Chapter 116: Chapter 115: The Ties That Bind
Under the watchful gaze of at least three individuals, Ji Ma fought off her drowsiness and was first led to a small room. Neatly stacked on the bed were women’s clothing, with soft and shiny stockings. The old maid said:
“Be aware of yourself and take off the cheap stuff you’re wearing.”
Ji Ma promptly removed her clothing and, under the scrutinizing eyes of the three elderly women, donned her underwear, sat on a chair, lifted her long slender legs, and bent down to pull on the white, lacy thigh-high stockings. They fit even better than she had anticipated.
After putting on the two stockings, she instinctively smoothed out the wrinkles with her fingers, gliding from her curvaceous calf all the way to her thigh’s base. Her movements were fluid and graceful, radiating a sense of charm.
Even the elderly maids, whose faces were stern and wrinkled like tree bark, felt a flicker of joy in their hearts.
Among them, one particularly aged maid, who personally served the great benefactor, was the highest-ranking and oldest of the trio. A hint of satisfaction appeared on her wrinkled face as her scowling features softened a bit.
She said, “Salin City has hope; the great benefactor has once again saved Salin City.”
“Tsk,” Ji Ma scoffed, “It’s all just for his Salin City. It’s not like he did anything remarkable.”
“Watch your mouth, succubus!” the old maid’s voice rose, brandishing a ruler, lightly tapping it against Ji Ma’s face to intimidate her. “The great benefactor has dedicated himself for Salin City; everything he does is for its survival. I don’t expect an evil outsider like you to understand, but you shall not slander him.”
“Is your brain the size of a walnut? Old… elder, as a ‘sacrifice’ to ‘save’ Salin City, if it’s good for Salin City, I suffer; how can I have any respect for the great benefactor?”
“Two instances of foul language, extend your hand.”
“What?”
“I said, extend your hand.” The old maid raised her ruler. “Foul language and disrespecting the master. First warning, five hits on the palm. You must learn manners within the thirteen days leading up to the Rainbow Festival!”
Damn! Even a dead virgin coming out of the ‘kill the demon race’ headquarters is merely giving verbal warnings, while you, Bransi, act as a pimp for the master? Ha.
Ji Ma glared at the old maid, who was half a head taller than her, with an aquiline nose and neatly combed silver hair, her face lined with wrinkles. Years of discipline radiated a sense of authority, making countless young girls tremble in fear before her.
“I will count to three: one, two…”
Ji Ma immediately extended her hand, palm facing up, casually marking her “Seed of Dream” on her. With her complete mastery over Nightmare powers, the limit of the Seed of Dream skyrocketed to ten.
She said, “At least right now, in legal terms, my master is George—ow!”
A ruler cut through the air and landed heavily on her tender palm, making a crisp sound. Her palm stung painfully, turning red, causing Ji Ma to nearly cry out as her hand instinctively dropped.
She gritted her teeth, initially planning to ask if the old maid had family or friends, but given the current situation, it was better to keep silent.
“Raise your hand!”
The old maid scolded.
Ji Ma raised her hand again.
The ruler struck down three times in quick succession, both painful and numbing. Noticing the old maid had no intention of stopping, Ji Ma withdrew her hand, rubbing her palm.
It was supposed to be five hits, yet she only received four. Ji Ma felt fortunate to have backed off in time.
The old maid scrutinized Ji Ma’s hands for a moment before speaking harshly:
“Extend the other hand.”
“What?”
Ji Ma’s tail flicked in anger.
“Didn’t hear me clearly?”
“Alright.”
The great demon lord can be flexible!
Ji Ma glared at her, extending her right hand.
“Slap!”
The ruler struck her twice with force, making Ji Ma flinch.
“It was supposed to be five hits!”
“Because you’re defiant and staring at me.” The old maid raised her chin, “From now on, I am your etiquette teacher, teaching you how to be a lady. If I hear you curse again or witness any rude, annoying actions, I will continue teaching until you submit.”
Very well, just wait for your whole family to die.
Ji Ma lowered her head and said, “Understood.”
“Too soft. Raise your head, look at me, and your eyes must show sincerity. Say it again.”
“Understood!”
“Now that’s better.” The old maid pointed at the clothes on the bed. “You should thank the great benefactor; he has instructed to keep your personality and has low requirements for etiquette. Otherwise, you’d be crying by now.”
Oppressive feudal etiquette! Coupled with a group of menopausal old women who don’t understand sensuality, it can only make a girl feel like a zombie – even if she’s beautiful, who would want to participate!
Ji Ma inwardly condemned the cannibalistic etiquette as she changed into a snow-white dress and stood before the old maid.
“Turn around. Good, much better than before’s cheap clothing.” The old maid nodded. “Get rid of those tasteless rags.”
Ji Ma watched as the slightly younger old maid lifted the stockings and sleepwear George had bought for her.
Her mouth slightly parted, she didn’t speak.
“You can go meet the master now; don’t keep him waiting.” The old maid said.
Ten minutes later.
In the great benefactor’s parlor, sunlight streamed through the windows, casting light onto the red carpet.
The Mediterranean mage dozed on the couch. He had a standard Mediterranean hairstyle, wore black-rimmed glasses, and had dark circles under his eyes, with signs of sleeplessness on his face. Indeed, he was the Mediterranean mage.
