Chapter 71
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 71
Chapter Title: The Auction House (2)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
3.
Here is a brief summary of the information I gathered from Cobbler about Reven.
1. Reven's slave market operates with the tacit approval of Margrave Leandro.
2. Most of the slaves brought to the market are refugees who have fled from the southern kingdoms.
3. There are more than ten holding pens where the slaves are kept.
4. High-value slaves, such as elves, are traded exclusively at an auction house believed to be run directly by Margrave Leandro.
Secrets?
Cobbler didn't have any.
"Of course, there's no physical evidence that the Margrave is involved, but there's plenty of circumstantial evidence."
"What circumstantial evidence suggests Margrave Leandro is behind this?"
"Well, he accepts my bribes, doesn't he? People only take bribes when they have something to hide. The one giving the bribe always knows."
"...That's plausible."
In the end, it meant I had to confront Margrave Leandro to rescue the elf slave.
Cobbler continued speaking, constantly glancing at Karron.
"As you saw on your way here, the entire city of Reven is like a fortress. It's the perfect location to run a slave market."
As a border city, it was considerably free from the central government's oversight.
Furthermore, the title of Margrave itself allowed for a massive number of private soldiers.
It was a position granted extraordinary, extralegal authority for the purpose of defending the border.
'Using that power to run a slave trade?'
There was definitely something more to it.
Slave markets were typically run by those with nothing to lose.
It wasn't an enterprise attractive enough for a Margrave to risk running himself.
Margrave Leandro had a rather close relationship with the Salmone Ducal Family, one of the empire's real powers.
I'd have to see for myself to know the details, but it was unlikely he was doing this purely for money.
As Karron walked through the alley, lost in thought, Cobbler stopped in his tracks.
"We've arrived, Young Master! This is where the highest-grade products are auctioned."
Hearing Cobbler, Karron slowly raised his head and looked at the building before him.
It was an impeccably constructed building, incomparable to the other dilapidated structures around it.
It was excessively ornate for what was supposed to be a slave auction house, and its entrance was guarded by men with swords at their waists.
They were all dressed in plain clothes and even wore white masks, but Karron could tell they were no ordinary guards.
'Knights.'
Their ranks ranged from 4-star to 5-star.
There were eight of them in total.
It was an excessive amount of force just to guard a slave auction.
"On days when a valuable product like an elf is being auctioned, the security is reinforced like this. Young Master. I'm only saying this just in case, but it would be best if you refrained from causing any unpleasant incidents."
Cobbler said cautiously to Karron. Karron waved his hand dismissively.
"Your face is the most unpleasant thing here."
"...My apologies. Let's go in."
Cobbler, scratching his head awkwardly, skillfully approached the guards at the entrance.
"Thank you for your hard work."
A man who appeared to be the leader stepped forward.
"No one gets in today without an invitation. Present it."
"I've brought a distinguished guest. This gentleman wishes to purchase a valuable product..."
At those words, the leader sized up Karron, who was standing behind Cobbler.
"A distinguished guest? Did he receive an invitation?"
"He just arrived here today... Can't you make an exception? This gentleman possesses a Black Card. You know, the Imperial Bank's proof of payment!"
"...Have you verified the authenticity of that card, Cobbler?"
"Yes. I had my contact at the Imperial Bank branch check it thoroughly. You know how I work! I wouldn't have brought him here if I wasn't certain."
The leader's gaze shifted back to Karron.
After silently studying Karron for a long moment, he slowly approached him.
Then, he bowed his head and spoke.
"Pardon the intrusion. May we verify the card ourselves?"
Karron looked down at the top of the leader's head and scowled. He spoke in an annoyed tone.
"This is the second time today. You dare to doubt me?"
"My apologies. We normally only admit thoroughly vetted VIPs. By rule, you should not be allowed entry, but we are trying to accommodate you as best we can, so I ask for your generosity."
"If what I want isn't in there, you'll be held responsible."
