Chapter 28: The Face-Fruit Ability User—Mayor's Son Martin

"So this is why you’ve got bloodshot eyes and dark circles under them?" Helle stood by my bed, hands firmly on her hips.

"...... Yeah." I answered guiltily.

"Because last night you suddenly remembered the world isn’t at peace, filled with worry? You started pondering the philosophy taught by a man named Marx. Benefited deeply, got so absorbed you couldn’t pull away. Suddenly grasped humanity’s bond with the world. Completed a self-sublimation from small self to greater self. Stayed up all night?" Helle stared at me expressionlessly, repeating the nonsense I’d spouted two minutes ago.

"N-no... that’s right." I forced the words out.

"Oh? So this Mr. Marx also has flowing purple hair like Miss Cindira?" Helle waved the strand she’d just plucked from my pillow.

"P-probably! Actually, this hair accidentally fell on me yesterday. I just happened to bring it back to my room!" I made a last-ditch protest.

"And the perfume scent on your sheets? Did you ‘just happen’ to bring that back too?"

"...... I wanted to freshen the air, so I borrowed some from Cindira..."

"Young Master Klars Masha~"

"Huh?"

"Do you think I believe that?"

"Whether you believe it or not—I believe it!"

I walked down the street, stomach growling. Helle refused to believe me. Not even breakfast. Seriously, where’s basic human trust?

Forget it. Grab food first. I patted my pockets—few silver纽利 left. Mostly spent buying supplies for the mountain village. Three hundred mouths to feed. Seeds. Livestock. No small sum. Crescent Town’s too small to stock enough. Autumn planting season drove seed prices sky-high. Now, money can’t even buy what isn’t there.

What to do? I’d bragged about a "First Five-Year Plan." Can’t even secure basics. How face the folks back home? Plus, I’d lured their chief away. They’ll kill me next visit. Maybe add a sign: "Mashang and dogs forbidden."

A chill ran down my spine. Villagers won’t spare me. Neither will that tyrant at home. Just then, Martin approached.

"President? Out so early today?"

"Martin! Morning. Running errands?"

"Nah. Ate too much at home. Walking it off. Hey—you look awful!"

"N-nothing." I swallowed the hunger pangs.

"By the way, President—I heard you stayed overnight in that mountain village two days ago? Are there really bandits up there?"

"You know too? News spreads fast." My heart sank. Had the village been exposed? Terrible timing.

"No. I joined the search party for you and the Old Mage. We couldn’t find you. Later, Ramla’s squad came down with the Mage. He told us not to tell anyone—not even family. Only Gentleman’s Advance Association members know."

"Good. Declare this an Association top-secret. No leaks."

"Why? Just people living on a mountain? Crescent Town’s got space. Wouldn’t life be easier down here?"

Life up there was hard. But their origin? Tricky. Refugees from Mosby Dynasty. No town would take them. Might even purge them as spies.

"Sigh... Vice President Martin, you’re core staff. I’ll tell you the truth." My mind raced. Burn, bullshit talent deep in my soul! "They were Imperial Capital villagers. Offended an untouchable noble. Nearly massacred. The Old Mage and Monaluna rescued them. Brought them here. A deal with the noble forces them into hiding. They built the mountain camp to survive. Times are tough now. I’m out buying supplies for them."

"So Monaluna—the kind, just Monaluna saved them!" Martin’s eyes lit up.

"H-hey! The Old Mage did most of it!"

"Monaluna’s cause is my cause! Leave the supplies to me!" Martin thumped his chest.

"Listen! I’m handling the supplies! Kid, your imagination’s wild!"

"No time to waste! Let’s finish Monaluna’s good deed!" He grabbed my arm and dragged me toward the market.

"Who said Monaluna ordered this? Let go! I won’t be dragged around by a guy! Fine—I’ll take you to meet Monaluna after this. Now release me!"

