Chapter 38: I’ll let you help me pick out the rest.

You reach privately through the Telepathy Web to Albedo. Her attention shifts immediately--focused, attentive, waiting.

"Albedo," you begin quietly, "could you shuffle me among the groups? I'm wanting to get time with everyone."

There's a brief pause. Not hesitation--calculation. Then her mental voice returns, measured and precise.

"Of course, my lord. I will arrange it." A thread of satisfaction colors her tone. "You wish to assess each member's capabilities personally, yes? Or perhaps... to strengthen individual bonds?"

You consider that. Both, really. "A bit of both. I want them to know I'm not just directing from the rear. And I want to understand how they work."

"Understood." Albedo's presence brightens slightly--approval, perhaps. "I will rotate you through teams of three. First you will accompany Nami, Robin, and Maria to the jewelry district. Second rotation places you with Erza, Rin, and Yoruichi at the sporting goods stores. Third rotation pairs you with Hinata, C.C., and Riveria at the furniture showrooms."

She pauses, then adds: "The remaining teams will operate independently but remain within Telepathy Web range. I will coordinate from the staging area with Sango, Shinobu, and Kurumi. This ensures continuous oversight while allowing you direct engagement."

"Perfect," you reply. "Thank you."

"It is my role, my lord." There's warmth there--genuine, not performative. "And... if I may speak candidly?"

"Always."

"They will respond well to this." Her mental voice carries quiet conviction. "Many have served under commanders who lead from distance. You do not. That matters more than you may realize."

You feel the weight of that--the responsibility, the trust. "I'll do my best not to disappoint them."

You will not." It's stated as fact, not reassurance. "I have observed commanders across centuries of simulated experience. You possess instincts they lack. Trust them."

The connection settles back into background awareness. Across the parking lot, you see Albedo standing near the boats, phone in hand, already adjusting team assignments. She glances up, golden eyes meeting yours briefly--a single nod of acknowledgment.

Nami, Robin, and Maria are gathering near the first jewelry store, waiting. Nami catches sight of you approaching and grins.

“Finally joining the fun? I was starting to think you’d stay back and look official all night.”

You give a small shrug. “Someone had to make sure a fishman didn’t drive off with one of the vehicles.”

Nami blinks. “Wait--fishman? Here?”

Maria laughs. “You’ll have to explain that later.”

Robin gestures toward the store. “Shall we begin? The western boutiques have the highest concentration of portable valuables. We should prioritize jewelry stores first, then move to cosmetics and designer clothing. Bulkier furniture can wait for the trucks Yusuke and Kenshin are retrieving."

You slip into step with Nami, Robin, and Maria as they move toward the first jewelry shop--Tiffany & Co., the one with the highest-value inventory. The shattered glass doorway reflects the cruiser lights behind you, and inside, display cases sit in neat rows beneath hanging dust.

Nami stretches her arms overhead, rolling her shoulders. “Alright, Captain, first things first: if we find anything diamond-shaped, shiny, or sparkly, I call dibs.”

“Anything that isn’t nailed down, you mean,” Maria teases.

Robin gives a small smile. “Let’s keep a record of the highest-value items. Once Yusuke and Kenshin return with the trucks, we’ll decide what to load first.”

You nod and step forward with them, glass crunching under your boots. Working side by side feels different--grounding, almost normal. They adjust to your presence instantly, not as the one giving orders, but as part of the team.

Nami elbows you lightly. “So what’s the plan? You carry the heavy stuff while we grab the expensive stuff?”

“I was thinking we all grab the expensive stuff.”

“See? Leadership.” She grins.

Maria’s eyes soften slightly as she examines a display case. “It’s good you’re with us. Presence matters.”

Robin kneels beside a locked cabinet, placing a hand over the latch. “This lock’s intact. The gemstones inside are untouched. I estimate high-tier inventory.”

You tap the edge, then reach into your pack and pull out the crowbar. “Locks are optional.”

A quick wedge under the metal lip gives you the leverage you need. You lean in, controlled and steady. The frame creaks once, then the lock snaps cleanly without damaging anything inside.

Robin nods with approval. “Efficient.”

Nami grins. “And stylish. Nothing says class like breaking into Tiffany’s with a crowbar.”

Maria laughs softly. “It is effective, at least.”

Nami: “Yeah, I’m starting to see why Albedo keeps looking at you like she’s three seconds from kneeling every time you talk.”

Maria covers her mouth to laugh.

You shake your head. “She’s coordinating rotations. That’s all.”

“Mmm-hm,” Nami sings. “Sure.”

You focus on the work--opening cases, securing items, handing them off to be sorted. Robin’s organization keeps the flow steady. Maria moves gracefully along the walls, checking shelves. Nami bounces from case to case with shameless enthusiasm, already planning what she wants to keep.

