After hearing all kinds of information from Anastasia, and deciding that this much was enough for now, Christian spoke.
"Thank you for answering my questions. For the item you’ll give me in exchange for the puppet, I’d like to decide on that later. Is that okay?"
Anastasia waved her hand dismissively and said,
"Then, allow me to guide you to a place where you can rest for now, while I go and prepare myself," Christian said, before leading her to his office inside the workshop — a space that even had a bed.
"I think this place is comfortable enough, so please bear with me until I finish preparing," he repeated himself once more, while Anastasia looked around the office like a curious country bumpkin.
"Okay, go. Just don’t keep me waiting too long," she said, not even turning to face him.
Without saying another word, Christian finally took his leave.
His steps were heavy.
And once again, his mind drifted to a familiar, bitter thought —
Why did he have to butter up to someone, even after all he’d done?
Ever since he got the Idle System, he’d been working hard — which went completely against what he actually wanted.
He had to earn money while still attending school.
He had to figure out all kinds of things on his own, with no one to guide him.
And along the way, he kept getting entangled with more and more people.
Now, he had even made an enemy of the Drevane Ancient Family.
While at the same time, the Liberation Front seemed to have set their sights on him too.
His hands were already full with just that.
And now, someone he couldn’t even begin to understand had been added to the mix.
Why did everything keep getting harder for him?
Christian, with his mood low, felt like crying — but had no tears to shed.
Was the idea of making androids a bad one?
For the first time, even if only briefly, that thought crossed his mind.
In the end, he knew — all he could do now was make it through this encounter safely.
Anything else would have to wait... until Anastasia went away.
He could only hope that nothing would go wrong — that everything would end peacefully.
Christian, who had been thinking that way, with his expression already changed into a more neutral one, finally arrived at the meeting room, where four women and one android were already gathered.
He looked at the five women, all of them watching him closely, waiting for him to speak.
And he didn’t beat around the bush.
He didn’t try to conceal anything.
He told them everything.
And with each word, the atmosphere in the room grew heavier — until finally, he ended with:
"For now, go to Olivia’s side. All five of you."
"After I finish making an android for her, and she goes away, I’ll call you back."
Sophia, Nina, and Alpha said nothing in response.
But Eva and Annabelle each opened their mouths — clearly wanting to refuse... to protest.
Yet, in the end, neither of them spoke.
It wasn’t the time for arguments.
They couldn’t help, even if they stayed.
And no matter what they said, Christian wouldn’t change his mind.
Eva and Annabelle understood all three of those truths.
So, in the end, both nodded with heavy expressions.
And just like that, ten minutes later, a sturdy jeep — armed with all kinds of weapons — and a long truck carrying even more, rolled out of the warehouse.
Christian stood at the entrance of the house, watching silently, his expression calm as he saw them off.
At least, that was the case — until a voice suddenly came from behind him.
"Your women are really all unique!"
Turning his head, he found Anastasia just two meters away.
She was grinning. And upon meeting his gaze, her smile widened further as she added, "Or is it because you’re the most unique one?"
"Maybe that’s why they were all pulled toward you?"
She asked teasingly, but Christian didn’t respond.
He simply stared at her — noting that she had changed clothes.
She now wore a jumpsuit.
Not one with the typical style seen on Earth, but something far closer to cosplay — paired with a high ponytail, giving her a more energetic, almost childish vibe.
She was squatting, resting her chin on both hands as she looked up at him with a playful glint in her eyes.
And for a brief moment, Christian began to question something he had once thought was certain.
What kind of women were his type again?
He had always been sure it was someone mature — someone like Eva, who embodied all of his fantasies.
A woman who would spoil him with her graceful charm, her quiet confidence. That was the image that had always stuck in his mind.
But now... as he looked at the girl in front of him...
It felt like something had changed inside him.
He found himself thinking —
Maybe I wouldn’t mind being the one to spoil her instead.
Of course, those were just thoughts.
Being mesmerized by her beauty didn’t mean he would so easily give in to desire.
Anastasia suddenly tilted her head, waving her hand at him.
And Christian finally forced a smile and said, "Be it me or my women, all of us couldn’t be more ordinary when compared to you."
Anastasia giggled at his reply, then nodded her head rapidly and said, "Naturally!"
Her laugh, her behavior — they were so innocent, so priceless, so strange.
It almost made one wonder:
Was there really a need to be on guard against someone like her?
Was he overreacting... sending his sister and the others away, like pushing them away from a plague?
Despite some of his nervousness fading, Christian still didn’t trust her.
If he were to follow his simp side, things would’ve been different — naturally.
But there was nothing more untrustworthy than the whims of the strong.
That’s why he knew — he couldn’t let himself be deceived by her behavior, or her beauty.
He needed to stay within his boundaries.