the privacy of her chambers.
His thoughts, though uncensored and a bit crude, felt more genuine. The Empress felt his flattery was spot on.
“Princess Tassika is nothing compared to me, so it’s only natural I’d win,” she mused.
Meanwhile, after his initial awe, Roger began to analyze the situation further.
“This creature, ‘woman,’ who values face so much, appearing before you in such a casual state generally indicates two things.”
“First, trust. Second, she has absolutely no interest in you and can’t be bothered to attract you.”
“So, Your Majesty sees me as a child and has no romantic intentions, right…?”
“Ahem, Lord Roger, tell me about the gains from your negotiation with Princess Tassika.”
The Empress of Eternal Night opened her eyes and spoke, not daring to let Roger continue his analysis.
This man was good in every way, but perhaps too cautious. Why overthink things?
She looked like this because she had just finished an experiment and bathed, too lazy to change. And she was confident in her beauty in every state.
He was clearly attracted, yet he concluded she couldn’t be bothered to attract him – his logic was baffling!
Did he expect her to bind herself and be presented to him like Tassika?
The Empress was starting to understand Roger’s personality. Giving him a little encouragement would be a temptation, increasing the chances of a confession.
But if she gave him too much leeway and let him overanalyze, he’d start suspecting ulterior motives, and his favorable impression of her would plummet.
It was agonizing! Why couldn’t he just charge forward directly?
She vowed to establish an Anti-Fraud Association and appoint him as its president!
She found the situation both infuriating and amusing.
Roger felt the Empress was somewhat unusual tonight, but upon being asked about the negotiation, he quickly composed himself and reported the secret agreement he had reached with Tassika.
He genuinely hoped for the agreement to succeed, as it would reduce the empire’s management costs and grant the beastmen a reprieve. Thus, he spoke eloquently, detailing the benefits of the agreement to the empire.
Telling a tale of persuading an empress in three sentences was a lie; if necessary, Roger wouldn’t hesitate to spend three days and nights indoctrinating her.
Therefore, he didn’t dwell on negotiation tactics, embraces, or casual conversation unrelated to the agreement. He considered himself an upright subject who discussed national affairs and public welfare with the half-dragon princess all night, ultimately securing this secret accord.
He had a clear conscience!
“Your Majesty, see my perfect KDA!”
From the Empress of Eternal Night’s perspective, he had actually succeeded!
Tassika’s stubbornness, which she had witnessed firsthand, had miraculously given way to her cooperating with the empire as a puppet empress. This was indeed a great development.
“Old Joestar, I’ll show you a prosperous era just as you wished!”
She also agreed with Roger’s analysis of the pros and cons.
Compared to directly ruling the Kamposak Desert, indirect control through Tassika would only require dispatching a few powerful individuals and soldiers. This would secure an ally against the gods in the form of the beastmen kingdom, making it a highly profitable venture.
“Lord Roger, your journey was arduous. I am very satisfied with this agreement! The establishment of the Beastmen Kingdom will be entirely under your purview, reporting directly to me. The military department will cooperate with you fully!”
The Empress of Eternal Night was decisive. She understood Roger’s efforts, but the empire’s straightforward nobles might be obstructionist.
Granting Roger supreme jurisdiction over the beastmen kingdom, with the Empress’s Edict in hand, was the most efficient method.
As for any troublemakers, it would be an opportunity to further strengthen central authority.
Roger considered that with Tassika’s intelligence and capabilities, she could unite the beastmen tribes herself. The empire would only need to provide support and cooperation, making the workload manageable.
Having him oversee it directly would also prevent many unnecessary complications. He humbly accepted the appointment.
“Heh, Your Majesty is pleased with my performance!”
Being directly responsible implied he could report directly to the Maple Spirit Moon Shadow Palace again, thus creating more opportunities for interaction. Furthermore, with this decree, while Tassika would be the nominal leader of the beastmen kingdom, Roger would effectively be the regent!
Seeing the “pufferfish” in front of her puff up again, the Empress of Eternal Night inwardly applauded him.
“Go, Lord Roger, you’ve been empowered, come and conquer me!”
According to Tibera, men also needed encouragement and praise. It seemed she needed to build up the young fellow’s confidence.
Therefore, she decided to give him another chance to show off.
The Empress of Eternal Night asked again, “Regarding Taming Army’s Asiford City, the nobles have stabilized the defense, compressing the undead army’s advance to the border of Yaman Province. What are your thoughts, Lord Roger?”
“I see it with my eyes.”
“I mean, do you think I should handle the Taming Army?”
Why was she asking him this too?
Roger frowned, feeling this was far beyond the scope of his role as a mere magazine editor.
