Chapter 40: Destination
The discomfort was written all over Carl’s face right then. He squinted and answered.
"Boy! We’re not heading there just to hire some hooker. We have an important mission at the brothel."
Roy frowned and scratched his head for a moment.
"A mission? That’s got nothing to do with me."
Carl snorted.
"Of course it does, Don’t you want to go with me? Don’t you want to ascend your soul? There are plenty of killers, or someone like them, waiting for you there."
Roy lingered for a moment before frowning and nodding quietly.
Carl clicked his tongue.
"Good! Let’s go. No more wasting time here."
Before long, both of them left the tavern and hired a carriage to begin their journey to the border of the Ortega Family.
The Ortega Family was one of the families holding power over most of the Stoker Class realm, just like the Ryan family. Naturally, that also meant the Ortega Family ruled many cities and towns. Most of them were under their control, forced to hand over a share of resources in exchange for protection.
The land of brothels was one of those places, attracting many women looking for work and men chasing their lust. It was a profit machine for the Ortega Family, with rows of beautiful girls living there—even noble-level service, the higher tier of prostitutes.
But now, because of a single criminal from the Ortega Family, the land was locked down completely. No one could cross the border into the brothel lands, except Ortega Family soldiers and a few who were... authorized like Carl.
"I wonder what the hell that criminal did, but now this whole place is sealed by them," Roy glanced out through the carriage door.
Of course he’d heard Carl’s briefing about the mission and the current situation at the brothels. His question was understandable — there was little information on a mission that sounded dangerous and hardly fit for a student and a weak scavenger like them
"That’s my question too." Carl frowned and closed his eyes, dozing a bit before the carriage stopped at the entrance to the brothel district.
They’d been on the road for ten days; even just sitting in the carriage watching the scenery made them tired and bored.
About ten minutes later they could finally end their boredom and stepped out. Carl took a breath of fresh air and turned to the driver.
"Keep it — I guess two gold coins is enough for the short trip."
The driver nodded and checked the two coins with a despicable, greedy face. The pay was more than he’d expected.
He tried to wear a gentle man mask again and said.
"Of course. That’s more than enough — hope you’ll hire me again next time."
Carl shrugged and walked toward the district entrance with Roy, who looked like he’d never been to such a strange place before. About five soldiers stood by the gate; they all looked unfriendly, when any stranger passed through. Carl and Roy approached, and one of the soldiers stepped forward and growled,
"You! This place isn’t for kids. Get out of here before I have to use force."
Carl grimaced and muttered to himself.
"Kid? My age’s already old enough to marry a girl."
He pulled out the badge Hanley had given him back in the academy and flashed it in the soldier’s face.
"I’m already cleared to enter."
The soldier, expressionless, took the badge and studied it for a moment. Trying to find the tiniest trace of fake on it, and for a few seconds, he relaxed his face.
"The badge is real. The general sent you here to gather information? If so, you can step inside."
He handed the badge back and waved to the others to let the newcomers through. Carl narrowed his eyes for a few seconds, then relaxed his shoulders, accepting the soldier’s words.
In truth, they’d come to track down the criminal and capture him, but if he’d said that outright, he figured he’d look like an idiot in front of them.
One criminal had caused an entire squad of the family’s soldiers to be dispatched there, and now two boys were doing the same thing. It must’ve looked ridiculous.
With the Ortega family badge, Carl and Roy quickly passed the soldiers and reached the center of town.
"We’ll find a brothel to rest first," Carl said.
"And from here, you’ll handle the rest for me."
Roy scratched his head, confused.
"What do you mean? I’m just a kid."
Carl signed.
"I mean you’ll be the one talking to the girls in this town, not me. I’ll deal with the soldiers and the men."
Roy frowned.
"Huh? I don’t get it. Last time I talked to a girl, she almost killed me. And you—what’s your problem with them anyway?"
Carl rubbed his temples, clearly annoyed, before answering in a flat tone.
"The girls... I can’t stand being near them. Every time I talk to one, just a few words and I’m sick for a night. Worse, if they touch me, I’m down for a week. You get it? I’ll be stuck in bed here for a week. Don’t you want to finish this mission as fast as we can?"
The real reason, though, was the system’s penalty — but he couldn’t tell Roy that. If his wife found out he touched another girl or even hired a hooker, she’d probably kill him.
Roy rubbed his chin for a moment and nodded.
"I see... you seem to have some kind of... sickness? A phobia of women or something like that?"
"But don’t expect too much," Roy added. "Talking to girls isn’t my strength. I’ll try to be polite, that’s all."
Carl let out a deep breath and smiled.
"Don’t worry. Talking to women is easy. Just say a few nice things and be there when they need you. Do that and tons of women will fall for you."
Roy shot Carl a suspicious look.
"You really shouldn’t be saying that when you can’t even talk to a woman yourself."
Carl’s eye twitched as he thought,
’’If I tell him I have a wife and that’s how I made her fall for me, he’ll beg me to teach him that skill’’
"[System Notice]: Now you see why I created those penalties for you."