Chapter 217: Topaz, Next Time You Drop Coins, Be Sure to Give Me a Heads-Up!

The video continued.

The scene shifted,

and began to play a segment of Topaz's past.

【"Back, are we, Number 35? Like your protective talisman?"】

A cold, indifferent voice rang out before Topaz.

【"...... Can a product code count as a protective talisman?"】

Topaz couldn't help but speak,

as if mocking himself.

【"Shut it."】

【"I never gave you permission to speak, you Tzoganya hyena."】

The man gave a cold snort.

【"Those men in black suits didn't tell me much, so I don't know exactly what tricks you pulled to keep your sorry hide alive in that massacre back then."】

【"But I figured you were lucky, so I bought you."】

【"From now on, you and your luck are my assets. Understood?"】

【"Your first order is simple: besides you, I bought another thirty..... ah, thirty-four slaves."】

【"Go play a little game with them — two days. Come out alive, and prove your skills are the real deal."】

The man smiled, amused.

He handed Topaz his first task.

And that was.... to survive among thirty-five people first!

【"......"】

【"You're insane."】

The man's words left Topaz somewhat surprised.

【"Heh, just inspecting the goods."】

The man couldn't have cared less.

【"Aren't you afraid that money will go to waste?"】

Topaz countered.

【"I've got money to burn, little blondie."】

【"The pan-galactic slave market's got no shortage of cocky little brats like you."】

【"But you've got a decent face on you, so plenty of buyers bet their fortunes on you, scrawny little ghost."】

【"Go on, don't disappoint your master."】

For the man,

Topaz was nothing more than his merchandise,

not worth a second thought.

【"......"】

【"How much did you pay?"】

Topaz was silent for a moment,

then asked out of nowhere.

【"What?"】

The man was taken aback.

【"My price — how much did you pay to buy me?"】

Topaz pressed.

【"Oh, you want to know that?"】

【"Sure."】

【"Sixty Taanba, no more, no less."】

The man answered offhandedly.

【".... I want to gamble with you."】

【"Half of sixty — thirty coins....."】

【"If I come back alive, you have to give them to me."】

【"Do you dare bet?"】

Topaz looked at the man before him,

and spoke in an odd tone.

【"Ha, want to gamble with me?"】

【"Fine, you've got guts!"】

【"—But sorry, not happening."】

【"Slave, don't forget your place. You don't even have a seat at the table."】

【"You're nothing but a chip, tossed out by someone else's hand. Either you bring more chips back for your master, or......"】

【"Don't ever come back!"】

【"All or nothing — don't you dare make me lose face, 'Lucky'."】

Navia: "This is when Mr. Topaz was a slave?"

Navia: "That really is miserable enough...."

Dehya: "A living person, branded with a product code and traded at will..."

Dehya: "Is this permitted in the universe?"

Diluc: "It seems the universe follows the law of the strong preying upon the weak..."