Yesterday, the Mediterranean mage had made a breakthrough in a spell, so in reward, he indulged himself well into the night with the assistance of a young maid and a mature maid. Originally, he had been sleeping soundly in the embrace of the female slaves but was called in here instead. He did not dare go against the great benefactor, yet he felt aggrieved, especially as he had been sitting on this couch for nearly half an hour.
He only wanted to return home and take a proper nap with a maid’s leg against him. He couldn’t help but begin to harbor resentment toward the “client” he hadn’t yet met.
He couldn’t help but glance at the second person in the hall, an elderly maid who had also lost her beauty. Looking at the wrinkles on her face, the Mediterranean mage truly could not understand why the great benefactor did not use a younger maid. It was simply a matter of waving his hand. He asked:
“How much longer?”
“She is changing clothes; it will be soon.”
“Soon? That’s what you said last time.” The Mediterranean mage complained, “The longer a woman takes to change, the more troublesome she is.”
At that moment, Ji Ma appeared, escorted down the stairs by the three old maids.
The Mediterranean mage’s gaze immediately fell on the dark-haired girl in the white dress. His desires, having already been released upon two maids the previous night, were now overshadowed by fatigue and irritation.
Yet the dark-haired girl had an odd charm about her, every move she made captivated the Mediterranean mage. For a moment, he forgot his exhaustion, and his grievances vanished, feeling a surge of youthful energy.
This pleasant feeling intensified as the dark-haired girl drew closer.
An old maid blocked his view and politely said, “Master, she has arrived.”
The Mediterranean mage withdrew his gaze and said, “Very good, very good, she truly is an incomparable work of art; is she the flower of Salin City for the Rainbow Festival?”
The old maid did not respond, saying instead, “The contract on her requires your attention. To make the flowers of Salin City even more vibrant, we will be on hand to remind you of any potentially inappropriate actions.”
The Mediterranean mage felt a hint of remorse as he focused with his professional gaze on the dark-haired girl, finding her somewhat familiar.
Ji Ma looked at him as if he were a programmer just pulled away from their workstation and said, “Hello, nice to see you again.”
“It’s you? Aren’t you that one’s slave?”
The old maid interjected, “We need you to sever the slave contract.”
The Mediterranean mage’s reaction was unexpected, saying, “That’s unfortunate, what a good contract on such a fine piece of art. Do you know what this act means? It’s like asking me to wash a priceless oil painting.”
“This is the great benefactor’s intention.”
“Please convey my apologies to the great benefactor. There are many masters in Salin City; let him seek someone else.”
The old maid instructed the remaining maids to relay the Mediterranean mage’s refusal.
What a peculiar mage.
Ji Ma thought, initially intending to speak, but saw the Mediterranean mage staring at her with a very professional gaze, softly muttering:
“…For lively types, it’s better to use a reward-based rather than a bondage contract for stability…”
As if she were some kind of object. Ji Ma felt a little shiver down her spine, fortunately, the old maid clearly misunderstood something, stepping between them to create space.
Soon, a messenger maid returned with the message: “The great benefactor promises that on that day, you personally will be responsible for the contract.”
The Mediterranean mage’s eyes lit up as he said, “Thank you! Thank you! I will do my utmost, using all my knowledge throughout my life to create the best, most perfect, and most suitable contract for her.”
“Now you must sever the contract on her.”
“Of course, I’ll do it right now.”
Suddenly, the weariness vanished without a trace from his face, and he appeared vibrant. His hand slipped into the pocket at his waist, retrieving a delicate red box that resembled a medicine case. He opened the box to take out a vial of light golden liquid, a silver wand with a green gem at the top, and a short sword.
He held the glass vial, pouring out the golden potion, which became a wisp of green smoke in the air. Gripping the wand, he began chanting a spell, and the smoke surrounded Ji Ma. The scent of the smoke felt familiar, similar to the fragrance on George, making her head slightly dizzy. She could vaguely see a thin, transparent line flickering in the green smoke.
The Mediterranean mage’s expression turned serious as he wielded the gem-inlaid silver short sword and struck down hard at the thin line.
Ji Ma’s pupils contracted as she saw the thin line snap instantly. The connection she had with George suddenly vanished, and the scent of George in the green smoke disappeared without a trace.
“All done. From now on, she has no master,” the Mediterranean mage declared. “Their connection has been severed by my blade; her former master can no longer sense her exact location or command her with words.”
A hollow feeling settled within Ji Ma.
She took a deep breath without saying a word.
As soon as he finished speaking, the Mediterranean mage frowned and said, “Something’s not right.”
Ji Ma also sensed something amiss, seeing several finer strands reattaching, as if the ties were still connected.
The Mediterranean mage chanted another spell and struck again, but the astonishing thing happened: the line could not be severed.
“What’s going on?”
The one to speak was the old maid.
The Mediterranean mage replied, “Unilateral termination of the contract is still somewhat difficult; her master’s will is strong, upholding the contract, and I cannot completely eliminate the residual contract power within her. Unless her master is willing or signs another contract to supersede it.”
“What use is this residual contract?”
“Her master can vaguely sense her approximate location, with considerable deviation. From the perspective of mysticism, their fates have intertwined,” the Mediterranean mage explained. “I want to know, who is her master?”
The old maid paused for a moment and then said, “The brave George.”
The Mediterranean mage was taken aback: “A paladin? He should abandon the slave contract; holding onto it poses a serious risk of losing control for him. How strange.”
“Then can this be used to kill him?”
“Not possible; he’ll hold out.” The Mediterranean mage shook his head, also saying, “How strange.”
Because he’s a fool. Ji Ma thought.
