Chapter 327

In the town by the river outside Luolan City, just as the sky was beginning to brighten, teams of slaves were being whipped and driven to both sides of the road. Every slave wore a look of misery on their face, but even more miserable than the slaves were the slave traders themselves.

Ang walked along the road, watching this scene with curiosity, followed by the equally curious Lu Se.

Slavery had existed since ancient times. There was a slave market in Luolan City, containing contract slaves who had sold themselves, as well as captured members of other races, such as dwarves and elves.

Of course, elves could not be openly displayed for sale; they were generally only traded quietly in black markets or private markets, as the elves strictly cracked down on such trafficking activities.

But would the bold and unscrupulous black-hearted slave traders, who didn't even fear the Pope, care about the elves?

The result of the crackdown was that the trafficking of elves shifted from the open to the shadows, objectively driving up the price of elves. This made trading them even more profitable, and as prices soared, slave traders were even more willing to take risks, intensifying their efforts to capture elven slaves.

Even some small mercenary groups would occasionally be unable to resist making a score; after all, one elf was worth tens of thousands of magic crystals, and catching just one was enough to split the loot and retire.

The elves had also negotiated with the Pope, sending elven teams into human territory to enforce the law and wipe out slave traders dealing in elves.

But firstly, intelligence was poor, and they couldn't find the real traffickers; instead, they would be misled by people with ulterior motives, leading them to attack chambers of commerce that were operating legitimately.

Secondly, these law-enforcing elves would become targets for the slave traders themselves; one might even be kidnapped while just going to the restroom.

After a few back-and-forth incidents, the elves could only try their best not to enter human territory, entrusting mercenaries to handle any necessary dealings.

In contrast, there were the dwarves. Dwarves never cared whether other dwarves became slaves; as long as they weren't abused or harmed, the dwarves wouldn't interfere.

Besides, they couldn't manage it anyway. Some dwarves would get bored in the mountains, run down to a tavern for a drink, and then pat their empty pockets and say, "I have no money, sell me into slavery. Give me wine every day, and I'll be a slave."

Good grief, selling oneself into slavery while still making demands—even more fierce than contract slaves.

Faced with such dwarves who would sell even themselves, and who had huge appetites and even larger capacities for alcohol, ordinary people couldn't afford to keep them, so they couldn't be sold for a high price.

Since no one wanted them, no one bothered to catch them. Sometimes when business was bad, they even had to drive them away, preferring to forgo the slave rather than be eaten into poverty by them.

The elves couldn't be like the dwarves because elves were simply too beautiful, even the male elves, so buying them wasn't for the purpose of making them work.

The trade in elves moved into the black market, and this town by the river was one such black market.

However, recently, the town by the river wasn't just selling contraband; even non-contraband items were being sold, because too many people had gone bankrupt and become contract slaves or slaves.

Contract slaves were bound by a contract; once the contract was completed, they could shed the status of 'slave' and become free citizens or commoners.

As for slaves, they no longer had personal status and had become objects in a relationship of subordination. The difference between the two was that one was a person, and the other was an object.

But when starving to death, no one cared whether they were a person or an object; selling oneself to a slave trader at least meant having a meal.

However, because so many people became slaves in a short time, prices dropped, and profits thinned.

At the same time, due to the famine, many landlords and nobles didn't even need to go through slave traders, directly turning tenant farmers and self-sufficient peasants into slaves, with no middleman to earn the price difference.

With profits down, the slaves still had to be fed. If they couldn't be sold, it meant they would be stuck in their hands. These slave traders were even more miserable than the slaves.

In the past, at this stage, slave traders with a conscience would tear up the contracts and set everyone free. But there were too few slave traders with a conscience; would someone with a conscience even be a slave trader?

More black-hearted traders would 'destroy the goods.'

However, they didn't dare, because His Majesty Anthony, the acting Pope of the Eastern Diocese, had sent people to pass on a private message: whoever dared to destroy the goods, he would send people to kill their entire family. If they couldn't be sold, they could be sent to the refugee camps at the border.

Anthony's 'kill the entire family' whisper had a much more effective deterrent on these slave traders than the Elven Queen's words. Even the Church dared to split; what was there that Anthony wouldn't dare to do?

If the traders had no conscience, then 'give' them one. Thus, many slave traders became conscientious, frowning and biting the bullet to sell. For those that really couldn't be sold, they tore up the contracts and sent them to the border.

The original black market was flooded with too many slaves, almost crowded like a vegetable market. There were more traders than buyers. Seeing Ang and his companion walk in, everyone looked over with eager eyes, whether they were slaves or traders.