Maria's hands slide over your shoulders from behind, her body pressing close as she turns you toward her. The kiss comes sudden and deep--her tongue sliding past your lips with deliberate hunger, tasting faintly of the energy drink she had earlier. Her fingers curl into your hair, pulling you closer as she rises on her toes.

You respond by sliding your hands beneath her thighs, lifting her weight effortlessly. She gasps into your mouth, legs wrapping around your waist as you support her by her ass, fingers kneading the firm muscle through her skirt. The kiss deepens--wet, messy, shameless--and she moans softly against your lips before breaking away with a breathless laugh.

"Couldn't resist," she murmurs, violet eyes gleaming with mischief. "You looked too focused."

You set her down gently, and she steadies herself with one hand on your chest, the other trailing down your arm. "Back to work?"

"Back to work," you confirm.

Across the boutique, Robin stands at a display case, examining a collection of vintage brooches with methodical precision. She glances over, one eyebrow raised slightly, lips curving into the faintest smile.

"Should I be concerned about productivity?" she asks, voice cool and amused.

Maria grins. "I'm very productive."

"I've noticed." Robin's tone carries dry humor as she returns to cataloging items. "Brad, there's a locked drawer here. If you have a moment?"

You move to her side, crowbar in hand. Robin steps back, watching as you wedge the tool beneath the drawer's edge and apply pressure. The lock snaps cleanly, and the drawer slides open to reveal velvet-lined compartments filled with rings--platinum bands set with sapphires, emeralds, and diamonds.

Robin leans in, studying the contents with analytical focus. "High-value pieces. These should be prioritized for transport." She pauses, then adds with deliberate casualness: "You handle Maria's attention well. Some men would become flustered."

You glance at her. "Is that a compliment?"

"An observation." Her gaze meets yours--steady, intelligent, assessing. "Though I suppose it could be both."

Before you can respond, Nami's voice cuts across the boutique, excited and breathless. "Brad! Come look at this!"

She's crouched beside a shattered display case near the back wall, orange hair falling over her shoulders as she reaches into the wreckage. When she stands, she's holding a necklace--a delicate platinum chain with a diamond pendant that catches the light, refracting rainbow patterns across her face.

"This is... wow." She turns toward you, holding it up. "Do you think it's real?"

"Definitely real," you confirm.

Nami's expression shifts--excitement giving way to something more vulnerable. She steps closer, holding the necklace out toward you. "Could you... put it on me?"

The request catches you off-guard. Not the words themselves, but the way she says them--nervous, almost shy, completely at odds with her usual confidence.

You take the necklace, and Nami turns her back to you, lifting her hair to expose her neck. Your fingers work the clasp, settling the pendant against her collarbone. When she turns back around, her cheeks are flushed, eyes bright.

"How does it look?" she asks.

Before you can answer, she rises on her toes and presses a quick, impulsive kiss to your lips--barely a brush of contact before she pulls back, eyes wide with surprise at her own boldness.

"Sorry," she stammers. "I just--"

Then she kisses you again, longer this time, hands settling on your chest as she leans into you. When she breaks away, she's grinning despite the nervous energy radiating from her.

"Okay. Back to work." She spins away, practically bouncing toward the next display case.

Maria laughs softly from across the room. "She's adorable."

Robin's voice carries quiet amusement: "This expedition is proving more educational than anticipated."

You spend another fifteen minutes systematically clearing Tiffany & Co., working in an easy, almost comfortable rhythm with Nami, Robin, and Maria. The three women move with a telepathic efficiency now--Robin cataloging high-value pieces with calm precision, Maria wrapping delicate items in protective cloth, and Nami happily claiming a pair of sapphire earrings with absolutely zero shame.

By the time the sweep is complete, four reinforced cases sit packed with jewelry worth roughly $340,000. Robin closes the last case with a soft click and gives you a satisfied nod.

“Efficient work,” she says. “The backroom held more than expected.”

The moment the cases are secured, Albedo’s voice flows through the Telepathy Web, calm and authoritative.

“Team One, return to the boats and begin transfer. Brad, prepare to rendezvous with Erza, Rin, and Yoruichi at REI. Rotation pattern: Alpha-Seven.”

Acknowledgments ripple back across the network.

You guide Nami, Robin, and Maria to the staging area, where they begin transferring cases to the boats. Emma watches from nearby, her expression hovering somewhere between fascination and disbelief at the effortless professionalism of it all.

With the transfer underway and Albedo’s rotation executed cleanly, you head toward the next target.

The REI storefront lies three blocks to the east--a large outdoor outfitter with mostly intact floor-to-ceiling windows. The street is dark, but Shadowview’s clarity turns the night into muted grayscale daylight for you and the other dimensional travelers.

As you approach the entrance, three silhouettes detach themselves from the deeper darkness ahead.

