Chapter 66: Slave Trader
"Those two are finished. They've been caught by those jackals!"
A fruit vendor nearby shook his head in pity after watching six or seven men haul away the two unconscious individuals who had just committed murder.
"Shh! Do you want to get yourself killed? Don't say such things so loudly!" hissed his companion, quickly covering his mouth.
The vendor's eyes darted nervously, ensuring the slavers hadn't heard them. He breathed a sigh of relief when it seemed their words went unnoticed, glaring at his careless companion.
"If you don't want to be next, don't get involved in their business! Be careful, or you might end up as a slave yourself. Besides, those two don't seem like good people. What kind of decent person kills so easily?"
The fruit vendor fell silent, cold sweat forming on his forehead, as he realized the weight of his companion's warning.
Meanwhile, Charlotte and the Red Earl remained oblivious to their situation, sleeping soundly despite being in the hands of slavers. It didn't look like they'd wake up anytime soon.
---
Ten minutes after the slavers left, a team of uniformed sheriffs arrived at the bar.
Guns drawn, they surrounded the entrance.
"Listen up! Murderers inside, surrender immediately! Come out now, and you might receive leniency. Resist, and you'll face the consequences!" the security captain shouted into a megaphone.
But instead of a criminal, the tavern owner emerged, his hands raised high in surrender.
"Boss! Boss! Don't shoot! I'm the owner of this place. The two criminals you're looking for have already been taken by Kiben's gang!" he stammered.
The security captain's face darkened at the mention of Kiben.
As the sheriff of the Seven Water City, he knew exactly who Kiben was—the leader of the slave-hunting team working for the city's infamous auction house. What's worse, the auction house itself was backed by none other than Mayor Hoyle, the captain's immediate superior.
The realization left him in a difficult position.
Spinning in frustration, he muttered curses under his breath before addressing his team.
"Pack it up! We're leaving. What rotten luck!" he spat, leading his men back to their station. He'd have to report this to the mayor and let him decide how to handle the situation.
---
Meanwhile, at the auction house, Kiben swaggered into the building with his prize.
"Hahaha! Manager Fei, I've brought you two excellent specimens this time. Let's see how much they're worth!"
The wiry manager stepped forward, his eyes scanning the unconscious Charlotte and Red Earl. The sharp smell of alcohol hit him immediately.
His high-pitched voice rang out as he observed the captives. "Hmm, you only brought two? That's hardly enough! You know what happens if you fail to meet your quota. Do you want to end up in one of these cages yourself?"
Kiben forced a nervous laugh and leaned in close, discreetly slipping a wad of Berries into Fei's pocket.
"Come now, Manager Fei. The deadline hasn't passed yet. I just wanted to ensure the quality of my haul. These two are prime stock!"
Fei patted the bribe in his pocket with satisfaction, a sly smile spreading across his face.
"Fine. I'll overlook it this time. Let's see… one of them is good-looking, clean, and noble in appearance. I'll give you three million Berries for him. The other… rough around the edges. Eight hundred thousand. Fair?"
Kiben nodded quickly, though greed flashed in his eyes.
"Good, good! Come backstage, and I'll have your payment ready."
Fei led the way, and Kiben followed, his men trailing behind with Charlotte and the Red Earl slung over their shoulders.
The group passed rows of cages, each filled with miserable captives. Their lifeless eyes stared blankly ahead, the hopelessness of their situation written across their faces.
"Put them in these two cages," Fei ordered, pointing to a pair of bloodstained iron cells.
"Yes, sir!"
Kiben's men threw Charlotte and the Red Earl into the cages and locked the doors with a loud snap.
Fei surveyed the scene with satisfaction before waving Kiben over. "Come. Let's settle accounts."
---
In the luxurious office of the auction house, Fei unlocked a safe and handed Kiben a bundle of 3.8 million Berries.
Kiben couldn't help but glance into the safe, his eyes lighting up at the sight of stacks of cash and glimmering gold bars. The sheer wealth inside left him momentarily dazed.
But he quickly shook himself back to reality. He knew better than to make a move against Fei.
"This is yours," Fei said, handing over the money. "But remember, if you fail to deliver your quota this month, you'll be taking their place. Understood?"
"Y-Yes, of course, Manager Fei. I'll have the rest delivered on time," Kiben stammered, bowing as he backed out of the room.
---
Back outside the auction house, Kiben's men crowded around him eagerly.
"Boss, how much did you get for them?" one asked, his eyes gleaming with anticipation.
Kiben spat on the ground, his face twisted in frustration. "Damn it! That stingy old man only gave me 3.8 million Berries. We could've gotten more selling them somewhere else!"
"3.8 million? That's barely enough for drinks!" one of his men complained.
"Boss, did you at least tell him that one of them has a bounty of 11 million Berries?" another chimed in.
Kiben froze, his face turning pale. "Damn it! I forgot! That old bastard distracted me with his power moves, and I completely forgot to mention it!"
The group groaned in unison, cursing their misfortune.
"Forget it. Let's just go have a drink and figure out our next move. We still need three more slaves this month, or we'll be next!" Kiben growled.
---
Back in the auction house, Charlotte and the Red Earl snored peacefully in their cages, oblivious to the cries of despair echoing around them.
"We're doomed!" sobbed one of the captives, their voice sparking a chain reaction.
Soon, the prison was filled with the sound of wailing.
Ding, ding, ding!
The sharp clang of metal rods on the bars echoed through the room, silencing the cries in an instant.
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