QT: Against My Will

187 4.11 – Headache – Dangerous Angels

“Hm, hm, hm ??. This one,” Bing Shi pointed at the card with the lowest numerical value in Hasan’s hand. Sitting behind a round table with three other men, they were presently in a gambling house. Surrounded by a group of people, they whispered how this lucky charm helped Hasan win one game after another, from dice throwing to card games-having no idea that a little snake was collaborating with Bing Shi to win all those games.

[“Such hateful men. Kuro, we need to confiscate all their money.”]

[Ok. Host, will you be alright?]

[“I’m perfectly fine, and you?”]

[ I’m perfectly fine too.]

[“Kuro, you are a real deal. The best teammate.”]

Kuro started to giggle behind its tail bashfully.

Bing Shi was doing a live advertisement for her future business and her little angels. She was attempting to turn a courtesan into an ultimate luxury item. Only men with social status, power, and reputation would be able to afford one. The more famous and unique the courtesan was, the higher her standing would be. The job came with a high risk, but the connections and the amount of money she could make were pretty much, unlimited.

Bing Shi didn’t believe that she’d become a top courtesan. Restrained by a relationship, and with so many weaknesses, it’d be a mission impossible. She’d strive to be the best though. With no futuristic technology, she didn’t come up with a better idea to find Xuan Mu than to open a business where there’s lots of contact with various men.

.....

Currently, they were playing a card game. The rules were simple. After four rounds, the one with three sets, or the one with the lowest numerical value wins. One would think that getting rid of high-value cards would assure you a win. It’s not that simple. This game was all about reading other’s moves, tricking, and baiting your opponents to give you the card you need for a set.

Hasan smugly gave the card to the man on the right, “Go! Eat it!” So what if all the money went to the angel’s pocket? Winning felt so good.

“Eat your ass!” A wealthy merchant ignored his provocation, “Little Tian Shi, I’ll give you two thousand kangs if you get away from him and come to me.” He coaxed the new courtesan in training.

A friendly chuckle passed through the edges of her lips, dismissing his words, Bing Shi poured a glass of wine to Hasan, “Shall we accept?” The whole time she just spoke to one person, her attention was exclusive for Hasan only.

“Hmpf!” Hasan who was enjoying himself too much, scoffed, “Not even for ten thousand!”

“What about thirty thousand?”

Everybody turned their heads towards the crazy voice, shocked; they bowed down in utmost respect.

What was prince Zhao Rong doing here?!

[Hidden Quest: Find out why Zhao Rong became interested in you. +200p]

Everyone stood straight with a slight bow, waiting for His Royal Highness’s next direction. Ordering the crowd to continue playing, Zhao Rong walked towards the round table, wearing a bloody red armor and mask, his tall stance overwhelmed all the men and women in the gambling house, except one person, who continuously tried to decipher the mystery behind Zhao Rong’s interest.

[Hidden Quest: Find out why Zhao Rong became interested in you+200p. After finding out the reason, change his mind as if there’s nothing interesting +200p]

[“Because he likes Aliens.” +(‘?`)+]

Answered Bing Shi, who felt like an alien among the aliens. She wanted to transmigrate into Mao An’s kingdom first to avoid the two psychopaths but decided to change it due to a particular one, who just appeared out of nowhere.

Bing Shi always looked deeper into the reason behind her quests. So when she didn’t get a mission to protect the heroine, it could mean that even if Mao An was killed, the world war would still occur. And what’s wrong with those second male leads? Their specs weren’t any lower than the actual male lead! Why was this world’s law so strict? Cheering herself up, she laughed at her misfortune while sending secret messages to Hasan through Kuro.

[Hidden Quest: Find out why Zhao Rong became interested in you+200p. After finding out the reason, change his mind as if there’s nothing interesting +200p.]

[“Don’t tell me he likes monkeys?”]

The men switched their attention from Zhao Rong to Bing Shi, “...”