Some female slaves with a bit of charm tried desperately to flirt and pose, attempting to pique the interest of Ang and his companion.

Unfortunately, the difficulty was too high.

Na Nai Nai Nai Ge Li Si, projected onto Ang, chatted with Du Luo Ken: "We need to buy some dwarven brewers to brew the fine wine that dwarves like."

"Are you stupid?" Du Luo Ken said.

"Huh?" Na Nai Nai Nai Ge Li Si was stunned.

"Why are we brewing wine? It's to watch the records of dwarven war chess. Dwarven war chess is a holy site for dwarves and is generally not open to outsiders, unless there is some temptation they cannot refuse. I ask you, if it's wine brewed by a dwarven brewer, why would a dwarf refuse it? They can brew it themselves," Du Luo Ken asked.

"Uh, that makes sense. Then what should we buy?" Na Nai Nai Nai Ge Li Si asked.

"Buy them all. Dwarven, elven, human—those who can brew wine and those who can drink wine, buy them all. It's not like we can't afford it. Whether the quality is good or not, just brew a few more varieties and compare them," Du Luo Ken said.

Oh right, it's not like we can't afford it. Even if we bought all the brewers in the world, Ang could afford it. Why worry about this?

After walking around from beginning to end, it was time for Lu Se to step up. He was seen slowly flying into the air, manifesting his Dou Qi until it took shape, and said in a loud voice: "My master wants to buy top-tier brewers and wine tasters. Whoever can provide top-tier brewers, my master will buy them at a high price."

Everyone who saw Lu Se's figure couldn't help but exclaim: "A High-Rank Sword Saint?! Heavens, the master of a High-Rank Sword Saint? Which big shot has arrived?"

"Brewers? Do we have brewers?"

"Hurry, hurry, hurry! What does wine taster mean? A drunkard? Do those dwarves count?"

The market suddenly became chaotic.

Dou Qi manifesting as a sword was the hallmark of a High-Rank Sword Saint, which was already very rare. Even if there were any, they were usually followers of powerful mages. Could the master of this Sword Saint be a Truth Mage?

Du Luo Ken and Na Nai Nai Nai Ge Li Si whispered there: "Letting Lu Se show his strength is to provide credit endorsement for his words. Otherwise, if you just jump out and say you want to buy top-tier brewers, who knows what counts as top-tier? Now that the strength of a High-Rank Sword Saint has been displayed, everyone knows, and they won't send just any trash to you. Otherwise, these black-hearted merchants could drag a bunch of dwarven drunkards in front of you, uh..."

Looking at the pile of dwarven drunkards who had rushed over, still hungover, Du Luo Ken almost choked on his breath: "Did I underestimate this era, and the degree of black-heartedness of the merchants?"

Na Nai Nai Nai Ge Li Si nodded with deep agreement: "Indeed quite black-hearted, as black as Yin Bi."

Far away in the Land of Sinkholes, Yin Bi sneezed inexplicably. Perhaps realizing someone was cursing him, he hurriedly knelt down and began to pray devoutly.

The master of a High-Rank Sword Saint... wanted to buy slaves for brewing. This news shocked all the slave traders, and waves of slaves related to brewing were dragged in front of Lu Se.

Lu Se took them all, including that pile of dwarven drunkards. These dwarves might not know how to brew, but having drunk so much, they could at least distinguish which wine tasted better. When the time came, he would find them to taste the wine.

Of course, the price couldn't be too high.

Just as Du Luo Ken said, buying them all was no problem. They weren't any special slaves and couldn't be sold for much. Even if all the slaves here were bought, it would probably only cost a few tens of thousands of magic crystals. As for some special slaves, one alone could cost tens of thousands of magic crystals.

Seeing them spending money so lavishly, some big traders in the background had other ideas. A thin, small slave trader walked over, leaned close to Lu Se, and asked in a low voice: "Elves, elves, do you want any? Young and beautiful dark elves."

"Dark elves?" Lu Se was surprised: "How much? Bring them here to see."

He had seen plenty of elves, but what were dark elves?

"Twenty thousand magic crystals."

"So expensive?! You might as well go rob someone!"

"It's worth the price. You should see the goods first. Tender and soft, absolutely worth it."

Several strong slaves carried over a tent. After setting it up, two sturdy women escorted a creature wrapped entirely in a cloak into the tent.

So that's how you have to inspect the goods. Professional.

Ang and Lu Se walked in and saw an elf, tied up tightly, with dark skin and exquisite tattoos on her body, staring at them fiercely.

