086 PLAYING HARD TO GET

086 PLAYING HARD TO GET

"Ridiculous! That's no way to run a brothel," Bastiqah muttered.

Elai chuckled. "This game is for the patient. Winning a courtesan's heart is the latest thrill in Sodom."

"Why do I feel that winning the courtesan isn't the real reward, it's those scum trying to show off their talents", Bastiqah said about those rich patrons eager to show off their talents.

"That is reasonable. Pride may be as sinful as Lust", Lord Elai said.

"But I can't string together a single line of poetry," Bastiqah admitted, his eyes betraying his frustration.

"Not to worry," Elai said, ushering him toward a staircase leading down. "For the less patient, there are other diversions in this establishment."

They descended into the shadowed basement, where something akin to a slave market awaited where beautiful young flesh were marketed inside metal cages.

"What is this?" Bastiqah asked, his eyes widening.

"First, we wear these," Elai said, handing him a mask.

"Why hide our faces?"

"Because not everyone wants the city to know they've come to Court la Mood's infamous flesh market," Elai replied, putting on his own mask.

Around them, patrons moved among rows of beautiful young slaves up for bidding.

Once bought, each patron led their prize into lavish stable like partitions divided only by delicate curtains, where they could indulge in and do as they please with the flesh they bought under the watchful eyes of their neighbors and the moaning sound of the slaves.

The lack of privacy and the fear of getting caught heightened their adrenalines and increased their pleasure.

"Why do I have an urge to sin in this place?" Lord Bastiqah asked.

"There is another name for this place, the Realm of Lust", Elai replied.

-----

"Unbelievable! The Court la Mood has only been open a month, and we've already seen more customers than we did in a year," Madam Make-me-love said, beaming.

"Make-me-love, you might want a new name to match the Court's theme," Yun-Yun suggested.

Madam grinned. "What, like 'Make-me-money'? Ha!"

"How about Madame Butterfly?" Leo offered.

"Then what about the old fool, Make-me-fuc..ck?"

"Mr. Cicada?"

"Perfect," Grangya said as she finalized the month's accounts.

"So, did we make a profit?" Yun-Yun asked.

"Absolutely—we're swimming in fucking silver," Grangya replied.

"These women you brought here are extraordinary. Truly the perfect courtesans," Mr. Cicada remarked, referring to the Roses, who had eagerly embraced their new roles.

The Roses were no ordinary women. Born with a unique constitution, they were destined to serve as sacrifices for demons—a grim fate that hung over them like a shadow. However, Leo had no intention of using them for such a purpose.

For years, the Roses' lives had been idle, their existence reduced to waiting for a dreadful end as sacrifice for demons.

When news of the grand opening of Court la Mood reached them, it felt like a spark of hope. Here was an opportunity to forge a new path. Without hesitation, they volunteered to become courtesans.

Under their former employer, Madame la Rosa, the Roses had lived under strict rules, forbidden from enjoying the company of men. But now, at Court la Mood, they have found freedom.

They could charm and entertain as they pleased, earning both admiration and, well, monetary compensation. Importantly, they had the power to refuse any client they didn't favor—a luxury they had never known before under Madame la Rosa.

For the Roses, this was a reclamation of joy and purpose. In their eyes, it was the ultimate win-win.

"Yes, we finally found a purpose for the Roses. They have been a drain on the family's resources", Kasshyek commented with a satisfying grin.

"Making money is not the real purpose we set up this establishment", Yun-Yun reminded.

"Yes, the lust generated here is more than enough to regenerate my Lust counters, I'm never short of them while I'm here," Leo remarked, satisfied.

"Strangely, even my Pride counter is rising quickly even when I did nothing. I wonder why", Grangya wondered.

"It could be because of the poetry challenge, each proud talent trying to outshine each other generating pride", Leo opined and laughed.

"This is a sinful place- lust, pride, greed, they all converge here, hahaha", Kasshyek added.

"The Court la Mood is an extension of the dungeon, so it's sin also recharges the magic of the Dungeon of Lust, " Yun-Yun added. "Now, we can support more magic and even people living inside the dungeon."

"People in the dungeon?" Leo asked.

"Right, I'll move the Amara women into the Dungeon. They don't have a home yet in Sodom and they can also guard the dungeon," Grangya said.

"That is wise", Yun-Yun agreed.

"Same with the Gullee family, our soldiers should move to the Court," Leo agreed.

Kasshyek sighed, "We're moving again? We just got settled in our new place."

After coming to Sodom, Leo bought a mansion for his soldiers to live. It became the new headquarters of the Gullee family.

"This is our business now," Leo said. "Our family belongs here."

"The old master would be shocked to see his family business transformed into a brothel," Kasshyek muttered.

"He'll be even more shocked at how fucking wealthy his family is now," Grangya replied with a smirk.

"We can keep the house and do some small business there until he comes here. Father probably wouldn't be comfortable with our kind of business. He can do whatever he wants there", Leo added.

"I still can't believe we rebuilt our old Bagnio into such an impressive place in just a month, it's a miracle," said the newly named Madame Butterfly.

"With magic it's possible," Yun-Yun said simply.

-----

[During the renovation of Court la Mood]

"These designs are impossible! We don't have the resources or time to pull this off," Grangya protested to Yun-Yun.

"I based them on the finest brothel in Eastern Kun. The exotic theme will be a surprise for our customers," Yun-Yun insisted.

"We can't build this, we don't have the money and the time," Grangya said again, shaking her head.