A few days ago.
"Let go of me! Let go of me!" Rasso yelled, struggling as he was pinned down by his teammates.
"Calm down, Rasso!" Ken yelled as he held the man's arm. "Going there now would not help your son!"
"But what could they be making him do while I rest here?!" He roared. His worries were completely valid, but going berserk now would only endanger everyone!
Rasso did not seem to care at this point, his mind triggered by the sight of his son's poor state. "LET GO OF ME—" he yelled and the wildness made the others have to let go.
Realizing he was free, Rasso immediately ran to the door—
BANG!
Rasso was thrown down to the ground. He looked up at the attacker, glaring at him with red eyes. It was Victor, standing tall, with veins showing in anger.
"Are you a fool?!" He exclaimed. "Showing weakness to Fargo would only make him exploit it!"
"You don't have a son! How can you understand me?"
At this, Victor only pursed his lips. His eyes sharply looked at him. "What if he asks you to betray us for him? Will you do it?"
This made him pause and the others looked at Rasso guardedly. "No, I—"
But he couldn't answer, because he truly wasn't 100% confident that he would not.
They had naturally all made a non-betrayal oath—made even stricter after what Gian did—but Fargo was a slick man. Who knew if he could find a loophole somewhere?
"I… I can exchange myself… since I made an oath, they shouldn't be able to get anything out of me, they shouldn't be able to make me betray you—"
"Do you really think Fargo would let any of us go? I bet he'd torture your son right in front of you until you do."
This made Rasso lose all blood on his face.
That was just what Fargo liked to do, and Rasso knew this too well.
What's more, even if their oath was tight, he'd definitely torture his son just for the sake of it!
"Then… what am I supposed to do?" Rasso yelled, covering his face with his palms. He had been suffering anxiety for a while now, and some of his symptoms had been flaring up since seeing his son.
It was around this time that an announcement sounded across the territory.
[Announcement: Slaves are now open for purchase. Go to the plaza to join the auction.]
His eyes widened and he looked up, wondering if he was hearing things. Victor and the others also had startled expressions, confirming that it was real.
This injected hope into him.
Although they were suspicious, if it had to do with money, then it was possibly a legitimate transaction. It definitely wouldn't be cheap, however.
Several people just felt relieved that there was an alternative. Benny smiled as he helped Rasso up from the floor. "Let's go, I have a few gold… I can lend you some."
"I can, too," Kenny said, and so on.
Rasso looked at them in shock. Obviously, they were just exploring the possibility of his betrayal earlier.
Looking at him like this, Victor sighed, patting his shoulder. "You're still our companion, after all."
Rasso's eyes teared up, and he was drowned in a mix of guilt and gratitude. His body shook and he bent down a bit to make a slight bow.
"Thank you," he said. "So much."
…
Fargo held the 'auction' in the plaza, showing off the various slaves who had relatives. Fargo stood in front with his right-hand men, settling on the chairs at the front. Sen stepped forward to lead the event.
"For anyone who wants to buy a slave. It's 100 gold for the weak ones, and 500 gold for the better ones," Sen said with a grin, making everyone there pale.
"That's too expensive!"
"Lower it, please!"
"I have 10 gold. I'm willing to work hard for the rest! Please give me back my wife!"
Sen's face did not change. "Do you think freeing slaves from the system is free? Idiots!"
Sen wasn't lying. Freeing slaves from the 'system' cost 10 gold. Even if Fargo decided to give the slaves for free—which he never would—the citizens still wouldn't be able to save the slaves by virtue of paying 10 gold.
After all, who still had 10 gold after so long? It was estimated that most of their money was drained during the first month in this place!
The citizens pursed their lips but tried to haggle despite feeling scared for their lives. After all, this could be their final chance to get back their loved ones!
A middle-aged man ran in front and kneeled down. This was Basil, the person who determined the locations of the well and oversaw its construction.
"That's my father!" he said, "I only have 10 silver. Please give me my father and I will continue serving you."
"What makes you think I'll accept that. Aren't you already working for me?"
"In exchange for my loyalty—" He was being very respectful and was terrified, but Fargo took it as a challenge to his authority.
"Oh?" Fargo asked and the looked in a direction. Basil watched as his father ran to the wall, willingly bumping into it, again and again.
Bang! Bang!
Basil gasped, but was held down by the guards.
Bang! Bang!
"STOP! STOP IT PLEASE!! I'M SORRY! PLEASE—"
By the time the old man stopped, he was already twitching and full of blood.
It was a horrible sight.
Regardless, no one could afford their rates, but some did manage to strike a deal.
In the end, except for one or two people who managed to strike a deal, the rest of the slaves were sent back to the mine to be exploited.
Ugo even proposed a rent-a-slave program but, obviously, Fargo wanted to make use of them for a while. In Fargo's words, the force was needed for the mines and after they managed to get enough resources, only then could they be sold—and for a higher price.
The citizens didn't have money anyway, it was time for them to save up to buy their family.
In any case, one could imagine the hopelessness a single father was experiencing.
His nightmares had become too painful to watch and Victor recommended him to see the psychologist, Doctor Wais.
She was usually busy helping out the girls who suffered under Fargo's reign—convincing them not to end things—but she always managed to find time for him.
Rasso's impression of her was that she was an angel—even with a huge burn scar on her face. She was so gentle and kind and it made a big man like her soften up immediately.
He would listen to his problems, extremely patient, and she would tell him words of wisdom that would calm his anxious soul.
She told him that his son was stronger than he was, that he raised him well and he had to believe in him.
The past few days, her sympathetic ear and kindness entered his heart. They were not lovers, but his heart began to beat for her.
Now, seeing her like this, he felt it breaking into pieces.