Chapter 396: Pinocanney (75)

"Shut up. I never gave you permission to speak, Cigangniya's hyena," the man sneered with a contemptuous cold snort, "Those guys in black suits didn't say much, so I don't know what methods you used to survive that massacre. But I think you're lucky, so I bought you. From now on, you and your luck are my assets, understand?"

"Your first order is simple: besides you, I've bought another thirty... hmm, thirty‑four slaves. Go play a 【game】 with them—two days, come out alive, prove that your skill is genuine."

"... You're insane."

The man chuckled softly, "Heh heh heh... just testing the goods."

"Aren't you afraid the money will be wasted?" Shajin said coldly.

"I've got plenty of money, little golden fluff. The interstellar slave market is never short of kids like you who think they're something," the man paused, "But you have a decent body, so many clients have wagered their fortunes on your skinny, gaunt little self. Go, don't disappoint your master."

"... How much did you spend?"

"Huh, want to know? Sure. Sixty Ta'anba (copper coins), not more, not less."

"... I want to gamble with you," Shajin gritted his teeth, word for word, "Half of the sixty, thirty of them... as long as I come back alive, you have to give them to me. Dare you bet?"

The man laughed heartily, "Want to bet with me? Sure, you've got guts!" He switched to an arrogant tone, "—but sorry, that's impossible. Slave, don't forget your status; you have no right to sit at the table at all."

"You are just a chip, a life squeezed in someone's hand and tossed out; either you bring back more chips for your master, or... you never return."

"All, or nothing—don't embarrass me, lucky one."

——

OVERLORD.

(His starting point is actually so low, truly a slave's status.)

(I thought Laatio's words were exaggerated and insulting, but it turned out to be stating a fact...)

Inside the Nasarick Underground Great Tomb, Anzi returned to his room and began to think seriously about slaves. Shajin's experience gave him much insight; although humans' grasp of magic does not match that of the Guardians, there is no doubt they are also different Foundation Stones—perhaps they can be forged into distinct talents.

If the sky‑dome's slave master had killed Shajin from the start, a highly talented human would have vanished completely from this world; his luck, talent, methods... all would turn into fleeting illusion.

So…

"Dimiwu Gesh, there should still be many humans imprisoned in the Great Tomb, right?" Anzi looked toward the demon that had followed him.

"Ah... yes, Lord Anzi... they are all two‑legged sheep captured nearby; we have carefully stripped their skins to use as scroll material."

Dimiwu Gesh hesitated briefly, then continued his answer.

"I see... is there any substitute for this material?"

"Hmm... if it's the skin of an adult male, we probably can't find a suitable replacement right now. The next best is female skin, which has some resilience. The worst are the skins of the elderly and children... one is overly aged and wrinkled, the other too tender and thin, both unsuitable for processing."

"I see..."

A hint of amusement in Anzi's words left Dimiwu Gesh momentarily unable to grasp what his master meant.

"Supreme Sovereign, do you think the skinning efficiency is low? I could order the torturer‑healer to accelerate the healing of the two‑legged sheep's skin, allowing us to strip them every two days. However, this might cause them to mentally break and commit suicide... then we'd need to recapture them."

"No need for that; my idea is exactly opposite, Dimiwu Gesh."

Dimiwu Gesh froze for a moment, then respectfully lowered his head even further.

"Ah... Lord Anzi, you mean...?"

"Since the skins of the elderly and children aren't suitable for scrolls, why not release them? Women can also be partially released... but don't let them return; instead erase the memory of this experience, letting them continue to serve the Nasarick Underground Great Tomb."

"Have humans serve Lord Anzi? Isn't that rewarding them too much?"

Everyone in the Nasarick Underground Great Tomb regards serving Lord Anzi as a reward; consequently, many maidservants even voluntarily forgo their one day of monthly rest to keep working. A full thirty‑day month of labor is their greatest reward.

Being able to come into the Great Tomb to serve the Supreme Lord... these humans are perhaps overly fortunate, aren't they?

"This is the second task I've assigned to you, Dimiwu Gesh... you must uncover the potential in these humans, letting their talents fully manifest. Some have a gift for swordsmanship, others are suited to magic... In short, you must make full use of them, especially the children... pay special attention."

"Understood. From now on I'll sort them by age and talent, but Lord Anzi... if some humans truly lack talent, may I be told how to handle them?"

"Well, just keep using them as skinning material. By the way, inform Yaer Beide of this; you two will handle it together."

"Understood, Supreme Sovereign."

——

"Starfolk and Jialake arrived at a bar, where a handsome big sister named ShuWeng warmly welcomed them."

"ShuWeng and Jialake are old acquaintances; he once served as the mixologist of this Dream‑Shocking Bar. Speaking of that, Jialake even showed off, crafting a unique drink for several train‑group patrons present."

"Finally, he asked Xing to choose a garnish for his special brew."

"Hanu Brothers stand‑up sign."

"Brave and fearless rebel, may you also bite through shackles like him," Jialake placed the sign on the rim of the glass, "Alright, mission accomplished, I salute you with this 【Ticket to the Cemetery】, nameless guest—"

"To the dead and the dying."

After tasting their drinks, everyone continuously praised the marvelous and rich flavors. Jizi then took the opportunity to ask Jialake, hoping he would share the ingenuity behind the preparation.

"Unfortunately, if you're expecting a profound answer, you'll be disappointed," Jialake shrugged, "Its implied meaning is very simple... it's just the true taste of Dreamland, nothing more."

Jizi, thoughtful, asked, "Is this true taste... related to that Mihail?"