Old man Enric.
Or, to be precise, Enric Thomson.
He was once the Volfords' prime slave trader, known for delivering high-quality slaves and maintaining an extensive network web of acquiring anything clients demanded.
His reputation extended beyond the Volford family No even beyond the human nation, making him the "jack of the slave market" even among other major families.
That's how Arthur came to know about him.
Years ago, Enric had broken his contract with Volford—a near-unthinkable betrayal, given with Volford's brutal track record with those who crossed them.
Yet, unlike others who had met swift and brutal ends, Enric still walked free. Somehow, the mighty name of a Volford had stayed quite.
They forgot their pride.
And all that because of…
Knock! Knock!
"Hey, old man! Open the damn door!" one of the muscular man's henchmen yelled, pounding his fist against the weathered wood of a small cottage on the southern outskirts of Wallen City.
The place looked worn down, with chipped wood and sagging frames, yet a warm light and a thin line of smoke curling from the chimney gave it an oddly inviting feel, a strange comfort in the middle of nowhere.
But as welcoming as it seemed, the warmth of that cottage quickly turned to something far darker.
Thud!
Bang!
The cottage door burst open, followed by the deafening crack of a shotgun blast that tore through the chest of the henchman.
His expression frozen in shock as he crumpled to the ground, blood spreading around him. Arthur and the others had barely time to process the sudden attack as the old man stepped into view with a shotgun clenched in his grip.
"Can't you fucking read the sign?" Enric's hoarse voice cut through the silence, cold and indifferent.
He pointed with a bony finger to a wooden post stuck in the ground next to the doorway, where a hand-painted sign in bold, rough letters read:
{NO KNOCKING ALLOWED}
Gulp.
Why?
The muscular man standing behind Arthur swallowed hard, his eyes widening at the sight of the old man. Slowly, he raised both of his hands with caution, signalling peace as his gaze fixed on Enric.
"The young man here claims he's from the Volfords, and he says he has some business with you, sir."
The old man's gaze shifted to Arthur, scanning his wary expression and then, locking onto his dark hair.
"Black hair... Are you, son of main branch?"
Enric's tone held a hint of scepticism.
Black hair, as ordinary as it was in the world, in the Volford family, black hair was a rarity reserved only for the main branch, an unspoken symbol of authority and lineage.
On that, Arthur's young appearance did little to hide his origins, though in response, he offered only a silent nod.
"Doesn't really matter. I don't do business with the Volfords anymore," Without another word, Enric turned back to his cottage.
Only to be interrupted by Arthur,
"I'm here as a regular customer, not as a Volford. And I'll pay in cash,"
Enric paused, casting an irritated glance over his shoulder.
"Mentioning that name already puts you in a category I don't deal with. And I don't do individual business anymore. I'm exclusive to my contractors now."
His words were like a iron rule, leaving no room for negotiation. Arthur knew well that Enric was no ordinary man to be coaxed with Volford's name, after all he was someone who had enough guts to betray them and still dared to live in Human nation.
Definition of Chad you could say.
So there was no way, same tactics he had used to shake down the muscular man and his lackeys would work here.
But again, there wasn't a choice to began with, Enric possessed something that no other seller could provide.
Arthur's expression hardened,
"I'll leave the family!" Arthur's voice rose, desperation and conviction it was a mix of both, as he stared at the back of the old man.
Enric stopped, though instead of interest, a mocking laugh escaped him as he turned.
"What did you say? You'll leave the family?" he repeated in sarcasm, voice dripping with amusement.
"Look at you. Missing an arm, and I don't sense even an ounce of mana from you. If you go back in this crippled state, they'll kill you, themselves before you even set foot through the gate."
And he was right.
That was how the Volfords operated after all, ruthless even to their kin, especially toward those they saw as weak or disloyal.
And right now, Arthur was both in their eyes.
"So, make a contract with me. I'll pay you twice the usual price," Arthur pressed, his voice steady but desperation was obvious in his tone.
"Money isn't all I care about, brat. You'll have to prove you're worth my time."
"What do you mean?"
Enric's expression grew dark as he closed the distance between them. "My clients offer me more than just cash. They provide security and protection from savage families like yours."
He watched with satisfaction as Arthur's face fell, despair creeping into his eyes. "So, give up and stop wasting anymore of my time."
Arthur didn't have an answer for that, he was just a cripple with no influence or power to speak of, in more direct words he wasn't worthy to be even standing here.
But now there wasn't an option of going back, this muscular man and his underlings will surely attack him for money.
Because now they know about the inner code of Volford.
This was Arthur's only option, to get stronger. He has to convince the old man in some way.
"Give me a chance,"
"What?" Enric raised an eyebrow.
"Give me the slaves for the money I offer, and I'll prove I'm worth the contract."
"You little fool. After wasting my time, you think I'd risk my reputation for a cripple like you? What would you even do with a handful of slaves?"
"Then I'll pledge myself to you as a slave if I am unable to prove it."
Enric's mocking smile returned. "And you think you're worth that much?"
"Maybe not as I as a person," Arthur replied, "but I hold value as a true born Volford."
Enric narrowed his eyes, a predatory glint forming as he placed a firm hand on Arthur's shoulder with his grip like iron.
"Then why shouldn't I just take you here and now, save myself the trouble?"
"Because I'll make sure you receive more benefits in are contract than selling me,"
Enric's eyes widened briefly before his mouth twisted into a grin. He let out a booming laugh, the sound echoing through the woods around his remote cottage.
"Alright, then. Follow me, brat."
☘︎☘︎☘︎☘︎☘︎☘︎
{A/N}
So, how was the chapter, You like it?
A question before you move to next one:
Why Arthur needs slaves, like for what?
Possible options:
1. To help him clear some dungeon, so he could use his system. [Well he is still kindhearted deep down, So...]
2. To sacrifice them. [Arthur has completely embraced the darkness...]
3. Maybe for sexual purposes [Come on, he is so frustrated and stress, won't he need something to think calmly?]
4. Or a deeper reason. [You believe the Author to be so creative that he would blow your mind with this revelation]
Pls comment your Answers.. As comments would benefit us both, I will get engagement and I can promise you two like on your comment (Considering you like your comment) that way you will get stones.
Also from my previous works if you think, I would also drop it your wrong!