[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-lord-of-winter-beginning-with-daily-intelligence":3,"chapter-lord-of-winter-beginning-with-daily-intelligence-lord-of-winter-beginning-with-daily-intelligence-chapter-7":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Lord of Winter: Beginning with Daily Intelligence",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":20,"prevChapterSlug":21,"totalChapters":22,"novelImage":23},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":16,"volume":17,"translator":18,"content_hash":19},152805,274,"Chapter 7: Slave Market","lord-of-winter-beginning-with-daily-intelligence-chapter-7",7,"\u003Cp>The eastern marketplace of Frost Halberd City, where the cold wind howled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The air was filled with the stench of animal hides, the aroma of roasting meat, and the crisp sound of metal clashing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The stalls lining the streets were extremely rudimentary, mostly just a few wooden poles propping up a shed, with goods casually displayed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Originally, this was just a small trading market, occasionally visited by farmers and hunters to exchange for grain and daily necessities.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But since the Northern Territory Pioneer Order was issued, many merchants smelled the scent of gold coins and flocked here like ravenous wolves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Forcibly transforming this small market into a bustling trade center.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the easternmost side of the market, a rough wooden fence enclosed an open space, inside of which stood a group of ragged slaves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most of them shrank their bodies, with heads lowered, as if accustomed to becoming someone else’s commodity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Occasionally, a defiant look of anger could be seen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But whenever the slave merchant’s whip cracked down ten times in a row, all rebellious spirit would instantly be quenched.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although the slave market was a grey area within the Empire, in the chaotic Northern Territory, it was practically an open secret.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whether pioneer lords or smugglers, everyone knew what was most lacking here — manpower.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Come and see! Young and robust laborers! Skilled in mining, logging, brick carrying, and cotton picking, more capable than oxen!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"These are captives from the Snow Country, though not fully tamed yet, they’re cheap! Buy them back and train them for a few months, they’ll surely be obedient!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Looking for smarter slaves? These are literate and can even help manage accounts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Various hawkers’ cries rang out endlessly as the slave merchants expertly promoted their wares.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To them, these slaves were essentially no different from horses and goods.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A slave merchant noticed Louis and his entourage and immediately put on a flattering smile and greeted them:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Sirs! Come take a look! These are the best laborers in the Northern Territory, guaranteed to work hard, withstand cold and hunger, and absolutely affordable!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The official accompanying Louis frowned and reminded the slave merchant, \"This is Baron Calvin, weigh your actions carefully, don’t get any wrong ideas.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Of course not!\" The slave merchant waved his hands repeatedly, smiling even more warmly, \"My business is fair to all, young and old alike, and the prices are quite reasonable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These slaves, each is a hard worker, adept at farming, chopping wood, building houses, and picking cotton, there’s nothing they can’t do!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He waved his big hand, signaling for the slaves behind him to stand straight. Some slaves reflexively straightened their backs, but more just stood numbly, lifeless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Look at these, strong and muscular young men, they have the strength of two oxen!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The slave merchant walked to a few dark-skinned slaves and patted their shoulders:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Though they seem skinny, they eat little and do much! Just give them a mouthful to eat, and they’ll work for you till dusk without a word of complaint!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He lowered his voice, revealing a suggestive smile, \"Of course, if you have other interests... we can also provide higher-quality goods here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From the South, fair-skinned, all meticulously trained, guaranteed to satisfy you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Louis’s eyebrows twitched slightly with a frown: \"Not needed.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The slave merchant, seeing this, immediately switched back to a professional smile, nodding repeatedly, \"You’re indeed a man of vision.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now is the time to make use of people in the Northern Territory’s expansion, these rough serfs are the most practical trades.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rest assured, these slaves of mine are not only hardworking but also obedient, they won’t cause you trouble!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Louis scanned the slaves before him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These people were in tattered clothes, with pale skin, many with faces full of numbness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although the slave merchant boasted they were strong and capable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In reality, most were malnourished, and some could barely stand due to weak legs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, among slaves, their appearance was indeed considered relatively good.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His gaze slowly swept over the group of slaves and finally settled on a small, thin boy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The boy was tightly curled in a woman’s arms, his frail body trembling like a scared little animal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But in Louis’s eyes, his status was far from an ordinary slave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was a system-indicated target, Weir, with the potential of a Peak Knight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This timid demeanor makes it hard to imagine that without the intelligence system’s prompt, this boy might grow into a Peak Knight and become a key player in a future war.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Elsewhere in the slave group, a man thinner than the rest was hunched slightly, seemingly trying to disappear entirely into the crowd.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His face was hidden under disheveled gray hair, his eyes darting, always deliberately avoiding the gaze of the people around him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked completely unremarkable, even more downtrodden than the other slaves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For an ordinary person, he might seem like nothing more than a pitiable wretch close to collapse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Louis knew, this was Hillco, the alchemy apprentice who fled north after being hunted for theft.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The slave merchant, noticing Louis’s growing interest, patted his chest in assurance: \"Sir, if you buy them, I guarantee you won’t be disappointed!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Louis didn’t rush his decision and instead asked, \"How much for one slave?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Men are eight silver coins, women and children four silver coins.\" The slave merchant said with a smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Louis nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The prices of these slaves weren’t low, but not exorbitant either, it seemed the slave merchant was wary of the official beside him and didn’t dare to go too far.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How many people do you have here?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"There are over three hundred and eighty here, and we can bring in more from outside if needed.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"These will do.\" Louis decisively commanded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He then went to several other slave merchants, gradually purchasing 120 more people.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In total, he gathered 500 slaves, spending 380 gold coins in all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This single transaction nearly halved his assets.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(Currency System: 10 Iron Coins = 1 Copper Coin, 10 Copper Coins = 1 Silver Coin, 10 Silver Coins = 1 Gold Coin)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Next, Louis purchased large quantities of grain, seeds, farm tools, weapons, and other necessities for pioneering his territory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The prices in the Northern Territory were at least twice as high as in the South, further tightening his financial situation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After completing all the purchases, he counted his remaining assets and found only 68 gold coins left.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Broke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>During the two days in Frost Halberd City, Louis not only busied himself with procuring supplies but also met a few noble lords sent for expansion, like himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After brief interactions, he lost interest in these so-called nobles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some spent their days drowning in taverns, escaping reality.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Others wore dismal expressions, filled with despair about the future.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In front of Louis, they’d curse the emperor’s incompetence, denounce their parents’ heartlessness, wishing they could flee back south immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Louis merely smiled noncommittally at this and stopped engaging with these people.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two days later, outside the gates of Frost Halberd City, a nearly thousand-strong contingent was fully prepared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Louis mounted his horse and gazed into the distance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There lay Red Tide Territory, his domain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Set off!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a command, the procession began its grand journey, heading towards the Northeastern part of the Northern Territory, to the Red Tide Territory.\u003C\u002Fp>",1216,"2026-05-29T04:24:47.177Z","2026-06-01T04:29:09.187Z",1,"novelbin.me","d925023df7afe476d9f341e19d4febcd99c73b4b4c64b7ae2638ac012fb86663","lord-of-winter-beginning-with-daily-intelligence-chapter-8","lord-of-winter-beginning-with-daily-intelligence-chapter-6",766,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Flord-of-winter-beginning-with-daily-intelligence-cover.jpg"]