234 Custom Seizure (1/2)
Kuhm moaned as his hands were forcefully wrenched to his back and something tied his two thumbs together painfully. Next, he felt hands jerking him up to his feet and he startled as he saw an Oerkin holding onto him on one side and another person on the other.
The two strangely dressed barbarians sat him down next to several others. He recognized some of his guards and drivers among the group, all with various expressions of confusion and fear.
The barbarians yelled and barked in a strange tongue, but he could recognize some Commons words were mixed with their speech. And the strange thing other than their clothes was that all of these men and Oerkins had their hair cut till every short. Their hair was barely visible under the pot shaped helmets they wore.
The barbarians yelled at them to get on their feet in Common and they lead them deeper into the city. Kuhm realized why the merchant's convoy before him had stopped when he saw at the head of the convoy was a large barrier that blocked the road.
He noted that the side streets were all walled in and there was even more of those barbarians on the roofs of the street.
After crossing the barrier, Kuhm found himself and the others at the main square of the city. He saw locals watching the ongoing behind their windows while also many others lingering at the edge of the square.
A small platform for public proclamations sat on the end of the square where several figures in that strange colored clothing stood. Kuhm noted that there were almost a hundred of his men and the other merchant's people gathered here.
A small commotion broke out at the rear and Kuhm saw the slaves that he brought to sell here were being led in. The slaves looked around their surroundings with unease and fear as the barbarians led them next to Kuhm's group.
”Alright! Everyone's here!” A booming voice came from the platform and a figure wearing a strange hat stood at the front. ”Now, for the confused people here, this city, Orwell's Point is now under the control of the United Nations!”
”All laws and rules imposed by the Empire of Bluewood are now hereby voided and only laws stated by the United Nations will be in effect immediately!” The person said as he stared at Kuhn's group.
”Slavery is banned in the UN, anyone found to be in the possession, import, export, or trafficking of slaves will be subjected to a hefty fine, and also imprisonment! Repeat offenders will be caned and jailed or subjected to hard labor!”
Kuhm and the other merchants' jaw dropped when they heard this news. Orwell's Point has fallen to these barbarians! How is it possible?!
The crowd watching the ongoings remained silent as if used to such scenes while the merchants under arrest started to voice their disagreements and displeasure.
BAAM!
A suddenly crack of thunder shocked the merchants to silence as they flinched from the roar.
”I will not repeat my self again. You all have witnessed what happens if I have to repeat myself again,” The man held a strange smoking handbow in his hands.
”Now, all your properties will be seized and impounded by customs!” The man said next. ”While those who are to be sold as slaves will be released.”
”That is all,” The man finished his speech and stepped off the platform.
Kuhm was stunned as were the other merchants. ”All our properties will be seized? Where is the justice in this law! JUSTICE!!”
”Aww, shut the fark up!” One of the barbarians rolled his eyes at the merchants' outroar. ”Come on! Move it!”
-----
Joseph stood at one of the balconies of the stronghold and watched the wagons and carriages that they had seized being brought into the courtyard and parked together with dozens of other wagons that they have collected over the week.
Soon a team of local trusted bookkeepers and laborers swarm over the goods on the wagons. Each item was detailedly noted down and the laborers will move them over to the warehouses for storage.
”At this rate, all the warehouses will be filled to the brim!” His second in command, Lieutenant Rathia said. ”We can't even move all the materials back with the planes working overtime!”
Joseph grinned as he looked away from the view and said to his old friend, ”Well, most of the stuff here we can just resell it to the locals or use it ourselves. It's only the minerals and ores that needs to be shipped back to Haven.”
”And most of the goods they brought to trade here are mostly junk weapons and armor, which we can get the local blacksmiths to melt them down to ingots,” Joseph continued. ”The other is slaves and food.”
”Good thing most of the merchants here carry a lot of gold to trade in the slaves!” Rathia said. ”Now I know why everyone is dealing in slaves.”
Joseph nodded, ”So how goes the pacification of the region?”
”Well, we have hit the nearby farms and fishing villages,” Rathia said. ”They aren't so happy with us taking away the slaves that worked for them.”
”Some of the slaves even rejected to be freed,” Rathia shooked his head. ”We left them there, but we did issue a warning to the people that owning slaves are illegal now and will be subjected to strict punishments if found.”
”But the worst is the copper mines we found,” Rathia sighed. ”We liberated the mines but most of the slaves are so badly abused and worked, their minds are gone except for the newer slaves.”
”We moved the badly affected slaves to a holding area outside the city with 24 7 medical care and support,” Rathia said. ”But I doubt we can save any of them. They have been scarred too deeply.”
”Tell the medics to do their best for them,” Joseph sighed. ”Also, inform High Command, see if they can send us more doctors and nurses for support.”
”Got it,” Rathia nodded.
-----
Great Ocean Plains
Tokk the Brute scratched at an itching scab on his head and looked back at the crude wagons being pulled by a pair of scrawny wind wolves. The drivers of the wagons flipped their barb tipped whips at the wolves, inciting a tired growl from them as they moved faster.
”Come on!” Tokk roared out. ”I want to be in the city before night!”
Tokk gave a wide toothy grin as he looked at the crates of merchandise he is planning to sell at Orwell's Point in exchange for good slaves. He was very sure those soft skins have never seen such a product before!