Senar
"How are you, Mr. Kralys; I hope you are having a good time?" I asked the middle-aged half-elf, who was sitting with the lovely Lavani.
"The best time, Madam Senar. The tower never disappoints," he replied with a big smile.
It is its fourth time since opening. This means he is important.
Only those important could come to the legacy four times within a month.
He belongs to one of the most powerful merchant houses of Belnin and is quite rich.
He is also on the gifter list; the people who gift the most. This is also one of the reasons why, he gets reservations quickly.
Those on the good lists are given priority. Over the same person with equal power and influence.
"I am glad," I replied with a smile and walked away from him.
I looked at the clock. It was near eight. I have been looking at it constantly, since the meeting earlier.
'Master Silver will make an announcement in a few minutes, be ready for it,'
The voice of Madam Caena rang out through my mind.
Master Silver was going to announce the Governor of Panar today, and Madam Caena had asked all the floor leaders to announce it to their floors.
There will also be free drinks in the new governor's honor.
Which is an expensive expense, that is will be funded by our fund. 1% of our earnings goes toward that fund.
It is for the welfare of the girls, and now Chief Carla, Headmistress Margaux, and Madam Caena are going to use that for their political purposes.
Quite many girls were displeased by it, but didn't say anything to their faces.
Here, if one of three, leaders had presented it. Some girls might have objected.
Those three take the criticism well, but since all three of them have made a decision, nobody dares to say anything against them.
I am not pleased about it either, but I too remained quiet like the others.
Though, I wonder, who Master Silver will choose.
It is the main topic of today's conversations in the hall. I heard there was betting going on there, with old Hendricks and Chief Hardt leading.
I hope it's someone good.
I heard horrible things have happened there in Panar. Thousands of children have been orphaned, with their parents dead.
I knew very well what happens to such children.
I hope Master Silver and the new Governor will take wonderful care of them.
"You, dirty whore!"
I was in my thoughts when suddenly, I heard a loud shout. I turned and couldn't help, but sigh as I walked toward it.
The mercenaries that Master Silver had hired are a handful.
Though it seemed like now, they have crossed the limit of what we could bear.
I moved with Flowing Grace, with eyes turning to me. Within seconds, I was there and when I saw what he is doing, anger rose in my heart.
The bastard is holding Sua's hand tightly while she is trying to pull it back.
I was going to be polite to him, but not anymore.
He is holding her so tightly that marks have appeared on the young woman's hand.
"Release her hand," I said, with clear anger in my voice.
The middle-aged mercenary turned to me with the heavy smell of alcohol coming off him.
He looked at me with anger before his lips curved.
"What are you going to do, dirty orc-blood?" he asked and took a step toward me threateningly.
I didn't say anything and smiled as I had been asked to do. In circumstances like this.
I may look brave on the outside; I am very nervous inside. I wanted to take a step, but controlled my emotion and stared directly at the man's eyes.
The man scared me, but I cannot let him see that. So, I smiled brightly, making him even angry.
He moved his other toward me when suddenly a great alarm appeared on his fac. He released Sue's hand immediately and moved a hand toward a sword at the waist.
"Ahhhhhh…"
That is when lightning covered him and he began to scream hard as the arcs swam around his body while everyone watched in shock.
Even I am shocked. This is out of my expectations.
The lightning only lasted for three seconds, but it made him collapse on the ground.
There was an absolute silence. Nobody dared to make any sound. Even their breathing seemed to fall silent.
"It was a simple disagreement. You didn't have to go this far," said the voice.
I turned and saw the man in his early fifties. The vice-captain of Akir Mercenaries; the biggest mercenary team, the city had hired.
I was about to reply to him when I sensed the presence. It immediately made me relieved.
Everything will be fine, now that she is here.
"We have gone easy, Mr. Bak. Mr. Kell had broken the most important rule of the velvet garden, never touch our girls without their permission,"
"He had tried to force himself on her and, on top of that, disrespected a madam. If it had been anyone else, we wouldn't have stopped at three seconds," said Madam Caena as she appeared beside me.
