Chapter 5: Nobel

The capital city of Adevia was always bustling, even at night. Although the reaching darkness has filtered the young and many others, quite a few people still walked the streets. Most of these people were women who were interested in having some fun hidden from the daylight. The nightclubs filled with beautiful men and alcohol did well to call them back with each night that comes.

Among those many women on the streets, there was another. Unlike the many around her, she didn't come here for the fun of the night. She covered her face and body in a large hood. Walking among the crowd, it seemed like she was up to no good. But, of course, looks can be deceiving.

Soon, the woman reached her destination. An open brothel with red flames lighting up the exterior and interior of the building. Many women entered and exited the place, and so did she.

...

"When they told me you were here, I didn't believe them. It's been quite some time, ain't it, Mariel?" A well-dressed woman sitting behind a desk addressed the hidden woman in front of her.

"Ruma, I need a favor."

"We haven't spoken in years, and yet the first thing that comes out of that pie hole of' yours is a favor? Thats not how you start a conversation, Mary."

"I don't have time to waste," the woman, Mariel, said somewhat coldly.

"Oh, really now, talking to me is a waste of your time now?"

"That's not what I meant..."

"Well, that's what it sounded like, mate. And that's what you really meant. The common life hasn't humbled you yet, has it? You still act like some stuck-up Nobel laureate. Why should I even bother with you?"

"I have money." Saying that, the woman brought out a small bag of coins hidden within her coat.

"What makes you think I'm going to entagonize the house of Lyria just for a few silver coins?"

"Then how about about a gold coin?" While saying that, Mariel brought out a gold coin from her pockets.

Ruma, the well-clothed woman, instantly tensed up at the sight of the coin. She then smiled maliciously.

"I don't think I need to tell you how illegal it is to trade with a gold coin between commoners, do I?"

"Yeah, if no one knows there was a crime, then there was no crime."

"Don't joke around, Mary; it'd be bad enough to get on the bad side of a Nobel house for you; now you want me to be on the receiving end of the royal dicks as well?"

"Please, Ruma, if our past friendship means anything to you, help me. At least do it for my daughter; I can't lose her too."

"Fine, put away that gold coin of yours. A favor for a favor—that's our trade. What do you want?"

"A slave."

...

It had been a day since Alio had been brought to the brothel. Upon arrival, Alio was awoken by a splash of cold water on the face. He was then stripped naked and washed with another splash of water. The dirty look the woman gave him made him sick.

Never in his life had he felt so violated. Although he wouldn't really mind going down with them, the superior look in their eyes made him detest any contact with them. Luckily, though, nothing really happened on the first day.

He was only given a set of clothes after that, which only included a trunk and nothing else. Probably the bikini equivalent of this world or something.

But although the first day passed on quite nicely, he was already set to meet with his first 'client' that night. As such, when a group of women came and rounded up most of the E-grade young men, he thought that it was his time to do his first job.

But what was confusing to him, however, was why he and all the others were called over, were naked, and were put up in a row. In front of them were two women. A well-clothed woman with silver jewelry around her body and another woman hidden by a hooded coat.

All the other young men covered their crotches in shame. Alio, too, wanted to cover himself, but he did not. He felt like if he did, he would be showing weakness or submissiveness. So he stood tall and proud; at least that's what he thought.

"What grade are they?"

The hooded woman, Alio, did not know her name. Her cold gaze fell on the young men displayed for her.

"E."

"What? But I need at least a greater D-grade male to be able to get the energy I need. E grade won't do Ruma."

"Mary, I can take the risk by selling you an E-grade slave. But if you sell you a higher-grade one, the Lyria house will be coming for my arse. They ain't attacking you because your husband is still"

"He is not my husband!"

Merial quickly retorted.

"Fine, he ain't your husband. But the main point is that this is all I can give you right now. Only an E-grade slave can go unnoticed. Plus, these boys just got here; if one goes missing, no one will care for it. So will you choose to walk away?"

"Fine,"

Mariel said. She was just about to choose any one of them randomly when she noticed Alio. He was the only one who seemed out of sorts among the group. Unlike the others who bowed their heads and dared not look at her in the eyes, he stood straight and looked at her with a cold look much like hers. But unlike her, who hid an errogant demeanor under that cold look, he seemed to be hiding a fire that flared and felt like it was ready to consume everything.

Of course, it didn't really matter much to her; all that mattered was that she could get all the power she needed from him.

"I'll pick him."

...