Bluelights 2

Since there's a variety of 'products' in Bluelights I decided to take a look at them, I'm not short on money and it's coming to me more than it left. 

My income is steady as the ready-made potion is starting to circulate thanks to the guilds Senna and Qian Xin are in. 

"Alright… a background huh…"

Viperpool, Riley, and the council. Once I killed off Riley and destroyed Viperpool I would place a hand on the politics of the underworld. 

I studied what the Council does and it's quite tough. You are prone to tons of assassinations, betrayal, and gore. But I don't mind as long as I have the power inside the council, I could do a lot of things with a lot of freedom, after all, ah, the money to stay in power is my problem though. 

Besides, there are a lot of ways I can earn money, and I'm already doing two right now, from stock trading to ready-made potions. 

After looking at the products displayed in some of the shops in Bluelights I decided to do one thing. 

And visited the "meat" shop. Yeah it's another way to call a slave shop

I walked in the door that seemed luxurious, the building looked tidy and the inside was like that too. 

The moment I got inside is where I got welcomed by a beautiful lady, she seems ethereal but my goal is not to admire her. 

She guided me to the reception room where a fat man is sitting on a luxurious chair waiting for me. 

"Welcome, welcome! How can I help you this fine evening?"

I sat on the sofa opposite his chair and crossed my legs. There is a catalogue book and I looked at it. 

"I need something smart"

"oh? Is beauty included?"

"sure, but make sure it can fight"

Saying 'it' to describe a human disgusts me, but I didn't let it off my face, I kept my enigmatic face as I was talking to the shopkeeper. 

"Well well well! We do have a few of those products!"

"Make sure to show every single one of them alright?"

Meaning 'i don't care if there are men in the mix', the shopkeeper, of course, managed to understand the underlying meaning, he held his tablet and started tapping. 

"Would you like some tea?"

"No, thank you"

After a while, the door opened and several men and women came in properly dressed, at least the slaves have some well-being here. 

"Well choose what you like!"

The shopkeeper delightfully says. 

I need ones that are very good at handling tasks. One that could defend itself. I clapped and all eyes were on me. 

"So tell me, what book would you like to read once you're out here?"

I was only met with silence. I wish I didn't decline the tea, but when I was about to sigh, a woman answered. 

"I would read, 'Moments Unnoticed by Clark Woods"

"Oh? Tell me why"

Moments Unnoticed is a novel portraying a man who was on a quest to find himself a purpose, which he found at the end of the novel. With that, I could guess she wants this to be her purpose perhaps?

"because I don't want to stay here any longer"

"Why you?!"

The shopkeeper became angry. I, on the other hand, let out a light laugh. I stood up and walked towards the woman, who was the same height, even though she was older than me. 

"What can you do?"

"Logistics, accounting, marketing and I can be your secretary."

I looked at the shopkeeper and when we met gazes he checked his tablet and nodded, so she's speaking the truth huh. 

"your name?"

"... Sophia"

I looked at the shopkeeper and pointed at Sophia

"I'll get her"

"I-i see!"

Things were happening too fast for him to interfere and correct Sophia's attitude, but since I'm here he let it be because having a slavery business you will meet a lot of different customers. 

"would you want more slaves, my dear customer?"

"No not for now"

"Then here is her price and her Mana contract"

Her mana contract huh, now I'll get to put my conditions and since this is a slave contract she wouldn't get a chance to have a say on it. 

She's prized for 20 Blue points huh? That's her value for these people huh. Oh well, it didn't matter. 

I started stating my terms in the contract and double-checked it. All of this is very advantageous for me, not a single merit for the other party. 

"Do you want something, Sophia?"

"...May I?"

"Yeah, but only one though"

"then… I'd like to have the access to every book out there, and not to be disturbed when I'm reading"

When I looked at Sophia she had this mature radiance surrounding her, her solemn expression also added to her mature stature. 

Oh well, this is better. So I just added another clause to the contract. A single action like a betrayal is possible if you put a worker in a shitty environment. Even if she dies after committing the act of betrayal I'm still going to take a loss. 

So to prevent that, let's make her work in a humane environment. I'm not taking any chances. 

"Alright, the transaction is complete have a good day customer~"

The shopkeeper seemed happy, well I left after buying Sophia. 

"You'll start in a week. So come with me for now"

Now that I think of it, why are there always girls and women that surround me, am I unfriendly to men? I mean I did crush Fermund's jaw but… still. 

