After the permit was sold and taken, the last Item was auctioned off, It was also the item most wanted by all the powers there.
"Now Ladies and Gentlemen, this is our highlight tonight, This item found inside the body of a rank 10 beast. After appraising it, we are aware that it is a type of a gathering stone, it not only gathers the mana in the air but also purifies it to a higher state." As the woman was speaking many were skeptical about it. If it was as good as they said, why would they sell it? There must be a catch.
Seeing their gazes the lady kept spoke again.
"Now, we know what everyone is thinking. But there is a price to pay for activating it." Seeing everyone attentively listening with interest she revealed a beautiful smile.
"The price for 1 hour of its activation is 1000 Medium-Grade Mana Stones, the mana from inside will be absorbed, purified and condensed but for that, it loses half the energy. "
"Ridiculous! Losing 500 MG-Mana Stones!? Are you mad!? The whole empire barely finds a few thousand a years!" an aged man spoke and walked out, not even bothering anymore. Just to activate it one needed at least 1000 MG-Man Stones, where can they get it? aside from the 7 Major Families and the Royal Family, no one is capable of it. What a joke!
Many more left after hearing the lady. 'Indeed, although its effects are good, the price is not worth it. not to mention that losing 500 MG-Mana Stones, which are enough to create 100 rank6 mages. Although level 6 is not a peak powerhouse, 100 of them will definitely be a force equal to those of the Major families.' thought the leader of the adventurers guild in Sun City.
The leader of the adventurers guild shook his head and also left. Amisa left, only one standing was the representative of the Royal Family. When the auctioneers saw that they could only wryly smile.
"Does mister has any interest?" said the lady while the man only nodded his head. After a few words here and there it was sold to him for a relatively cheap price of 10.000 LG-Mana Stones. No matter how good a treasure, what was it's use if it can't be of use? by the time this item would be useful, There would be higher grades of mana stones.
While all that was going on, Ryle was rushing back to the village with the man in cloak closely following behind, to not attract attention he had just a regular horse, regular for these times at least, so he could not catch up to Ryle.
In the meantime, Amisa was back in her mansion. "Seli, send a message, I want that family. especially the boy, Ryle."
"Already done Mis." Seli said as she slightly bowed.
"Good, send an additional team, that old goat will definitely not let us take such tasty meat."
"Already done Mis." Seli once again bowed.
"Wow, oke, and send some-"
"Already done Mis." Seli once more bowed, "Assassin Team 0 has chased that man since the start. Captain Leona is leading them, they should be able to at least hinder him if not kill him."
"Seli...." Amisa said as she smiled.
"Mis...." Seli, smiled in return and walked towards her.
"You are getting bolder Seli, too bold for my liking, go to our brothel in the city and you will be working as a special tonight, 10 LG-Mana Stones and I want to see at least 1000 by tomorrow. Next time you interrupt me, I will make you a special for the guards for a week and this time free." Amisa said while Seli just bowed and left.
"Tsk, why is it so hard to get an obedient slave without being a slave," Amisa grumbled and went to lay on her bed.
Similar conversations, well, without one being sent to a brothel as punishment, were occurring in the city.
Back in Fors village, Lisa and Lyn were playing together. because of her age, Lyn was no longer practicing while Lisa was still too young, Both Ryle and his parents thought that it was for the best if she just enjoyed her childhood.
Ter and Lily were doing their own thing in the bedroom, thankfully there were not overdoing it so no voices were heard. In the village head's house, both Kent and Lady Milan were embracing each other as they laid on the bed. Jordan was counting his game of the day while his 2 kids were watching him attentively, Mike... Well, he is being Mike, butchering all the game brought today while his wife, Mea was watching him like a girl that just fell in love. Emilia and Talia were both drinking together, singing songs while talking about their experience of the day.
Everyone in the village was living their peaceful lives, not because they did not know the situation, but because this might be the last time they see each other. They knew that by now, they were already sold and that their lives were no longer theirs. They wanted to run, but where? the forest? only if the wanted to be eaten by beasts, beastmen's empire? if that liked being eaten by them, sure.
With no allies to help, no strength to fight back, no will that mattered to others. All they could do was enjoy their possible last moments and hope that they were together with their loved ones.
While the storm was nearing Fors Village, in the capital, another storm was slowly brewing.
In the throne room of the emperor, the 55th Emperor of Ultimum was holding his head as he looked at his most trusted subject and one of his few friends.
"Tell me, William, what were the results?" The emperor spoke as he looked at William, Ultimum's emperors personal adviser and righthand man, the 5th strongest human in Ultimum, 9th rank mage William "Demon" Renal
"Your majesty, I am afraid they did not pass, your first son Zane's behavior was like a god overlooking ants, he did not look them as people. I am afraid that if he becomes the emperor, Ultimum will not take long before it is plunged in war." William said as he shook his head, the first Prince was madman, arrogant and conceited so much that he was better of dead.
The king also let out a deep breath. "What about Zac?"
