Chapter 88: The pink pen

Erik slowly tapped a finger against the tabletop as the image of the frozen world appeared in his mind once more.

It was a parallel world that had once possessed cities, industry, factories, and fairly advanced technology. Even if the apocalypse had destroyed most of society, its machinery could not simply have vanished. There was even less reason for every blueprint and piece of technical data to have disappeared at once.

If he was lucky, research facilities, factories, data archives, mining equipment, or even metallurgical production lines might still exist somewhere.

Erik did not have to take resources essential to the survival of the people still living there. What he truly needed was not a few truckloads of ore or a warehouse of food, but the ability to produce them.

Technology, designs, manufacturing methods, and processes this world did not currently have.

If the frozen world possessed better mining or metallurgical technology than this one, he could bring it back. Finding a way to mass-produce equipment would be even more valuable, because it could continue generating resources long after the trip ended.

Laviana watched his expression for a moment before asking, "What are you thinking?"

"I’m not sure yet."

Erik shook his head. He did not intend to tell them about the Mirror of Ten Thousand Worlds just yet, but the plan in his mind was becoming much clearer.

Meira would be their main fighting force, while Laviana would handle reconnaissance and record data. Thirty days was not enough time to wander across an entire world taking whatever he happened to find, so their first trip needed a clear objective.

He needed to bring back something that could create lasting value, perhaps even change the fate of the entire territory.

Erik studied the map for a while longer, then suddenly thought of the Council.

People like Zeka could openly treat Succubus as property partly because Succubus were so dependent on the systems they controlled: Contracts, resources, equipment, the old families, and business networks that had existed for far too long.

If he could create another production system or open up an entirely independent source of resources, Succubus would have more choices.

Erik had no intention of making enemies of all men. He had lived in this world for five years and knew very well that countless ordinary people remained. Not every man was like Zeka, and certainly not everyone wanted a Succubus crawling at his feet.

The real problem was the Council and the warped culture it was trying to turn into unquestionable truth.

Get rid of them. After that, everyone can choose for themselves how they want to live.

Erik raised his teacup and took a sip. He knew it could not be done in a day or two, let alone through a handful of battles, but at least he could now see a path forward.

He set down his cup and looked at Meira.

"Is there an area worth expanding into first?"

"Yes."

Meira nodded immediately and adjusted the map. A fairly large tract of land appeared to the southwest.

"Here."

Erik looked more closely and saw that most of the terrain was flat. A small river ran through the area, and there was quite a bit of old farmland nearby.

"It used to be a cotton-growing region," Meira said as she enlarged the map.

"Cotton?"

"Mm. The climate and soil are well suited to it. If we reclaim the area, we could restore cotton production fairly quickly."

Laviana understood at once.

"Fabric, clothing, bandages, and filtration materials."

"Exactly." Meira nodded. "There’s also enough land to build another settlement."

Erik looked at the thick red borders surrounding the area.

"Monsters?"

"A great many."

Meira answered calmly, then slowly raised a hand.

"In the past, reclaiming this place would have taken a long time to prepare for. But now..."

A tiny arc of five-colored electricity leaped between her fingertips, and the corners of her mouth lifted slightly.

"I think I can clear it out."

Erik looked at the five-colored electricity and recalled the elemental phenomenon that had once covered the entire sky. Given Meira’s current strength, he had no reason to doubt her.

"Then let’s arrange a survey first."

"All right."

Meira nodded, but immediately afterward, her smile changed in a way that put Erik on guard.

He knew that expression far too well.

"What are you thinking?"

Meira blinked innocently.

"Nothing."

"You’re lying."

Meira fell silent. Laviana, who had been ready to enjoy the spectacle, saw what Meira was taking out of her spatial bracelet, and her face reddened slightly.

That reaction only made Erik more certain something was going on.

Meira placed a small object on the table.

Click.

It was nearly as long as a pen, with a metal body and a button in the middle. At first, Erik saw nothing special about it. But after examining it for a few seconds, his brows slowly drew together.

The shape was far too familiar.

The device Zeka had held was black. The one in front of him was pink.

The amusement vanished from Erik’s face.

"What is this?"

The moment Meira saw his expression, she knew which device he was thinking of.

"Don’t worry. This isn’t the kind the Council uses."

"But it looks very similar."

"That’s because they’re connected to the same ancient Contract system."

Meira slowly sat up straight as she said the last words.

