"Then, are you going to take them?"
Seeing Maximus still not taking his eyes off his goods, he knew it was a business.
"Hmmm, tell me the price," his voice caught the attention of the twins, who looked at him coldly.
But seeing that he was not hideous looking, with fat all over his body, and still somewhat handsome, they just sighed at their fate.
"It's 50,000 gold coins for one," the man proposed.
"Too expensive. They're only tier 1 knights, which usually cost 1,000 gold coins."
"How about thirty thousand gold coins? After all, they have high potential. With a bit of training, they can reach tier 3 and above."
"Still too expensive. What about potential? Training still costs money."
"How about 20,000 gold?"
"No, you're not sincere," Maximus said as he was about to walk away.
"Don't go away, lord. How about 15,000 gold? It's already the limit I can offer," the man gritted his teeth.
His heart was bleeding.
Originally, these twins were beauties, plus with their talent, they could have been sold for at least fifty thousand gold.
I don't know what happened, but after they were caught, they became crazy and disfigured themselves.
Now he can only pinch his heart and sell them for 15,000 to stop the loss.
"Then I'll take it," Maximus finally smiled.
"It's really you, lord, who is rich and powerful," the man smiled wryly.
"Here are 30,000 gold coins. Don't talk a lot of nonsense."
"Oh, here is their magic contract."
After that, Maximus took a look at the rest of the people in the carriage, but unfortunately, his luck seemed to run out.
"Let go, I'm tired."
Maximus got into the carriage as they packed all the things he bought.
...
Nobles Area 7th Manor:
The next day,
"How was your stay here?" Maximus asked as he looked at the two defeated generals.
"What do you want?!" they said coldly.
After all, who wouldn't be angry if they became a slave?
"Calm down. I have something to propose to you," Maximus said as he took a seat.
"What?!"
"How about coming back to being once-mighty generals?" Maximus said with a smile.
"Impossible!"
They knew their condition the best.
They needed at least a tier 4 healing potion, or they would stay crippled.
How expensive is a tier 4 potion?
That is at least a million gold coins.
Even at their peak strength of tier 3 earth knight, if they are sold as slaves, it would only cost hundreds of thousands of gold.
Furthermore, such a potion is rare in this land, that you can't find it.
"Don't worry, I have a tier 4 rejuvenation potion," Maximus said as he took out the potion.
He didn't know how much the tier 4 potion is, but in his system, it only cost 30,000 gold.
"This!" The two generals' eyes lit up as they saw the potion.
"How about it now?"
"We are willing to serve the lord!"
...
After subduing the two generals, his territory now had some backbone.
Previously, the strongest one was Edwin, who was a tier 2 great knight, along with a bunch of tier 1 official knights.
You know, tier 3 earth knights are usually promoted to at least viscount rank, even without achievements.
Feeling comfortable, he went to where the two girls' room was.
"How is your stay here?" Maximus smiled, seeing them dressed neatly, but the scars on their bodies still took away from their looks.
"We thank the lord for his care," Luna said politely while guarding her sister.
"Hey, I still didn't get your names?"
"I'm Luna Silvermane, and this is my sister, Livia Silvermane."
"What a nice name."
"By the way, here's a tier 3 scar potion I happened to come across."
Seeing that they were silent, he took out the potion.
"No, we don't need that!" Luna suddenly flared.
They were the ones who disfigured themselves to save themselves from suffering.
So how can they take a potion to heal it back?
Wouldn't that be senseless?
"Oh? Why is that?"
"Because—" Luna was about to explain when she suddenly looked at Maximus, who was gazing at her with a gentle smile.
"Hmph, we just don't want it." Luna didn't bother explaining further; anyway, they wouldn't take it.
If Maximus wanted, he could just kill them.
If it weren't for the shackles of the magic contract that prevented them from killing themselves, they would have probably already done so.
"Sigh, a pity," Maximus said as he took out a mirror.
This wasn't an ordinary copper mirror with low resolution, but a high-quality one.
As soon as it appeared, Luna and Livia saw their reflections.
"This..." Luna and Livia were shocked.
Until now, they hadn't known what they looked like.
But seeing the hideous scars that could frighten children, and then thinking of Maximus looking at them with such gentleness as if he hadn't noticed their appearance, they fell silent.
"Is this me?" Despite being a strong-willed woman, seeing her appearance almost brought tears to Livia's eyes.
"It's okay, I'm here," seeing Livia about to cry, Luna couldn't help but cast a cold glance at Maximus.
"See? I told you it's a pity."
"The brightest pearl that your father was proud of has been turned into this."
"Although I understand why you did this, now that you're with me, you don't need to be so defensive."
"Really?" Livia couldn't help but be moved.
After all, who would want to look ugly?
"No! Don't be fooled by him," Luna refuted.
Seeing such a feisty girl, Maximus couldn't help but smile wryly.
"Sigh, fine then. But I'll leave this potion with you in case you change your mind," Maximus compromised as he left the potion.
He didn't want to force them if possible, especially since they would be his future wives.
Seeing Maximus leave, they heaved a sigh of relief.
Staring at the mirror and the potion that was left behind, Luna couldn't help but fall silent.
...
Five days later, Maximus was ready for the banquet.
"Is everything ready?" he asked.
"It's all arranged, my lord."
"Then let's go."
A luxurious carriage for Maximus slowly made its way to the castle.
As soon as he entered, a voice announced his arrival.
"The Count of Shadowcrest has arrived!" A trumpet blared.
Maximus walked elegantly, displaying his noble demeanor, as he ignored the stares directed at him.
"It's the Shadowcrest kid."
"It's just a lucky brat who inherited his parents' mantle."
"What terrible luck. I'm just a viscount despite my hard work, and this guy suddenly becomes a count just because he had a good father."
Noble gossip spread as Maximus made his entrance.
"It's you, Maximus brat. Do you remember me?" Suddenly, a middle-aged man approached him.
"Hmm, it's Uncle Marcus. I remember."
Count Marcus was a friend of his father's and also a tier 3 Earth Knight.
"It's good to remember. Sigh, your father suddenly left us without saying a word."
Count Marcus sighed, Marcus is now the only survivor among the lively teenagers from the past.
"Is this the kid who used to cling to me back then?" A woman joined them.
Seeing Maximus silent, she continued, "What, you don't remember me?"
"No, how could I forget, Aunt Diana? You were like a mother to me back then."
Count Diana was also a friend of his father's, but their friendship was unique.
Young Maximus even thought Diana might be his mother due to her closeness to his father.
However, their dissimilar appearances confirmed she wasn't his mother.
As for the nature of the unusual relationship between her and his father, Maximus didn't know.
"It's good that you remember, my dear nephew," Diana smiled.
"However, your father... sigh, what a pity," Diana sighed, reminiscing about the lively man she had once loved.
Unfortunately, she was a noblewoman, compelled to marry someone she didn't love.
After all, during those days, Maximus's father was just a wandering warrior.
While the three of them reminisced about the past, the King of the Faerie Kingdom made his entrance.
"Your Majesty!"