{Asher’s POV}
After an hour of soaking in a warm tub, I finally erged out. While I missed the massive, decadent baths back at my harem town, I found myself enjoying the simplicity of this one. It loosened my bones, cleared my skin, and lifted my spirits.
I dried myself off, my body feeling revitalized. From my item box, I retrieved a fresh set of clothes: casual shorts and a fitted white vest. After a quick layer of moisturizer, I headed downstairs to the inn’s common area.
The "chill spot" was a typical adventurer’s hub—dimly lit, filled with the sll of roasted at, and buzzing with the low hum of hunters drinking and swapping stories.
A large screen flickered in the corner, playing so sort of dramatic production. I wouldn’t expect anything less from the kingdom that has a celebrity like Genzai.
A waitress approached with a professional smile. "Would you like to order sothing, sir? A drink, perhaps?"
"Just food for now," I started, but then I caught a glimpse of what the other patrons were holding. My curiosity got the better of . "Actually, on second thought, let have a jug of your finest alcohol and whatever at dish you recomnd."
"Right away, sir!" she chirped, scurrying off toward the kitchen.
The service was impeccable—I’d give them five stars for speed—but when the tray hit the table, my appetite plumted. Their "finest" alcohol was a pale, cloudy liquid that looked like the leftover water from soaking rice.
I took a cautious sip and nearly spat it back out. It was as bland as it looked, with a watery, fernted aftertaste that left much to be desired.
THIS was the top-shelf stuff? I suppose in a kingdom this religious, they didn’t put much soul into their brewing.
The food, however, was a different story. The boar at was cooked to perfection—tender and juicy—though it desperately needed a dash of spice. As I ate, I realized this was the perfect opening for a little business negotiation.
I walked over to the service counter where the staff were bustling about.
"Excuse ," I said to the waitress who had served , sliding the nearly full mug back toward her. "I couldn’t really drink this. Is the manager available?"
Her eyes went wide with alarm. "Is sothing wrong, sir? A fly in the drink? Do you wish to file a formal complaint?"
"No, no, nothing like that," I assured her.
The rest of the staff began to look at with anxious suspicion. To put them at ease—and to make my point—I reached into my item box and pulled a bottle of wine from my company, Stick & Lick Enterprises, the logo embossed cleanly on the glass.
The staff froze. "You have an Item Box?" one of them whispered.
I nodded casually. A collective gasp went through the kitchen.
"That’s a high-tier skill," another whispered. "Only S-rank female hunters have those. The only man I’ve ever heard of with that kind of spatial magic is Lord Genzai himself!"
"Sir... who are you?"
"Wait! Aren’t you the kid from the stadium today? The one who’s facing Lord Genzai tomorrow?"
The questions started flying, and I could feel the eyes of the other patrons drifting toward the counter. I scratched the back of my neck, playing it cool. "I don’t know about all that. But look, this is a special blend of wine from my holand. It’s made from a unique variety of fruit. If you don’t mind, I’d love for the manager to taste it and give their thoughts. I’m looking to form a partnership—"
"I’m the manager!" a grumpy old woman barked. She had a strange, duck-like fascinator pinned to her hair and her hands firmly on her hips. She eyed the bottle like it was a live grenade.
I bowed slightly. "Good evening, ma’am. I hope you’re doing well."
She didn’t return the pleasantry. "You’re sure this isn’t poison?"
"Just premium alcohol, ma’am. I promise."
She snatched the bottle, squinting at the deep crimson liquid inside. "Red alcohol? How unusual."
"As I said, it’s a special fruit—"
She wasn’t listening. She gave a sharp nod, and suddenly, four hulking won stepped out from the crowd that had been drinking and chatting, surrounding and pinning my arms back.
I decided not to resist; a little show of "cooperation" usually goes a long way in these parts.
"I’ll have a professional taste this," the manager declared, her eyes searching mine for any sign of guilt. "If it’s poisonous, you’ll be charged with attempted murder and executed on the spot. Do you agree?"
"I agree, ma’am," I replied, my voice steady.
She smirked and signaled to a staff mber. They poured the wine into a wooden mug and handed it to a woman nad Jaine, who looked like she’d survived a hundred bar fights.
The mont the wine hit Jaine’s tongue, her eyes snapped open. She didn’t say a word. She poured a second round, then a third. The crowd pressed closer, the tension in the room growing.
"Well, Jaine?" the manager demanded. "Is it poison?"
Jaine didn’t answer. She grabbed the bottle, seeing there was only a bit left at the bottom, and drained it in one massive gulp. She let out a long breath and licked her lips.
"Talk to !" the manager shouted, shaking her.
"Divine," Jaine whispered, her voice full of awe. "This... this is divine. It’s as if it was brewed for the gods themselves. No mortal should be allowed to drink sothing this smooth, this fragrant!"
She looked at the empty bottle with genuine heartbreak. "I need more. Please!"
"If you let these brutes let go, I might have another bottle," I noted, nodding toward the won holding my arms.
The manager hissed a command, and they instantly recoiled, freeing .
I reached into my Item Box and produced a fresh, full bottle.
"This is my last one," I lied smoothly. "If you want a steady supply, we’ll need to talk about a contract. I can be your exclusive supplier."
The manager’s deanor did a complete 180-degree turn. She grabbed my hands with her wrinkled fingers, her eyes gleaming with greed. "I want it! My custors will go mad for this! Where is it made?"
"The Eldoria Kingdom, to the North."
The room went silent. "Eldoria is far.....it takes days or weeks to go there!" Jaine barked. "The shipnts will take forever!"
"Don’t worry about that," I assured them, flashing a confident grin. "I have my ways. I can deliver fresh stock daily."
After seeing the Item Box, they didn’t doubt for a second. The manager—whose na was Kim—and I quickly drafted a basic supply contract.
I sat back down to finish my boar at, feeling pretty good about expanding the Stick & Lick empire, when the door to the inn swung open with a bang.
It was Joyce.
She looked fierce, dressed in rugged black boots and tactical gray gear that made her look like a high-fantasy commando.
She spotted instantly and stord over, kicking out a chair and slamming into it.
"Oh, hey there," I smiled.
She punched the table, making the plates rattle. "What did you do to ?!"
I shrugged innocently. "Whatever do you an? Is sothing wrong?"
Her cheeks flared a deep pink, but her eyes were still full of murderous rage. It was an incredible sight—a woman blushing and fuming at the exact sa ti.
"You know exactly what you did!" she hissed, her voice trembling. "I... I can’t... I can’t stop—"
"Thinking about ?" I grinned.
She looked like she wanted to flatten my skull. "We are talking about this in private!" she growled, standing up. "My honor as a warrior is on the line here!"
I smirked inwardly. It seed the Sexdusa effect was doing exactly what it was designed to do.
TBC
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