Chapter 25: Slave Market
Milik Kingdom, among the many kingdoms in Sigril, may rank lower, but it is rich in magic stones and values combat, so its liveliness is not much worse than other kingdoms.
When Tyr and the others entered the city, the night had receded, and the sun had already risen. The people of the Milik Kingdom had begun bustling about the streets.
“Mr. Tyr, this is Sis City in the northern part of the Milik Kingdom. Our task is to escort them here,” said Zack respectfully. Tyr responded with an expectant look towards Zack.
“I say, Mr. Zack, are there any decent hotels around here?”
“Yeah, there should be a good tavern right across from the Mercenary Division. Most mercenaries gather there.”
“I see, let’s hurry then. I’ve been wandering in the forest for so many days. The smell on me probably scares away even the monsters,” Tyr sniffed the strange odor on his body, thinking he definitely needed a good bath later.
Meanwhile, Zack was surprised why Tyr would appear in such a dangerous forest. What’s even more mysterious to him was that aside from his tattered clothes, Tyr had not a single scratch on him. This indirectly demonstrated just how terrifying Mr. Tyr’s strength really was!
Zack dared to conclude that anyone who could roam the outskirts of the Sang Zang Great Forest unscathed must possess the strength of a “Broken Army” level warrior. Even those with higher-tier “Harmony Qi” wouldn’t dare claim they could take a leisurely stroll along the forest’s edge.
Of course, if Mr. Tyr were of the “Emperor” level, he would be even more terrifying. In any case, regardless of which speculation was true, it was beyond his reach. Zack believed that as long as he conversed peacefully with this gentleman and left a good impression, there might be some benefits.
“Oh, by the way, Mr. Tyr, opportunities like this are rare. Why don’t you register as a mercenary at the Mercenary Division on your way? It will be very convenient for various purposes.”
“Convenience? What kind of convenience?”
“For example, you can exchange merits for valuable treasures, or purchase materials not available on the market from within the mercenary ranks. If your merits are high enough, you can even request instruction from ‘Sealed Emperor’ level warriors or Holy Domain Mage.”
“Oh? Is there more?”
“There’s more, there’s also intelligence, and the enormous wealth that comes from killing various bounty targets…”
“Wait, you mentioned intelligence just now!”
“Yes. Do you have any questions?”
With narrowed eyes, Tyr thought that he indeed lacked intelligence at the moment. After all, asking too much in Duke Yuehai’s mansion could easily arouse suspicion from others. But here, he was free and unconstrained, with no worries.
“Yes, indeed. There are some things I’d like to investigate.”
“So, Mr. Tyr, does that mean…”
“Lead the way.”
“Yes.” Zack was overjoyed. If they were to part ways now, they might never meet again. But by bringing Tyr to the Mercenary Headquarters, they would be colleagues in the future. They’d see each other often.
“Mr. Tyr, if you decide to join a mercenary group after registering your mercenary account, I will personally introduce you to our Sand Fox Mercenary Group’s leader. I believe with his keen talent, he will certainly offer you a good position!”
“Let’s discuss that later.”
“Understood.”
Although politely declined, Zack wasn’t surprised. After all, even the strongest “Road Guardian” in their Sand Fox Mercenary Group only had the strength of a “Emperor” level. With someone like Mr. Tyr around, it’s understandable to have a sense of pride. Supergiants like the Tianzhao Mercenary Group or the Dogris Mercenary Group are the places where true powerhouses aspire to be.
Sis City may not be large in the Milik Kingdom, but it’s a city where merchants frequently come and go, making it the foremost in trade circulation in the kingdom. Tyr’s eyes began to sting as he watched the diverse and eccentric attire of the people passing by. The cultural differences from each country varied, especially in a bustling place like Sis City, which ranked among the top hundred in the entire empire. It’s common for newcomers to have their eyes dazzled by the crowds.
Suddenly, Tyr stopped in his tracks. Zack, who had been walking ahead, noticed that the man behind hadn’t followed, so he turned around in confusion and asked,
“Mr. Tyr, what’s wrong?”
“This is…” Tyr pointed to a building by the roadside, where there were various sizes of black iron cages. Occasionally, there were cries of misery coming from inside, and one could clearly see shadows of people wearing simple linen clothing within the cages.
“Ah, this is a slave market,” Zack replied with a tone of casualness, no longer surprised by Tyr’s inquiry about such common knowledge.
“These are all fugitives, relatives of those who committed major crimes, or defeated enemies from other countries. There are many of them. Because there’s little benefit in killing them, the empire established the system of slave markets to give them some value,” Zack explained.
“Value?”
“Well, it’s quite diverse. For instance, strong slaves can do heavy labor, powerful ones can be used as warriors, beautiful women have various uses, and children have potential. Well, it all depends on how the buyer sees it,” Zack elaborated.
“I see.” Tyr nodded in realization, then pointed to the beautiful girl being held separately in a cage and said.
“What about this one? She has such pointed ears, is she human?”
“No, she’s an elf. Hmm, she seems to be a wind elf,” Zack responded.
“Elves? Is that the Sanguis Empire across from the Sang Zang Great Forest?”
“Yes,” Zack breathed a sigh of relief. Thankfully, Mr. Tyr had a grasp on the most basic knowledge, or else he would have doubted whether he should start explaining from the Great Cataclysm ten million years ago to Tyr.
“…” Tyr actually knew this was a slave market, after all, the Magic Shadowstone wasn’t just for show. He was just curious about this elven girl.
But, it was just curiosity. He didn’t have the money or the kindness to buy her. Even if he did buy her, what could he do with her? Tyr pondered this question for a moment, then blushed a little.
It seemed like buying her might actually lead to something.
