Chapter 17 17: Holy Shit, Why Didn't You Lead With That??

The reality of their situation was a harsh pill to swallow.

August's Familia was just starting out. If Hestia suddenly started hauling massive quantities of modern Earth tech or raw materials back to Orario, they would instantly become a prime target for every greedy God in the city. Surviving under that kind of scrutiny would be a nightmare.

"Have you actually calculated the value of those materials?" August asked smoothly. He could tell the brass behind the cameras was desperate to get their hands on otherworldly research materials. But research required fair compensation.

Commander James caught his drift. He glanced up at the security camera again. This was a negotiation, neither side wanted a bad deal. Even though August possessed a dimensional portal, he was still a citizen of this country and was willingly sitting at the table to talk terms.

"Besides, what happens when my portal links to a futuristic world?" August pointed out. "Worlds with alien empires or hyper-advanced tech—like Marvel or Star Wars. Spaceships, faster-than-light fighters, anti-gravity engines, infinite energy sources. The technological value of those items would be off the charts."

The worth of that tech would be astronomical. Even if the government liquidated its entire national defense budget, it wouldn't be enough to pay for a single anti-gravity drive.

"THAT..." Commander James rubbed his temples, feeling a headache coming on.

He was out of his depth. A literal goddess sat across from him, tangible proof that other worlds existed. If August returned tomorrow with cutting-edge technology, Earth would have nothing of comparable value to trade. The imbalance would be humiliating.

"Let's table that for now," James decided. Arguing over hypothetical spaceships wasn't going to get them anywhere today. It was better to focus on the immediate weapon request.

"Regarding the weapons... if you don't mind, I can temporarily divert some of the army's active stockpile to you," James offered. "We can settle the initial payment in gold or healing potions."

James was taking a different route than the brass. The old men up top were likely still squabbling over trade agreements. He could bypass the red tape by siphoning gear directly from his own base's inventory. Whatever August traded in return would go straight into his unit's pockets anyway.

Hearing this, August and Hestia exchanged a glance.

"That works," August agreed. Asking for thirty thousand rifles on day one was a tall order, after all.

"Oh, one more thing. Can you get my Goddess a legal ID and residency?" August casually dropped the request.

"A what?" James almost choked. What was this kid thinking, trying to file paperwork for a literal Goddess?

But then he paused. A Goddess from another world officially registering as a citizen of their country? The political and cultural implications were absurd.

"Not a problem. I'll handle the residency paperwork," James agreed, seeing the immense value in it. Having an otherworldly God officially recognize their nation was a massive flex.

"Also, could you arrange for me to meet some of your disabled veterans? Specifically, amputees," August asked. "When I formed my contract with Hestia, I awakened magic. Healing magic. By expending mana, I can heal wounds and regenerate missing limbs."

"WHAT??" James's eyes nearly popped out of his skull.

Regenerating missing limbs? 'Holy shit, kid, why didn't you say that first??'

"August, I'll get you those men right away!" James said, practically vibrating with excitement. He had assumed August was just a frontline fighter, but the kid was practically a walking miracle.

James didn't waste a second. He snatched up his phone and dialed furiously.

"Hello?? Listen to me! Find the severely wounded veterans who were medically discharged and bring them to the base hospital! RIGHT NOW!" he roared into the receiver. "You have two hours! If they aren't there, you can hand in your resignation!"

James barked out orders like a madman. Magic that could regrow limbs changed everything. How could he not be ecstatic? The military needed this more than anything.

"What about a location?" August glanced around the sterile conference room. They obviously couldn't do medical procedures here.

"Not a problem. We'll use the best hospital on the base. I'll drive you there myself." James quickly realized that a conference table was no substitute for a sterile operating room.

A proper military hospital was the ideal place for it. They could perform the magic there and monitor the veterans' vital signs afterward to make sure everything remained stable.

If this really worked, James knew it would send shockwaves through the entire armed forces. The military had a long list of soldiers who had been forced to retire because of permanent, debilitating injuries. If August could restore them, it would be a monumental victory for the army's morale.

A sudden thought struck the commander.

"August," James said, his tone deadly serious. "If you can really heal my men, I'll personally vouch for you. Every single piece of standard-issue equipment under my jurisdiction... It's yours to use."

The fact that August had revealed this trump card meant he trusted them. If James started pinching pennies now, he would be nothing but an ungrateful fool. If August wanted guns, James was prepared to empty his armory to supply him.

"Thank you," August replied, genuinely appreciating the support. The commander meant every word, and August respected that. Compared to his first disastrous visit, this second attempt was a resounding success. They had an actual partnership.

"Don't thank me. I should be thanking you," James said solemnly. "An ability like yours... for men like us, it's a blessing."

If a man who could save lives and restore broken soldiers didn't receive the utmost respect, then James had no business wearing a uniform.

"Let's head out, then." August checked the time. It was already past noon, and driving to the hospital would take a bit.

"YES! Let's go! Right now!" Commander James couldn't wait another second. The thought of seeing his disabled soldiers made whole again sent adrenaline surging through him. He was desperate to witness the miracle firsthand.

—•——•——•——•——•——•—

For every 100 Power Stones = I'll drop an extra chapter!

Add to your Library!

If you find any errors (non-standard content, ads redirect, broken links, etc..), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible.