Prostitution is the engagement in sexual activity in exchange for payment. Sexual activity comes in many forms, whether it be sexual intercourse, non-penetrative sex, oral sex, etc.
In the modern world, most prostitutes are female, and their clientele is male. And a majority of women will never choose to undergo such a profession if they have a choice.
Some may view the practice as exploitation. Since women are fed into the system via illicit means such as human trafficking. However, others view it as a proper occupation, and that the practice should not be criminalized.
Many countries had their own views on the matter. Legality differentiated from country to country, but one thing was for certain, one will never be able to crack down on the practice. Even if countries make it illegal, brothels will go underground, and business will carry on as usual. Although the lack of any regulatory frameworks makes it dangerous, and truly exploitative.
Ever since the breakup of the Soviet Union, thousands of women from Eastern Europe enter the profession, via illicit and licit means. Thus, it is no different from an economic problem. And if women could live the lifestyles of a citizen in a developed nation in their home countries, no doubt they would forgo this profession altogether.
There were rumours that the practice was taking place in the town, and Jan was thinking hard about his stance on the matter. Both sides had their points on the matter, and he could not outright dismiss them.
For sure, he won’t crack it down. It was too much effort for something extremely meaningless. He would rather keep the practice regulated. And to ensure the prevention of STDs, he would make it mandatory for all clientele and prostitutes to undergo health screenings.
In what intervals? The best would be every day. But such measures would be intrusive and drive off much business in the industry. But did he want this industry to have much business in the first place? Too intrusive, and they’ll look elsewhere to fill their needs. Perhaps the importation of women from less developed regions of South Elfrica.
It’s giving him a headache, so he decided to just copy over what his old-world nation did. His nation criminalized various activities related to the practice, but it tolerated a limited number of brothels to exist, knowing it can’t crack down on the practice entirely. Every prostitute must undergo frequent health checks and carry a card alongside them indicating their health.
The red-light district would be contained to a specific district. So that he and his bureaucrats could keep a close eye on them. Of course, he wanted to collaborate with the brothels there. If there were anyone who seek to challenge him and his rule, well, he could release their entire history there. Let’s see what clout they would have left.
The district was planned to be by the port so that dockworkers looking to be relieved of whatever tension they had could quickly get it done and over with. He placed the management of the project under Janneke Pongers, Head of Home Affairs. Since it involved women, might as well let women manage the project.
“This would be the first gun-free zone. I wish for fences to be put up around the district, where there are four gates where one can enter by. All guns will be confiscated through that gateway. You and your forces will be the only ones armed in the district, to prevent any trouble from breaking out.”
“Will the men be fine with their guns confiscated?”
“If they can’t handle having their guns confiscated, they shouldn’t be allowed entry.”
To make Port Mpande an international hub of finance in Elfrica, first, the institution of gun-free zones should be created for business travellers. Imagine being someone in Europe who never entertained the idea of gun culture now having to bring a pistol with them whenever they went to a meeting. He doubted such a person could even focus on the meeting, more likely focusing on the semi-automatic rifles on their partner’s shoulders.
No one wanted to do business like that. And no MNC would be interested in going through such a hassle of equipping all their workers with guns before setting up a branch in the nation.
Gun culture is very much prevalent in these parts. A gun is a necessary tool to keep one safe. But in modern times, it is problematic. Every time he goes on the Internet and sees the news about some shooting in America. It must be every week. It’s like, we get it! Alright, there is a shooting every week, it’s nothing special! If there isn’t a shooting, there must be something very wrong that week.
He wanted to get his citizens used to not having their guns by their side constantly. This was the first step.
“Jan, what if I see a friend’s husband at the gates? Should I turn him away, or let him in?”
“You can deal with it in whatever way you see fit,” Jan shrugged, and Janneke smirked. Too bad for any man planning to commit adultery, he did not see any point in promoting such a practice.
The district immediately ran into a problem after construction, and it was that no women wanted to serve in the district. Is that a good thing? Doesn’t that mean their standards of living are so good that no one wanted to prostitute themselves?
But the issue was that it was likely someone else would come in to fill the gap. Foreigners. Foreigners from not-so-wealthy nations. Normally, it was likely women will be trafficked over to fill the demand. But since the district is managed by women, he could not see that happening.
