Chapter 897: She Wants To Take Me Away

I gave Yuki a call, the screen appearing after a single ring showing the CEO tapping her finger on the table impatiently.

"Miss Tera," She greeted me with a nod. "I see you’ve acquired that guy’s company."

Her tone was flat, neither accusatory, nor did she sound like she approved of it.

I scratched my cheek, "Well... I wouldn’t say that I acquired it... More like I was forced to have it..."

She leaned forward slightly, "Explain."

"Do you know what happened to the company first?"

"What do you mean?"

"I wasn’t the one who bought over the company first..."

"Who... No... You’re not serious?"

"I don’t know what you’re thinking about..."

"You’re related to the Icebornes, aren’t you? You’re some relative or something? That’s why that Vieretha Iceborne took an interest in you? She was the one that got the company wasn’t she?"

I blanched, "No, no... Err... Well... She was indeed the one who got the company but I’m not related to their family at all."

"Are you telling me that she really just acquired the company for you for no reason?"

"I... Well... I can’t say that it’s for no reason. There’s definitely a reason but I’m not even sure of the reason myself... She basically coerced me to sign the contract to take over the company... Ah... But if it matters, she also basically made me sign another contract that placed her in charge of it..."

The woman stared at me for a moment before she spoke again, "So... She’s the one that’s managing it? But you are the owner?"

"Err... Pretty much?"

"I see... Does she intend to contest for the security contract for this Pleasure Station?"

"I do not believe so... At least she has not told me anything about her plans for this station in particular."

She tapped her finger on the table, "If she does intend to contest for the contract, please let me know. I will have to change my plans if that is the case."

Obviously, she did not want to compete with Vieretha with the contract if she was the one in charge of the company.

Kind of ironic that after all that she did, she would have to give up on it despite trying her best to obtain it.

I actually feel a little bad for her if Vieretha wanted the contract but I believe she didn’t have any plans to do that so it should be fine.

"I’ll talk to her later," I assured her.

"I shall wait for your message then."

I nodded at her before ending the call.

As though on cue, the door slid open again and Renata, who had been sitting on my lap the entire time, quickly melted herself to merge with my clothes.

My girls returned to the room and I found Vieretha heading straight towards me.

Honestly, after what I saw on the screen earlier, I thought she might have been suppressed by my girls.

But then I saw my girls chasing after her from behind looking quite panicked.

She then grabbed me by the hand and pulled me towards her, lifting me up to my feet.

"Tera!! Come with me! This place is not safe for you!!"

Eh?

She turned around but found my girls arranging themselves to form a wall in front of her, blocking her way.

Vieretha glared at them, "Step aside."

Amber glared back at her, "Where do you think you’re taking our Tera?"

"Oh, so now it’s ’our’ Tera, is it? Weren’t you just saying that she belongs to no one?"

"WE belong to HER. Get that right you little bitch."

Vieretha pulled me closer to her until my face was pressed up against her boobs, "Well I’m different from all of you. I’m claiming Tera for myself! All of you can just stay here."

Yumiko scowled at her, her hand resting on the hilt of her sword.

"Unhand Mistress at once."

The Dragonling sneered at my dog eared lover, "Oh? Was that a threat? Are you really threatening me?"

"Yes," Yumiko answered simply, unclasping her sword.

Woah, woah, woah!! All of you calm down!! No fighting! How did all of you go from being at least cordial to each other to trying to kill each other?!

Oh wait... You girls were already fighting when we were eating earlier so I guess it’s not as big of a leap if you think about it.

I pulled away from Vieretha and stood in between them, holding out both my palms to stop both sides.

"Ok, all of you just calm down! Why are all of you suddenly trying to kill each other?!"

Both Vieretha spoke at the same time.

"Tera! Come over to us!"

"Tera! Come over to me!"

Geez girls... How are both of you so different and yet so similar at the same time?

I sighed, "Why don’t you all fill me in on what happened in the past few minutes when you girls were having your discussion outside?"

Both sides seemed to glare at the other before turning to me.

"Tera! Do you even know what your crew is doing to you?!" Vieretha cried out.

I raised an eyebrow, "What? It can’t be that bad, can it?"

The Dragonling pointed a finger at my girls, "They’ve been milking your honey and selling it off!!"

I blinked at her, "Erm... Ok?"

I mean... I already know that? There’s the people at that research station who are buying that... And I believe I’m also supplying that so some of the chefs like Merina amongst others.

So... Yeah... I already know that?

Vieretha faltered and her eyes widened in clear surprise.

"You... You knew?"

Amber pointed her finger back at Vieretha, "I told you!! What did I say?!"

"You’re seriously selling such a valuable thing to other people? Are you sure you’re not treating her like some kind of resource to be exploited at all?"

"I told you she wanted to do it!!"

Vieretha then gave me a look as though to check if she was telling the truth.

I scratched my cheek, "Well... They were lacking in sauces so I decided to supply them with some and apparently my honey was also something they really wanted so I also started supplying that to them as well."

Amber thrust out her chest at her, "See?!! I told you I was telling the truth!! We never made Tera do anything that she didn’t want to! Everything was approved by her!!"

I felt something click and I made a face at them, "Did all of you start fighting just because of that? That you thought I was selling my honey or something?"

Vieretha frowned, "Tera, do you even know how valuable your honey is?"

I raised an eyebrow at her, "Err... I guess? I’m selling it aren’t I? Well, technically I’m leaving all the details to my girls so I’m not the one directly selling it anyway. But before you ask, I don’t really mind."

She blinked at me for a good few seconds before she took a few steps towards me and took my hand in hers.

"Tera? Are you sure you’re not being tricked?"

"I don’t know what they could even trick me with?"

"Like... They must be pocketing most of the earnings!"

I pursed my lips, "Umm... I don’t think they are? I’m not even paying them a salary, you know?"

This time, she turned to my girls to see if I was being serious and unexpectedly, Amber shook her head vehemently.

"Come on Tera... You definitely are paying us. All the earnings that we get from our jobs are split evenly between all of us, right? Even though we keep telling you that you should be getting a larger cut of it because you are the Captain..."

I huffed, "That’s not a salary. A salary means that you are getting a set amount of Credits regularly, but none of you are getting that."

"Oh come on, Tera! That’s also counted! Didn’t I already tell you that before? There’s a few Mercenary Groups who operate like that! That’s why we aren’t getting paid a fixed amount of Credits at regular intervals, right?"

"Eh? Umm... I thought you girls didn’t ask for a salary because... Umm... Oh no... I’m so sorry... I thought you girls didn’t want a salary because all of you just wanted to be with me..."

All of them suddenly rushed forward without warning and I was swarmed by them all in a giant group hug.

"Ahhh!! Of course we are also here because we love you, Tera!! We would stay with you even if it’s for no pay at all!!"

"That’s right, Mistress... I also follow you not because of this collar but because I really want to."

"Bosssss!! I’m also following you not because of the fish you cook for me!! It’s because I love you!!"

"Captain... The same goes for me as well... I’m not just following you because of any other reason but because it’s you."

"Mistress!! I can’t live without you! Please don’t abandon me!"

"Daddy! I wuv you!"

Ok, ok, I get it girls... I love all of you too.

Just as I thought things were settled, a soft voice from Vieretha came from behind me.

"’Daddy’?"

Ah.