"As for the second Prince, Zac, he was even worse. Most of the women he came across were forcefully taken. If not for my son being by his side, they would have a tragic end. Thankfully he fears my son reported to me and I to you so he did not force himself on to them, but the brothels he visited were... missing a few body parts when he left." William showed a disgusted expression on his face, the emperor who saw that once more let out a breath.
"Both of them are not worthy to inherit the throne. And both of them will be a disaster if left alive. Your Majesty, either strip them of their power or banish them. I know that because of your promise to her late Majesty the empress, but both of them are a ticking time bomb." William once again said as he slightly bowed. Normally if someone said to the emperor that their sons had to be killed or banished, the would instantly cut off his head, but the 55th emperor only sighed once again and shook his head.
"What about Leanard?" He spoke with hopeful eyes. But William ruthlessly crushed his expectations
"The third prince is a scheming snake, he tries to hide his deals and evil but naturally he can't hide from my intelligence network." William proudly declared, but the emperor once again let out a breath.
"What did he do? slave trade? weapons? illegal dealings?" The emperor said in a mocking tone, not towards William, but towards himself.
"Yes, he controls many different bandit groups that raid outside villages every year, and every time they will take the young children and the beatiful girls still virgin, then they are sold to dirty nobles and even to the beastmen to be raised a livestock."
'BANG'
"WHAT!? HE SELLS OWR SUBJECTS; WHO WE ARE SUPPOSED TO PROTECT TO THOSE FILTHY BEASTMEN? AS LIVESTOCK!!?" The emperor screamed as he broke the throne underneath him. This throne was only once broken before and that was when the First Empress Rayla lost her husband in a fight. In anger and sorrow, she destroyed the throne room and then later went on to annihilated 2 thirds of the enemy Empire with her 10 trusted guards.
"Your majesty, calm your anger. " William said but it had no effect, selling their subject to nobles in illegal slavery was already beyond his temper but to sell him, to beastmen, such a beast in human skin, had to die.
"CELICA!" The emperor raged as he called out a name, in less than 10 seconds a shadow knelt in front of him.
"BRING ME LEANARDS HEAD AND DISPLAY IT ON THE CASTLE GATES FOR ALL TO SEE!"
"Yes!" With a shorth replay, she vanished once more.
After a few minutes, the emperor once again calmed down his anger.
"Send the guards, arrest and kill all those who even as much as touched a hair of those kids and girls. Every noble that treated them like humans will lose 20% of their wealth and distribute the wealth to the victims but do that privately. I do not wish for them to suffer unfairness. If not for the greedy council, I would have already abolished this godforsaken practice."
"That will be done"
"Now, the tell me if I should kill the 4th as well."
"No your majesty, the 4th prince is kind but unsuitable for the throne. he is easily influenced and very timid, these kind of people are not suited to hold power. He will either become a puppet for the council or turn into a madman once he tastes so much power."
"Do I truly have no worthy heir to my throne?" the emperor held his head in his hands feeling depressed, where did he go wrong? one was arrogant and conceited, acting like a god, the other was an enemy of all women, once he received the throne, where ever he went, the women would be sacrificed for his lust and madness. The 3rd as a beast in human skin while the 4th was unworthy because of his character.
"Why did you leave me so early Emilia, You were always the one who was better than me in this regard." The emperor spoke with sadness in his eyes.
"All hope is not lost, your majesty," William said with a smile
"William, the only child I have left is Emily, she is not talented to reign the council in." The king shook his head.
"Indeed, her talent is lacking, but her moral character is like the late empress, just like her mother she is also very wise and intelligent. She knows how to run an empire, she would be the ideal empress." William said as he shook his head, so much talent was put somewhere else and not in her talent to grow in strength.
"But, if she marries someone talented to act as her shield, she can be the empress while her husband will be the emperor," William said which made the emperor nod his head. This was not the first time something like that was done, many of the empresses before had strength themselves, but some of them, even a few emperors were not talented but their partner was.
"What is your plant?" The emperor spoke as he finally saw some hope.
"The annual genius ranking. Because of Princess Emily is still relatively young, only 16, her husband can't be much older. Let her choose her husband in the coming years and then we will raise them both with all our strength." William said but his voice was a bit sad as well.
"Your majesty, how long can you last?" he said while looking at his long friend.
"at most 10 years, that is if I don't fight, but that is impossible, so possibly 5 years if not less. no more than 6." The emperor said as if he was not talking about his own upcoming demise.
"Venar...Your majesty, we need 2 years to groom them into worthy rulers, the princess has to make a choice in 4 years' time." William said before bowing his head, planning to leave.
"William, it was not your fault, your wife was in danger and your son died because of me. I am very sorry old friend." Venar, the 55th emperor of Ultimum said as he walked up of his throne and patted his friend on the shoulders.
"Your majesty, it was my duty and my pledge that I did not hold, excuse me your majesty, I feel very tired." After a bow, William left. leaving Venar with a sad look in his eyes, reminiscing about the past.
'Not long left dear, just a few more years and we will be together again.'