Ment
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Failure.
- Yes, Ellison, sir, master, mister, I'm going, - the troll said goodbye to the cats and went after the cultist. The little frog silently followed his master.
-- I wanted to initiate both of you into the greatest secret. A secret that, unfortunately, is not understood or accepted in the world. But, after all, you need to see and hear for yourself before forming your own opinion based on rumors and speculation, right? I see in you people worthy of trust, so I will show you everything, but I don't need to say that everything you see and hear must remain strictly between us in any case?
-- I'm sure you are burdened by the fact that you have to be someone's slaves, even if the one who rules over you is kind to you. You, Kekrek, complained that you were beaten and forced to torture animals. It seemed strange to me how you can force someone to do what they don't like? You, Tronned, probably had great hopes for the future. What contribution could you make to the development of all magical science with your talents? Who knows... But, fortunately, I don't need slaves. From the very beginning, I only needed friends.
-- The truth is that we are all a little bit slaves. We are forced to work for the system, to adhere to the system, which is inherently unfair, especially to such honest and decent people as you.
This well-rehearsed monologue ended just as they approached the ritual hall, and Ellison opened the large barred door.
-- But for people like him, -- a man was sleeping on a stone table. -- There is plenty of room. I came across this man on today's evening walk. And Vikayla, with her order skills, immediately identified him as a professional thief and burglar. But that wasn't the main thing...
Ellison paused, accompanied by a grimace of disgust.
-- He was holding a little girl's hand, like this... And he was threatening to cut her throat. And it was clear that he would do it if the girl didn't... Well, that's not for your ears. I saved this girl, and I cunningly made him come here. However, this spoiled man followed me not because of any persuasion or sweet words, but only because he liked my appearance and he wanted to take advantage of it. Can you imagine that? Even on the way here, he didn't stop surprising me, and he kicked a defenseless dog, can you imagine that, Kekrek?!
-- That's how, -- he pointed to the inhabitant of the slums. -- So-called ordinary people look. And this is how, -- he waved his hand around, -- so-called criminals and cultists of Zholay look. We are known as scoundrels and hedonists, but the truth is only in the latter, and with reservations. We love pleasures, but we respect the same love in other people. And isn't it for pleasure that we live? It's just that everyone understands this in their own way.
-- Tronned, Kekrek, here, I have revealed my cards to you. But I don't want you to just abstractly know about it. What's the point? I want you to be my friends, to be on my side. But I can't force you. Therefore, I offer you a service for a service. You will become my friends and not strangers to me, prove it by performing the ritual of initiation into the cult of Zholay. This is not difficult, you just need to torture this vile man a little, giving him what he deserves, and also read a few scrolls. It may take some time, but when you feel that Zholay has answered you favorably, then you are ready.
-- And in return, I will terminate the slave contract with you, and you will become free people. Truly free. Perhaps we will still have to stick together after that, because people like us always risk it in this society. But you will not have to obey me unconditionally, which is great, because people don't live in the world for that.
-- What do you say? I repeat once again, this is not an order, I just hope that you will understand this point of view. After all, even "ordinary" people put criminals in prison and execute them in the most cruel way, such as by hanging, and sometimes they apply the same to innocent people. Politicians, victims of war. I just want you to do the same. And it won't be a problem if, unlike "normal" people, you honestly admit to yourself that you got a little pleasure from it, if you really get it. But the pleasure is different for everyone, and Zholay is tolerant of this. But there, behind the walls, it is not.