Chapter 491: Impression

After recommending a recess to provide everyone a chance to review the pomological reference and enjoy a meal, courtesy of his private selection of ingredients, Vahn met with a very annoyed Armant.

"Just what were you thinking? Even if they aren’t our enemies, providing powerful artifacts and power-enhancing seeds to people who aren’t our allies is asking for trouble," Armant complained, standing opposite Vahn, who was sitting comfortably behind an ornate wooden desk.

"Your mind is much too focused on the present and what’s immediately beneficial to Sadida, Armant..." Vahn sighed, opening his eyes to meet the frustrated former Prince’s gaze as he explained, "The seeds I gifted away are a finite resource. And without the agricultural techniques and magic of the Sadida, the number of fruits they’ll be able to grow is limited. And just what do you think they will do once they run out?"

"..."

"They will come to us for more..." Armant realized, lowering his gaze, crossing his left arm across his body, and cupping his chin with his right hand thoughtfully.

"As I mentioned during the meeting, those gifts are the seeds of goodwill between the Sadida and other Classes. If other groups or nations wish to acquire additional seeds or fruit from us, they will have to approach us on our terms..." Vahn appended calmly, closing his eyes. He was maintaining four different bodies in the current setting alone, and justifying his actions to Armant wasn’t a top priority.

"And if we’re the sole producer, we can dictate the price and terms as we see fit..." Armant concluded, a hint of excitement bleeding into his hushed tone. He had thought that Vahn was being his usual gift-thrifting self. But the leverage he had just given them could see the Sadida Kingdom rise to the pinnacle of The World of Twelve on agriculture and trade alone...

’The only issue is that the arrangement hinges entirely on us maintaining a perennial relationship with this Dragon’s Pavilion...’ Armant noted, his gaze rising to stare at Vahn. Their patron God, Sadida, had yet to take action as of that moment. But if the Sadida Kingdom became inseparably bound to a foreign God, he doubted their famously merciless God would remain idle and watch it happen...

Sensing Armant’s gaze, Vahn opened his eyes and said, "You’re the Prime Minister of the Sadida Kingdom. If you’re worried or have a complaint, say it. That is the point and privilege of your position."

"Yes...I understand..." Armant responded, lowering his head and offering a deferent bow before straightening his back and stating, "As Your Majesty is well aware, my principal concern has always been the Sadida Kingdom becoming dependent on an external power. Even if you say you will never abandon us, that doesn’t change the fact that you can. And if our current dependence on you angers the very patron that allows our existence, how will we survive if that happens?"

’Institutions can’t be maintained on promises alone. And trust without substance is transient...’ Vahn recalled, the image of Venelana’s seductive smile appearing in his mind. He understood the crux of Armant’s concern. But he also knew that if he supplied the Sadida Kingdom with the means to produce Blue Moon crops independently, others would be incentivized to take it. By controlling the supply, he could ensure the seeds were never used as leverage for tyranny or authoritarianism...

"Tell me...if I supplied the Sadida Kingdom with the means to grow Blue Moon plants independently, can you say with absolute certainty that you would be able to protect them and prevent their misappropriation?" Vahn asked calmly, putting Armant on the spot.

"..."

After waiting several seconds for Armant to respond, Vahn once again closed his eyes, stating, "I understand your discomfort with placing the fate of your people in the hands of a foreign entity. But those with finite lifespans are too easily swayed by power and circumstance. Even if you could protect the secret of the Blue Moon crops for the duration of your life, you cannot guarantee that future generations will share your values or convictions. I, on the other hand, will still be here—be it ten or even a thousand generations from now..."

Lowering his gaze, Armant closed his eyes and conceded, "I cannot say with certainty that I would be able to protect the secret of the Blue Moon crops. However..."

Raising his gaze to meet Vahn’s, Armant’s eyes exuded conviction as he asserted, "You previously said that your purpose for coming to this world was to observe us and supply opportunities for us to forge our own paths. Even if the secret of the Blue Moon inevitably escapes our control, we will learn from our failure to protect it and deal with the consequences as best we’re able..."

"Well, damn..." Vahn hummed, catching Armant off guard and destroying the serious atmosphere that was building as he rested his cheek on the knuckles of his right hand and teased, "You’ve figured me out surprisingly quickly..."

"..."

Unsure of how to respond to Vahn’s casual concession, Armant opened his mouth but failed to find words. Vahn, on the other hand, had no such issues.

"What you’ve described is a fundamental privilege of mortality—one that is often taken for granted..." Vahn stated, his expression softening into an approving smile as he attested, "The right to fail, stumble, and, if you live through the ordeal, try again. Gods are capable of erring themselves. But we exist on such vastly different cosmological scales that many of us are incapable of self-reflection and simply move on—which is precisely what you fear..."

Rising to his feet, Vahn, sporting a proud smile, affirmed, "I frequently interpret being the Dragon God of Infinite Possibilities as meaning I can make anything possible. But the paradox of infinite possibilities is that it leaves room for infinite impossibilities. That isn’t to say that things that were once possible will become impossible. But it does permit mistakes and failures..."

