novelraw Chapter 96: The Pink Pavilion
Chapter 96: The Pink Pavilion
The carriage rocked and swayed. Inside sat a Nari gentleman with slicked-back golden hair, and across from him a ruggedly masculine man who looked very much like a Schwari native.
"Good grief — honestly, you look no different from those Schwari people who've been visiting Naris in secret lately. You might even be more convincing than them."
Tlander rubbed his chin and appraised Fischer's current getup.
"The Schwari have already started coming?"
Fischer wasn't particularly surprised. Rumors had been circulating that Schwari would officially dispatch an envoy either this month or next, though the pretext remained unclear. Once a formal delegation was sent, however, it would confirm that Naris and Schwari had already reached an agreement behind the scenes; the official visit would merely be a signal that negotiations had concluded successfully.
Prior to that, whether it was Elizabeth secretly visiting Schwari or Schwari agents slipping into Naris, it all fell under the umbrella of unofficial negotiations — most people simply didn't know about it.
"Oh yeah. I've seen a few of them meeting with people from our party. The Gryphon Party's been in on it, too. I don't know exactly how many have come, though. I heard our party whip even took a Schwari lady to the Black Mamba Palace for dinner."
"I see."
Fischer stroked his chin. Making the best of the situation, he turned to Tlander.
"Here's the plan: this time I play a distinguished guest from Schwari, and you're the Pioneer Party member assigned to discuss business with me and show me a good time on the side. That way I'm less likely to be found out."Since the Schwari visits were confidential, even if someone noticed a Schwari man at the Pink Pavilion, it couldn't serve as evidence of anything. Both Naris and Schwari would vigorously deny any unofficial exchanges ahead of the formal visit. The two peoples were of the same stock — if you denied it, what could anyone do?
This played perfectly into Fischer's cover, and the justification was rock-solid.
Tlander nodded, grinning. "Got it — leave it to me. By the way, what exactly are you going to the Pink Pavilion for?"
"Looking for someone."
"Ah, I won't pry... but just a heads-up: the ladies at the Pink Pavilion aren't all real ladies. They only play that role at night. The rest of the time, they're cold-blooded vampires who'd slit your throat without blinking!"
"That's advice you should be giving yourself."
"Hey, I'm a professional vampire-hunting slayer — bang bang!"
He struck a ridiculous finger-gun pose. Fischer glanced at his pallid, drained-looking face and shook his head. At this rate, it wouldn't be long before the man had trouble even relieving himself. After this excursion, a quiet word of warning was probably in order.
The Pink Pavilion sat at the heart of Nateon Street. Nateon Street was a newly planned commercial district in Saint-Nazareth. Shops there enjoyed tax exemptions and favorable loan terms — a Pioneer Party initiative to stimulate the city's economy. They hadn't anticipated it would spawn something like the Pink Pavilion.
The building's exterior was entirely milky white. It earned the name "Pink Pavilion" because every evening its facade lit up with a soft, rosy glow. That light, filtered through the haze of drugs and cigarette smoke, would bleed outward for some distance — hence the name.
The fact that the Pavilion only lit up at night didn't mean it opened only at night. In truth, it operated around the clock. Some wealthy merchants would stay for days on end, wallowing in decadent oblivion.
The moment Tlander came anywhere near the place, there was a spring in his step. He hurried forward, Fischer trailing behind him, scanning the surroundings as they went.
Unlike other brothels, there were no women standing outside on the street. Only two young, fair-faced girls stood smiling at the entrance.
Upon spotting Tlander, they bowed and stepped forward to greet him. Their attire appeared conservative, yet as they curtsied, a sliver of soft cleavage was seemingly revealed by accident. A wisp of feminine fragrance drifted over at the same time, sending the already eager Tlander floating on air.
"Oh my, Mr. Tlander! It's barely noon — what brings you here so early? Miss Lisa just woke up..."
The two girls giggled, their words teasing, even as they reached back to push open the main doors. Tlander didn't refuse. He swept in with a grand air.
"I have an esteemed guest today. This is... Mr. Andrew. Do take good care of him."
"My, what a flavorful gentleman. Understood, sir — please, right this way. We have a quiet, private area where you won't be disturbed."