Martin’s excitement pulled me sprinting to the farm market. Stalls and shops lined the street. Pressure crushed me. My generation barely farmed. Knew crops only from plates. I’d lectured villagers smoothly—but zero hands-on skill. Like a guy who’s watched endless tutorials but stayed a virgin.

"Martin... how much do you know about farming?"

"Know? Uh... I’ve worked fields since childhood. Not an expert, but I can buy basic farm goods."

Oh thank god—a veteran! Perfect for boarding this bus.

"Ahem. Vice President Martin, your first gentleman’s test: buy cold-resistant crop seeds and staple food. Excel, and I’ll take you for Monaluna’s praise." I’d beg Nana later. Helping her sister Cindira—she’d agree, right?

"But... what if the Redhaired Witch finds out..."

"Don’t worry. I’ll handle everything!"

"Got it! Leave it to me!" Martin surged with energy and dashed off.

"Hey! I didn’t give you funds!" I yelled after him. No reply.

"Am I being a jerk?" I stroked my chin. Using Monaluna to help another girl... am I sliding toward heartbreaker territory?

"Never again. This time—I’m at my wit’s end. After this, I’ll sincerely apologize to Nana. Beg for mercy." I muttered to myself.

Strolling alone, I watched passersby. Bittersweet thoughts surfaced. Half a month in this world. Most days blurred in chaos. No real time to ponder my life. This morning’s lie to Helle left me uneasy. My past life—no ties, but finally stable. Dying felt unjust. Now here, meeting kind souls... yet shoved into some world-saving mission. Honestly? Four fiery beauties at home, none easy. Plus the Old Mage, always engineering trouble. So tired. Before I save the world—who saves me?

"President! There you are! I couldn’t find you. Seeds and rations are ready. Come collect. You brought your Spatial Magic item, right?"

"Huh? You know about Spatial Magic?" Martin was efficient. Done already?

"Yeah. Saw the Mage and Monaluna use theirs. You have one? Bought a lot."

"Yep. No worries." I touched my belt. Space was ample. Gloves hid my hands—unlike the Mage and Nana, I’d embedded Spatial Magic crystals into Zaku’s combat belt. Stored魔纹爆丸 or Monaluna-series crystals. Three crystals held plenty.

We followed Martin to a shop. A huge sign read "Shifort Trading Company." A clerk rushed over. "Young Master Westers! Been waiting. Your goods are piled in the back yard. How’ll you take them? Need carts?"

"Cough! No. My friend’s a mage. We’ll handle it."

"Of course, Young Master! This way, sirs."

"Martin—total cost?" I hadn’t expected his clout.

"Ah, sir! One hundred forty-three silver纽利. Call it one forty!"

"Uh... Martin, you got cash? I’m short thirty." Brought too little. Prices shocked me.

"I was just strolling. No wallet."

"No problem, sirs! On Young Master Westers’ word, take the goods now. Pay later!"

"Is... that okay?" Weird business practice.

"Ha! Young Master Westers is the mayor’s son. His friend? Never cheat! Take them freely."

Damn. A town second-generation rich kid! Martin’s face was worth over a hundred silver纽利? Could a clerk approve debt like that? Was he a Face-Fruit Ability User?

I followed the clerk to the yard, gloved hand subtly casting a modified tracking spell on him. Undetectable to an untrained man. It countered surveillance and transmitted sound waves.

"Holy—so much?" Two mountain-like piles of supplies stunned me.

"Rushed order. Otherwise, we’d pull stock from other branches." The clerk beamed proudly.

"President—good enough?" Martin grinned smugly. Face-Fruit Ability User power, indeed.

"Perfect work!" I activated the belt crystals, separating seeds and rations into different spaces. "Tomorrow, you join Monaluna and me for the delivery."

The clerk was present. Couldn’t reveal the villagers.

"Uh... just Monaluna and you, right? The Redhaired Witch won’t come?"

Even a mighty Face-Fruit Ability User fears Helle’s Conqueror’s Haki? So this morning—I barely escaped alive?!