Aqua strode into the inn with the swagger of a man who'd just invented the wheel. "Greetings, Mr. Noorlan, I've returned to claim my end of the bargain," he announced grandly.
Noorlan, who was polishing a glass with more enthusiasm than necessary, nearly dropped it in surprise. "Mr. Shiki! Back so soon? My heart does the tango in joy!"
Aqua leaned in, a mischievous twinkle in his eye. "Heard any juicy gossip about the latest craze in women's products?"
Noorlan sighed, the weight of the world—or at least his marital bliss—resting on his shoulders. "Ah, yes, the Red Corporation's latest concoction. My wife's desire for it has caused a rift as wide as the Grand Canyon. We're on the brink of domestic doom!"
With a laugh that echoed off the walls, Aqua slapped his knee. "Oh, the irony! I'm the mastermind behind that product. It's my little storm in a teacup!"
Noorlan's jaw dropped. "You? The architect of my household's unrest?"
"Indeed," Aqua said, puffing out his chest. "Shall I play the hero and mend the rift with your fiery lady?"
"Oh, would you? She's got a temper hotter than a dragon's breath, and I'm about as equipped to handle it as a snowman in summer," Noorlan pleaded.
With a flourish, Aqua produced a cosmetic product from his bag as if pulling a rabbit from a hat. "Behold, the elixir of peace!"
Noorlan's eyes sparkled with gratitude. "My lord, your generosity knows no bounds!"
"Don't mention it. But wait, there's more!" Aqua said, revealing a perfume bottle with the flair of a magician. "This potion is guaranteed to reignite the flames of love, or your money back!"
Noorlan, curious as a cat, leaned in. "What sorcery is this?"
"Just give me your hand," Aqua instructed, spritzing the perfume. "Now, take a whiff."
The scent hit Noorlan like a summer breeze. "By the gods, it's like a bouquet of flowers serenading my nostrils! Your products are the Michelangelo of innovation!"
"Gift this to your wife and tell her not even the royal family can get their hands on it. It's more exclusive than a unicorn at a petting zoo," Aqua boasted.
"Really? You'd part with such a treasure?" Noorlan asked, incredulous.
"In exchange, I require a bullock cart for my new acquisitions. They're off to see the wizard—my hometown, that is. And I'll need exclusive rights to your shop's… merchandise," Aqua said, his smile sharp as a tack.
Noorlan didn't hesitate. "Deal! Your wish is my command!"
"But remember," Aqua added, "I want them treated like royalty. Good food, fine threads, a smidgen of education, and health fit for a king!"
Noorlan pondered, then nodded. "From this day forth, my shop shall be a beacon of benevolence!"
And with that, the deal was sealed, with a promise of better days for all—except perhaps for Noorlan's wife, who was yet to be wooed by the mysterious perfume.
Soon, Shiki sat in the main office, patiently waiting for his slaves.
"Here, mister, these are your slaves," Noorlan said as he approached with seven people. Among them were the five elite slaves, Lina, the leader of the human slaves, and Daali, the leader of the beast people.
"These are the seven elite individuals, and the rest are sitting inside the carriage as you requested," Noorlan informed.
Aqua expressed concern, "Won't they try to escape?"
"No need to worry. These people have a crest on their necks that allows their master to control them. If they disobey or have any ill intentions towards their master, they will experience extraordinary pain," Noorlan reassured.
Noorlan handed Aqua a ring, saying, "Take this ring. It controls their crest. If you wear it, it means the authority has been transferred to you, and no slave can touch this ring."
Aqua stood up, put on the ring, and approached the mermaid.
"Introduce yourself," Aqua ordered.
"I don't have a name, master. I was sold off when I was too young to remember my name, so please feel free to call me whatever you want," the mermaid replied.
Aqua then turned to the elves and asked, "What about you?"
"I am Grey, and this is Helina. We are pleased that you bought all of us, master. We will serve you with our lives," the elves said.
Aqua addressed the dwarf, saying, "And you, shortie."
"Master, I am a dwarf. I will do everything in my power to serve you and fulfill all your demands," the dwarf replied.
Aqua then complimented the triad, saying, "You, the triad, are a rare species of the forest. They say you are limited in number, but you understand nature better than the elves do, and your beauty is also charming."
"I am your slave, master, and I also have no name due to my early abduction," the triad responded.
"Okay, Mr. Noorlan, I am impressed with the elite seven. Here is your 50k gold coins, as promised for the deal," Aqua handed over the bags filled with gold.
Noorlan and everyone else were shocked at the sight of so much money. The gold was shining brightly.
"Thank you, mister. You have changed my life. I hope we can continue doing business in the future,"
Ladies and gentlemen, gather 'round! Aqua, the not-so-mysterious benefactor with a heart of gold (and pockets to match), had just pulled off the heist of the century – liberating the elites from their golden shackles with nothing but a wad of cash and a dream.
The elites, in a rare moment of humility, bowed their heads. Not out of reverence, mind you, but because they were absolutely flabbergasted by the sheer audacity of it all.
After the dust settled and the paperwork was signed (in triplicate, no less), they all skedaddled out of the city like it was going out of style, setting up camp on the outskirts, where the wild things are.
"Alright, you fancy folks, huddle up!" Aqua commanded, as if he were about to reveal the secret to eternal youth. "Tien, did you bring the 'items'?" he asked, his voice dripping with intrigue.
Tien, ever the faithful sidekick, nodded vigorously. "Yes, yes, all the 'items' are here, safe and sound in the box. And by the way, there's a whole sea of people here. We've spent a fortune on this crowd!" he exclaimed, his eyes wide as saucers.
Aqua, unfazed by the masses, stepped up to the podium. "Listen up, my dear liberated friends,"he began, his voice steady and sure. "I've shelled out a whopping 50,000 gold coins for your freedom. But don't get it twisted – I didn't buy you to boss you around. I saw your plight and said, 'Not on my watch!' So here's the deal: you can either join my brand-spanking-new kingdom as proud citizens, or you can hit the road, Jack. And don't you worry about that pesky slave crest; consider it gone!"
The crowd erupted into chaos. "Are we really free?" they whispered among themselves.
"Is this guy for real? He spent a fortune just to let us go?"
"Must be a catch. It's always a trap."
Even the elites were scratching their heads. "What's his angle? Buys us, then frees us? Is this some sort of twisted loyalty program?"
Helina, the voice of reason, chimed in. "Nope, I'm not getting any bad vibes from him. The triad agrees. He's legit letting us go."
"But why?" pondered a skeptical dwarf. "And what's this about joining his country?"
Aqua, ever the showman, had one more trick up his sleeve. "Before you scamper off, feast your eyes on this!" he declared, as Tien whipped out a 4D box (yes, four dimensions, because three is so last year) filled to the brim with clothes and food.
"Go on, get dressed, fill your bellies, and make your choice. Freedom's on the menu today!" Aqua said, his smile as wide as the horizon. "Oh, and by the way, the name's Aqua, not Shiki. This is Tien, and we're just a couple of south-side rebels with a cause. So, what do you say? Ready to start fresh in a country where the only thing we enslave is bad fashion?"