Chapter 591

591 The rescue mission with additional intentions starts

*Gulp* “Inside is dim and lit by a small candle on the ground scattered randomly.”

*Gulp* “I passed a corridor with four doors now, but one of the doors looks cleaner than the others. I will go there.”

*Gulp* “I can see a half-open door now. There is light coming from inside, and I can also hear the voice of someone begging.”

Jun Ye Rim loudly gulped many times while reporting what she was seeing.

After using this skill alone, Jun Ye Rim forgot that beside her body were Ester, Lupa, Iris, Lilith, and Plow hearing her. It was standing still with her eyes open and mouth moving to speak while their attention was all on her.

Blemish moved to the corner of the door and peeked part of his small head to see with one eye. In the well-lit room were three men acting high and mighty.

One was sitting with one leg on top of the other while playing with a toothpick in his hands. One had a sword in his hand, and he was acting as if he desired to cut someone. The third man was the same one they saw pulling the woman to this place. He stood straight while crossing his arms in a threatening pose.

In front of the three thugs were two women and three men. They were on their knees as if begging or being punished. The five victims wore cheap-looking clothing similar to people who traveled outside the city, meaning they were all most likely low-ranked adventurers.

After experiencing a turbulent life, Jun Ye Rim could obviously see the five victims were frightened. Yet, she could also tell they were showing signs of being apologetic for some reason.

.....

Jun Ye Rim wondered if this wasn’t the first time the victims had to suffer something like this.

Regardless, the closed room was well-lit yet dirty, and Jun Ye Rim believed if she could smell her surroundings, she would puke the food she ate.

“Please, let us go. We already paid you the protection money.” One of the frightened men said with a shivering voice, making Jun Ye Rim’s assessment of the situation correct.

“Shut ye trap~s, F Ranker trash! We~s have a new business proposition~s for ye. Work for us as a contracted worker or become a slave.” The thug crossing his muscular arms said with a low-pitched voice.

The five terrified victims stared at the tough-looking thug with a funny low pitched voice. However, they couldn’t laugh as his thick arms were ready to smash their faces.

“Hey, Pitch. Couldn’t you gather more? Deadeye said we will need more to make a living.” The man with the sword in his hand said while randomly waving his sword and intimidating the victims.

“Nah... Pitch could not find~s more trash~s F Rankers. ” Pitch said in a low-pitched voice.

“Heh. Pitch. Slash. Shut yer trap. We can always make an example of these five customers, hehe. We could start the first ever F Rankers Slave Questing association.” The man sitting on the chair said with a menacing voice.

Jun Ye Rim’s body shivered for a moment, causing the others beside her body to worry Jun Ye Rim had been found out.

The frightened Jun Ye Rim felt someone reassuringly touching her shoulder. Her body relaxed, and she moved her lips to say, “Three thugs are threatening five F Ranking adventurers. I am listening to their conversation, and I think the thugs could be planning to make the adventurers slaves if they do not accept to pay some form of protection fee.”

Lupa, Iris, and Plow didn’t understand what the protection fee could be, but Ester and Lilith had a vague idea.

F Rankers are weak and aren’t very different than ordinary civilians with higher stats. F Rankers do not have a class, and their overall power can’t be compared to an E Ranker, as having a class makes one automatically an E Ranker.

Paying the protection fee could allow F Rankers to be targeted less than usual and be provided assistance if a problem arose. However, the people offering this kind of protection were thugs who decided to resort to turning their possibly forced customers into their slaves for not paying the protection fee.

“Lupa, remove your shoes and prepare for a fight. Strong or not, we need to practice for the judgment by combat” Said Ester while cracking her knuckles.

“Iris, Plow, Jun Ye Rim, and I will go look for soldiers then. They will listen to my demands with my Baroness title.” Said Lilith with a determined expression to imprison the three men.

Lupa wagged her tail and removed her shoes. She impatiently stared at Jun Ye Rim to return and have some fun fighting.

*Slap, thud* One of the male victims slammed to the ground after he asked a question the three thugs didn’t like.

“This is a~s business opportunity! Ye make coin~s, and we~s make coin~s. ” Pitch said before he slammed his foot beside the head of the slapped man and crossed his arms again.