Ang tilted his head. He actually recognized this elf; she was the one he had seen in the Mercenary Guild hall in Luolan City. How did she become a slave?

Skin dark, hair messy, skin rough—too far from the elves he had seen. Lu Se curled his lip and looked back at Ang.

He was prepared to refuse. Spend twenty thousand magic crystals to buy an elf of this standard? That would be better than letting Kai Lan Dai Er come over; that elven high priestess had been requesting to serve Lord Ang.

Who knew Ang would nod.

Hiss—does Lord like this style? Great, now I know what kind of gifts to send in the future, Lu Se thought with great joy.

Twenty thousand magic crystals were paid offhand. Ang didn't have much grain now, but he had plenty of magic crystals. The elven reserves had been emptied for him, and Anthony's small treasury was also empty; now he even had to borrow money from Yin Bi.

There was also the treasury of the Black Mountain Duchy, the income from the City of Beauty, the profits of the Silver Light Chamber of Commerce, etc. His cash flow might be more than that of the Mage Guild and the Mercenary Guild combined.

It was the first time the slave trader had encountered a customer who paid so readily. Don't they even haggle?

With the money in hand, the trader took out a brand, tore it in two, gave half to Lu Se, and wanted to stamp the other half onto the dark elf.

A look of fear appeared on the dark elf's face, and she struggled to avoid it.

"What is, this?" Ang asked curiously. The fluctuation produced by this brand was somewhat similar to a soul brand.

The master of a High-Rank Sword Saint asked, so the slave trader hurriedly replied: "Reporting to Lord, this is a slave brand. For a slave stamped with it, even their soul will be bound by the brand, and they will absolutely be unable to resist or disobey your orders."

Ang reached out, and the slave trader hurriedly handed over the brand. Ang studied it, and the brand was dismantled.

The slave trader was suddenly in a difficult position: "Lord, this..."

"This what? Hurry up and take out another one." Fearing Ang would be embarrassed, Lu Se hurriedly scolded: "What's wrong with Lord playing with your brand? Playing with it is giving you face. We bought a twenty-thousand magic crystal slave, can't you provide a few more brands? Believe it or not, I'll chop you for all this 'this and that'!"

The slave trader apologized with a smile: "Lord, these slave brands are specially made. Only expensive slaves will be equipped with them, and there is only one."

"Then what should we do?" Lu Se said fiercely.

The slave trader apologized with a smile: "This slave is too fierce. Without a brand, it's hard to control her. How about Lord gives a little more cost, leave her here for a month, and after the brand is ready, we will send her to your mansion. Rest assured, it will be kept confidential throughout."

Ang shook his head. He understood this kind of brand as soon as he dismantled it; it was just a type of soul brand.

But it was far inferior to the soul brand of an undead creature; it couldn't even imprison thoughts, only restrict the body, such as making the whole body weak, hands and feet powerless, and so on.

"Then you be careful, don't let her go casually, she is super fierce..." The slave trader exited the tent while giving instructions, but before he could finish, he saw Ang cut the rope, and the dark elf regained her freedom.

"This..." The slave trader turned and left. Anyway, the money was paid, and it had nothing to do with him if the slave ran away. Maybe he could sell her again if he caught her later.

Ang bought a total of six hundred slaves, spending less than forty thousand magic crystals. Among them, one dark elf cost twenty thousand magic crystals, and the remaining less than twenty thousand—the dwarves were a bit more expensive, but on average, each slave only cost thirty-three magic crystals. However, this was already a high price.

Ang's lavishness caused a sensation in the town by the river. Some people had other ideas and gathered early on the only road out of town, wanting to see how Ang and Lu Se would take away more than six hundred slaves, and by the way, see if there was any opportunity to make a profit.

So early the next morning, many people discovered that there were many corpses in the woods outside the town by the river, and many corpses floated down from the upper reaches of the river. Some recognized them as the slave-catching teams of several large slave merchants in the town.

The castles of these large slave merchants were also broken into, the property inside was looted, the slaves were released, and the thugs were killed. According to those released slaves, the ones who broke into the castles were a group of armed giants and a horse that cursed.

On the road north, Na Nai Nai Nai Ge Li Si was torn between laughter and tears: "Who did you have to provoke, why did you have to provoke him? He originally wanted to pay properly. Now it's fine, the money is saved, and he earned many times more. Why bother?"

Several large slave merchants cried out: "We just went to look, we didn't do anything." Then they were dragged down and buried. Looking back, one of Ang's hands had already disappeared, and he was brewing wine in the space.

"He really intended to pay," Na Nai Nai Nai Ge Li Si said, shaking his head.