Rise of the Eromancer

Chapter 184 Cooperation

"...Everything checks out. You're free to leave, Lowborn. But I am telling you now, just make one mistake and I'll—"

"Shut the fuck up."

With the Dregs of Society announcing that they have no ties with the Wilder's Harem and Rhys Wilder, although completely unwilling, the government had no choice but to let Rhys go.

After all, he was detained due to the words of the leader of the Dregs of Society — and with her saying that Rhys was not involved with her, the government was obligated to retract their orders… of course, only on the surface.

"I do believe you have a more urgent matter to attend to, dear." Agatha was still completely attached to Rhys's arm, escorting him out of the hospital room along with the other women, "Your president just went poof."

"The President's alive," Captain Leary breathed out as he glared at Rhys, "I do not know what sort of tricks you're playing here, but—"

"Shut the fuck up."

And once again, Captain Leary's words were interrupted as Lina shut the door on him, leaving him alone inside Rhys's hospital room.

"And can you stop clinging to Rhys!?" And as soon as they were out of the room, Lina tried pulling Agatha away from Rhys, only to fail as Agatha seemed completely stuck like a koala; the smirk on her face, however, was not helping with Lina's frustration.

"Just let the old woman be," Katarina said with a smile on her face, "She probably needs Rhys to assist her with walking."

"Oho…?" Agatha quickly let go of Rhys as she tilted her body and leaned closer to Katarina while walking, "You're quite a feisty one, aren't you? And here I thought the reports are saying you're the gentlest one of the concubines."

"...Concubines?" Katarina's eyes twitched. Her sudden heavy breath, fortunately drowned by the sound of the elevator opening, "I think you're delving deep into a misunderstanding here, old lady."

"Am I?" Agatha smirked at Katarina and the others as she was the first to get into the elevator, "I am sure Rhys could—Hey!"

Katarina quickly pressed the closed button from outside, almost shutting Agatha alone in the elevator if it wasn't for her forcefully opening the door, "Just because your titties are the biggest, it doesn't mean you're the main wife, no?"

"Ack."

Katarina just rolled her eyes as the rest of them stepped into the elevator. The 7 of them, almost filled up the entire space. And unfortunately for Rhys, the only ones who were keeping quiet amongst the ladies were Ayesha and Maria, while the rest were arguing about who the main wife was — even Vicky was joining even though only 4 out of 5 of the Hearts floating above her head were filled.

But perhaps the most baffling was Princess Agatha, who really only had a single Heart filled and yet she was clinging to him the most. Rhys knew he had a lot of other things he should be focusing on, but he could not help but just stare at Agatha — was this all just an act?

Of course, Rhys knew that one filled Heart already meant that Agatha liked him, but from everything he had learned so far, one Heartfelt more like curiosity. Agatha was treating him like some sort of toy, or in this case, a sex toy.

How exactly would he fill her Hearts? It doesn't feel like it would just happen naturally unlike with the rest.

"Oh…? What's this? Do I have the chance to be the main wife after all?" Agatha then covered her mouth as she noticed Rhys staring at her, "I'm sorry, little ladies. It would seem Rhys's penchant for older women gets more sweeter the older the fruit is."

"Aunt, can you not…" Vicky could really only cover her face in embarrassment.

"Is it just me, or is this elevator taking too long to go down?" Ayesha looked at the floor they were in, only for it to pass the ground floor and straight into the basement, "Were… we parked in the basement?"

Ayesha's eyebrows started to lower as she moved in front of everyone. It wasn't only her, except for Agatha, everyone else put up their guard as the gravity started to shift. And while everyone landed on their feet, both Agatha and Vicky dropped to their backs due to them being slightly unfamiliar with a gravity shift a Dig brings.

"Are you two okay…?" Rhys quickly helped Vicky up, as Agatha was able to slightly collect herself since she was holding Rhys's arm.

"Why… why are we not upside down?" Vicky asked as she hugged Rhys when he helped her up.

"We're not moving through a Hole," Lina, however, moved her hands away as she answered her cousin's question, "A Dig just shifts the gravity 90 degrees or something. Wait, don't tell me you don't know that?"

