--- Unclaimed Mountains, Morranto---

The party managed to make an appointment with the lord as Ray's coins didn't seem to run out. Despite some heavy bribery, they were still forced to stay in the city of bandits for another two days because that was the earliest date the lord had a free spot.

It didn't mean they suffered during their stay. Ray had rented out a whole residence in the second ring for them. Afterward, the saint of Sol'Fiam would often leave over the day and return with groups of slaves.

There was little rhyme or reason to who he bought. There were citizens of Urth, some who had been traders or guards, but there were also people of all kinds of races who seemed to have been captured after coming through the Patchworks. The lord's outspoken hostility to all invaders meant that the peaceful ones were treated exactly the same as the hostile ones.

Mike and Lydia understood that he did this for their sake since this was the easiest way to release them out of the system of slavery. The saint simply bought them, with the intent to release them later on. Although the slaves had a hard time believing it because of Ray's aura and appearance, Mike and Lydia knew better. However-

“Where did you get all this money?” Mike finally couldn't stop himself from asking. There was only so much one could loot from dungeons and bandits. The chosen of Maahes also felt conflicted about handing so much money to these criminals. Wouldn't it all just be used to pull even more people into the system?

“Mike, did you think I was wearing these rags for fun?” Ray asked him at the time, stumping Mike with the question.

“These are my holy robes, Mike. Do you know what one of the special effects is? I can use the dark power I have collected to appease whatever negative or destructive emotion or trait a person may have, at least temporarily.”

“What does this have to do with the money you are spending?” the beastman asked even more confused. Ray gave him a mysterious smile before explaining.

“It technically means that I could create the illusion of a willing partner for a lusty person. A massive meal for a gluttonous person. Or I can produce as much money as I want in front of a greedy person. Don't worry about what this money may be used for afterward, as it never actually existed in the first place. All the money I used on bribes or pay for the slaves will miraculously vanish within a week.”

“What if they spent it at that time?” Mike asked after a moment. Wouldn't it harm others then?

“They won't. Can you distinguish one silver coin from another? They will subconsciously hold onto the fake and only spend real money. It even works with the system inventory. I tested it,” Ray assured him. At least this explained why the saint was squandering money like a nouveau-riche. He didn't lose anything in buying these slaves.

Before their appointment with the lord, Ray had filled the big residency to the brim with people who had been captured in the unclaimed mountains. They had even spoken about offering them to come along with them when they returned to Minas Mar. They could leave them in Thres, or maybe one of the Tree Stations.

However, this was a topic for later, as the day of their appointment had come and the three arrived at the gates of the lord's mansion in the early morning. They would finally meet Shao Loon, the lord of Morranto.

Over the past two days, they had enough chances for more calm conversations with (name of the receptionist) and she told them more about this lord of the crime city. Apparently, he was a man with a unique class. Not much about it was known, but the people on the streets suspected it was some kind of enchanting class.

After all, he was able to create the slave ring, and even the crime lords feared the troops of the city lord, he himself called the Ring Ghouls. They wore dark robes that hid their identity because they were strong bandits and criminals who were caught and experimented on by Shao Loon until they became his mindless servants, according to rumors.

What wasn’t just speculation, was the power of these Ring Ghouls. They knew no fear nor pain and their bodies were tough like wood. Weapons would be deflected or got stuck in their bodies, while they would mercilessly cut down anyone who went against the city lord.

The group was able to witness them in person, during a skirmish in the third ring. Some people seemingly had a discord over money matters and started fighting in the city. Mike and Lydia had to admit that these Ring Ghouls were comparable to the Golem Knights that guarded the Tree Stations.

As they came before the residence of the lord, the same dark-cloaked figures stood guard at the gates. There was also a normal guard, a head shorter than the figures, who stepped up to speak.

“Halt! What do you want? Do you have an appointment?” the man spoke in a haughty manner, confident back his support in the back.

“We actually do. I’m Dick, this is Harry and she’s Simplicity. We have an appointment for 10 o’clock.” Ray smoothly announced their fake names. It was safe to say Lydia didn’t like hers at all. Simplicity sounded like he was calling her dumb and a stripper at the same time. However, both were normal things in this place.

The guard squinted at them. He was suspicious, but not because of the obviously fake names, everyone here used fake names, but that a bunch of ragged-looking beggars like them actually had an appointment with the lord.

While Ray simply wore his divine robe, Mika and Lydia had done their best to get some clothes from a garbage bin to match his outfit. Against their expectations, this made their appearance here more suspicious to the guard.

The man in question leaned into his guard house and brought out a clipboard, serving to create a funny scene. A man in medieval armor, at the gate of a mansion, surrounded by people in ragged robes, suddenly pulled out a very modern clipboard and ballpoint pen to check the list of names.

The bigger question on Lydia’s mind, however, was why they opted for something archaic as paper and didn’t use a tablet. She didn’t voice her question though.

“Hmm, it seems you are right. You do have an appointment. I will let you in but don’t touch anything. If you dare to touch something and or do something else you are not supposed to, rest assured that you won’t live long enough to regret it,” he warned them, like they were common thieves that would start pocketing stuff the moment they entered.

They didn’t pick a fight with him for now and simply entered the premises and walked up to the entrance of the mansion, where they met a similar guard, checking their names again before they were allowed to enter. After waiting in a lavish salon for another quarter hour, they finally were guided before the great city lord.

Filled with fragrant smoke, it was a room decorated with opulent fabrics and extravagant carpets. Many pillows populated the floor, surrounding the man sitting in the center, like a spider in its silken net.

Shao Loon, a sinewy man with copper skin, was reclining on a massive soft pillow as he was served by beautiful women of various races and dispositions. The group needed a moment to take in the foreign scenery, they only knew from historic flicks or fantasy movies.

While they were still staring at the man, he leisurely lowered the long pipe he was just sucking and let a big bloom of thick smoke out of his mouth. As he moved, the many rings and bracelets on his hand glinted in the light that fell in through the glass ceiling.

“You paid a lot for this appointment, what is it that you want from me?” he asked in a voice that sounded high-pitched, despite the age and the rasp of a smoker. The question forced them to pull her gaze off the women dancing around them and focus on the task ahead.

“Great Lord, we are looking for a slave you purchased some time ago. Her name is Meg Huffin, and her family would like to have her back.” the ugly man spoke humbly.

“Hmm, that is a difficult request,” the city lord mumbled as he took another puff from his pipe.

“We are ready to reimburse you for any complications this may cause,” Ray assured him quickly.

“Ah, that is obvious, but I can’t give you what I do not have. I cherished Meg, but she was taken away by that accursed bird that keeps snatching people from my fields,“ Shao Loon lamented

The three stared at the man, leisurely smoking after he dropped a “Your princess is at another castle”-line on them.