Karron, displaying his displeasure, pulled the Black Card from his coat.
The leader, taking the card from Karron, bowed his head once more and said.
"Please wait here for a moment. It won't take long."
He hurried inside.
How much time had passed?
The leader reappeared, accompanied by another man.
The man was about 170-something centimeters tall, wore a high-end suit, and a golden mask.
He bowed politely to Karron and spoke.
"It is an honor to host such a distinguished guest. I am the general manager of this auction house, Nur."
The man, who introduced himself as Nur, gave a slight nod to the leader. The leader then returned the card to Karron.
"Please forgive the rudeness of my subordinates. It is a fundamental principle of our auction house not to admit uninvited guests, so it could not be helped."
"Do vermin who sell slaves even have principles?"
Karron mocked him with a smirk. However, Nur simply raised the corners of his lips, visible beneath the mask, into a gentle smile and bowed once more.
"Please, quell your anger. I will personally ensure you are well taken care of today. As it happens, many valuable products have come in, so I am certain you will have a satisfying day."
Karron nodded and put the card back in his coat.
To be able to get a free pass even into a place run on a strict membership basis.
He was once again reminded of the incredible power of this Black Card.
It wasn't what he'd gotten it for, but if it worked, it worked, right?
It seemed like it would be quite useful in the future.
After the simple verification process, Karron entered the auction house.
4.
The interior of the auction house was even more extravagant than it had appeared from the outside.
Ornate chandeliers and lighting.
And luxurious seats, spaced generously apart.
The place, which seemed more suited to be a high-end restaurant than an auction house, was already filled with a considerable number of distinguished guests.
"This way, please."
The seat assigned to Karron was the best in the house.
A spot with a panoramic view of the stage where the auction would take place.
In truth, it was structured more like a private room than a seat.
In front of the gold-trimmed chair, a spread of lavish food and wine had been prepared in advance.
"If you ring the bell on the table, a staff member will attend to you. Please let us know anytime if you desire a particular dish or drink. And during the auction, if there is a product you wish to bid on, you may write the price on the magic slate placed in front of the bell. Now then, I hope you have a wonderful time."
Creeak.
Nur, who had guided Karron and Cobbler to this point, carefully closed the door and disappeared.
Karron took a bite of an apple from the table and looked around.
-There are no special devices, Master.
'Good.'
After confirming with Guillotine that there were no eavesdropping spells, Karron looked at Cobbler standing beside him and said.
"If you're hungry, help yourself to whatever's here."
Cobbler's face lit up with gratitude as he spoke to Karron.
"C-Can I really?"
"How much could it possibly cost?"
"Thank you!"
With Karron's permission, Cobbler wasted no time picking up a piece of food.
Cobbler spread foie gras pâté on a piece of bread and, without hesitation, popped it into his mouth.
Watching him, Karron spoke in a listless voice.
"You say you're a former slave, yet you have such refined taste?"
Cobbler chewed his food thoroughly, swallowed, and replied with a grin.
"If a guy like me doesn't eat this kind of food now, when else will I get the chance? I earn money precisely to eat fine things like this."
"I thought you said you make a lot of money?"
"Heheh. What good is it, Young Master? After I pay my dues to the higher-ups, give my men some spending money, and feed the ones in the holding pens, there's not much left."
As he spoke, he picked up a piece of roasted duck.
"When I was young, my master once threw away some foie gras he was eating, and I picked it up..."
"Spare me the sob story. Since when does a vile slaver like you get to play the sympathy card?"
"...Anyway, that's why I earn money."
"You say you don't make much, but I saw a lot of expensive liquor in your office."
"Ah, those are gifts from clients who use our agency..."
"If you want to make more money, just stop investing in the slaves, you idiot."
That would be the normal thing to do.
Slaves only needed to be kept breathing. They were treated as less than beasts, after all.
But Cobbler shook his head firmly.
