But Elizabeth clearly had no intention of telling him why. After Roland made his choice, the maid promptly put away the map on the table.
"Leslie, don't forget what you promised me." After saying that, Elizabeth ignored Roland beside her and walked straight out.
Elizabeth's almost arrogant attitude immediately made Leslie frown, anger appearing on his face as he replied irritably, "Keep Roland safe."
Without even turning her head, Elizabeth waved her hand and left with her maid.
"That arrogant bitch." Leslie cursed with a dark expression.
Roland, too, had furrowed brows at that moment, faintly worried.
Elizabeth's attitude was not something Roland found unacceptable. He was only a minor Pioneer Knight right now. Without Leslie's connections, he would not even have had the chance to stand before Elizabeth. What right did he have to demand a better attitude from her?
What worried him was whether Elizabeth's attitude would affect the degree of protection the Black Knight Pirates would provide him. That was very important.
Seeming to notice Roland's concern, Leslie continued, "Roland, Elizabeth may be arrogant, but her reputation is still quite good. Not just hers—the entire Black Knight Pirates' reputation is famous throughout the Sea of Ten Thousand Islands. Otherwise, I wouldn't have cooperated with them."
"So that's how it is." Roland nodded lightly, and the unease in his heart lessened somewhat.
However, Roland soon recalled Leslie's earlier actions and could not help asking curiously, "Why did you choose an island so close to the Beastkin Empire before?"
"A secret. Don't worry, it'll definitely benefit you." Leslie suddenly said mysteriously.
"All right." Seeing that Leslie refused to speak plainly, Roland gave up asking further.
"Enough of these troubling matters. It's not easy for you to come here, so I'll take you somewhere nice today to relax." Leslie's lips curled upward, revealing a smile that every man understood.
Roland's eyes immediately lit up, and his previously worried expression vanished at once.
Then, led by Leslie, the two took a carriage directly to Frank Street in the eastern district, a place of splendor known as the dawn of Highland City's men.
Looking out through the carriage window along the way, Roland truly had his eyes opened. Unlike the bustle of Farul Street, Frank Street displayed extravagance to the utmost.
Carriages filled the streets, pedestrians bustled about, every passing carriage bore a noble crest, and every pedestrian was dressed in exceptionally lavish clothing, surrounded by clouds of servants.
The buildings on both sides were even more imposing, their magnificent exteriors adorned with exquisite carvings and elegant murals, revealing a pursuit of art amid the luxury.
Yet even on Frank Street, the Oroko Family carriage still traveled unimpeded, eventually stopping before an imposing building on the banks of the Grannen River.
The entire building was not particularly tall, but it occupied an enormous area. Its crescent-shaped structure resembled a new moon, while rows of thick white stone pillars were carved with exceptionally elegant reliefs, grand and majestic.
Two dark-blue doors stood wide open, with the words Noble Villa hanging above them.
As many as twenty fully armed guards stood at the entrance, watching ahead with stern expressions.
When they saw the carriage bearing the Oroko Family crest stop at the entrance, several guards hurried forward and skillfully knelt on the ground, acting as human footstools.
Leslie was long used to such a sight. He directly stepped on the guards' sturdy backs and easily got down from the carriage.
When it was Roland's turn to step out and see this scene, he froze slightly. Outside, Roland did not dare casually use Chip's scanning function for fear of being noticed by powerful individuals, but with his current Mental Power, he could still easily sense that the guards kneeling on the ground were all at least Intermediate Warriors.
This sight gave Roland an entirely new understanding of noble status, and an urge and desire rose within him uncontrollably.
However, Roland knew he was not worthy of possessing all this yet. Without Leslie, he had no right to appear here at all. So he suppressed the desire and impulse in his heart, regaining his calm, then copied Leslie's actions and stepped directly onto the backs of several Intermediate Warriors as he left the carriage.
"Follow me, Roland." With that, Leslie walked inside as if he knew the place by heart.
Under the bows of twenty guards, the two entered the Noble Villa.
The moment Roland entered, he felt a wave of heat wash over him, accompanied by stirring music ringing around his ears.
Curious at the sound, Roland swept his gaze through the hall. Dim, mysterious lighting created an alluring and seductive atmosphere throughout the room. Maids dressed in close-fitting silk and lace displayed their finest charms as they moved constantly through the crowd, delivering fine wine to the reveling nobles.
At the sight, Roland's breathing immediately quickened.
Just as Roland was about to observe more closely, Leslie beside him directly pulled him into the crowd.
"Roland, come with me."
Dragged along by Leslie, Roland looked reluctantly at the reveling crowd in the hall.
