215 NOT ONE TO REFUSE A KISS
Sujira smiled. "I don't mind living with people like this. Will you let me stay?"
"Of course," Leo said. "You risked your life to save me."
"There's one thing, though," Sujira said hesitantly. "I have a bad habit."
"What bad habit?" Petunia asked.
"Do you like to pick pockets and loot?" Leo guessed.
"How did you know?" Sujira asked, flustered.
Yun-Yun smirked. "I noticed when I checked your Cakra Core. You're a practitioner of the Greed Mantra. Greed fuels your magic."
Sujira's eyes widened. "Nobody knew about my Tamagotchi! How did you figure that out?"
"Tamagotchi?" Petunia echoed in shock.
"That's how I got into this world. I was about to be killed by the Buku Garam, and my Tamagotchi brought me here," Sujira explained.
"An alternate System, like Yun-Yun's?" Petunia asked.
"Yes, but it's different from mine," Yun-Yun replied.
Leo was intrigued. "What's special about your System?"
Sujira explained, "When I act greedy, I earn Greed Coins. I use them to feed my chickens. The chickens lay magic eggs, which I can break to gain permanent advantages like increased speed, strength, and vitality."
Petunia was impressed. "No wonder you're so much stronger than the Amara women without exaggerated bodybuilding. Your strength comes from those Tamagotchi eggs."
Leo added, "I've also infused a special magic liquid into your body transformation. You're now impervious to physical wounds; only magic can harm you."
Sujira's jaw dropped. "You did what? Impervious to physical harm?" She suddenly leapt forward and kissed Leo.
"What are you doing?" Petunia asked jealously, while Yun-Yun chuckled.
"I promised myself I'd kiss whoever saved me," Sujira said shamelessly. "And for giving me so many goodies I'll give back even more."
Leo grinned. "Well, I'm not one to refuse a kiss from a beautiful girl." They kissed, leaving Petunia fuming.
"Don't tell me you want another wife?" Petunia asked, glaring as Envy counters dropped in her System view.
Yun-Yun smiled mischievously. "The more, the merrier."
"Shut up," Leo muttered. "The kiss was just for gratitude."
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[At Court la Mood]
"Leo, I have good and bad news," Megane said, her voice somber.
"Start with the bad," Leo replied, his brow furrowing in anticipation.
"The Pharmaceutical Association is revoking our temporary license to produce medicine," Megane said bluntly.
Leo stiffened, his frown deepening. "What? Why would Willy Moore do that? I thought we had an understanding."
"It's not entirely up to him," Megane explained. "The Court of Sodom issued a directive. They're forcing President Moore to crack down on unlicensed or partially licensed pharmaceutical operations across the city. Anyone without a full license is barred from producing or selling medicine."
Leo leaned back, his mind racing. "This reek of stinky politics. Someone's pulling strings to shut us down."
"Possibly the Cergontyn family," Megane suggested. "They control most of the licensed pharmacies in Sodom City. If anyone stands to gain, it's them."
Leo clenched his fists. "They've been monopolizing the market for years. Figures they'd see us as a threat. No wonder that Milwe was giving me trouble."
"Milwe Cergontyn was getting to you?" Megane asked.
"Forget about him, what about the good news?" he asked, trying to shift focus.
Megane's eyes lit up. "I've developed a new medicine, an advanced magic gathering potion. It's a breakthrough for mages stuck in the lower Svads. This potion makes it significantly easier for them to ascend to the middle tier or the high tier even. Even high tiered mages could use them to reach peak Svad."
"That's fantastic news!" Leo said, a spark of hope returning to his voice. "Is it difficult to produce?"
"Not with your expertise in controlling the magic in cauldrons," Megane replied, "but there's a catch. One of the key ingredients is rare—the Golden Rat Tail, a type of cactus found only in the northern regions of the continent."
"What is this cactus exactly?" Bara asked, her tone curious.
"It closely resembles the Golden Spike cactus we have in Sodom," Megane explained. "The Spike cactus is a pricey but fairly common ingredient, with several farms around Sodom City cultivating it."
"Can you tell the difference between the Spike cactus and the Golden Rat Tail?" Leo inquired, his eyes narrowing thoughtfully.
"Only someone with specialized training could spot the difference," Megane admitted. "And even then, it requires careful inspection."
Leo sighed, weighing their options.
"What's our next move?" Grangya asked, her concern evident as she looked between them.
Leo's expression hardened with resolve. "First, we secure a supply of the Golden Rat Tail cactus. Then, we buy every Golden Spike cactus farm near Sodom City. The Cergontyn family won't see it coming."
Megane frowned. "But what's the point of buying Spike cactus farms? They can't be used to produce my potions."
"There's no downside to acquiring a few ingredient farms, even at a premium," Leo replied confidently. "We're in the pharmaceutical business, and owning farms strengthens our supply chain. It's a strategic investment."
Megane considered his words and then nodded in agreement. "All right. If you believe it will give us an edge, I'm with you."
"What next?" Grangya asked.
"Then, we'll apply for a full license, solve the first problem," Leo decided firmly.
"But Lilleo," Megane protested, "we only have two pharmacists. That's nowhere near enough to meet their requirements."
"Leave that to me and my sisters," Bara interrupted confidently, stepping forward.
Grangya raised an eyebrow. "Bara, you want to become a pharmacist?"
Bara crossed her arms, her expression resolute. "Mother keeps pushing me to attend the magic academy, but I'm tired of disappointing her with my poor results. I've decided to change paths and apprentice in medicine instead. The Shaman has already been teaching me, and I've spent enough time in the medicine factory to learn a lot about potion-making."
Grangya considered her words, then nodded. "A change in career might not be such a bad idea after all but what about the other girls?"
"We have nothing much to do now you kicked us out from the dungeon, we are in the pharmaceutical factory most of the time. Many of us wants to be pharmacists," Bara replied.
Grangya smirked. "I believe in Bara. This is the first time she's been so passionate about something other than—well, sex."
Leo smiled faintly and nodded. "Alright then. Let's prepare for the licensing exam. This might be our toughest challenge yet, but I have faith in all of you."
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