Chapter 28: The Bank
The inn is a three-story building near the waterway, with a yard for accommodating guests’ mounts.
Jima went to George’s private room on the second floor. If she were to walk out boldly from the entrance, the staff inside the inn would definitely see her, and being seen would mean her score would be deducted when George returned.
Jima did not want to get spanked. Fortunately, she had already figured out the routine these past few days and, taking advantage of the others’ inattention, slipped out to the yard through the back door and successfully snuck out of the inn under the cover of the carriage.
“I’m free.”
Walking on the street, Jima took a deep breath of the liberating air. It felt so different without George watching her. She had the impulse to dart down an alley and run away.
But considering one of the functions of the slave contract, she quickly dismissed the thought. Unless permitted by the master, once she stayed away from him for more than three days, she would become weak, her legs would cramp, and he could use the contract to find the fleeing slave.
Jima thought about how living behind George was actually quite nice; aside from having to memorize those ridiculously dull stories, everything else was good.
Stepping on the stone-paved path, she walked along the sidewalk. People were coming and going beside her, merchants in embroidered golden robes with their servants pulling mules behind them. Teams of patrolling guards in chainmail and yellow helmets patrolled the streets. Compared to the fire zone, it was like heaven and earth.
As Jima passed an intersection, she spotted the square not far away, along with the spire of the Fran Brothers Bank, which she had dreamt about. A part of her inheritance was safely tucked away in the vault below.
She really wanted to roll around in a pile of gold coins.
Thinking this, her footsteps quickened.
At that moment, a shop called “Magical Potions” caught her eye. The shop was not large, with some shiny potions displayed in front of the entrance to attract customers. Through the window, she could see neatly lined up potion bottles.
Without hesitation, Jima changed direction and walked into the “Magical Potions” shop to inquire about materials. A shop this close should have some connections.
As soon as Jima stepped into the dimly lit shop, a wave of licorice and fishy smells hit her. A bell jingled, and behind the counter, a bald man suddenly rose up. The person behind him was a cute girl, who had eight white teeth shining on her black face.
“Welcome, welcome! Here so early for the ‘Love Potion’?”
Jima halted and stared directly at him and his shiny bald head.
“Is there something on my head?” The bald man frowned, casually placing a glass bottle labeled “Hair Growth Oil” by his side.
Jima asked, “Did you sell something on the river? That… that…”
“Oh~~ you mean the top-notch love potion crafted from the demon king Jima’s diao?” The bald man’s eyebrows relaxed. “In terms of alchemy, that’s just the least significant, most valuable egg. I’ve been saving it for your master. As we all know, the demon king Jima can conquer fifteen women in one night. The potion I make can make your master even more formidable in bed…”
It was indeed that shameless, lying, unscrupulous vendor who preyed on the weak.
Jima felt a twinge of pain in her phantom limb and twitched her face, struggling to suppress the urge to smash the bald head into his chest.
She coldly said, “You seem to have mistaken me.”
“Ah, aren’t you a servant of Viscount Tofuzi?” The bald shopkeeper leaned forward, realizing Jima’s face. “No, you’re not the little maid of Viscount Tofuzi; you’re not pretty enough.”
His smile instantly vanished. At that moment, a lazy, sultry female voice came from behind, “Darling, are you busy with work?”
A woman with slightly curled red hair came up from behind and hugged the bald shopkeeper. She was dressed in an off-the-shoulder outfit, playfully rubbing against him. She said, “I’ve been so eager to wait.”
“Almost there, dear. Just a playful little child came in.” The bald shopkeeper said impatiently while waving Jima off, “Little kid, hurry and leave; go find your parents.”
“I’m here to buy some expensive and rare materials for my master.” Jima raised her chin and said arrogantly, resembling a sycophant, “He pays well.”
“You brought money? Let me see.”
“I can give you a deposit.”
“This shop is not open for business right now. If you want to inquire about prices, go elsewhere.” The bald shopkeeper couldn’t help but stroke the red-haired woman’s hair. “Hurry, I’m closing soon.”
Jima didn’t have much time, and if this shop had materials, it would be much more convenient.
She immediately activated her desire vision. Wow, the bald shopkeeper’s purple cyclone of lust on his chest was as big as two fists, double the size of the other cyclones.
With her little finger, she hooked the blue cyclone of greed. The blue cyclone immediately grew larger. Then, she flicked the purple cyclone of lust, teasing his desires! The purple cyclone slowly shrank.
At the same time, Jima said, “My master is usually generous; he only looks at timing, not prices.”
After a series of manipulations, the greed cyclone gradually surpassed the lust cyclone.
The bald shopkeeper’s lust-clouded mind finally cleared. He looked at Jima again, this pretty little girl, and thought her master must have spent a fortune. Her master must be very wealthy; he truly felt lucky today to have a big order.
His love for gold suddenly exceeded his desire for reproduction. The alluring red-haired woman could always be his lover, but money missed out would be gone forever.
