The maid closed the door behind her as she left the room, giving me the space I needed to think. I sat in the chair, taking a slow sip of the tea; my mind drifted to the rankings information I had received from the maid, Rank #1, Courtesan Aika. I’d heard from the maid she was known for being the most beautiful flower in the Pavilion; no one could win against her in terms of beauty. She had the wealthiest patrons, from merchants to nobles, anyone who could afford her presence.

Ranking #2, Courtesan Reiko. Everyone envied her for her talent in arts, especially in dancing and playing the shamisen. I remembered her since she was the one to mock me before I went on stage for my performance. She must see Jun as a rival in dancing, if I’m not mistaken. That explained the blatant disdain she had shown me that day.

Ranking #3, Courtesan Mei. She attracted patrons from her sharp intellect and intelligence, not just from her beauty. She had a knack for controlling people, at least; those were the rumors about her in the Pavilion, from what I’d heard.  A dangerous woman, no doubt.

Ranking #4, Courtesan Miyako. An Innocent and a woman full of sweetness, who was nice to everyone no matter who they were. Her patrons mostly consisted of old men drawn to her nature. And these four? They were, ironically, best friends, an influential group that was in my way, standing at the top of the Pavilion.

I swirled the tea in thought. To investigate them more thoroughly and find out their weaknesses, there was only one way that was possible in a few days if I were to understand them better. The Kurokawa clan came to mind. It might seem too fast to redeem that favor, but I’ve got no choice. Before that, I need to do some investigating of my own. I reached for the bell near me and rang it, calling for the maid.

“Yes, Jun-sama,” the maid asked softly, entering the room at my call hurriedly.

I gestured for her to come closer. “Bring me something to write with,” I ordered as I felt her presence move nearer.

The maid nodded and, in a few seconds, gave me the materials I had asked for.

I took the brush and began to write a letter to Ryuji. It was to let him know to set up an appointment so I could visit him. It might displease Ryuji to enter unannounced, and I couldn’t afford it in my position. Once the letter was done, I folded the letter, sealed it, and handed it over to the maid. “Deliver this letter to Ryuji-san,” I said.

“Yes, Jun-sama. Don’t worry, I’ll see to it immediately”. The maid bowed, turning to leave the room. 

I finished the tea and placed the empty cup on the table, a plan forming in my mind. It was now time for a walk around the garden. I grinned, standing up. I reached for a robe, draping it over my shoulders. Jun had memorized the pathways of the Pavilion like the back of his hand after living here for many years. It was only that Jun didn’t speak, so he let the maid keep guiding him out of convenience. I approached the door and opened it on my way to the garden, feeling the cool air hit me.

As I walked through the corridors, I could feel the eyes of some servants on me, gasping as they watched me walk by. Likely because the maid wasn’t guiding me anymore, and it was rare for me to walk out and about since I was always holed up in my room, preferring solitude.

“Has she come out to see how the other courtesans are doing? I’m 19^th place, and I’m barely surviving with the income I get, and this bitch even when she’s blind, gets to live in luxury. How unfair”, a middle-ranked courtesan remarked bitterly.

“I’m doing good; my patron bought me this expensive dress from District B. It’s so pretty!” another middle-ranked courtesan chimed in.

“Seriously! That’s amazing! Such a nice patron you have. Hopefully, I’ll get one soon”, the courtesan replied, wishing herself luck.

As they prattled on about their trivial success, I controlled my expression almost unreadable. People outside the Pavilion were living in broken houses, and these courtesans were living with no economic pressure, enjoying pleasures. These courtesans were blind to the truth of the district. I continued my walk until I arrived at the garden in deep thought, feeling the grass beneath my thin shoes. I walked around the block, circling the area deliberately, making sure to get as much information as that was possible.

There were whispers about me, as usual, nothing too exciting, about my appearance and my status. I paid them little mind. Just then, I heard the sound of a conversation through the thin wall of a nearby cabin. I slowed my pace near the cabin, eavesdropping with the use of the skill.

“The Pavilion Master has ordered for the slaves to be taught a lesson this time. It’s just too brutal, and since you owe me from the time with Aika-sama, do it for me this time. Just torture them, taking their fingernails off, etc. You know the protocol, about…a week should do?” the feminine voice said.

