White Lotus

The next day, Will summoned Kurosawa to his office.

"Kurosawa where is the White Lotus?" Will asked.

"No, my lord, you cannot be seen there!" Kurosawa said stunned.

"Why I'm just going to meet an old friend?" Will said innocently.

"No, my lord that is not advisable. I've already spoken to Michael, and we worked out a plan to smuggle courtesans in and out of your mansion, without Lady Elizabeth knowing," Kurosawa said.

"Courtesans? You did what? And, Micheal help?" Will was in disbelief, one shocking statement followed the next.

"What is the White Lotus? And why did you and Michael work out such a route?" Will asked curiously.

"My lord, the White Lotus is an upscale brothel. It opened while you were away. Truthfully, the women are quite lovely.

As far as the route, it's a common practice for all land-owning noblemen to have passageways to sneak in lovers or courtesans without their wife knowing," Kurosawa said.

Just out of curiosity Will wanted to know the route, but he put it behind him.

"I need to see Summer," bring her to me then.

"Sir, I don't remember meeting a summer?" Kurosawa said pensively.

Will wanted to ask him, why he was familiar with the business. But Will decided to save that question for later.

"Enough, there is no property in my city I cannot visit," Will scolded Kurosawa before leaving to visit the White Lotus to meet Samuel.

Gadreel had a thriving night scene. After dusk people would head, to the race track, casinos or brothels.

However, the nightlife was very segregated. Nobles spent the night in drinking parties, mingling and laughing at exclusive entertainment zones. For example, the White Lotus brothel bared entry any one who was not a noblemen.

Whereas commoners could be sectioned into more affordable less expensive areas.

Yet, the number one entertainment for men remained in brothels. Guidon and Yorkshire had two brothels, one for the rich one for the commoners.

Will had seen the beast woman brothel in Guidon's Southern District. But, he'd not seen the others' brothels. Until the White Lotus opened, there were two brothels in Guidon.

A year ago Will had sent his brother prostitutes from the Misty Lute to accompany him after he returned the quest. The Misty Lute, the first brothel to open and mostly catered to nobles and wealthy merchants.

The commoner brothel was called the Blushing Beaver, named after the river animal that was often seen swimming upriver. The brothel was a well-known pub, and the whores were popular.

The White Lotus was a popular drinking and singing lounge. The venue was a source of entertainment for noblemen.

The White Lotus differed from the lower-class brothels, not just because it largely catered to rich customers, but because the furnishings and decorations were grand and proper.

From the classy exterior, you'd never guess it was a brothel, but rather a high-class inn instead.

"Greetings, esteemed City Lord," said a cheery-haired porcelain white-skinned woman, with cherry rich red lips, and fiery red hair to match. The woman's loose spaghetti strap negligé made for a suggested scene, that momentarily made Will forget his reason for coming.

After a moment of silence, the hostess asked if it was Will's first to a brothel.

While it wasn't his first time, it was this version of himself first time.

"Yes, I'm here to meet a friend. Her name is summer," Will said gaining back his senses.

"My name is Cherry, next time ask for me," she said before going to the back.

"Please come with me," Cherry said after returning.

Cherry led Will past a row of curtains into a room filled with semi-naked ladies' who sat on three sofas. As Cherry led Will past the room of attractive women, she told him next time he came, his first night would be free.

Will could still smell the heavy perfume on his clothes after leaving the room. Next, Cherry took Will past the lounge.

A woman in front of 12 person piano orchestra, what he could only classify as early soft jazz. The music was animated, and now structure.

Will realized that the lights were fairly dim. Paired with a soft melody in the background, the lighting created an oddly warm atmosphere.

It was clear that this place wasn't the average low-class brothel, the furniture bar had naked female dancers flirting with men. The naked women sat next to these men dancing or pampering them.

Will gawked at the lewdness on display.

"Do you like the music? If you want, we can invite Dolores and me to your mansion for a private show," Cherry said suggestively.

"Thank you, but I must pass," Will said only answering Cherry's first question.

Cherry and Will didn't linger for long and left after stealing some glances at the dimly lit lounge.

