Raising My Trash Ability into a Broken SSS+ Rank Skill Chapter 581 A Beautiful Scenery

"We've nabbed a thief who's sneaking into our realm. He could be a demon or a spy!" one of the trio yelled, smirking with delight at snaring such a wealthy mark.

That fool had shelled out the steep cost for those sweets without hesitation, so how much wealth and valuables must he be carrying?

They could easily see he wasn't from the phoenix clan, making this the perfect moment to shake him down.

Suddenly, as though they'd been lurking for this opportunity, four guards charged at him from a nearby spot.

With just one quick look, Vritra spotted that only a single one was genuine, while the rest were mere imposters.

"Seize him! I accuse him of terrible offenses," another in the trio declared.

"How bold of you to act so cocky in our domain—you're begging for death. Surrender everything you've pilfered at once, or face rotting in a frigid cell?" the guard demanded.

Vritra glanced toward the shopkeeper and inquired, "What about you—what's your take on this?"

"Me...?" The shopkeeper paused in bewilderment. He'd only signaled them, nothing more was required of him.

"Y-Yeah, I caught you in the act of theft. Just go along with the guards and cough up the cash you took," the shopkeeper claimed.

"Sigh, alright then. How much did I supposedly take? I'll pay it back," Vritra replied, letting out a deep breath.

"H-He swiped a hundred—no, a thousand gold coins!!" the trio blurted out.

"Really? Then fork over every one of those thousand coins immediately," the phony guard ordered.

"Sure, sure, a mere thousand is nothing. I've got plenty more," Vritra responded, flicking his wrist to summon a towering pile of gold coins.

At least a hundred thousand gleamed there, leaving them all stunned.

'D-Damn, we should've demanded way more.' They swallowed hard, but instantly the coins vanished, making even a thousand seem ridiculously skimpy.

"A-All that loot has to be stolen too! Guards, confiscate it all and boot him out!!" the three bellowed.

"Oh? You believe you can just toss him aside? You figure you're more worthy of this place than he is?" a woman's voice rang out from nearby.

"Naturally, scram if you don't want to end up in pri—" one of the imposters boasted haughtily, whirling to face the speaker.

At last, all eight men went rigid upon spotting the fearsome empress right in front of them.

'W-Wasn't she away? When on earth did she come back?' Their frames began trembling uncontrollably. Had they known of her return, they'd never have attempted this stunt.

"Haa, Fiona, mind spotting me a few gold coins? Gotta settle these pilfered items," Vritra said casually, arms folded as he prepared to watch the drama unfold.

"!!!" Every one of their eyes bulged. He had the nerve to address the empress by her first name?

Even as punishment loomed for them, he'd surely get incinerated. A flicker of relief washed over them.

"Darling, relax—I'll cover it for you," Fiona replied with a warm smile.

Their minds reeled in shock.

Darling? DARLING?! Wasn't this just some outsider human shopping around?

Their bodies seemed to dissolve in dread; they yearned to vanish as doom closed in.

Fiona then faced them and questioned, "Do you truly believe you belong in this kingdom more than the emperor?"

She signaled to a nearby minister and probed, "What penalty fits those who insult my husband, the emperor?"

"Th-They ought to suffer agonizing deaths!" the minister stammered quickly. For some reason, she appeared even more intimidating.

And precisely who was this figure capable of managing such a bloodthirsty woman, whose mind brimmed with visions of carnage and demise?

"Excellent. Set them as a warning to others. And how do such blatant crimes happen under our watch?" Fiona demanded sharply, while Vritra gazed at her, charmed by her fiercer side.

"F-Forgive me, Empress—I wasn't vigilant enough," the minister admitted, escaping ire by avoiding pointless defenses.

Next, he waved for the eight to be hauled off: the shopkeeper, the trio, and the four frauds.

"W-Wait, we're remorseful—spare us, we messed up..."

The eight wailed on as they were pulled away, though Vritra paid it no mind.

Long ago, the demise of strangers had ceased to trouble him—save for his kin, naturally.

After issuing a few more commands, Fiona clasped Vritra's hand and murmured, "Darling, ready to head out?"

"Yeah," Vritra agreed with a nod, the pair soaring southward where the chill eased somewhat.

…

Before long, they perched atop a peak, Fiona nestled sideways on his lap with her head against his chest.

They gazed at the heavens, where the sun's dim outline pierced the gentle flurry of snow.

The view was utterly enchanting, and simply basking in one another's company felt divine.

Both huddled within Vritra's coat, his arms encircling her slender midriff.

"Darling..." Fiona whispered tenderly, blissfully at ease.

"Hmm," Vritra murmured, peering down at her stunning features, drawn to her plump crimson lips.

"I've dreamed up even more games. Let's dive into them all," she suggested with a pure grin.

Vritra laughed softly. Her notions were always so outlandish. As he stroked her leg, he teased, "My naughty imp, where do these wild thoughts spring from? I once figured you were all purity."

Fiona had forever been intrigued by such pursuits and relished them deeply.

"I simply crave endless adventures with you," Fiona confessed. She rose slightly and brushed her plush, damp lips to his.

Vritra nipped her bottom lip gently, tugging it before releasing, watching it spring back with a soft rebound.

"Mmm~"

Fiona gazed at him, then up at the sky. Lounging serenely with her spouse amid such splendor—what surpassed that?

Yet a thought struck her.

"Hold on, Teresa had that lavish ceremony, but ours? Do you cherish me less than her?" Fiona sulked, lips pursed.

Vritra tweaked her cheek playfully, then assured, "Yeah, my bad—circumstances got in the way. But when Yenni returns, we'll throw the most spectacular wedding, tying the knot with all my stunning wives. Sound good?"

If a solo event was her wish, Vritra would arrange it so.

Without the constant chaos, he would've wed them all ages ago.

Though bound in profound ways already, rituals had never mattered much to him—until evidently now.

"That works for me. Thanks, darling," Fiona beamed, planting another kiss on his mouth.

They chatted and savored the vista a while longer prior to shifting locations.

Fiona brimmed with zeal for one of her odd schemes, prompting Vritra to wonder if they should proceed—or how he'd face his reflection later.

But as the adage claims, a content spouse means a joyful existence, leaving hapless Vritra to yield to her steamy whims.

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