Chapter 196: First Step

*** Cael’s POV

I didn’t even get the chance to refuse.

As soon as I changed clothes, she flicked my forehead, and a surge of energy rushed through my body. The last thing I remember?

It was already morning.

More specifically, it was already one in the afternoon.

She must have forced me to sleep. At least the dream was good—or I think it was. I forgot it the moment I woke up, but I know it involved Evelina in a compromising position.

Not that it was surprising. She was a succubus; of course I’d dream about her.

“Evelina…”

I rubbed my eyes and noticed she wasn’t in the bedroom, but I could feel a faint trace of her presence coming from the study next door.

She was already working. What a workaholic…

***

I stepped into the study beside the bedroom and found her sitting on the desk.

She wore a tight, simple polo shirt and a matching skirt—apparently her signature outfit now. Dresses didn’t really make sense for her; they were way too limiting in an emergency.

But a polo shirt and skirt? They not only suited her, but also let her move freely without worrying about ripping anything.

She was poring over paperwork that looked like it had been left there for months, maybe even years.

Some of the papers were even new, stamped with the academy’s seal at the top.

It was a mix of everything. I guess the academy didn’t completely abandon us without resources after all.

“Sleep well?”

“Kind of unfair that you just put me to sleep like that…”

“Don’t tell me you wanted to do it again…?” Evelina smirked, setting the document she’d been reading back on the desk beside her as she crossed her legs.

“That’s part of it, but I also wanted more time to admire how well that nightgown I picked suited you.”

“Didn’t your father teach you any manners?”

“Hard to remember anything he taught me when I’m looking at you.”

Evelina chuckled at my reply, then slid off the desk and grabbed a specific stack of papers she had carefully sorted.

“Take a look at this. We’ve got a full day ahead of us.”

I glanced over the documents Evelina handed me, and… it was a lot. Constant bandit attacks, blatant signs of corruption, the destruction of the local mining company—and the biggest problem of all?

A city overflowing with refugees from Holt, a nearby city burned to the ground after a dragon suddenly awakened and attacked.

In short, we were facing every new noble landowner’s worst nightmares all at once.

“Not only is the only real source of jobs in this forsaken place gone, we don’t even have the resources to rebuild it.”

“That’s what you’re focusing on?”

“Yes. The sooner we get everyone contributing, the better. But we can’t exactly do that with all the obvious corruption in the city center.”

Evelina sighed, clearly having read my memories from the day before to see what I’d been up to. I liked to think she did it to gather information in her sleep, but most likely…? She just wanted to make sure I wasn’t spending time with other girls again.

“Let’s pay a visit to this so-called city hall.”

“Think they’ll listen?”

“They’re corrupt, not stupid. I can pretend to join them so they’ll help us, and then we pull the rug out from under them later. It’s not that complicated.”

“Not your first job, huh?”

Evelina shrugged. “Father had me manage newly conquered lands before, and while this is definitely far more unstable, it shouldn’t be that hard.”

“They already seem to be doing well. What do you have in mind to convince them?”

“Well… just look at me.” Evelina gestured at herself, clearly showing off her beauty. “Geezers like them will probably listen to every word I say.”

“What—”

“Don’t worry, you’ll be my bodyguard to ensure they don’t go too overboard.”

She really was pragmatic, and now that I thought about it… she had used the same tactics on me in the past to keep me in line. It would be interesting to see other people on the receiving end for once.

A temptress in every sense of the word. If her plan worked, she wouldn’t just get to control the current government; if they tried to make a move on her first, she’d have every right in the world to fight back without anyone being able to complain.

Besides… her plan wasn’t as reckless or overconfident as it sounded.

She was a literal succubus.

“I hope you won’t be jealous.”

“Jealous? Me? Like they even have a chance to catch your eye.”

“And that’s exactly the confidence that made me fall for you in the first place… well, that, and your physique.”

***

[Dark Step]

We reappeared in a narrow alley just before the city center’s perimeter. Only then did I notice the barricaded wall cutting the city clean in half, lined with marksmen on top.

I must have skipped over it yesterday when I used the rooftops to tail the car.

And the wall… had plenty going on.

It wasn’t just a barrier between the rich and poor districts. It was how the people in charge kept their control and power over everyone else.

Right beside the wall stood a small building that looked like it used to be a bakeshop before the soldiers took it over. The old sign had been replaced with a new one that read: “Recruitment Station.”

I narrowed my eyes, trying to see what they were offering.

To be honest, it was borderline slavery.

“An entire day of lifting crates for… bread?”

It didn’t stop there. They’d also set up a so-called donation area, where soldiers handed out soup—one bowl per person. They were clearly trying to maintain a friendly façade, despite being the very reason these people were suffering.

“Keeping them alive just long enough to overwork them, huh?”

To make it even more obvious, they gave extra food to pregnant women and children. It was subtle, but they were clearly trying to encourage people to have more kids.

After all, what is a tyrannical government without the slavery of its people?

“I’ve got to hand it to them, it’s fairly effective, if simple.”

“Considering how long they’ve been left alone, I expected a better system,” I replied.

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