Chapter 9

Two weeks before the arrival of Mavro in Rosaceae City.

A robust man with scar on his mouth crossed the room in a couple of strides. "Lady Maria, here's the document you requested," he said as he hand over a meticulously compiled sheets of paper to the woman in front of him.

The woman extended her hand and took the document. She placed it on the desk and flipped it page by page. Her hand stop moving. Between the page, there was a letter. She took the letter out, opened it, and read.

"We got some new kids, be prepared." A smirk formed across her face.

"How many will it be?"

"Six."

"When will they arrived?"

"In a month."

"Understood." The man bowed down. He turned around and walked out of the room leaving the woman sitting all alone.

Maria stared at the letter in her hand. "Mysteriously attractive, you said," she mumbled. She put down the letter and get up from the chair and strolled toward the small table near the window.

She reached for the bottle of crimson wine on the table and poured out the red liquid into the wine glass. A faint whiff of grapefruit lingered in the air. She pick up the glass and took a sip. "Somehow it taste bitter. How unusual," she said.

Her eyes was caught by the serene blue sky adorned with fluffy white clouds. She squinted her eyes. "So calm," she whispered, "how unpleasant."

On the bright day light when the sun shines and the sky was blue, the city was muted by its tired and sleepy citizen. Only a few remained awake as they find solitude in the calm daylight.

***

The arrival day of Mavro in Rosaceae City.

"That man was too much, wasn't he? A young maiden? A pure young woman? How can there be a pure girl left in a place like this. His demand is too absurd!" The woman stomped into the room followed by a man with scar on his mouth.

"Does that mean, you'll give up the business this time?" the man said. He placed a stack of document on the desk.

"Urgh… it will be such a loss if we were to let go of this." She sat on the sofa in the middle of the room. "Wait… no… not really… we do have the person. A pure girl, untainted yet. He's coming tonight, wasn't he. He does said there was an older girl among the children."

"My lady, you want to send that girl?"

"If the girl was as he said, then we could just use her. The girl get the job and I get what I want."

"What if the girl doesn't live up to the standard?"

"I do have my doubt. But, Bruce was a man that only know beautiful woman. He got the standard, even I admit that. Ted was his right hand, I'm sure that man have the same eyes as Bruce. After all, he and Bruce was cut from the same cloth."

Rick was silence. He know better than anyone that Maria was a woman that will do anything to achieve her goal. The business she currently discussed have not yet reached any agreement, and it was all because the merchant insisted on something Maria did not have. A pure young woman. Although all the girls in Calla Lillies brothel was exceptionally charming, they were all far from pure and had lost their chastity. Thus, even if she doubt the deal that the lowly pirate offered to her, and even planned to reject the offer if it were not up to the standard, now she had to accept it.

"It's just a young maiden, I'm sure we can get it somehow."

***

As usual, Maria dressed up her best. No matter when, she never forget to beautify herself. For her, she is the best asset that need to be flaunt. Rick and another two big bulky man accompanied Maria.

The city had three gate. The main gate that was used as the check point for people going in and out of the city. The back gate was mainly used by the lord of the city. The third gate was actually built for emergency but had been forgotten by the people. Maria had found the gate by chance and had been using it to smuggled people in and out of the city. This was also their meeting point with Ted.

When Maria arrived at the meeting point, they heard the sound of clip clop from horses and the image of a wagon slowly taking it shape. The wagon stopped a meters away from them.

A man step out from the wagon. He grinned from ear to ear. His eyes did not hide his lust.

"I could have never imagined that the infamous Lady Maria herself would come to receive this humble man." Ted walked closer toward Maria with a foolish grin on his face. He thought in his mind, 'no wonder such beauty would be the top woman in this city for a long time, who could resist such charm.'

Maria looked at Ted from top to bottom. She smirked. 'Average.' That is the only word she used to describe Ted. A thought flashed in her mind. 'Wonder what the rumored leader look like.'