“This is a major move orchestrated by the God of Knowledge. The situation in Yaman Province and with the Taming Army is not something that can be resolved quickly. I shouldn’t get involved.”
Roger demurred: “Your Majesty is asking the wrong person. I am not familiar with the Taming Army or the situation in Yaman Province, so I dare not speak rashly. My suggestion is for Your Majesty to consult the military department.”
The Empress of Eternal Night snorted, neither confirming nor denying.
So it was indeed the God of Knowledge at work?
He was rumored to be the most troublesome among the Seven Gods, and this Taming Master he sent had certainly made a grand entrance.
However, was this her usual bad habit starting again?
She wasn’t flustered and pressed on: “Lord Roger, didn’t you also deduce the Taming Master’s intentions earlier? Why not continue to make a guess, even if it’s wrong?”
“This… the human heart is unpredictable, and the conditions are insufficient. I cannot make a judgment, and more intelligence is needed.”
Roger appeared quite troubled, believing his answer was flawless.
“The empire is powerful now. As long as we keep winning, the Taming Army will have no basis for rule. What can the Taming Master do?”
“I fear, given her caution, she won’t even defend Asiford City. After this phase, she’ll likely revert to underground operations.”
“The Taming Army will likely engage in covert sabotage and cultivate influence, waiting for an opportunity to sacrifice Faith Power to appease the God of Knowledge, waiting for the gods to shift their attention…”
The Empress of Eternal Night felt pleased upon hearing his unspoken thoughts.
“Everything is coming back to me!”
With this intelligence, she knew how to arrange matters with that old woman Shady.
Since they were going underground, she wouldn’t rush to Asiford City. She would order the surrounding governors and troops to maintain their defense and take over reconstruction after the Taming Army had left.
Then, she would find a way to infiltrate the Taming Army, gain foreknowledge of their actions, reduce their destructive impact, and await the gods’ moves.
The intelligence Roger revealed was quite important. If she hadn’t understood the Taming Army’s true intentions, she might have mistakenly believed they intended to rebuild the Veronica Dynasty immediately and launch a head-on eradication campaign, thus wasting valuable strength.
Knowing Shady lacked confidence and the gods’ main forces were engaged elsewhere, the empire could afford to play it safe and focus on completing the current magical industrial upgrade.
Indeed, Roger’s thoughts and words differed – listening to his inner thoughts was more reliable.
Now that she had grasped the “correct way to interact” with him, the Empress of Eternal Night no longer blamed him for insufficient loyalty or lack of effort.
After overcoming her inner demons, she understood many things and could appreciate the different perspectives of an empress and her subject.
An empress was responsible for all aspects of the empire and had to make decisions on everything.
A subject, however, only needed to fulfill their duties.
Assisting her in other matters was an obligation, and not doing so was within their rights.
Even the Empress herself didn’t have infinite responsibility towards the empire, so she couldn’t expect others to be the same.
In the future, her court would accommodate idlers, madmen, scoundrels, research fanatics, and ambitious individuals; she was confident she could manage them and guide them to contribute to the empire.
A mature empress didn’t mold her subjects into identical molds but placed each person in the right position to exert their energy.
She could learn from others’ examples, but she couldn’t have someone else complete all her assignments for her.
Therefore, Roger providing this intelligence was enough for the Empress of Eternal Night. She praised him: “Lord Roger, you are truly consistently honest… I already know of your loyalty. Please continue to work hard in the future! Let’s conclude for tonight.”
“As you command, Your Majesty.” Roger was pleasantly surprised to have passed this hurdle, feeling a bit bewildered.
Was saying he didn’t know anything also considered loyalty and hard work, worthy of praise?
…
…
Drinking Ice Manor.
Teleporting back to the courtyard via the Long-Distance Shoe Insoles, Roger immediately noticed the lit lamp.
He sighed softly. It was almost 2 AM, and little Joy had truly been waiting for him.
If he hadn’t returned here and gone directly to Charles’s mansion, would she have waited foolishly until dawn?
There were countless beautiful things in the world worth pursuing, but seeing that solitary lamp burning in the darkness just for him, a wanderer in a foreign land, filled his heart with warmth.
Angelina wouldn’t do such a foolish thing; if the light was on, it meant she was working overtime.
Siblings were too familiar with each other for such rituals.
Roger knocked gently. Hearing an unmistakably happy “Come in,” he pushed the door open.
A soft, warm body immediately threw itself into his arms.
“Lord Roger~ you’re back… Mmph!”
Lord Roger cradled his little woman’s face and unleashed a torrent of unrestrained kisses, leaving her weak and melting into his embrace.