"I… Of course, I know that!" Vicky cleared her throat as she crossed her arms, "W—"

"Heads up, boys and girls," Ayesha raised her hand as the elevator door to their right opened. And there, waiting for them… was no one.

"Wait, wait… should we really go outside?" Vicky took in a small gulp as she saw Ayesha and the others stepping outside the elevator. But as soon as she was alone inside, the only thing she could really do was follow after them and grab Rhys by his shirt.

"For fuck's sake, Vicky. You're a Noble," Lina rolled her eyes and sighed, "That already makes you stronger than most of the population."

"Shut up!" Vicky growled at Lina, almost like a cat; her small stature did not help.

"Mr. Rhys Wilder."

And as a voice echoed through the entire basement parking lot, Ayesha and the others quickly raised their guards even further; with Maria even slowly disappearing into the shadows — but as soon as the silhouette behind the voice revealed himself, Ayesha immediately shook her head in disapproval.

"Dad."

"You did not come out of my balls, you little twerp!"

It was General Banner, who immediately raised his middle finger at Ayesha as soon as he was out of the shadow, "I told you to bring back Sergeant Rhys, and yet you ended up quitting the military altogether and joined his little group of groupies! I did not raise you like that!"

"Well, you didn't raise me at all," Ayesha crossed her arms and scoffed. And as the others saw Ayesha lowering her guard, they also soon lowered their arms.

As for General Banner, he just squinted his eyes and observed Rhys and his friends before turning to look to the side.

"I don't appreciate being sneaked upon, girl," he then whispered. And as he did so, Maria slowly revealed herself from the shadows behind General Banner; the tip of her blade, already touching the general's back. Maria, however, still did not move.

"Maria."

"Hm," it was only when Rhys beckoned her that she moved away and returned to his side with the others, "Be careful with him, he had been in several meetings with the late Secretary. We do not know if he is a friendly, Rhys Wilder."

"Of course, he's not," Ayesha scoffed as she looked the General in the eyes, "What do you want, Pops?"

"To apologize," General Banner cleared his throat before focusing his attention on Rhys, which was quite hard since he was literally surrounded by several women, "You should not have been dragged around like that and restrained, but I know you understand why it had to happen."

"I… do," Rhys nodded, "I'm a Lowborn, General. I was already guilty the moment I was born."

"Rhys…" Katarina's eyes quickly softened as she glanced at Rhys.

"Oh, so there she is…" But as soon as Agatha smirked, Katarina's eyebrows once again lowered as she glared at her, and then General Banner,

"...I think this is the first time we've truly met, General Banner. But I also hope you understand that Rhys needs to rest, we're going home."

"What she said," Ayesha followed.

"I… am afraid I would have to intrude," General Banner shook his head. And as soon as he did so, more than a dozen people stepped out of the shadows and revealed themselves.

"Seriously…?" Ayesha groaned, "You do know this is not going to end well for you, right?"

"It won't end well for everyone," General Banner cleared his throat before raising his hand. And as soon as he did so, one of the men who stepped out of the shadows opened up a briefcase he was holding, "What he has there is a bomb — do anything, and that would explode and kill everyone within 60 yards, or worst, open a Hole right in the center of the city."

"What — don't tell me you work for those terrorists!? I knew the government couldn't be trusted!"

"No, he doesn't," Ayesha gripped her fist as she stepped forward, "What are you planning?"

"Orders from the President himself, I'm afraid," General Banner let out a long and deep sigh, "The guy might look like a pansy fool, but he didn't reach his position for not having balls. What do you think would happen if this thing exploded, right in the hospital where Rhys was staying?"

"He'll be incriminated again," Maria crossed her arms, "Even worse, this time around."

"If he survives, which we all know, he will," General Banner scratched his beard, "But of course, that is not going to happen. I am truly sorry about this, Sergeant — but I can't disobey the President's orders."

"I thought you had more balls than that, old man," Ayesha scoffed. She was about to say something more, but Rhys stepped forward and placed his hand on her shoulder.

"...What does he want?" Rhys looked the general in the eyes.

"Your cooperation," General Banner nodded, "We need you to join the task force…

…in charge of eliminating the Dregs of Society."