Chapter 95: I need to buy some slaves.
On the second day, I returned to the Layfay Market once again.
Naturally...
Using another face.
My hair was now dark brown.
My eyes had acquired a blue hue.
Even my height and posture had been altered by the transformation spell.
As soon as I crossed the market entrance...
I heard the same confusion of voices again.
— Sir! Do you need a guide?
— I only charge one magic crystal!
— Sir! I can show you the best shops!
I smiled faintly.
The same children were still waiting for customers at the entrance.
My previous disguise would never be associated with my current one.
As for my mana fluctuations...
I was not worried either.
Yesterday, I had been extremely careful to avoid Official Mages.
None of them had analyzed my mana signature.
Besides...
Recording another individual’s mana fluctuations required specific preparation.
No Mage would waste time doing that randomly with strangers.
My gaze quickly swept across the children.
I chose a girl who appeared to be around ten years old.
She wore a very simple white dress.
She was thin.
Even somewhat frail.
But her eyes showed liveliness.
I approached her.
— You will be my guide.
Her eyes widened.
Soon, she opened a huge smile.
— Thank you very much, sir!
She gave a small bow.
— I know this market like the palm of my hand!
I took out a magic crystal.
I tossed it to her.
The girl carefully caught it with both hands.
She looked extremely happy.
— I want to go to an area... of a higher level.
The girl blinked a few times.
— Do you mean...
She lowered her voice even more.
— The second level?
I nodded.
— Exactly.
She remained silent for a few seconds.
Then she discreetly looked around.
— Sir, you know that...
— To enter there, you need to possess an item valued at least one thousand magic crystals...
— Naturally, I do.
— Just show me the way.
She couldn’t see my expression hidden beneath my robes.
Even so...
She obediently nodded.
As we walked, I began organizing my thoughts.
For months, I had visited countless markets.
All of them had exactly the same problem.
The truly precious items simply never appeared.
Ancient ingredients.
Rare materials.
It was as if there was a hidden layer that remained invisible to ordinary customers.
Until I finally discovered rumors about a second level reserved only for truly qualified individuals.
That was exactly why I was there.
I was still missing countless ingredients to produce two extremely important formulas.
Mana Blood of the Plant Potion.
Mana Soul of the Forest Potion.
Even after traveling for two months...
I had found very few compatible ingredients.
If even that market did not possess the remaining materials...
I would probably need to develop completely new substitutes.
Something extremely troublesome, but I would not be surprised, after all, they were extremely ancient recipes.
I continued following the girl.
She led us into a completely deserted alley.
There was practically no one nearby.
She discreetly approached a wall.
Inside a small hole hidden between the stones was another small black stone.
She removed it.
Then struck it three times against the wall.
Bang.
A slight tremor spread throughout the entire structure.
Soon after...
Part of the wall slowly slid aside.
Revealing a narrow underground passage.
The girl looked at me.
Her voice was now only a whisper.
— It’s here...
I observed her expression.
She genuinely seemed afraid.
I only made a gesture.
— Continue.
She nodded.
We descended the stairs.
The environment gradually became quieter.
After walking for several minutes...
We arrived before a massive metallic door.
There were two guards there.
Both wore blood-red robes.
My Magic Sense immediately analyzed their auras.
Level III Acólitos.
And they were not ordinary.
The amount of killing intent radiating from those two was enormous.
The girl approached them.
She quickly spoke with them in a low voice.
Then returned to me.
She bowed.
— Sir...
— I can only accompany you this far.
After finishing speaking...
She immediately turned around.
She ran up the stairs, practically fleeing from that place.
I watched her small silhouette disappear into the darkness.
I slightly frowned.
She is truly afraid of this place.
I continued walking.
The two guards did not even change their expressions.
One of them extended his hand.
His voice was completely cold.
— Proof.
— Or present an item valued at least one thousand magic crystals.
I looked directly at him.
Even standing before those two...
They had probably killed many people.
Without saying a word, I took out a small pouch from my waist.
Inside it were ten second-level magic crystals.
I threw the pouch toward the guard.
He calmly opened it.
He quickly looked at the contents.
Then closed it again.
Without showing any greed.
Returned the bag to me.
I nodded internally.
That showed a certain level of professionalism.
If they were thieves...
They would never have returned that small fortune.
The guard slowly turned a lever.
The enormous metal door began to open.
A lit corridor appeared before me.
I entered without any hesitation.
Right behind me...
The door closed again with a heavy thud.
Only then did I truly begin observing the place.
This underground space was smaller.
Much smaller.
There was practically only a single main street.
But...
The quality of the people present was completely different.
There were no crowds.
Each individual walked while maintaining a great distance from the others.
Silence prevailed.
I carefully observed each aura.
First-level Acolytes?
None.
Second-level Acolytes?
Only a few.
The vast majority...
Were third-level Acolytes.
Their mana waves were dense.
Stable.
Far superior to those found in the market above.
And there was something even more interesting.
