The local madame of the House of Worldly Delight hesitated. She was confronted by the appearance of not one, but two, Goblins inside her establishment. Dink’s ruse of being a dark-skinned Halfling was semi-plausible in that no one had ever seen an almost black Goblin before. Murkuk was a different story. He was without a doubt a Goblin with his reddish-brown earthy skin tone and hairless body. The madame stared silently as her brain processed a way to escort them through the main building unnoticed by the wealthy patrons.

“Please excuse my squire’s manners. Murkuk, take your hood off inside,” Dink instructed in dark amusement.

The madame glared daggers at Dink as Murkuk removed his hood. The sound of weapons being drawn echoed around the room. Dink was unconcerned as he watched the madame's reaction. She had become as pale as a ghost, trembling at the unexpected development.

“What do you all think you’re doing? This is the House of Worldly Delight, put away your weapons!” The lion man bellowed as he lurched to his feet, knocking his chair over backward onto the floor.

Men held their weapons drawn with uncertainty, glancing at their peers nervously. Dink watched it all happen as he began to heartily chuckle in amusement. Tears streamed from his eyes as he clutched his midsection, catching his breath after he stopped laughing.

“It’s been too long since I’ve had a good bar brawl. I couldn’t resist. If any of you have the balls, come at me. To make things fair, I won’t even draw my sword,” Dink antagonized the hesitant patrons.

“I would remind you all that this is the House of Worldly Delight. All patrons are welcome, including… Goblins,” the madame said, swallowing with distaste at the word.

“No one brave enough? That’s truly a pity,” Dink said with a dramatic sigh.

“Lady Estra, please restrain your companion from provoking a fight,” the madame pleaded.

“He acts as he pleases. I understand his motives no more than you do,” Lady Estra replied in resignation.

“Fine. I’ll be on my best behaviour. At least until one of these fine folk steps up for some good ol’ fashioned fisticuffs. We can take bets on it when I get back,” Dink said with a disconcerting grin.

“Hahaha, I like your spirit, Goblin! We can make a go of it when you return from my mistress. They’ll clear a space for our bout while you’re gone,” The lion man accepted Dink’s challenge with a hearty laugh.

“It’s good to see a real man among these cockless bastards. No offence, Murkuk,” Dink replied jovially.

“I’ll be eagerly waiting for you to get back! The name’s Axion the Headhunter,” Axion introduced himself.

“Call me Dink, I won’t tarry too long,” Dink replied.

Axion grunted in agreement, picking his chair off the floor. He ignored the patrons as he righted the chair and sat down. The patrons returned their weapons to their sheaths while speaking excitedly. Men began to place bets on the outcome of the upcoming fistfight.

Axion was the clear crowd favourite, towering more than a head taller than the average Human, while Dink barely reached their chest. Axion had a dark-coloured mane with runic beads woven into braids above his brow and below his jaw. His body was covered in strange mana tattoos.

An Attuned Beastfolk? They’ve made fast progress in the past centuries. The Beastfolk race is still young as a whole and each subspecies requires its own unique arcane runes to channel mana. Unexpectedly, they’ve already succeeded in creating mana tattoos for some of them. This is going to be an interesting fight.

So far, no one has invested in creating attunement runes for the monster races, such as Goblins. For good reason. It will be difficult for me to win unless I miraculously become a grandmagus in the next hour. Which is very unlikely.

“This way please,” the madame interrupted Dink’s musing.

The madame navigated them through the modest gambling area, around the various tables packed with patrons, to the staff door on the other side. The patron’s suspicion had disappeared with the announcement of Dink’s fistfight, instead, they watched the Goblins with curiosity as they left. The madame led the group through the door into an enclosed hallway illuminated by mage lights. She walked them to a staircase leading to the second floor.

The madame gestured for them to remain still as she opened a door and poked her head outside. Standing in front of her was an extremely attractive Human courtesan wearing nothing but a translucent gown displaying her exquisite body underneath. She was escorting an equally surprised young man drunkenly toward a private room. Dink felt Lady Estra’s disapproval as the pair of Goblins watched the surprised woman lustfully.

“Mistress?” the confused courtesan asked.

“Be about your business,” the madame said as she slammed the door closed in the woman’s face.

Dink still had the image of the woman’s dark nipples tantalisingly pressing against the thin fabric burned into his mind. Lady Estra disapprovingly nudged him to move when he continued to stand still as the madame led them down the staff hallway to a second door. He chuckled as he obediently followed. After she peeked her head out and saw the path was empty, she motioned for the group to follow.

She led them around a bend and to a solitary door in front of a staircase leading to the third floor. The madame tentatively knocked on the door, opening it as she did. She ushered the group inside and closed the door behind them with a sigh of relief. They were inside a sitting room.

“Madame Celeste, your student, Lady Estra, has arrived,” the madame called out meekly.

“Very well. Thank you, Sharan. You can return to your duties, I’m sure that you are very busy. I appreciate your effort in personally escorting my student to me,” Madame Celeste replied.

Strangely, there was a freestanding partition in the corner of the room with a gown draped over it. It was something that would usually be found inside a bedroom.

“I must warn you, Madame Celeste. Her escort is… unconventional,” Sharan replied.

“Is that so? I must see this for myself. Please give us some privacy,” Madame Celeste said as she walked out naked from behind the partition.

Madame Celeste only looked to be an attractive woman of middle age. She was extremely attractive despite her age. Her athletic body could stir the lust of a man less than a tenth of her age. Her dark Elven skin gave her a slightly blue complexion. She had platinum white hair with a slight pink hue pinned up artistically in an exotic hairstyle. Dink gulped as he drank in her naked form.