Pioneer of the Abyss - Book 2 - Intermission 2

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Don't mind this. It's so that free readers can't see half the chapter when the chapter eventually becomes patron only.

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For those of you who are reading this on a website that is not Patreon, please stop. You're reading a pirated version. Instead, if you would be so kind, please click on the table of contents link below and go to my Patreon instead. Or even read it off of Royal Road, which is free.

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Table of Contents

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Click the following link for Intermission 2:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1xP81QsyLCCUhG9PydVlH1baZnZEme4-71hLr3ODv2jI/edit?usp=sharing

Or you can read the unformatted version below:

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A Department Store on Equeter

Viridia still feels strange as she sits at her desk and looks at the holograms in front of her showing the video footage of the department store. She’s just not used to running a place this large.

But what she’s even less used to is her younger body.

Viridia is over seventy years old, but after being forcefully initialized into the System by the brat’s associates, her body has grown younger. All the way down to at least forty or fifty years old outwardly.

That brat…

She didn’t take the brat in and let her work for her just to be paid back by her.

Viridia crosses her arms with a frown on her face.

The brat isn’t even giving me the option to decline…

Although part of Viridia feels appreciation at that. Since she knows that she would’ve declined just because she’s too stubborn.

And she knows the brat knows that about her.

But it doesn’t change the fact that she won’t admit that to anyone else.

Viridia taps her finger on the counter while watching the shoppers go about their day in the department store. Only to pause when the terminal in her office buzzes, making her glance at it for a moment to see the caller ID listed as the brat’s manager.

What’s that devil want now…?

Every time that man calls, something else is forced onto her. Breaking past her stubborn façade.

Whether it’s being initialized, being given numerous reasons to accept the brat’s funds such as splitting the royalties of the department store with the brat, and even receiving tax deductions. One after another.

Viridia briefly considers not even answering. But after remembering the devil’s status as a Hydra Bloodliner, she goes ahead and answers.

Because stubbornness or no stubbornness, there’s no reason to risk angering a Bloodliner.

“What is it?” Viridia asks the moment the call connects and the Hydra Bloodliner’s face appears on a hologram above the terminal.

“I’ll be purchasing the neighboring buildings to expand the department store,” the Hydra declares, shocking Viridia in the process despite her having already suspected it. “Please fill out the paperwork to expand the store and accept the buildings.”

“Do you people not listen?! I will not use that brat’s money!” Viridia shouts, albeit as politely as she can.

“But seventy percent of the earnings from the store will be paid to Aqua,” the Hydra states matter-of-factly, making Viridia flinch. “I would also like to use part of the store as a center for Aqua’s merchandise on the planet Equeter. This will help Aqua out immensely. So are you sure you want to reject this expansion?”

Viridia opens her mouth before closing it again. Then she repeats the process twice more.

“F-fine,” Viridia eventually admits defeat while averting her gaze from the hologram. “S-she should rely on herself more, but I guess I can accommodate her marketing strategy.”

She hears a faint chuckle, making her jerk her head around to look at the hologram. Only to find the Hydra Bloodliner staring at her with a straight face.

Her eyes narrow in suspicion, but the man doesn’t show any signs that he’d just laughed.

“In that case, I will begin the transfer and purchase process,” the Hydra Bloodliner states, still with a straight face. “The paperwork should arrive within the hour.”

Viridia blinks at that.

Within the hour?

And just like he said, she soon gets mail with an electronic signature for the transfer. So she accepts it.

But after accepting it, she remembers something that she’d forgotten.

How many of the neighboring buildings did he say he was purchasing?

That thought gives her pause before she looks over the contract to see if it states a number. But it doesn’t. So she calls the devil of a man again and immediately asks her question.

“How many of the surrounding buildings I bought?” the Bloodliner mutters. “Not that many.”

Viridia lets out a sigh of relief.

Was worried that brat would use this chance to pull one over on me, but she’s gotta be too busy now with that monster.

“Just all the buildings in the surrounding few neighborhoods,” the Hydra Bloodliner states with a straight face.

Silence fills Viridia’s office.

She stares at the hologram.

The hologram stares back.

“What?” Viridia eventually mutters.