Erza appears first. Even in simple practical clothing, her warrior’s posture is unmistakable. Her scarlet hair shifts faintly in the night breeze as she rolls her shoulders.

“Our sweep finished ahead of schedule,” Erza reports evenly. “I was about to begin a secondary check when you arrived.”

Rin steps forward next, uniform immaculate, expression calm. “The store layout is straightforward. Camping gear on the first floor, technical equipment upstairs. I’ve already identified priority targets.”

A moment later, Yoruichi materializes from the shadows with feline grace, golden eyes gleaming with amusement.

“So this is our next stop… a different kind of exciting,” she murmurs. “A sports store in this society is at least half clothing--stylish clothing, of course. And this region covers everything from tents and sleeping bags to mountain climbing, ice axes, boating, and fishing.”

“Exactly,” you reply as you pull open the cracked entrance. “We need practicality and versatility.”

Inside, the store stretches out in organized chaos. Racks and shelves remain mostly intact. Camping tents dominate the center floor; the walls are lined with technical climbing gear, winter clothing, and specialized tools.

Erza heads straight for the camping section, hands already evaluating tent frames with practiced competence. “These will do,” she says. “Lightweight but durable. We should take at least twenty.”

Rin ascends the stairs, footsteps nearly silent. Her voice threads through the Telepathy Web:

"Technical equipment up here. Ice axes, crampons, rope systems. Extensive first-aid and multiple water filtration systems."

Yoruichi circles the outer aisles, examining high-end jackets with a critical eye, her movements almost a slow dance.

She holds the jacket up to her frame, then glances at you, eyebrow arched. “Be honest,” she says, voice low and velvety. “Does this color suit me?”

You open your mouth to answer--but she steps in closer, closing the distance to just under an arm’s length, golden eyes bright with amusement. “Actually,” she purrs, “come here for a second.”

Before you can protest, Yoruichi places your hand on the jacket material over her side, guiding your fingers in a slow, deliberate stroke along the fabric. “See?” she asks softly. “Feel how the insulation layers react to warmth. High quality. It’ll trap heat even when I’m… moving.”

She holds your gaze a second longer than necessary--playful, challenging--before releasing your hand, then she turns and walks away with a sway in her steps--hips moving in a rhythm far too intentional to be accidental with a smile that says she absolutely knows what she’s doing.

Without turning, she adds through the Telepathy Web: "Don’t worry, Brad. I’ll let you help me pick out the rest." There’s a tease in her tone, but also genuine teamwork. She trusts your judgment.

You respond to her swaying hips with a small mental retort "Tease."

Her answering laugh in your mind is rich and satisfied.

Erza calls from the tent section: “Brad, come look at these sleeping bags. Military-grade, sub-zero rated. We should prioritize them.”

Across the aisle, Erza kneels to check the compression straps on a row of sub-zero sleeping bags. The motion naturally causes her shirt to lift slightly at the hem--completely unintentional, utterly oblivious, and extremely Erza.

She tugs on a strap, frowns, adjusts it with precise fingers. “These are acceptable…but some stitching is uneven,” she murmurs thoughtfully. “Brad, come look at this one.”

When she stands, she instinctively brushes dust from her thighs--her motions firm, practical, and unintentionally eye-catching. She notices nothing out of the ordinary and offers you the sleeping bag with professional confidence. “I believe this model is superior,” she says, waiting earnestly for your evaluation.

Yoruichi--two aisles away--glances over, sees the whole moment, and smirks. “Adorable,” she whispers, not bothering to hide her amusement.

Erza, of course, hears nothing--focused entirely on thermal ratings and zipper integrity.

You give her an honest appraisal: “Sub-zero sleeping bags. A good find. We probably won’t need them soon, but once the trade routes are set back up, who knows where we’ll end up. They’ll be priceless on the ships.”

Erza perks up at your approval, pleased. “Yes. And…” She holds up a different model, cheeks faintly pink but completely earnest. “These are even big enough for two.”

Yoruichi, hearing this from half an aisle away, bites her lip to keep from laughing.

Erza, oblivious, carefully sets the sleeping bag aside for packing.

Yoruichi strolls past Erza on her way to the climbing gear section, giving a playful flick to one of the tent poles Erza is holding.

“You’re very serious about these tents,” Yoruichi notes, grin sharp.

“They are vital equipment,” Erza replies calmly, earnest as ever. “And the quality varies significantly.”

Yoruichi shoots you a sideways look. "See? Pure," she says through the Web, tone equal parts affectionate and amused.

Erza, oblivious, continues cataloging equipment with military precision.

From the second floor, Rin’s clear voice echoes down the stairwell: “Brad. Come check this out.”

There’s a hint of urgency in her tone--more analytical than alarmed. The kind that says she’s found something valuable.

Yoruichi glances toward the stairs, smirking. Erza straightens, ready to follow your lead. You glance back to the two of them as you move to join Rin.