"Are you suggesting what I think you are...?" Armant asked, swallowing nervously.

Nodding, Vahn confirmed, "We will need to establish some institutional safety rails. But once we have a system in place, I will entrust the Sadida with the independent production of Blue Moon crops. I have no intention of distancing myself from your people. But if external circumstances force my hand, you can rest assured that your Kingdom will be able to weather my absence."

Feeling an ineffable sense of triumph, Armant couldn’t help adopting the broadest smile Vahn had seen on his face. Nearly all of his reservations about Vahn stemmed from the foundational concern that his people were becoming increasingly dependent on him. If Vahn were truly willing to let them forge a path without him, Armant mused that he might actually start believing in the itinerant God himself...

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"Your brother is beginning to grow on me..." Vahn hummed, causing Amalia, who was seated atop his lap and reclining against him with her legs spread wide, to retort, "Armant? What did he say now...?"

"He convinced me to let the Sadida Kingdom grow Blue Moon produce independently..." Vahn revealed, his hands continuing to gently massage the interior of Amalia’s thighs—while a second and third pair cradled her pregnant belly and kneaded her breasts.

"Didn’t you mention previously that it would be bad if other nations or villains managed to get their hands on them?" Amalia asked with a frown and poutily puffed cheeks. She had also tried persuading Vahn to let her people produce Blue Moon crops without the Pavilion’s oversight, but he had convinced her it was too dangerous...

"That remains true, even now. But Armant backed me into a corner when he correctly pointed out that I came to this world to provide you paths to empower yourselves, not to be the cornerstone of your civilization..." Vahn whispered, kissing Amalia’s shoulder. This sent the former Princess into a bout of introspection. She had been spending increasing amounts of time contemplating her own path as of late. And while she hadn’t decided the form it would take, her short tenure as Queen had taught her that she was ill-suited to the position and responsibilities...

"I think I may have made a mistake choosing to have children this soon..." Amalia muttered quietly, glancing down at her belly and resting her hands on top of Vahn’s. When she had first learned she was pregnant, it was one of the happiest moments of her life. But as she had more time to think and consider what it meant to be truly responsible for another life—the notion increasingly terrified her...

"Then it’s a mistake we’ll face together..." Vahn whispered, wrapping all six of his arms around Amalia’s body. It wasn’t his first time encountering prepartum doubt or depression. Orihime had gone through both pre- and postpartum. But once she accepted that she wasn’t singularly responsible for their child’s care, she bounced back and blossomed into motherhood, becoming more beautiful to him with each passing day...

Though Vahn’s words didn’t clear her doubts, his aura, as it always had, brought extreme comfort to Amalia. He was like the sun itself, and she, a tiny flower desperately spreading its petals and leaves. She didn’t know what shadows and difficulties awaited her in the future, but she believed with every fiber of her being that Vahn would be there to provide her with his light and warmth...

"I love you..." Amalia muttered, closing her eyes and feeling even more comfortable as Vahn began to move his hands, gently caressing her as he affirmed, "I love you, too. My little fire lily..."

"Mmn..."

Relaxing the tension in her body, Amalia wished she could sink into the serenity of being held forever. Unfortunately, her mind never stayed quiet for long. And since Vahn had previously asked for her thoughts on having the Eniripsa Queen become her midwife, the image of the latter gradually formed in her mind, seated atop Vahn’s lap and aggressively riding him in her place...

’No...I’m not letting that bitch anywhere near my man...’ Amalia decided, her brows creasing. She had considered inviting Eva’s sister, Cleome, to join Vahn’s harem, but that was a separate matter. Cleome used to tease her when they were younger. And since she was Vahn’s main woman, at least in her setting, the thought of having him fuck Cleome senseless at her behest excited her. That, and she really didn’t want to have Percedal, who seemed to get along with Cleome a little too well, as an incidental in-law...

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With the Council of Twelve in noticeably higher spirits after the meal he had provided, Vahn felt confident enough to proceed with the first actual item on their docket—having the group recognize the Eliatrope as a new and returning people to The World of Twelve. They were new in the sense that they hadn’t been in the socio-economic picture for ten millennia. But if the Eliatrope had never come to The World of Twelve, it wouldn’t exist in its current form.

Fortunately, while Bonta and Brakmar firmly opposed the idea, claiming it would needlessly destabilize the existing factional balance if a new Class of people were to appear, the Class Kings and Queens themselves agreed to the motion almost unanimously. The Enutrof Class King was notorious for only backing motions that guaranteed him profit. But instead of voting Nay, he abstained. With that, Yugo was officially recognized as both King of the Eliatrope people and the Eliatroe Class King. And to prevent anyone from complaining that his people were taking up their land and resources, Vahn surprised everyone but Yugo by revealing that the Eliatropic Domain would be the planet’s moon...

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