"Hm, hm, hm ♪♫. This one," Bing Shi pointed at the card with the lowest numerical value in Hasan's hand.
Seated around a round table alongside three other men, they were currently within a gambling house.
The hushed conversations surrounding them had been talking about how this lucky charm had helped Hasan win one game after another, from dice throwing to card games—having no idea that a little snake was collaborating with Bing Shi to win all those games.
["Such hateful men. Kuro, we need to confiscate all their money."]
[Ok. Host, will you be alright?]
["I'm perfectly fine, and you?"]
[ I'm perfectly fine too.]
["Kuro, you are a real deal. The best teammate."]
Kuro started to giggle behind its tail bashfully.
Bing Shi was doing a live advertisement for her future business and her little angels. She was attempting to turn a courtesan into an ultimate luxury item.
Only men with social status, power, and reputation would be able to afford one. The more famous and unique the courtesan was, the higher her standing would be. The job came with a high risk, but the connections and the amount of money she could make were pretty much, unlimited.
Bing Shi didn't believe that she'd become a top courtesan. Restrained by a relationship, and with so many weaknesses, it'd be a mission impossible. She'd strive to be the best though.
With no futuristic technology, she didn't come up with a better idea to find Xuan Mu than to open a business where there was lots of contact with various men.
Currently, they were playing a card game. This particular one revolved around reading other's moves, tricking, and baiting one's opponents to give you the card one needed for a set.
Hasan smugly gave the card to the man on the right, "Go! Eat it!" So what if all the money went to the angel's pocket? Winning felt so good!
"Eat your ass!" A wealthy merchant ignored his provocation, "Little Tian Shi, I'll give you two thousand kangs if you get away from him and come to me," he coaxed the new courtesan in training.
A friendly chuckle passed through the edges of her lips, Bing Shi poured a glass of wine to Hasan, dismissing his words, "Shall we accept?"
The whole time she just spoke to one person, her attention was exclusive to Hasan only.
"Hmpf!" Hasan who was enjoying himself too much, scoffed, "Not even for ten thousand!"
"What about thirty thousand?"
All eyes swiveled toward the unexpected outburst, astonishment painting their features as they promptly lowered themselves in a gesture of utmost respect.
What was Prince Zhao Rong doing in this place?!
[Hidden Quest: Find out why Zhao Rong became interested in you. +200p]
· · ───────── · ⊱❈⊰· ───────── · ·
Bing Shi felt like an alien among the aliens. She wanted to transmigrate into Mao An's kingdom first to avoid the two psychopaths but decided to change it due to this particular one, who just appeared out of nowhere.
She always looked deeper into the reason behind her quests. So when she didn't get a mission to protect the heroine, it could mean that even if Mao An was killed, the world war would still occur.
And what was wrong with those second male leads? Their specs weren't any lower than the actual male lead!
Everyone stood straight with a deep bow, waiting for His Royal Highness's next direction.
Instructing the gathering to resume their games, Zhao Rong proceeded toward the circular table. Clad in crimson armor and adorned with a mask, his imposing presence loomed over every man and woman in the gambling establishment, except one person, who continuously tried to decipher the mystery behind Zhao Rong's interest.
[Hidden Quest: Find out why Zhao Rong became interested in you+200p. After finding out the reason, change his mind as if there's nothing interesting +200p]
["Because he likes Aliens." ┐('ー｀)┌]
Cheering herself up, Bing Shi laughed pitifully at her misfortune while sending secret messages to Hasan through Kuro.
[Hidden Quest: Find out why Zhao Rong became interested in you+200p. After finding out the reason, change his mind as if there's nothing interesting +200p.]
["Don't tell me he likes monkeys?"]
The men switched their attention from Zhao Rong to Tian Shi, "..."
Stealing small peeks at the prince, the girl launched her giggles at the worst time possible, giving an image of a foolish woman, blinded by money and power. Did she think she won a jackpot? They taunted her change of attitude.
[Host, this is no time to be making jokes about your missions.]
Kuro advised its host, knowing that without Zhao Rong's agreement, the quest wouldn't count as successful. Under Hasan robes, it could see the surroundings like a three-hundred-and-sixty-degree camera.
["I'm dead serious. Hasan, five.]
Bing Shi ordered Kuro to resend Hasan her message with one of the numbers they decided on beforehand.
[Hey, don't you find his mask funny?"]
"You wrench! What did I teach you?!" Hasan smashed Bing Shi's head with a fan. He shuddered in fear when he felt the invisible snake sneaking under his left sleeve to bite his pinkie as in behavior number five.
He was unsure at first, but seeing Angels' encouraging giggles, he braced himself and did what he was ordered to.
Curling around Hasan's leg, Kuro waited for her order to crush Hasan's leg as it trained on its mouse toy. However, there was no such order.
Its Host always told it to never act on its emotions. Why? It had no emotion to begin with. Only when Fu Qin and Yi Zen first injured its Host, Kuro began to understand.
Bing Shi hissed in pain, accepting the continuous beating with her eyes shut. Tears pooled at the corner of her eyes, "This lowly servant was wrong!" Her crying couldn't be any more real, her emotions pending up.
Sadistic tendencies sprouted from within Hasan, "Get on all fours and beg for forgiveness!" Quickly recollecting himself, he turned towards Zhao Rong, "Y-your Highness, as you could see, she is merely a courtesan in training. Ghe might not satisfy your needs..."
"This prince doesn't go back on my words," Zhao Rong dismissed the fat man and looked down at the pitiful courtesan, ordering coldly, "Stand up."
Bing Shi slowly stood up. Without questioning, she found a possible answer to her suspicion.
'Hm, the thing he is interested in is being beaten, and that's how he reacts? I might not be the one he is the most interested in. Maybe he wants to use Hasan for his benefit? His sudden appearance would make much more sense.'
Feeling the oppressive aura, Hasan's knees almost gave up on him. He had to choose between an early death by offending the prince, or a slow death by insulting an angel.
Hasan felt his right leg being squeezed by a snake. Getting the message, he stammered, "H-however... per Your Highness' wish, it would be this humble subject's pleasure to accept the trade."
Exhaling a sigh of relief, Hasan turned and bellowed, "Go and thank His Highness for his benevolence!"
In his haste, his fan inadvertently grazed Bing Shi's cheek instead of her head as she stood up. A shiver raced down his spine as a small cut emerged on her left cheek. Panic set in; Oh no, he was doomed!
Blood began to well up from the minor wound, and the onlookers observed with increasing disapproval at Hasan's reputation for cruelty. While it was common for masters to discipline unruly slaves, the courtesan had just earned Hasan a fortune!
If she were their slave, her treatment would be so much better! After all, who among women wouldn't react strongly after capturing the fancy of the most powerful man?
Bing Shi's red cheek throbbed with a sharp sting, and she quickly lowered her head in a bow, her voice tinged with genuine hurt, "This... This lowly servant thanks his highness for your benevolence."
Compared to the first world, Bing Shi processed information much faster. Her course of action became smoother and less forced. It came with a seatback. She had to exhort her acting with force. If she didn't do so, her face would be like a peaceful wind brushing against the lake's surface, too calm for her own good.