Jensen's eyes snapped open as he awoke from what he could only describe as one of the best nights he had ever had.
His eyes moved to Lily who was curled beside in deep asleep from how intense last night activities were.
One of the pluses of levelling up was the higher stamina which didn't just affect battles but also nightly activities and it didn't seem like a good thing for Lily.
He slowly rose from the bed, stood over her and admired his work.
Lily was on her back with her legs were spread wide open and trails of his now dried cum could be seen leading down her hole.
And it wasn't just there… there were several other dried patches as well as telltale signs all over her body including her face.
If she was an unawakened woman, she would have had to stay home for days to prevent people from mistaken it for physical abuse.
Jensen just sighed before turning away and heading to the bathroom.
Looking around he didn't plan on staying here for long neither did he plan to stay in his old house.
One of the main things he needed a good location for his main base, and he had just the perfect idea for the location.
One of the benefits of working on the street was easy access to gossips and information.
One such information were private settlements.
Beyond the borders of government established towns and cities, there were places that were privately owned by non-governmental entities.
While most people chose to stay safely in settlements where the government offered certain level of protection and law and order existed some decided to leave.
Some left… from families, guilds, temples, academies or even private homes of powerhouses.
They were allowed to move into unclaimed lands where they formed small independent zone that, may overtime grow into villages and the towns… if they survived long enough.
This happened for several reasons from closer access to resources such as mines, forest or rare materials.
Some areas had higher mana density, ideal for cultivation or research or even trade route between towns and other strategic lands.
While another group simply wanted privacy and distance from government authorities.
But leaving the cities didn't mean escaping the government control entirely.
Inside settlements, officials could investigate regulate and monitor almost everything which is why for corruption to occur the officials were most definitely in league with it.
Meaning officials could be your worst nightmare if they do not like you for whatever reason.
However, outside the government settlement, officials reach was far weaker and almost non existent but still not absent.
They still carried minor inspections to ensure the settlement was not a stronghold for demons and they also function as tax collectors as well as other minor things.
However, with this reduced oversight from the government, the government became far more suspicious of private settlement and provided far less benefit.
Still, those who succeeded built their own systems and made a buttload of profit from it.
They rented their developed land, offered lodging, collected a percentage of profit made from outsiders that sold wares on their land, not to mention profit from the resources all around them.
Slowly, these places turned into small, self-sustaining economies.
However, with all these benefits came proportionate danger and the dangers were constant.
With no government guards or support and beasts roaming freely as well as bandits that target the weak or rival groups that fought over territory… these private settlements were prone to collapsing overnight.
Only the strong and well-organized lasted long out here, after all, freedom came at a cost.
Not to mention taxes were often higher than in cities. Additional fees could be demanded for recognition and failure to comply could bring forced intervention from governments.
It was a simple balance.
And now he planned to also set up his own private settlement for several similar reasons.
Soon, he was done cleaning himself. He dressed in one of his spare outfits, and by the time he finished, Lily hadn't stirred once.
He didn't try to wake her. He currently had nothing for her to do except continue researching how to expand the family business, and he had already told her that.
Not long after, Jensen left her house and made his way back to his own.
Once he got home, he opened the door and stepped inside.
The first thing that caught his eye was how much effort Maria had put into improving the house with the little money she had left.
The moment Maria heard the door open; she quickly made her way downstairs.
Jensen wasn't surprised to see her awake so early because they were both used to waking up early to start their day.
She was already dressed and ready to leave for work.
The moment she saw him, she hurried to prepare breakfast, clearly not expecting him to return today.
She moved quickly, cooking and serving him just like she used to.
Jensen began eating without hesitation. Even though he had reached Level 2 in all his paths, he still wasn't at the point where he could ignore food and sleep.
Seeing him eat, Maria sat down as well and started on her own meal.
When he finished, Jensen raised his head and looked at her.
"Today, you won't be going to work. I have something planned for you," he said.
Although confused, she didn't question him.
'More sex?' she thought, before quickly nodding.
Under normal circumstances, it would have been a bad idea, but things were different now.
They were no longer desperate for money, and Jack who had been wasting what little they had on drinking and drugs was no longer here.
Before her thoughts could wander further, Jensen stretched out his hand.
The crest on his hand glowed faintly, and a drop of blood appeared in front of him.
Maria's eyes widened.
Even though she was still unawakened, she could feel the pressure coming from the blood.
Slowly, she tore her gaze away from it and looked at Jensen in shock. Questions filled her mind, but she held them back.
"This is a compressed blood essence," Jensen said calmly. "It will force your awakening."
For a brief moment, Maria felt a strange hint of disappointment, but it vanished almost instantly as the weight of his words and what he was holding sank in.
"I…?" she said softly, bowing her head, unsure of what else to say.
"There's no need to say anything," Jensen replied. "You'll work to repay me."
He paused for a second, then added, "Now… prepare for pain."
The drop of blood shot forward.
Before Maria could react, it pierced into her forehead.
Her body froze for a split second… and then everything went dark.
She collapsed from the chair, hitting the ground with a dull thud.