Then he followed Leslie into a smaller hall farther inside.
Here, the lighting was undoubtedly darker, greatly obstructing one's vision. Yet in the center of the small hall, a dazzling beam of light descended from above.
Under that central light, four Elf race girls dressed simply, exposing large swathes of snowy skin, were dancing gracefully.
Their figures were light and supple. Their slender waists swayed like willow branches in the wind, soft yet rhythmic. Their limbs stretched with elegance, every movement seeming to carry the spirit of nature, smooth and harmonious.
Their exquisitely painted faces appeared even more holy and beautiful under the lights. Combined with the pairs of crimson eyes around them, everything proved this was a perfect performance.
Roland was no exception. He believed that anyone who saw such a scene would be unable to control the most primal impulses in their body.
Roland's expression naturally fell into Leslie's eyes. Leslie wore the look of a kindred spirit, then pulled Roland over to sit on a soft sofa.
"Want one?"
"What?" Roland, immersed in the performance of the four elf girls, froze for a moment and looked at Leslie in confusion.
"I'm asking whether you want one." Leslie raised his hand and pointed at the elf girls in the center.
Roland very much wanted to present himself as a gentleman and firmly reject Leslie's temptation, but the next moment, his mouth completely refused to obey him. It had ideas of its own.
"Yes!"
"Haha, Roland, I think we'll definitely become true good friends." Roland's straightforward answer made Leslie burst into hearty laughter.
"We already are." Roland replied shyly.
From the moment Leslie brought him here, Roland had regarded Leslie as his best friend. Well, his best partner in vice.
"Come, drink." Leslie skillfully snapped his fingers with a crisp sound.
The maid beside them immediately brought over two glasses of wine and gently placed them before the pair.
"Drink?" Roland indicated that he did not want to drink right then.
"Yes, drink." Ignoring Roland's objection, Leslie directly lifted his glass and drained it in one gulp.
Seeing this, Roland could only join him, though his gaze once again drifted toward the elf girls in the center.
As Roland and Leslie drank deeply, the music in the hall gradually came to an end.
But after it ended, the four elf girls did not leave the stage. Instead, they stood quietly beneath the lights. At some point, a trace of worry had appeared between their brows, while beneath their anxious eyes lurked a hint of despair that made one's heart ache.
Just then, a smiling middle-aged man suddenly stepped into the light. After first bowing to those around him, he said, "Tonight, these four elf girls have all been supplied by the Fantasy Merchant Guild. They have undergone the strictest training from the Fantasy Guild. We guarantee they are absolutely the finest slaves and have no possibility whatsoever of turning against their masters."
"Of course, the Noble Villa and the Fantasy Merchant Guild also guarantee to everyone here that these four elf girls are all virgins and have suffered no violation. Please—"
Before the middle-aged man could finish, a commotion suddenly rose from the nearly dark surroundings.
A somewhat rough voice directly interrupted him. "Enough nonsense. How many gold coins?"
"Honored sir, as you wish, each of these four elf girls is priced at two thousand gold coins."
When that price was announced, the others showed little reaction, but Roland sucked in a sharp breath. The intoxication brought on by the few drinks he had consumed also faded considerably.
For Elf race slaves, especially elf girls with such outstanding beauty and figures, he knew they had to be expensive. But he had never expected them to be this expensive.
Two thousand gold coins represented one hundred healthy, strong human slaves. It represented over a hundred members of the Loyal Lion Mercenary Group risking life and limb for two months.
And here, it was merely the price of one elf girl.
But in the next moment, Roland was once again cast to the bottom of the well, becoming a frog at the bottom of it.
The instant the middle-aged man named the price, more than a dozen voices around them immediately called out to buy.
Seeing this, the middle-aged man did not panic in the slightest and directly began the auction.
One elf girl was pushed back into the center like merchandise, freely appraised by the humans around her. Fierce bids rose one after another, each louder than the last.
"Which one do you like?" Leslie's voice rang out again.
Having completely let go of his restraint, Roland did not stand on ceremony with Leslie at all. He directly pointed to one elf girl on the left side of the center.
Leslie gave Roland's shoulder an annoyed pat, then followed Roland's finger with his gaze.
The elf girl Roland had pointed at was not only more beautiful than the other three, but also taller. Her pair of slender, straight long legs drew the attention of everyone present. Most importantly, even though she was already trapped in a cage, she still carried an ethereal aura that made people unable to resist the urge to destroy that beauty.
"Good eye..." Leslie could not help praising Roland as well.
Leslie's praise undoubtedly pleased Roland greatly, and a happy expression appeared on his face.
Before you continue