Chapter 95: High Profile

During dinner time, Wu Qingsong and Ram entered the dining hall together, their hands intertwined. Many people greeted them as usual, but they were momentarily stunned to see the couple holding hands.

The pair were often seen together at the base, discussing various matters about the mercenary group or engaging in debates. Many had already suspected they were a couple, given Wu Qingsong’s trust in Ram, entrusting her with significant responsibilities. 

Witnessing this scene, the onlookers weren’t just surprised. It seemed natural to them, leading to nods of understanding, and a few even sported mischievous grins.

The only ones truly shocked were Ram’s subordinates, the wolfmen and raccoonpeople. They stared with wide eyes and gaping mouths, struggling to comprehend how their leader, second only to Nina in their esteem, could be with a half-elf. 

Fortunately, they were unaware of Wu Qingsong’s past declarations to Nina, otherwise, they might have drawn their swords in protest.

Ram’s face was flushed with embarrassment, yet she strived to maintain a facade of calm, pretending as if her hand wasn’t being held by Wu Qingsong. She had initially been reluctant to reveal their relationship so soon, but Wu Qingsong was adamant about it.

“If I like you and you like me, why shouldn’t others know about it? Is this something shameful or secretive? Hiding and sneaking around, engaging in secret romances, do you think that suits us?” Wu Qingsong had argued.

Although Ram was reluctant to admit her ignorance about relationships, upon reflection, she realized Wu Qingsong’s perspective made sense.

As the leader of the mercenary group and the person in charge of the trading caravan, both held absolute authority over their subordinates. They often worked together, and the idea of sneaking around in a relationship under such circumstances felt awkward. Not only would it be uncomfortable for them, but it would also trouble those around them and potentially undermine their respective authority.

“Wu… Sister Ram?” Liuli exclaimed in surprise. “Are you… are you going to have a baby?”

Ram’s face turned as red as if it were on fire, prompting laughter from those around her. She seized this opportunity to withdraw her hand.

“You little rascal,” Wu Qingsong couldn’t help but flick Liuli’s forehead hard. “Don’t blurt out nonsense if you don’t understand anything.”

As a passionate and experienced “magician,” Wu Qingsong indeed yearned to swiftly resolve this matter. However, since he could no longer be exclusive to them, he decided to fully respect their wishes regarding this issue.

Establishing a relationship was one thing, but taking it to a physical level was another. If Ram wished to save their most intimate moment for marriage, he would not pressure her.

Liuli’s smile seemed forced, causing Wu Qingsong some unease. In such a public setting, he couldn’t do much, but thankfully, Ram glanced at him and then took the initiative to sit next to Liuli. Holding her hand, she began to speak softly to her. After a while, Liuli’s smile returned, improving Wu Qingsong’s mood as well.

Regarding Liuli, she was still a child and didn’t need to be worried about.

Wu Qingsong, for the first time since arriving in this world, felt that perhaps this wasn’t such a bad thing after all.

Judged by modern morals, maintaining a harem certainly wasn’t something to be proud of. However, Wu Qingsong had to admit that having killed people and witnessed many actions that trampled upon the baseline of modern society, his perspectives had subtly shifted.

The person he used to be would never have had the courage or the audacity to tell a girl he liked her friend as well as her.

In fact, he probably wouldn’t have dared to confess to any girl at all.

But in this world, not only had he said it, but he had also acted on it, and aside from a slight sense of guilt, he felt exhilarated.

He didn’t have to hide his true desires, feel inferior, fear failure, be indecisive, be overly compliant, worry about this and that, nor bear the condemnation of public opinion and morals.

Perhaps every man harbors a fickle heart, which, in the right environment, quickly takes root and grows into a towering tree.

He used to enjoy stories where the male protagonist was ambiguous with several girls before ultimately ending up with one of them. But now, his thoughts had completely changed.

If you like someone, why not express it openly? Why engage in awkward, roundabout tactics?

Whether it was success or failure, to be clear-cut and straightforward was best. That way, everyone could avoid entanglements and hurt. 

Why indulge in an ambiguous relationship that causes pain and suffering for everyone involved? If you genuinely liked someone and even had a budding relationship, but ultimately chose only one girl due to morality, what about the other girls who had developed feelings too?

If morality mattered so much, why not restrain yourself from the beginning and only develop a relationship with one girl? Why engage in ambiguous relationships at all?

It’s just wanting to enjoy the pleasure of dating different girls without being shackled by moral constraints, avoiding moral judgment, shirking responsibility, and even refusing to offer a future to the other party.

Loving only one person for a lifetime, remaining constant, is certainly the most admirable and respectable approach.

But if that’s unachievable, Wu Qingsong felt that his current approach, although somewhat reprehensible, was at least better than those engaging in ambiguous relationships. At least, he was willing to let everyone know about the people he loved, instead of hiding them. He was also willing to make an effort to strive for a better future with them, rather than someday saying, “Sorry.” and leaving them with nothing but pain.

After dinner, it was usually time for a group meeting, but for the first time, Ram excused herself early.

“You two…” 

Harold slightly shook his head, causing Wu Qingsong to feel a bit embarrassed, especially since Harold had heard his declaration to Nina.

“Sort out your relationship quickly and don’t let it affect the tasks at hand. Many people are relying on you two,” the old wolfman advised. “But this is also good, at least when your interests conflict with those of the Silver Moon Wolf Clan, you won’t have to worry about lacking someone to fight for you.”

Wu Qingsong found this utilitarian perspective a bit disheartening. His affection for Ram stemmed from their shared experiences over time, not from any consideration of interest. However, knowing Harold’s straightforward manner of speaking, he chose to let it pass without comment.

Harold then shifted the topic to another matter. 

“Among the mercenary groups groups entering Esola, several small ones have merged into larger ones, including one that has grown to over a hundred members. This increases their combat strength and survival capabilities significantly, and they are quickly accumulating enough achievements to gain the right to govern a piece of land. I’ve heard they are planning to move further north. If you want to protect that deergirl’s village, it might be best to act preemptively.”

These mercenary groups, long mired in poverty, could easily turn into bandits. While the deergirl named Feya might summon treants to eliminate them, such an action could potentially expose her secret, making it difficult for Wu Qingsong to protect them.

“What’s your suggestion then?”

“It’s certainly not feasible to bring them all back here. We already have too many people and can’t accommodate more. My thought is to establish a camp near the Elmons Mine at a suitable location and relocate half of our people there. It will serve dual purposes. Eradicating any scattered antpeople and protecting the resources of Elmons Mine from being plundered by these mercenary groups. We can assign the deer village to oversee the construction of the camp and formally bring them under our protection.”

“Let’s proceed with that plan,” Wu Qingsong nodded in agreement.