Building a Safe Zone with My Harem In The Post-Apocalyptic World-Chapter 37: Terms, Condition, and Temptation

Gideon groaned. Just moments ago, the morning had been quiet. He had been sitting across from a beautiful MILF, enjoying her cooking and the rare sense of peace. And now it was already gone.

"Should we just pretend we’re not here?" he muttered.

Delilah lifted an eyebrow. "Why would we? Let them in. You still need to deal with that contract anyway, even if paperwork barely matters in this world."

"I know," he said, pushing back his chair. "It’s mostly so there’s proof we’re working together."

He hesitated for a beat, then added more lightly, "And I wanted to spend a bit more time with you."

She laughed. "Don’t flirt with me. I’m not as easy as my innocent, or stupid, daughters." She shook her head as if dismissing the thought entirely.

Gideon laughed too, louder than necessary, and went to open the door. The moment he did, he paused, eyes settling on a face he didn’t recognize. So this was the lawyer.

She was short, with a neat black bob and glasses that accentuated her baby face even more.

By the standards of his old world, she looked Asian. At first glance, she seemed barely eighteen, but the clear swell of her stomach made it obvious that wasn’t the case.

"Finally," Jade said cheerfully. "This is the lawyer. Her name’s Kanna Reed. Kanna, this is Gideon."

They exchanged brief nods.

"She’s my pregnant wife, and she’s of legal age," Killian added quickly, like someone who had learned to say it out of habit.

Gideon chuckled. "Bad experiences?"

"Too many," Killian replied, shaking his head. Kanna just laughed.

They moved inside. As agreed, Jade and Killian headed off to take a bath, leaving Gideon alone in the living room with Kanna. She set a folder on the table and began spreading out several handwritten documents.

"Actual paper," Gideon said, picking one up and skimming it.

"That couldn’t have been cheap."

"It wasn’t, most factions don’t bother with this anymore. I’m not even a lawyer by profession." She smiled slightly.

"Still, you were right to ask for it. New lords usually rely on verbal agreements, and that always causes problems once bigger factions get involved."

Gideon nodded. "I’d rather avoid problems early."

"That’s fair, but Freebound doesn’t stab partners in the back."

She slid another document toward him. "If they dislike someone, they deal with it openly."

Her tone was far too cheerful for something that grim. Gideon didn’t comment, choosing instead to focus on the page in front of him.

Most of it matched what they had discussed the day before. Fertile soil, seeds, protection, and long-term cooperation. One added clause made him pause.

The Pathmadre would be allowed one bath per day.

He shook his head quietly.

It wasn’t a bad deal. If anything, it meant seeing Jade more often, which wasn’t exactly a downside.

"What’s the exchange for the daily bath? Water isn’t cheap."

Kanna’s eyes lit up slightly. "You really pay attention to details. I like that."

She reached into her bag and handed him another sheet of paper. It looked like a newspaper, packed with reports about aberrant movement, regional alerts, and warnings about Skull Fang.

"Huh," Gideon murmured.

"Interesting, right? There’s a faction called Ephraim Dove. They’re the ones who publish it."

"One golden core per issue," Delilah added as she returned from the kitchen, placing glasses on the table along with a bowl of Glowbat jerky.

"Delivered once a month. Becoming a regular recipient isn’t easy either. They decide who gets it."

"Information is expensive in this world," Kanna continued, resting a hand on her stomach.

"So it’s a fair exchange. Killian wanted the bath, and so did I. That makes three of us."

"I don’t mind," Gideon said, already reading more carefully. "This kind of information is worth far more than water."

Freya had been right. A small traveling faction was expected to pass through the Deliric Desert today, and it would take them about three days to reach Climber Rift.

The report also mentioned several dangerous areas to avoid. Bandits had been spotted along the route, and Skull Fang’s influence was slowly spreading farther than before.

By the time Gideon finished reading everything, Jade had come out of the bathroom and dropped down beside him.

She smelled faintly of roses, and her damp hair clung to her neck as she lazily dried it with a towel. The sight alone was distracting.

"What?" she teased, catching his glance. "Did you already fall in love with me?" She grinned. "If so, I want that shampoo and soap too." She winked.

Delilah frowned immediately. "Don’t be fooled by her, Gideon. You’ll regret it."

He laughed. "Or are you just jealous that I’m sitting next to Jade?"

Delilah froze, her mouth falling open as if her thoughts had completely short-circuited. Jade looked between them and let out a low whistle.

"Oh wow, you’re aiming for the mother too? You really are greedy, Gideon." She shook her head in amusement.

"No! It’s not like that!" Delilah rushed out, waving her hands. "He’s just joking."

Gideon, meanwhile, stayed relaxed, leaning back slightly.

"Or am I? What if I said I wanted you, Delilah? What would you say?"

Jade gasped dramatically. Kanna paused mid-page, pushed her glasses up, and focused on them with clear interest.

Delilah’s face flushed, just a little, before she answered, trying to keep her composure.

"Well... that’s unfortunate. I don’t need a boyfriend. I’d need a husband."

"Then I’ll be your husband," Gideon replied without missing a beat. "Do we have a deal?"

Delilah looked genuinely troubled now, while the other two women reacted at the same time.

"OHHHH!"

Thankfully for her, Killian emerged from the bathroom right then. "Whoa, Delilah’s special bat soup?" he said loudly. "Can I eat this?"

The timing saved her completely. She sprang to her feet and fled toward the dining room.

"Of course! Take as much as you like!" she called back, her voice nearly shrill.

Gideon laughed, joined by the others. Jade reached over and placed her hand on his thigh, squeezing lightly.

"Don’t worry," she said softly. "You still have plenty of time."

"I’m not worried," Gideon replied. "I just found her reaction adorable."

Jade tilted her head, studying him. "Damn, Gideon. You’ve got me there."

Then she smirked. "But if you ever want to sleep with me, you’ll have to give me half of your soul."

He crossed his arms confidently. "You’re joking. I’d make you fall so hard you’d end up handing half your territory to me instead."

"Hah," Jade laughed, leaning closer, her eyes bright. "That’s a bold claim. Let’s see which one of us ends up sacrificing more."

"I never lose a bet," he said with a grin.

That only made her laugh louder.