I was on my way to the information guild in the capital. Today is the day that Miss Claire is officially going to be my assistant. Mr John tested her and she has extreme potential. I sure do have an eye for talented people Hmph!

I was alone and was wearing a hood since I didn't want to attract any unnecessary attention also Iglo was with me all the time.

"Say master, why are humans always in a haste?" He asked while sitting on my shoulder glancing at the buzzing crowd around us.

"They have to fulfill their own needs so of course they are in a haste"I replied to which he hummed.

We arrived in front of the information guild which I had set up not too long ago. I felt like a proud mother watching her children grow up. I went inside the guild which was disguised as a bar so that it can be a place where mercenaries frequented. I told Iglo that I'll summon him after I've gotten out of the guild.

I walked over to the counter and showed them my ring. This ring was a proof of being an employee here. Nobody expect Sir John, Mary and Max knew that I was the owner of the guild. The man standing at the counter nodded at me and I went behind him to a door in the back. He opened the door and left me there as I pressed a button behind one of the barrels of liquor. The floor then started to rise and go up. This is a lift which was invented by none other than Mr John upon my request.

I went to the top most floor of the building where I got off from the lift and walked towards my office. When I got near my office I could hear faint sounds of a girl talking.

"Am I really going to be the boss's assistant! I can't believe that I'm going to see the boss!"

It was Claire indeed.

"What a great timing it is..." I said while walking inside the room and slipped out of my hood.

I noticed Claire standing along with Max and Sir John. They all bowed at me except Claire who seemed to be in a daze.

"H-Huh? Your ladyship?" She asked surprised.

"From now on I'm going to be your boss not ladyship, miss Claire" I declared.

"W-What?! Then are you perhaps the owner of -"

"Yes" I declared while cutting her off.

She still seemed to be confused so I asked Sir John and Max to leave us alone.

"Miss Claire, do you not want to accept this job proposal?"

"No it isn't like that I'm really grateful but I didn't expect mylady to be incharge of this guild along with the trading house"

"Well.. People aren't always how we expect them to be... Anyways let's get straight to the point.. Claire, you are from now on my asistant and will have to help me with my work.. You'll be given a decent sum of money as well.. The only thing I expect in return is loyalty do you get that? "I asked while looking straight in her eyes to let her know that I am serious.

" Yes my-boss! I'll try my best to live up to your expectations! " She declared and bowed at me.

" Very well then " I smiled at her. Mr John seem to have prepared her very well.

"Boss, I was never paid the money for which I worked so hard. They always reduced my wages stating that I'm just a woman. Whereas my colleagues who were men were given a decent amount." Claire said with a hint of sadness in her tone.

"But our empire treats both men and women equally then what's this partiality about?" I asked.

"Even if our empire's ideals are like that.. there aren't any laws which can guarantee us that.. Commoner women can only take up jobs like being a maid or an innkeeper or shopkeeper or a.. prostitute" She said while mumbling the last part which I heard.

"Women who want to take civil jobs like being a government official isn't allowed to do so. They are neglected and sent away saying that they aren't qualified enough for this" Claire spoke.. This time there was rage and anger in her voice.

"So you're telling me that there isn't a single woman working at the civil station?" damn I'm the prime minister's daughter yet I didn't know this. Women have laws where they can inherit their father's title but then again working women from middle classes seem to be at a disadvantage.

"... yes boss "She replied.

Guess I have to implement some laws then but first I need to have a chat with my father.

Our conversation ended and I received a report from Max. I then finished reading the report from the guild which was about some investigations on the slavery issue which father as well as the emperor mentioned. The report stated that the slaves all had a weird tattoo on their arms. It was the tattoo of a centipede. It also further stated that one of the mercenaries who frequently visited our trading house had the same tattoo.

This is some big news... I thought and decided to question him immediately.

"Max, where's the guy?" I asked while dashing over towards him.

"He's drinking alcohol right around there" He said while pointing beside the crowd.

"He looks like a bear" I mumbled looking at the man with a huge beard and bulky physique. He also had scars on his face.

"Hello Mister" I said while walking next to him and sitting at one of the chairs. Max took a seat beside me as well.

The bear man just grumbled in response. Not only does he looks like a bear but he smells like one as well..

"Nice tattoo you got there" I said while looking at the centipede tattoo.

He was wary and ignored me like I was dust.