My gaze slowly swept across the entire street.
Official Mages.
Finding an Official Mage seemed like something absolutely ordinary.
I slowly walked along the market’s main street.
..
.
.
.
.
Half an hour later...
I pushed open the door of a stone cabin marked by a huge symbol of gears.
As soon as I stepped onto the street, an involuntary smile appeared on my face.
Finally.
I had succeeded.
Inside the bag attached to my waist were some of the ingredients that Totil had mentioned as ingredients for the potion.
The main ingredients of the two ancient mana potion formulas...
Plant Blood Mana Potion.
Forest Soul Mana Potion.
As for the secondary ingredients...
Those could be replaced.
As long as I conducted enough experiments.
Thanks to the Biochip, testing hundreds of combinations would only be a matter of time.
Naturally...
It would still cost many resources.
But it was perfectly possible.
I quickly looked at my bag.
More than half of the four thousand magic crystals I had set aside had disappeared in just a few hours.
Even so...
I felt no regret.
Money existed to be used.
While carefully storing all the vials and boxes containing ingredients, I began organizing my next steps.
As soon as I find a truly safe place...
I will immediately begin the experiments.
If I can replace the secondary ingredients...
The two formulas can be continuously reproduced.
Just imagining that...
My mood improved even further.
Suddenly, while walking...
A succession of loud voices broke the silence of the market.
— Come!
— Excellent quality!
— Last batch!
— Take advantage!
I frowned.
That completely contrasted with the rest of the environment.
I followed the sound.
A few minutes later...
I stopped before a huge area surrounded by metal fences.
My expression remained unchanged.
A slave market...
Behind the bars...
Hundreds of people stood lined up.
Some completely motionless.
Others stared into emptiness.
There were faces marked by resignation.
Humiliation.
Fear.
Indifference.
Mages and acolytes walked before the fences, evaluating the slaves exactly as they would any other merchandise.
I crossed my arms.
Seems convenient...
I would remain approximately a year and a half in the Distant Wind City.
During that period...
It would be impossible to handle all tasks alone.
Originally, I intended to hire servants and guards when I arrived.
However...
Slaves trained by Mage families possessed an advantage.
They were usually subjected to extremely strict magical contracts.
This considerably reduced the risks of betrayal.
Besides...
Some received specialized training since childhood.
While analyzing everything...
A merchant noticed my interest.
He immediately opened a huge smile.
— Sir!
— Are you looking for companionship?
He pointed toward a row of elegantly dressed female slaves.
— All of them are excellent quality!
— Some belonged to the highest nobility!
I quickly observed the group.
The women kept their heads lowered.
Even in that situation...
Some still retained a certain aristocratic bearing.
The merchant noticed my gaze.
He smiled proudly.
— You can rest assured.
— All of them were captured legally.
— Their fiefs were conquered.
— Their families lost the wars.
— They were sentenced according to the laws of the victors.
I nodded slightly.
While observing that group...
A memory crossed my mind.
The young noblewoman I had encountered months ago.
The one who had fled desperately while being pursued by the men of the new Baron.
Could it be...
That she would also end up behind one of those bars?
I discreetly shook my head.
In that world...
The defeated rarely received mercy.
The merchant continued trying to convince me.
— How about a family?
— You could rape the mother and the daughter right in front of the husband, who wouldn’t be able to do a thing—how about that?
I looked directly at him.
— I am not looking for that.
He blinked.
— Then...
What do you want?
I answered calmly.
— I need guards.
— Preferably Knights.
— I also need some assistants capable of working in laboratories.
— Disciplined people.
— Who know how to obey orders.
The merchant’s eyes lit up.
— Ah...
— Then you are looking for premium goods.
He stroked his own chin.
— These products have a different price.
— But I believe we have exactly what you are looking for.
He made a polite gesture.
— Please.
— Follow me.
I followed behind him.
We passed through several corridors.
I saw extremely muscular men.
Old scholars.
Children.
All of them were slaves.
Some remained completely apathetic.
Others stared at any buyer with obvious fear.
Mages walked among the fences, occasionally pointing at a slave who aroused their interest.
After a few minutes...
We entered a large tent.
Inside, the environment was much more organized.
The merchant called out loudly.
— Primou!
Soon, an extremely fat man appeared from behind a curtain.
The two approached each other.
They began talking in low voices.
I could not hear clearly.
I only noticed a few discreet glances directed at me.
After a few moments...
The two smiled.
The first merchant bid me farewell warmly.
— Then I will leave this distinguished customer with you.
Primou slowly walked toward me.
His expression was much more professional.
He gave a small bow.
— Honored customer...
— My friend has already explained your needs.
He smiled politely.
— By coincidence...
— We recently received a very special batch.
— Slaves classified as VIP.
— I believe you will find exactly what you are looking for.
He turned around.
He made a gesture for me to follow him.
Without saying a word...
I followed behind him, curious to discover what kind of merchandise this market considered worthy of the VIP classification.
....
1861 Words