Arknightcraft Modpack
Chapter 635: I Want to Try It Too
"Why are you all staring at me?"
Even though Steven already knew why, being the center of everyone's attention still made him ask the obvious. He didn't mind helping—but surely they had to offer something first, right?
At the very least, they could say please.
"I'm asking for your opinion, aren't I? My love~~ Please help us, pretty please~"
Using an incredibly stiff and awkward tone, Talulah forced herself to act cute in a way that clearly didn't suit her at all. She knew Steven's personality better than anyone. This really was something only he could help with, so a proper request was the bare minimum.
Even though she felt unbearably fake doing it, she still wrapped her arms around Steven's shoulder and gave it a gentle shake, looking as though she was willing to sacrifice her dignity to achieve her goal.
"Hiss... Alright, alright, I'll help. Just... act normal again. You're scaring me."
Steven had rarely ever seen this side of Talulah. Perhaps because she'd finally left the frozen tundra behind, she'd become a little more lively. But such an unusual display was still hard for him to get used to.
"You'll have to organize the festival yourselves. Just make me a list of whatever resources you need. As for who's paying..."
Steven hesitated. He had been about to say she should at least contribute something herself, but Talulah had apparently anticipated exactly what he was going to say.
Before he could finish, she launched another one of her "maidenly attacks."
She leaned in and lightly kissed his cheek before whispering something that only the Minecrafter could hear.
"I saw some really sexy stockings at one of the clothing stores earlier."
"I understand. Say no more. Sigh... For the happiness of the Infected, I'll be generous this time. Consider this entire bill covered by yours truly."
His expression instantly turned solemn as he spoke with the air of someone making a noble sacrifice for the welfare of the Infected.
Yelena, who had witnessed the entire exchange, stared in disbelief.
It was the first time she'd realized things could actually be negotiated like this.
The way she looked at Steven immediately became... complicated.
Does this guy have absolutely no shame? Where's his dignity? Where's his bottom line?
Regardless, Talulah had successfully achieved exactly what she wanted.
And judging from Steven's satisfied expression, he certainly didn't look like the one who had lost out.
A perfect win-win deal had been struck with surprising ease.
Having resolved another small worry, Talulah's steps became noticeably lighter.
Like a girl out shopping with her best friends, she happily pulled Steven and Alina along as they continued browsing the nearby street stalls, a long-lost, relaxed smile returning to her face.
Steven hadn't seen that smile much since she'd decided to found Reunion.
Maybe... he should make a habit of taking her shopping whenever he had free time. It might help ease some of the burden and exhaustion she carried.
Just as Steven was considering adding it to his weekly routine, he felt someone gently tug at the corner of his clothes.
Turning around, he found Yelena standing there with an unusually awkward and embarrassed expression.
Seeing her like this, Steven slowed his pace a little. Talulah and Alina were still busy looking through the trinkets at a nearby stall, so they weren't paying any attention to what he and Yelena were doing.
"What's wrong? Feeling a little uncomfortable? Not used to being here?"
Thinking she was simply nervous after arriving in an unfamiliar city like Lungmen, Steven asked gently.
Yelena silently shook her head.
That only made Steven even more confused.
"Well... it's about the guerrilla squad... and our supplies."
She stammered through the beginning of what was clearly a serious topic, but the confident, decisive Yelena from before was nowhere to be seen. Instead, she looked strangely bashful.
"Mm. Go on."
"Well... recently those Infected inspection squads have been pursuing us much more aggressively, so we haven't been able to raid the nearby mines very often."
"As a result, we've been running short on the minerals we normally trade for food and other supplies."
"So... you know what I mean, right?"
Yelena blinked as she explained the current state of the guerrilla force.
Until Patriot officially made his decision, the guerrilla unit still remained an independent organization rather than becoming part of Reunion.
Steven looked at her, still not quite understanding why she was bringing this up. She didn't seem like the type to come to him just to complain about something like this—unless the guerrilla squad had truly reached the point where they could no longer survive. But as things stood, they weren't in that dire a situation yet.
"So?"
"So... well..."
Yelena bit her lip, then, as though she had finally made up her mind, quietly edged closer to Steven while making sure no one else noticed. Without drawing attention, she took his hand and slipped it inside her coat.
If Talulah could secure resources that way... why couldn't I give it a try too?
Besides, even if I didn't do anything, it'd all end up benefiting this brat sooner or later anyway. If it could make life a little easier for my Snowcap Squad brothers and sisters, then... it wasn't really much of a sacrifice, was it?
A faint blush spread across her pale face. Embarrassed beyond words, Yelena could only cling tightly to Steven's arm, hiding her flustered expression from him.
"You're making me look like some kind of villain who can't collect rent, so he sets his sights on the tenant's daughter instead. You know that, right?"
Steven was startled by her bold move at first, but he quickly relaxed. A mischievous grin spread across his face as he teased her, while his free hand, far from behaving itself, gently stroked the girl's slender waist.
A little rabbit delivering herself right to my doorstep? I'd be a fool not to accept.
After all, this was something that could have been solved with a single request from her. If she wanted to give him a few extra "benefits" in return, he certainly wasn't going to complain.
Besides, it wasn't entirely unlike the playful intimacy shared between lovers.
At least, Steven was very much a fan of this sort of thing.
After all, seeing the normally icy, composed Yelena acting so shy and vulnerable was an incredibly rare sight.
"But..." he said with a smile, "I have to admit, I quite like this. You're welcome to come trade for something even more worthwhile next time~"
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Note: Character Illustration is in this Google Drive:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1iuyfwNVFHzIi9H4rWNT_lAm7jTSiah_M
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Tn: I updated the story daily, but if you want to see more chapter of this story ahead of time, please go to my Patreon.
Latest Chapter: Chapter 689: Impossible to Refute[1]
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[1] https://www.patreon.com/Thatsnakegirl/posts/arknightcraft-169789182?collection=55713
[2] https://www.patreon.com/Thatsnakegirl/posts/arknightcraft-169789182?collection=55713