Finally, past the lounge, Will was led to a small office. Cherry knocked once, kissed Will on the cheek, and left.

"Come in!" shouted a deep raspy tenor voice.

Will entered and saw a large-breasted fat woman.

"I'm Big Mona, but my friends call me Mama Moan! I hope we can befriend one another esteemed City Lord, Baron vont Ballard," she said grinning.

"Big Mona, I'm here to meet Summer. Do you know where she is?" Will asked, rejecting the idea to partner with the madam.

Big Mona frowned when her hand of friendship was refused.

"He's downstairs, he told me you might pop in. I'll ring for him," she said.

Soon a young girl came and grabbed Will's hand. The girl didn't say anything, she just held his hand and led him downstairs to the cellar.

In the barely lit cellar, Will saw Samuel sitting at a table peeling an apple with a knife. The same knife he used to save Will's life. Clearly, Samuel was making a subtle point.

"Greetings Samuel," Will said shaking his hand.

"Good morning to you as well," Samuel said unemotionally.

"So this is your operation now. Congratulations, Guild Leader," Will said cheerfully.

"No, this place belongs to the Beggar Thieves Guild while my Assassin Guild is being constructed," Samuel said cracking a smile. Samuel never smiled, so Will could tell Samuel was proud of this achievement.

"Thank you, your advice was very helpful. I already receive weekly reports from the Beggars Guild in my city. Now, I what perks can the Assassin Guild me the Thieves and Mercenary Guild do not?" Will asked curiously.

"Look at those pipes," Samuel said pointing to the several long copper pipes.

"The Beggars hear everything, not just in this brothel, but all three of them. Who do you think owns the brothels in every kingdom. The Assassins Guild does, that's who! And I'll tell you my secret, I'm member of both guilds," Samuel said proudly.

"Hm," Will said impressed. "So these women are secretly, your messengers?" Will said.

"Yes, but our operation is larger than just these houses of pleasure. We have other means as well," he said.

"Are you at liberty to share?" Will said intrigued.

"No, I only told you this bit peddle my influence," Samuel said.

"Fine how much for regular reports on assassination quest?" Will asked.

"500 gold!" Samuel said.

"That's more than I pay now to the Beggar Thieves Guild," Will was faux offended by the startling price. It was clear that Samuel was an excellent negotiator. By starting at such a high price, Will was going to have a harder time, bringing the price down.

"Yes, but that price also ensures we won't assassinate your family in their sleep," Samuel said.

"For that much, every guild ought to ensure my families' safety," Will said.

"Oh, that would cost you more than 5,000 gold a month," Samuel said smiling wide.

Seeing Samuel smiling was the scariest thing Will had seen since arriving to Terra. Samuel looked like a craze maniacal clown, and Will hated clowns. Clowns gave him the creeps.

"What does 200 gold get me?" Will asked.

"Not much, I'd promise to alert you just before I killed your family.

Why do you care, is 500 gold for your family's lives nothing to you?

I know you have the money, and that money ensures I keep this throne.

Once I die, our deal dies, and your life is at risk," Samuel said in a moment of honesty.

"Can we work up to that amount? What is the lowest I can pay you, right now? After a few months of seeing the information you bring in, then we can bump the price up to 500 a month," Will said repaying Samuel's honesty with his own.

"Fine, let's start with 300 gold. Then after two months, it goes up to 500 gold in perpetuity," Samuel said after mulling around the deal.

Will was pleased with how quickly the Samuel had changed his mind.

Samuel took Will to a back entrance,

"Go out this way instead of the front," that way people won't know it was you.

As he entered the street, he felt the gazes on him had changed a great deal. He felt the smiles, bows, and curtsies, were judge mental. In his imagination, the people passing by gave him looks scorned or disgust. No wonder nobles secretly sneak in courtesan.

…

After leaving the White Lotus, Will walked to Bradley and Rupert's shop next to the galleon. Will was anxious to for them initial test flight.

The airship had become his greatest expense, and Will ready to see if could fly or whether to scrap the project all together.