It was late in the morning for the whole of Shanta city and the members of Elizabeth’s Paradise were all stirring awake after yet another late night of vigorous exercise - also known as sex.
A few of the girls even had clients that stayed overnight with them so they would be still helping said clients - though some had already finished up with that such as Lisa who would be walking from the shared baths with her arms wrapped around the arm of a fairly common looking merchant.
There would also be a certain bunny and wood-elf behind them but that involved little more than the bunny getting handsy with the sore elf
He seemed like a successful enough merchant as he had a bit of a gut to him but he wasn’t so obesse one would call him a wealthy merchant. He’d have greased up hair that was combed back.
Her large breasts - which were originally fake but only to be considered a bit above average though due to her pregnancy received an unwanted growth spurt - wrapped around him arms.
The two of them were talking about something you wouldn’t expect when visiting brothel; tax.
Though it wasn’t exactly surprising as Lisa was in charge of the finances of the brothel and was known to have quite the mind,bringing the allure of playing with a smart woman. Something many men both competent and incompetent found great pleasure in…
But some treated her like this, engaging in enthralling discussions… Only for themselves.
“So what do you think of the recent movements over in Evergreen?” <Merchant>
“Hm… I think something has gone terribly wrong on their side - I wasn’t born there so I cannot say for sure but it would appear something must’ve happened in the capital for all the noble class elves to abandon their posts… In the worst case scenario for this country…” <Lisa>
Her gaze softly fell back to the yard where a high-elf was laid to rest. A bitter smile appearing on her face, a rarely seen expression.
“While I don’t know elf history but there was a high-elf here and… There is the {Pillar of the Scholar} who was said to have given birth to the current queen of the elves - it’s clear she has a connection.” <Lisa>
“Y-you can’t mean that… But surely a young , surely she wouldn’t wipe out a small country like this one?” <Merchant>
If you called {Orrid Empire} a ‘small country’ in front of a noble they would most definitely kick up a fuss due to their unfounded pride and perhaps the same for many of the middle-class who have only gained from the current system… But merchants were different and had seen many places. While they hadn’t been to some countries they were open to new trade.
However, to his question Lisa would shake her head softly.
“*Sigh* The woman is said to be highly protective - we all know the popular theory of how she joined the first great war and she even took up the name ‘Mother’. It wouldn’t be unthinkable - though I don’t think she’d get her own hands dirty…” <Lisa>
Sighing softly and closing her eyes while moving her left hand up to press her glasses upwards, this would cause her to hit against her chest as even know she’s not use to it - causing her mouth to twitch.
“What effects do you think this would cause?” <Merchant>
“The sleeping beast will stir to check the situation - in this entire world there are only a few who can compare to the pillars and I believe the {Stratos-Indigo} is one of them. Whether that refers to the children or the empire.” <Lisa>
The {Stratos-Indigo} can mean two things - first is the largest, most powerful empire with an elite troupe specialized in killing both dragons of all ranks and the gods themselves. Then, there are the children…
There are two families that ring through the whole world when one thinks ‘most powerful’ and those are the Indigo and Stratos. Though some make the argument that Mendax bloodline - that which ruins through Mother - is superior by many margins it also hasn’t mixed with any other powerful bloodlines unlike these two.
The Indigo represents the bloodline that flows through {Sohn-Tochter The Queen}, {Violet Indigo The Violent Demon Lord of Wrath} and… {Jeeves}
The Stratos on the other hand is the blood which flows through {Photon The True Hero} and {Munzumira The Insight}.
These two bloodlines have always mixed through Munzumira’s children but recently in the last few years there has been jubilation in the Empire as {The Queen} as she finally decided to give birth to an heir. This was something that didn’t happen, apparently not because there was no ability to (she has Munzumira as a ‘sister’-in-law after all) but due to her nature of not giving herself any ‘weaknesses’.
It has to be said that Munzumira as a spirit is undeniably childish despite her status while Sohn-Tochter can be seen as simply cold.
