Free Web NovelChapter 7: Siren Stronghold [ 3 ]
"Here you go. This is mashed potatoes and a pork cutlet. I’m sorry I can’t provide any more. My father passed away recently, and I’m trying my best to keep this inn going for as long as I can," she said, putting the food down.
Nacho nodded, feeling a little bad now.
"It’s fine, don’t worry about it. Ah, right. Can I ask you some questions, if you’re not too busy?"
She turned a little pale. "Questions? Umm... Am I in trouble?"
"Not at all. It’s more like, I want to know a bit more about this world, if that makes sense," Nacho replied.
Jeez. I sound suspicious as shit. I hope she doesn’t report me.
"Ah. That’s fine. I’ve actually studied geography and history before, so I know lots." She eagerly sat down beside him. "My name’s Lizbeth. What do you want to know?"
"Uhh... Let’s start with where we are right now then, Lizbeth." freewёbn૦νeɭ.com
She smiled. "We’re in the last Siren stronghold, Lumen. It’s built under the Tuscanny Empire, and most of our trade and materials come from them. It’s just that, as of late, they started demanding more from us. They want Siren women, basically."
Aside from the fucked up way that the Empire was trying to treat the Sirens, he was a bit puzzled. She said under the Tuscanny Empire. He had swam so far, and he didn’t see any land. The world was huge.
Unless she meant like literally under it? There were a bunch of spiraling pillars extending past the clouds.
No way, right? Is this like some really High Fantasy world with a bit of sci-fi? Heh... That’d be cool if there’s like a floating Empire above us. Shit... I should really get a flying worm. I need to kill a bird.
"Why not turn to the other countries or kingdoms or whatever," Nacho asked.
"Mm, it’s not that simple. There are pirates, and also other sea creatures. They kill us, so we don’t really have the luxury of traveling so far anymore. We just have to bear with it."
"What about the pirates?" Nacho asked and tried out the food. Despite it being soaked in water, it actually wasn’t half bad.
"They’re a mix. Some are just criminals, but the bigger ones are organized. There’s a group called the Berserker Tide. They’ve been blocking our trade routes for about two years now. Some people think they’re working with the Empire."
She flinched. "B-But it’s only a rumor. Don’t tell anyone I"
A criminal organization with possible government backing. So nostalgic, heh.
No matter which world he was in, stuff like this was still a massive problem.
"Has anyone tried to do anything about it?"
Lizbeth lowered her head. "One of our generals tried. She led an expedition six months ago." She paused. "No one made it back... We have no idea what happened to them. Did they die or were they captured?"
"Right..." Nacho let out a sigh and decided to ask the main question.
"Why are there so few men here?"
But for some reason, the moment he asked that, every single person in the inn turned toward him in suspicion.
Even Lizbeth was a little puzzled.
"But you’re an officer? Shouldn’t you know?"
Nacho smiled the uneasiness away. "I had a case of amnesia lately. Hit my head a little too hard."
Although skeptical, she nodded slowly and explained in detail:
"Well, it’s biology, mostly. Siren men are born at a ratio of roughly one to every fifteen women. Umm... No one knows why, but some scholars say it’s because our race evolved from the sea, and the ocean favors abundance over scarcity." She tilted her head, clearly not understanding what she just said.
"Others say it’s a curse from an old god. Either way, it’s just how we’ve always been."
"Does that mean we’re protected?"
Lizbeth nodded repeatedly. "Mm. Most of them just handle trade or administration. Ah, scholarship too." She glanced at his uniform again, visibly confused. "Male officers exist, but they’re rare, and they’re usually from very powerful families."
Ah.
So basically, I just beat up a noble, stole his clothes, and am now impersonating as him.
Nacho realized that he might just die by the end of the day.
"I-I see. Well, as I said, I have some amnesia. Also, the food’s delicious. I’m surprised you don’t have more customers."
Lizbeth’s eyes sparkled. "Indeed! It is delicious! It’s just that, it’s in such a bad location, that no one really visits except for the locals."
He leaned back a little. "I can understand that, but why not advertise? I might not be a business expert, but if you give some hand outs and coupons, you might get a few more people coming by. Just a suggestion though."
She thought over it for a moment, then giggled. "Well, I could try that I guess. What’s your name by the way, officer?"
"Hm? Ah, it’s Nacho."
She smiled, tapped the table a few times and stood up. She was about to leave, but like the opportunist that Nacho was, he thought of something on the spot and blurted it out:
"Hey, do you want to make a deal with me? I’d handle the advertisements for you, and in turn, you let me open a massage parlor in the back room. I’ll pay rent and everything."
What use do I have for money? Talents are where it’s at. The more I can accumulate, the faster I can check more of this world out. I bet there’s so many more interesting things around than just this.
Hearing Nacho’s words, she just stared at him speechlessly. ƒree𝑤ebnσvel.com
"Isn’t that a bit much...?"
"Which part?" he asked.
"All of it. I mean, I wouldn’t mind the advertisement, but I can handle it myself, you know? And the back room is the storage room. It’s filled with junk and I’m not in any mood to clean it," she replied, prepared to turn him down.
But...
"I don’t mind. I can clean it, and I can also help you in the kitchen when I’m not working. You don’t have to pay me for the help either, or for the advertisements either. So what do you say, Lizbeth? Do you wanna work together?"