The two girls looked Fischer over, then smiled and waved at him, tossing a playful wink.
The great doors swung open. Inside, the decor was refined and opulent. Were it not for the faint odor of narcotics hanging in the air and the distant moans of a girl, Fischer could have mistaken the place for a theater or a high-end restaurant.
Only after stepping inside did Fischer notice the many lounge areas lining the corridors — chaise-like seating arrangements. At this hour, women reclined or sat poised upon them, gazing his way. More ladies peered over the second-floor balustrade, appraising the new arrivals.
Schwari women, Nari ladies, girls from the Southern Continent, even Northern Border women — they were all represented. These appeared to be the most affordable tier, the ones on display for quick selection: choose any who caught your eye and take her to a room.
Even these entry-level women were extraordinarily beautiful — every type imaginable. Wild ones, delicate ones, bold ones, gentle ones. Several leaned on the railing with a cigarette between their fingers, crooking a beckoning finger at Fischer below. It was effortless provocation of a man's basest impulses.
Fischer drew his gaze back and played the part of a "visiting Schwari dignitary" with practiced ease. A careful observer would have noticed, however, that his eyes lingered on the women's bodies without once straying — studying, not indulging.
"How do you like it, Mr. Andrew? Not bad in here, is it?"
Tlander winked at Fischer. Fischer paused, then allowed his Nari to turn conspicuously "clumsily accented."
"Very nice, Mr. Tlander."
"Glad to hear it. Go on, call lots of them over."
The two escort girls exchanged a glance, then signaled to several of the women behind them, who set off to notify a supervisor. Once Fischer and his companion were seated, appropriate ladies would be brought in according to their preferences.
Tlander had a dedicated room here — spacious, subdivided into several individually soundproofed compartments. After all, many gentlemen preferred to enjoy themselves in solitude. Tlander was already sprawled magnanimously across the large central sofa. He waved to the two attendants.
"Cigarettes, fine wine, and ladies. No 'Fairy Grass.' One of every type will do."
The two girls agreed with a smile and carried the drug-dispensing apparatus out of the room, presumably headed to inform the supervisor and prepare. Moments later, a servant arrived bearing cigarettes and premium wine. Fischer took one look — the items on the table alone were worth a small fortune. Several bottles weren't even domestic Nari products. How they had obtained them was anyone's guess.
Then came the main course — the one the gentlemen were truly here for.
Several exquisitely lovely ladies pushed the door open in slow succession, each wearing an enchanting smile. The moment the door cracked open, a wave of intoxicating fragrance swept over Fischer's senses. The women were diverse in style: some mature and heavily made-up, others young and lightly powdered.
They didn't stand in a line. Instead, they seated themselves freely on the sofas beside the men, their postures poised yet inviting. The boundary between man and woman blurred. A gentleman need only beckon to taste the warm, intimate fragrance.
"Gentlemen, please allow us to attend to you today..."
"Ohh, Mr. Tlander, you're so mean! Last week my back ached for days because of you!"
Enveloped in that swirl of perfume, Tlander was flying. The power of a woman's words convinced him to ignore the fact that his body was already running on fumes.
Well — the lady herself said so! Clearly, he was truly formidable!
The women beside Fischer, however, did not immediately lay hands on him the way they did with Tlander. They recognized him as a first-time guest, and men, after all, were men — some gentlemen maintained a certain reserve. A lady's task was to make her client shed that reserve naturally, releasing his primal instincts.
A gradual approach would keep a gentleman coming back for more, rather than leaving him with an impression of brazen harlotry. What these women sought was total, inescapable surrender — pleasure from which there was no escape.
Just as Fischer was surveying the room, considering how to get out and look around, the door opened again. In walked a brown-haired girl, glancing around at the interior. Compared to the other ladies in their seductive gowns, she stuck out like a sore thumb. She wore a plain white blouse with nothing more than a few top buttons undone, apparently believing that qualified as seduction.
The girl scanned the room, and her gaze locked onto Fischer. Her eyes brightened briefly, yet her words came out somewhat stiffly.
"Excuse me, I'm here to attend to you."
Tlander surfaced from the softness enveloping him and squinted at the oddly dressed girl in the doorway. He frowned.
