Alliance Is Fine, Marriage Is Not

Lin Nuo had already complained about Big Mom's unreasonable demand a hundred times in his heart.

But he did not show it on his face. He merely released Kokoro's hand, stepped forward, and looked up at Linlin, who stood several meters taller than him.

"Linlin."

"Hm?" She tilted her head. "Have you thought it over? Shall we go now?"

"No." Lin Nuo shook his head, his tone calm. "Although this may seem to have no downside for me."

"But I refuse."

The tavern fell silent once more.

Linlin blinked her large eyes, as if she had not heard clearly.

"?"

"Why?"

"Isn't there no downside for you?"

Lin Nuo looked at her and suddenly smiled.

"No downside?"

"Yes."

"Then what are the benefits?"

Linlin opened her mouth, unable to react for a moment.

Lin Nuo continued, "You're right. There's no real downside for me. I don't need to take responsibility, I don't need to raise the child, and it's over after having some fun."

"But Linlin, what are the benefits?"

"Why should I have a child with you?"

Linlin answered as if it were only natural, "The benefit is that I'll protect you in the future. You're my child's father, so your status with me will be different." "Different status?" Lin Nuo cut her off. "You mean the kind of 'different status' your previous dozen or so husbands had, where you threw them away after they gave you children?"

Linlin choked on her words.

"You—"

Lin Nuo waved a hand, his tone softening. "Linlin, I understand that you want to build a big family. You want to gather every race and create a nation where all races can live together as equals. That's a good idea."

"But this is not the way to do it."

"I'm not anyone's breeding tool,