Chapter 49

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter Title: Super Shy Kid is Looking for Dad 144

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"Take them to the underground prison in the mansion."

Selina's mother, Katrin, issued the command.

At her words, the workers from the trading company swarmed over and bound the servants who had tormented Selina.

The servants, who had just been released from Ppu Ppu's pocket dimension, all looked gaunt and hollow-cheeked.

"I paid them double the market rate and begged them to take good care of our Selina..."

Katrin's eyes flashed coldly.

Meanwhile, on the other side, Selina's father, Newman, was showering his daughter with kisses.

"Selina. My little girl. Did you miss Daddy a lot?"

Selina nodded from within Newman's embrace.

"I've talked it all over with your mom. From now on, whenever I have to go on a business trip, I'll take you with me."

"Really?"

"Yeah. Until now, I thought wandering around like that wouldn't be good for your education..."

Newman gave a wry smile as he brushed Selina's hair behind her ear.

"But your mom and dad have realized this time that being together as a family is far more important."

Selina blinked in surprise, then threw her arms around Newman.

Tears were already welling up in the corners of her eyes.

As they watched the scene, Katrin approached.

"Our Selina's in your debt, Miss Tiye."

Katrin had already heard the rough details of what happened between Selina and Tiye through a communication orb.

True to her experience as a seasoned businesswoman running multiple trading companies, she quickly grasped Tiye's situation.

Tiye answered bashfully.

"It's okay! Selina's Tiye's friend, so no debt!"

Katrin stroked Tiye's head.

"Nonsense, no debt at all. We're so grateful you stayed by our Selina's side. It looks like you're running quite the big business at such a young age."

"Business?"

"Of course. A mercenary corps is a business, too. In that sense, Miss Tiye, you're a splendid businesswoman despite your youth."

Pride slowly spread across Tiye's face.

"Yup! Tiye's the boss!"

Katrin burst into hearty laughter.

Then she unfastened the golden pearl brooch pinned to her chest and attached it to Tiye's clothes.

"As one boss to another, if you ever need anything, just contact me anytime."

She beckoned to one of the workers behind her.

The worker approached and handed Tiye a black box tied with a golden ribbon.

"What's this?"

At Basto's question, Katrin nodded toward the box as if to say open it.

Tiye untied the ribbon and lifted the black lid. Inside...

"...Wow!"

Soon, a shiny pink, round magic tool revealed itself.

"What is it? A communication orb?!"

Veil rushed over.

Enzo and Raoul crowded in with curious faces, too.

"A communication orb, yes. Regular mercenary corps rarely get permits for these, but I pulled some strings."

Basto stared at Katrin in astonishment.

"...Wait. You mean the Agaveert Mercenary Corps already has permission to use this communication orb?"

Katrin nodded.

"Our company does a bit of financial business on the side, and one of our major clients is the young master of the Imperial Transmission Bureau."

Basto was left dumbfounded, averting his gaze.

Meanwhile, Tiye had grabbed the communication orb and run over to Selina and Newman to show it off.

"Selina! Tiye got a kids' phone, too!"

"What's a kids' phone?"

"This! For calling! It's pink! Weehee!"

Katrin smiled and added,

"I hate to brag, but our trading company has pretty wide reach. Lots of connections everywhere. They come in handy sometimes during tricky negotiations. Even mercenaries contact us now and then—they somehow find out."

"...Mercenaries?"

"Sure. Just recently on the Northern Continent, there was a clash between Trevaga and the Church. We smoothed it over by greasing the wheels in the middle."

Katrin made a circle with her fingers.

"Anyway! For regular mercenaries, we'd charge a monthly fee to help out, but Agaveert is practically family now, so no need for that."

She glanced at Selina and Tiye.

"Would it be okay if our Selina hangs out with Miss Tiye sometimes? It's the first friend she's ever been this fond of, so as a mom, I'd love to cheer on their little friendship."

Basto swallowed hard.

Then he nodded.

"...Very well. They're already so close it's impossible to separate them anyway."

As if to prove his words, Selina was chattering away with Tiye again.

About the communication orb's color, how it was like Tiye's favorite character Tanipang, and so on.

"Thank you so much."

Katrin bowed once more in gratitude.

Then she looked at each of the mercenaries in turn.

"If you ever need anything, contact us anytime. Through that communication orb."

Soon, Katrin left the mansion with her workers and Selina in tow.

Tiye clutched her new communication orb tight and hung at the window, watching Selina's family head next door.

Two days later.

The Agaveert Mercenary Corps resumed their mana stone siege.

Marbhas could produce a total of two reinforced mobile formations per day.

One for heading out to siege, one for coming back—enough without straining him.

Two days after that.

This time, Leonardo Lumen paid a discreet visit to the mansion.

"I've found an academy suitable for Miss Tiye to attend."

Tiye bolted to her room at those words, threw on clothes in a total mess, and came back out.

It was a ridiculous getup: just her nightclothes with a tunic thrown over.

"Let's go quick! Right? Quick!"

Leonardo soothed the frantic Tiye, helped her dress properly, and loaded her into the carriage.

Upon arriving at the Lumen mansion, Tiye ran over and hugged Valentis tight.

"Grand Commander!"

Having seen him more often lately, the child had completely let her guard down around Valentis.

"Grand Commander, have you been well?"

Valentis smiled at her clumsy attempt at small talk.

"Yes, I've been fine. It seems you've been pushing hard on the mana stone sieges."

"Yup! First place or it's shameful!"

Valentis burst out laughing.

The members who saw him laugh out loud for the first time couldn't hide their surprise.

Tiye greeted Edmund and Alexander next.

"Edmung Uncle, Alexthunder Uncle. Hi!"

"Hi, good to see you. The little Division Commander looks healthy. Eighth place already?"

"Yup! Tiye worked hard!"

"Still, always prioritize safety, Miss Tiye. Getting hurt in a rush would make everyone sad."

"Yup! If I get hurt, Alexthunder Uncle heal me."

"Of course, but it's best not to get hurt at all, right? Gotta stay healthy to keep sieging mana stones and go to the academy."

Tiye gasped and looked up.

Then she ran back to Valentis.

"But there's really an academy Tiye can go to?"

Valentis chuckled lowly.

"Yes. Come inside, and I'll explain."

"Yesss!"

Tiye answered energetically and grabbed Valentis's hand.

In the conference hall where everyone had gathered.

"We've bought two buildings in Flint Cove."

The members' eyes went wide at Valentis's words.

Nordics asked again.

"Buildings? Did you just say buildings?"

"Yes. One is a tavern at the end of the shopping district, and the other is an old daycare deeper inside Flint Cove."

Nordics furrowed his brow.

"I understand buying the daycare, but why the tavern..."

Then the butler handed Valentis a tightly rolled parchment.

Valentis unrolled it, revealing a complex map.

"I learned of it by chance during the investigation. There's an intricate network of underground tunnels beneath Flint Cove. They span nearly the entire area."

Nordics's mouth fell slightly open.

Valentis looked around at the other members.

"We can use those tunnels to keep up appearances. Every morning, the little Division Commander 'goes to work' at the tavern."

"..."

"But in reality, that's not the case. Tiye will descend the tavern's basement stairs, pass through the tunnels, and head to the academy deep inside Flint Cove."