Chapter 100
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 100
‘There’s no turning back now. I have to steel myself.’
As Harriet took a deep breath, Tez leaned in and whispered in her ear.
“You look truly captivating tonight. I imagine you’ll be quite popular.”
Seeing him so pleased, calling her captivating even though she had dressed exactly like Bella, made her want to sneer. It seemed the man still had a pathetic weakness for women of Bella’s ilk.
Harriet slowly reached up and brushed his hand away as he toyed with her hair.
“I have no intention of letting just anyone near me. Not even you.”
“Don’t worry. One rule strictly upheld on this ship is that unwanted contact with a woman is forbidden.”
Despite his words, Tez looked at her as if he expected her to enjoy the debauchery just as much as he did.
‘I need to ditch this man first...’
Harriet waited for the boarding call, her pulse quickening with anxiety.
When the time finally came, the warehouse was so packed with guests that there was barely room to stand. It was almost hard to believe so many people had gathered for the sake of illicit drugs and lewd games.
“We will now begin boarding,” a guide announced. “After we set sail, the ship will briefly dock at the port at 1 AM, 3 AM, 5 AM, and 7 AM for disembarkation. Please keep track of the time you need to return home.”
A few people in the crowd laughed at the guide’s words. Seeing Harriet’s puzzled expression, Tez leaned closer to explain.
“No one ever leaves before the final docking at 7 AM.”
“But the ship will dock at those times, right?”
“Yes. If you feel unwell or uncomfortable at any point, just tell me. I’ll escort you off.”
“You’ll be busy enjoying yourself, and I wouldn’t want to disturb you. If you don’t see me at 7 AM, just assume I left early on my own.”
Tez stared at Harriet intently for a moment, then smiled and nodded.
Boarding proceeded smoothly, and Harriet soon stepped onto the ship with Tez at her side.
The interior, which had looked like a mere oversized passenger liner from the outside, was astonishingly opulent. There was a vast central hall with a stage, dozens of private rooms, and every luxury imaginable. Music pulsed incessantly through the air. Dancers in provocative attire swayed in every corner, while servants in skimpy uniforms moved through the crowd, attending to the guests' every whim.
‘This must be the obscene hell described in the scriptures.’
A shiver of dread ran down her spine.
But the other guests, seemingly accustomed to the depravity, chatted and cackled as they downed the drinks offered by the servants without a second thought.
Tez grabbed two glasses and handed one to Harriet.
“Have a drink first.”
“...Is this just regular alcohol?”
“Hardly.”
Tez grinned and emptied his glass in a single gulp. Within seconds, his eyes took on a subtle, glazed sheen as he fixed his gaze on her.
Refusing the drink here would only arouse suspicion.
‘What do I do? I didn’t expect him to push it on me so soon.’
Her stomach churned. If even the impeccable Cedric Kailas had been brought to his knees by these substances, there was no way she, with her far weaker willpower, could drink this and remain sane.
Harriet held the glass, feigning interest in the ship’s layout to distract him.
“I should probably familiarize myself with the ship before I lose my bearings. I’d hate to get lost in a place like this.”
“Haha! If you do, just ask any servant for the ‘Main Hall.’ They’ll bring you right back here.”
“And the restrooms…?”
“That inverted triangle symbol over there marks the restrooms. The public lounges are that way, the private suites are this way, and if you go down one floor, you can find the... special facilities.”
Tez explained everything with a smirk, as if intentionally blocking her escape routes. Then, chuckling as if she were being adorable, he reached out to toy with her earlobe.
“The ‘Angelic’ in your glass is a micro-dose. Nothing will happen if you only have one. It’ll just make you feel a little better, so relax.”
Harriet’s back stiffened. It felt as though he had seen right through her.
Tez leaned in, his voice a persuasive purr. “We don’t waste the expensive stuff on welcome drinks. If you want the ‘real thing,’ you have to buy it from the men in black sitting around the perimeter.”
“H-how much is it?”
