Chapter 158: Christina's Confusion

Tina ultimately did not take all of the primary magic potions, choosing instead to leave them with Zin.

There was no helping it; she did not possess a virtual inventory like Zin did! Therefore, she could only reluctantly cram two or three emergency potions into her own pouch.

Anyway, she wasn't going to leave her husband, so if she ran out, she could just ask him for more!

Returning to the residential building, Zin took out forty primary stamina potions and gave them to Perrine.

Perrine carried a few on her person and stored the rest in her own bedroom.

Zin specially crafted wooden chests for the two of them, placing all the potions inside.

Tina and Perrine were already accustomed to these wooden "spatial items." Since the warehouse held many of them, they were routinely used to store all kinds of supplies.

Both Tina and Perrine had potions and wooden chests. Although Christina remained silent, her eyes were fixed intently on them, and her desire for them went without saying. However, her status was somewhat awkward—she was merely a prisoner of war. The fact that she was allowed to live outside of a cell and roam freely was already a tremendous act of kindness.

Zin didn't look at her, but Tina caught Christina's gaze. Gently pulling her husband's sleeve, Tina signaled for him to give Christina some as well.

Zin thought to himself that she was a priestess and could cast healing magic herself. Primary health potions and stamina potions were useless to her! Furthermore, with her meditation skills and mana-regenerating gear, primary magic potions didn't hold much value either! Besides, she was still a prisoner of war; it was already a mercy that she wasn't locked back in a dungeon!

Yet, faced with his wife's pleading eyes and Christina's pitiful expression, his heart softened. He ended up giving her twenty primary health potions, crafted a wooden chest for her room as well, and stored the potions inside.

Christina was instantly overjoyed, nearly rushing forward to plant a cheek kiss again. But she immediately remembered that Tina had tricked her before, and she now understood that such an action was reserved for very close romantic partners. So, she smoothly settled for a simple hug with Zin. Although this gesture was also intimate, it at least fell within the bounds of friendly etiquette.

"Tina, I want to lead an expedition far out this afternoon!" Zin said to his wife. "Could you take some idle villagers to help me forage near the outer city..."

Stopping midway, he realized they hadn't learned herbalism knowledge, meaning they wouldn't be able to gather anything anyway. He immediately came to a halt and shook his head.

"Keen, why did you stop halfway?" Tina asked curiously. "What do you want us to gather?"

"Never mind!" Zin hurriedly shook his head. "I forgot, without the corresponding knowledge, you wouldn't be able to gather them, and it would spell trouble if you accidentally encountered poisonous or dangerous plants! I'll just go myself!"

"Oh!" Tina didn't quite follow, but she nodded anyway.

"I'm taking a team quite far this afternoon to mine some saltpeter," Zin said as he ate. "Keep an eye on things in the city for me. I'll leave Buddy and the town guards under your command, and you can also check in on Amber and the new recruits' training. Actually, there shouldn't be any major issues—just a quick glance will do, and Woolf will monitor them the whole time!"

"Mm, alright!" Tina nodded with a smile. "Then you must be careful out there."

"Rest assured!" Zin laughed. "I'll take the dragon along, plus one or two thousand kobold troops; it'll be practically safe! Besides, the werewolf Karl and Doma are going too, so it's completely secure!"

"Then I can rest easy!" Tina smiled and nodded.

After finishing his meal, Zin set off immediately.

First, he summoned Doma and the werewolf Karl, brought along the counterfeit dragon, and dispatched a total of one thousand kobold warriors and one thousand kobold soldiers from the kobold lair within the city and the mining area of the outer city.

As for the giant bees, they were far too precious to risk bringing out on an excursion like this. They were left inside the beehive to continue accumulating, to be released only if someone dared to assault the city.

Among the thousand kobold soldiers, six hundred were armored infantry and four hundred were crossbowmen. Combined with the one thousand kobold warriors, it constituted a rather imposing army!

In addition, one hundred kobold miners followed along, all equipped with iron pickaxes.

At the same time, Zin prepared a large quantity of torches to bring with him. This time, they would venture deep into the caverns to mine as much saltpeter as possible!

Once Zin's army marched out and left the city, the three girls in the residential building finished their lunches one after another and began clearing the dining table.

"Lady Tina, I'll help you!" Christina finished washing the bowls and chopsticks, emerging from the kitchen to help Tina sweep the floor.

Tina did not refuse. With Christina around, her daily chores had become much lighter.

Although Christina was naive and ignorant of many things, she was hardworking and possessed a strong curiosity, always rushing to take on tasks.

"Christina," Tina asked suddenly, looking at the girl's diligent back, "how have you been feeling lately?"

"Hmm~~" Christina turned her head back. "I don't really understand yet!"

"You observe Keen every day, and you still can't figure him out?" Tina asked. "Just tell me what kind of impression he has left on you!"

"Lord Keen is a bit playful, but his personality is very good. He's very gentle with the people around him, and very generous too!" Christina thought for a moment. "Most importantly, his strength is unfathomable! Yet he seems so down-to-earth, as if there's no difference between him and ordinary people. Anyway, he's very mysterious, and he has an inexplicably attractive aura!"

"Isn't that a very careful observation?" Tina asked with a smile. "So, do you have any feelings for him yourself?"

"That's why I said I don't really understand!" Christina sighed. "I know nothing about matters of the heart."

"Then, staying here, do you feel happy?" Tina asked.

"Happy?" Christina thought carefully for a moment, then nodded. "During this time, I really have been quite happy."

"When you see Keen, does your heart beat fast? Do you feel nervous?" Tina pressed further.

After thinking it over seriously, Christina nodded slightly. "When I get close to Lord Keen, my heart does indeed beat faster. Just like the moment I hugged him earlier. As for feeling nervous... I get nervous every single time I see him!"

"Then you like Keen!" Tina immediately jumped to the conclusion. Yet inwardly, she chuckled to herself—any normal girl would have her heart race when standing too close to a handsome boy like Keen. And since Keen was the master of this city, it was completely normal for others to feel nervous in the presence of their leader.

However, Tina chose not to reveal her thoughts to Christina, playfully offering her that definitive conclusion instead.

"I... like Lord Keen?" Christina blinked, her gaze somewhat dazed and tinged with shyness.