The Seven World Of Fantasy

Chapter 19: Journalist Juan

"In this world, there are different races in different regions. The race with the largest population is us humans. It caused our race to be at the top and rule over the others. It also makes us hated by other races. Like elves, dwarves, and half animals.

There may be some of us who accept their existence, but unfortunately they have branded us first as enemies. You must understand, right, what happens if the two races are hostile to each other?" Juan explained a little about interracial relationships.

"Hmm? But aren't there still some half-animal human race around us? Then the townspeople didn't seem too worried about seeing Momo, and Adele also lived in this town." Also Clara. He could blend in with the other humans in Ciatar City.

"That's because we're in a country that forbids slavery." Juan added.

"Slavery!?" I'm appalled.

I was a little used to the word, considering I often read fantasy stories in my world first. Slavery is normal in this world. But if I've known for sure, it worries me enough.

"Yes, slavery." Juan has reiterated. "However it only applies to the kingdom of Atria. If you're in any other royal territory, it'll often be seen around you."

Scary. Hearing the word slave, my mind immediately turned to oppression. The slave owner can do anything to his slave. Whatever.

"Then, then should the Kingdom of Atria be a peaceful residence for the other races, right?" I asked Juan.

"No, Riel. You're wrong." Juan answered. "Although the kingdom has banned it, there will still be slaves who are traded illegally. Not a few of them were hidden inside the residence so as not to be discovered. Not a few of the causes they can not be found."

Hm? I don't understand his words a little.

"What do you mean they weren't discovered?"

"Of course those who make laws, can be immune to laws"

Oh, naw.

This is so bad.

Whereas in my previous world the law applies to everyone. It doesn't matter whether it's the little people or the rich and the officials. But here everything is very opposite.

"Hey, Juan. Then why are there still some of the half-animal human race in the city. Isn't the situation in this kingdom not as good as it seems?"

"Yes, you're right." Juan held onto his chin while thinking of something. "That's because they can survive. Ordinary people may not care much about racial differences, but there are still people who have bad intentions for them."

"You mean other races could have coexisted, but evil-minded people were all around them." I'm trying to detail.

"Frightly so." Juan snapped his finger. "Originally you know yes. The slave was not only from a different race. Humans can also be sold as slaves."

"No way."

"That's why the outside world is dangerous enough for a girl like you. At least there should be men in the group, then you can be a little safer."

There's actually. He was also a man who was too worried like Clara. Though he's been adventurous for a long time, but his guts aren't as big as I thought.

"Do you understand enough about race relations?" Ask Juan.

"What about other races. Like elves or dwarves?"

"Just the same. The relationship of the human race with them is arguably quite bad. Because in other kingdoms, those races are often hunted for sale. Also your friend's race."

I've guessed. The world is more dangerous than I thought.

I guess someday I can meet with elves, dwarves, or other races and form a party together. It would be a cool story, even if it seemed impossible to do.

It is fitting that the Momo family chooses to live apart from humans. Although they guarantee security, it does not mean that at all times they will always be safe. Those bandits must have been the masterminds behind the illegal slave trade.

Momo almost ended up like her friends. He managed to be free not for himself, he sought help in order to save them.

"I understand a little. Thanks for the information, Juan."

"It's good to help."

We took a break talking for a while as I tried to absorb the information. Momo is still moody beside me. He looked uncomfortable with his race's current state.

I tasted Adele's apple cider. Hmm, sweet. If it has been fermented into alcoholic beverages, what will it taste like, huh?

Oh, aye. I had to ask him the location of the bandits' headquarters. Who knows if he knows.

"Eee, Juan?"

"Yes? Just tell me what you want to ask."

"Do you know where the bandits' headquarters are? I heard they were around this town."

Juan's face suddenly changed. He used to look warm and nice, but now he looks like a cop finding his prey.

"I know, really." Juan's expression changed as before.

"God! You know their place?" Momo raised a voice.

"Yes. But I won't tell him."

"Hee, why?" Momo and I asked.

Juan looked confused. Maybe before he thought we were both joking, but unfortunately we were being serious.

"What do you two want to do if you know where they are?" Juan asked suspiciously.

"They've caught my friends. I don't want them to end up being slaves of the humans. I don't want them getting hurt and all that." Momo said her point.

"Momo managed to break away from the bandits thanks to his friends. Then he wanted to find help to save them." I explained the details.

Juan looked at us both in wonder. He has not yet answered the exact location of the bandits' headquarters, although we have already explained the intent of our goal.

A few moments passed and Juan was still silent. We wait for him to tell us their location, then after that we will leave. That's enough, but he's still buying time to answer our questions.

"Huh." huh." Juan sighing.

"What's the matter Juan? Don't you want to answer our questions." My toot.

"I don't want to answer, you know." Juan fixed his sitting position. "Know your position now. You are just two ordinary girls. Coming to their place is tantamount to suicide."

"I know that. I know they must be very dangerous. But I have to save Momo's friends." 

"Riel, why are you so stubborn?" 

"I'm not stubborn. I am aware of my abilities. I'm sure I can face them with Momo."

Juan patted his forehead. For him this problem is more complicated than looking for news to analyze. 

"I'm sorry, I took my word. I don't know where they are, it's just a lie." Juan was avoiding our questions.

