"Just as you said, yesterday The Marketplace—or rather the corporation—took custody of Anna Kriez. However, by the time I investigated, she had already been sold.
"To the Pleasure Quarter?"
The Marketplace served as a gateway to the city's distribution network. Various goods passed through there on their way in or out of Orario. The sale of people to the Pleasure Quarter was a closely guarded secret, though it happened with great frequency. The guild had turned a blind eye to these practices.
Ryuu's face strained as Asfi responded in a soft voice. "It wasn't the Pleasure Quarter, Lion. I don't know what you both have stuck your noses into, but it would be better for you not to get involved any further."
"Asfi, can you be more specific? Who bought her?"
Asfi's blue eyes narrowed behind her glasses as she stared, then shook her head in defeat. "The one who bought Anna Kriez was one of the casino's people."
"!" Ryuu went wide-eyed.
"Hm…" I stroked my chin, trying to remember the information about them. "If I remember right, since Orario was and is called the center of the world, it was still lacking one thing: entertainment. And to meet the insistent demand of the gods, the city welcomed foreign investment and know-how from Meilstora, the country of opera; the paradise city, Santorio Vega; and other such nations and cities. Thanks to that, countless entertainment options had been constructed in the shopping district."
Asfi nodded with a slightly proud smile on her face. "Yes, you remember it well. And foremost among them are the theater and the casinos."
"And due to the investment sources outside the city and even beyond the country, the guild holds no oversight there, so it's one of the places the law can't reach," Ryuu spoke dispassionately.
"The casino that I am talking about has the cooperation of the guild, and it has contracts with several high-ranking adventurers for security."
"..."
She continued, "Infiltration is not feasible. And even if that could be done, you would definitely be caught."
I frowned. "So, considering a scandal like unauthorized people entering a place where gods and other prominent people go, it might even become a diplomatic problem."
Ryuu leaned forward on the table. "There are branch casinos from several countries in the shopping district. Which one bought her?"
"El Dorado Resort—the largest one in Santorio Vega. It's known as Paradise City's Grand Casino."
Ryuu's face finally scrunched up into a scowl. El Dorado Resort was Orario's most powerful casino.
"The one who bought Anna Kriez was the owner, a dwarf named Terry Cervantes. It appears he was the one pulling the strings behind the corporation, as well as the street thugs."
"El Dorado Resort… Terry Cervantes." Ryuu whispered the two names. Asfi kept her eyes fixated on Ryuu before she sighed, holding her head as if to stop the coming headache.
"Both of you are still going to do it, right?" she asked. Ryuu and I both nodded.
Asfi sighed again. "I knew it. I knew it already, but sometimes I really wish both of you could just not get involved in strangers' business. Anyways, since I knew it was going to happen, I have already prepared something for you both."
She retrieved a card from her side pocket and put it on the table.
"This is an invitation to the resort. With this, you would be permitted to enter there easily."
I stood up and scooped Asfi in my arms, hugging her tight, and rubbed our cheeks together. "Hehe, Asfi, you are such a cutie! I love you so much! Thank you for worrying about us."
Ryuu smiled softly, interlocking her pinky finger with Asfi's, surprising not only Asfi but me as well.
"Yes, thank you, Andromeda, really."
Asfi's face turned pink as she pushed both of us back into our seats.
"E-Enough! Both of you! I won't be able to help you any more than this. And if you really want to thank me, then please, next time don't get involved in any more trouble!"
"We will try our best," I replied, Ryuu nodding alongside me.
I reached for the invitation letter and read through it.
"Oh, it is addressed to a count and his countess from a small southern nation?"
I glanced toward Ryuu as I spoke, a smirk playing on my lips.
Ryuu stiffened, hearing that. "W-Why are you looking at me like that?"
"Nothing, nothing, just thinking about what kind of dress would suit a countess."
Asfi shook her head toward Ryuu in apology.
"I am sorry, Ryuu, but this was the only one I was able to get."
"No, it's fine, Andromeda, I am grateful for it."
"Yes, me too!" I agreed, perhaps a little too eagerly, as both of them glared at me, which still failed to wipe the smile away from my face.
I need to get her a magnificent dress for tomorrow!
The sun had set behind the distant mountain range while night unfurled from the eastern sky. In the blink of an eye, Orario was swathed in twilight. Viewed from above, no one could be blamed for mistaking the Labyrinth City for a sea of stars. Lit by countless magic-stone lamps, the city put on the mask it wore at night.
