I AM A MAGE BUT WITH MILF SYSTEM

Chapter 646: The harm is me

She picked up one of the diamond pouches.

"At that rate, paying off your father's debt would take forty years. Maybe fifty. You would all be old and broken before you were free."

Mara set the pouch back down and looked directly at Thomas and Sarah.

"But performing for Kraven? That pays ten times, twenty times what normal work pays. You could clear your family's entire debt in two years instead of fifty. You could buy your freedom and your mother's freedom. You could actually have a future instead of dying as servants in this inn."

Thomas's voice was bitter. "So we sell our dignity, our bodies, and our souls to a monster who gets off on watching siblings fuck each other. That's the price of freedom?"

"Yes," Mara said bluntly. "That's exactly the price. And you've been paying it willingly for six months now, so don't act like this is some new revelation."

She crossed her arms, her expression becoming businesslike again.

"Now Kraven wants your mother involved. It's a new requirement, yes. It's more extreme than what you've been doing. But the payment reflects that—three pouches instead of one. Enough diamonds to cut years off your remaining debt."

Sarah looked uncertain. Thomas, however, was lost in his thoughts. The years cut off their debt was certainly promising to him—Julian could see the wheels turning in his mind.

Mara, sensing this shift, pushed forward immediately.

"I'll increase all three of your payments by tenfold," she said. "And I'll give you five percent of whatever he rewards us with from your act. Five percent of those diamond pouches, split between the three of you."

That did it.

Both Thomas and Sarah stood up from where they had been sitting, their expressions transforming from despair to hope.

"Are you really serious?" Thomas asked, his voice cracking slightly. "Five percent of the diamonds, plus tenfold our normal payment?"

Mara nodded firmly. "Absolutely serious. This is an exceptional situation requiring exceptional compensation. You three do this one performance, and you could cut your debt by years. Maybe even pay it off entirely if Kraven is pleased enough."

The siblings looked at one another, and silent communication passed between them. Julian could see the moment the decision crystallized in their head.

Sarah spoke first, her voice trembling but determined. "Okay. But you have to convince Mother. We can't—we can't be the ones to ask her to do this. You have to make her understand, make her agree, without us being the ones who..."

"Who ask your mother to have sex with both her children," Mara finished bluntly. "I understand. I'll handle it. I'll speak with her tonight, and by tomorrow she'll be prepared."

Just then, Julian decided he had heard enough. He released his concealment completely, allowing his presence to become fully visible.

The effect was immediate.

Mara's head snapped toward the doorway where Julian stood, her eyes going wide with shock and terror. Her hand flew to her mouth, and all color drained from her face.

"Mr. Julian!" she gasped, her voice completely terrified.

Thomas and Sarah both turned toward him as well.

For a moment, no one moved. Everything seemed frozen.

Julian then smiled and stepped fully into the room.

"Well, well," he said casually. "That was quite a show."

Mara's voice came out as barely a whisper. "What are you doing here, Mr. Julian? How did you get here? This room is sealed; nobody should be able to—"

"I came here mistakenly," Julian interrupted smoothly, though his tone suggested nothing about this was actually a mistake. His eyes swept the luxurious bathing chamber, taking in every detail. "What's this, Miss Mara? A hidden chamber in the inn where you show "acts" to customers?"

He turned his gaze to Thomas and Sarah, who were still frozen in shock.

"Interesting business model," Julian continued.

Mara's terror was visible in her eyes. She straightened her shoulders and slipped on her professional mask.

"Well, Mr. Julian," she said, her voice becoming firmer, "everyone is being benefited, so who cares? Thomas and Sarah are paying off their debt faster than they ever could through normal work. I'm earning enough to keep this inn running and help other people who need an escape. And our patron gets the entertainment he desires."

She crossed her arms, her expression becoming almost challenging.

"It's all consensual. All adults. All willing participants who understand the arrangement and agree to it. Where's the harm?"

Julian's smile didn't change.

"True. Well, the harm is... I happened to learn of all this. And I am thinking of spoiling all your fun."

Mara's face went pale. "No! You can't! Please, Mr. Julian, you have to keep this silent! If word gets out—if the authorities learn—we'll all be arrested, the inn will be shut down, and—"

"And what?" Julian interrupted calmly. "You'll lose your business of prostituting desperate people to wealthy perverts? That would be tragic."

His tone made it clear he found nothing tragic about it at all.

Mara's expression shifted rapidly through different emotions. "Please. Please keep it silent. I'm begging you."

Julian's smile widened slightly. "No."

"What?" Mara looked stricken.

"I said no. Not without something in return. What do I get for my silence?"

Mara was gritting her teeth now, her hands clenched into fists at her sides. Her voice came out strained.

"Tell me, what do you want? Do you want money? Diamonds like the ones Kraven pays? Free lodging? Or—"her voice became slightly desperate—"do you want to use the room yourself? Watch performances? Participate? "

"None of those things."

He moved to sit in the chair that the robed man had occupied earlier. "I want information."

Mara tilted her head, confusion crossing her features. "Information? That's all?"

"That's all," Julian confirmed. "Answer my questions honestly and completely, and I'll keep your little operation to myself."

Mara looked surprised for a moment, clearly having expected demands for money, sexual favors, or participation in her schemes. But information? That seemed almost... reasonable.

She nodded slowly. "Okay. Whatever you want. Just ask."

Thomas and Sarah remained frozen by the pool, watching this exchange with wide, uncertain eyes.

Julian leaned back in the chair. "Let's start with Kraven. Tell me about him. Who is he really? I want to know his family, his connections, and his position in this city's power structure."