CH.307 Bringing in Tray
<span style="font-weight:400">For the rest of the day, I let Tray and his servants test out some of the more umon parts of HomeBase. Not that anything about HomeBase is exactlymon, but things like the massive bathing area, which is basically a spa, as well as the sauna are not something that I’ve ever seen in a noble’s manor before. Even the hastily put together arcade is something you probably can’t have anywhere else, even if the arcade is not really that good yet. This world''s level system breaks most arcade games I was nning on making, unless I make some sort of level based difficulty system. But even that wouldn’t be fair, as people with more magic based skills would be at a massive disadvantage against people with more physical builds.
<span style="font-weight:400">So yeah. Things like bowling and darts weren’t really great, but that was basically all we had for now. Well, the pool table was rtively fair, but even with that, more strength usually means more uracy. Unless you are too strong and identally break the balls, Agunan.
<span style="font-weight:400">In case you were wondering, from our few test games, Wilma was the best pool yer. She has great uracy with her shots, and knows how to control her strength.
<span style="font-weight:400">What was I talking about again? Oh right, Tray and his crew.
<span style="font-weight:400">I did get some minor feedback from them, like some of them finding the sauna great, while an unmentioned person found it to be torture. But they did all enjoy the other services in the spa, even if the massage station wasn’t open due tock of personnel. Of course on purpose.
<span style="font-weight:400">For dinner, I again ate with Tray. This time we ate some chicken breasts from Crimson Sunbird. Crimson Sunbird is a chicken, right? At least close enough.
Spoiler
[copse]
<span style="font-weight:400">I was thinking of making fried chicken, but I think that might be a bit too exotic. Well, I do still have the thighs in my Storage, so I might still do thatter.
<hr>
<span style="font-weight:400">“Is Lady Watchman noting with us?” Tray asked, as we were ready to leave HomeBase and return to Burch city.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Alice is busy today, so she cannot.” I told him. Though if things go as I’ve nned, he’ll see Alice soon enough. Not that he will like her after that.
<span style="font-weight:400">“I see. That is a shame.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“It really is. I’ll call our ride now.” I said, as I got a card out of my Collection. I then ced it on my founder’s terminal, before I said its name. “B.E.S. Tetran.”
Spoiler
[copse]
<span style="font-weight:400">I was using Tetran again, just so I wouldn’t show my entire hand to Tray. Well, more like my entire Collection. We all got on Tetran, and because Tray didn’t question it this time, it happened very quickly and we were off.
<hr>
<span style="font-weight:400">We returned to the city and I beamed us down at the yard of the same mansion we left from. Then I unsummoned Tetran.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Lord Wood, if you would please wait a bit. I shall prepare a carriage for us, so we can go the the ve house.” Tray told me as he walked off.
<span style="font-weight:400">I was left with one of his ‘guards’ and twodies. It looked more like they were here to keep an eye on me, than to serve me.
<span style="font-weight:400">Luckily it didn’t take too long for Tray to return in a carriage. One of thedies that was keeping an eye on me opened the door, and I stepped into the carriage.
<span style="font-weight:400">We had a ride through town, which took way longer than it really should have. Partially because the driver was taking some dumbass route, that wasted a lot of time. I think it was meant to confuse me, so I wouldn’t know where we were going, but it didn’t work against Laura’s mapping. She had the entire city already mapped out, so following where we were wasn’t all that difficult.
<span style="font-weight:400">After the carriage came to a stop, the door soon opened. Tray was the first to step out, and I followed. Waiting for us was a group of four armed men. And about six women, in not at all subtle outfits. All of the women had a visible ve seal, but all of them looked like the legit ve seal, not the illegal one.
<span style="font-weight:400">I followed Tray inside the building we had stopped by. It was quite arge house, but not quite as big as the mansion the nken Company owns. Stillrge enough to house multiple families, I’d say.
<span style="font-weight:400">After being led inside, Tray told me to sit at a couch in some sort of parlor room, so of course I did. He then quickly began bringing ves into the room to show me. I guess he didn’t want to waste any more time, or something.
<span style="font-weight:400">I was both taking stock of potential workers, as well as making sure to carefully check each visible ve mark. But even after the first 20, no illegal marks. There were a few people I could see myself buying at least, so not all was lost. I told Tray as much, but I said I’d want to see everything that was avable, before I decided who to buy. It pained me a bit to refer to people as products, but I think that was the best choice I could make.
<hr>
<span style="font-weight:400">“Did any of them suit your fancy?” Tray asked, after he had shown me a total of 36 ves. All had the legal ve mark, so no hits just yet.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Yes. I could see myself purchasing a few of them.” I first answered honestly. “But they don’t seem like the ‘imports’ you spoke about back at my Home. Where are they?” I then bluntly asked.