"Seriously, can you at least be professional? You're going to work dressed like that? What is this—"
But Fischer, beside him, turned his eyes to her. Something flickered in his gaze. He raised a hand and spoke in halting Nari.
"N-no problem. The more the merrier. I quite like... this type."
Tlander blinked. Even surrounded by pleasures, his acting held. The displeased expression he had worn vanished the moment the "honored guest" spoke, replaced by a smooth smile as he beckoned the girl over.
"Fair enough — come in. Sit over there. And be careful — don't mess anything up. This gentleman is no ordinary man, understand?"
The girl nodded and, passing the other ladies, took a seat beside Fischer. Several of the women's expressions darkened; behind his back, they shot her a pointed look, but the young brown-haired girl pretended not to notice.
She settled slowly into the seat next to Fischer. The Schwari men's cologne hit her immediately, nearly overwhelming her. She wanted to cover her nose, but knowing she needed to extract something from this Schwari man, she forced herself to endure.
On the verge of tears yet at a complete loss, she glanced around at the displeased faces of the other ladies, then clumsily opened a bottle of wine from the table, poured a glass, and offered it to Fischer.
"P-please... have a drink..."
The ladies behind her buried their faces in their hands, utterly speechless — the girl's performance was apparently too painful to watch. But Fischer studied the girl's face for a moment, then suddenly reached out and clasped the hand holding the glass. He brushed his fingers across the back of her hand, drawing a blush to her cheeks, before accepting the glass and downing its contents in one go.
"The gentleman from Schwari is truly bold..."
The brown-haired girl's flush subsided a shade. She gazed at Fischer's gallant profile, hesitated, then refilled his glass. "It's a shame we rarely see gentlemen this masculine here, especially since the cold war between Naris and Schwari."
"Don't... worry."
Fischer seemed captivated by the girl. He silently placed his hand on her thigh, feeling her body tense slightly at his touch. From the corner of his eye, he was comparing this leg to the severed one he had seen before.
"It won't be long before we can meet freely again."
Several of the ladies behind them stiffened at these words. From this Schwari gentleman, they had gleaned a political secret — and that kind of eavesdropping was strictly forbidden inside the Pink Pavilion.
Just as the brown-haired girl was about to speak again, the room's door swung open. In the doorway stood a stunningly beautiful woman dressed in conservative Nari attire. Her expression was icy as she fixed her gaze on the brown-haired girl seated beside Fischer. Fischer felt the girl's body go rigid beside him.
Fischer looked toward the woman in the doorway. Even he found his attention drawn involuntarily.
The reason was simple — she was breathtakingly beautiful. Skin, figure, features — there was not a single flaw. She looked as though she had been sculpted by the Mother Goddess herself.
"Sister Anna..."
The moment the woman entered, every lady in the room greeted her, visibly afraid.
But the woman called "Anna" curtsied to Tlander and Fischer, then turned an apologetic gaze toward the girl at Fischer's side.
"My sincerest apologies, gentlemen. This child still hasn't learned the rules. She had the audacity to coax our guests into saying things they shouldn't. The fault is entirely ours."
Fischer's gaze shifted ever so slightly. He had assumed the Pink Pavilion profited by servicing members of both the Pioneer and Gryphon parties, extracting political or other secrets in the process. Instead, this establishment strictly prohibited such behavior. The girl beside him had barely touched on the topic and it had already been detected. Had someone outside tipped Anna off that the girl had entered the room?
Anna fixed the girl with a cold look. The girl lowered her head and began to rise, but Fischer discreetly caught her hand from behind. She glanced at him in surprise, then gently slipped free of his grasp and moved to Anna's side.
"I am truly sorry. I'll apply a fifty-percent discount to today's service for both of you. Please don't let this little interruption spoil your evening. Please, continue to enjoy yourselves. Forgive the intrusion."
The exquisitely beautiful woman curtsied once more, then disappeared through the doorway with the brown-haired girl in tow. Tlander had already been lulled into bliss by the ladies attending him. Only Fischer, while feigning nonchalance and gently holding the hand of the woman beside him, was silently analyzing everything he had just witnessed.