A new recruit.
The elven courtesan immediately shoved her earlier thoughts aside—this was the kind of intel Lady Ishtar would kill to get her hands on.
Her pointed ears trembled with excitement.
"Mr. Raul, is the newcomer as strong as Captain Finn?"
"The newbie and the Captain... yeah, they're pretty amazing."
Raul's tone was light and dreamy, but his words carried no doubt.
"Our new recruit's really something else. Maybe not quite at the Captain's level yet, but their abilities are a huge asset to the Familia."
He paused, struggling to form his words. "The newcomer can, uh... create someone."
He frowned slightly, his words slurring as he tried to recall. "We don't know all the details, but Lady Loki made it clear—this newbie's going to get the same treatment as Ais."
The same treatment as the Sword Princess?
The elven courtesan's eyes widened. That was a bombshell.
The "Sword Princess" was the most gifted adventurer in the entire Labyrinth City. She'd reached Level 2 in just a year. Now, at only twelve, she was already Level 5—a record that put her at the top of any Familia she joined.
And now Loki Familia had a newcomer who was being compared to her?
Just imagining what kind of potential that implied made the courtesan's pulse quicken.
"So strong? A prodigy on the same level as the Sword Princess... what kind of person is this newcomer?"
Raul, still half-lost in the haze of Charm, couldn't stop himself from talking.
"The newbie, huh... Lady Loki keeps them under tight wraps. None of us really know much. We've all been told to keep quiet and make sure no other Familia catches wind of it."
He chuckled faintly. "But I guess sharing a little won't hurt. It's not like we know that much anyway. The rest's probably only known by the Captain and the higher-ups."
Information only the Captain's level would know?
The courtesan's ears perked up sharply. That was serious intel.
"I heard the newbie can summon really powerful puppets."
Puppets?
The courtesan blinked, momentarily thrown off. Her imagination raced, trying to understand how something like that could put someone on par with the Sword Princess.
"And they've got all kinds of weird abilities. One of them, I think, lets them store stuff inside their puppet."
Store things inside it? Her eyes widened even more, breath quickening. A space-type ability? If that was real, this was monumental.
And from the way Raul spoke, that wasn't even the only ability.
No wonder Loki had gone to such lengths to hide the newcomer's identity. Someone like that couldn't afford to be seen yet.
"As for the rest, I've got no idea," Raul mumbled. "The newbie's info's all classified. You'd have to ask the Captain—or Lady Loki herself."
That was as far as he could go.
The courtesan understood—this was the limit of what Raul knew. Still, even this much was invaluable. It was the only lead on the mysterious new member of the Loki Familia.
"Knock, knock, knock."
The rhythmic tapping snapped her out of thought. She quickly grabbed the small pouch at her waist and tapped it lightly against Raul's nose.
The moment it brushed his skin, his eyes fluttered closed, and he sank into a deep sleep.
Perfect.
The courtesan turned and opened the door.
"...Aisha."
"Yeah. Liz, I'm here with Lady Ishtar's orders."
Aisha stepped inside, her sharp gaze immediately taking in the sight of the unconscious Raul sprawled across the bed. A faint, knowing smile touched her lips.
"Lady Ishtar considers the newcomer's information top priority. To dig deeper, you're being assigned to the 'Extraordinary Man.'"
She leaned against the wall, arms crossed. "From now on, that's your only focus. Keep him close, take care of him, and pull out as much intel about that newcomer as you can—especially through... personal connections. Maintain them well."
The courtesan's expression turned serious. She understood perfectly.
Maintaining that relationship meant one thing—make sure it lasts.
"I understand."
Aisha nodded slightly. "Good. Do it well."
She started for the door, then glanced back.
"With the Loki Familia's newbie showing off more lately, it's only a matter of time before the secret gets out. That man's status in the Familia's not low—he's our best shot at finding out the truth."
Her voice softened slightly. "You've been given a rare opportunity. If you handle this right, you'll get what you've always wanted."
She smiled faintly. "After all, your race and your abilities are rare, and Lady Ishtar kept you around for a reason."
The elven courtesan bowed her head deeply.
"Please don't worry. I won't waste this chance."
As one born with the Charm skill, she knew exactly where her strengths lay.
If she used them well, Lady Ishtar's blessing would finally grant her something far beyond survival—freedom.
After Aisha left, the courtesan slowly turned back toward the bed.
She stared down at the sleeping Raul, her expression a tangle of emotions—then, bit by bit, it hardened into resolve.
She leaned down, her lips close to his ear, and whispered softly:
"I'm so sorry, Mr. Raul... but it seems my freedom can only come through you."
"I'm a bad woman."
"Please forgive me. The freedom I want... I can only reach it this way. My body is all I have to offer this world."
"Please—let me use yours to earn mine."
"…"
Back in the Loki Familia's dining hall, the screen had gone dark. But the courtesan's voice—those last few words—echoed crystal clear through the speakers.
Every male adventurer in the room was frozen, faces twisted with envy, disbelief... and rage.
"DAMN IT! That bastard Raul hit the jackpot!"
Raul had somehow ended up with an elven courtesan who had the Charm skill.
That man had every possible buff stacked on him.
Moments ago, everyone had been laughing at his misfortune.
Now, every last one of them wanted to trade places with him.