Chapter 99: Chapter 98: A Respectful ’Fuck

Alexis explained that they had run into this group of Goat-men by chance while battling the Wind Surge Tribe.

They had initially thought the Goat-men were a vassal tribe of the Wind Surge Tribe, only realizing after their capture that they were wanderers from the north.

Troubled by what to do with these poor souls and unable to bear watching them continue their miserable, nomadic lives, he had sent them over to the Lord.

After the Lizardman finished his somewhat emotional explanation, he stood there quietly, as if he were truly a paragon of virtue, full of goodwill and always thinking of others.

Levi stared at the Lizardman, looking him up and down, and finally sighed to himself. ’You really can’t judge a book by its cover!’

This Alexis looked so earnest with his thick brows and big eyes, yet he could lie through his teeth without a second thought.

But the Lord didn’t care whether the Goat-man girls had been captured or come by some other means. Now that they were at High Cliff Castle, there was no reason to send them back.

"Since you’ve come to High Cliff Castle, it is now your home."

Levi grinned and clapped his hands. "Come and give your Lord a massage."

The young women obediently took dainty steps and surrounded the Lord. One began kneading his shoulders, two knelt to massage his thighs, another fed him fresh fruit, and the last gently fanned him with a feathered fan.

"Ah, life is finally looking up."

Levi, looking blissful on his recliner, opened his mouth to accept a plum from a Goat-man girl, then spat the pit into her waiting palm.

A smile touched Alexis’s lips, and he tactfully took his leave.

To the Lizardmen, the Goat-man Race was utterly useless. Their combat ability was pitiful, so they were only used as cannon fodder or for menial labor.

Usually, they just did odd jobs around the Tribe.

Humans, however, seemed to have a fondness for these slender Goat-man girls. Some Slave Capture Teams from Debei even ventured into the Wilderness specifically to capture them.

With this in mind, Alexis decided to test the waters. He hadn’t expected that this Lord, just like the Debei Nobles, would also be so fond of these Beastman girls.

"It’s so hot. But at least business is taken care of. Levi, what do you want for lunch today? I’ll go make it."

The weary voice belonged to Baisitina, who walked in through the entrance to the Lord’s hall, rubbing her lower back.

When she looked up, Baisitina’s eyes widened in disbelief.

In the Lord’s hall, five adorable, colorful Goat-man girls were fluttering around a certain someone, like a flock of beautiful, dancing butterflies.

If it weren’t for the man’s all-too-familiar face, she would have thought she had walked into the wrong place.

"Well now. Here I am, running around handling matters just so I can make lunch for a certain Lord, and I find that very same person living a life of leisure."

Baisitina said with a hint of resentment.

This was, in fact, entirely a certain Lord Li’s fault. Managing High Cliff Castle’s logistics was tiring enough, but because she was a good cook, he had also given his steward the part-time job of being his personal chef.

And now, not only was he hiding away to enjoy a day of leisure, he had been caught red-handed.

"Ahem, well..." The Lord gave an awkward laugh and clapped his hands. The Goat-man girls obediently formed a line and exited the Lord’s hall.

Fortunately, he was quick-witted and let out a theatrical sigh.

"Alas, I am just too soft-hearted."

"The great Kexianri Tribe’s southward migration scattered many other tribes. These Vassal Races lost the protection of their overlords and couldn’t survive, so they ended up drifting to the Lizardman Tribe."

Levi wore an expression of profound compassion, like an enlightened Saint Monk who fears treading on the grass and flowers. "Alexis’s own Tribe can barely protect itself and couldn’t guarantee their safety, so he sent them here, praying for the protection of High Cliff Castle. How could I have the heart to refuse?"

"Later, Zat..."

"My Lord, there’s movement! There’s movement!"

Just then, Sam burst in through the door, his face radiating an excitement comparable to seeing his mother, who had been dead for years, come back to life.

The Lord, as if clutching at a life-saving straw, quickly changed his tune.

"...No, it was Sam, that fellow! That old rascal is always coming up with terrible ideas. He said that since these girls have no one to rely on, choosing some to be Maids would be a good deed." At that moment, he looked like a Kind-hearted Priest who would extinguish a candle just to keep a moth from flying into the flame, showing none of the flair of the infamous "Blood-colored Waist-slicing Hand."

To make his story more believable, the Lord added, "You know how it is. That old rascal Sam has never been a good person. Back when he came to seize the iron mine, he ostentatiously had two beautiful maids serving him in his palanquin. So, it’s not surprising he’d come up with these terrible ideas."

"I didn’t—" Sam fell silent for a moment under the Lord’s vicious glare. "...It was me who said it."

A wave of despair washed over him. ’How do I always show up at the worst possible time...’

"So you just happily went along with it?" Baisitina asked, her hands on her hips, her anger rising.

"No, I righteously refused." Unfortunately, the Lord’s solemn expression only lasted a moment before he broke into a sly grin. "But then I thought about it, and he had a point. I am a Lord, after all. I’ve spent half my life fighting wars..."

"But he couldn’t withstand my repeated pleading, so in the end, the Lord had no choice but to agree to my unreasonable request," Sam interjected, taking the initiative.

Once you start taking the blame, even though you feel a sense of loss, as if a part of you is gone forever, you can’t help but get good at it.

"Yes, yes, that’s exactly how it was," the Lord chimed in, nodding repeatedly.

"Fine." Baisitina rolled her eyes. "I’ll go make lunch, then."

"Don’t worry about it today. You’ve had a long day. Go get some rest."

"I’ll have Zat get a few of the kitchen maids to do it."

Feeling inexplicably guilty, the Lord couldn’t possibly have the gall to let Baisitina cook. He quickly stood up and guided her into a chair.

Baisitina nodded, not refusing.

She spent every day running around handling High Cliff Castle’s various logistical tasks and never had time to rest. It would be nice to relax for a change.

It was only then that the Lord remembered that old rascal Sam seemed to have something important to report. He turned his gaze toward him.

"Well? What is it you have to report?"

Sam tried to force a smile, but on his wrinkled old face, the effect was the opposite of what he intended—he looked like he was about to cry.

His earlier excitement had completely vanished after that interruption.

"My Lord, the Stone Egg is showing signs of activity," Sam said calmly.

"What?!"

A deafening shout erupted as the Lord failed to contain his excitement.

"The Stone Egg is reacting!" Sam stressed once more.

"Holy shit!"

You really couldn’t blame Levi for making such a fuss. Even the famously unflappable Pope Saint Gregory from centuries ago would have had to let out a curse out of reverence before saying anything else.