"As I've said repeatedly, the management policy of Cobbler's Manpower Agency is to feed and raise our products well. I want to find them the best possible masters."
"...And you have no intention of setting the slaves free?"
"Then how would I make money, Young Master? This is the only trade I've ever..."
Smack.
"Keuk."
Though he'd been struck on the back of the head, Cobbler paid it no mind and continued to eat.
"Just shut up and eat."
Every time I tried to think better of this guy, he went out of his way to lower my opinion of him.
No matter how well he treated his slaves, he was, at his core, a slaver.
In other words, he was a bastard.
Just because something has less filth on it doesn't mean it isn't filthy.
So it would be fine to use him and then discard him.
Why? Because he was a bad guy anyway.
'Still.'
On my way in, I had roughly assessed the number of guards here.
Including at least twenty knights, there were also soldiers who were clearly trained, all deployed in plain clothes.
In short, breaking out wouldn't be easy.
And even if I was lucky enough to escape the auction house with the elf, getting out of this prison-like city quietly was next to impossible.
'The most certain option is to buy the elf myself.'
If I took the elf out that way, Poina would have no complaints.
Her request was to rescue the elf, after all.
If I paid a fair price and took the elf, no one would raise an issue.
"Thank you for your patience."
Just as Karron was slowly organizing his plan, the man named Nur from earlier walked slowly onto the stage.
His voice, amplified by magic, spread throughout the auction house, and simultaneously, all the lights dimmed except for those on the stage.
"We will now begin today's auction."
Clap, clap, clap.
After a brief round of applause, a boy in a tuxedo, his hands cuffed, appeared on stage.
The boy, deprived of all freedom with a blindfold and earplugs, trembled uncontrollably.
"Our first product is a young noble boy from the Barony of the southern Entro Kingdom, fourteen years of age. His family fell due to the long war, but he has been thoroughly educated in noble etiquette. As you can see, his appearance is also outstanding. The starting price is 10,000 gold. Bidding will be in increments of 5,000 gold."
The slave auction had officially begun.
Karron, suppressing his disgust, watched quietly as responses soon came from all corners of the auction house.
"Number 22. 15,000 gold."
"Number 12. 20,000 gold."
The race began.
The process of people buying other people like objects was laid bare.
"20,000 gold from guest number 12. Sold."
The first product, the noble boy, was sold for 20,000 gold.
Cobbler, who had been watching, put down his fork and spoke.
"That guest, number 12, is quite famous in this circle. A middle-aged noblewoman... she spends a fortune whenever she sees a young boy from a fallen noble house. Rumor has it that the boys sold to her are found dead on the streets two days later."
No one who bought slaves from a place like this could be normal.
That was the nature of the slave market.
A place where one could freely express desires that couldn't be shown to others.
So this was to be expected.
To complete the mission smoothly, it was best to just turn a blind eye.
But memories from a distant past kept surfacing.
The days he lived as a boy gladiator slave, the memory of charging at an opponent without even a proper meal.
The tears of another slave in the same predicament, begging to be spared, kept flashing before his eyes.
The memories from that time, buried deep in his heart, began to overlap with the scene in this auction house.
"The second product is..."
The auction continued.
A woman from a fallen noble house, a beastkin, and so on.
The people gathered here bought slaves as if it were the most natural thing in the world, and those who won their bids cheered in delight.
Karron seared every single scene into his memory.
Would it really be okay to just rescue the elf and leave?
-Why not be honest, Master?
It seemed he had unconsciously tightened his grip, halfway drawing Guillotine.
Guillotine's low voice echoed in his mind.
-Those bastards are unleashing their desires, so why can't we? You just want to slaughter every last one of them, don't you?
Hearing those words, Karron let out a smirk and muttered.
"...You really are a demonic sword."
Guillotine wasn't wrong.
He wanted to erase this place right now.
And so, Karron.
"I need to change the plan."
He decided to give in to his dark thoughts.