The guard led the three men to the next floor, where private rooms were stationed. Many girls were walking up and down the halls, heading to different rooms—most of them naked. Sanjay glanced at Kin, concern evident in his eyes.
Should he really be here? Sanjay thought. Not that we can leave him outside all by himself, but… he's still just a boy.
Kin noticed his gaze and spoke.
"I'm fine," Kin replied.
"A pervert like you should definitely be fine in this kind of place," Ashell's voice echoed in Kin's mind.
"I might be a pervert," Kin replied internally, "but I do have a sense of dignity. This kind of place is not for me. I prefer women with some semblance of shame and grace, not… whores."
"Oh… a pervert with class, aren't you? Well, it doesn't matter—you're never going to have a harem anyway."
Kin sighed. Turns out Ashell was right. What had started as a simple desire to have a harem had now become something far more significant—saving his country from total annihilation. The soul of his nation was at stake, whether he won or Jai did. Wize would never be the same again. Too much was at risk, and too many lives were involved for him to approach this selfishly.
The guard leading the way finally stopped in front of a door and knocked.
"Enter," a voice called from behind the door. The four of them stepped inside.
"Thank you, Shen. You may leave," the voice said.
"Yes, Madame," the guard replied before exiting.
As the guard left, Kin could finally see the Madame. He had seen many beautiful women in his life, but none like her. She was astonishingly gorgeous—Kin could barely take his eyes off her. She sat close to a table, with a pipe in hand.
Doesn't she seem too young to be a Madame? he thought.
"Pervert," Ashell muttered in his domain.
After a few moments of silence, the Madame finally spoke.
"I never thought I'd see you again, Wu. I thought you died after Jai attacked Pshen," Madame Bin said.
"I'm sorry for making you worry, Aunt Bin," Commander Lei replied.
The woman stared at Lei with her pipe just millimeters from her mouth.
"You should know better than to call me that in front of others, Wu Wu. Does that mean you trust them?" Madame Bin asked.
"Yes, Aunt Bin."
"Then I suppose you can give your aunt a hug," she said.
"I'd rather not," Lei replied, as Kin and Sanjay chuckled at hearing the Madame call the commander "Wu Wu."
"She's your aunt?" Kin asked Lei.
"Not by blood," Lei replied. "But my mother and she were best friends."
Kin and Sanjay looked at each other, surprised.
Kin turned to Lei and asked, "Are you saying your mother is—"
Sanjay quickly grabbed Kin's mouth.
"Are you trying to get yourself killed?" he hissed.
"Yes, my mother was a whore," Commander Lei stated bluntly. "But she left that life after she met my father, who bought her out. She wasn't a valuable whore or anything, so it was easy for him."
"Eh… that isn't exactly an ideal love story," Sanjay said.
"It isn't," Lei replied. "My parents died when I was young, and Aunt Bin—who had become a Madame at the time—raised me. So now that you know, we can move on to business."
"We need something, Aunt Bin," Lei said.
"Oh, really? Is that why you've come to visit? Not because you care enough to check on your aunt?" Madame Bin asked.
"Of course I care," Lei replied, "but this is an urgent and important matter. I believe you know the current situation in Wize."
The Madame stared at him for a moment before responding.
"I am very well aware of what's going on in Wize."
"I doubt that," Sanjay muttered.
The Madame's eyes narrowed.
"It seems your subordinate has something to say," she remarked.
"No, he doesn't," Commander Lei interjected, glaring at Sanjay, who immediately fell silent.
Madame Bin took a drag from her pipe and exhaled slowly.
"I know it seems to you that we're living our best lives while Wize burns, but we aren't the ones burning cities and driving people from their homes. In fact, you three are likely more responsible for Wize's plight than I or any of my girls. We provide entertainment, and that's it."
Commander Lei sighed.
"We understand, Aunt Bin. We're not here to blame you or your girls for trying to survive. We're here for another reason."
"Ask away, Wu. The sooner you speak, the quicker you can leave," Madame Bin said.
"We need information about Lady Ri and her men," Commander Lei said, causing the Madame to drop her pipe.
"What? Are you trying to get me killed?" she asked, her voice sharp.
"I'm not asking you to do anything dangerous, Aunt Bin. Just tell us what most people know and what you think is reliable information. We'll take care of the rest."
"Why are you looking for her?" Madame Bin demanded. "Don't tell me Lord Farouk is working with Hadia now."
"No, Aunt. We're not working with Hadia. We just want to talk to Lady Ri."
"No one just wants to talk to Lady Ri. Those who do either want her dead or want to use her. So, which is it?" Madame Bin asked.
"Neither," Lei replied. "We just want to speak to her. The less you know, the better you can protect yourself."
"If you wanted to protect me, you wouldn't have come here asking about the most wanted person in these parts," she retorted.
"Are you going to help us or not?" Sanjay asked, irritation seeping into his tone.
The Madame turned her gaze to Sanjay, her expression cold.
"I don't owe you anything. You're only here because of Wu Wu—nothing else. I can have you thrown out or worse," she said icily.
Commander Lei quickly intervened.
"Aunt Bin, please. We need your help."