Kingdom Reboot: Rise Of The Conquest System

Chapter 10: Blood and Trust

Mother Coin poured wine from expensive bottles while discussing the brutal details of their arrangement. The price kept climbing with each new requirement she added.

Around them, the entertainment house continued its nightly business. A fat merchant was getting his cock sucked by a blonde girl who made exaggerated moaning sounds. Her dress was bunched around her waist while he groped her ass with thick fingers.

On another couch, two nobles were taking turns with a brunette. One had her bent over the cushions while the other fed her wine between thrusts. She gasped and whimpered as they both took turns fucking her.

The music got louder to cover the sounds of fucking. Serving girls brought fresh wine and cleaned up the mess afterward. Everything ran like a well-oiled machine designed for rich men's pleasure.

But Aurelius' eyes kept wandering back to the silver-winged fairy in her low cage. She wasn't watching him anymore. Instead, she stared at nothing with empty eyes almost like she'd given up hope completely.

[INNOCENT LIVES DETECTED]

[MORAL CHOICE PENDING]

The blue words pulsed in his vision, waiting for his decision.

"Magnificent collection, isn't it?" Mother Coin said, following his gaze. She really was a woman who had clearly been beautiful once, but Aurelius could tell it was magic keeping her this young.

"That one's my newest acquisition. Silver wings are quite rare among their kind."

Sir Roland made a sound like he might throw up. "You... you sell them?"

"Of course, darling. This is a business, not a charity." Mother Coin's laugh was annoying to Aurelius ears. "Though I do rent them out for special occasions. Wealthy collectors pay handsomely for a night with such exotic beauty."

Sir Thomas was muttering prayers under his breath now. His hand moving toward his sword like he wanted to draw it.

"This is wrong," Sir William said through gritted teeth. "These are thinking creatures, not animals."

"They're products," Mother Coin corrected. "Very valuable products. Do you object to merchants selling fine horses? This is no different."

"It's completely different," Sir Roland snapped. His young face was flushed with anger. "Horses don't think and feel like we do."

Mother Coin's smile got sharper. "My dear boy, you're far too sentimental. In the real world, everything has a price. Even beautiful wings."

Aurelius felt rage building in his chest but forced it down. They needed this deal. His men needed safe passage before Victor's forces found them.

"Eight hundred dragons," Mother Coin said, settling onto a plush couch. "Plus the elimination of some troublesome competition. A fair price for safe passage to the Sylphean border."

"What kind of competition?" Sir Garrett asked warily.

"Another establishment. Similar to mine, but they've been cutting into my profits." Mother Coin examined her painted nails as she continued talking. "The owner needs to be convinced to find a new line of work. Permanently."

"You want us to murder someone," Sir Edmund said flatly.

"Such an ugly word. I prefer 'business negotiation with extreme prejudice.'" Mother Coin's laugh was poisonous. "The target is a man named Korven who runs a rival operation. He's been stealing my customers and undercutting my prices."

Seraphina leaned forward. "What's his security like?"

"Standard criminal protection. A few hired swords, basic wards against magic. Nothing your... skills couldn't handle." Mother Coin gestured to a serving girl for more wine. "Eliminate him and his key lieutenants, and we'll call your debt paid."

The knights exchanged uncomfortable glances. They were trained soldiers, not assassins for hire.

"How do we know you'll honor the deal?" Sir Philip asked. His voice carried suspicion.

"My dear man, reputation is everything in my business. I can't afford to cheat customers." Mother Coin sipped her wine. "Though I suppose I could offer a gesture of good faith."

She gestured toward the cages. "Perhaps one of my girls could entertain your men while we finalize arrangements? Consider it a preview of quality."

Sir William's hand dropped to his sword. "We're not interested in that kind of entertainment."

"How refreshingly noble." Mother Coin's gaze moved to Aurelius. "Though your eyes seem quite interested in my silver-winged beauty. I saw you looking."

Aurelius forced his voice to stay calm. "She seems frightened."

"Oh, that one's quite spirited. Hasn't been properly broken yet." Mother Coin stood up, smoothing her dress. "Still thinks she's special because of her rare coloring."

The fairy's eyes filled with tears at their casual discussion but she made no sound.

"Perhaps we could include her in our arrangement," Aurelius suggested. "As part of the passage f*e."

Seraphina gave him a sharp look. She probably thought he was getting distracted when they needed to focus on survival.

"My, my. Expensive tastes indeed." Mother Coin's smile was all teeth. "That particular piece would cost extra. Silver wings are worth fifty dragons on their own."

A serving girl approached with a tray of wine. Mother Coin waved her away irritably.

"Not now, dear. Can't you see I'm conducting business?" She turned back to Seraphina. "Where are my manners? Let me fetch some proper refreshments for our guests."

Mother Coin walked toward the back of the room where several serving girls waited near a small table laden with expensive bottles.

Aurelius's enhanced hearing picked up what she said to an older woman behind the wine table. Her voice was barely a whisper but his new abilities made every word clear.

"Send word to the palace immediately," she murmured. "Tell them I have their fugitives. The bounty on that man's head alone is worth more than any deal we could make."

Ice shot through his veins. She fucking recognized them and the bitch has been planning to betray them from the start.

