Reborn As A Beastman With A System

Jean unexpectedly returned upstairs, her presence both a surprise and a reminder of the significant aid she had provided over the past few days. Just an hour before, Logan had sent her out os she can take the evening off, yet here she was again, defying his expectations by coming back so soon.

"You hate me coming for you?" Jean inquired, standing rigidly at the top of the staircase. Her voice was flat, her eyes piercing as she searched Logan's face for any sign of truth to her question.

Logan, caught off guard by the blunt inquiry, stuttered momentarily. He realized he might have been too harsh earlier, and was about to offer some soothing words when Jean suddenly closed the distance between them. In a swift move, she pushed him down beneath her seating herself on top of him in a dominant position.

Logan's protest was muffled instantly, his breath, his words, all trapped under her strong hold as her lip meet his own with her tongue intertwining with her!

After what seemed an eternity, Logan began to wrestle free from her overpowering hold. As he struggled, a look of confusion washed over Jean's face. "What's wrong with you?" she asked, genuinely perplexed by his reaction.

Gasping for air, Logan finally managed to breathe. "You nearly suffocated me!" he exclaimed, half-angered, half-relieved to be able to speak again. His words came out in bursts, his frustration evident as he noticed Jean's cheeks flush with a mix of embarrassment and realization.

"I'm sorry, I didn't realize I was being so forceful," Jean apologized, her tone softening.

Logan, still catching his breath, didn't bother with a response. Instead, he lay there for a moment, then turned to face Jean who had now settled beside him on the bed. "It's the middle of the night, Jean. What are you doing here, didn't you go home already?" he questioned, his tone a mix of curiosity and exasperation.

"What else would bring me here at this hour if not to see you?" Jean responded playfully, reaching out to tug at Logan's ear with her mouth, her actions teasing yet tender.

Logan was at a loss for words. Jean's forwardness was uncharacteristic of the usual reserved demeanor expected from women in their world. Yet, she was undeniably different, an enigma in her own right.

As Logan remained silent, Jean leaned closer, her voice a whisper, "I really missed you, but I also need to discuss something important with you."

This piqued Logan's interest, and he sat up straight. "What is it?" he asked, noting the seriousness that had crept into her usually playful demeanor.

"Here, take this," Jean said as she shifted, laying her head gently on Logan's lap. She then pulled a ring from her finger and extended it towards him, her eyes locking with his in a gaze filled with unsaid promises and secrets yet to be unveiled.

Logan eyed the two space rings that Jean had brought with her, a mixture of confusion and curiosity in his gaze.

"What's the purpose of this? You're giving me a space ring?" he asked, examining the seemingly ordinary ring. It was a standard model with about four cubic spaces inside, useful, albeit common, and valued around fifty gold coins.

"Check out the inscription," Jean prompted with a mischievous grin.

Puzzled but intrigued, Logan pricked the back of his hand lightly with his fingernail and pressed the ring against the small bead of blood that welled up. The space ring required a blood bond to establish ownership, ensuring that only the bonded individual could access its contents. If the owner perished, the ring would seal permanently, its contents lost to the void if forcibly opened.

Logan had long desired such a ring. Despite having ample space in his system, he needed something tangible for appearances.

"Thank you, Jean, this is a wonderful gift!" he expressed genuinely, feeling a mystical connection form as he slipped the ring onto his right middle finger.

"Now, see what lies within," Jean urged him, her voice laced with excitement.

Within the ring? Logan thought, momentarily stunned. He reached out with his mind to probe the ring's interior, and to his astonishment, his mental vision filled with gleaming gold.

Gold! Five thousand gold coins shimmered back at him.

"What does this mean?" Logan asked, his voice a mixture of awe and confusion as he looked down at Jean, who was comfortably nestling against his legs.

"Aren't you in need of funds? This is all the savings I have. It should be enough to buy the surrounding properties," Jean explained, her tone casual but her eyes earnest. She had noticed Logan's recent interest in expanding his holdings, and his hesitation had not escaped her.

Knowing his financial constraints as a tribal leader with many dependents, she had decided to intervene in her own unique way.