Erik’s gaze sharpened immediately, and Laviana stopped smiling. Only Elowen still had no idea what was happening.

"Mother, what is that?"

Meira cleared her throat softly.

"It’s hard to explain."

"What’s so hard about it?"

"Very hard."

Elowen grew even more suspicious. Erik picked up the pink device to examine it. He sensed no dangerous aura coming from it, but after what had happened with the Council’s control device, he had no intention of letting down his guard.

"Where did you get it?"

"It’s an artifact from the first generation," Meira replied. "This type isn’t used for punishment."

"Then what is it used for?"

This time, Meira fell silent.

Laviana immediately turned her face away, though she was plainly trying not to laugh. Elowen looked from one to the other, growing more suspicious by the moment.

"What exactly is going on?"

At last, Meira looked at Erik.

"Try it and you’ll know."

Erik raised an eyebrow.

"On whom?"

Meira slowly raised a hand and pointed at herself.

Erik studied her for a few seconds.

"Are you sure?"

"Very sure."

She pushed the pink device toward him.

"Channel magic into it."

Erik did not do so immediately. But Meira was from the first generation, and the device might be connected to the Contract technology he wanted to understand. After giving it some thought, he channeled a very small amount of magic into the pen’s body.

Ding.

The device lit up at once. Pink light ran along the metal body, followed by a very faint pulse of energy that scanned Erik from head to toe.

The process caused no pain and gave him no sense that anything had entered his soul. It felt like an ordinary identity scan.

[Controller registered.]

Erik raised an eyebrow slightly.

He could actually see a notification from the device.

Meira touched a small point on its side and channeled magic into it as well.

Ding.

Immediately afterward, Erik sensed an extremely thin connection form between them. It felt nothing like a Contract or a Succubus Mark. It was more like a simple signal link.

[Responder connected.]

The curiosity in Erik’s eyes deepened.

"And now?"

Meira pressed her lips together. Her cheeks were beginning to redden.

"Press the button."

Erik looked at the button beneath his thumb, then at her. Beside them, Laviana had raised her teacup to hide nearly half her face, while Elowen still sat there looking completely bewildered.

"You’re sure?"

"Press it."

Erik asked no more questions and pressed down.

Click.

Meira’s body jolted.

"Ah!"

Erik’s expression changed, and he immediately lifted his finger from the button.

"Meira?"

He was about to stand, but suddenly stopped. Meira did not look like someone in pain.

Her legs pressed tightly together, and one hand gripped the edge of her chair as her face flushed rapidly. Even her pointed ears turned red. Her body was still trembling slightly in waves, yet the corners of her mouth slowly rose, and her green eyes shone so brightly they almost seemed to glow.

Erik watched her for a few seconds, then fell silent.

Meira took several deep breaths before gradually steadying herself. She looked at the device in Erik’s hand and called softly, "Master..."

Erik did not answer.

Meira lightly licked her lips.

"Just now... you let go a little too soon."

Elowen immediately turned to look at her mother.

"Mother?"

Laviana finally could not hold back. A laugh escaped her, and she hurriedly turned away and covered her mouth.

Erik looked at the pink pen, then at Meira’s flushed face. Only now did he fully understand that her reaction had had nothing to do with pain.

He closed his eyes and gently pinched the bridge of his nose.

This thing really is...

Meira looked at him expectantly again.

"Want to try once more?"

Erik opened his eyes.

"No."

Meira’s face fell at once.

"Master..."

"Eat your breakfast."

"But—"

"Eat."

Elowen still had no idea what had happened. She lightly tugged on Laviana’s sleeve and asked in a low voice, "What exactly does that thing do?"

Laviana looked at her, then at Meira across the table. Her smile grew wider.

"You’re still young."

Elowen frowned immediately.

"I’m an adult!"

"Then ask your mother later."

Meira: "..."

Erik set the pink pen on the table. This time, there was much less exasperation in his eyes. In its place was a distinctly thoughtful look.

If the device really used the same underlying technology as the Council’s Contract Control Device, then its peculiar function might be only one application of that technology.

What interested Erik was the technology behind it.

If he could understand how it established a connection, identified a controller, transmitted signals, and prompted a magical response, he might take another step toward understanding the ancient Contract system the Council relied upon.

With that thought, Erik looked at the pink pen once more.

An object that seemed indecent in every way.

Yet its true value might be far greater than its appearance suggested.

The corners of Erik’s mouth slowly rose.