NovelEnglishMaja hadn't touched the watery oatmeal served to her.
The maid rolled her eyes and whisked the bowl away without a word.
"Just stay put in bed, honey. Nobody's here to wait on you hand and foot."
The door clicked shut, and it was only then that Maja cautiously slid out from under the covers.
Thankfully, her body felt unmedicated and strong.
Peering through the window, she realized she was trapped in a lavish estate, with faux hills and babbling brooks decorating the
grounds.
She tried to open the window, but it was sealed shut.
Next, she cto the door and tried pushing against it. It wouldn't budge, as it was locked from the outside.
Was she being held captive?
At least the room was spacious, complete with an en suite bathroom.
She returned to the bed. Uncertain of her current predicament, she was left with no choice but to wait.
Meanwhile, in the grand parlor of the Bradshaw estate, a steaming cup of coffee sat before Patric.
The Bradshaw patriarch, Timothy, now in his forties, had taken the reins of the family after the previous head passed away years
ago.
Recognizing the Patric's poise, Timothy watched him with a light chuckle. "So, Mr. Patric, you're interested in further business with
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtus?" he inquired with a smirk.
Setting down his cup, Patric spoke in a nonchalant tone.
"What kind of business would the Bradshaws be unaware of? Aren't you folks the best at peddling ‘bipedal beasts'?"
"Bipedal beasts" was a crass term for humans.
On Forbidden Island, everyone knew what the elite families were up to - a grim yet enduring trade.
And it was a monopoly held tightly by these families, who sold ordinary folks like chattel.
Here, women's status was pitifully low, as their value was nearly reduced to childbearing alone.
For every additional child birthed, a handsreward was offered. As a result, there was rarely any one-child family on the island.
Every school on the island existed solely to cultivate the children's innate talents, and those who showed particular promise would
be earmarked for greater things.
The rules weren't as exaggerated as Quentin had described to Maja, but they were close enough.
Only the select few heads of the Inner Island clans were privy to these rules, and even their own kin remained in the dark.
The clan members had somehow felt their unassailable status, and therefore inflated their arrogance when dealing with others.
Timothy narrowed his eyes to appraise Patric. Just days ago, an Eric had appeared and was seized by the powerful families, but
ended up escaping their grasp.
With Eric having fled, now here ca Patric, who looked eerily similar with Eric. Were they brothers, or something else?
But Eric was a brute with a straightforward code, certainly not one to dabble in the trade of humans.
This man before Timothy was nothing like Eric. They couldn't be brothers.
Timothy remained silent, his gaze fixed on his teacup.
After a while, he asked, "How many 'bipedal beasts' does Mr. Patric require?"
"Mr. Bradshaw, | want twenty of the finest quality you have."
"No problem. But when will we receive the promised medication from you?"
"One month's time."
"Very well, in that month, the Bradshaws will ensure Mr. Patric is well accommodated."
Patric rose and left the parlor.
The Bradshaw butler spoke up, his voice laced with skepticism, "Sir, can we truly trust this man? For years, it was that other one
who approached us. Now this Patric arrives alone, and he's quite the big spender."
Timothy set down his teacup with a cold laugh. "Whether he is reliable or not, the medication he speaks of is intriguing. It's just a
month. If he fails to deliver, he won't be leaving alive."
The butler fell silent, standing respectfully.
The four great families had always been competitive. Although they controlled all of Inner Island, yet they were clear that someone
more mysterious held power above them - the Elder.
This Elder would claim people every three months, and none who left ever returned.
Besides the Elder, there was BLACK, the exclusive dealer of medications. BLACK was known to the Elder but rarely seen with him.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmThe families all bought their drugs from BLACK, but the supplies were limited.
Now, with a new player offering medication, the Bradshaws had to take their chances.
After all, Patric had promised to sell exclusively to the Bradshaws, if his drugs met their standards, which could mean a monopoly
for them.
With his lips curled in intrigue, Timothy wondered what Patric would ultimately bring to the table.
He instructed the butler, "Whatever he asks for, accommodate him."
"Yes, sir."
Patric did have a request - he needed a lab. It seemed he intended to conduct his own research.
Within half a day, a pristine lab was set up next to Maja's room.
And to keep an eye on her, Patric had a small observation hole drilled into the adjoining wall.
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