Chapter 77: Kailun’s Trap
“You can go, but be careful. Do you need me to come with you for protection?” Afra agreed to Kailun’s plan after a brief explanation, but she couldn’t help but worry about his safety.
“Don’t worry, I’ll be on my best behavior. I wouldn’t want anyone poisoning me.” Kailun placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder.
“Be careful then. We’ll be waiting for you at home.” Afra straightened his collar, a hint of sadness in her eyes.
Her little brother had grown up, forging his own path.
Now, as his wife, she felt obligated to support his decisions.
Her desires were simple: to see him safe and happy.
“I’ll leave now. I’ll be back as soon as possible.” He ruffled her hair and, taking the invitation, left the dungeon.
Afra glanced at the prisoners, her gaze cold.
His enemies were her enemies. She had no sympathy for them.
After they left, Vivian turned to Hilna. “Sister, now that you’re a prisoner, do you have anything to say?”
Hilna rolled her eyes. “You’re a prisoner too. We’re in the same boat.”
“Is that so?” Vivian gestured towards her luxurious cell. “Are we really the same? Oh, by the way, do you know how Kailun tormented Winnie?”
“Can you not talk about me?” Winnie interjected.
Ignoring her protests, Vivian recounted her experience, her voice filled with relish.
Hilna, despite her mental preparation, felt a shiver run down her spine.
She would surely break if she were subjected to such treatment.
“Winnie, is he truly that cruel?” she asked, her voice trembling.
“Don’t ask me! I don’t know! I have amnesia! I don’t remember anything!” Winnie curled up in a ball, her hands covering her head.
Hilna: “…”
Winnie’s reaction spoke volumes. If she were in Winnie’s place… Kailun’s twisted methods would surely break her.
“Haven’t you considered resisting?”
“Resisting? Why would I do that?” Vivian poured herself a cup of tea and took a sip, her movements elegant and unhurried. “I’m looking forward to tormenting you, Sister.”
“But you’re imprisoned too!”
“You’re still so naive, Sister. Do you really think there’s no reason for the difference in our treatment?”
She suddenly felt grateful to Kailun. Handing her sister over to her was the kindest thing he had ever done.
“If he dares to lay a finger on me, I’ll bash my head against the wall!” Hilna declared, her voice firm.
“Can you handle that kind of pain, Sister? I doubt it. They say losing your virginity is even more painful. I’d love to be by Kailun’s side when he takes you, listening to your screams.” Vivian’s thoughts, after prolonged exposure to Kailun, had taken a dark turn.
Hilna shuddered. She had no doubt he was capable of such cruelty.
She suddenly pinned all her hopes on Shirley. “Shirley, please come rescue me,” she whispered, her gaze fixed on the ceiling.
…
Meanwhile, Kailun was on his way to the Loya Ballroom, a small entourage accompanying him.
Afra’s attribute boost had elevated his strength to the top tier in the Xiya Kingdom.
He felt secure with years’ worth of Afra’s attributes, the long string of zeros in his free attribute points a comforting sight.
Combined with his collection of teleportation and defensive scrolls, killing him would be a difficult task.
He closed his eyes, taking a short nap.
He hadn’t brought Afra or the others. This wasn’t a place for them.
The carriage stopped outside the Loya Ballroom. He woke with a start.
Stepping out of the carriage, he saw a young woman with brown hair approaching him. She bowed respectfully. “Master Kailun?”
Unlike the usual women who frequented this establishment, she seemed… different. Her mannerisms, her aura… she was clearly still innocent.
Her attire was modest, more befitting a dancer than a courtesan.
Intrigued, he presented his invitation. “I’m here at Isabella’s invitation. Lead the way.”
“Please follow me.” She walked ahead, her hips swaying enticingly.
A dancer. That made sense.
He followed her into the building, its atmosphere charged with a subtle sensuality. He noticed more girls, all sharing a similar aura of innocence.
Where were the usual courtesans?
He couldn’t spot a single one. And besides him, there were no other male patrons.
The girl led him to a private room on the second floor, overlooking the main hall.
“Please wait here. The mistress will be with you shortly.” She bowed deeply, revealing a glimpse of her cleavage.
Temptation was everywhere. They were masters of manipulation.
She left the room. Kailun surveyed his surroundings. The room was decorated in shades of pink.
It had not only chairs and a table, but also a large, plush bed. He wondered what it was used for.
He walked over to the window, its design offering a clear view of the stage below.
The girls he had seen earlier were gathered there, their bodies swaying gracefully to the music.
He was the only guest today. They were dancing for him.