"No need to be polite. Where's the goods?" she demanded. She didn't want to waste time with the man in front of her. 'Not worthy.'

Ted snorted. "No need to be in such a rush. The goods won't run." He turned around and looked at his men. "Bring out the kids."

One of the two men in the wagon get off from the wagon. The first man stood outside while the other man inside the wagon passed the children. The first man grabbed the children from the second man and lined them up.

Maria watched them from where she stood. It was dark but the dim light from the city and their lantern was enough for her to see. Her eyes widen as she saw the last child getting off from the wagon.

The child was taller and bigger that the other in the group, so she must be the oldest among them. The child have long wavy scarlet hair, and gray eyes that shines and full of innocence and purity. Despite her haggard appearance, her white and youthful smooth skin remain untainted.

Maria sneered. Her eyes flickered. 'I used to look like that too in the past… no, better than that.'

Maria's gaze moved up and down as she stared down the girl. Their eyes met. Maria's lips curled up in amusement. 'Such bad temper.'

Ted ogling Maria's body. He noticed Maria was looking at the children. He followed Maria's gaze and realized that the woman was staring at the oldest child.

"Lady, the kids are all yours. Once the exchange is done, you have absolute control over the kids," he said, giving off the lecherous grin.

Aretha gritted her teeth and clutched on her shirt. Her eyebrows wrinkled and her eyes burned with anger. 'Bullshit! Who does they think they are to have absolute authority on us! Scoundrel!'

The three young girls sniffled and trembled in fear. The boys clenched their fist, lowered their head, wondering why were they so weak. The children had always living in the warmth embrace of their loving family and peaceful community. However, upon meeting Ted, their survival instinct screamed, telling them to get away from this man. This must be the so-called 'bad adults' that grandma Andrea used to tell them.

Maria chuckled. She held her head high. She waved her hand. Rick, who had been standing behind Maria, step to the front. He held out a big pouch and flung it toward Ted.

The jingling sound brings happiness toward it receiver. Ted smiled. How could he not be happy. What they get from their 'robbery' was shared with everyone on the ship, and used for their ship, meals and accommodation. Ted was never satisfied. Now, it's different. It's his personal wealth, not to be given to the group. It was his and his alone.

"1,340 gold coins, as promised," Maria said.

"You must be happy with the quality of the product." Ted snickered.

"It is indeed mysteriously charming. You keep your word, I keep my promise." Maria shrugged.

"Then, you should also look forward for our future deal."

"I hope you can keep the quality as good as this one."

"I will, I will."

Maria looked at her side. "Rick."

Rick instructed the two big bulky man to bring the children to one of Maria's many building.

________________________

*Little Theater*

C.Udon : "Let's learn a bit about the currency, shall we?"

Aretha nodded : "There are six type of currency being used in the whole continent. They are Iron coin, Copper coin, Silver coin, Gold coin, Large Gold coin, and Platinum coin."

C.Udon : "That's quite a lot… （⊙ｏ⊙）How much Iron coin do I need to have to get 5 silver coin?"

Aretha : 10 Iron coin equal to 1 Copper coin. 10 Copper coin equal to 1 Silver coin. 10 Silver coin equal to 1 Gold coin. 10 Gold coin equal to 1 Large Gold coin. 100 Large Gold coin equal to 1 Platinum coin. To answer your question, 5 Silver coin will need 500 Iron coin."

C.Udon : "There's a lot to say, but whatever… does 10 iron coins enough for me to buy a bread?"

Aretha : "More than enough. Baguette cost 2 iron coins per piece, and you can get soft bread at 5 iron coins per piece."

C.Udon : "How did Maria set the price for a human, then?"

Maria : "You should be asking me that question. 1000 gold coins for the oldest. 100 per person for the little girls, and 20 per person for the boys."

Aretha : …

C.Udon : "Despicable! The worst!!! (╯‵□′)╯︵┻━┻ F&@#$%!"