Looking towards his desk in contemplation, it looks like this plan was a failure. He wondered if he should spend any more brainpower trying to fill the gap in the workforce.
Elves aren’t going to serve in such institutions. They owned the land, they cultivated it. No doubt, they are not going to lower their dignity and work there unless they were dispossessed from their lands.
Nothing else to be added about Boer women. There were a lot of economic opportunities to be had, but none of them also want to work here. And they weren’t willing to import women to fill the gap.
He sat there in even deeper thought, wondering if he should scrap it entirely. Then what will the men do to relieve themselves? Well, they can only rely on themselves and their hands to do the work. He isn’t going to traffick women to help fulfil their needs.
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Scrapping the red-light district due to unfeasibility, he had the district rebranded into the business district. It was foreigners, such as English people from Britain interact with the locals in a safe environment. They didn’t have to worry about a scary-looking gun by the Boer side, and they could relax. It was designated as the merchant district.
No doubt, it would help negotiations if none of the men owned a gun. Everyone knew how one can quickly get angry very easily because humans are emotional creatures. And once they become emotional, they become irrational. One might read the news and think what he or she was thinking but he or she was thinking alright.
It was a district dedicated to foreign investments. Want to set up a factory or a local business but didn’t want to deal with the gun culture? Setup in there. Want to live without fearing for your life since your neighbour had a gun? Live in there. Want to have sexy times with the locals without pissing off their partners? Prepare to be shot.
He handed over security to Janneke and female commandoes. The economic side of the district was handed to Russell. His task? Attracting foreigners to invest in the local towns. Who better to do it than an Englishman? If you’re a rich foreign investor based in Britain, would you rather listen to the words of Boer riffraff or a civilized Englishman?
He waited a week or two, and likewise, no progress.
“What’s the issue with the business district? Why are there no investors?” Jan asked as he entered Russell’s office.
“Every man I talked to would rather have their guns with them, especially in our town. They did not know whether they could trust the locals to keep them safe.”
Jan smacked himself on the head.
To any foreign investor, there would think Elfrica is a lawless land. If he asked them to invest in the district and not to bring their guns with them, wasn’t he effectively asking them to get themselves and their men killed? And it was a Boer town, not even English, so they would think a dumb farmer was running it.
It wasn’t like he convince them that he had a huge police force, even if they were conscripted. The entire population was part of the police force whether they wanted to or not!
“Scratch that idea. Scrap it entirely. Leave it as a normal district. It’s too modern for this era,” Jan shook his head and left Russell’s office. Russell was left scratching his head in confusion.
A couple of men on horseback from Pietermaritzburg reported about the British force heading their way. It was led by Captain Smith and British officers, paired with Khoikhoi elves from the Cape Mounted Riflemen (CMR). They were all on horseback and were equipped with carbines.
Jan immediately ordered a mobilization, gathering all men and women in the town to grab their guns and get ready for a fight.
In the town hall or the temporary command centre, he faced the three heads of his administration.
Pietje Pongers, Head of Boer Zuid Elfrica Coöperatie, is in charge of the affairs regarding agriculture.
Russell Corbyn, Head of Administration of Port Mpande, is in charge of the town’s affairs.
Janneke Pongers, Head of Home Affairs, is in charge of the local garrisons.
“What should we do? Doubt we’ll be able to hide much,” Janneke pointed out.
The three men furrowed their eyebrows but could only sigh in agreement.
“The captain will not have much authority here. Even if he ordered us to do so and so unless the British are willing to commit a permanent force in the region, there is nothing he could do,” Russell explained.
“So, we let this captain come and push us about? Why not take a couple of shots at his head?” Pietje remarked.
“The captain has Khoikhoi elves with him. Unless you want all our cattle to go into a stampede, it is unwise to pick a fight. If only Sarel was here, he could nullify this nonsense,” Jan rebutted.
“Cattle that betray me ought to die,” Pietje smirked.
“That what shall we eat?” Janneke complained.
“I do not want a fight. But we cannot roll over easily. If we’re easy pushovers, the captain will interpret it as a sign of weakness,” Jan pointed out, and the three nodded their heads.
“Gather the men and let us parade ourselves to give the captain a warm welcome. Hundreds of us and 50 of them. Who ought to be fearful?” Pietje suggested.
