125 Hero (1/2)
Li stepped into the familiarity of his cottage. With the adventurer's carriage outside, he figured that Launcelot and his team, Bulwark, and Triple Threat had finished their contract hunt and come back. Though, judging by the fact that the carriage was not left to the nearby stablemaster, it seemed that the adventurers were not going to stay the night.
Well, all Li needed to do was talk to them. As he swung the cottage door open, keeping the two beastwomen safely held at his side, warm air laced with the scent of roasting meat rushed out. The Feli under his arm, though still unconscious, licked her lips, her nose twitching.
Li saw who he expected to see with one exception.
First, sitting around the table, were Launcelot and his trio of superheroines. Then there was Triple Threat and Old Thane seated on the ground, forming a small ring around the fireplace. Tia was at the back, gnawing on a black carapaced insectoid leg almost the same size as her.
The exception was a youthful man who probably could barely pass for twenty. Striking blue eyes and long golden hair that reached down to his shoulders. He stood at the end of the table, arms crossed with a faint smile that seemed to be natural resting expression.
All the adventurers were still dressed for combat, wearing sturdy armors or leathers, though their weapons were probably stashed outside in the warehouse for temporary safekeeping and to prevent clutter. The new man, however, was dressed in a smooth white suit banded with gold, indicating that he was no fighter.
As soon as Li took a step into the cottage, all heads turned to him, and then to the beastwomen. He closed the door behind him and said, ”Let's talk.”
________________________
”That's the gist of it,” said Li, his back to the cottage wall so that he could face everyone while talking to them. Tia had fallen asleep by his side, her belly full of Gigantopede leg. He had told them that while talking to farmers about bargaining for their land, he found that they were bound by unjust contracts and intimidation tactics by Chevrette, and that the so called golden man was not so golden after all, running the largest slave trade ring in all of Soleil.
Li looked to the beastwomen. They had been moved by the fire and wrapped in warm blankets and skins. Judging from how strong the [Sleep Spore] had been, unless they were forcibly awakened, they would be out until tomorrow at the least.
”I've decided I want to end this whole illegal operation and take Chevrette down with it. Also, my apologies for ruining your celebration dinner and congratulations for taking that Gigantopede down.”
”Our celebration is no longer important,” said Jeanne. She looked around the room, her sterling silver armor clacking with the frantic motion. ”To think I've heard no tell of this foul trade around Riviera. We must end this nonsense at once.”
”I agree,” said Sylvie with a nod, though her red eyes did flash with concentration, her mind thinking.
”No complaints here,” said Azhar. ”Ain't bout' to sit on my arse even longer, and my arm's nearly back. Let's shove this golden prick right into a dungeon cell.”
”Aye, slavery's never sit well with me,” said Old Thane as he scratched his beard. ”Slavers made their rounds in the Northwastes, wanting our powerful Jotun's blood, but still, I thought the foul trade had ended with the duchess's ascension.”
Li took note of the fact that despite the common man of the duchy holding prejudices against beastmen, the adventurers did not have any such reservations. As Sylvie had once said in explaining why they were so nonchalant about Li's status as a foreigner, it would seem that it was true that the more well-traveled you were, the fewer prejudices you tended to hold.
”Merely that there are laws in place does not mean that vile desires fade overnight,” commented Sylvie. ”And where there is demand, there will be supply. But still, to think that it was Chevrette, the golden idol of the downtrodden, that ran this and that I nor nobody I know has heard tell of this.”
Launcelot raised a gauntleted hand to speak. ”Chevrette's slaving is not like that of olden times. Crass, brutal, and in mass scale. It is highly refined, limited to sating the tastes of the highest of elites. None but those in the upper echelons of nobility and wealth know of his trade.”
Jeanne shook her head and gave Launcelot an accusing look. ”Surely there is one noble among many that would fight against him?”
”Me?” Launcelot sighed. ”Yes, as a son of the Lakely house, I knew of Chevrette's crimes. But to oppose him was to ruin our entire family. Chevrette holds the bank here, and all my family's fortunes lie in their coffers.”