Well if his jaw was a totem of some sort then I'm sorry.

"Sophia"

"Yes?"

"Do you know any Shops or vendors that sell masks?"

"Yes, do you want to see them now?"

Without hesitation, she asked me what kind of mask I wanted, after confirming what I wanted she led me to an alleyway that would lead to an unseen vendor on the corner. 

"Why hello you lads"

I'm pretty sure they don't let out slaves off their shop unless they're ordered to. And also, even though they're slaves, they can't say it due to the contract. That's their shackles, the mana contract. 

"My master wants a mask"

"Oh? What kinda mask do yer' want?"

The vendor looked at me. 

"one that covers my face and gives me a new identity"

"ho ho ho! certainly!"

He reached into his bag instead of the items he had on the ground for display and gave me a white mask, it was so plain that my mind went blank and questioned its authenticity. 

"Don't worry lad, this mask has an illusion type magic"

And as if reading my mind he continues 

"anyone that looked at you while wearing this would think there is a fog on yer face"

"How much is it?"

"Haha! It's about 200 Blue points for ya!"

200,000 C huh, alright that's a bargain. 

"I gave it that price if ya'd do me a favour"

"let's hear it"

"only and only refer to one person when ya telling about my business, ye?"

Is it this type of shop where they only get customers from invited or referred people? If I looked at Sophia, whose face has no emotions. 

"Yes can do"

I gave him the 200 bp's well that's enough shopping from this bluelights. The actual market is quite good but the online market still has its charm. 

Now with that done I grabbed the mask and changed my own. I looked at Sophia who was staring at me. 

"What do you see?"

"A blurry… yes a blurry head"

I see. That's all I needed to hear. The vendor said it's a [{C}Tier] equipment, which I fully believe. It consumes mana though but not at an alarming rate. 

"Let's go, Sophia"

It's really hard to think of Sophia as a slave since the only evidence of her being so is the slave contract. 

With all of that, I gave Anna a phone call giving her a heads up. After a few words were exchanged I went back with Sophia back to the warehouse, but since Sophia has a radiant glow I gave her a hoodie. 

***

"Boss, we've tracked the man down"

"Keep an eye on him"

Riley was on high alert and is racking the last bit of juice he has on his brain. He knew that the best choice for the child named Damian was to lay low after being hunted by the Mafia but instead he was keeping close tabs on him. 

It was a situation he did not predict. And right now he was just under his nose, lurking. 

"Dammit!"

Riley was on his wit's end. Trying to find a way. He is just a [-D] that's how far he can go, if ever someone with a fighting prowess such as Damian does hunt him he will die, as he is never good at fighting. 

His Skill. 

===

[{A}Double words][Active]

–Words of truth and lies are mixed in every speech you say, your words exude confidence that adds to your charisma. 

  ►Charisma will multiply according to your Eloquence. 

===

Is just a skill that would add to his charisma, his overall rank is up to [-D] simply because he has exercised for it. He did not train in any type of martial arts as he was confident that all he needed was his words. 

But this Kid, this kid he kidnapped that he was supposed to talk his way to get the warehouse murdered every single guard that he placed on his warehouse. 

They were supposed to talk, well if not he could rely on drastic measures but he will get hunted for it. Even If he does get hunted he could just hide, he has a lot of connections anyway. 

But ever since he got involved with that kid. Things went down so fast that Riley didn't have time to prepare for it. It's like a sudden crash in the stock market. 

"Is he hunting me?"

Now Riley isn't sure if the victim of his actions is hunting him, a twelve-year-old at that. He can't underestimate this kid either, the autopsy of his subordinates all have similar injuries. 

A hole in the middle of their brows. 

Even the Elite guards who he deployed who were [-A] got killed by his hands, a hole in the middle of their brows. 

Clasping his hands together, Riley bent down sitting on a chair, letting his forehead rest on his hands. 

Jin then came into the room, his footsteps silent but let the door do the noise to introduce his presence, and came in with a tea set in his hands. 

"Godfather, would you like some tea?"

"... Yes, please"

Riley fixed his posture, he looked like a noble. His brown hair brushed back and his slightly wrinkled face makes him charismatic like a man who has faced many hardships. 

He looked at Jin with his brown eyes. The shade of the lamp that illuminates the room made him more charismatic. 

