On his orders, the slaves turned back and stood.

"Anyone with some skills? Laundry, cleaning, cooking... Whatever." Abdin said.

Four chose cooking, while the rest chose laundry and cleaning. One woman didn't choose.

Abdin watched the girl with a frown. She was the same girl who couldn't look him in the eye and would keep a vile expression of fear.

He inwardly gave a cruel laugh. It seemed that this was her cover-up: to act pitifully until he trusted her, then she would use the chance to kill him.

She succeeded the first time, but now her secret was out. And that was the usefulness of the loop.

"This is Laluri, Commander," Denyanu said. "Her previous owner admitted to me that... she is not capable of any chores. I am not sure if it's true, but he said she has no skills."

"What are we going to do with her then?" Abdin's tone was emotionless but his mind was furious. If it were possible, Laluri shouldn't see the knife that killed her until the last minute. Just as she did to him.

"I think..." Started Denyanu.

"I... I can massage." Laluri interrupted the old man. Abdin raised his head to look at her. Of course, she would mention massage because she wanted to touch and poison him for an easy kill.

There were things he didn't notice in the previous loop. Especially regarding Laluri's association with Juwaira's team. The girl just interrupted Denyanu mid-sentence. She wouldn't dare do that if she were an actual slave. A slave wouldn't talk except when asked to. And Denyanu didn't show any ire toward her actions. Instead, he let her go on.

"What can you do apart from that?" Abdin asked.

Laluri was quiet for some time before replying, "I can tell historical and adventure stories."

He might be mistaken but he could swear that her statement had an undertone of longing to it. A longing to be assigned as his maid. As though she was trying to convince him.

"Denyanu," Abdin called, without taking his eyes off the young woman. "What job do you think would suit this slave?"

In the previous loop, the old man wanted to dissuade him from taking Laluri. Now Abdin wanted to hear his full opinion about the matter.

"She can watch with us on the wall. I haven't told you yet, but her eyes are sharp. She could sight things from afar. Very far, I would say. She might as well be a witch."

A guard could secretly open the gates and allow invaders to get inside the castle. But Abdin didn't have much of a choice. He couldn't lock her up when the other slaves weren't locked up. And he didn't want her to be close to him because that would give her the chance to touch him.

"Why didn't you tell me she had good eyes? In that case, she would be tagging along with team B, as a maid, for their rounds around the castle. I hope her keen sight would be useful there."

Team B was farther from the castle walls and also from Abdin. But their job was still within his sight. And since there was nothing she could filch in the city, this would be the best for her at the moment.

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"I... Thank you, " the girl stuttered.

Abdin nodded. He dismissed everyone and returned to his room.

Juwaira didn't speak that day. She stood behind Denyanu with her face covered with a veil and her chest with armor. A man as far as looks go.

Unlike the previous day, Abdin didn't accept any maid despite Denyanu's offer. He returned to his room alone and shut the door. Against Laluri, he closed all the windows and also placed charms by the door before he went into meditation.

Hours later when he was done:

[Congratulations, you have one year added to your cultivation.]

***

It wasn't until dusk that he left the room. He wasn't afraid of Juwaira and her team fleeing or allowing anyone in. For one, they had no deep connections or allies in this place. They were strangers just like him. For another, these people were seeking asylum. Anyone in their situation wouldn't do something to attract unnecessary attention to themselves. Also, they were yet to understand him - they didn't know how strong he was or what tricks he had up his sleeves. In such a case, it was only wise to wait and understand the opponent if they had any intention of doing anything cruel.

As he stepped outside, he was greeted by the face of a beautiful young woman. Or rather, her bright eyes.

Juwaira was standing against the wall, her eyes watching the direction he was coming from. The way she stood and how she tilted her head, one would think she was just admiring the decor. But her eyes were pinned on him, looking like she had been waiting for him to come through that door.

Abdin frowned. "Team A!" He barked toward the top of the wall. Team A was supposed to guard the city wall. If they had followed his orders, then they would be stationed that moment, at the top of the wall, and would hear him just now.

"Commander," answered Denyanu from atop the wall, and a few seconds later, he scaled down the wall and stood before Abdin. "What are your orders?"

The old man had passed by Juwaira on his way toward Abdin, but he spared not a glance toward her as though telling Abdin she was with them.

"What did I tell you about letting strangers in?" Abdin said pointing at Juwaira.

Denyanu slowly turned around to look at Juwaira's feet. He wasn't allowed to look at her face.

"This is Haika, Commander. We came here together. How can we open the gate to let anyone in without your consent?"

Abdin feigned a confused look before he nodded. He waved to the young woman to move closer.

Juwaira, who didn't move throughout the short exchange, stepped forward and stood before him. While he was secluded in meditation, the woman had removed the armor that covered her chest and the veil on her face.

She wore a long white dress that covered her legs. Her eyes were quite attractive with a dazzlingly white sclera and an iris that was pitch black. At a first glance, one would think her eyes were emitting a faint glow because of the sharp contrast. Her hair was tied in a ponytail that slid down her back. Abdin wondered how she was able to hide that much hair earlier on.

"You are Haika?" Abdin sized her up from head to toe. Her face and body were bereft of any scars, and her skin was beautiful and easy on the eyes.

"What is it that prompts you to cover your face? Such things can cause unpleasant misunderstandings."

Juwaira smiled. "Doesn't the Commander sees the problem in displaying my face?"

Abdin spied a dimpled right cheek when she smiled, and her lips became softer and more beautiful with it. She was unarguably beautiful and charming. Perhaps that was the problem she was referring to.

"I don't see any problem," he said.

Juwaira sighed softly. This man who stood before her was the first to look unswayed at the first sight of her beauty. Something like anger crossed her mind. She had deliberately unwrapped her face and removed the armor while she waited for him. Famous princes and sons of the wealthy forgot themselves when they laid eyes on her face. Most times, she would get what she wanted as soon as she revealed her face. But this man acted as if he didn't see her.

"I cover my face so men wouldn't see me," she explained patiently.

Abdin glanced at her up and down but said nothing.

"I want us to talk. It won't take a minute," she said.

At some point, Denyanu had sneaked away back to the wall, leaving them alone.

"I am all ears."

Abdin sounded bored, causing the young woman to release a silent groan. The man standing before her might be uneasy to get, but having met people like him before, she knew how to coerce him into doing what she wanted.

"My party... Er... how do I put it? It is my party. I am the leader. Denyanu and the others work for me. If we are going to live here, working for you for years, then it is only fair that I know your name and your goal for, maybe, inviting us."