Just days earlier, she had suggested that Logan buy a house, and his reluctant posture had spoken volumes about his financial situation. With this gift, Jean not only addressed his immediate needs but also demonstrated her support and faith in his leadership.

Jean had parted with items she seldom used, amassing five thousand gold coins, a substantial sum, all intended for Logan.

"No, no, I can't accept this. It's your money!" Logan protested, removing the ring in a single swift motion.

"What's mine? Are you having second thoughts about marrying me?" Jean's question came sharp and sudden as she rose from his lap, her gaze intense and probing.

"Marrying you and taking your money are completely different issues!" Logan retorted, his voice firm.

"But if we are to marry, isn't what's mine also yours, as you are already mine?" Jean countered, her stare unwavering as she looked straight into his eyes.

"This..." Logan faltered, caught in a maelstrom of tradition and pride. He wasn't accustomed to relying on a woman's wealth. It wasn't about pretense; rather, it was a matter of personal integrity and the masculine codes he abided by.

Besides, he wasn't in dire need of the money at the moment. He planned to expand his ventures gradually, with the upcoming sales from his wine and sugar trades.

Noticing Logan's reluctance, Jean softened her approach. "Think of it as a loan then. When your businesses take off and you've got extra, you can pay me back."

"Alright," Logan agreed, seeing the earnestness in her offer and knowing he couldn't reject her without wounding her feelings.

He hesitantly took the ring back, sliding it onto his finger once more.

"How will you thank me for this?" Jean teased, leaning in close to Logan, her breath warm against his skin.

Logan, caught off guard by her closeness, responded with a quick kiss to the corner of her mouth.

"That's it?" Jean feigned disappointment, her lips curving into a playful pout.

Logan sighed, a mix of amusement and exasperation in his voice. "Isn't this supposed to be a loan?"

"I never really expected you to pay it back," Jean murmured, wrapping her arms around his neck and drawing him closer, her whisper tickling his ear.

"By the way, I almost forgot the gift my father asked me to bring you before he left," Jean said, her voice laced with a hint of mischief. As she spoke, she released her grasp, and a crystal bottle no larger than a baby's hand materialized in her palm.

It was filled with a substance of a deep, bloody red.

"Here you go!" she exclaimed, offering the crystal bottle to Logan with a flourish.

"What is this?" Logan asked, eyeing the mysterious liquid curiously.

"Father left today, you know?" Jean mentioned casually, as if remembering something distant.

Upon hearing this, Logan gave Jean a look of mild reproof. Her father had departed, and yet here she was, seemingly unconcerned, spending her day away from family duties. "You didn't think to mention that your father was away before now?" he inquired with a touch of incredulity.

Jean, oblivious to Logan's thoughts, noticed his confusion and quickly elaborated, pointing to the blood-red contents of the crystal bottle. "This is dragon blood and dragon heart essence, refined by a skilled pharmacist. Drinking it might enhance your abilities and fortify your physique."

"This must be incredibly valuable," Jean remarked, awestruck. "Just one bottle could fetch tens of thousands of gold coins in the human empire!"

"Dragon blood and dragon heart?" he repeated, his voice a mixture of surprise and reverence. Dragons were among the most formidable creatures known, their prowess almost legendary.

"This is far too precious for me to accept!"

Jean laughed softly, her gaze fond but firm. "It's not as grand as you think. This isn't from a full dragon, but rather the heart of a quasi-legendary white dragon. My father was part of the hunting party that took it down, and he only managed to secure a portion of it."

"Besides, everyone in our family has taken it. Honestly, it's more renowned for its rarity than its actual effects," she added, trying to assuage his concerns.

"Why fuss over its value? Just drink it quickly!" Jean urged, pushing the bottle closer to him, her eyes twinkling with a mix of impatience and excitement.

"They aren't genuine dragons, you know!"

"Are you referring to the quasi-legendary white dragon?" Logan looked bewildered. Jean's tone carried a weight of seriousness that was hard to dismiss. Considering her background, it was understandable. Her father, a quasi-legend himself, and a brother who was a tenth-level warrior among several other enigmatic siblings made her family almost akin to a formidable tribe.