Seeing the intense gaze of the father and son duo fixed upon his face, Komer knew that if his answer did not satisfy them, even he could not predict what the outcome would be.
However, it seemed that the other party bore no ill will, for even the disabled Jack was this close to him. Still, the fervent look in both their eyes indeed made him feel pressured.
"Why do Mr. Piro and Mr. Jack seem to be so interested in this ring?" Instead of answering their question, Komer appeared very composed and natural. His gentle gray eyes held a touch of surprise, which did not reveal anything unusual to the two men who were keenly observing his expression.
"Uh, Your baron, my question might have been a bit impolite, but this ring has a close connection with our Feller family, which is why I took the liberty of inviting you here," Piro probably also felt his behavior was somewhat inappropriate, but due to his urgent mood, he could not attend to these proprieties.
"Oh?" Shifting his gaze away from the father and son, Komer pondered how to answer the question. He certainly couldn't say that he had taken it from a dead person; the fact that he practiced Necromancy absolutely could not be revealed to outsiders at the current time, not even to the likes of Puber and Ylot. Yet, the ring clearly had an extraordinary origin, and claiming to have bought it or received it as a gift seemed unlikely to dispel their suspicions. This was indeed a bit tricky to explain.
Seeing Komer seemingly at a loss for words, Jack and his father became somewhat anxious. They did not understand how the ring had ended up with him, and it seemed he was unaware of the value and significance of the ring, which puzzled them greatly.
"Mr. Jack, Mr. Piro, regarding the specifics of this ring, I ask for your forgiveness, as I cannot divulge anything without understanding the situation fully. However, I can tell you briefly that the ring supposedly belonged to a friend of mine, who unfortunately died in an assassination. Before his death, he handed this ring to me."
Komer spoke vaguely, but he did not lie; the person had indeed died in an assassination, although he dared not recklessly speculate about the type of assassination, so he could only deal with the father and son as ambiguously as possible.
The elderly man visibly relaxed, sinking back into his wheelchair. His gaze dimmed as he lowered his head and murmured to himself, "So he really is gone, ah, I should have anticipated this."
Seeing his father somewhat distressed, Piro coughed lightly, "Your baron, may I ask what your friend looked like, and who assassinated him?"
"Heh, Mr. Piro," Komer evaded smoothly, "As I mentioned earlier, I cannot share details carelessly as per my friend's instructions. Please understand."
The atmosphere in the room suddenly turned somber. Piro realized his request was excessive; the other party was initially just a customer looking to buy slaves, and here he was, having drawn him to this place and broaching many off-topic subjects. No wonder the other party was feeling displeased.
"Alright, Piro, for the baron to have done this much, we are very grateful. I have also heard that the baron is heading to Caucasus, and the purpose of buying slaves today is probably to prepare for that journey. The Caucasus is a magical and beautiful place—I once stayed there for a while when I was young. Damarlinsk Castle is not as terrifying as most people imagine, but there are many mysteries there that need to be unraveled; of course, the ordinary person can only leave disappointed and may even encounter danger. However, I have a premonition that Your baron will definitely have a satisfactory outcome there."
As if awakening from deep thought, the old man's once ruddy complexion now showed signs of aging. He stopped his son, who was about to speak, and gestured, "I hope that Your baron, if possible, could visit Cyprus more often. Perhaps the next time we meet, we will have a more relaxed atmosphere. Hmm, to express my apologies for today's impertinence, Piro, go and help the baron choose a few suitable slaves, as a gift from me to Your baron."
The aged man spoke with unwavering certainty, causing even Komer to be momentarily taken aback. Gifts of a few slaves for himself?
Was it because he had visited this place? This made him feel somewhat flattered but his three years living in exile and enduring hardships had instilled in Komer a depth one would not expect from someone of his age. He stood up and bowed politely, then thanked him, "For such a gift from an elder I dare not refuse. Thank you, Mr. Jack, for your generous gift. Should opportunity arise, I shall surely pay a visit to your esteemed self."
The subsequent tour of the estate proved to be an eye-opening experience for Komer.
The sprawling manor had continuous dwellings with very few empty rooms. Frankly, the Feller family's treatment of slaves, whom most people considered personal property, and the living conditions provided to them were relatively mild. It was far from the severe and cruel treatment touted by abolitionists. As Piro, who was giving the tour, put it, which merchant would want their goods damaged or dusty before a sale? Would that not be a needless loss?
Komer roughly estimated that there were at least three hundred slaves from various races gathered in the manor, including a considerable number of Half-beastman slaves and even a few of the exceedingly rare Elf Clan. Based on current market values, these slaves alone were worth over 1.5 million golden shields, and this was merely the price of slaves in storage, giving Komer a deeper understanding of the power of the merchant families within Cyprus City.
It didn't take long for Piro to choose two servants for Komer. These were men from the West Andes border hills, a region known for its conflict with the neighboring Seville Principality. The Kingdom of Nicosia had been in longstanding opposition to the principality, with ongoing small-scale wars along the border. Residents from both sides were often captured by armies and sold into slavery, and these two young men were likely seized by the troops of Seville Principality and sold into the Homer region through various channels.
Komer briefly reviewed the documentation for the two young men, which was necessary for the trading of slaves, noting their names and sources, along with a unique seal from the place they were sent from. With this documentation, the trade could be conducted legally, without other concerns.
"Mr. Piro, I extend my gratitude to you and your father for your hospitality. It's truly an honor to know both you and your father," said Komer as the horse-drawn carriage that had come with them was already prepared.
Piro clearly had no intention of returning to the city with Komer and Ylot; he answered with a smile, "Your Excellency the Baron, you are too polite. I should be the one honored to make the acquaintance of you both. The Baron was entrusted with his own territory as soon as he came of age. Please believe that my father's judgment is always fair and accurate, and his views on the Baron are in no way sycophantic. I trust that the Baron will find ample room for development in the Caucasus and look forward to your return. Should you need anything, please do not hesitate to inform me."
As he took the black iron seal handed to him by Piro, Komer immediately knew that the unique material signified the Feller Family crest.
However, such family crests were normally not given away unless the recipient had a profound and close connection to the family. Komer felt surprised once again. While it might be somewhat acceptable to offer servants as compensation for making a sudden invitation, a family crest was far from being comparable to one or two ordinary slaves; it was akin to treating oneself as an important ally or partner of the family.
Yet, from any perspective, Komer did not see himself as meeting this condition. Even though he was nominally the lord of the Caucasus, he knew that such an arrangement could not deceive those who were well-informed.
Since they had made this gesture, they must have had their reasons. As the beneficiary, especially considering his current situation, it seemed there was no reason to refuse. Komer gladly accepted this gift and was about to express his thanks when suddenly, from not far away, he heard the sound of shouting and the clear, pleasing clang of weapons clashing.