CHAPTER 58: 58 CORPORATE SLAVES AND CAPITALISTS (3/3, EXTRA UPDATE)

A piece of sorrowful knowledge.

What is now considered a bourgeois indulgence by some, coffee was once an animal drug to improve the work efficiency and duration of cattle and horses.

But that’s not the most sorrowful part.

What truly brings tears to one’s eyes is—the real beasts of burden not only drink coffee but also willingly spend their own money to buy it.

It’s about having a good sense of self-management, flogging oneself.

Yet even such pitiable workaholics can’t compete with those who never sleep.

Now, Herbert has become such a sleepless workaholic.

"Hmm, now I have... twenty-four hours in a day!"

He let out a triumphant roar, then quickly realized the issue, blinking:

"Hiss, no, there’s no difference from before."

Well, whatever the case, it was an unexpected boon that successfully solved his current lack-of-time dilemma.

This way, he effectively gained an extra third of a day.

Enough for him to train with the Knight Order during the day and chat with Monster Girls at night.

Regarding his future, Herbert had been informed by Kaplan at the canteen.

He belonged to both the Knight Order and the Judgement Hall, being used as two people in one.

Yes, purely a... well, two-family servant, so to speak.

However, Herbert himself didn’t resist such matters and gladly accepted this unreasonable work arrangement—though he had no right to refuse either.

But being proactive and being forced are different in nature.

Since there’s no way to resist, he could only enjoy it.

It’s just work.

Who hasn’t worked two jobs before!

"By the way, you’ll pay me double the wage for this, right... labor laws, hmm, probably not very applicable in this world."

Friends, legal tools aren’t effective in the Otherworld!!!

"There’s no other choice but to pick up the commandment weapon."

Herbert sighed a few words, walking out of a randomly selected single room and headed towards Valentina’s location.

The walls opened in sequence before him, quickly forming a straight path.

"As expected."

After returning to the alien prison this time, Herbert had a sense that his control over the Sealing Array had increased.

Perhaps, as promised by the Archbishop, allowing him to reward well-behaved prisoners, she could have her activity range in this area expanded.

And in the Endless Maze of the first area, this meant Herbert could merge several cells, creating a larger cage.

He could even create a movable cage that changed with Valentina’s movements if he wanted.

This meant that Valentina could actually roam freely throughout the Endless Maze.

Go wherever she wanted!

As long as she never saw the real gate—Herbert himself couldn’t do that, lacking the authority.

When he wanted to leave, the prison gate only appeared randomly after sensing his intention, and even he couldn’t directly place the gate next to Valentina.

This might be the last layer of protection to prevent the Prison Warden from being seduced by prisoners to help them break out of jail.

Moments later, Herbert saw Valentina staring into the ceiling in a daze.

Before he could speak, Miss Hungry Dragon twitched her nose, pouting: "You rascal, you’ve been here for ages, but insisted on hiding for a while."

She had long smelled the aroma on Herbert and had been waiting here in a daze for a long time.

Such an annoying guy.

Always playing hard to get!

"Haha, I was just thinking about some things, sorry for the wait."

He pushed the prepared food towards Valentina, waiting for her to start eating before clearing his throat.

"Well, listen while you eat."

"Huh? Oh..." (munch munch munch)

Herbert watched Valentina’s constantly moving cheeks, ignoring the oil glistening at her lips, and said earnestly:

"Valentina, you know, I’ve always considered you family."

Valentina: ?

Hungry Dragon alert!

Damn, is he trying to scam me again?

"So, this time I fought for you with the higher-ups and finally secured an excellent reward!"

"They agreed to expand your cell, enough for you to restore your true form! How exciting is that?"

Herbert didn’t mind her suspicious gaze, passionately and spiritedly saying:

"And, in the future, as long as you continue to perform well, you can even expand your range of activity in this area!"

Who said all the rewards must be given at once?

Nobody!

Well then, haha!

The room for maneuver is huge!

Especially when the whole Third Commandment Hall had Herbert as the sole employee multi-tasking.

Upstream procurement is me, middle approval is me, downstream operator is me too!

Hehe.

Who can say I’m doing it wrong!!?

But...

Valentina’s reaction was unexpectedly calm, frowning with some disdain: "Ugh? Turn back to my true form? No thanks."

(munch munch munch munch)

"Hmm? You don’t want to revert to your true form?"

Herbert was greatly shocked, not understanding why such a good discount temptation made his family hesitate.

Is it because they don’t work hard enough usually?

"I do want to, but reverting to my true form would make me hungrier faster!"

She tended to get hungry easily, and enduring a bit longer in human form, the giant dragon form without sleep would make her hungry in no time.

No way.

"No way! You have to change!"

Realizing the problem, Herbert dropped the act, shouting: "Just once, even once is fine! Let me see your true form!"

Let me take a look!

In response, Valentina showed even more resistance, shaking her head vigorously:

"No——way——"

"Don’t even think about it!"

"There’s no way you’re touching the tail!!!"

.

.

And while Herbert and Valentina were bickering and debating, a team appeared on the plains of the Misty Mountains under the night cover.

Their flag depicted their family emblem—a golden shield crossed by a pair of longswords, with a pair of silver wings hanging down, enveloping the sword and shield.

This noble emblem belonged to the Frost Crystal Kingdom’s Duke of [Silver Wings].

In the deep of night, they did not venture further into the foggy Misty Mountains, choosing instead to camp on the spot.

They brought along a tightly wrapped parcel.

And... two letters.

One bore the emblem of Silver Wings.

This was the reply from the Duke of Silver Wings to his beloved second son.

And the other...

Bore another more ornate emblem—a giant dragon spewing frost upwards.

This was the royal emblem of the Frost Crystal Kingdom, representing the sender’s royal identity.

And in this letter, there was a name that might make Herbert feel slightly perplexed.

Philia Olivia.

The most beloved little princess of the Frost Crystal Kingdom.

And, the source of all that led Herbert to be treated unfairly, forced to come to the Mist Monastery, and to swear to prove his innocence...

The source of it all.