<span style="font-weight:400">“So you really do want to see them. I suppose some prefer them.” Tray said as he got up from his seat. “I don’t usually show them to first time customers, but I can make an exception. Follow me please.”
<span style="font-weight:400">I did as requested and got up.
<span style="font-weight:400">Tray led me through the house, opening a door. Behind that door was a staircase that led to a basement, and we entered.
<span style="font-weight:400">The basement was just a bit dark, but Tray put his hand on a light switch and turned on dim magic lights. We walked a bit deeper, until he opened a door. Behind it, a small room split in two by iron bars.
<span style="font-weight:400">Behind the bars was a group of three people, all females from what I could tell. And they all had one other thing inmon, under their long hair, I could just see pointy ears poking out.
<span style="font-weight:400">If I were to guess, they are elves. I’ve never seen them before and this definitely isn’t how I wanted to meet that race.
<span style="font-weight:400">On the elves chest, a red ve mark. A specific kind of ve mark that happened to be illegal in this country.
<span style="font-weight:400">“May I ask about them?” I requested.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Of course. What can I tell you about them? Do you wish to know if they are pure?”
<span style="font-weight:400">Pure. What a word to use in this situation. Just be straight with me and use the word virgin.
<span style="font-weight:400">“That is of little interest to me, as I have my own girls.” I honestly told him. “I wish to know why they are ves, and about their skills.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“... I see. Well, I wouldn’t know much about their origins, as the nken Company purchased them from a trusted ve trader in their country. The man likes to keep the details to a minimum, so we do not know. I hope you understand.” Tray exined. “The blonds are have some experience with Spirit Magic, while the one with lime hair is a reasonably skilled archer, with the Wind Magic skill. They all are also trained in basic etiquette as far as service goes, including night service.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“... I see. They are quite good then.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Would you like them, Lord Wood?”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Yes. I do think I could take them.” I told him. I may as well purchase them and then free them. Then I can either take them home, or offer them a job at HomeBase. And getting Tray’s hopes up should be a good thing. “But I do wish to see more imports. I hope this wasn’t all of them.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“No. Of course not.” Tray quickly said. “Let us head to the next room.”
<hr>
<span style="font-weight:400">There were five rooms holding these imported ves. In total, seventeen ves. Out of them, all but one had the illegal mark.
<span style="font-weight:400">They varied in race as well. There were of course the elves, but there were also plenty of beastfolk of different varieties, and even one dwarf. I really want the dwarf, as he is an older male, so having him work with Wilma should be good. As for the beastfolk, there were three catfolk, two dogfolk, four foxfolk and four horsefolk. The horsefolk were quite interesting, as I think they can evolve into centaurs.
<span style="font-weight:400">“So, which would you like?” Tray asked after our tour wasplete and we had returned to the parlor room.
<span style="font-weight:400">“All of them.” I just said.
<span style="font-weight:400">“... All? Are you?”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Yes. I’ll take them all. How much?” I just asked. I was done getting evidence, as well as buying time, so let’s just get this show on the road.
<span style="font-weight:400">“I do hope you understand that ves like this are quite…”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Just give me a price.” I cut him off. “So how much? 1,000 gold? 10,000? Give me a number.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“... alright then. If you do have that much. For all of them, 8,000 gold.” Tray said.
<span style="font-weight:400">“8,000, huh? That is fine. Can I bring the money out here, or do you want it in another ce?”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Eh? Here is fine, but…”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Alrighty then.” I said, as I began piling gold coins on the table between us.
<span style="font-weight:400">Piles of ten gold coins each, one right next to the other. The table was quickly filling up and I was honestly afraid it would break. But before the table could break, something else happened.
<span style="font-weight:400">Knock, knock.
<span style="font-weight:400">Loud knocking could be heard from the direction of the front entrance.
<span style="font-weight:400">Quickly after that, a ve servant came and whispered something into Tray’s ear.
<span style="font-weight:400">Tray then turned to me and said: “I apologize, Lord Wood. But there is something that needs my attention. I’ll return shortly.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Alright. I’ll take out the rest of the gold while I wait.” I told him, with no intention of doing just that. I know exactly who is at the door, so there is no need. Well, there is a bit of something I need to do, so let’s get on with it.
<span style="font-weight:400">I got up from my seat and quickly took all of the gold coins from the table back into my Storage.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Sir? What are you doing?” The ve that was keeping an eye on me asked.
<span style="font-weight:400">“I wouldn’t worry about it if I were you.” I told her.