“It’s more expensive than what’s sold on the streets. One hundred Dirham per pill. That includes the cost of the party. But you don’t have to worry—it’s complimentary for first-time female guests.”
He took Harriet’s hand and lifted it. On the back of her hand, the stamp the guide had applied was clear. It was the mark of a newcomer.
‘So that’s why he called it an expensive mark.’
Harriet let out a hollow laugh. She couldn't keep refusing without looking suspicious. Deciding to trust his word that it was a small dose, she tilted the glass and drank.
The liquid was fragrant and surprisingly delicious. However, because Harriet rarely touched alcohol, even that small dose began to take hold, steadily lifting her spirits.
“Haaah…”
Tez noticed the change in her breathing immediately. He wrapped a possessive arm around her waist.
“Even your breath sounds seductive now.”
He began leading her deeper into the hall. Harriet felt her resistance crumbling as she followed him.
“You said... there wasn't much in it...” she mumbled, a final, weak act of defiance.
Tez chuckled. “It’s a small dose for me. But for someone as inexperienced as you, I suppose it might have an effect.”
“Liar...!”
“I didn’t lie. But if you wish, I’ll apologize, Harriet.”
He pressed his body flush against hers, leaning in as if to kiss her. Whether it was his attempt at seduction or the drug itself, the proximity suddenly brought Cedric to the forefront of her mind. The memory acted like a cold splash of water, snapping her back to reality.
‘What am I doing?’
A chill ran through her. She had almost succumbed to Tez’s pace far too easily. Harriet forced herself to look composed and subtly pushed him away.
“So... shall we part ways for now?”
“Ha! Are you kicking me out already?”
“Doing that with you while I’m still in my right mind would be... a bit embarrassing, don't you think?”
Tez looked momentarily flustered, clearly not expecting a rejection. But like the seasoned rake he was, he didn't let his annoyance show for long. Instead, he laughed jovially and released her.
“Hahaha! Very well. If you change your mind, come find me in the rooms over there. Don’t worry if there are other women present—I’ll send them all away the moment you arrive.”
The mere thought made her skin crawl, but Harriet maintained her smile until she managed to distance herself from him. Once he disappeared into the crowd, she ducked behind a pillar near a service passage and let out a ragged sigh of relief.
“Haaah… I underestimated this place.”
They had barely been on board for any time at all, yet people were already lining up in front of the men in black to buy pills. They swallowed them with their drinks as if they were candy. One by one, guests began to sprawl out on the plush, oversized cushions scattered throughout the hall.
‘When will the Brooch appear?’
Her heart hammered against her ribs. Now that she was free of Tez, she needed to find a hiding spot and wait for the prize event. If she couldn't win the Brooch herself, she at least had to identify who took it.
‘The events will happen on that stage. I need to find a spot with a clear view.’
However, Harriet soon realized that winning the prize was the least of her concerns. As time passed, the sights unfolding around her became increasingly depraved.
The hall was filled with the sounds of high-pitched laughter, rhythmic thuds, and animalistic moans. It was a symphony of the world’s most concentrated filth.
‘Lord Yawar, protect me. Give me the strength to escape this hell safely.’
Harriet squeezed her eyes shut, silently reciting prayers as she turned her head away from the carnage. Time seemed to crawl. To make matters worse, the effects of the welcome drink refused to fade, tormenting her senses.
Her gaze kept drifting toward the grotesque acts being performed. Her skin felt itchy, and her heart raced with an unwanted heat.
‘When will this wear off?’
Her lips were parched, and a sense of helplessness washed over her as unwanted memories flooded her mind.
“Don’t go. Stay with me.”
“You want it, too.”
Cedric’s voice, which she had fought so hard to bury, echoed sweetly in her ears. She could almost feel his lips pressing against hers, the slide of his tongue, and the low chuckle that had once sent shivers of pleasure down her spine.
“I’m losing my mind,” Harriet hissed, gritting her teeth against the haze.