44 [R18]- Storage rings.

It took more time than I'd like to admit to convince Hephie... The Greek myths I told her must have scarred her.

'But she's the one that dated me— a 15-year-old.' I thought, remembering my age. But I was a unique case and she knew it too.

I chose to disregard this topic entirely. It was going to lead nowhere. Likewise, I looked at the significantly calmer Loki and said, "Is there any other reason why you came here; other than just rat me out." I spitefully said. I was indeed a bit pissed about what she said to Hephie.

Hephie responded instead for her," Well, I don't know what you have been up to these last three days; I was handling the sales of the magic items— alone." she answered.

I looked at the ring on my finger," Is that so?" I paused, "And how does she fit in here?" I rudely gestured to Loki. She didn't seem that thrilled with the casual way I disrespected her; she was still a god, after all.

"Hey!"

"If a certain someone hadn't come, then we would have been in negotiation terms by now." she looked at me with the stink eye.

Hmm, it doesn't matter to me either way. I only ever did that to pressure Hephie into publicly removing her eyepatch.

'Money is pretty useless to me anyway.' I shrugged.

All adventuring expenses were covered by me and me alone. Furthermore, I've just recently delved into potion making as well.

Therefore, money was irrelevant to me other than maybe date nights or buying something for Hephie. I refuse to let her pay for that.

I already got more than enough Valis; enough to last the average adventurer a lifetime. That was even without selling the magic stones I got.

[Valis: 10.345.069]

I think Hephie somehow knew what I was thinking about because she gave her signature eye roll.

"Sure, just do your thing." I left them to have their god-talk, or whatever.

Hephie didn't have thousands of years on me for nothing. I'm not sure if she would be able to trap Loki— the very same goddess of trickery— into a sweet deal, but she should do a better job than yours truly.

I sat down on the couch. Hephie and Loki were not discouraged by my presence, it seems. They were sitting down at a round table just enough for me to hear what they were saying. The table had many papers messily over it.

I decided to think about what Hephie said...

There was no conceivable way that I stayed in the dungeon for three days... The daily quests were called daily for a reason. And I only got two of them during my extended stay.

My mind started racing as I went through all kinds of possibilities.

Alas, that was all bound to be simple paranoia.

[Question detected about the systems' functions! The Daily Quests do not get reset as long as the user is currently challenging them.]

The all too familiar blue screen appeared in front of my eyes— for me alone to see.

Any other day, such an answer would have been the end of it. But, in my current state, it only made it worse.

All I saw was a fancy message that read: The system is always watching, be careful.

"What!"

I snapped out of my thoughts when a horrifying banshee cry assaulted my ear; it was Loki. It seemed they were starting to get into the cusp of things.

"That's not what you said when we had that small god's meeting?" said Loki.

I raised my eyebrow at that statement.' She's been promoting that stuff, huh?'

I seriously lent my ear this time.

"I know, and there is a reason for that as well. The amount of time and resources each piece takes upon completion is too much," said Hephie, still sitting down.

It was clear who was the one in power in this deal.

'That's complete bullshit Hephie...But do go on.'

"I know it couldn't be that good." Loki seemed to buy the bullshit that escaped sweetie's mouth all too easily.

I was so proud of Hephie at that moment. I even had to wipe the imaginary tear that streamed down my face.

The talks smoothened out after that, and Loki took the biggest L in history, it seems.

Hephie and I chose not to sell any of the time-space ones. They were special to us that way.

Instead, each normal ring— normal by my standards, was at least worth ninety million Valis. I was at first surprised by the amount that was agreed upon.

But, yet again, my perspective was completely and utterly flawed right from the start. Such items would surely allow us to focus more on the combat side by lessening the supply logistic burden. The greatest example must be the recently failed dive of the Loki Familia. Heck. It could even save multiple lives.

Hephie also played her hand well by limiting the supply and bumping up its production value.

'Maybe ninety million is lower than it should be... The investment should come clean after a while, even more so for a big Familia.'

--------

Loki got out of the workshop, a big ol' grin on her face. She ought to have it.

Not only did she get the item, but she also got the bragging rights by being the first to ever get their hands on it.

Prestige and all that.

All in all, it was a much fairer deal than it could have been.

I drew close to my sweet Hephie. I tightly grabbed her waist and pushed my head into her nape.

Her familiar, captivating smell entered my nose. I fully took it in.

*Thud*

Her ass hit the edge of the same round table where she had her talk with Loki.

My heart raced, and my body thirsted for her touch. Slowly, my hands down dropped from her waist and snaked their way into her panties.

*Moan*

Her stifled moan reverberated through my very being. It rang like the sweetest bells in my ear.

"K-ken, not here...." she weakly said.

One look at her flushed face made my already hard member even harder.

I took out my fingers; they were wet from her juices. I gave them a lick— my eyes never leaving hers for a moment.

Her flush deepened. She nervously licked her lips and turned her head away; her white pants now had a visible stain on them.

" Someone's excited." I grinned at her, nibbling at her lower jaw.

I lay her on the table, it wasn't hard with how her hands strongly covered her face; she wouldn't let me see her face. That exposition of shyness only aroused further.

I leaned in close to her exposed red ear and huskily whispered. "What a bad girl you are, Hephie." I paused for a moment.

Whispering even gentler this time, "You just talked right on this table with Loki. Look at what you're doing now."

Her hanging legs were put over my shoulders in one clean motion.

I took out my member and rubbed its head on her entrance, but never entered. I would tease her as much as possible.

Hephie started to pre-maturely move her pelvis.

"Ken, please..." she adorably begged, and I delivered.

It didn't take me long to fully enter her with all the juice she released.

"Uff," I grunted from the pleasure.

She was tight. The same as usual.

I rhythmically thrust in and out, her legs never leaving my stable shoulders. I mixed between shallow and deep thrusts.

*Moan*

Hephi's boobs heaved back and forth as she grabbed the edges of the table for support. It was a captivating sight.

"Ken!!!" she screamed her mind out as her head rolled back. Her eyes looked hazy and unfocused.

I could feel her walls clamp on me as her liquids encompassed my member.

"We're just getting started!" I continued on with even more passion.

"*Huff*"

"...YES!" she moaned.

The night has only just begun.