He watched, mesmerized. Their movements were fluid and sensual, their revealing attire showcasing their beauty. From his vantage point, he could even glimpse the valleys between their breasts.
Kailun: “…”
He suddenly understood the allure of brothels.
These girls were definitely dancers, not courtesans.
In a way, the Loya Ballroom’s origins were intertwined with these girls.
The courtesans were the foundation of their intelligence network, while these specially trained dancers formed another network, targeting the upper echelons of society.
They were often gifted to nobles and royalty, their value exceeding that of ordinary courtesans.
Training a skilled dancer required at least a hundred gold coins. There were fifteen dancers here. That was nearly two thousand gold coins in expenses.
And the Loya Ballroom’s dancers were highly sought after, fetching prices of five hundred to a thousand gold coins among the nobility.
These girls were exceptional: beautiful, talented, and young.
“This Isabella is quite intriguing.”
“Oh? Are you truly so curious about me?”
A small girl, no taller than five feet, wearing a white veil, entered the room, carrying a tray with a white crystal ball. The voice had come from the ball.
Her voice was clear and melodious, like a seductive older sister whispering sweet nothings in his ear.
Kailun’s eyes widened, but he quickly masked his surprise, feigning ignorance.
“Isabella is a ball?”
“…” The girl frowned. “Mistress Isabella isn’t here. She’s too beautiful to be seen.”
“My apologies. My appearance and figure are… overwhelming to most men. It’s best I avoid unnecessary complications. I’ve sent Lilya to speak on my behalf. Please forgive any inconvenience.” The voice from the crystal ball was apologetic.
“It’s fine. State your purpose. Why would the Loya Ballroom’s renowned prodigy seek out an ordinary man like me?” He sat down by the window, his gaze seemingly fixed on the dancers below, but his peripheral vision focused on the girl beside him.
The veiled girl, her hair a shade of gray, placed the crystal ball on the table and stood quietly, like an obedient servant.
“You jest, Master Kailun. Outmaneuvering Princess Hilna in just three days, orchestrating the attacks on Stamp’s territory and the Eternal Fortress, and then achieving a complete victory, capturing the princess… If such feats can be considered ordinary, then I’m nothing but a mediocre fool.”
The voice from the crystal ball was laced with a subtle charm, amplified by the alluring dancers below. It was almost hypnotic.
An ordinary man might have been swayed by such flattery, but Kailun had poured all his attribute points into Spirit.
“You acquired such detailed information in less than an hour? Your network is more impressive than I imagined.” He offered a casual compliment, his gaze still fixed on the dancers’ cleavage.
The girl followed his gaze, her eyes narrowing.
If not for the veil obscuring her face, her expression would have been more revealing.
“You flatter us. Our network in the Xiya Kingdom is still under development. We would be grateful for your assistance, Master Kailun.”
He picked up his teacup, but paused before taking a sip. “So you invited me here to discuss a partnership?”
The voice hesitated for a moment. “Not primarily. We wanted to showcase our unique dances. The partnership is… secondary. But we can certainly explore the possibility.”
He set the cup down. “The dances are quite entertaining. And the dancers are beautiful. As for the partnership, we can discuss it at our leisure. That’s why I’m here, isn’t it?”
“If you enjoyed the performance, perhaps you’d like to take one home with you. They’re all highly trained, skilled in both dance and… other arts. And this is their debut. No other man has witnessed their beauty.” Isabella spared no effort in promoting her dancers. If Kailun accepted even one, he would become part of her network.
In this cruel world, true freedom was rare. These dancers, unlike the starving masses on the streets, could live comfortably thanks to their beauty.
Unless they encountered a cruel master, of course.
“My, my. You certainly understand men, Miss Isabella.”
“You’re too kind, Master Kailun. Although I never appear in public, I’ve grown up in this environment. I can read a man’s desires simply by looking into his eyes.”
“Oh? And what desires have you seen in my eyes?” He couldn’t suppress a smile.
“I see… apologies. I can’t see anything.” She abruptly cut herself off, unsure if his question was intentional.
“What a shame. But I can’t accept your generous offer. It wouldn’t be right. Besides, I’m curious why you chose to visit the Xiya Kingdom at this particular time. It’s not exactly peaceful here.” He tapped the table with his finger, his gaze lingering on the dancers’ cleavage, but his peripheral vision focused on the girl beside him.
“Perhaps you’ve noticed that the Xiya Kingdom has become a focal point. The arrival of these individuals, including the Saint and Saintess of the Divine Church, could destabilize the situation. Therefore, I propose a partnership. You provide us with protection and support, and we provide you with information. As a gesture of goodwill, you can choose any of these girls.”