The bald shopkeeper pushed aside the red-haired woman and asked with a clear voice, “What does your master need?”
“A whole plant of Dream Grass, the nose of an adult Dream Eater, and dwarven spirits.”
“Do you need potion services?” the bald shopkeeper said. “I’m skilled at this; you won’t have to pay for a failed product.”
“No,” Jima said, not wanting to divulge the recipe. “How much?”
“Dream Grass is only used for making dream potions, and the Dream Eater’s nose is also rare. I need to get it from some old friends; it’s quite difficult. A total of nine hundred… no, one thousand gold coins.” The bald shopkeeper decided to inflate the price fourfold.
“Okay, how long will it take to prepare?”
“One week, the deposit is ten percent—”
Before he could finish, Jima walked to the counter and slapped five gold coins onto the table, “I didn’t bring that much money; I’ll come back for it in a week.”
Normally, this would not be within protocol, but thinking of one thousand gold coins made the bald shopkeeper’s heart race. Plus, the other party didn’t seem to be joking; what child would willingly part with five gold coins?
“Alright, come back in a week. Oh, your little finger seems to be flicking; do you want to buy a bottle of cramp medicine? It works great; I’ll give you a discount.”
“I’m fine.”
Jima replied coolly and retracted her little finger, which had flicked the bald shopkeeper’s lust cyclone thirteen times. She turned to leave, closing the shop door behind her.
“Darling, I’m sorry to make you wait.” The bald shopkeeper grinned at the dissatisfied red-haired woman, “I’ll make it up to you later.”
“Great.” The red-haired woman smiled alluringly.
However, the bald shopkeeper realized he felt completely numb, without a hint of sensation. It dawned on him that something was wrong because that part had entirely softened.
It must have been because of the generous payment just now.
Ten minutes later.
“Strange, I can’t feel anything at all.”
“Don’t look at me like that; sometimes men have off days; just wait a minute, I’ll get something.”
After taking three syringes of medicine, there was a slight change.
“Please use your mouth; I bought you a little gift… yes, just like that.”
Five minutes later.
“Hmph, if you’re sick, hurry and get treated.”
“Please give me another chance.”
“Get lost! All looks with no use.”
The culprit, Jima, hid at the edge of a nearby alley, watching as the red-haired woman angrily pushed open the door. The bald shopkeeper, looking desperate, came out and said, “Please don’t say that, or my reputation will…”
As he spoke, he stuffed some money into the woman’s arms.
Look at you still trying to ride on my coattails.
Jima couldn’t help but cover her mouth and chuckle, pretending nothing was wrong as she walked toward the Fran Brothers Bank. Across the street, the red-haired woman was still arguing with the bald shopkeeper, clearly unable to reach an agreement about compensation.
Jima, rarely feeling charitable, considered that the bald shopkeeper, who was selling aphrodisiacs, would suffer significant harm to his brand if such a reputation were to spread. Thus, she extended her little finger and secretly stimulated the red-haired woman’s greed cyclone, helping them reach an agreement on the monetary issue.
Her desire vision was still active. Jima enjoyed the feeling that she could use her skills whenever she wanted, savoring the desires of those around her. Each person had seven colorful cyclones on their chests, some floating upward, forming a bright seven-colored cloud in the air above the street.
Of these, the seven blue cyclones of greed were the most prominent.
What a lively street… I wonder if, in specialty service venues, greed or lust would prevail?
At that moment, a cart pulled by short-legged horses passed by. Suddenly, from beside the large wheel, there was a sharp crackling sound like a branch breaking. A child suddenly cried out, falling to the ground while holding his leg, shouting, “My foot!”
Immediately, onlookers stopped to gather around. A group of children rushed toward their fallen companion, shouting, “Locke, Locke, what happened to you?”
The cart driver halted the wagon, cursing, “Damn it, can’t you look where you’re going?”
“His bones are broken!”
A child named Locke turned pale, cold sweat dripping down his face.
The scene was chaotic.
Jima, wanting to join the crowd to see what was happening, thought how nice it was to have something exciting to watch.
But at that moment, a slight stinging sensation struck her. She stopped abruptly and looked around, noticing a few children mingling in the crowd; their blue greed cyclones gleamed like morning stars.
The source of the stinging feeling came from these children.
She instinctively understood that these children’s greedy targets were herself.
She quickly withdrew from the chaotic crowd, moving to the wall. A child who was heading toward her suddenly turned back, easily pulling a bag of coins from an unsuspecting onlooker’s pocket with a small knife.
Thieves. Their greedy targets were not just herself but the whole group. It turned out the desire vision had this hidden function, capable of sensing greedy targets. Tsk, this system is really stingy with words.
Jima stood far away, watching. In less than a minute, a group of children came by, claiming they would take the injured child to see his mother, picking him up and carrying him away. The street returned to calm, except for a few unlucky ones who found their wallets missing.
Jima walked toward the Fran Brothers Bank, keeping her desire vision active. She naturally stepped over the threshold, without a hint of hesitation.
