"Here," the cab driver announced. "The entertainment district as you called it."
"…the ride barely lasted ten minutes!" Jack complained.
"So?"
"You want forty dollars for this?"
"Hey, you told me you wanted to go to the entertainment district. I said it'll cost you. You agreed. So why are you causing problems now?"
"…"
It's not like I had an option.
Jack sighed, handing the cab driver forty dollars. He got scammed into paying forty dollars for half a mile walk. He was in an unfamiliar city. Even though he knew prostitutes existed in every world, he didn't know where to find them.
That's when he found the cab driver. He agreed to take him to the entertainment district for forty bucks. Although the price was hefty, considering he only had $184 left, Jack had agreed back then.
===
Current balance: $144
===
Jack glanced over at the card and let out another sigh.
"There goes my budget… fuck my life."
He didn't think he could get a high-end escort for a mere hundred dollars, but that was the limit he had set for the quest.
While earning money is important, so is saving it.
As for the quest, he would grit his teeth and go through with it. If it came to worst, he could always cover their face and get done with it.
Anything for a thousand dollars.
However, another problem was waiting for him as soon as he entered the entertainment district.
What is this!?
Every single woman he saw was wearing expensive clothes. While Jack wasn't dressed shabbily either, they were on a whole other level. Forget about a hundred dollars, even a thousand wouldn't be enough for him to hire them.
Still, he couldn't understand one thing. Prostitutes usually worked in the field because of financial constraints, and it didn't appear any of those women had any issues like that.
Are they… doing it for fun?
Nymphomaniacs.
Women who loved intimacy so much that they didn't care about the norms, partners, or anything. All they wanted was to be satisfied.
As much as Jack wanted to believe it, he knew that wasn't the case. There was no way so many nymphomaniacs could coexist peacefully.
Nah, this place is weird. I better leave.
Just as he was about to leave, someone grabbed his hand.
Jack turned to see a woman with shoulder-length platinum blonde hair. A crimson dress that clung to her hourglass-shaped figure like a second skin.
But Jack wasn't seeing all that. His eyes were focused on the gold and diamond jewelry around her neck and wrists. Could an escort really afford to flaunt all that stuff? After all, they were often on the receiving end of violent crimes and wearing jewelry would only draw more unwanted attention to her.
"Well, well," she purred. "It's my first time seeing you here. Are you a new hire?"
When Jack didn't reply, she chuckled and leaned in.
"Would you like to show me a good time?"
As the woman said those words, Jack snapped back to reality and noticed the men walking around. This place wasn't what he thought it was.
It was an entertainment district alright, but one full of male prostitutes!
That damned cab driver!
—x—
Somewhere far off, the driver sneezed, wondering about Jack. He seemed like a good young lad with a handsome face, but he was too innocent. It almost made him feel bad for scamming him. At the same time, it also made him wonder what kind of hardships was he going through to sell his body.
That's right, the cab driver believed Jack's looks were good enough for him to work as a prostitute. And he wasn't entirely at fault.
Why would a man of his attractiveness go to the red-light district? He would have plenty of women swooning over him.
"Maybe I should get some action tonight. Thanks for getting scammed, lad!"
—x—
Back at the entertainment district, Jack went along and used his shy boy charm once again. Since the woman wanted to take the lead, it was better to put on the performance… till they reached the bed.
"So? You're coming with me or not?" she asked.
"If you want to…"
The woman chuckled, watching Jack act all innocent, and grabbed him by the hand before walking to the nearest hotel.
The staff, comprising strictly of men, bowed when they entered.
"A room for two," the woman said, looking Jack over. "For three hours."
"Certainly, ma'am," the receptionist replied, turning to Jack. "Can I have your employee ID—?"
"I don't think that'll be necessary."
The woman interrupted and placed a stack of bills on the table. The receptionist smiled, took the money and handed them a key.
"Room 117,. Please enjoy your stay."
Without wasting another second, the woman took the key and dragged Jack along with her.
They could hear the sounds of moaning once they exit the elevator.
It seemed the business was booming this time of the year.
Before long, they were inside the room, and the woman shoved Jack on the bed.
"Freshen up," the woman said, throwing a towel at him.
Jack didn't bother arguing, just got up and left.
Soon, all he could hear was the sound of water drops splashing against the ceramic floors.
This is going easier than I expected.
Just then the door opened and in walked the woman, draped in a towel that barely covered anything. In her hand was a box of… condoms.
"I didn't know your size, so I ordered ten of each they had available."
"That's thoughtful—Hm?"
Before Jack could say his piece, the woman ripped off her towel and pressed her lips against his. Even Jack was surprised by her fierceness, but there was something else.
Her kiss… felt strangely warm and sweet.
Wait… sweet?
He suddenly pulled back, but it was too late. His body immediately reacted to the aphrodisiac she fed him. Within seconds, Jack's entire body was on fire and the shower was barely doing anything to calm him.
Meanwhile, the woman licked her lips, standing over Jack as he fell to the floor.
"Sorry about this," she said. "But I promise, I'll more than make it up to you, my test dummy."
Things clicked in place even though his mind was hazy.
The woman intentionally picked a new gigolo, someone without connections, and bribed the staff. She didn't want to have any records of their stay in the hotel, probably because what she was doing could land her in prison.
And Jack, in his desperation to complete the quest, ignored the obvious signs.
Fuck me…