Chapter 22: Young Miss Wants to Collect a Dog
"Me? I don't need one..."
Leaving the underground market, when Kikawayu heard Finesse had also reserved a hotel suite for him, he hastily waved refusal.
"Um, I need to sleep at home at night. I'm particular about my pillow!"
"It's already very late." Amano reminded.
The three left the underground market at 3:15 AM.
Even in District 11 where bottom-level night market culture thrived most, at this hour even the neon lights flickering on street corners seemed considerably dimmer.
"No problem—the district automated rail cars are definitely still running. I'm heading back first. See you tomorrow, Rei~"
After dropping that line, Kikawayu seemed somewhat anxious, breaking into a light jog toward District 11's station.
Amano couldn't help complaining: "What are you, Cinderella? Besides, it's already past midnight."
Moreover, Amano felt genuinely regretful about Kikawayu.
After all, this was his closest true brother. Sharing hardships went without saying.
Now that Amano was finally starting to make something of himself, when time came to share blessings, best friend actually refused.
That was District 11's most luxurious hotel suite. Even among bottom-level facilities, following the 'tallest among dwarfs' principle, it represented extravagance Amano had never experienced in eighteen years.
"Truly born with a poor person's fate~" Eva suddenly emerged from the deck, body floating, small chin resting on Amano's shoulder.
"ヾ(￣▽￣) Forget about that guy, Amano Rei. Let's go enjoy ourselves properly to celebrate tonight's victory!"
Tonight's victory didn't really involve you though, did it?
Weren't you directly sent to the Graveyard by Morphing Jar?
Such mood-killing words, Amano naturally wouldn't say. Besides, having an additional card spirit only he could see cost nothing extra.
24-hour dining buffet, hot spring bath pool large enough for swimming, fully automated massage chairs perfectly conforming to human ergonomics (legitimate services).
Already 4 AM, yet enjoying these high-end hotel services, Amano felt no sleepiness whatsoever.
After suffering so long, what's wrong with enjoying a bit?
Let the music play on! Let the dance continue!
"How is it? Satisfied, Amano~ Waaaah~"
Also leaning against an automated massage chair, neighboring Finesse spoke while bouncing, her words inevitably accompanied by strange trembling tones.
Currently, Finesse appeared freshly bathed.
Her slender body wrapped in a light yellow bathrobe, only legs and feet flawless and white as jade porcelain exposed outside the robe, lightly resting on the massage chair's footrest.
Unlike Kikawayu, this one was genuinely a beautiful girl.
Amano responded politely: "Thank you for the hospitality, Miss Finesse."
Finesse smiled faintly. "Hehe, I still prefer when you call me just Finesse."
The girl's smile was beautiful, her tone sweet. Combined with the late-night massage room's quiet atmosphere with just two people, it seemed somewhat ambiguously intimate.
[Finesse Affection: 69]
If the system hadn't clearly marked Finesse's affection at only normal friend level, a little virgin like Amano would definitely overthink this.
Like tonight when Finesse suddenly held his hand—completely intimate behavior inconsistent with her affection level.
Contradictory data versus reality only revealed cruel truth.
Either the system was screwing him over, or... this young miss wanted to screw him over.
You're not planning to skip payment, are you?
Amano suddenly grew alert.
That wouldn't work. If Finesse said something like 'the payment is my own body,' Amano absolutely wouldn't accept.
He desperately needed this money for urgent purposes.
"Ahem, Finesse." Amano got straight to the point. "About the payment..."
"I actually wanted to discuss that very matter with you, Amano." Finesse turned her head, blinking eyes fixed on Amano.
Did I really guess correctly?
"Amano, are you interested in becoming my personal exclusive duelist?"
"Personal exclusive duelist?"
"That's right, exactly that!"
Speaking excitedly, Finesse simply stood up, leaning close to Amano, bringing a faint elegant fragrance unique to young girls.
"Not affiliated with the Wein family, but dueling specifically for me—a duelist exclusively mine!"
"Amano, I'll give you extremely generous treatment. Not just compensation, but living and lodging conditions won't be worse than tonight's!"
Right, Amano finally understood what caused tonight's dissonance with Finesse.
Young miss wants to collect a dog.
Using a honey trap, no less.
Personal exclusive duelists—Amano knew about this profession.
Rather, in this world, it wasn't particularly novel.
Wealthy people specifically hired capable duelists to maintain appearances and status.
After all, Eden Tower was a world that respected dueling above all.
Being Finesse's personal duelist, explained in easily understood terms from his previous life—being the campus beauty's personal bodyguard.
Of course, personal duelists weren't easy to hire.
Same reason—Eden Tower was a world respecting dueling above all.
Fairly capable duelists possessed unique pride.
Since dueling alone could lead to the Tower's peak, why debase yourself as some rich person's dog?
Yet too-weak duelists wouldn't attract major family interest.
So those duelists bearing various major families' 'loyal hound' titles were uniformly powerful individuals with personal reasons for loyalty—modern knights.
Amano obviously lacked such reasons.
Conversely, Amano clearly understood he lacked the strength major families would recruit.
Everyone was adults here. Smart people spoke plainly.
With Finesse's illegitimate daughter status, finding a truly powerful personal duelist proved extremely difficult.
That's why Finesse approached him—dangling carrots and painting grand visions to extend an olive branch. Tonight's duel was likely the young miss testing him.
"Mm, I'll consider it, Finesse."
Amano neither refused nor agreed.
For a bottom-level District 32 commoner duelist, becoming the Wein Corporation young miss's loyal hound—even if Finesse was illegitimate—still represented class-transcending ascension.
Amano's reason for not hastily agreeing fundamentally stemmed from understanding Finesse too little.
How could he casually sign such a binding contract?
"Alright, I'll give you time to consider."
Finesse lay back in the massage chair, eyes gently closing.
"But rest assured, Amano. Even if you refuse, I'll still give you tonight's full payment."
"That helps tremendously."
Exhaling heavily, the stone weighing on Amano's heart finally settled.
Except Finesse added: "One hundred thousand Eva Points actually isn't as much as you imagine. Amano, if this satisfies you, that's really not manly enough."
She feared Amano would take the money then immediately start coasting. She needed to motivate him properly.
"For me it's already substantial." Amano honestly admitted. "But you're right—it's still not enough."
"So does Amano want luxury cars, mansions, or extremely expensive rare cards?"
"Actually, it's..."
Nothing worth hiding. Amano told Finesse about wanting to install auxiliary mechanical prosthetic limbs for his sister.
One hundred thousand Eva Points could indeed install auxiliary prosthetics—but only the cheapest tier.
Finesse's gently closed eyes suddenly reopened. In the dim environment, her even more prominent silver pupils stared at Amano in disbelief.
"You're saying you agreed to such a dangerous underground duel just to... install auxiliary prosthetics for your sister?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
Shock micro-trembled in Finesse's astonished gaze.
This was something she fundamentally couldn't comprehend.
"Why? You're just her brother. Why would you do this for your sister..."
"Why so many whys?"
Finesse's incomprehension was, to Amano, completely natural—requiring no excessive explanation.
"That's what family does, isn't it?"
***
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