"Hey! I'm sure you know where they are, and the act of pretending you don't know that's what's clearly a lie." I pressed him back.

"Sorry, Riel. This is too dangerous for you. No one can guarantee your safety."

"All right then. How much do you want?" I brought out my mainstay.

Basic journalists are troublesome. You must know what I mean, right? It is impossible for people like you to ask common questions in exchanging information.

"I want information, and then you'll get paid. Isn't that obvious? After that the transaction is complete and we'll leave." I clearly.

Juan was still silent and looking at us like before. His expression was too full of doubt.

"Go home." Said Juan.

"Did?"

"You guys are too far away from playing. Go home, I won't repeat my words again." He replied with a somewhat annoyed tone.

"Please tell us where my friends are." Momo begged him again, but Juan still did not want to answer.

"What's wrong? Why don't you want to trade with us? Don't you want money too?" I reaffirmed my question.

"If it is such a cheap life, then I will tell their location at any cost. But I'm sorry, I didn't accept your offer at all." Juan finally ignored us.

God fucking. We are your client! Exchanging what information if this happens. At the end of the day, we were wasting our time.

"All right then. Thanks for the cooperation."

Momo and I left our place. Juan was still sitting there in silence, not trying to notice us leaving or anything like that. Like someone who is angry with their friend.

We got off the second floor using the bar stairs. The room on the first floor was darker than where we were before. Some of the people I saw when I entered the bar were no longer in their place. Now this place only leaves Adele alone in her place.

"Is your transaction going well?" Ask Adele indifferently.

I walked over to his desk to pay for the beverage fees we ordered, and our information exchange fees.

"I got some information, but it's not what I'm looking for." Ketus.

"Oh. Then good luck next time." Adele wiped the bar glasses as usual.

My arrival at this bar was in vain. There was no important information I got about the whereabouts of those bandits. Other information I could easily get elsewhere, but it was difficult to find people who knew the location of the bandits.

After coming out of the bar, the sun started to rise higher and higher. It's still not noon yet, so we should still have time to search back.

"Hey, Momo. I'm sorry that we're so late to get there. We're gonna go find someone else, are you still up to it?"

"Yes. I'd do anything for my friends."

This cat girl did not give up on saving her friends. It made my spirit burn even more to help him.

"Guhhh!"

Hm?

"Pst! Hey, you!"

Someone called us out of nowhere.

I looked around for where the voice came from, and Momo showed me the direction it came from.

A narrow path between buildings, there was someone hiding behind a shadow. He waved his hand at us and told us to approach him.

"What are we gonna do, Riel?" Ask Momo worried. A person with such guts is definitely not a good person.

But I already know what his purpose is. So I ventured out and invited Momo to come over to him.

We entered the narrow road. There was only us and the person who called earlier. He looked like a checkered man with a robe covering his entire body. Tall yet not as full as an adult man.

"What do you want?" My toot.

"Khihihihi. You must have known, right? I'll sell you that information." The strange man replied.

Yep. As expected, he was selling information. It could be that he had overheard our conversation with Juan, or maybe there was an element of cooperation between them.

"How much do you want?" I asked the point immediately.

"100,000 Nira." The answer.

"Hey, it's too expensive for us. You just have to tell us where they are, why is it so expensive?" I refused the offer of a price that was too high.

"That's a normal price for exchanging information with us. What's more, you'll get some hand help by my friends. They also want to hunt down the bandits."

"So your group is also looking for them?"

"Yes, and we already know where they are. So it's like you're joining our group."

Rouse suspiction. Transactions like this are actually too risky fraud for their clients. Because there is no guarantee they will tell us the exact location.

"What's your purpose in finding those bandits?" I'm going to ask you a few important points in this conversation.

"The bandits were actually rich, yet never satisfied with their wealth. So we want to attack them and take their treasure. Then you can save your kidnapped friends there. How's it?" He explained his plan.

Not bad either. So we and they have different goals, but with the same steps. I don't think it's a bad deal.

I glanced at Momo for a moment. He looked at me and gave the code as if he didn't know. She was still a bit innocent with something like this, so I cursed her.

Moreover, Momo did not feel wary of this strange person. It increased my confidence to work with him.

"We also want to buy a train ticket to go home, so what if it's 80,000 Nira?" I tried to bargain.

"alright. I accepted the name." The freak agreed.

I took my money out of the storage, but she refuses to accept it now.

"I can't take your money now. Come to the broken wooden house near the forest west outside the city. There are my friends who are preparing, you can just pay them there. This is also for the sake of keeping our transactions."

"Oh, you're an interesting person too, yeah." I believe in this transaction more.

"I'm not an interesting person or a good one. I run anything for money, because that's our trademark. Khih."

"When should I go there?" 

"We will attack at sunset. So you can rest first and prepare your equipment. Remember this code when you knock on the door. The oak tree is black."

"Well, I'll remember it."

"It's nice to trade with you."

That guy left us entering the other corner. He does not look to be lying, because the person who offers well and is friendly, is more likely to be a scam. People like them can be serious in their transactions.

Momo and I will return to the inn to rest before the attack. There's still plenty of time for us to prepare, so I don't think this is a bad choice.

The next raid will probably be very long, as we will head to the headquarters of the bandits.