Faya went from the orphanage back to the arena. As she enters the back room where fighters prepare, Cabdan is speaking with a man, who is probably around 25 years old.
Cabdan: ... So who knows, you might get a run for your money one of these days, Barr.
Barr: Hopefully. I'm sick and tired of fighting the same old weaklings...
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Faya steps in.
Faya: So why don't you fight me then, since you're so good?
Barr turns around, surprised.
Barr: Oh, didn't see you there sweetheart. You know I can't fight my fiancée!
She punches him in the stomach. Barr tries his best not to flinch.
Faya: I told you to knock that off. You're a depraved, disgusting fucker. I'll never have anything to do with you.
Barr smiles.
Barr: Just because I like them a little young...? That's not fair. Plus, I always give them a good time.
He grinned.
Barr: You would like it too, if you weren't playing hard-to-get.
Faya was about to throw a hook, but Cabdan stepped in between them.
Cabdan: Alright alright, you can discuss this some other time! And Barr... Not here. Whatever you do outside the arena stays outside the arena. You know this, yes?
Barr: Of course... Guess I'll be going. See you around, honey!
Barr leaves.
Faya: One of these days he'll show up dead. When he does... I'm gonna be the one who did it.
She wasn't joking.
Cabdan: Ahem ah well, I'm sure you two will sort out your differences eventually! So, did you need anything, Faya?
Faya: Yes, it's about Virno. I know what you're doing to him and his mother.
Cabdan seemed annoyed.
Cabdan: That loud-mouthed brat...
Faya: You either stop it, or I'm done.
Cabdan was immediately alarmed.
Cabdan: D-done?! What do you mean done?
Faya steps closer to him.
Faya: I mean that I'm never stepping foot in that arena again. And I'm dead serious about it, too.
Cabdan was clearly nervous.
Cabdan: W-well, let's not be rash now! Listen, I'm trying to run a business, okay? I can't give my houses away for free!
Faya: You OWN the fucking slums, you patronizing shithead! You have more money than every person who lives here COMBINED. Their rent stays as it is, regardless of whether he fights for you or not. If you don't agree to that, I'm out. It's that simple.
Cabdan thinks for a while. He regains his composure, before speaking again. His tone shifted from concern to superiority.
Cabdan: Let us talk business then, Faya... You know me, you know how I operate. There currently live about 250 to 300 people in these slums, distributed across roughly 50 properties, which I entirely own. From renting those properties alone, I make about 25 000 copper coins per month. Or, 250 silvers, if you prefer.
Faya: I don't care for the maths, spare me this shit! You either agree or-
Cabdan: I know, I know. I'll keep it simple, I promise.
Faya was getting more annoyed.
Cabdan: Then I have my... Well, my lady business. Faya, do you have any idea how much money that makes me...?
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Faya: No. I don't.
He grins.
Cabdan: That business alone is worth about 10 times more than owning the entire slums.
She was surprised.
Cabdan: So, with these two ventures of mine alone I make around 2750 silver coins per month, or 27 gold coins and 50 silvers, if you will. Now... Here's the kicker: do you know how much money this arena makes me?
She didn't answer. Cabdan laughed.
Cabdan: With this arena, I'm losing around 100 silvers every month. The money I make from the entry tickets is not nearly enough to cover the expenses of owning the place, keeping it up to standards, and paying the fighters. Do you know what this means, Faya?
She looked at the ground, defeated.
Cabdan: It means I don't need any of you. It means that I do this entirely for entertainment purposes. Keeping this place up and running is something I do for fun, not for profit. But still...
He puts a hand on her shoulder.
Cabdan: I like having fun! Even though it would make me richer if you left... The arena would suffer for it. As such, I agree to your terms...
There was a glimmer of hope in her eyes.
Cabdan: ... Under one condition: the other half of their rent will be paid by you.
She swats his hand away.
Cabdan: What's the matter?! You seem to like the boy, plus the orphanage rent is dirt-cheap with so many people living there! I know you can get the coin to pay... So what do you say?
Faya: Fine. I'll pay. How much is it?
He grins.
Cabdan: 250 coppers.
Faya: What...?! THAT'S WITH HALF OFF?! FOR TWO PEOPLE...?
She lunges at him, but he steps back far enough to avoid contact.
Faya: YOU'RE A FUCKING ANIMAL!
Cabdan: Now now, dear Faya, effectively all they ever had to worry about was the 250 coppers, which is quite a fair rate! Now, that won't be so difficult for you. 2 and a half fights should cover it, yes?