A husky voice agreed. “Fine. Be sure to pay me, though. It takes time getting rid of their bodies if they end up dying on me”, the man said, picking up a weapon. From the sound of the weapon, it seemed like an axe. They were extremely prepared, as if this wasn’t for the first time.

Then, the screams of three individuals pierced through the cabin walls. There’s more to this Aika than I had initially thought. The woman walked out of the cabin, completing her task, and she sighed. “I have to go give the beggars some rice as promised. Why do these beggars even deserve this? We already pay for their taxes food, and give them jobs. How ungrateful, the lot of them?” with a grunt, she stomped away, clearly displeased with them.

I chuckled. This amount of information wasn’t bad at all. Since these four courtesans are best friends, they should be aware of their deeds. They should be all interconnected. “I can’t wait to find out more,” I snickered, walking back to my room, hands clasped behind my back. This was enough for today, overdoing it might arouse suspicions. There was no need to rush.

As I reached the entrance of my room, I couldn’t help but feel something awaiting my attention down the other hallway, which led to the Pavilion lobby. I felt a sudden chill down my spine and couldn’t help but react to it. I moved silently in the direction of the lobby, wondering what was transpiring there as I heard hushed voices.

I felt a huge crowd gathering in the lobby. I couldn’t help but feel the presence of someone familiar, ‘Reiko,’ I thought. It had to be her since she was holding the shamisen, and the department of art was gathering around her, asking if she was ok. ‘What is she doing here at this hour?’ I wondered.

Standing in the lobby, I realized the cause of this huge crowd wasn’t Reiko but a group of rough-looking men standing at the center of the room. My [Sixth Sense] buzzed like an alarm telling me not to go near the group of merchants, so I mixed in the crowd observing.

Reiko cut through, commanding, “Get out!” she snapped. “You’re not welcome here. We don’t need the likes of such merchants tarnishing our reputation”, she clicked her tongue.

One of the men, who was most likely the leader, chuckled. “Now, now, we’re just here to do a bit of business. No need to get so worked up”.

I heard the sound of the chains rattling. My hearing picked up the uneven footsteps of several people, their steps trembling with exhaustion. I didn’t need to see to know what was happening. I scoffed; slaves were present in the Pavilion. Then I shrugged, realizing it’s normal to have them here in District D as it’s where the lowest of the low life, but selling slaves in the middle of the Pavilion was rare.

“These are South Koreans”, the leader continued. “These seven here are of premium stock, and look, they’re very good-looking. They are perfect for the courtesan's uses here”.

Instantly, the atmosphere shifted. I could hear people murmur with interest. Greedy eyes roamed over the slaves, calculating their worth.

“How much for that one?” barked out a noble. Starting the bidding on one of the young slaves, that was perfect for being a maid. I could feel the bidding get more intense as time went by.

Just like this, everyone wanted a piece of the premium stock. Three of the seven slaves were quickly bought away. On the side, the merchants were already signing contracts. But for me, this was becoming boring, so I turned to leave for my room.

Just then, a voice cut through the noise, silencing everyone. “You will regret this. I will protect the remaining citizens of my country”, one of the remaining slaves spat out.

The leader snickered and, with the crack of the whip, punished the slave. The slave cried out in pain.

I stopped in my tracks, hearing the familiar cringy dialogue, and my lips curled into a grin. The fire in his voice…I looked toward the slave, and my [Sixth Sense] skill went off in my mind intensely to the point of making me dizzy, but I continued walking.

Arriving at the center of the room, everyone immediately recognized me, wondering what I was doing there. “Courtesan Jun, what brings you here?” asked Reiko, looking my way.

I smiled. “I couldn’t help but be curious hearing the chaos,” I said.

“Ah, there’s nothing for you here. Go back to your room”, Reiko said in an irritated voice.

“Can I look at one of these slaves? I couldn't help but be intrigued”, I said, catching her off guard.

Reiko, startled, couldn’t believe that a courtesan was being this brazen and buying a slave out in the open. But Reiko let it be, thinking that maybe this way, Jun would drop in the ranks.

I approached the leader. “Can I buy the slave that you just punished?” I asked, using my [Persuasion] skill. The merchant readily agreed, and I bought the slave, placing the silver coins in his hands. I couldn't care less about how the slave felt; I had gotten my hands on this prized possession. Why wouldn't I be happy?

"The Guardian Paladin, Lee Joon-soo," I whispered—one of the main supporting characters of The Regressor's War.  

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