"Are all alright, Sue?" asked Madam Caena. Sue nodded, still shocked by what happened.
She is not shocked or even surprised by the man trying to force her. They are used to far worse things, but what shocked her was how we had reacted.
It had brought tears to the girl's eyes.
"Yes, Madam Caena," the girl replied after a second of silence and hugged Madam Caena, who patted her head gently.
"Good. Go rest a rest for today," she instructed calmly.
Sue nodded and walked away, but not before taking a last glance at the twitching man.
"I didn't expect this from Greltheaven. We have protected your city, and this is how you treat us?" said the voice.
I turned and saw a blond man coming down from the floor above, with a group of people behind him.
He is Land Akir, leader of Akir Mercenaries.
As he came down, several people in the hall stood up. All of them are mercenaries. Seeing that, my heart couldn't help, but skip a beat.
I looked at Madam Caena, and there was no hint of nervousness on her face.
Her smile even seemed to have become bigger.
"And we have paid for that. Quite handsomely, I might say," replied Madam Caena with a faint surprise in the blond man's eyes, before transforming into the anger.
"This is quite disrespectful Madam Caena. It might make us leave your city," he said, a smile appearing on his face.
I shook as I heard that. The mercenaries are one of the reasons why the city was able to defend itself so successfully against the enemy.
It would be bad if they left.
"Then you or anyone else are welcome to leave," replied Madam Caena simply, without change in her smile.
"You are expendable, Mr. Akir. If you leave, we will hire someone else."
"With the money we are paying, many mercenaries would be more than willing to come to us, in moments, notice," she added.
It's an insult.
The man's expressions were already bad and hearing that, it had turned worse.
"I would like to see how your Lord would react to that statement, madam," he said angrily with gritted teeth, while madam let out a chiming laugh, before turning to guard behind her.
"Yarisa, dear, ask Master Silver what he thinks about that," said Madam Caena to the young mage.
She closed her eyes and her staff lit up. She opened them several seconds later.
"My lord is saying the mercenaries are welcome to leave if they want to," the mage stated. Shocking the mercenaries and many others, but didn't seem shocked at all.
Madam Caena looked at the mercenary leader, who was so angry that he was shaking.
All the mercenaries seemed angry.
I began to feel scared that they might do something in anger; they are known for that but when I looked at Madam Caena, there was not a hint of smile or fear in her eyes.
"Mr. Kell, you have broken the laws of the velvet garden and thus are forbidden from ever entering it," she declared, and I felt the change in legacy as she spoke.
"Guards, take Mr. Kell out," she ordered.
Immediately, guards moved and picked up the middle-aged man and took him away.
'Apologies everyone for the disturbance. Don't let it mar your experience in the velvet garden," said Madam Carla and walked away.
'You did good; I am proud of you,' she said telepathically a moment later.
The mercenaries kept staring, shocked, before they recovered and sat down.
Even those who came from the floor above returned there, including the leader, walked to the floor he came from. Not a single one of them had left in anger.
Many seemed to be expecting that, including me, but they didn't.
People shook their heads, seeing the shameless of the mercenaries. If they couldn't follow the threat; they shouldn't issue it in the first place.
I was quite grateful mercenaries for protecting us, but now, I want them out of the city.
I hope Master Silver will quickly return to the city and throw these bastards out.
The legacy had been peaceful, even when the battle was raging outside. These mercenaries created a ripple, and I am kind of glad they did.
It reinforced the belief and confidence in girls' eyes.
They know, that if anything happens, the Madam and the Lord are with them. They will not throw them to wolves when trouble appears.
In a few seconds, everything returned to normal.
I began to make the rounds when I had stopped suddenly. Chief Carla's voice rang out in my mind.
'Master Silver had declared the Governor of Panar; it is…' she informed, leaving me shocked and frozen in my place.