The older woman nodded and started moving toward a side door. She wasn't going to fetch wine. She was going to bring Victor's forces.

"The silver-winged one keeps staring," Aurelius said loudly, pretending he hadn't overheard anything. "Almost like she's trying to communicate."

"Oh, they're quite intelligent," Mother Coin called back while still at the wine table. "But iron suppresses their magic completely. Can't cast spells or even speak properly while caged."

The fairy pressed harder against the bars, her eyes desperate but silent. The iron cage had stolen her voice along with her magic, leaving only the raw pleading in her gaze.

Aurelius forced his face to stay calm while his mind raced. He needed to warn his men without alerting Mother Coin. The servant was already at the side door.

"Actually," he said, standing up slowly. "I think we need to discuss payment more carefully. The price seems reasonable, but..."

He caught Sir Garrett's eye and made a subtle hand signal. *We are fucked. Prepare for combat.*

The old knight's eyes widened slightly but he nodded. He started passing the signal to the other knights with tiny gestures.

Mother Coin returned with a bottle of expensive wine and crystal glasses. "Now then, where were we? Ah yes, the lovely details of our arrangement."

She poured wine while guards began moving into position near the exits. Casual movements that looked natural unless you knew what to watch for.

"The job itself is quite simple," Mother Coin continued. "Korven operates from a warehouse in the dock district. Usually has about six men with him at any given time."

The older woman had left through the side door. Soon she'd return with palace guards. Aurelius needed to act before then.

"What guarantee do we have that you won't betray us afterward?" he asked.

Mother Coin's smile faltered for just a second. "What an odd question. Why would I betray profitable partners?"

"Because," Aurelius said quietly, "you already have."

The room seemed to go silent except for the soft music.

"I'm sure I don't know what you mean," Mother Coin said, but her voice was tight.

"The woman you just sent to fetch palace guards," Aurelius continued. "How long before she returns with them?"

Mother Coin's face went pale. "You're being paranoid."

"You sent her to collect the bounty on my head," he pressed. "Probably worth more than any deal you could offer."

"You lying bitch," Seraphina snarled. She'd figured it out too. "I should have known you'd try something like this."

Mother Coin's false smile finally dropped. "Oh, Seraphina. Sweet, stupid Seraphina. Did you really think I'd forget what you did to my business last month?"

"What?" Aurelius looked between them.

"She tried to burn down my establishment," Mother Coin explained cheerfully. "Set fire to three of my rooms and drove away half my customers. Unfortunately for her, I have excellent security."

Seraphina's face was red with anger. "What you do here is monstrous."

"What I do is profitable. And legal." Mother Coin gestured to her guards. "Since you've discovered my arrangement, I suppose we'll have to do this the unpleasant way."

The guards stepped forward with weapons drawn. But these weren't ordinary blades. They glowed with soft enchanted light.

"Blessed weapons," Sir Edmund cursed. "Our swords won't stand up to those."

A figure emerged from behind silk curtains. Bent and twisted like a broken tree, wearing robes that looked stolen from a grave. His face was a map of scars and his eyes glowed yellow.

"Kill them all," Mother Coin ordered. "But keep the leader alive. He is the important one."

The crooked magician raised his hands and spoke words that made the air feel thick. Aurelius felt magic trying to wrap around him but it slid off like water. His new abilities protected him somehow.

His knights weren't so lucky. Their movements slowed to half speed while the guards advanced normally.

The battle erupted across the pleasure house. Sir Garrett's sword clashed with an enchanted blade and sparks flew. His basic steel chipped from the first impact.

Aurelius moved at normal speed while his men struggled. His sword found the throat of a guard raising his weapon toward Sir Roland.

Blood sprayed across silk cushions as the man fell.

[PERSONAL KILL COUNT: +1]

[COMBAT EXPERIENCE GAINED]

But there were too many enemies. His knights fought with inferior weapons while slowed by magic.

The customers fled screaming, leaving overturned wine and scattered cushions. Only the caged fairies remained, pressing against bars and watching with terrified eyes.

Sir Gareth was backing toward a wall, defending against two guards at once. Sweat poured down his face as he tried to move faster than the spell allowed.

One guard found an opening. His enchanted sword thrust forward like a striking snake, aimed at Aurelius's back while he fought another enemy.

"My lord!" Sir Gareth threw himself between them.

The blessed steel punched through his chest with a wet sound. Blood bubbled from his mouth as the blade found his heart.

"No!" Aurelius screamed.

Time seemed to stop. Sir Gareth, the quiet knight who never complained, was falling. Blood spread across his tunic like spilled wine.

Aurelius caught him as he collapsed. The man's eyes were already growing dim.

"My lord," Gareth whispered. "It was... an honor."

Then he was gone. One moment a loyal knight, the next a body growing cold.

Around them, the battle continued. Steel rang against steel. Men shouted and died. But all Aurelius could see was Gareth's empty eyes.

He'd fucking failed again. Failed to protect someone who trusted him completely.

And somewhere in his mind, blue words appeared.

[CORRUPTION POINT GAINED: ALLY DEATH]

[MORAL CHOICE CONSEQUENCE: ACTIVATED]

The system was keeping score of his failures too.