Slime Girl

- Shari -

After the formalities are settled, and we are a nice bundle full of silver coins richer, we can leave the military checkpoint and enter the city proper.

Again, I'm quite struck by the fact that all the streets are so well put together.

Each stone lies near its neighbor with hardly a gap between them.

And they’re clean.

There isn't even a single spot where people unloaded their crap.

I can't even perceive the usual concentration of waste in the air.

But where would they get rid of it?

However, my companions have other things to be excited about.

"Finally! It was so boring in there!" (Liqu)

"Well, I'm likewise glad that we got out of there unscathed. Could've turned ugly." (Vela)

"Yes. Dissolving that many people would've taken forever." (Liqu)

"Ehm, should we speak about this here out in the open?" (Shari)

"What do you want? I'm just voicing my irritation at this wholly unnecessary interrogation! But for real, I've got an eye for stuff like this, and didn't spot any pursuers on the last few corners. We should be good to go." (Vela)

It seems even Vela minds a little.

I still have trouble getting a good grasp on Vela's character.

Most of the time, she seems prim and proper, and then she’ll show this rebellious streak.

"I'm not sure if I want to solely rely on your feelings on this." (Shari)

"It was close, but I think you convinced that guy. He should be on his direct way to Leronne Eras right now, which allows us to pursue our own side projects. After all, we succeeded at what many other agents failed to do and successfully infiltrated Siras." (Vela)

"You know, I don't quite care about this. I want to find my parents. So we'll now start searching for them, because any delay would be more than unwelcome." (Shari)

"And how do you propose we should do that?" (Vela)

Damn, she got a point.

When we rounded the town on our way here, I didn't see anything that looked like slave pens, only farms and rural houses.

"Oh! Oh! We could ask someone!" (Liqu)

"And what would we do after they called the guards because we're asking suspicious questions?" (Vela)

"Kill them?" (Liqu)

"That is not going to work!" (Vela)

"Just because we didn't try yet! I think it's smart!" (Liqu)

"Groan!" (Vela)

"Yeah, let's keep this as Plan C, Liqu." (Shari)

"See? Shari thinks it's valid!" (Liqu)

"Groan!!" (Vela)

Yeah, slime is pacified.

Now back to the issue at hand.

Thing is, I really lack information on the things I'd have to know if I want to even begin to figure out where my parents could've been taken, so interrogating someone may actually be my last option if nothing else works.

However, I may have a possible start.

After all, Siras was built along the only bridge across Rakis' biggest river.

If there's any place to send slaves over the water, it must be here.

However, it's unlikely that they'd send them over right away.

As it's a main traffic route, they'd likely first gather them somewhere on this side before the transport is fully ready and they conclude their business with whoever receives them on the other side.

At least, I think that Koreso doesn't take them directly, and there's first something to arrange before finalizing this kind of deal between countries, especially when handling something as peculiar as people.

So where would I keep a bunch of slaves if I had to store them inside a pretty town like this?

The answer is obvious.

"How about we search the southern district." (Shari)

"And why?" (Vela)

"Because that's usually the cheapest area. Closest to the Evergrove, which the rich avoid. So just the place where you'd store expendables." (Shari)

In my head, this reasoning makes sense.

"So you plan on walking around the whole area for who-knows-how-long, on the off chance that you might stumble upon a pen with stocked-up slaves?" (Vela)

"Yes!" (Shari)

"Can I convince you not to?" (Vela)

"No!" (Shari)

"Sigh. Fine. Just don't leave me behind." (Vela)

I guess I'll grant her that much.

It's not like I want to abandon her in enemy territory.

So we head South.

I plan on doing a wide arc across this part till we get to the bridge.

One of the first noteworthy things would be how the buildings become increasingly shabbier the further we get away from the main street that runs through the city's center.

They also seem to house more people.

So this is apparently the other side of a rich trade city.

Workers who keep everything running.

However, while some may look a bit like slaves, there are no guards keeping them in check, and therefore, I suppose they aren't.

The guards come when I get further west, closer to the river, and find the other big part that makes up this district.

Which would be the workers' respective workplaces.

A lot of huge storage halls and cheap crafting shops.

This would be the place where I'd assume they'd place slaves.

I ask Liqu to scan as precisely as possible for any traces of my parents.

They should be close enough to my old scent to have that memorized.

Meanwhile, I do the same, even though inside this flesh coat, my senses are dulled.

