Chapter 40: Open Play(18+)
"So this kind of soil can yield iron ore? That’s news to us." The minister examined the brown soil with interest.
Hiro expected him to try dismissing Marissa’s discovery, but to his surprise, the old minister beamed with excitement as he turned toward her symbiote.
"Excellent! This will create new job opportunities! I will call on the miners at once!"
Meanwhile, Cecile’s team had already left for the second dungeon after delivering their report. Hiro was aware that they disliked the ministers and officials—not out of outright hatred, but rather a deep-seated discomfort.
The reason was simple: every time these officials spoke to them, their conversations always revolved around Hiro. They constantly probed, speaking in a way that made it clear they were searching for weaknesses.
The status granted by being a symbiote’s host was enormous, but it came at a risk. The idea that anyone could become a host sounded too good to be true, and so the ministers couldn’t help but test the waters whenever they spoke.
Marissa, with her noble upbringing, could handle it. Cecile and the others, however, could not.
"Ahem." One of the ministers finally spoke up after some deliberation. "I heard that Hiro can form a contract with any female host. In that case, to enrich Litmus, how about cooperating with neighboring lords?"
The air in the room tensed slightly.
"The daughter of Duchess Senestry seems like a good choice to secure trade for our iron ore."
Hiro noticed the subtle shift in Marissa’s posture. The minister had finally taken the plunge and asked directly.