“Only native citizens and their slaves can enter?”

“Only native citizens can enter?” Monika playfully inquires. “So you can't have a foreign wife or girlfriend? No love above the clouds unless you stay native?”

“Um.” The studious man stutters as his face turns a shade of red equal to the bounty hunter's hair. “One can marry a 'belower,'” he finally answers while looking into his new drink, “but it brings forfeit of one's citizenship. Again, sneaking someone into the city is a felony, and Irylian justice is swift and cruel.”

Reaching over Monika takes his beer and has a sip. “Speaking about cruelty, you said 'and their slaves.' I am surprised such a beautiful city would practice slavery.”

“Irylians are very practical, orderly and economic people.” For the first time the clerk finds some backbone when talking to his shapely guest about his beloved city. “Our slavery is not based on class or generation, but on justice. Only criminals that can't pay a fine are enslaved and then only for a set period of time depending on their crime.”

“But I haven't seen any slaves since I arrived in the Undercity.” Monika takes and drink and then places the beer back in front of the clerk.

“Our laws are draconian enough that hardly any break them. Besides few Irylians can afford slaves, save the very wealthy in the Overcity. Most criminals end up serving the Undercity doing hard manual labor in the town's fields, roads and mines. Those few with noteworthy characteristics; beauty, strength or smarts; are sold at auction to the highest bidder. All the proceeds go to the city, unless the victim invokes the “pound of flesh.”

“Pound of flesh?” The redhead's eyebrow raises.

“Yes.” The clerk takes a drink. “Any person harmed by a criminal can call for a 'pound of flesh,' which allows the victim to get a portion of the ****'s sale price or first chance to buy the **** at a lower, set price.”

“And if there is no auction?”

“Then the **** is whipped. Usually in public, though a judge can have any criminal flogged if he so deems the guilty needs additional chastisement.”

“Cruel indeed.” Monika mutters as she ponders if she has found away into the Overcity, but is the price too steep?