Guess there's only one way then...

"Can you answer a few of our questions, mister?" I asked the guy and placed a bag of jiggling coins in front of him.

He noticed the money and took it from me. I nodded at Max and then the bear guy was led to a corner where nobody could hear us.

I sat down in front of him while Max stood beside me.. I really don't have any experience with questioning someone. I really hope those James bond movies come in handy.

"What's your name?" I asked while staring right into his eyes.

"Blemon" He answered.

"How long has it been since you took a bath?" when I asked this question both Blemon and Max were flabbergasted.

"Uh - well it's been a few days-I mean weeks maybe" He replied rather nonchalantly.

No wonder this guy smells like a wild animal!

I sighed and asked him another question "Where are you from?"

"I work for the Zeston mercenary guild"

"Hmmmm... Let me repeat my question.. Where. are. you. from?"

He sweatdropped. "I - I came from a village in Melabour empire"

"How did you escape?" He looked confused at this question of mine.

"How did you escape from the ?" By mentioning them his face got pale.

"Tha-that's..."

"Don't worry I'm not one of them.. I'm here to get to the root of it and surrender them before the law.. So take a deep breath and start again big guy" I said and smiled a little.

He took a deep breath and began.

"I was a woodcutter who lived in a village in the outskirts of the Melabour empire -" Wow story time.. I whispered to Max to bring some snacks.. "Our village didn't have much population.. It was a small village after all.. One day some men whom I thought were bandits attacked us but instead of taking money from us or killing us they captured us" Oooh ~my snacks are here ~"We were enslaved and locked up in a carriage and was brought to the Rultaz empire.. We had no idea where we were going.. The men during trafficking gave us this tattoo and continued to shift us to some other carriage in which we were taken to the capital" this is hella exciting.. Even Max was eating snacks with me..

"But on the way to the capital I escaped.. At night while we were taking a rest in a forest nearby a pack of wolves attacked us and I fled out of there" so the bear guy took on the wolves... awesome! Both mine and Max's eyes were sparkling.. "I then met the leader of Zeston guild who took me in and we became pals -"

"Wait wait wait.. Your life story was interesting and all but we gotta focus on the slave traders.. Can you describe how they looked like or where they were taking you or anything?" Mr John asked interrupting our fun.. He's right though.... We gotta focus on the problem at hand..

" Ah.. I apologize.. I vaguely remember their faces but I have heard from one of my comrades as to where they are taking them "He answered.

" Can you tell us then? " Mr John inquired while I was still munching on the snacks.

" Of course! I don't know if you're gonna believe me though.. The guy I met in one of the carriages was a nutjob like he was muttering nonsense on how his family was killed and fed to a giant three headed dog. He also told me that all of us were going to be fed to that dog and that is where they were taking us - "

I choked on my snacks and began coughing while Max began to burst into laughter.

" Pft - a three headed dog?.. Are you kidding me? Are we all seriously gonna believe what that guy's nutjob comrade said?.. Then I'll tell you something...my grandma's pet is a six headed cat which breathes fire and climbs walls - ouch!" While Max was rambling on Mr John smacked him on the head which made him shut up.

I drank some water and calmed down and looked at Blemon.

" So you're telling me that your village was ambushed and the villagers were kidnapped and fed to that three headed dog?" I asked him while raising an eyebrow.

"Yes madam, but it's not just my village that was attacked another village near us had the same fate.. The villager I mentioned was from that village"

"We obviously can't trust it.. First of all it's Melabour empire that we're talking about.. They are quite strict when it comes to punishments and carrying out laws and regulations....There's no way that they'd not notice two entire villages getting ambushed and trafficking their citizens to the Rultaz empire "Max stated.

" Unless the government officials in charge turns a blind eye to it "I spoke.

" But still - I don't think such a thing will ever happen " Max said frustrated.

" We don't have a choice since we don't have any other leads.. Max and Mr John, I want you guys to investigate Blemon's words and make sure to report them to me "

" Yes ma'am!! "Both of them said in unison and left.

"Blemon, you can leave as well and before you leave you can stay at one of our inns and take a nice, clean, fragrant bath.. What do you think?" I asked the bear guy while grinning at him.

"Uh well.. I don't know-"

"with free meals" I added.

"Alright, I'll be heading there now" He stood up and walked away.

I sighed.. Just what the hell is going on?

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