Chapter 96: My faithful servants
Primou opened a wide smile.
— Come.
— I think you will find exactly what you are looking for.
He led me toward a group of extremely muscular men.
All of them remained perfectly still.
Huge bodies.
Dense muscles.
Several scars spread across their torsos.
It was obvious that they had faced countless battles.
Primou opened his arms proudly.
— All of them were trained from a young age by a true Knight.
— Each one received years of military discipline.
— They are excellent products.
— I am certain they will satisfy your requirements.
I did not answer immediately.
I approached the largest one.
A completely bald man.
His gaze remained empty.
Without the slightest emotion.
I ordered mentally.
— Biochip.
— Display this slave’s status.
[Beep.]
[STATUS]
[Name: Unknown]
[Sex: Male]
[Race: Human]
[ATTRIBUTES]
[Strength: 3.0]
[Agility: 2.0]
[Vitality: 3.0]
[Condition: Organism under the continuous effects of neurotoxin.]
I carefully observed his pupils.
They were excessively dilated.
His reflexes were slow.
Without any trace of consciousness.
I then moved on to the second.
Then the third.
All of them presented practically the same report.
I looked at Primou.
— Their minds...
— Were damaged.
He did not try to hide it.
On the contrary.
He smiled naturally.
— Yes.
— Knights possess extremely high mental resistance.
— A simple obedience seal used by Official Mages would be impossible for an Acolyte to control alone.
He slowly walked among the slaves while explaining.
— So we use another method.
— Continuous brainwashing.
— Physical conditioning.
— Hypnosis.
— And a carefully measured combination of neurotoxins.
He gently patted the shoulder of one of the men.
Who did not react at all.
— They lost part of their intelligence.
— However, they remain extremely efficient.
— They obey immediately.
— They do not question.
— They do not feel fear.
— They do not run away.
I continued observing those men.
It was an extremely cruel method.
But...
It was also efficient.
So I simply asked.
— What is the price?
— One hundred magic crystals each.
A high price for a human.
But completely justifiable.
I continued analyzing all of them.
The Biochip silently compared their attributes.
After a few minutes...
I chose the two best ones.
Both possessed slightly superior physical attributes compared to the others.
I took out two hundred magic crystals.
Primou received the payment with great satisfaction.
Soon, he returned carrying a small wooden box.
When he opened it...
I saw a green snake calmly coiled inside.
It was small.
But its yellow eyes conveyed a certain danger.
Primou carefully lifted the box.
— This is a Forest Green Snake.
— Its venom is the true security mechanism for these Knights.
He continued explaining.
— Both of them received a modified variant of this venom.
— Every ten days...
— They need to receive an antidote produced exclusively from this snake.
— Otherwise...
— They will die in an extremely painful manner.
I looked at the snake again.
Interesting...
It was an excellent method of control.
Especially for owners incapable of using advanced mental techniques.
Primou added:
— In reality...
— This is rarely necessary.
— Their training alone was already enough to make them absolutely obedient.
— Consider the venom only an additional guarantee.
I carefully closed the box and stored it.
Then I added.
— I still need a maid.
— Someone capable of acting as an assistant in experiments.
Primou immediately smiled.
— Naturally.
He took me to another area of the tent.
There were several women there.
All of them were very well cared for.
Dressed in simple yet elegant clothes.
Unlike the Knights...
Their eyes still possessed a certain amount of consciousness.
I spent several minutes analyzing them one by one.
Naturally...
I was not interested only in appearance.
I discreetly ordered.
— Biochip.
— Compare their physical condition.
Reports began to appear.
Finally...
I chose precisely the one whose organism presented the best conditions.
She was also one of the most beautiful.
Long brown hair.
Clear eyes.
Elegant posture.
Despite the metal collar attached to her neck...
She still maintained a certain silent pride.
Primou noticed my choice.
— Excellent decision.
— She received domestic training since childhood.
— She was also prepared to work in simple laboratories.
— She knows basic procedures.
— Organization.
— Equipment cleaning.
— Ingredient separation.
— Utensil sterilization.
— Besides...
— She received a special potion.
— Her organism can withstand much higher mana concentrations than an ordinary human.
— This prevents her from being slowly corroded while working near magical experiments.
I raised an eyebrow.
— And the price?
Primou answered naturally.
— Her life expectancy has been drastically reduced.
— She will hardly live beyond thirty years.
I looked at the young woman again.
Her face remained completely calm.
As if she had already accepted that fate a long time ago.
In the end...
I completed the purchase.
...
Some time later...
I finally left the Layfay Family Market.
Behind me walked two enormous Knights wearing full armor.
And a few steps behind them...
The young maid followed silently.
Her simple dress swayed with the wind.
The metal collar around her neck had a small silver lock.
As we walked...
I discreetly observed the surroundings.
I soon noticed something curious.
We had not left through the same entrance.
Ahead of us were walls.
A busy road.
And a huge city.
I smiled discreetly.
The VIP service...
The Layfay Family truly thought of everything.
Important customers received a different exit.
Much safer.
Naturally...
They also charged for it.
