Chapter 58: Knowing Too Much

Beatrice lay on her back with her legs spread wide apart. Her stomach was swollen and her entire body was sweating. Even her lower garden was currently dyed red, an outcome Styx viewed as being because of the fire attribute of the monster.

"Breathe… in… and out… in… and out…" Klair coached the dark elf as Kale offered her own supportive words on the other side.

Both Klair and Kale had swelling stomachs too, but they wouldn't be giving birth until later, so they were helping Beatrice with her first experience. Kale had Styx help aid Beatrice in learning to control her own mana network, so she could naturally heal herself.

"It's… coming…" Beatrice stated while trying to maintain a steady composure.

She glared at Klair, Kale and Styx, but the latter could tell that she wasn't angry at anyone in the slightest. He tenderly brushed her hair out of her face and caressed her cheek.

"It may not be the dark elf child you wanted, but it still technically is our child."

Beatrice nodded and he felt her tender feelings overflowing through their bond and silently chucked to himself.

'You may not show it on the outside, but your emotions are the strongest out of everyone, including your affection.'

Beatrice's body constricted as a large amount of burning hot fluid burst out, causing an erotic smelling steam to permeate the room and caused everyone's eyebrows to raise.

"Hot!" Kale cried out as she touched the fluid with her finger and recoiled as it singed her finger tip.

Right after that, Beatrice began pushing the new monster out of her vagina.

The head of the infant fox appeared first, its eyes squeezed shut and red fur slick with fluids. Her cervix throbbed and expanded as it pushed out its body next.

The tail came out the easiest, sliding out in one smooth motion.

Beatrice lay there panting and sweating, her stomach restored to perfect smoothness as if it was all an illusion.

"You did well," Styx nodded his head in approval before she grabbed his cuff and pulled him in for a kiss in front of everyone else.

Kale wasn't to be outdone and stole Styx's lips away from Beatrice, whom ignored their further interaction while closing her eyes peacefully.

Styx then helped heal her body and was surprised at the damage the fire attribute mana had done in her womb. He completely understood why such actions were illegal by human society as without his ability to nurture and heal the women's bodies, they truly would become worn out, unable to give birth anymore, and eventually collapse in poor health conditions.

"It looks like there are some benefits though," Styx commented while his mana tendrils were spread throughout her body. "Your mana has adopted some of the fire attribute traits. Perhaps this could be… affinity?"

Beatrice felt like her body was hotter and agreed that her body had some changes. It wasn't uncomfortable, but felt a bit different.

The newborn lava fox was cleaned and Beatrice held it in her arms while barely being affected by the scorching hot temperature of its body. She could feel how hot it was and was secretly shocked that it didn't burn her.

~~~~~

⠀

Irie sat in her office in the Silver Wheel Investment Agency, going over list of materials and making several things "disappear", which would later be delivered to Styx during the night.

*knock* *knock*

"Come in," Irie answered the tap of knuckles on the wooden door without looking up from her paperwork.

"Miss Naeckle," The racoon beastmen who was under her employ nervously entered the room, "Duke Ashburn is currently waiting in the lobby with several guards here to see you… There are also reporters from The Relevant outside with recording crystals."

"I understand, go call the duke in and wait in another room. Do not leave the company office."

Irie placed her quill down and sighed. She knew this day would be coming, but didn't expect it so soon after the festival finished.

'It looks like that news article really has forced the duke into making some movements.'

The beastman bobbed his head in understanding before quickly departing the room. Irie sat there and spoke in the room which only she was present.

"Styx, are you sure this is fine?"

"Of course, with Aura here, it doesn't even matter if the duke physically throws the entire city at us, we will be fine," Styx's voice immediately emerged in her head.

"What should I do if I'm… arrested."

"Simply cooperate. I will have Aura bring you out of the city overnight should things turn bad."

"Thank you."

Irie heard the iconic clack of iron boots getting loader before the racoon beastman opened the door to her office again and let the duke along with four heavily armored, Third Step guards into her office.

She immediately felt the room had become cramped and even slightly intimidated. The duke looked at her with an expression that did nothing to hide his opinion of her.

He took a seat on the opposite side of her desk, his back perfectly straight as he gave her some basic formalities.

"Miss Irie Naeckle, thank you for seeing me on such short notice."

"Please, having the duke personally visit is an honor."

"There is no need to lie. I take it you understand why I'm here?"

"…The dungeon, right?"

"Correct. I have been doing my own investigation into it recently due to public attention on the matter and held some questions."

"…If you have the information on the dungeon already, I don't understand why you came to me."

"Do not play me for a fool, Miss Naeckle."

Irie did her best to maintain her composed expression under the cold gaze of the duke, especially as the guards behind him rested their hands on the pommel of their swords. Irie could even see the enormous mana swirling in their bodies like a tiger preparing to pounce.

"I acquired the information from other sources, and even paid a visit to several of the other branch managers. The information you provided to those people was riddled with traps, missing information, and even direct lies. Would you care to explain?"

"…"

Irie was frozen in fear, but Styx quickly stoked her bravery and told her what to say.

"Apologies, but… but, did I break any laws?"

Duke Ashburn snorted and refused to answer. Whilst being less than honest or even ethical, she indeed hadn't broken any of the city's laws. He also already came to the conclusion from his sources that she was simply using them to wear down the dungeon's defenses before swooping in for the reward.

The duke waved his hand and the guards instantly took their hands off their swords, returning to a leisurely posture.

"I want the full report on the dungeon. The one which doesn't contain wrong or missing information. This is not up for debate, but I will purchase the information at its correct price."

"Of course…" Irie nervously got up and retrieved a file which she placed on an array along with a bottle of ink.

The array shone to life and a perfect copy of the pages was created on a fresh set of paper.

"Are you sure this is all of it?" The duke raised his brow and returned his icy gaze to the busty businesswoman. "What about all the nationless elves currently being used as breeding grounds for monsters? The human captives within it?"

Irie blinked her eyes in surprise while Styx was also taken aback.

"How to heck did he know that?" Styx spoke directly into her mind again. "There is nobody who should know that information. Ask him where it is from."

"Pardon me, but that is all the information we have. Not to mention, I haven't heard of anyone else selling new information on the dungeon. Where did you hear that, if I may ask?"

"It was in the most recent edition of The Relevant. As someone dealing in information, I had suspected you would have already known this."

"I must apologize, I have been busy all day and have yet to read the latest news."

"Then I will take my leave, Miss Naekle. Also, while selling misleading information isn't against any current laws, please do be aware that killing a colleague in order to advance your own career very much is illegal."

Irie pursed her lips at the duke's thinly veiled threat right before he departed with his guard entourage.

"Is this really okay?" Irie asked into the air.

"Of course. I am disconcerted that they have information which should be otherwise impossible to know, though. I am sending back a batch of humans to complete tasks in the city. I will have them investigate where this newspaper gets their information from."

"Please let me know too. I didn't even know you had human prisoners."

Irie walked to the shutter window and pushed it open for fresh air. On the ground, a bunch of reporters were practically interrogating the duke about what he is going to do about the dungeon. His voice was so powerful Irie could hear him all the way at the third story window.

"Please rest assured. As the Duke of Lagoon Porter City and all the surrounding lands, I am doing everything to ensure that there is no citizen who will fall victim to an illegal dungeon lord."

"…"

"There is currently no evidence to support those claims."

"…"

"We are currently still evaluating the situation. I don't wish to take away the potential rewards of our adventurers and other fortune seekers if I can avoid it."

Irie rolled her eyes at the duke's non-committal answers before he mounted his magic propelled carriage, a true luxury, and departed back toward his mansion in the upper district of the city.