He pats her on the back as he leaves.
Cabdan: Keep the good fights up!
As he shuts the door behind him, Faya sits down on a nearby bench, defeated.
Faya: Fuck... This bastard just keeps getting away with it...
She pounds the bench with her fist.
Faya: I'm sorry girls... It seems like we won't be leaving the slums so soon, after all...
Her eyes begin tearing up.
Faya: It's not fair...
The door opens. Faya wipes her eyes as quickly as she can. It was Rel.
Rel: Bad time...?
Faya: No... Don't worry.
Rel: ... Was it Cabdan? He had a big smile on his face when I passed him by. The kind of smile he has when money enters his pocket.
Faya: Yeah... He was going to charge Virno and his mom 500 copper coins for rent.
Rel: Really? Wow. How many people live there?
Faya: It's literally just the two of them, Rel...
Rel's eyes widen.
Faya: He was giving them a "50% discount"...
Rel: So, 250 coppers for two people. That's his damn average price, not a discounted one... What an asshole.
Faya: I got him to keep it at 250... But I must pay the other 250.
Rel: What...? Why would you do that, Faya?!
Faya: Because it's not fair for them! He shouldn't have to fight so they can pay rent!
Rel: Faya... You'll never leave the slums if you keep paying for other people's expenses...
Faya: I don't care... As long as I can keep them from owing him, that's all that matters...
She cannot hold back the tears anymore. They begin running down her face.
Faya: I don't want them to go through what I did with my mom. I really don't...
Rel sits beside her.
Rel: Does Virno know about that...?
Faya: No, of course not... I lied and told him I've been an orphan for as long as I remember. He'd probably try to kill Cabdan if he knew what he could have his mother do...
He takes a deep breath.
Rel: Well... Maybe that wouldn't be such a bad thing.
She wipes her tears.
Faya: We can't do it, Rel...
Rel: We couldn't. But with Virno... He can handle himself with a sword, can't he? I saw the way he handled that stick. Maybe we can do it..
Faya: He can't single-handedly take Cabdan and his goons out armed with just a sword...
Rel: Maybe not, but then again he wouldn't have to go alone. I'd go with him.
Faya: You...? What about your father? And your mother...?
Rel: My parents hate Cabdan with a passion. I'm sure they'd understand.
Faya: They'd understand that you'd be willing to put your own life at risk, with no guarantees that you would even be able to take down Cabdan...? Rel, don't do that to your parents...
He sighs.
Rel: I'm just saying... We can always try. If things get bad enough... We can try. We'd also have you, right?
Faya: You bet... But we don't know who he has working for him. What if it's more people like the doc, who can use fucked up magic to move your guts around?
Rel: Yes... We'd need to gather more information...
Faya: Exactly. Information that he won't share with anyone, because as far as his safety is concerned, you know how Cabdan is...
Rel: And there's also that ring of his...
Faya: His protection ring...? Yeah... I haven't seen him without it. Ever...
Rel: If it works like he says it does, it will make it damn impossible to get our hands on him... How can such a thing even exist? A ring that teleports the wearer to safety if their life is in danger... Just imagine how much a thing like that costs...
Faya: Oh, he has the money for it for sure. Apparently, he makes 27 gold coins every month...
Rel: Every month?!
He brings his hand up to his forehead, rubbing it.
Rel: How is that even possible...?
Faya: Underage prostitution... That's how. He said so himself, his prostitution ring makes him 10 times more money than the rents in the slums do.
Rel: That's... Fucked up...
Faya: The girls in the orphanage are all a part of it... It's disgusting what they do to them...
Rel: Man...
He sits down on a bench too.
Rel: Should we be doing something...?
Faya: I think about that a lot. And the answer I get to is always the same: the only way to stop him would be to kill him, and the only way to kill him would be to know what only he himself knows... We would need to be literally inside his mind, so we can know when he is the most vulnerable. Or at least... Where that ring will teleport him to. Maybe then we could set a trap there... But he probably has that place swarming with bodyguards.
Rel: This sucks...
They remained silent for a while, trying to cope with the situation they were in.
Faya: ... But anyway, I guess I'll tell Virno the good news. Though I can't tell him I'm the one paying for the other half of his rent...
Rel: Yeah. Seems like a proud guy... Probably wouldn't take that too well.
Faya: Did you see him after the match yet?
Rel: I swung by his room before coming here, but he was sleeping. I figured I should let him be.
Faya: Wanna tag along, then? Maybe he's up by now.
Rel: Alright, I'll take you up on that.
They return to the orphanage.