But for me...
It was worth every crystal.
As soon as we moved several meters away from the walls...
The three stopped at the same time.
They knelt before me.
— Master.
They said in unison.
I observed them for a few seconds.
Then I calmly asked:
— Do you have names?
The two Knights exchanged a brief empty glance.
One of them answered first.
— No.
— We ask that the Master grant us names.
The young woman also lowered her head.
— I was never permitted to keep mine.
I remained silent for a few moments, thinking.
Then I pointed at the larger of the two men.
— You will be called Kant.
He lowered his head even further.
— I receive this name with honor.
I looked at the second one.
— You will be Tinod.
— Yes... Master.
Finally...
I turned my eyes toward the maid.
She waited motionlessly.
— As for you...
I smiled slightly.
— Your name will be Jane.
She discreetly raised her eyes.
For the first time, I saw a small emotion cross her face.
It was almost...
Gratitude.
The three of them knelt completely.
They lowered their heads.
They kissed the tips of my boots.
— We thank the Master for granting us names.
— We will keep them forever.
I shook my head.
— Stand up.
They immediately obeyed.
I then observed the surroundings.
Small forests surrounded the road.
In the distance...
A huge city could be seen.
Much larger than any of the ones I had visited before.
Carriages continuously entered and left.
The trade seemed extremely active.
I looked at Kant.
I took out a bag containing ordinary coins.
I handed it to him.
— Go to the city.
— Buy a sturdy carriage.
— Also acquire clothes for all of us.
— And enough provisions for our journey.
He bowed deeply.
— Yes... Master.
Before he left...
I remembered something.
— Wait.
The two immediately knelt again.
I looked at them.
— From now on...
— Do not call me Master anymore.
I paused briefly.
— Call me Young Master.
The three answered at the same time.
— As you wish...
— Young Master.
I watched Kant depart toward the city while the dust raised by his steps slowly disappeared along the road.
I remained silent for a few moments.
Then I turned toward the other Knight.
— Tinod.
He immediately straightened his posture.
— Yes, Young Master.
I approached a few steps.
There was something that had awakened my curiosity since I bought them.
— Can you remember anything...
— Before you became a slave?
Tinod remained completely still.
His empty expression seemed to waver for a brief moment.
Then he slowly brought one of his hands to his own forehead.
His face began to contract.
— I...
His breathing became heavy.
— No...
He slowly closed his eyes.
— Whenever I try to remember...
The veins on his neck bulged.
His jaw trembled.
— My head...
— It feels like...
— It is going to split in half...
He pressed his forehead tightly.
A genuine expression of suffering appeared on his face.
I carefully observed every reaction.
Then I raised one of my hands.
— Enough.
He immediately stopped trying.
He took several deep breaths.
His gaze returned to its usual emptiness.
I crossed my arms.
So it is exactly as I imagined.
Those drugs used by the merchants truly destroyed a large portion of their memories.
There were probably still hidden memories remaining.
However...
Whenever they attempted to access them...
The mental conditioning itself caused intense pain.
It was a very efficient mechanism.
The Biochip would probably be able to eliminate that blockage.
But...
There was no advantage in doing so.
My objective in buying those slaves was never to free them.
I needed reliable subordinates.
Not people who recovered their past and began desiring revenge, finding their families again, or abandoning everything to rebuild their former lives.
Even if they remained loyal...
It would create countless unnecessary variables.
The fewer complications...
The better.
I then turned my gaze back to Jane.
She remained a few steps behind.
Her hands delicately crossed in front of her dress.
Her posture was impeccable.
As if she had been trained throughout her entire life to remain exactly like that.
Her extremely pale skin subtly reflected the sunlight.
It possessed an almost milky glow.
It was so smooth that it awakened an involuntary impulse to check whether it was truly as soft as it appeared.
Her face was delicate.
Small.
Almost like that of a carefully carved doll.
She noticed my gaze.
She immediately lowered her head.
— Young Master...
I asked calmly.
— Do you remember your childhood?
She slowly nodded.
— Yes.
Her voice was soft.
— I was raised by merchants from a very young age.
— Then...
— I was sold to Lord Primou.
Her answer came out naturally.
Without emotion.
Like someone who had already accepted that fate many years ago.
I continued.
— What did they teach you?
Jane answered immediately.
— Etiquette.
— Cleaning.
— Organization.
— Household management.
— Cooking.
— Sewing.
— Simple accounting.
She paused briefly.
— I was also trained to assist alchemists.
I raised an eyebrow.
— To what extent?
She answered a little more timidly.
— Ingredient preparation.
— Cleaning glassware.
— Material separation.
— Sterilization.
— Temperature control.
— Cataloging.
Then she lowered her head again.
— But...
— I am not an Acolyte.
— I cannot manipulate energy particles.
— Whenever an experiment requires mana...
— I cannot help.
She discreetly tightened her grip on the edge of her dress.
— I am sorry...
— Young Master.
I smiled slightly.
— On the contrary.
— This is already more than enough.
And it truly was.
I would never allow anyone to directly participate in the most important stages of my experiments.
....
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