Chapter 24:Clue (Please add to your favorites)

Alicia’s words made Demir’s eye snap wide.

He quick-scanned around, no attention, then low voice.

“No idea why you want them—but advise: no ties with brain-broken folk.”

“Forced commission investigate. Client—can’t say yet.”

Demir hesitant—hated trouble, but no face break word.

“Mr. Bagatur, worry? Join our group first—no trouble after, employer protects. Plus fat pay.”

Alicia spotted concern, eased, dangled fake reward.

“Demir fine, no formal. Heard cult secret sacrifice, but details need dig.”

Demir agreed—Alicia inwardly relieved, pulled two Auris gold coins.

“Mind work—two Auris activity, hire fee.”

Demir solemn take, eye vital again.

Age no dim fire—just no outlet. Now burn.

“Know cult tied missing folk. Dig more—start slave traders.”

Demir narrow eye thought, continued.

“Know slave trader—probe. Fastest tonight news. Morning here meet, slave market?”

“Good. Trouble you.”

Ended Demir, Alicia no leave guild.

Split Cosette—she Walt clues, Cosette other info.

Walt legit—no intel. Short no leads—Alicia helpless drop.

Back guild third-floor inn, plan next.

Detail, backups—her style.

Cult missions pre-cross many, mostly smash. Source detect rare.

Racked similar details—hope useful.

Just recalled key—Cosette burst good news.

“Miss Alicia—useful info!”

Cosette joyful door slam—Alicia thinking jump scare.

“What?”

“Chatted front Sasha—east north slums kids enter vanish. Guards searched no clue, families guild find-person. Think cult link.”

Alicia head low thought, analyze.

Cult—doctrine, proselytize.

Empire crackdown—underground only.

Action—contact, traces.

Desperate hopeless easy false hope—best targets. Rough northeast slums.

Cosette info pointed slums.

“Slums worth check.”

Alicia inward conclude.

Next early, Alicia Cosette met Demir appointed.

“Boss—luck! Last night push—one slave trader spill.”

“Great. But Demir—boss fit?”

Demir enthusiasm—Alicia sweat.

“Hmph! Kid kid. Army style—superior younger, respect. Captain? Chief?”

“You happy…”

Empire slave trade legal—most army captives, some trader-funded outer raids.

Last—grave lawbreak stripped status.

Hot sellers elves—noble no elf slave shame.

“Scene may unsettle girls. Can’t—me handle. Wrap tight—no trader eye.”

Demir near market, warn.

“Ah? Why?”

Cosette odd.

“Part-time traffickers. Young beauty like us—stock.”

Alicia disgusted add.

“No manage?”

“Manage, but no-cost profit—scum risk head.”

Demir scorn—other races fine, but kin sellers despised.

Trio enter market, noisy rise.

Vendors hawk endless, chained others displayed goods view.

Trio no mood browse—straight dark corner.

Scar-face grim man stood.