Though, being the only human (since people tend to ignore Jeeves’ claim as a human) with only monsters as her company, it should be reasonable she has to keep her guard up. When one gets up on the stage they have to play the part after all. In truth, one could say that the Empire wouldn’t be so prosperous over all these years if not for her cold personality - the jolly Photon can handle the role as a ‘shining beacon’ afterall. In fact it would be a miracle if you could find anyone more fitting for the role than the literal {True Hero}.
To all of this the merchant would let out a heavy sigh and rub the back of his head with a heavy right hand.
“So we can expect the colony up north to be in equal joy and if the queen receives direct report of the rumours of slavers in the border she’d want her pound of flesh whether it has anything to do with {Evergreen}...” <Merchant>
Reaching into his trousers with a sigh he’d pull out a pouch of gold coins and present it to Lisa would would happily take it - making use of her improved bust size to hide it away before she spoke once again.
“And there have been rumours of an Apprentice High-Priestess towards the border between here and goberz. Not only this but some traveling merchants from the north suggest that {Stratos-Indigo} are showing great interest in the whole thing and even sightings of {God-Hunters} around the East while special {God-Hunters} of an unusual type are spotted a bit further down near the {Moonlesh Range}. While it’s not unexpected for a royal envoy to visit a cousin of the prince as Munzumira seems to condone the whole thing positively… It seems they’re doing something else especially down south.” <Lisa>
She would then lean in and whisper the next words very quietly.
“There are even rumors they went straight to the capital of Voluptas and there have even been sightings… Of golden lightning storms…” <Lisa>
To this the merchant was so taken aback he almost collapsed and spoke loudly.
“You mean the holy thunder from the {True Hero}?!” <Merchant>
A being so powerful that anywhere but his own home thunder and lightning imbued with the power of the divine follow to smite evil… There is only one person who can do what most require a whole complex spell to do by simply appearing.
Photon wasn’t exactly well regarded for his stealth…
Now in front of the door to the lobby Lisa would shake her head.
“It could be him but it’s not like it’s impossible for other top powers to have no way to replicate it.” <Lisa>
“Either way one could assume Voluptas has met it’s end, if I was a betting man I’d bet the Goberz is going to get a lot more land and {Orrid} as an eyesore for {Chaos J Faust} as well as the sheathed Blade he has hidden away in his lands - if rumours were to be believed - will meet it’s end. He is also a Duke of the Empire and if one takes into account his blood and wealth he certainly fits the role…” <Merchant>
“I wouldn’t say he’s a colony of them as he pays heed to no one other than his own mother and if he wanted {Orrid} out the way, if one spell from that boy can wipe out an army why would he need the help of a few mortals?He already has the Blade as you’ve said. He clearly has little interest in land and is known to be an eccentric - those types of people don’t like dealing with politics… No, if I were to bet, it would bet on Voluptas getting out quite alright…” <Lisa>
“You can’t mean… They’ve been allies all this time?” <Merchant>
“No matter how much to believe in all the rumours spread by {Orrid}, the fact remains the rumours spread about both countries to the east and west of us have been similar… Scarily similar. And, if the elves really hated Voluptas for their ways then…” <Lisa>
With those words she’d glance towards the east with one more gaze at the merchant and the meaning was clear… Goberz didn’t always have Faust but rather Faust just appeared and took over without any issues. Which powerless state is going to complain about a worldwide superpower residing in their country? Though, it’s not like he appeared as soon as they were founded.
In fact, with this line of thought some could say that Goberz is worse than Voluptas as at least voluptas hasn’t thrown away the idea of manliness completely…
“I see… Well, either way I think it would be best if I move towards our branch in the north colony. No matter which way it swings I know what’s the safest place to be…” <Merchant>
To that, Lisa could fully agree with. If anywhere on the planet was safe it would be the empire that believes in the {True God} pantheon, ruled by the wife of the {True Hero} and thus has ties to the {Insight}.
Walking into the lobby Lisa would lift and eyebrow for a second as an all too familiar figure sat down with a tall glass in her right hand, a book about hunter snares in her left and glasses which she didn’t even need resting upon her nose.
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