(Chapter 5) Exploring Red Light District
At four o'clock in the afternoon, Anna put on her casual clothes that she hadn’t worn in half a year and headed to the red-light district.
After her past three simulation runs revealed many problems, it became clear that the red-light district played a significant role in two of the "bad endings." Anna figured that a good portion of the mysteries could probably be solved here.
Though she often patrolled the area since it was a legal gray zone and often had public safety issues, this was the first time Anna actively chose to come here of her own accord.
"The girls in these establishments are definitely cute, but there's no way someone like me would get distracted by them!"
Anna encouraged herself silently, doing her best not to look in strange directions. However, the moment she set foot into the red-light district, she felt the gazes of the flashy women on the street and the casually dressed customers all zeroing in on her.
"Why is everyone suddenly staring at me? I’m not some big celebrity or anything." Anna was startled. Being the center of attention like this was a novel experience for her.
"Knight Anna, not on patrol today?"
Just as Anna was feeling bewildered, a familiar voice reached her ears.
She turned her head to see none other than the flirtatious lady who often tried to persuade her to switch careers.
Catching Anna’s attention, the woman winked and puffed out her ample chest.
Her already-revealing outfit, combined with the deliberate seductive gesture, made Anna unconsciously swallow.
"Oh my, do you like what you see?"
The woman leaned closer, her voice as sweet as honey, enough to make Anna feel like her bones were about to melt.
"Uh... no need to stand so close..."
"Oh, Officer Anna, coming to the red-light district in casual clothes? That means you’re here to… blow off some steam, right?"
"Ugh..."
Even though Anna had read her fair share of nighttime novels and been tormented by the simulation three times, facing an experienced lady of the trade in real life left her utterly flustered.
"Are you here to have some fun? Or are you thinking about earning big money and having fun at the same time?"
"I... I’m just here to look around..."
"Ha! That’s what they all say at first," the woman said with an expression that screamed "I know what you’re really thinking."
"Everyone’s shy in the beginning, but once they open up, they spill their desires loud and clear."
"But I really am just here to look around!"
Anna regretted her decision deeply. Sure, the upcoming events were intricately tied to the red-light district, but why did she have to dive headfirst into the lion’s den herself?
She wasn’t equipped to handle these women at all!
... But since she was already here, she might as well see it through.
Anna clenched her fists nervously, feeling the sweat in her palms.
"Um..." Anna swallowed hard and, trying her best to appear cautious and shy, began speaking hesitantly. She really was embarrassed, but she looked even more so. "I was wondering... about the details of making money and having fun..."
"Oh my, I didn’t expect Knight Anna to be so open-minded," the woman said with a mischievous smile. "I’ve only ever joked about it before, but honestly, Anna, you’d be perfect for this line of work. With that adorable face of yours and a figure that could turn the heads of men worldwide..."
As she spoke, the woman even placed her hand on Anna’s stomach, causing Anna to flinch and step back several paces.
"Uh, don’t get so close..."
"Hmm, Anna... no, Miss Anna is just so cute." The woman chuckled softly and leaned closer again.
"If you’re this curious about the profession, why don’t you come to the shop with me, and we’ll talk it through in detail?"
"No, no, it’s fine right here. I’m just... asking questions."
Anna wasn’t bad at navigating conversations, and while she truly was here just to gather information, it didn’t stop the other woman from interpreting it her own way.
"Really? Just asking questions?" The woman gave a knowing look, clearly thinking otherwise. Anna, on the other hand, felt relieved.
It was mortifying, but if this misunderstanding meant the woman was taking the bait, then so be it.
Trying not to let her mind wander further, Anna kept up her “nervous” demeanor—though she really was nervous.
"If you’re set on talking here, then that’s fine too." The woman moved closer again. "How about we find a cozy spot to chat properly..."
"That’s not necessary. If it is, I’ll just leave."
Seeing that Anna might really walk away, the woman looked disappointed but quickly grabbed Anna’s wrist.
"If you insist, then let’s keep it simple. Shall we talk about... your potential career in this line of work?"
