I'm not sure if I even slept for an hour. After I woke up, I checked the time of the day, and since it was night outside, I went out, but it wasn't past midnight, so I ended up visiting the wolves, and crocks' territory, which both were only half cleared.
Then I did a full sweep of the tier-two hunting grounds. When I returned to the city I brought with me crystals worth 8 498 600 points in total. That put me at 21 754 600 in total, because I also immediately did a little bit of shopping. Mainly materials to work with later.
I moved everything to the workshop, then went back home, where I took a second nap. This time though, I didn't wake myself up but instead was woken up by my family, as they started their day.
As they washed I made a meal for us and even brought the sword and shield for Celestine to give to her.
- What is that - she asked pointing at the items in the corner.
At that moment I was putting food on the table. The kids immediately noticed the equipment too.
- I build a workshop yesterday to make some quality items for us, and this is the first thing I made. They are not great, but should suit you better than what you are using right now - I explained.
She smiled in response.
- You shouldn't have to - she said, but clearly was happy with the gift.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt- I got the kids their class points, so I thought I should get you something too - I said.
- Hey. I didn't get anything? What are you gonna get me? - Tihana protested.
Because of the smirk on her lips, and her arms already crossed on her chest, I was quite sure she was joking.
- I got you a whole city, you brat - I said straight up, looking her in the eyes.
- That's work. That's not a gift - she argued.
Her observation made the rest of the family laugh a little. Especially, because it was true. I dumped a lot of work around Petrograd on her shoulders.
- It's not working. It's a challenge. Think of it as a company. Your own company. You are the CEO, and you have to run everything - I told her.
- But you earn money if you run a company. Where is my money, then? - she asked, rising a single eyebrow.
- Tax people - I said shrugging my shoulders.
- Hey! Nobody is taxing anybody here - Celestine butted in. - I'm cutting it short before this get's out of control. And you are getting your daughter a proper gift, just like you got something for the rest of us. That's only fair.
Her serious reaction made the kids laugh again.
- Relax mom. I was joking - said Tihana. - I already got plenty of stuff from dad. I didn't need anything more. I'm happy with what I have.
- See? - I got quite cooky thanks to her flattering words, so I had to stick it to my wife a little. - I did a great job rising her.
- Ok. Maybe my sense of humor is not the greatest - Celestine argued. - but taxes are something you shouldn't be taken lightly.
- Yeah - I agreed, as memories of the past flashed through my head.
Taxes used to be something I hated back in the day when Arc barely formed thanks to Zhang Yong, who was the first to give our society some kind of shape. Too bad it got out of control.
The rest of the mean was a little bit awkward. I noticed the kids glaring at one another, and smiling. Then we all got out. Everybody, except me, was geared up but the stuff Celestine had was the most eye-catching. She kept looking at the shield with a happy face like it was some incredible piece of art.
To tell you the truth, I was slightly ashamed of it, since all my powers were so damn great, but my starting was... Kinda shit.
I explained to her how it worked, so she could use the most of its magical properties.
By the time we got to the city center, everybody already knew about the workshop. In our small society, the news spread easily, and on top of that, each new building was easy to spot. Still, nobody said anything, but I noticed additional glares. That is to the point where Lucas started admiring my wife's new shield.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm- Holy shit, boss! - he yelled at the end. - Do we all get nice stuff like this from now on? Just kidding, just kidding!
Obviously, he wasn't kidding, and the question was genuine. Anybody could tell because all the conversations got immediately cut off.
- Get me materials, and I'll craft you something. I can enchant it too, so the item won't break or get damaged easily, but that does take time, so don't flood me with requests - I said to him, but kind to everybody else too.
- What do you need for a sword? A bar of iron? - he then asked.
- Yeah. Iron or steal, it's up to you, but better materials get a better outcome. Also, I will need a bit of leather for the handle - I told him.
For some fucked up reason, the rest took it as a cue to drop their own requests one over the other creating a total cacophony of words combined into this unsolvable know which made them kinda fuse with one another.
I ended up just standing there, allowing myself to catch up on their own stupidity, and I have to admit, they did. Quite fast actually. So, in a span of a short moment, we went from a lot of noise to complete silence.
I seized the moment before anybody else could.
- One item at a time. I have enough on my plate, for now, so the next person can come when I finish your shit - I told Lucas. - Just get me the materials as fast as possible.
- I'll get you them right now - he said.
He straight up went to the sapling and bought me two bars of steel, and a quite wide piece of leather. Too big, but it wasn't like I was gonna waste it anyway.
- Maybe tomorrow you will have your sword - I said, when I took it all from him, then I left for the workshop.