Chapter 81: Old friends, new problems (1/2)
The social ladder, the hierarchy in the kingdom was stringent. While the Royalty and the Nobility were closely tied, there was a wider gap between them and the rest of the citizenry. But even then, the average class citizens, the working force, was still respected somewhat.
Below them were what they liked to refer to as ”The Scum.” The poor, the downtrodden, the unlucky. This layer that resided at the bottom of the social ladder was the group of people that nobody wanted to interact with.
In every city, just like in the capital, or in Higrove, there was a district that the everyday citizen usually avoided. They referred to this district as The Slums. An ugly mocking word that looked down on everyone that was forced to live there.
However, they were also the group that was usually the best for certain types of jobs. The Scum couldn't enjoy the preferential treatment that the other classes got; they received no benefits and weren't welcomed in any of the shops and facilities outside of their own area. Racism against other races was high, but it was almost just as worse against the socially challenged.
Because of this, some of the residents that spent their days in the Slums had to resort to shadier means to get by. The criminal activity was booming in these districts, gangs ran rampant, claimed their own territories, offering their protection for a little monetary contribution.
Also, there were certain services that you could only find in these areas, that garnered for wealthier customers.
One of these peculiar services was slave-trading. It was a booming market, and while it was officially considered illegal, nobody ever stood up against it. In fact, there were benefactors from the highest places, rumors stating that even some members of the Royalty were involved, along with several noble households.
Inside the Slums, at a run-down shack, a tall shirtless bald man stood guard. Next to him, leaning against the wall, a colossal halberd was resting. Fresh blood was still dripping from its head, signaling that just a short while ago, it had seen some action.
The bald man kicked the dismembered torso in front of him a few meters away as it loudly grumbled.
”Fucking assholes trying the same shit every damn time. Now I have to clean this mess up again! Argh!”
As he kept kicking the torso and the various body parts that lay around him in the mud, the door behind him slowly creaked open. A pompous short brown-haired man dressed in elegant silk clothing stepped out, not bothering with the gruesome scene in front of him a bit.
Looking at the grumbling guard, he spoke with an arrogant tone.
”Keep your misery to yourself. You are the guard, handling rats is what you are paid for, or do you want me to talk to the management about a timely replacement?”
Hearing the words of this person, the bald guard immediately shut up and knelt on the ground. Keeping his gaze down pinned to the ground, he spoke with a shaking voice.
”I'm sorry sir, please don't do that, don't talk to the management! I am completely fine with my job!”
The elegantly dressed noble looked at the guard kneeling in front of him, shaking with a satisfied grin. After about a minute, he finally gave an audible and theatrical sigh and spoke.
”Humpf! Fine, I guess I can let it go one last time. Now get up, you miserable insect, and do your job. High-profile buyers are coming tonight, and they won't appreciate this… this mess you have here. Clean it up!”
”Yes, boss! Thank you, boss!” Quickly gathering himself, the guard got up from the ground and started to clean up the area.
---
Meanwhile, as this was going on, in another part of town, Lily arrived in front of Norton's General Store. Last time she was here, she was just a small child, but she still had fond memories of the kind old lady and her husband.
Looking at the sign, she smiled, and opened the front door; she stepped inside as the bells that signaled a new customer rang.
”Just a minute!” The familiar voice of Mrs. Norton came from the back of the building. After a few minutes, footsteps could be heard, and shortly after, an elderly lady with rounded glasses and puffy cheeks came to the counter.
”Hello there, how may I-” She started her practiced greeting, but as she looked at those golden locks that peeked out from under the cover of the young girl's hood, she became speechless. She couldn't explain why, but she felt some vague familiarity with this person.
As the youngster hadn't talked, nor had she taken off her cover, the elderly woman took a breath and continued.
”Excuse me, miss. So how may I help you?” she continued with her sales pitch.
However, once again, she became speechless as the hooded young woman suddenly erupted in a peal of loud laughter. For nearly a minute, she kept giggling when she finally grabbed the edges of the linen cloth and pulled the hood that covered her face to the back, revealing her long golden hair, and beautiful blue eyes.
”I am terribly sorry, Mrs. Norton; it's just, it has been so many years since I saw you, and I just couldn't resist. I hope you and your husband are doing well.”