"I’m just asking! Just asking, okay?" Anna repeated firmly.
"Sure, just asking," the woman said with a sly smile, feeling that she was back in control of the conversation. "Since you’re curious, I’ll be straight with you: we offer excellent pay, free training, and no binding contracts. For someone like you, looking to make quick money without long-term commitments, it’s the perfect choice..."
“Stop, stop, stop! That’s not what I was asking about.” Blushing, Anna interrupted the flood of recommendations from the hostess. She carefully chose her words. “I just want to know... about the owner of this establishment.”
“The owner…?” The hostess was momentarily stunned. “That’s not something I’d know. But why would someone like Miss Anna be curious about such a thing?”
“Well… it’s just…” Anna’s face turned an even deeper shade of red. “I’m not exactly keen on this line of work. But if I were to be taken in by the boss—”
“Oh my, I didn’t expect Miss Anna to think on that level!” The hostess immediately caught Anna’s implication and couldn’t help but chuckle. “Miss Anna, you like girls, don’t you?”
“...Yes.”
“Well, you’d better give up on that thought. The boss of this establishment isn’t a woman but a man.”
“I see…”
Anna didn’t bother to hide her disappointment, which didn’t escape the hostess’s notice.
“Miss Anna, you shouldn’t overthink things. And who said that in this line of work, the only way to make it big is by being favored by some big-shot boss? Just as an ordinary hostess, with your looks, the weekly income I mentioned earlier—50,000 coins—was already a low estimate. If you gain popularity, you could be earning 50,000 a day.”
“At that level, this little town wouldn’t be able to contain you. But don’t worry—we have pathways for advancement here. We can recommend you to the capital city’s entertainment district.”
“Is that even possible?” Anna was taken aback by how vast and organized the industry was. That there was even a connection to the capital intrigued her.
This situation might have some indirect link to what she was trying to uncover.
“You sure know a lot…” Anna blurted out without thinking.
“Stay long enough, and you’ll naturally learn a bit of everything,” the hostess replied with a sly smile.
“Well… I’ll think about it.” After hesitating for a moment, Anna finally said, as if slightly tempted.
“If that’s the case, I look forward to the day when Miss Anna becomes my colleague.” The hostess chuckled lightly. “And even if you decide not to work here, feel free to request me anytime.”
“After all, I’ve always been curious about what Miss Anna tastes like…”
“Alright, I’m leaving!”
Sensing the hostess might pounce on her at any moment, Anna realized things were getting dangerous. She quickly said her goodbyes and made her escape.
As she watched Anna hurriedly retreat, the playful smile on the hostess’s face slowly faded as the distance between them grew.
“Hmm… what a peculiar thing,” she muttered to herself before her gaze shifted to a young girl loitering at the street’s edge. It seemed the girl was visiting such a place for the first time, curious about what it was all about.
“Young lady, how about stopping by our establishment? We’ve got a special promotion today with discounts!”
Meanwhile, Anna, having left the entertainment district, pulled a cloth hat from her pocket to hide her face and hurried home as fast as she could.
Though she had mentally prepared herself, the thought of someone spotting her—an off-duty border knight—walking out of the entertainment district in casual clothes was mortifying. It could easily spiral into some scandalous rumor.
If that happened, it would definitely be a social death scenario.
The moment she got home, she locked the door behind her, breathing a sigh of relief. However, a sense of dejection soon followed.
Anna wasn’t particularly skilled at gathering information or picking up subtle clues. She’d risked everything, disguising herself to visit the entertainment district, but she hadn’t gleaned any meaningful intel.
I was too reckless. I shouldn’t have directly asked about the boss behind the entertainment district. There are so many establishments—who knows if they all answer to the same backer? And what connection does that person have to the attack on me?
Reflecting on how she had embarrassed herself without learning anything substantial, Anna felt like smashing her head against a wall.
She’d have been better off using that time to run more simulations and examine the subsequent developments instead of venturing into the entertainment district…
Knock, knock, knock.
As Anna wallowed in self-reproach, someone suddenly knocked on her door.
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