[: Daniel POV :]
Recalling Old Jack's question from earlier, I closed my eyes briefly before opening them and gave him a heartfelt answer.
"There's really no need to share with the people I hold dear, the ones who feel like family to ," I explained.
It was a simple response, one that didn't require a grand explanation. It was my most honest and genuine reply.
I had once been blind to the fact that I had a family all along, and I had lost them. But this ti, I was determined not to lose them again.
Hearing my words, Old Jack's lips curled into a satisfied smile, and I could see the pride in his eyes.
At that mont, he seed like a proud grandpa, content with my response.
"Hmm, I see,"
Old Jack muttered, his wise eyes studying , and the others nodded in agreent.
For the others, my words seed to catch them by surprise at first.
But soon, warm smiles spread across their faces, and I could see just how much I truly ant to them.
It was a powerful reminder of the bond we had forged together.
At the sa ti, I couldn't help but acknowledge how much they ant to as well.
"But, don't you think that you're pushing yourself too hard? Perhaps, you should take a break, relax. You've been working tirelessly for the past few years,"
Areia said, her concern evident in her voice.
"It's true, young master," Fara chid in, echoing her sentints.
"We're not suggesting, but maybe you should rest for a few days."
Their words carried the weight of genuine care and concern.
They had noticed that I hadn't been present in this world much lately, thanks to the endless hours I spent farming in Modern Fantasia.
Hearing their voices of concern, I couldn't help but smile.
However, I knew that to protect the people who were precious to , I couldn't afford to stop.
"But, don't you think that you're pushing yourself too hard? Perhaps, you should take a break, and relax. You've been working tirelessly for the past few years,"
Areia said, her concern evident in her voice.
"It's true, young master," Fara chid in, echoing her sentints.
"We're not suggesting, but maybe you should rest for a few days."
Their words carried the weight of genuine care and concern.
They had noticed that I hadn't been present in this world much lately, thanks to the endless hours I spent farming in Modern Fantasia.
Hearing their voices of concern, I couldn't help but smile, though my determination remained unwavering.
"You don't have to worry about . If I'm tired, I'll take a rest," I reassured them.
My words were ant to ease their concerns.
"In fact, you two, shouldn't you two get married soon?"
I suddenly turned the tables on them, throwing them off guard.
"WHAT!" Areia shrieked, her face turning beet red.
Lye, on the other hand, averted his gaze and didn't utter a single word.
"? Marry this guy? Ha! No way, young master,"
Areia huffed, folding her arms and looking away.
But her blushing cheeks betrayed her true feelings, revealing her as more of a tsundere.
"She's right, young master. I can't marry this shorty,"
Lye shot back with a smirk.
I chuckled, well aware that Lye was putting up a tough front when, in reality, he was probably screaming inside.
"Who would marry a brute?"
Areia retorted, her tsundere nature on full display.
"Yes, I agree, but at the sa ti, can't deny that he's good-looking,"
Fara comnted, trying to ease the tension.
"Hmph," A
reia turned away with a huff, and I couldn't help but sigh, though I couldn't contain my amusent.
"Hey, wait. What's the aning of that?" Lye protested.
"You have ears, so just listen,"
Fara replied, and Lye fell silent, clearly unable to co up with a coback.
I shook my head, thoroughly amused by their playful banter.
Finally, we reached our destination.
"Welco," the receptionist greeted us as we entered.
The restaurant wasn't particularly large, but the interior had a pleasant ambience.
"Follow ," the waitress led the way and guided us to an empty table.
"Please, make yourselves comfortable, and soone will be with you shortly," she said before departing.
"Do any of you have anything specific that you want to eat?" Lye inquired.
"I have no special requests,"
Fara and Areia responded in unison, though their eyes were on .
"Oh, just get the nu," I suggested.
"Well, whatever you want," they agreed.
"Alright," Lye fetched the nus, and we perused the offerings.
We placed our orders and waited for our food to arrive, finally settling into our seats.
Eventually, the dishes arrived, and the waiter carefully set them on the table before returning to the kitchen.
"Let's eat, and we can catch up later. We're all hungry, right?" Fara suggested.
We dug into our als, savouring the flavours, and as we enjoyed our food, we engaged in conversation about various topics related to the organization and recent global news.
"Young Master, did you know that the Unison Governnt has introduced a new form of tax where instead of levying taxes based on currency, they've decided to collect 'Drops' instead?"
Lye inford us, his expression reflecting the absurdity of the Unison Governnt's actions.
"Well, ever since the Unison Governnt took control of the world, they've implented nurous new laws and regulations, especially concerning Modern Fantasia,"
Areia added with an air of indifference as if she couldn't be bothered by it.
The Bell Organization, ruled by Mother, had little concern for the world's affairs.
As long as no one interfered with their operations, they preferred to remain in the shadows, observing from a distance.
However, it wasn't as if Mother allowed them complete freedom to do as they pleased.
The other organizations were effectively on a leash, and if they overstepped their bounds or acted too recklessly, Mother would step in to administer punishnt.
"First, they've imposed a rule that no human can use their powers without possessing a Deviation License Plate''
''If anyone uses their abilities recklessly, they'll be subject to discipline by the Guilds, acting under orders from the Governnt,"
Areia explained, shedding light on the new regulations imposed by the Unison Governnt.
"It's an effective thod for constraining and limiting the powers that the population possesses, but the question is, for how long?"
Areia mused, her fork gesturing toward the world beyond.
"There's no telling when a madman might decide to blow up a city or poison the water supply''
''The potential for destruction that humans possess is boundless, and it's equally true for the dangers we face," she continued.
"But fortunately for us, we don't face those problems''
''Thanks to our young master, we can establish hierarchy and maintain control over our people, sothing the governnt is struggling to achieve,"
Areia remarked with a proud smile.
"Indeed, I'm not sure if imposing taxes based on Drops is a wise move,"
Areia comnted, her brow furrowing in thought.
"Introducing this new tax system is essentially like hindering their citizens' ability to level up and suppressing their power''
''Once a month, Unison will claim 30% of every Player Drop, whether it's money or treasures acquired from Fantasia," she explained.
"I can't fathom what the Unison Governnt is thinking''
''They're essentially compelling their citizens to work while simultaneously siphoning off 30% of their earnings," Areia chuckled, shaking her head in disbelief.
"All of these laws wouldn't have been possible or effective without the establishnt of Guilds,"
Areia emphasized, highlighting a key factor contributing to the successful imposition of laws and regulations.
"For now, there are five Major Guilds that have amassed hundreds of thousands of mbers, and if this trend continues, they could have millions by the end of the year,"
Areia inford us.
My eyebrow raised at the ntion of the five Major Guilds, a topic I had so unresolved issues with.
I had worked with them in the past, and it hadn't been an experience he would describe as morable.
"So, what are we going to do next?"
I asked, curious about the plans ahead.
The Bell Organization had seemingly achieved all its objectives, securing the resources it needed and ensuring its peace.
At my question, Tess finally spoke up.
"The Tessera is about to begin," he said, adjusting his glasses before continuing with his al.
His words made realize that the ti had already co.
"I suppose things are about to get busier than ever from now on," I comnted, and everyone at the table seed to agree.
I couldn't be certain if Tess felt the sa way about the Tessera event as he did in the Alternate Future, but I was sire to ensure that the events of that alternate future would never co to pass.
In that alternate future, Tess's inventions had been one of the few crucial factors that had enabled our survival.
His countless creations had been instruntal in allowing humankind to endure the challenges they faced.
Yet, even with his remarkable intellect and contributions, the gods were jealous of his intelligence.
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