The dark elf landed us in our next destination, the office of the White Order. I already knew that there was a fair share of trouble awaiting us. After all, there should be too much inquiry to allow a small child like me to take on a slave. Mason is not normal either. Maybe I should use the Starfall emblem again if things get out of hand. I really don't want to show off, but this world's view on nobles and commoners is really different, so I am pushed to take a shortcut. Though it's about money or influence, I will do anything to acquire my license.
I soon bid farewell to the dark elf who gave us a ride.
"My name's Molly. You can call me if you need a ride. You can find me in Aswalt Harbor," shouted Molly as she flew on her willow bird. Her attitude towards me seems to have improved a lot. Well, I don't know if I will meet her again.
And here I entered the White Order along with Mason. The building had nothing much to admire. It was a simple two-story building in white. It had a strong wooden door with a sign that read "White Order" on it, along with a guard stationed near the door. The guard wore a white uniform with a long sword hanging by his hip. He stood with his back straight. As I entered the office, the guard gave us a respectful bow, which I didn't expect in the least.
"Welcome to the White Order, sirs," he said, opening the door for us.
I know I cannot expect the same treatment inside, but still, I entered with Mason without much thought.
Our eyes immediately landed upon the minimalist decor of the interior. The floors were smooth and shiny, as equal to the tiled floors of Earth. There were some landscape paintings. The walls were all cream white, contrasting with the brown wooden furniture. There were also several wooden racks full of books. On the right end was a single red door. In the middle of the hall, three wooden tables were laid. And there were only two people sitting at them, both of them seemed to be humans, with one wearing a collar and simple cotton clothes, and the other in better fabric attire. My eyes soon darted to the receptionist on the left.
She was a short lady dressed in a white uniform. The uniform was a blend of white and red, mostly white though. It comprised a white-laced full-sleeved shirt that complemented a red bow tie. And a short white skirt with a red belt. The table in front of her had something like a typewriter from my old world but a little different in structure, with an oval keypad. There was also a crystal on the stand and so many documents.
Except for these, there were two more male workers in the same uniform as the receptionist, the skirt substituted by white pants. They had their own table and were going through some files or documents. None of them noticed or responded to my presence.
"Umm, excuse me, I am here for the slave master contract. Oh! This is my first time owning a slave, so I will also need a slave master license and permit," I said, looking at the deep blue eyes of the receptionist.
"Sure, sir. Can you please wait for 10 minutes? The person in charge will come to guide you," she said with a straight face, not showing much emotion. In reality, I was ready to be looked down upon because I was just a kid. But this is also good.
"Ya, sure," I said, nodding my head.
"Would you like to go through the White Order manual in the meantime?" she asked.
I didn't know what it was, but I had nothing to do, so I said yes. She handed me a small booklet with 5-6 pages. Yeah, papers, not leather sheets. Papers in this world are costly, still these people have the luxury to provide a basic manual in papers. I think most of the books and documents here are also made of papers. With just this, I can see how well they are under the direct rule of the Dark Empire.
While waiting for the person in charge, Mason and I sat on the wooden benches and looked through the manual. Actually, it was me reading it and Mason occasionally glancing at it. He seemed more nervous, looking at the office.
"What is it, Mason? Why are you fidgeting?" I asked, seeing him in unrest.
"huu..? Umum...mee...Mashon...nevvrrer offfiche in lifpe," he said, looking around. Seems like he had never been to an office like this in his lifetime. Me too, as Bowen, this was a new experience, but my mind is of William, and I have gone through many things like this, so it was not new for me. Mason must also be nervous because he was going to become a slave for the first time. Even though nothing will change between us, my status as a master will still be hard for him to accept.
"It will be okay. You will get used to it," I assured him and continued looking through the booklet.
Most of the information in the booklet was about the rules and duties of masters and slaves that they must follow.
Main Rules for Masters:
·No mistreating slaves.
· Provide 3 meals a day with sufficient quantity, at least enough to fill half of the slave's stomach.
·No spoiled food that could harm the slave.
·Medication during serious conditions. The White Order also has free treatment facilities, with one or more physicians residing here. They provide free treatment for slaves.
·Physical punishment is allowed only if the slave commits unbearable crimes that harm themselves, the master, or others. slight punishment can be deniel of food (1 or 2 meal/day ) or taking of their freedom for a short period of time.
·Physical punishment must not be too harsh to permanently handicap the slave or kill them.
·If the slave commits murder or other crimes, the master is accountable.
·The master must take full responsibility for the slave's actions in private or public.
