Chapter 277 - The Ark Of Hairpin Girls

"Tell me the truth. Or I won't hesitate to destroy your lungs," bellowed Mavislin, gripping onto Clement's tie like a leash.

"Alright! I'll talk! Just, let me get some air..."​​

The angered girl threw away his tie before proceeding to the dining table. She then took a few things to eat, smoked salmon, four lobsters, and a bunch of gr.a.p.es.

Bryan abruptly woke up, looking left and right in a panic. He wasn't sure to feel relieved that he was alive or confused that Mavislin was enjoying her third round of food with a smile on her face. Clement was still shaken.

"Whenever you are ready, you can spill out the truth. However, if I haven't finished this table's food, and I still don't get anything from you," threatened Mavislin, holding up a lobster claw.

"I'll take this whole area down to darkness."

She finished her sentence by smashing the claw into tiny pieces with only two fingers.

"I'll talk... It started last month. A man came up to me to ask for some young girls in exchange for more p.r.o.s.t.i.t.u.t.es. He said that if I gave him healthy young girls, around the young a.d.u.l.t range, I would get more women," explained Clement, visibly worried and frightened.

"That doesn't make sense. Why would you trade healthy young girls in and accept the older ones? The market leans closer to young girls, and those were young girls that you threw out," questioned Mavislin, staring at Clement.

"There was also another thing he promised to give. Money. He promised a hefty sum of money if we gave him enough girls for the day. But he couldn't directly take the girls from us, since there is a fee payable."

"Fee? Couldn't you just, give him the girls?" asked Bryan, who seemed to be a bit dazed and confused.

"Trading fees apply to the wealthiest business of each domain. Even if you were to bend the rules and call it a gift, the Head of the Domain might still come after you and your livelihood," explained Mavislin, gently massaging Bryan's temples.

"However, if you toss them out, they would be considered as the Public's property. Thus, that man can take whoever he likes."

"But how would he know who to take? It can be other girls as well," quizzed Bryan.

"Hairpins. The hairpins were an indication so he wouldn't mistake the other girls as ours," replied Clement.

"So how did they pay you?" asked Mavislin.

"They didn't. That's why I mustered up the courage to lodge a complaint to Baron Tuazon. However, I did not expect that he would send someone like you to carry the investigation."

"You think I want to do this? You think I want to poke my wings into this business?" asked Mavislin, sounding quite pissed.

"Well, why did you take up the job anyway?" asked Clement, standing up.

"Because it is my duty."

Clement let out a frustrated sigh.

"This is why I hate getting the Mages involved. You send yourselves so high in your thrones that you give us commoners a headache," complained Clement, trying to pull out his hair.

"A headache? People as despicable as you give me a bigger headache!" yelled Bryan, unable to keep his cool.

"Who do you think you are, barging into our home and forcing everyone to obey you? And then when you do come and help, you claim that you have no care for us."

"I don't give a care if you were to die on the streets tomorrow. Frankly, I couldn't care less if you'd drop here dead! So much for asking for help," retorted Bryan.

"So which is which? Do you care? Or these things are so simple to you that you can't be bothered? Are our lives that insignificant to you?!" shouted Clement, slamming his hands down onto the table.

Bryan stood up and tried to shield his boss against Clement. But Mavislin gently asked him to back down by placing a hand on his shoulder.

"It's fine, he's just angered and confused with the whole darkness thing from earlier. Let him be," ordered Mavislin, smiling softly.

"But, Lady Roydon..."

"Hush, no arguments, alright?"

The boy slumped down onto his seat with a look of defeat.

"Then tell me why do you help us," asked Clement, once again.

"Compassion. Because I don't respond to help. I hear you call before anything serious happens. I don't need you to seek me or ask me for help, I will gladly give it to you. I can't stand sitting around doing nothing. I was well aware of the situation, but I kept quiet."

"Why would you do that? We arebn't Mages," asked Bryan, tilting his head.

"That's precisely why. You guys are a young species, yet you've caused so much problems."