Chapter 34: Slave Evelan!

Gervas naturally understood the price difference.

But there was one thing: these slaves being sent to the interior were all young and strong.

Whereas the slaves sold at this border were mostly emaciated, which is why the price discount appeared so large.

In fact, if one wanted to buy equally young and strong slaves, the price would not be much lower.

Seeing that this scion of a great noble did not care about his subtle reminder, Overseer Ku Po bluntly stated the price.

These are all young slaves: adult male slaves at 50 silver coins each, totaling one hundred people.

Adult female slaves, 40 silver coins each, totaling one hundred people. 4000

The remaining young girls, 30 silver coins each, totaling thirty-five people! 1050

Of course, it is worth mentioning that among them are ten longbowmen, which Overseer Ku Po knows.

Because these ten slaves were sold to them by a bandit gang, originating from a refugee camp that had been breached.

Therefore, each bowman slave requires an additional thirty silver coins.

"So, the total price for these two hundred-plus slaves is one hundred and three gold coins and fifty silver coins?"

"Yes, Lord Gervas. If you need it, those extra fifty silver coins will be waived outright, after all, you are purchasing so many slaves at once!"

Gervas nodded. "Very well. However, since this transaction takes place within Storm Domain, taxes must be paid, correct?"

"Uh..." Overseer Ku Po was instantly stunned.

Wasn't his trading partner the lord of Storm Domain?

So this must also be taxed?

But then again, Imperial Law granted lords the right to collect transaction taxes on their lands.

So...

"Correct, Lord Gervas!" Overseer Ku Po had no words to express his bitterness; how had he just forgotten this matter?

The transaction tax rate is two-tenths, which would directly cut a large chunk from his original profit.

But having spoken the price, he dared not renege now, lest this young noble do something unpredictable.

"According to Imperial Law, the tax you must pay for this transaction is twenty gold coins; after deducting the tax rate, the remainder is eighty-three gold coins!"

"This is my payment!" Gervas tossed over a small cloth bag.

As Overseer Ku Po caught the bag, he was stunned again, for the bag did not contain gold coins.

Just as unease gripped his heart, the bag opened.

The original unease instantly turned to delight. "Luminous Pearls?"

"That's right. Within the Kingdom, these Luminous Pearls are considered scarce goods. Is it acceptable to use these as your payment?"

"Acceptable! Acceptable!" Overseer Ku Po counted them: thirty-eight small ones and one the size of a lychee, and was instantly overjoyed.

Although the value of these Luminous Pearls is around one gold coin each, they are often available only at high prices with no market supply.

Therefore, these are the best means for merchants to win over loyal customers.

Although twenty gold coins were deducted as tax, the premium on the Luminous Pearls could compensate for this loss, avoiding accountability from the merchant guilds.

Next, both sides exchanged money and goods; all the slaves were left to Gervas.

Whether because he was afraid of being cheated by Gervas again, or not, after buying a few black breads and smoked fish, Overseer Ku Po led his group to continue their advance.

"Overseer Ku Po, if you have good slaves in the future, you may continue to send them to Storm Domain. I can lower the tax rate to one-eleventh!"

Upon hearing this, Overseer Ku Po ran even faster.

"According to Kingdom Law, you were refugees before, and now you are slaves. Do not think you will ever have a good life."

"And now, you belong to me, Gervas Gale, as my slaves!"

"Congratulations to you; you have gained an opportunity to change your lives. That is, as long as you diligently work for me for three years, and provided there are no serious offenses recorded, everyone will be restored to serf status!"

The slaves, previously numb, finally showed some focus in their eyes upon hearing the words "restored to serf status."

However, Gervas paid no attention to this and instead scanned the crowd.

"Among you, there are ten longbowmen. Step forward now!"

Under Gervas's gaze, ten ragged slaves trembled as they raised their hands.

Seeing this, Knight Mi Gen and others immediately stepped forward and pulled them out.

"Tell me the origins of your ten people!"

The group quickly recounted their origins: a gathering formed by refugees had been breached, they, the guards of that gathering, were captured, and then sold to a slave-hunting team.

"You are lucky; my domain happens to need longbowmen. From now on, you will join the Guard!"

"As long as each of you can claim the heads of five people, I will restore your serf status. Do you understand?"

"Un... understood! Thank you, Master, for your grace!" The ten longbowmen did not expect such a surprise to come so suddenly.

If they had been sold to the interior of the Kingdom, they would most likely have been sold to an arena, until every last bit of their value was drained, as the slave-hunting team had said on their return journey.

Now, meeting Master Gervas, they still had a chance to become serfs; this was indeed a grace bestowed upon them.

Gervas waved his hand, instructing Knight Mi Gen to take the group to find Lauren, then continued asking: "Among you, who is named Evelan?"

As he asked, a girl of about ten years old in the crowd shivered, instinctively looking toward the older girl beside her.

Although the older girl quickly concealed the younger one's movement, this did not escape Gervas's gaze.

"Call them both out!"

Subsequently, the two girls mentioned earlier were brought before Gervas by the knight.

The younger girl was already trembling with fear, while the older girl beside her nervously kept hugging the younger one tightly.

"Why did you not respond to my question? Do you know what the consequence is for a slave who fails to answer when questioned by their master?"

With a thud, the two girls knelt on the ground.

The young girl was even more terrified, tears streaming down her face uncontrollably.

"Your name is Evaran?" Gervas asked again.

"Yes, Master!" This time, the girl finally answered immediately; she was the older girl.

"Tell me your origins!"

Evaran hesitated for a moment, but seeing her sister trembling in fear, she still truthfully revealed her identity.

It turned out she was the daughter of the leader of the settlement that had been breached by bandits.

Their settlement was considered relatively powerful in the Chaotic Wasteland, with a total population of forty to fifty thousand.

However, in the end, due to a traitor's betrayal, it was breached after allying with numerous bandits.

Before his father died in battle, to protect the two from humiliation, he had them disguise themselves as commoners from a minor settlement and flee.

Unfortunately, although they managed to hide their identities, they could not escape the fate of being sold by the bandits to a slave-catching squad.

"Master, I am willing to obey any command you give, even to serve you personally, but I beg you to spare my sister; she is only ten years old!"

Having spoken, Evaran vigorously rubbed her face with her linen garment, then raised her head, revealing her true appearance completely before Gervas.

Azure-blue eyes, a high nose bridge, and those red lips—who would have thought that hidden beneath the mud and grime just now was such a beautiful face?