Primordial Villain With A Slave Harem

Chapter 621: Masks Off

The Hexblade was eyeing me with a sly grin, "You're pretty handsome, future hubby."

"You're hot as hell, just like the rest of my girls, so I gotta do my best in matching you on the attractiveness scale. I don't want to be the kind of man people look at and assume he has such beauties by his side because his pockets are deep. Anyhow. Let's begin, shall we?"

"Where are you rushing? I finally see your faces, let me enjoy the moment…" Vex whined cutely.

Why were we without masks/helmets? 

Her gaze traveled to Blossom first. "Hi Ghosty! You're just as cute as I imagined."

"Hello…" she replied reservedly. Vex was quite the ominous entity from time to time, so I understood her apprehension.

"The name Luna fits you perfectly." Having said that, her eyes traveled to the left, onto my trusty samurai. "Hmm, quite the oriental beauty you are, Hana." 

She used Ayame's and Blossom's legal names I changed using my Slave Master spell [Slave Status Monitor]. That implied Vex wasn't aware of everything.

Ayame didn't feel like responding beyond a nod of her head, letting Vex know she appreciated the sentiment.

The Hexblade's beautiful eyes quickly roamed to Aurora's heavenly curves, making my plump alchemist grab onto my arm.

"Aurora, if I'm not wrong. You remind me of someone… But I forget who." Hearing her words, a hopeful light shone in Aurora's gaze. An unexpected revelation sounded from Vex's lips.

"You know my parents?!"

"Hmm?" Vex mused, clearly not sure who Aurora was talking about.

"My father and mother were abducted by the kingdom! Their names are Gideon and Naomi Lorien, they worked as alchemists in Braedon."

Vex shook her head gingerly, "Sorry, I don't make a habit of remembering the names of civilians, they grow all wrinkly and croak before I have the time to blink twice."

I didn't like what I was hearing. "Be nice to your future in-laws."

"Hehe, apologies." She did not seem apologetic one bit. "Truth be told, I don't even know the names of my own subordinates. I just call Orianna to instruct them…"

"The more I hear about the drug department, the more chaotic it sounds. I imagine Raika is an ever worse leader."

"Don't even get me started…" she giggled before an idea struck her delicate little head. "Speaking of Orianna…" A sly grin emerged on Vex's features as she brought a communication artifact from her ring and imbued her mana into a pink crystal embedded on its surface.

"I'm busy." Although I only heard this woman speak a few times, her voice was unmistakable. Orianna was an all-business no nonsense type of gal.

"Don't you have some time to spare for your adorable little sister? I've been missing you!" 

"No."

After a whimpering session where Vex received no sympathy whatsoever, she turned serious as Orianna was about to terminate the communication line. "Gideon and Naomi Lorien, ring a bell? They were kidnapped."

"An alchemist family stationed in Braedon. The woman used to work for our department before she got married and left. They're also the parents of Aurora Lorien, the surveillance target of your mission."

Vex immediately winced upon Orianna's final sentence, she knew she messed up big time. "Big sis, uh, I might've forgotten to mention this little detail, but both she and Quinlan can hear you right now."

A long, muted silence descended on us, save for Iris' waterfall massage and the merry chirping of the maids down below who were preparing something for us.

"Haaah…" A long, tired sigh sounded at long last. "You're 200 years old, Vex. You're a Veil Walker, one of the highest-ranked members of an organization that can rival an entire Dutchy. You have over 10,000 subordinates working under you. When will you grow up and stop being a liability?"

"But!" Before Vex could even begin whining like a bad daughter who was in the midst of getting scolded by her mother, she was shut down.

"No buts, young lady. Learn to accept responsibility. Anyhow. Considering you called him Quinlan, I assume things are going well. I expect a thorough report at a later date. As for the Lorien family, they were not kidnapped, but arrested. My intel told me they hired muscle to investigate some high-priority hidden place protected by the kingdom."

"Do you know where they're being held?!" Aurora asked in a hurried voice.

After a low "so they were truly hearing me all this while…" grumble, Orianna replied. "Not exactly, but I would expect either the dungeons of the Greenvale family if you're lucky, or the royal family if you're unlucky."

My theory of them being used as cheap labor to craft high-quality potions was almost 100% confirmed by her statement. I feared the parents would get executed on the spot, but if they're being held in a dungeon, then only someone dumb wouldn't force them to be free potion makers.

I intended to do my best to save them, not only because they were Aurora's parents, but also because their research was what told us about the location of the outpost, which was where my power skyrocketed.

I unlocked the Primordial Villain class there and got the ingredient for the [Mystical Elixir of Awakening] which gave me Elemental Sovereign, and that was also the location where I met Iris. Without the Lorien papa and mama, my life would be way different.

<We'll find your parents.> I heard Lucille's reassuring sound in my mind.

<Yes, this is great news, Aurora. We know they're alive and even their likely location. Now we only need to grow in strength to free them.> Ayame added.

<Yeah… Thanks, guys…> Aurora replied, her tone spoke of mixed emotions. Relief was met with grief, she was pained her parents were being held in a dungeon where their quality of life was questionable at best.

<Back when we met, I told you we would get them back. We're not far from being strong enough to make good on my promise, especially if it's the Greenvales who are holding them.>

<Right, you did say that… I'm so happy I swallowed my worries and approached you back then in the alleyway.> She said while grabbing onto my arm.

Orianna left the communication line, prompting the white-haired beauty to observe my final woman. As she did so, a rare, uncharacteristic jolt of shock was visible in her eyes. "Lucille, correct?" But then, her confidence returned, alongside an amused smirk. 

So I see… The long-lost daughter has been hiding in plain sight all this while."

Vex didn't recognize Ayame's face, despite her also hailing from a duke's family. It made sense; the Consortium was only active in Greenvale territories, furthermore, Ayame was a young woman who did not partake in many official events. Without the infrastructure in place for modern technology, such as phones and TV, or even newspapers with photographed pictures, her face isn't well known.

"Is there going to be an issue, future wife?" 

My question was answered with sly giggling. "Hehe! Issue? There's going to be a ton, but not for you. It's the Greenvale family who should be worried. I can already foresee Orianna planning something ominous…"

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