·If the master cannot control the slave, the White Order will forcibly dissolve the slave master contract, and the slave will be sold in the slave market.
Rules for Slaves:
.Obey master without question.
·No betrayal, murder, or suicide.
·Must report all their activities to the master.
·Must take care of their cleanliness and health.
·Can attend schools or educational places if permitted by the school and master.
·Can work for a daily/ monthly wage in any government or private job if allowed by the company and master.
·The total wage of the slave goes to the master.
·Not allowed to carry a weapon or money without the master's permission.
·Can own a pet with the master's permission.
·Can own subslaves when they've accumulated enough credits.
·When a slave attains noble status, the master also gains that status.
The rules were to the point and self-explanatory. There weren't many, only the basic and important ones. There were also the requirements stated to get a slave master permit.
-The master must not have a prior criminal record.
-The master must not have any complaints related to mistreatment of slaves.
- Must have enough financial capability to own a slave. (earn atleast 4 large silver / year)
-Must be more than 13 years of age to own a slave. If below 13 years, they must have a recommendation letter from a government official or a person of importance or they must be a noble or child of a noble or royalty.
[The last requirement irked me. Will the Starfall emblem count as proof of my nobility or a recommendation?] My thought was interrupted by a gentle voice.
"Hello, are you the customer who has come for a slave master permit?" said the young man with medium-length brown hair reaching his neck. He had the same white uniform but with an additional red coat. Maybe he was of higher status. His face carried a gentle, professional smile.
"Yes, it's me. And this is Mason, my to-be slave," I said.
"Ok, sir. I'm John, in charge of this branch. Please come with me for the contract," he said and without much questioning, took me to the room behind the red door.
It was like a normal resting hall with sofas and wall hangings. There was an antique chandelier, a tea table, and potted plants for decoration. We soon climbed the stairs to the second floor, following the person. He led us to an empty room with a black door.
The room was dimly lit with yellow mana lights. It was cooler than the outside. There were two magical drawings, one black and one red, engraved on the floor, overlapping one another to form an oval in the middle. Weird symbols and words outlined the circle. John took something like a metal card and placed it in the middle oval-shaped area.
"The master is to stand on the black circle, while the slave will stand on the red one," he said, looking at us.
I motioned to Mason to stand on the red circle to the right. He nervously stood there, fully awake due to nervousness even while drunk. I casually went and stood inside the black circle.
"Please stay where you are until the ceremony is finished," he said, folding his hands in a praying gesture, and his mouth moved, uttering some silent spells. Soon, the two circles lit up and began to move in a circular motion. I could sense some mana enveloping me and Mason, but it did not hurt. After 2 minutes, John asked, "Do you both willingly enter the slave master contract?"
"Yes," we nodded our heads. Mason kept gulping the whole while.
Soon, the lights dimmed, and the card levitated through the air. John caught it and asked us both to let a drop of blood fall on the card. As we both did what he said, words started to emerge on the card magically.
"All done, sir," said John, giving the card to me with a gentle smile.
[that's it????]!
"Next time you take a slave, it won't require all this process and ceremony. Additionally, you will be paying 2 large silver for each slave as tax per year. The ceremonial and license cost 30 small silvers. Would you like to pay the first year's tax along with it now?"
I already knew owning slaves came with heavy taxes. afterall it was one of the ways to reduce slavery which was proposed by the dark Empire. how many people earn 2 large silvers in a year in a rural town like Aswalt? but tax itself is this much. i heard it is higher if you go outside yuria.
I immediately took 2 large silvers and 30 small silvers and handed them to John.
"Thank you. That metal card will be your license and permit. I advise you to soon collar your slave. It's a rule to differentiate slaves from normal citizens. It will also deter unwanted problems for you," he said, guiding us back to the reception hall.
"Is there anything else you need to know?" he asked.
"Can I use this license anywhere?"
"Yes, you can use the license anywhere in Grimesphere. Please update your licence with the nearest white order branch if you get a new slave."
"Ok then, nothing else. Thank you for your help," I said. He bid farewell and returned to the room behind the red door. We left the office without anyone paying much attention to us.
Truthfully, I never expected the process to be as easy as pie. What about the age requirement, recommendation, or noble status? Whatever, I'm grateful that the process was quick. Mason seemed to be relieved too.
"Let's go get you a collar and a space ring, Mason," I said, and both of us enthusiastically left the office.
_______________
Unbeknownst to Bowen, just after he left the White Order, the atmosphere in the office changed completely. One by one, everyone started to faint and fall down.