Chapter 138 – The Slave Market (1/2)

Chapter 138 – The Slave Market

“How expensive are the slaves?”

Calron inquired while taking a big bite out of the grilled meat.

“It depends… the younger ones are usually cheaper, especially the female children, and the adult male slaves are usually the most expensive as you can make them work more. Additionally, if they have a high cultivation, then their prices can reach over hundreds of gold squares. Since you are opening a store, you should get a young slave so they can take care of the shop when you’re busy.”

Jolt answered, scratching his beard in contemplation.

“Isn’t it risky to hand over the store to a newly-bought slave?” Calron raised his question to Jolt, and waved to Roran at the back when he saw him descending down the stairs in a hurry.

“Not really. After you purchase a slave, you are given their soul stamp so you can punish them and find their location in case they run away. The soul stamp allows the owner to force severe mental pain onto the slave, so most slaves are obedient regardless of their own free will. If they ever decide to break their shackles and run away, they won’t even get past the city wall as the guards can detect the soul stamp within their bodies and immediately arrest them.”

Jolt talked calmly, as he waved at a nearby maid to bring Roran some food as well.

Soul stamp… I’ll need to research more about this technique later.

Calron thought inwardly, and replied back to Jolt after thinking for a few seconds. “Where is the slave market, Jolt?”

“It should be a few districts away and close to the merchant guild. I’ll go write down the directions for you.”

The innkeeper stated warmly as he got up and left the table.

“What was all that about, big brother?”

Roran asked while stealing a piece of fruit from Calron’s tray and chomping down on it.

“Jolt was telling me about slaves and how we can purchase them.”

Calron ignored Roran’s sneaky theft of his food and finished the remains on his tray.

“Eh? Slaves… isn’t that immoral?”

Roran looked deeply into Calron’s eyes, his gaze trying to bore into Calron’s soul.

“Don’t look at me like that, idiot. I have other plans for the slaves, so they won’t be treated like animals. I would rather not buy them if possible, but we in desperate need of some manpower if we are to survive within this city. Also, finish up your food quickly, we need to leave soon.”

Calron said with a gentle pat on Roran’s shoulder when the maid arrived with the tray, and got up from his seat.

“Hehe, just wanted to make sure. Don’t worry, give me two minutes and I’ll be ready!”

Roran flashed a grin to his brother and swiftly dove into the food in front of him. The maid stifled a giggle seeing Roran’s antics and turned around to serve another table.

Teacher, are you here? Can you sense any of the Raizel clan nearby?

Teacher?

Calron let out a sigh and walked towards the bar.

………………………….

“Have they found out anything about the boy yet?”

A deep voice resounded in a lavish and ornate room.

“No, father. We found several traces of our family’s signature lightning around the outskirts of the Desolate Mountains, but once we got closer to the city wall, the lingering lightning essence abruptly disappeared. We even entered the insides of the Beast city, but we could not find anyone with our bloodline.”