The Price of Freedom

The reception hall was adorned with golden wall ornaments, while iron-banded chandeliers hung from each of its four corners. A grand brazier stood sentinel in the center of the room, its vibrant yellow flames casting a light so brilliant it transformed the interior into day.

“Welcome.”

To Saranya’s sudden visit, Borok offered only a perfunctory pleasantry.

“I apologize for the lack of chairs here; your little beauties will have to stand and listen.”

Saranya found a spot on the long, upholstered bench, sitting shoulder-to-shoulder with Kaelan. Behind them, the Night Lily Knights stood rigidly at attention, forming a protective guard around them.

The room was filled with people, almost all of them renowned merchants, powerful figures, and nobles from the city. Among those Saranya recognized were Borok of the Bloodsail Alliance, Malacar—the boss of the Rust Chain Brotherhood—and his second-in-command, Rogni. Even the owner of the leather workshop whose establishment she had once raided was present.

Another familiar face that caught her attention was Nazareth of the Shadowscale Gang. Saranya immediately recognized the intelligence broker’s rough features. He sat alongside another grey-robed individual, both cloaked and shrouded in an air of mystery, perfectly fitting her stereotype of Shadowscale Gang members.

Saranya glanced around but found no members of the City Committee.

Lucius’s forces were not present, and had she not stumbled upon this gathering by chance, she wouldn’t have been here today.

‘I’m starting to get curious,’ she thought. ‘What exactly is Borok plotting here, simultaneously defying both our gang alliance and the City Committee?’

“Everyone, you know them, right? This is our Bloodsail Alliance’s biggest patron, Ranger Haia of the Redwater Gang. And next to her is Miss Haia’s beloved, the esteemed Lady Hillburg.”

“Oh… we know them!”

“Ranger Miss!”

“Finally seeing them in person, hehe… both of them are so delicate and charming…”

“Beloved…”

Borok’s tone was frivolous, and his words quite explicit. A trace of displeasure flashed across Saranya’s face, and she raised her eyebrows, glaring at the sailor.

Kaelan, however, was perfectly at ease. Upon hearing Borok’s description, the little witch proudly lifted her head, curling her lips into a smile at the pointing crowd.

Saranya suddenly felt a tightness against her side; Kaelan had shifted, pressing her hip against Saranya’s. Her Master then subtly lifted a leg under the table, gently resting it across Saranya’s lap.

‘Not… in front of so many people, why is Master accepting this so naturally?!’

Borok gestured, and servants entered through the main door, serving guests the indigo “Siren’s Kiss” rum. After that, several cream desserts were also brought to the table.

It seemed this was merely the ceremonial prelude. Before getting down to serious business, those present had some time to enjoy socializing and fine food.

“Excuse me.”

Dump patted his backside and sat to Saranya’s left, his face etched with worry. Hearing his voice, Saranya’s expression instantly turned cold.

During the divine official selection, Dump had left her with the impression of an enlightened university lecturer. Who would have thought this fellow would suddenly become a turncoat, deceiving and betraying her and her Master? Had it not been for him, their ordeal in the Tidal Mirror Hall wouldn’t have been so dire.

“I didn’t come looking for you to settle accounts, yet here you are, delivering yourself to my doorstep.”

She adopted a hostile stance, to which Dump merely offered a bitter smile.

“What do you mean ‘delivering myself’? I didn’t expect you to be here either…”

“Cut the nonsense. Kaelan and I have already dealt with Lenix. If you don’t want to be implicated by her, you’d best get as far away from us as possible. I have nothing to discuss with you.”

“Um, Lenix… is she dead?”

Dump clenched his fist, then slowly released it, his eyes filled with a pleading glint. He chose to bypass Saranya and speak directly to Kaelan.

“Kaelan, did you kill her…?”

“No, I didn’t.”

Kaelan propped her shoulders back like a lord, then reached down to slip off her boots. One bare foot dangled playfully in Saranya’s lap.

“Can you let her go…?”

“No.”

“Miss Kaelan…”

“I’ve already stated my position. I don’t intend to repeat myself, you know—”

The witch’s voice was sweet and melodious, like silver bells, yet it sent an inexplicable chill down one’s spine.

“When she set her sights on my Xiao Ya, she should have been prepared for the consequences, shouldn’t she? Hmm… Lenix… I have indeed been considering how to deal with her recently. Perhaps you, as her ‘close friend,’ could offer some valuable insight?”

Dump’s eyes lit up; Kaelan’s words clearly rekindled his hope.

“As long as you spare her life, I will do everything in my power to help you!”

“Hmm…”

Kaelan giggled, her expression theatrically teasing.

The witch’s small foot rubbed back and forth in Saranya’s lap, her five toes lightly tickling Saranya’s chest.

‘Master… please allow me to…’

Saranya immediately felt a tingling desire, a blush creeping onto her cheeks. After swallowing, she gently began to massage her Master’s foot.

“Oh, my… hehe…”

Saranya’s sudden display of affection made Kaelan hum contentedly. Her small foot trembled, then playfully wriggled with abandon.

Her Master’s perfect bare foot was like a freshly baked white bun, both warm and soft. Especially having just shed her small leather boot, her Master’s sole was still lightly dewed with perspiration. The scent of boot leather mixed with the girl’s natural fragrance was more intoxicating than the finest musk.

Kaelan would occasionally tease Saranya’s chin. Saranya, having served her Master’s feet for years, had long since developed a conditioned reflex. At this moment, she was salivating uncontrollably, feeling as if ants were crawling all over her skin.

Meanwhile, poor, miserable Dump was left neglected, his urgent questions unanswered, forced to witness the two girls’ amorous display. Driven to distraction, Dump grabbed his wine glass and gulped down the sparkling liquid, coughing painfully a few times.

“Dump, we’re going to set conditions. Will you accept them?”

“What do you, what do you want me to do…?”

“Xiao Ya, it’s your turn to talk to him…”

Kaelan propped her head on her arm, leaning against the table, her eyes comfortably narrowed.

In Saranya’s view, her Master’s attitude was clear: a division of labor. After her Master used coercion and enticement to force the target’s compromise, Saranya was responsible for the intellectual part—devising various conditions based on their current situation to extract the utmost from the victim.

“Dump, what is the approximate power share of your Vero Free City University in the City Committee?”

“Based on committee seats, the university’s faculty association accounts for about a quarter.”

“What if your university exerts its full influence?”

“I can’t say for sure… Ideally, close to a third…”

“Good. I need you to help me secure one-third support in the committee, not a single bit less.”

“But I’m just a mere lecturer—”

“Figure it out yourself! Didn’t you say you’d do everything in your power?!”

“Alright, alright…”

Seeing Dump yield, Saranya nodded in satisfaction and immediately presented her second condition.

“I also heard that you are a supporter of the racial equality movement. That’s a public fact, isn’t it? No wonder you’re so close to Lenix…”

“Yes…”

“Those non-human races in Tidal Mirror Hall retreated from the last riot unscathed, so they shouldn’t have suffered any personnel losses, right?”

“Yes… some City Committee officials are secretly harboring them…”

“Hmph, I imagine that feeling isn’t pleasant, is it? Don’t they despise being kept as chattel the most? Excellent… you must convince those non-human races to willingly become Kaelan’s and my puppets. You must make them believe that only Kaelan and I can give them freedom and protect them from harm.”

“I… I’ll try my best…”

Saranya picked up a wine glass and took a sip.

“Dump, you and Lenix both owe us. The non-human races of Tidal Mirror Hall colluded with officials and acted recklessly; they also owe the people of Vero. Their ultimate fate depends entirely on your efforts…”