Stealing small peeks at the prince, the girl launched her giggles at the worst time possible, giving an image of a foolish woman, blinded by money and power. Did she think she won a jackpot? They taunted her change of attitude.

Compared to the first world, Bing Shi processed information much faster. Used to the constant pressure, she reacted accordingly, her course of actions became smoother and less forced. It came with a seatback. She had to exhort her acting with force. If she didn’t do so, her face would be like a peaceful wind brushing against the lake’s surface, too calm for her own good.

[Host, this is no time to be making jokes of your missions.]

Kuro advised its host, knowing that without Zhao Rong’s agreement, the quest wouldn’t count as successful. Under Hasan robes, in an observer mode, Kuro could see the surrounding like a three hundred and sixty-degree camera.

[“I’m dead serious. Hasan, five.]

Bing Shi ordered Kuro to resend Hasan her message with one of the numbers they decided on beforehand.

[Hey, don’t you find his mask funny?”]

“You wrench! What did I teach you?!” Shouting, Hasan smashed Bing Shi’s head with a fan while apologizing to Zhao Rong. His skin shuddered in fear when he felt the invisible snake sneaking under his left sleeve to bit his pinkie as in behavior number five. He was unsure at first, but seeing Angels’ encouraging giggles, he braced himself and did what he was ordered to.

Curling around Hasan’s leg, Kuro waited for her order to crush Hasan’s leg like it trained on its mouse toy. However, there was no such order. Its Host always told it to never act on its emotion, why? It had no emotion to begin with. Only when Fu Qin and Yi Zen first injured its Host, Kuro began to understand.

Bing Shi hissed in pain, accepting the continuous beating with her eyes shut, tears pooled at the corner of her eyes. Her crying couldn’t be any more real, her emotions pended up, “This lowly servant was wrong!”

Sadistic tendencies sprouted from within Hasan, “Get on all fours and beg for forgiveness!” Quickly recollecting himself, Hasan turned towards Zhao Rong, “Y-your Highness, as you could see, she is merely a courtesan in training, she might not satisfy your needs...”

“This prince doesn’t go back on my words,” Zhao Rong dismissed the fat man and looked down at the pitiful courtesan, ordering coldly, “Stand up.”

Bing Shi slowly stood up. Without questioning, she found a possible answer to her suspicion.

‘Hm, the thing he is interested in is being beaten, and that’s how he reacts? I’m not the one he is the most interested in. Maybe he wants to use Hasan for his benefits? His sudden appearance would make much more sense.’

Feeling the oppressive aura, Hasan’s knees almost gave up on him. He had to choose between an early death by offending the prince, or a slow death by insulting an angel. Hasan felt his right leg being squeezed by a snake, getting the message, he spoke out, “H-however... per Your Highness’ wish, it would be this humble subject’s pleasure to accept the trade.” He sighed in relief, turning around, he yelled out, “Go and thank his Highness for his benevolence!” Instead of slapping Bing Shi’s head, as she was standing up, he accidentally slapped her cheek with his fan. Shivers ran down his spine when a small cut appeared on her left cheek. Oh no, he was doomed!

As blood started to ooze out of the small wound, the surrounding people found the notoriously cruel Hasan unfair. It’s normal for masters to punish problematic slaves, but that courtesan won Hasan a fortune! If she were their slave, her treatment would be so much better! It was a small mistake from her side, which woman wouldn’t overreact after gaining the most powerful man’s fancy?

Bing Shi felt a sting on her red cheek, bowing down, her words filled with hurt, “This... This lowly servant thanks his highness for your benevolence.”

If it were in her century, such an act would trigger others to help her out; they’d sent a beaten Hasan to the prison, no matter his rank. Here, even if they wanted to help, everyone just watched how she was being harmed. For them, kindness was a weakness. Bing Shi knew this; her objective was to bring out their sense of pity and mistreatment – staying back in one’s comfort zone, doing nothing when one could, was a true act of weakness.