She believed the time was right to reveal her intentions.
She was confident he wouldn’t be able to resist her offer. Heroes, after all, were susceptible to beauty. And she knew of his reputation as a collector of beauties.
Phils, Anna, Winnie, Ella, Hilna… he had acquired all of the Five Great Beauties of the Royal City.
Could a man like him resist such temptation?
She had absolute faith in her dancers. Each one had cost a fortune to train.
They were not only beautiful and talented, but also skilled in gathering information.
Together, they formed a formidable intelligence unit.
“Your offer is tempting, Miss Isabella. But a partnership requires careful consideration. Let’s establish a general direction, and then leave the details to our subordinates.” His words reassured her. He seemed genuinely interested in collaborating.
Just as she let her guard down, he revealed his true intentions. He gestured towards the dancers below, his voice filled with a feigned eagerness. “You said I could choose anyone? Even two or three?”
He stood, his gaze fixed on their chests.
The voice from the crystal ball hesitated for a moment. “Yes. As you wish. You can choose any of them. Even all of them, if you desire.”
She was willing to make sacrifices for the greater good.
“Swear it. Swear it on your Destiny Magic. If you break your oath, you’ll never progress in your craft.”
Destiny was a fickle mistress. For a Destiny Mage like Isabella, this oath carried more weight than any contract.
His demand shook her confidence. Had she misjudged him?
Could a man like this truly be responsible for such extraordinary feats?
“I swear on my Destiny Magic. You have my word.”
Kailun heard a sigh of relief. She was clearly conflicted.
“Thank you. I wouldn’t want to disappoint you. So I choose…”
“Click!”
He produced a black collar from seemingly nowhere and fastened it around the veiled girl’s neck. “I choose you, Miss Isabella.”
“Master Kailun, what are you doing? I’m just her servant!” The girl’s voice was laced with panic.
“Please reconsider, Master Kailun. Don’t make this difficult. Release my servant. Otherwise, our partnership is off. You’ll lose the dancers. Surely you wouldn’t sacrifice them for a mere servant?”
“Are you going back on your word, Miss Isabella? You swore I could choose anyone.” He stroked the collar on the girl’s neck. “If you want to break your oath, I’ll remove this.”
“Wait!” The girl grabbed his hand, her facade crumbling. “How did you know?” She used her own voice this time.
Isabella was furious. She had gathered extensive information on Kailun before extending the invitation, but she had still fallen into his trap.
It was as if he had been manipulating her from the start.
“You can predict the future. Why can’t I have eyes that see through illusions?” He smiled, pointing at his eyes.
He glanced at the system interface, his smile widening. This Isabella was quite the emotional rollercoaster.
[Isabella is intrigued by your intricate web of fate lines. She wants to capture you and dissect you. Favorability +50.]
[Isabella is disgusted by your lecherous gaze. Favorability -10.]
[Isabella believes you’re foolish for picking up your teacup. Favorability -10.]
[Isabella is even more displeased when you set the teacup down. Favorability -10.]
[Isabella is disgusted by your lecherous gaze. Favorability -10.]
[Isabella is annoyed that you saw through her disguise. Favorability -10. Current favorability: 0.]
He had seen through her disguise the moment she entered the room.
The rest was just a performance, designed to lower her guard. When it came to manipulating hearts, she was no match for him.
She was just a little girl, after all, no older than Vivian.
As for his lingering gaze on the dancers’ chests?
Well, he was genuinely appreciating the view. What man wouldn’t?
“The Pure Desiress, Isabella, is just a little girl? No wonder you hide your face. The world would laugh if they knew.” He patted her head, amused by the irony.
It seemed their partnership was off the table. Her oath, combined with the collar, made her his property, in a way.
Of course, he couldn’t reveal this. The Loya Ballroom would surely try to assassinate him if they knew their leader was his pawn.
“I’ll grow up! I’m still young!” She glared at him, her eyes sparkling with a strange mixture of innocence and seduction.
Her figure might be lacking, but her voice and eyes possessed a unique charm.
He glanced at her chest. “Indeed, quite small.”
Isabella: “…”
[Isabella’s favorability has decreased. She feels insulted. Favorability -10. Current favorability: -10.]
“Stop! Release Isabella!” A woman burst into the room, her voice filled with anger.
The dancers, their performance abruptly ending, jumped through the windows, surrounding Kailun, their daggers glinting in the light.
He was trapped.
**************************
Isabella:
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