In a lavish and rather large room were two couches with a small coffee table in the middle. The room seemed to be made as a meeting area but it was currently being used by Ritzy. The vice-guild leader of the merchant guild had invited Ritzy to wait in this special room while they prepared everything and brought the slaves.
Drinking some mildly expensive tea the guild provided, Ritzy sat on one sofa while Caroline sat on the other.
With only the sound of Ritzy drinking tea, Caroline started to feel awkward and tried to make small talk.
"Lord Ritzy, what is your plan to bring us to the elf territory exactly?".
Finishing his sip, Ritzy placed the cup on the coffee table and spoke without interest.
"If the client accepts me for the mission, we'll travel with them until we arrive at elf territory. From there, you can continue traveling with us but I won't fit in the bill anymore for any travel expenses".
Ritzy then noticed a bird fly onto the room's open window and stopped talking to Caroline.
Not sure what to do, she decided to continue asking questions,
"If you are accepted for the escort mission, what will happen with us during their attacks. You are in charge of our safe travel to elf territory".
Not bothering to deal with the matter, he decided to use money.
"Since you won't have money when we arrive, how about I pay you to defeat threats. Copper will be given for weak foes, iron for moderate, and silver for really dangerous foes".
Caroline,
"That's too low".
Ritzy,
"The weak and moderate is a fair price but the dangerous ones aren't fair because I'll be dealing with them. I'll still be protecting you. It's your choice to fight".
Caroline,
"That seem's reasonable".
A knock was then heard and Ritzy responded,
"You may come in".
The door opening revealed a young elf girl with a petite face, blonde long hair tied up to look short, long white and green robes, and oddly her body seemed chubby but without curves.
Feeling wary from her petite head not aligning with her body shape, Ritzy inspected the girl for any possible weapons under her baggy robes. Inspecting her, Ritzy realized she was a fully developed skinny girl that had hidden her charms by tightly wrapping them in cloth.
Ritzy guessed the reason for this was to remain untouched by dirty nobles and only remain as a healing slave. From the aura Ritzy felt from her, Ritzy could tell she was inexperienced but not ignorant.
Caroline seeing her friend, she quickly rose from the sofa and went to hug her friend. As she hugged tightly, the elf became flustered and Ritzy heard them whisper with his Mana Presence.
"Don't hug so tightly, we can't give him any perverted ideas, or even worse, the noble might see this as rude!".
Caroline,
"Don't worry Scarlet, I've made a deal with him and bought our freedom, plus our friends are coming here".
Scarlet,
"Wait also your-".
Caroline,
"Don't say who he is, I don't want the noble to know".
Scarlet,
"understood".
Scarlet letting go of Caroline, she gave a slight bow to Ritzy,
"I Scarlet thank you for doing this Lord...".
Ritzy,
"Lord Ritzy of Leaf County".
Scarlet,
"Ahh... I've heard of your name. You're known for fighting valiantly with the esteemed Benedire family".
Ritzy,
"Yes, I have fought alongside members of that family... I'm a bit interested in what rumors have spread around about me. Would you perhaps join me in some tea?".
Scarlet,
"I would enjoy joining you".
Scarlet walked passed Caroline and seated on the opposite sofa.
Originally the tea brought to Ritzy had two cups, but only one was used before because Ritzy didn't care to pour some for Caroline.
Grabbing the second cup, Ritzy pour some tea and passed it to Scarlet but Caroline started speaking before Scarlet grabbed the cup.
Caroline,
"Why are you being so kind to her and not been kind to me once !".
Ritzy looked up from Scarlet to Caroline and spoke with no hesitation.
"When I first saw you, you came at an unwanted time and then threatened me to buy you and your friend's freedom. Ms. Scarlet on the other hand was respectful from the beginning and came when she was expected unlike you".
Caroline,
"I-".
...
A couple of minutes more passed. Caroline was now sitting next to Scarlet as she drank tea and enjoyed the tranquil environment with Ritzy.
As they waited, another knock came from the door and Ritzy spoke again to notify they could come in. With the door open, a male red lizard beastkin about a head higher than Ritzy walked inside.
"I hear my new owner is in this room?".
Looking around, the beastkin noticed that his two elf friends he met a year ago were sitting on the couch and a young blessed man sitting on the other side of the coffee table.
As he was about to say something, an enraged female voice was heard.
"I'm a gladiator and I won't be reduced to a sex slave slash guard!".
Four men came inside the room surrounding a female red lizard beastkin. The two armored men in the front held chains and were dragging the beastkin girl while the two men in the back held pikes. Threatening the beastkin to move forward.
The lizard beastkin girl had dark red scales but bright red hair. She was two heads higher than Ritzy, making her taller than her brother.
Caroline,
"Don't worry Lizzie, you won't become a sex slave".
The lizard beastkin Lizzie turned to look at Caroline and tears of happiness came out. Excited from seeing her friend, she pushed forward to Caroline and launched the soldiers holding her chains away.
As she hugged Caroline, the other men who were holding pikes felt that she was a dangerous threat right now that needed to be contained. So they quickly started charging forward to try and restrain her again.
But as they started charging forward, Ritzy spoke coldly and loudly. It wasn't screaming but it was still terrifying.
"You may leave now, please bring the last one as soon as possible".
The workers hearing the annoyed voice from a noble caused them to be worried so they decided to bow and then leave quickly.
The rest of the group looked at Ritzy cautiously after hearing his voice. Instead of acknowledging their wary stare, Ritzy simply looked at the male beastkin and said,
"Please sit, I hear you worked as a gladiator and I'm interested to hear your story".
The beastkin nodded and then walked to the couch with Caroline, Scarlet, and his sister but then noticed there was no room.
Ritzy noticing as well simply moved to make room on the couch he was sitting on.
"You can sit next to me. Don't worry, unlike everyone else. I don't care enough about what race you are".
Male beastkin,
"Thank you, not many people out there like you".
As the male beastkin was sitting down, his sister Lizzie came closer to Ritzy and had her face only inches from Ritzy's.
Lizzie,
"You don't seem neither interested nor disgusted by us beastkin and elves. You're a strange man".
Male beastkin,
"Lizzie, don't be rude!".
Lizzie,
"What? It's true Dexter".
Dexter,
"But that isn't how-".
Another knock was heard from the door.
Ritzy,
"Come in".
The door opened and a young elf boy with white hair appeared. As the boy was about to say something, he noticed Caroline. Seeing her caused him to cry and run into her arms and Caroline hugged him in response.
Snot was released from the boy and he was crying so much, no words could be understood what he was trying to say.
Ritzy analyzing the room, he noticed the siblings and the other elf girl showing a caring face while looking at the young boy hug Caroline.
Calming down, the boy finally said something quietly so only Caroline would hear but Ritzy picked it up with his Mana Presence.
"It was horrible mom, I couldn't stand being away from you anymore".