“You bad boy…”
Little Joy felt her face burning hot enough to fry an egg.
But nestled in his arms was the warmest, safest embrace in the world, and she wouldn’t let go for even half a second.
“Here’s a small gift for you.”
Roger took out a necklace with a distinct beastman style from his spatial ring. It was strung with the teeth of some unknown fierce beast.
“Mmph, did you think of me even when you went to war, my lord?” Little Joy exclaimed in surprise as she accepted it.
The necklace looked crude at first glance, but upon closer inspection, it possessed a wild beauty, with vibrant colors that somehow complemented each other, radiating a potent magical aura.
Clearly, this was not just an accessory but a cherished and powerful magical item.
“Never mind going to war, even if I had to go to heaven or hell, I could never forget you.”
Roger hugged her tightly, trying to mask his guilt.
Ahem, when he was with the Empress, it seemed… probably… maybe… perhaps…
This necklace was also a reward from the system’s random loot boxes, not specifically… heh…
These were trivial details, not worth mentioning!
But Little Joy still believed him.
She had been an officer who fought on the front lines and knew how tense the atmosphere was there, with no room for romance.
Unless he possessed the Empress’s invincible power to dominate the battlefield, mere survival would be difficult, let alone having the inclination for such frivolous matters!
Little Joy admired the beast fang necklace for a while, then removed a protective amulet from Mongomary, revealing her fair, white neck, and whispered, “My lord, could you put it on for me?”
Roger replied, “Of course. However, if I were to wear this necklace, it would trigger a loyalty oath, which might restrict you somewhat…”
“Meaning I have to be loyal to you forever?”
“Yes…”
“Then please, I really like it!”
She closed her eyes, her face filled with anticipation.
[Follower Necklace: A simple necklace strung with over a hundred types of beast fangs, yet it emanates an incredibly potent magical aura. Forged by shamanic magic by a chieftain of a past royal lineage.]
The necklace was strung with dragon sinew, and a line of ancient Ilyas writing was etched onto it: “Loyalty is rewarded; disloyalty is death.”
Upon inquiry, the system informed him that the rewards for loyalty included enhancements to various skills and talents, with greater rewards for higher loyalty.
This was a necklace that could significantly boost growth potential, but it required activation by the owner to be bestowed upon a follower; wearing it himself was ineffective.
Hearing the young girl’s unwavering tone, Roger couldn’t help but kiss her forehead before fastening the Follower Necklace around her neck.
An ancient and primal aura erupted, and immense magical power enveloped Little Joy.
[Loyalty Check Passed. Target’s Talent Enhancement Success!]
[Target awakens Fox bloodline. Illusion magic and Charm magic effects +5.]
[Target masters Master-level War Song and Master-level War Dance skills.]
[Target masters Super Magic Talent: Aura of Joy. When feeling happy and joyful, those around her will also feel joyful, increasing the work efficiency of the entire team and slightly boosting the team’s luck.]
The magical light gradually faded. Little Joy didn’t seem much different outwardly, only finding Roger in front of her even more handsome and making her feel even more drawn to him.
Simultaneously, some esoteric knowledge flowed into her mind, exponentially increasing her control over her throat and body.
However, she noticed Roger’s gaze towards her had changed, becoming intensely passionate like never before.
“My lord?” Her voice became even clearer and more melodious.
“What Fox bloodline… so you’re just a little fox!”
He reached out and gently grasped the new, fluffy ears that had sprouted on Little Joy’s head, feeling the incredibly smooth fur.
“Ah, my lord, it tickles so much…”
Little Joy’s body trembled; the unprecedented keen stimulation made her collapse into Roger’s embrace.
“Alright, alright, I won’t tough there…”
Letting go of her ears, he then playfully tugged at the new, large tail that had appeared on the girl.
Little Joy angrily bit his arm, not with much force, glaring at him with a puffed-out lower lip and whimpering, “Not there either… Owu!”
But with that expression, she had no intimidating presence; it was clearly seductive.
With the necklace’s effect, this little girl had transformed into a foxy spirit. How could he resist?
“I’ve discovered that your office desk is quite spacious…”
“Wuwu, you chose the desk too, you wicked guy, you planned to bully me from the start, didn’t you?”
“Yes, it was all a trap. But a silly fox jumped right in, and I, young master… couldn’t stop her!”
The night was deep, and a certain useless younger brother was still working overtime.
P.S. The “little fox spirit” likely refers to the concept of Summer Grass from Arknights. Feel free to imagine it with extra flair; it should convey a lively, energetic girl. To avoid moderation issues, I’ll only include a conservative image.