Jin on the other hand is screaming excitement in his head seeing the scenery before him

'As expected, Godfather is very handsome!'

He isn't showing any emotions on his face other than a light smile, but if he can voice out his thoughts then he would also have hearts in his eyes. 

Jin started preparing tea and poured Riley a cup. Riley with his dignified stature lifted the cup with grace and drank it with good manners. 

"As always, your tea is good"

"Such words are wasted on me"

Even though Jin said this in his head, thoughts are something that should be kept hidden. But his expressions haven't changed at all. 

'Godfather has complimented me! I'd die for you! I can die right now! Godfather has complimented me!!'

Jin kept all these thoughts to himself though. 

"Jin, tell me what happened to the 13th group we had in the Northern district?"

"We have no clear report as what they saw is completely a Grey tiger"

'Strange'

Ever since Riley ever got caught with Damian that his misfortune started accumulating, and right now they just found a dungeon unregistered to any government affiliates, so he is trying to take control of it and make as much income as possible with it. 

But one thing has been stopping them from doing so. There is a grey tiger within. The woods of green. And there's no clear witness for it. 

Riley could hire some people to exterminate the tiger but it could also lead to loss, they don't know the actual threat the grey tiger could bring to them. So it's better to be cautious. 

"Ah-"

"what is it?"

Jin suddenly opened his mouth, like he just remembered something. 

"We've found one of the brat's little brothers"

"Are you crazy? They're protected by the military at all times!"

Riley glared but Jin kept his face straight. 

"He has a schedule where he goes out of the military base"

Jin smiled, he exudes confidence that Riley couldn't help but get curious. 

"And?"

"His name is Ezekiel Vogue, and… every Friday he goes out to buy a fried chicken bucket from one of the vendors near the Military base, it's quite far though."

'it's quite far though' Jin was implying that the time they could take Ezekiel and leave, was enough time for them to kidnap without getting caught. 

But Riley hesitated for a moment. Ezekiel is a Vogue here. With a thorough background check, Riley learned that all the Vogue bloodline has survived the most dangerous situations, especially Damian. With the recent case of his kidnapping as proof. 

"Hmm.. "

"Godfather?"

"No, let's not do that. Let's not take any chances"

With that Jin tilted his head, it was a chance after all and Riley was throwing it away in Jin's mind. But Riley knows better, and it was the right decision. 

But unfortunately for Riley, Loyalty was Jin's weakness. 

As he already took Ezekiel with him yesterday. 

***

[Friday, 7:11 Pm]

Ezekiel was going to buy some bucket of fried chicken, it would be their dinner, and he buys this out of habit as Damian always bought it every Friday for them. 

"I can have some. Spicy chickens too… "

Ezekiel started to drool but shook his head and focused on his errand. He had to walk two streets worth of distance so he could get to the vendor. 

As Ezekiel kept his stride his senses suddenly ringed, he could feel someone was watching him. 

'... It should be fine.'

But the more he walked and the distance between him and the military outpost started getting farther the eyes watching over him became stronger. 

'I think I should head back and have someone walk with me'

But before even Ezekiel could turn around, a hand with a wet cloth covered his mouth and nose. 

"mmph!"

Ezekiel tried to resist but the hand over him was simply too strong. 

"I'm sorry kid, but your brother was getting cocky you see… he needs to know his place"

Ezekiel, thinking about the damp cloth covering his nose, decided to stop resisting and limped like he was lifeless. 

"kekeke…"

Ezekiel remembered one of the soldiers in the outpost. 'if you ever get kidnapped don't let them know what you can do, and loud noises will irritate them, so make sure to stay quiet and use that time to think'

Ezekiel, who was being held by someone strong, knew he couldn't win in this situation. So he decided to act unconsciously. 

"..."

Moments later a van drove beside them and stopped. Letting the man in along with Ezekiel. Ezekiel has just dropped off the floor of the van. 

"I know you're not unconscious~"

Ezekiel felt his heartbeat race as he tried his best not to be obvious. He still didn't change his expression. 

"Kekeke… I'm sorry godfather but I couldn't cool my head when I know some stray dog couldn't keep his hands to himself"

He just heard the man who's in the same space as him laugh, the reason Ezekiel's heartbeat is racing is not that he's nervous. 

It's because he's angry

'How dare he!? How dare he call brother a dog!'

Two negatives met that day, and they aren't going to make a positive.