Motion

Volya, Romain, Markos follow the staff of the brothels to one room. When entering the room they see a lit chandelier on top, a wooden desk with a lot of documents in front of them, two drawers, and a board with a lot of girls' names on it.

When Markos looked at the board he found the name of the girl that Reginald requested. It even mentioned which one that already requested, on leave, or work.

Volya looks at the drawers and is quite surprised to see some of the items there. But before he could look at them more closely, he hears someone saying with a smooth voice,

"A man shouldn't look around a woman possessions without her permission,"

Volya, Romain, and Markos look surprised to hear that and look behind them. They see a woman around her 50-ish wearing a black dress and have short silver hair.

Volya then bows at her and says,

"I'm really sorry about it... I..."

"Ohohohoho... Don't worry. I know that you must be wondering why I called all of you here," said the old woman

"That's right..."

"And I could see that you are a type of person that could see or predict the type of person based on how the room looks like. And maybe how a person acts around you,"

Volya only stays silent for a moment because everything that the old woman said is true.

The old woman smiles at Volya and then passes through the other to the desk. When they passed through them, Volya could feel something from her and the same goes to Markos. The feeling that death is near them.

Romain sees that Markos is on alert and at the same time Volya continues to observe her. She then sits on the chair and introduces herself,

"Let me introduce myself... My name is Alma Taylor, the owner of this brothel,"

The three of them bow at her and could see that she is smiling at them. Alma then continues,

"And judging from all of your faces, I could say that all of you still wonder why I call you here..."

"Yes, we are," answer Markos

"And I believe, Lord Lawrence send all of you to request some of my kids," continues Alma

"Yes..." answer Romain

Alma smiles at them and then asks them,

"Then could you introduce yourself, as it's impolite for us to not tell our name to each other,"

Markos peeks at Volya and sees that he agrees with that. Markos then the first one to introduce himself,

"My name is Markos Luis. An adventurer..."

"A well-known adventurer from around Ostonorid with a splendid record under his belt. One of the records was leading a group of adventurers to eliminate a group of feral bears," said Alma suddenly as she smiled at Markos.

Markos looks really surprised to hear that from Alma. Volya and Romain look at each other and then Volya says,

"It seems like... You already know our name..."

"Not really... Maybe I just know him because he is from Ostonorid," replied Alma

Romain then looks at Volya and then says,

"Then... Let me introduce myself... My name is Romain Ambros, an Adventurer from Haegia,"

"Ambros? That name indeed ring a bell for me..." said Alma

Markos and Romain prepare their hand on their sword hilt until Volya walks to the front. Alma sees him and asks him,

"Then what's your name, young man?"

"My name is Volya Portar, an Adventurer..." replied Volya

"Portar?"

"Yes, I am..."

Alma looks at Volya for a moment and then smiles at him. She then says,

"Ohohoho... I'm sorry if I scare all of you with my eyes..."

"That's alright..." replied Volya stills on alert

"My ages seems already taking its toll on my eyes,"

Alma then laughs a bit at them, while Markos and Romain start to lower their alertness on her. Except for Volya.

Romain then looks at Alma and then asks her,

"Then why did you call the three of us here? We are only a group of adventurers that being sent by our hirer to get some of your girls,"

"Ohohohohoho... I have a request to the three of you,"

Alma then stands up, walks to one of the cupboards in her room, and takes a notebook from it. She then continues,

"Could you protect my child from Sir Reginald Lawrence?"

"Eh?"

"Even though he is a regular customer, a lot of my girls are being treated inhumanely by him. That's why I call all of you here,"

Markos could feel she is hiding something from her request. Not only him, even Volya and Romain. Before any of them could ask her, she already says,

"I know that all of you still suspicious about me, the same goes to me,"

"..."

"Why did Sir Thomas Gill accept all of you to his mansion?"

"Eh?" said Markos with a surprised face

"Even the King and another Royal Mage in that mansion, including the King from Haegia,"

The three of them are preparing their weapon before they see Alma make a sign to stop. She then says,

"Ohohohohoho... Never underestimate an old woman like me,"

"How did you know that?" asked Volya

"Even the wall have an ear, my child," replied Alma

"You..."

"The same as you that is loved by this world... That Portar name indeed terrifying,"

Volya is immediately surprised when she mentions the name as if she is familiar with his foster father. Before he could ask anything, Alma already says,

"If you could protect them, I will tell you why I said this,"

"..."

"Will you accept my request?" asked Alma

Volya looks a bit hesitant until he notices Markos and Romain make a sign to accept it as they are in a disadvantageous situation now. Volya nods at them and lets Markos answered her,

"We will accept your request,"

"Good to hear that..." replied Alma as she sits on the chair once more

She then takes out a book and asks them,

"Did he specify which girls that he will rent?"

"Ah... It's Akantha Vlahos, Aliz Nagy, and Luca Farkaz," answered Markos.

"Hmmm... When did she need them?"

"This weekend," replied Volya

Alma nods at them and then puts the information on her book. Romain observes the book and notices something, there is a red bright circle inside the book. But, he didn't know what was inside the bright red circle.

Alma smiles and then says,

"You could rent them at the weekend,"

"Ah... Thank you," replied Romain

"What about the payment?"

"Ah... About that... You could pay it later after everything is done," replied Alma

Markos puts that on his notes and then hears Alma says,

"But, please remember to protect them,"

"We will," replied Markos with a smile

Alma smiles at them gently before she remembers something. She then says,

"Ah... I have one more request. Will you hear my other request?"

The three of them looked at each other and heard her last request. After hearing that, they show varying degrees of wants. But because they can't refuse, they accept it.

After they leave the room, they immediately go to the front desk to tell the result of their conversation with Alma.

Meanwhile, Alma looks at her notes and mumbles,

"A well-known adventurer, the first child of Ambros' family, and someone that seems to take his family name... What did you plan this time, Thomas?"

Alma then laughs a bit and continues,

"But at least they know what will happen if those people know about that meeting. What a wise choice,"

She then stands up, looking at outside, and says,

"Everything is in motion... Hopefully... We got our expected result... My King,"