Meanwhile, Daniel was stressed out as he thought about what day it was! Today marked the day that the Ruler of the Beastly Highlands was coming to visit the capital in the human kingdom, Thropos!
The count was only one of 15 counts in the major city of Kata, where they currently resided. Every kingdom in the continent of Pangea was divided into 20 minor cities, 15 major cities, 4 main cities, and the capital city.
Each kingdom had its own distinct way of governance and societal norms as well, so the cities were never the same types of places.
Sylvandar, the Elven kingdom, ruled by the Queen of the world tree. Their culture discriminates against humans but overall, a pacifistic people who only interact with other cultures when absolutely necessary.
However, they are a strong, open-minded people. Usually kind but there are always exceptions, and for the elves, they are very stubborn. Will be good or evil, no inbetween.
Beastly-highlands, is the Animal Kingdom, ruled by beasts who managed to gain sentience and intelligence. They follow the rules of the strong conquering the weak and don't discriminate and prefer living freely than with many rules.
Grecia, the Dwarven kingdom, ruled by nobles with a class system. They are known to discriminate against every race but themselves, but not to the point of humans, they simply don't like interacting with the other races aside from as business partners.
Dwarves trade their blacksmith resources and works in exchange for money, which all dwarves love. They are very money-hungry and greedy.
Thropos, is the Human kingdom, ruled by nobles with a class system. They can be characterized from their discrimination against the poor and weak. They gain station through nepotism and achievement.
The country is run through strength, the stronger one is, the more important they are unless they are from common birth.
Valoria, is the Giants kingdom, brutes through and through. They have customs similar to vikings and their women are more dominant.
They discriminate against elves for their weak physical prowess and are smart when it comes to battles but rather care-free in other aspects of life.
Darkhelm is the Demon's Kingdom, where there are no laws, no rules. They do what they want, and if they mess up, someone stronger will simply kill them.
They don't feel pity or mercy, everything is for their entertainment. They discriminate against angels for their self-righteousness and 'stink' while enjoy playing with other races.
Celestria is the Angels Kingdom. Hypocritical and self-righteous people who believe they are chosen by the ancient dead celestial, whom their current kingdom is honored by. They pretend to be noble but behind closed doors they are the same as the demons; obviously those unclean demons need to be purged. That's their noble and just mission, to rid the world of filth.
Faeonia is the Fairy Kingdom which is similar to the elves without the obsessive traits. They are a cute version of warmongering, mischievous creatures.
They love all races besides demons because of their cruelty, and angels for their creepy attempt to mask their dark intentions.
Anyway, Daniel was shooketh because the Count was nowhere to be found!
All Nobles in the human kingdom were to be in attendance for the ruler's visit, and if he didn't, it could end very badly for the counts county as the Beast king had a temper!
Not to mention the public backlash from other nobles!
Determined, Daniel went out to find the count, starting by checking his usual stomping grounds. The count was known to be a lecherous man who spent his time with wine, women, and copious amounts of coca- cough- drugs!
In truth, the head butler was disgusted by his so-called master, however, after 20 years of serving him, he had grown numb to his activities.
The head butler was under a strict contract, that upon disobeying the count, his heart would immediately stop.
Such was the power Ki could give to mortal men. Regardless, the head butler diligently did his job as he walked into a tavern that had a huge boar head on the front of it.
*Creeakk*!!
Opening the door with a scratching creak, the butler walked in on a rowdy bunch!
There was singing, dancing and drinking! This was a tavern that was open to all manner of people at all times of the day.
Ignoring the crowd of drunken people, drowning their sorrows or celebrating their achievements, the butler walked up to the bar.
Seeing the bartender cleaning a glass wearing a small smile, the butler went up to him and asked, "Have you seen the Count today?"
The bartender was a big burly man wearing a coat tailored suit with the sleeves rolled up. His gray hair and beard were well groomed and neatly combed, adding a touch of age and sophistication to his overall intimidating appearance.
The bartender smirked and rubbed his fingers together before going back to cleaning his glass.
"Tsk," Daniel clicked his tongue in dissatisfaction and slid over 10 copper coins, which the bartender pocketed with a shockingly quick movement for his size.
In the continent of Pangea, money was divided into coins. 1 Diamond coin is equal to 100 Gold coins, 1 gold is equal to 100 silver coins, 1 silver is equal to 100 copper coins and 1 copper coin means you're a brokie.
"Nope, haven't seen him" The bartender quipped, chuckling at his own antics.
The butler gritted his teeth in anger. He just got scammed!
However, he knew that he couldn't do anything about it. The bunch in the bar would beat him black and blue for attacking the bartender. They couldn't have the drinks stop after all!
Not to mention the fact that the butler was on a timer! So, he simply glared at the bartender before walking away without another word.
He walked for around 20 minutes and found himself in front of a casino, owned by the Count.
The Count frequented this place as it was his most effective way to find desperate people to 'offer his generous help to'.
Walking in, the butler could see many people playing various games with various chips laying around, waiters and servers were zipping about with champagne and snacks and people dressed with luxury clothes.
It was a truly high class place, something a majority of people in the Counts town had never seen before in their lives.
Walking through the casino, the butler was unable to see the Count anywhere. Frowning, the butler walked into the bosses room in the back of the casino, finding a worker of the Count.
This worker was a middle-aged man with a dark, well groomed beard that had streaks of gray in it. He wore a white top hat and a white and brown fur trench coat over his suit.
Seeing the butler enter, the man took a puff of his cigar.
"What do you want?" the man asked in a monotone voice, taking another. This man was once a baron with a huge ambition; he wanted to climb higher among the ranks of nobility.
One day, he won a big amount of money at this very casino, leading him down a rabbit hole of alcohol and gambling.
Eventually, he was convinced that the only way to achieve his ambition was to gamble.
The Count had been subtly manipulating the baron the entire time, eventually getting the man to be desperate enough to sign a Ki contract!
The man, in his ignorance, signed it, which led him to work for free for the Count, managing the casino when the Count couldn't be bothered.
His wife left him, taking the kids, because of his mistakes, leading him to hate everything about life. He now drowns his sorrows in drugs and women, waiting for the time when his 'retirement' rolls around.
"Has the Count been in?" The butler inquired. Truthfully, the man's story inspired a feeling of pity from the butler as it was similar to his own.
"No, he ain't been here today" The man replied, putting out his cigar.
The butler sighed and nodded as he bowed slightly and said, "Good day"
Leaving the casino, the butler was truly in a bind.
'There are only two places left to look, and both are so detestable' he lamented, disgruntled.
One of these places was the brothel. The Count frequently 'toyed' with the prostitutes there. It was a disgusting place where women work to support their families when they have no other options available to them.
In the best case scenario anyway! Unfortunately, the usual case is that the owner, a vixen in disguise, does the same as the Count.
She would force desperate women into working as an 'escort' to lecherous men like the Count. He is with a different woman there everyday without fail.
The butler hated that place with a passion that was only surpassed by the place he was about to go!
Walking around town, the butler found himself in a part of town that can only be described as the slums.
*****
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