Blackstone Code

The Pleasure Daily is a newspaper in the Gephra Empire known for its focus on entertainment. Moralists call it the sewer of decency, but for many pleasure-seekers, it serves as a guiding light.

Its reputation may be poor, but its circulation is strong—especially its “Monthly Rookie Ranking” and “Quarterly Rookie Ranking,” which gentlemen have dubbed essential reading for their personal indulgences.

Each quarter, the paper ranks newly debuted escorts based on client reviews and comprehensive evaluations. The winner garners both fame and fortune. Reaching that level means stepping beyond mere escort work—it’s a potential ticket into the upper middle class, even becoming a renowned socialite.

Many girls, unwilling to take the harder paths in life, aim for this route. Even if they don’t win, simply appearing in the rankings can guarantee decent business.

But it’s still a legitimate profession—and legitimate workers should not be ridiculed. There’s no hierarchy in honest labor.

In this era of fierce competition for attention, the lines between things often blur. If a huge story breaks, even a morally questionable paper can gain readership and subscriptions.

People who never read The Pleasure Daily may buy a copy for the headlines, and they won’t just toss it aside. Once they see other content—be they priests or preachers—if they’re men, they’re likely to come back for more.

This was a rare opportunity. The editor-in-chief immediately grasped its potential. He sat down, dabbed his tea-soaked mustache with a handkerchief, and picked up the phone.

News of this magnitude required approval from the editor-in-chief, and possibly from the nobles who backed the paper.