“C-c-can I not become I s-slave. I-I can pay the agreed seventy percent cut...”

“Yer wench speak of old, outdated numbers. It has become eighty-five percent cut, or becoming a slave, or die now.” Deadeye said. He held the toothpick with two fingers and flicked it with great strength at the woman.

“Ahh!” She moaned while falling to the ground with a toothpick penetrated halfway into her shoulder.

*Sniff, sniff* “Deadeye. I am smelling blood. I am getting excited to slash, hehe.” Slash said while looking at the injured woman and licking his sword.

“Stop it, you lustful slash.” Deadeye stood up and continued, “Yer have a few minutes to think. Eighty-five percent share per quest yer complete or become slaves.”

“Hehe. Decline, and I slash.” *Lick* Slash threatened with a disgusting grin lusting for violence and blood.

Blemish turned around and returned to Jun Ye Rim’s body. Her eyes returned to normal, and she suddenly took a step back while losing her balance.

Jun Ye Rim saw the sky before she became surprised to feel Ester, Lupa, Iris, and Lilith’s hands holding her body from falling. Her heart felt at ease when she had people to trust and depend on.

“Jun Ye Rim, are you okay?” Everyone asked while helping Jun Ye Rim stand on her feet.

After feeling better from the support of those beside her, Jun Ye Rim closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and exhaled.

Jun Ye Rim took a step forward and turned around. An unpleasant frown was on her face, yet she was ready to explain what was happening inside.

“The five people have a few minutes alone to decide on what to do. The three are demanding an eighty-five percent cut from their completed quests. The thugs are probably with a class since the F Rankers are not trying to resist, and did isn’t their first time meeting each other as well.” Jun Ye Rim explained.

“Jun Ye Rim, come with us to find and bring soldiers here while Ester and Lupa save the five victims. ” Lilith said with had hand extended.

Jun Ye Rim looked at Lilith’s extended hand. She peeked at Lilith’s face and said, “I will follow you since your hand will feel tired.”

Jun ye Rim accepted Lilith’s hand. She looked at Ester and continued, “The corridor will become dark if you extinguish the candles. It could help when escaping.”

“Escape?” *Smack* Lupa clashed both fists together before continuing, “We will beat them and leave with a smile. My mate will praise me for helping others, hehe.”

Jun Ye Rim stared at Lupa for a couple of seconds before Lilith pulled her hand. Lilith holding Jun Ye Rim’s hand and Iris carrying Plow soon left.

The girl-only group split in two. One was tasked to rescue and subdue the three thugs, while the other was tasked to bring soldiers to support and take care of the situation.

Ester and Lupa stood in front of the door. Both turned their head in unison and gazed at each other. A faint smile appeared from feeling the reassurance of having each other back. Their trust was boundless, and they knew if one of them were in danger, the other would do their best to help.

“Let’s practice fighting unknown enemies, sister. Remember to stand behind me if they throw projectiles. I will protect you.”

???????????????? ???????????????????????????? ???????????????????????? ???????????????????? ???????? ????????????????????-????????????.????????????

“Thank you, sister, hehe. It feels like old times when sister Ester fights beside me.”

“Old times? Haha, it has only been less than a year, but you make it sound as if we have known each other for years. ” Ester said with a grin on her face. She felt excited to fight side by side with Lupa.

“That is how I feel, hehe. ” Lupa responded while her tail wagged happily.

Ester took a step forward and slowly pushed the door open to make as little noise as possible. She looked at Lupa behind her and said, “Follow me while you track their positions. I will defend us if we encounter a trap.”

*Sigh* Lupa unhappily sighed and walked behind Ester in her combat form. Her sharp claws were drawn, and her ears raised on high alert. Yet she was sad Ester took the lead and the fun of giving their opponents that Lupa was the leader.

After entering the dim smelly damp corridor, Lupa covered her nose and leaned her head to Ester’s ear.

“Sister, I heard all the eight humans gathered near each other. They must be in the same room. But didn’t Jun Ye Rim say the humans we are going to save have a few minutes alone?” She whispered.