Mercenary Wars

Chapter 166 Casca
Under Gao Jiano's questioning, Ellie recounted some of her past experiences.

Both she and Casca were born on Pleasure Street, and to almost everyone, their fates were self-evident and predetermined.

Ellie chose to accept this fate with equanimity. Not only did she accept it, she even found some enjoyment in it, and at one point became the youngest employee in the entertainment district.

Casca chose to resolutely refuse.

"When Casca was asked to serve the first guest, she found an iron bar and beat the guest unconscious."

"But you may not know that we start accumulating debt from the moment we are born, including expenses for birth, food, lodging, clothing, and so on. By the time we reach adulthood, the accumulated debt is equivalent to the next thirty years' income!"

“This debt has enslaved us. The doctrine says that Mossians cannot be enslaved, but what difference is there between us and slaves? It’s just that we cannot be killed by our masters at will.”

"The madam realized that Casca wouldn't become a prostitute, so she sold her to Lohar. Casca then became a boxer, which she considered a far better job than being a prostitute."

After saying all that, Ellie paused slightly: "Of course, I've never thought that way. It's the same as making money with your body, but in Pleasure Lane, at least there's no danger to your life, and you can save up the ransom in forty years at most. But in Finger Alley… everyone knows about Lohar and Nils' infamous reputations!"

Gaucano recalled for a moment: "Casca entered the Land of Tides in the first place to collect ransom money?"

“Yes,” Ellie nodded. “She told me that if we could find two pieces of Forget-Me-Not in the Tidelands, we could both be free. But Forget-Me-Not isn’t so easy to find.”

She sighed with her head down: "She's always so naive. Not long ago she told me she was going to make a lot of money. But in reality, she hasn't saved as much as I have, and she gets beaten up every day. Even the weakest boxer is ten times more brutal than that old guy named John."

After listening to Ellie's story, Gao Jiano didn't know what to say.

He was considering helping Casca and Ellie get their freedom.

However, he wasn't so wealthy as to ignore the money, and besides, he wasn't close to Casca, let alone Ellie.

So after only a brief consideration, Gaucano abandoned the idea.

After listening to Ellie's long explanation, it would seem inappropriate not to say anything.

The air seemed to freeze.

Then Ellie suddenly said, "Pharmacist, would you please patronize my business?"

As she spoke, she stood up from the grass.

Gao Jiano was startled and quickly refused, "No...no need."

"I'll give you a discount," Ellie then added, "Well, you did save Casca, so I won't charge you!"

"That's not necessary." Gao Jiano was a bit overwhelmed.

Ellie, however, persisted, displaying excellent professionalism as she walked over.

Gao Jiano had to admit that she was indeed very professional; every gesture she made was seductive, and every subtle change in her expression revealed the experience of a seasoned expert.

"See? I'm amazing." Ellie smiled slightly, her gaze falling on the wrinkles in Gao Jiano's clothes, while showcasing her talent and skill even more fully.

As a vigorous young man, driven by instinct, Gao Jiano couldn't help but feel his heart racing.

But he still restrained himself.

Moreover, he seems to have found a fairly good reason.

Then he reached into his collar, pulled out Raymond's brass triangle, and placed it in front of him, declaring righteously, "I am a devout Mossist!"

The next scene was somewhat like what is described in some exorcism stories: as soon as the brass triangle symbolizing the Mosa appeared, Ellie stopped in her tracks.

Staring at the rounded edges of the brass triangle, Ellie asked with a hint of doubt, "Did you grind these edges down?" "Otherwise, why would I?"

“You don’t look like someone who’s into asceticism.” Ellie still didn’t believe her and added, “Those of us in this line of work are usually very good at judging men.”

Seeing that Gao Jiano was determined not to comply, she finally gave up, sighed, and sat down again: "Alright."

Gaucano breathed a sigh of relief.

Then Ellie pulled out a few more paper coupons: "These are for you."

Gao Jiano was taken aback: "What is this?"

“My coupons, even if you don’t need them, your friends will surely need them, right?” Ellie smiled slightly.

Gaucano was speechless.

Ellie was right. There were indeed many enthusiasts among his friends. For mercenaries who needed to fight on the battlefield, there was obviously no entertainment activity that could surpass the great harmony of life.

Or perhaps it's someone like Marcus, whom Gaucaneau is certain would be overjoyed by the coupons, given that Ellie is clearly top-tier in the industry in terms of looks, figure, and professional skills.

Hesitantly accepting the coupon, and after a few awkward words, Gao Jiano prepared to leave.

Before leaving, Ellie suddenly asked, "If Casca had done this, would you have accepted it?"

Gao Jiano had to admit that his main motivation for rejecting Ellie was actually his dislike for her.

If it were Casca, he probably really wouldn't be able to resist.

Gaucano didn't answer the question; he believed Ellie should know the answer—even if she said Casca's choice was incomprehensible, everyone understood that a warrior's dignity was higher than that of a prostitute.

He politely said goodbye and then turned and left.

Ellie silently got dressed, got up and left the grove, walked towards the madam and several burly men, and then couldn't help but ask, "Why did you suddenly run away just now?"

Then her gaze lingered on the bald, muscular man's face: "This is so unlike you. I thought you were going to start a fight."

The bald, burly man chuckled sheepishly: "He must be the newly crowned 'Warrior of Nordanron' who won three consecutive duels on the battlefield."

Ellie was taken aback by what she heard, and her gaze returned to Gaugano, who was not far away.

"Isn't he a pharmacist?" she couldn't help but ask.

"It was the apothecary, that's right, at least he won while wearing apothecary robes!" the square-faced, burly man said with certainty.

Ellie's eyes widened, her face filled with disbelief.

She watched Gao Jiano's figure gradually disappear into the crowd, her gaze becoming complicated with a slight flicker, as if she were thinking something.

She remained silent for a long time, until she suddenly remembered something: "Where's my money?"

The madam brought over two gold coins.

Ellie put away the gold coins, then turned and left without saying a word.

"Where are you going?" the madam asked hurriedly.

"I—" Ellie's tone seemed a little irritated, and after a pause, she finished the sentence, "I need to rest!"

(End of this chapter)