Trade routes

ㅤ Yuri dealt with merfishes like cracking sunflower seeds. The ship's crew looked at him with admiration. Kaufman—with pride! Her best "acquisition", after all. The polished ring on Yuri's finger gleamed in the sun—proof that his heart had been won. He had always been attracted to older women. And although Yuri had been skeptical and wary of Kaufman at their first meeting, seeing in her a true hunter, he eventually came to see something more in her. A fragile and vulnerable side that she never showed to anyone. And even without that, she was a striking woman, capable of presenting herself. And as for what she could do… It would be easier to list what she couldn't. Having dealt with the last "fry", Yuri approached his wife. "Excellent work!" she praised him. "But why am I doing it alone? It would be easier and faster if you hired someone else. Together, Judith and I would have dealt with that pack in seconds…" "Only you I can get with a fifty percent discount," Kaufman said without hesitation, smiling contentedly. "And do you want it to be even easier?" she chuckled. Yuri smiled back, tossing his sword and catching it with a twirling motion. "No," he admitted. "And why Judith?" Kaufman asked reproachfully. "Doesn't your boss specialize in monsters?" "He's more of a theorist than a practitioner," Yuri chuckled. "Monster-slaying missions usually fall to Judith and me. Especially since Karol's attention is currently fully occupied by Nan." "Mmm, it looks like two more guilds have decided to join forces," she said teasingly. "You say that as if it's the only way to establish connections…" "As experience in recent years has shown," she enticingly ran her hand over Yuri's bare chest. "Come on," she whispered in his ear, "your bonus awaits you." Kaufman pulled Yuri toward the cabin; sheer responsibility prevented him from responding so easily. "But merfishes?" "We've already passed through their territory." "But if someone got separated from the pack…" "We passed through their territory," Kaufman repeated emphatically. "As you say," Yuri agreed. "Who would argue…?" 'And how did I end up like this?' But Yuri couldn't escape this trap; he didn't want to. Kaufman gave him everything: from base needs to high ones. And although she had a peculiar character, with her, Yuri was… happy. ㅤ