[Chapter 186: The Succubus Exceeds Expectations]
"Uh... Anne Hathaway really seems to like this style. Is it because she's naturally a bit artistic?"
Daniel mused inwardly.
Ding!
Another text message came in.
The Succubus continued, "It's Scarlett. She replied like this: 'Damn, hahaha... This isn't like your usual style. Do you miss me? Once I'm done here, I'll come to you. Wait for me.'"
"Ahem..."
Daniel cleared his throat, feeling a bit awkward having the Succubus read such messages aloud.
But this was indeed Scarlett's style.
Ding!
Another message arrived.
The Succubus said, "It's Amanda. 'Damn, did you put honey on your lips? Why are you suddenly so sweet? You've made me all sweet. I want to taste and see if it's also become that sweet.'"
"Ahem..."
Daniel coughed again. Amanda's words were growing bolder.
The Succubus, however, showed no embarrassment and went on.
Next was Megan's reply:
"You finally deigned to message me back. I thought you had forgotten about me. I'm still waiting for the Transformers you mentioned. I've recently gathered some info -- it's close to being greenlit. Wait for me, good news is coming soon. By then, I'll make you live... in a place you'll never escape."
"Uh..."
Daniel covered his mouth to hide his flush.
Then, the Succubus opened Miranda's reply.
Just as she was about to read it, she suddenly stopped.
"Miranda sent a multimedia message."
She turned the phone toward Daniel, and when he saw it, he was stunned.
No matter how wild Anne Hathaway, Scarlett, Amanda, or Megan were, none could compare to Miranda.
She actually sent nudes.
Ding!
Another message arrived.
"If you don't come to my house tonight, I'll sleep like this, with the door slightly ajar."
"That... woman," Daniel cursed fiercely.
The Succubus giggled, "Master, tonight, shall I help you... with her?"
Daniel said, "No need, I still have enough stamina."
The Succubus said, "Alright, but if you need me, just call anytime. I'm willing to provide any service for you. Should I keep contacting them on your behalf?"
"Maintain basic contact; the strategy should be 'subtle and pervasive.' Frequency, wording, and timing must strictly mimic my possible behavior. Better to be conservative than pushy. The key is 'naturalness,' 'discretion,' and 'respect.' And at the right moments, send appropriate love messages -- they can be suggestive but never explicit."
Daniel put down his phone and instructed, "Without my explicit command, no communication that might cause excessive dependence, emotional burden, or misunderstanding is allowed."
"Understood, Master. Everything will be based on your will, habits, and interpersonal boundaries as the highest principles."
The Succubus replied respectfully, a hint of pleased recognition in her voice.
Daniel nodded. "Now, go study financial matters immediately, especially tax avoidance."
"Oh! Alright, Master."
The Succubus wasn't too eager but dared not resist. She flashed, transforming into a pink light, and slipped back into Daniel's phone.
...
That night, Daniel went to Miranda's house.
Miranda's place wasn't quiet all night.
The next day, her voice was hoarse.
She lay in bed like a puddle of exhaustion, her gaze on Daniel filled with a mixture of fear, expectation, and a hint of surrender.
"Drink these two elixirs," Daniel pulled out a Spirit Transformation Elixir and a Foundational Reinforcement Elixir. "Take this one first, then the other."
"What is this?" Miranda asked with curiosity despite her hoarse voice.
Daniel said, "Don't ask, just take them."
"Oh, okay."
Miranda didn't question further and obediently swallowed the elixirs.
Soon, there was another surprised cheer from her.
Her voice had recovered, and her tired body was reinfused with vitality.
Then she clung to Daniel again.
"Aren't you going to work today?"
"It's fine to go a bit later. Don't forget, I'm now the director of that hospital."
"Alright, Director, keep paying for your texts from yesterday."
"Who's afraid of whom?"
By the time Daniel left, two hours had passed.
Miranda, completely refreshed and radiant, drove off to work.
...
The Succubus strictly followed his instructions, maintaining gentle but steady contact with the women in a "subtle and pervasive" way.
She always picked the perfect moments.
When Anne Hathaway felt down about a role, she sent subtle encouragement quoting Shakespeare.
Late at night, after Scarlett's intense shoots, she'd send thoughtful reminders to take a hot bath.
When Amanda shared joyful stories, the Succubus responded with warmth and praise.
When Megan fretted over her career, she injected confidence with firm but gentle words.
As for Miranda, the Succubus mastered conversations blending professional jargon with intimate hints -- satisfying the doctor's dual need for rationality and emotion, while always keeping Daniel in control.
Daniel was surprised to find the number of messages needing his personal replies had drastically dropped.
Yet the women's connection to him felt even closer and more pleasant. Their emotional responses were increasingly positive.
It just happened that every time they met, the women seemed to go wild.
For the sake of his little brother, Daniel deliberately limited their meetings.
After all, men and women worked differently.
The Succubus was like a master emotional tuner, precisely plucking every heartstring to compose a harmonious, captivating melody.
Under Daniel's strict orders, another talent of the Succubus developed rapidly.
She ravenously absorbed all financial, tax, and legal knowledge she could find online -- especially about cross-border assets, copyright income, and legal loopholes for tax avoidance.
She analyzed and simulated complex tax strategies at lightning speed, quickly building a covert, multilayered asset network for Daniel overseas.
All visible income, plus some inconveniently exposed earnings, was routed through layers of seemingly compliant channels, minimizing his tax burden in the U.S.
"Master, based on current tax laws and copyright deferral clauses, combined with the Cayman Islands shell company you established, the estimated legally reasonable tax avoidance for federal and state taxes this year is..."
The Succubus calmly reported a satisfactory figure, projecting a detailed fund flow chart on the phone screen.
Daniel studied the precise arrangements and had to admit -- in some areas, this Succubus was more valuable than the top accountants and lawyers combined.
She was even more helpful than AI twenty years in the future.
Keeping her, sparing her life, and keeping her under control was absolutely the right choice.
In the blink of an eye, the calendar flipped to spring 2005.
Daniel drove to Crystal Lake.
*****
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