Tavern girls stood in front of their respective shops, calling for customers while street corners overflowed with the sound of bards singing and playing their strings or woodwinds. Adventurers returning from the dungeon and laborers finished with work mingled along the main street, drinking and making merry to bring their days to a close.
In the midst of all this, the city wall's south gate opened. A long column of carriages and attendants proceeded along South Main Street from outside.
The richly decorated carriages that passed the gate were shockingly lavish. I remembered how, once a week, Orario would open the south gate to let in the wealthy from around the world. This was the current Guild leader's one and only political policy: invite the wealthy people from outside the city, allow them to mill around as they spent their money, then reap the economic benefits.
I observed everything from the window of the carriage that was set up in an alley and turned back to face Ryuu, squirming on her seat, wearing the dress I had gotten for her yesterday.
The dress was a vibrant rose-magenta gown made of smooth, silky fabric that shimmered softly under the light. Its strapless bodice fit neatly around the torso before flowing into layered skirts that fell in petal-like folds, giving the dress a graceful sense of movement.
A halter-style strap circled the neck, where a small red rose ornament rested at the collar. Matching long gloves extended up the arms, blending with the gown's elegant design. A large bow at the waist gathered the fabric, completing the look of a dress that resembled a blooming rose.
The vibrant rose-colored dress seemed even brighter against her newly black hair, the dark strands framing her face like velvet around a blooming flower.
Ryuu shifted slightly under my stare, one gloved hand resting against her chest.
"…Arin?" she said cautiously.
I realized I had been staring for several seconds now.
"Sorry," I muttered, rubbing the back of my neck. "I was just trying to figure out who this beautiful lady in front of me was."
A faint blush spread across her cheeks almost instantly.
"Please stop teasing me, or I would have a hard time maintaining my expression," she continued, now staring me up and down. "...Besides, this suit also looks good on you."
"Really?" I looked down at my own attire.
I was wearing a tailored black three-piece suit. The dark jacket fit snugly over my shoulders, its sharp lines giving it a clean, refined silhouette. Beneath it was a matching waistcoat fastened neatly over a crisp white shirt, the contrast making the black tie at my collar stand out even more. The fabric was smooth and well-cut, clearly made for formal occasions rather than adventuring.
I glanced back at Ryuu.
"Of course it looks good, you chose it after all," I said and looked back out the window, where several carriages were rolling down the street. "Anyways, it's time," I said and knocked three times on the small window behind me—a signal for us to move.
Our carriage rolled out of the alley, merging into Main Street, becoming just another part of the long procession. The carriage pretended to come from the gate, looking exactly the same as the rest, while waiting its turn to move along until it finally stopped at one corner in the Shopping District.
I opened the door and stepped down, my silver hair glimmering in the nightlife. I took Ryuu's reaching hand from inside the carriage.
"Thank you, dear," she said, with no tremor in her voice. Our practice seemed to have borne fruit.
"You are not stuttering anymore, that's good."
"Of course, we need to act like a proper husband and wife."
"That's good thinking, but… you are still gripping my hand a little too tightly, Ryuu," I said, making sure only she could hear me.
Ryuu immediately softened her hold on my hand as she also stepped down from the carriage.
"Please don't use my name. Today, we are Count Alric D'Averin and his wife, Countess Rielle D'Averin," she said calmly, changing the subject. "We've traveled from a small territory in the southern kingdoms to visit Orario."
Alric… right. That is my name for today.
I repeated the name in my head a few times, mentally conditioning myself to respond only to that name.
"Okay, shall we go then?" I said as we linked our arms and started walking toward the entrance.
Our surroundings grew even livelier with so many people around. There were extravagantly dressed visitors strutting around in their jewels and furs, while many sturdy-looking animal people and dwarf bodyguards could be seen.
From the South Gate to Central Park, located in the center of the city, guild workers and several high-ranking adventurers were placed around every major establishment along South Main Street.
"Could you please show me your letter?" a human man at the gate asked.
Ryuu handed him the letter she was holding.
"This will do, I presume?"
The man glanced over the paper and greeted us with a smile.
"It is a pleasure to welcome you, Lord Alric D'Averin. Please have a wonderful evening."
We walked past the employee, as well as the formation of several adventurers facing outwards, as we crossed the threshold of the arch.
Inside the large plaza, there was a giant fountain surrounded by a group of ornate buildings that were highlighted by the multicolored magic-stone lamps.
Far removed from the day-to-day, this was a gambler's paradise.
Ryuu and I headed to the resplendent casino.