But no matter how much I look around, there seem to be only normal goods stored here, not even other slaves.

"Hey, watch out!"

Huh!?

Suddenly, I feel a pull from behind.

A short moment before a big, wooden crate crashes right at my former position.

"Wham!"

Damn, that was close.

As I gather my wits, I find that the crate came from some kind of wooden construct with a long pillar that can swing around its center.

From its end, there still hangs a part of a ripped rope.

Also, I now realise who pulled me back.

"That was dangerous. You should pay more attention to your environment." (Liqu)

Oh, sorry that I can't notice all that much, as I'm confined in this skin suit.

Might be odd to complain about this, but I've gotten a little used to being free, but instead, I'm just as restricted as I usually am when I have to wear my cloak and mask.

But if that thing had hit me, this could've ended badly.

I mean, I probably would've survived, but getting splashed into a blue puddle would've been hard to explain.

"Are you alright? That was close!" (worker)

Now the workers come.

Well, that was almost an accident, and my clothes are good enough to be concerned about offending me.

In particular, as most of the workers could as well be slaves from the looks, only lacking a collar.

Who knows, some may be, as criminal servitude is a thing.

But when I look into their concerned faces, an idea comes up.

"It's fine. I’m not harmed. Does something like this happen often?" (Shari)

I stare right at the worker who spoke first to me, coaxing for an answer.

"Not exactly regularly, but often enough. The ropes usually hold a bit longer." (worker)

Wait, does that mean they operate with equipment that is meant to break from the strain?

It's as if someone wants an accident to happen.

But maybe I can twist the discussion a bit to my preferred topic.

"That sounds quite dangerous. How can anyone bear such conditions? The one responsible for the equipment should get an earful." (Shari)

Now the workers look a little alarmed.

"Ehm, no, no. There's no reason to complain! It's our fault that we let it come to this. We should have replaced it sooner." (worker)

Sure, it's your fault that you're forced to work with desolate tools and desolate materials.

And is he saying that they have to pay for this rope?

Now they're looking a little forlorn at the crate.

"What are we doing with this now?" (worker)

"We need to carry it by hand, it seems. Also, the crane has to be refitted." (worker)

So that's what this thing is called.

"Oh, I can do this!" (Liqu)

Liqu!?

That's a little too rash for my taste.

She directly starts towards the crate, ready to lift it, but I can quickly see that she tries to do it like a slime, attempting to gain surface area, but doesn't get the right grip.

Worse, I start to get concerned about the durability of her skin.

"Li- Bowan, stop!" (Shari)

Damn, I almost used her name.

I need to get used to the idea that we have to keep up our identities now.

"Huh?" (Liqu)

"You are in no shape to do this. Stop it. Understood?" (Shari)

Please, get the hint, Liqu.

"Okay." (Liqu)

Not much was won, but at least we tried, and I resume our talk to the workers.

"Sorry, he tends to overestimate himself." (Shari)

"Hah, no biggie. Happens to every newbie on this job." (worker)

"Huh. One could think you workers get new faces here more often than equipment." (Shari)

"Hah, well, maybe. There are a lot of people working in this area." (worker)

"Oh, and did any new groups appear recently? Like some brought together?" (Shari)

"Groups? Don't think so. I mean, most come during the recruitment period after winter." (worker)

Not quite the answer I wanted, but maybe I can press more out of them.

"Hey, what are you doing here?!" (guard)

Suddenly, there's a man in armor and with a sword at his hip shouting at me.

Seems like I can't linger much longer in this area here, as the guards become suspicious now.

"Ehm, we were strolling, and then almost got hit by this crate." (Shari)

"Strolling? Here?" (guard)

"Yes." (Shari)

"Do it somewhere else! This is a secured area!" (guard)

I could "insist" on searching the building, which would include a not small degree of violence, but chances are that it's just a normal, guarded storehouse.

I can focus on it all I want, there's no sign that people I know ever passed by here.

And there are hundreds of buildings such as this around here.

All similarly guarded.

Breaking our disguise, on the odd chance that against better knowledge the slaves might all be here, seems plain stupid.

It would be such a waste of our current position that allows us to see the Marquis.

No, I need to think strategically, and can't let this urge to do something get the better of me.

"I understand. We'll be gone." (Shari)

"Tsk, fucking adventurers." (guard)

Can’t say I disagree with this sentiment.