<span style="font-weight:400">I then quickly left the room and headed for the door leading to the basement. Once there, I took a card out of my Collection and activated it. Now that the insurance policy is in ce, I can leave the rest to Alice.
<hr>
<h4><strong>Alice POV</strong></h4>
<span style="font-weight:400">“We are here to do an inspection. Here are the papers for it.” Big Sis Mariina said to Tray, when he finally arrived at the door. The papers were fully legitimate, signed by Baron Pineda, the person whose house Mariina had been staying at. It was pretty easy to talk him into writing up inspection papers when Mariina told him that there was use of the illegal ve mark in this city.
<span style="font-weight:400">It wasn’t just us two, but also a group of 10 knights from the city''s knight order.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Y— Yes. Of course. Come right on in.” Tray said to us.
<span style="font-weight:400">After we got back inside, he quickly told us about having a customer and having to get back to them, so he tried to go to somewhere and leave showing us around to a ve. But after he entered the room Brian was in a bit ago and seeing the table cleared of all the gold coins Brian put there, he began to really panic.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Why don’t you show us the imports, Tray?” I asked him, with the line Brian taught me yesterday. I don’t really know why I had to say that, but he was quite insistent.
<span style="font-weight:400">Tray finally realized that I was with the group, and I could see the color leaving his face.
<span style="font-weight:400">“I-I-Imports? Wh-what would you be referring to, Lady Watchman?”
<span style="font-weight:400">“The ves in the basement, what else? Or do you need me to be more specific? What was it? Three elves, a dwarf, three catfolk, two dogfolk, four foxfolk and four horsefolk. I think that was it.” I recapped the info we got from Brian. “Well, I guess one of the foxfolk had the legal seal, so we can forget that one.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“H-how did you?”
<span style="font-weight:400">“You think you will just be ignored forever? The System and the Goddess will not let you get away with this for any longer.” I told him. It felt really good to say something like that.
<span style="font-weight:400">At first, it almost seemed like Tray was ready to surrender, but then it seemed as if the color he had lost suddenly returned to his face.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Ha. Ha, ha ha.” He then began tough. “You really think that is it? You cane here and say things like that and that will make me surrender? No! Never!”
<span style="font-weight:400">“There is no point in this.” One of the male knights said. “You have basically admitted to your crimes. Thispany will be audited and you will be lucky if you just lose everything you own.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Ha, ha, ha. Really? Do you really think that is the case? You forget one little reality. Bitch Watchman there should know it, considering that her ‘love’ has illegal ves.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Almost, but you are misinformed. Brian actually freed Einar and Eline, and they are now just workers. The ve marks on them were just red paint.” I corrected him. “But I know what you are trying to say. With just a word, you could order the ves in the basement to kill themselves. So why don’t you go ahead and try it? You’ll see just how worthless your little mark is in the face of the Goddess.” I egged Tray on, so he would go even further. Brian was already in position, so even if this guy tried, nothing would happen.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Really thinking the Goddess would do anything? You think She would care? Who do you think you are? The Hero? She doesn’t care about us. We are nothing but cattle to her.” Tray said, but I know that isn’t true. Even if we cannot see her work in our everyday lives, I know the Goddess is real and is working hard to keep us all safe from the terrors we don’t even know about.
<span style="font-weight:400">“All ves I own. Kill yourselves now!” We all heard Traymand.
<span style="font-weight:400">I really hope all of them are in this house, or we might actually have some dead bodies somewhere.
<span style="font-weight:400">“And now you have no hostages.” I told him. “Now what?”
<span style="font-weight:400">“...” Tray didn’t answer. Maybe he just realized that there is nothing keeping us from killing him, if he has no hostages. Not that we will.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Alright.” Mariina spoke up. “Tie him up. Let’s go check out this basement of his.”
<hr>
<span style="font-weight:400">We entered the basement by using the directions Brian gave me. And he was there waiting for us.
<span style="font-weight:400">I gave him a quick hug, as the knights dragged Tray into the basement. I wanted to show him what was behind these doors.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Hah. Go ahead and see, little Watchman. Your arrogance got all of those people killed.” Tray taunted me, as I approached one of the doors.
<span style="font-weight:400">“I wouldn’t be so sure.” I said, as I opened the door. Behind it, I saw the cell, just like I had been told. And in it, three perfectly alive elf girls.
<span style="font-weight:400">As Tray saw the alive elves, his eyes once again went wide.
<span style="font-weight:400">“As I said, your little mark is nothingpared to the power of the Goddess.”
<span style="font-weight:400">This was game over for Tray, possibly the entire nken Company.