Jan looked to the various heads of his administration and none of them voiced out any complaints. Since no one else had something to offer, he decided to implement Veldkornet Pietje’s suggestion.
The four of them rode on their Cape Horses and greeted Captain Smith, who rode into town with 49 other men on horseback.
“I recognise you. You gave me the warm welcome when I went to Pietermaritzburg, claiming that the British government was weak. But you are, ordering your men into a full mobilization because I come for a little visit. I also see women also holding guns, could it be that your governance is that pathetic to rely on women to fight on your behalf?”
“Bold words coming from a man who entered someone’s else land. You’re asking to be shot,” Jan reached for his musket.
Smith’s men reacted likewise by raising their carbines at Jan. His three Veldkornets raised their muskets at the Smith’s group, causing a chain reaction of the Boers in town to point their guns at Smith.
“Heh. Do you think I would be afraid of your little gesture? I know, you have no balls. A stupid farmer should know enough to not mess with the British Empire. If our merchants leave you be, in the next decade or so when we come back, we’ll find you in no different state from the savage elves,” Smith slowly raised his carbine pointing at Jan’s centre of mass.
“And I also know you won’t be there to start a conflict over something as petty as this? Is this within your pay grade captain? To come to a start a diplomatic incident. Will the home government be willing to back you up if you start a war?”
“What do you know of the home government, farmer? You ran away from the Cape. Everyone in this town did. And you come and talk to me as if you know more about the home government than me! I am a loyal British citizen who served in the British army! Know your place, Boer.”
Jan grinned and lowered his musket.
“Simmer down captain. I’m tired of politics and this show we’re playing. There’s no appropriate audience to show your patriotism to here. Let us talk business.”
Captain Smith lowered his carbine along with the rest of his Khoikhoi soldiers. The armed Boers lowered their muskets as well.
“It’s good to see that a Boer knows his place.”
“Tea, imported from India. I hope you would find them delightful,” Jan had a bureaucrat prepare tea for the man sitting across his desk. His Khoikhoi soldiers stood outside of the town hall, watching the Boers stare at these armed elves with suspicious gazes. The Khoikhoi were more worried about the Zulus looking at them from across the fence partitioning Boer and Zulu districts. Everyone knows of the tales of the fearsome Zulu, tales about them spread during their youths, during Shaka’s reign of the Zulu Kingdom.
“Decent,” The captain took a sip and placed it back on the desk.
“So, captain, I must inquire about the purpose of your little visit today. What do you seek to accomplish in our little Republic? Apologies about the disorder just now, we do get a little agitated seeing a British force approaching our little town.”
“I will tell you the truth Boer since you served me a decent tea. I am here on behalf of Governor George Thomas Napier, investigating the cause behind the alarming decrease in trade between Port Natal and your little Republic. Lo and behold, I found the reason. It seems you have established a small port here.”
“Nothing wrong with establishing a port, right? This is an affair regarding the Natalia Republic. It should not be of concern to the British government.”
“Technically, true. But you are British subjects are you not? Even if you flee, you will still be a British subject. You little Republic would also technically come under our jurisdiction.”
“When somebody establishes an independent Republic, especially by those seeking to escape the authority of others, they seek to be independent. I’m sure most men would revoke their status as British subjects if they could. What jurisdiction do you have over men unwilling to be under British administration?”
“But the tales I heard from British merchants differ from your account. Many Boers they have traded with requested for them to be treated like any other British subject and that prices ought to be favourable.”
Jan shrugged.
“I believe I won’t be able to convince you of this. So, let’s talk about other things. Tell me, does the Cape Colony need any military supplies? Medical supplies like morphine for example.”
“You have morphine?” Captain Smith’s face scrunched up his nose as wrinkles appeared on his forehead.
“I do know how to get them from the Germans in Europe. Do you wish for some? I can procure some supplies for the Cape Colony at a decent price. As a loyal British subject, I hope you would put in the good word for Governor Napier.”
Smith smirked.
‘If I obtained some morphine for Napier, perhaps he might put in the good word for my promotion,’ Smith thought to himself.
“I might be interested. How much, and how many?”
“Depends on how many you need. I’m not offering them for free. As a fellow British subject, I will offer the same prices that the Germans sell back in Europe. Is that satisfactory to you?”