Field was tormented by the stench of the slave market, which made his nose sore. The stingy merchants were like vampires, unwilling to spend a single copper coin for a bath for the slaves. Five or six slaves could only curl up in a cramped cage, taking care of their eating, drinking, defecating, and sleeping all within it.
There was no privacy, no dignity, and even the right to commit suicide was denied due to their upbringing.
The cages placed outside had many female slaves exposed without even a piece of rag, blatantly displaying their bodies to passersby as a marketing strategy that proved quite successful. Every day, toothless old men would come to gawk at them.
"Sir, would you like to buy a slave? Essential for plantations, all hardworking and capable."
"Rare elf slaves, only for a thousand gold coins!"
"New store opening, hurry over, sir!"
Field, dressed in an appropriate black robe and carrying a fine steel longsword, with a handsome face, clearly looked wealthy. The slave traders' eyes lit up; they loved dealing with nobles, not only because nobles had strong purchasing power unlike those who just came to gawk without buying but also because nobles consumed slaves at an alarming rate, often returning as repeat customers.
In the eyes of these noble lords, slaves were even less valuable than their own hunting birds and dogs, casually disposable.
Field glanced over the iron cages holding the slaves, whose eyes lacked even a basic sparkle, dirty and disheveled, with faces so grime-covered it was hard to distinguish between male and female. Their bodies bore cruel whip marks, and occasionally, a slave would meet Field's gaze only to quickly lower their head and shiver.
"How much?" According to the map, the green dot was among these slaves, and Field asked prices while searching.
"Sir, the price varies greatly depending on the race."
A merchant with a sharp face like Doraemon rubbed his hands together: "Goblins, half-orcs, and pixies are 10 silver coins each, demi-humans 20 silver coins, orcs 60 silver coins. If you're looking for entertainment, well, the sky's the limit."
The merchant pointed towards the large cage inside the building, where the most eye-catching was the elf priced at a thousand.
She was extremely beautiful, dressed in revealing gauze that showed her fair skin. But her eyes were vacant, like those of a fool.
"This elf has been ruined by goblins, having given birth at least twenty-six times. Haha, but she's still in high demand. I plan to send her to the auction house, where she won't be available for just a thousand gold coins. Would you like to consider it?"
"I'm not interested in her." The green dot wasn't her, and Field didn't have that much money to spend on a plaything, so he shook his head immediately. "How much for human slaves?"
"Humans are smarter and more obedient. Male slaves are 40 silver coins each, females 25 silver coins. They're all for work, though. If you want some fun, I still recommend elves. Even if not for amusement, they make good meat or magical ingredients when killed."
Field felt a chill; in this world, nobles were not the elegant and decent beings portrayed in TV shows but feudal tyrants.
Hearing that elven flesh could nourish yin and yang, proud elves were quickly served on dining tables, despite their resemblance to humans.
While chatting, Field located the green dot. His gaze moved to a corner cage where a green dot appeared like a guide above the cage.
It was a demi-human, specifically a wolf-demi, with red pupils, ears, and tail resembling those of a wolf.
Currently, dressed in rough linen, she lay motionless in the cold, damp cage, only occasionally glancing at the key around the merchant's waist.
"A rare species from the grasslands. Our slave-hunting team worked hard to breach their stronghold. Those damn savages fight fiercely," the merchant said proudly, recounting brutal facts. "If you want to play with a wolf-demi, it's best to bring servants for assistance. Otherwise, you might accidentally get... Well, it goes without saying."
"A wolf girl?"
Field was thrilled; as a seasoned otaku from Blue Star, he had no resistance to a red-eyed wolf girl.
Like teasing a dog, Field carefully reached out his hand to try and pet her head.
"Huff, huff~"
"You better be careful," frowned the butler Kao.
The wolf-girl growled threateningly in her throat, her crimson eyes reflecting dangerous glints. Knight captain Conner already had his sword ready: "Sir Field, please don't touch them. I wouldn't want any trouble before we head to Nightshade Territory."
"No need to be so tense, she's quite cute." Though saying that, Field was sensible enough to heed advice and withdrew his hand. He saw both defiance and dejection in the wolf-girl's eyes, both cute and pitiful. Field straightened his clothes, "How much?"
"Just three gold coins!" The merchant saw Field's desire and named a higher price, closing his eyes.
One gold coin was equal to one hundred silver coins, and one silver coin was equal to one hundred copper coins.
Field's face turned serious, his eyes narrowing slightly: "You just said demi-humans were 20 silver coins each. Are you trying to mock a noble?"
"Oh, she's special, isn't she beautiful? Just captured not long ago, guaranteed a virgin, and never peeked at by the filthy eyes of commoners. She's also an exhibit for the auction house. Such exquisite beauty, too bad she's a demi-human, an impure creature! Otherwise, I wouldn't sell her for less than 300 gold coins."
"Fifty silver coins, don't test my patience." Field crossed his arms in front of his chest, tempting with promises of "I'm about to take up my post in my territory. The slaves and playthings I purchase won't be limited to her alone. Whether this is a one-time deal or many times, it's up to you."
"Hiss~" These words scratched at the merchant's inner desires.
After a moment of internal struggle, forming an alliance with a noble with actual territorial power was definitely a good idea. The merchant gritted his teeth: "That depends on how many you purchase."
The butler gave Field a puzzled look; previously, Field wouldn't haggle but empathize with the merchant's difficulties.
After meticulous selection by Field, they purchased 100 human slaves and 100 demi-human slaves, including 120 men.
Including the wolf-girl Field had taken an interest in, costing 53 gold coins in total.
"Sir, this is the soul contract of the slaves, all verified by the chosen ones."
"Contract?" Field took the parchment covered densely with names.
"Yes, this is a vow made with the blood of the slaves. Those who defy your will will be burned to ashes by divine fire," the merchant said lewdly, handing over the rope leading the slaves. "So, you can do as you please, have fun, my dear customer."
"I will." Field waved his hand. After all, if he couldn't enjoy himself in the cursed lands, he would likely be corrupted and killed anyway.