Chapter 71
The information Caron gathered from Cobler about Reben could be summarized as follows:
The slave market in Reben operated with the tacit approval of Marquis Leandro.
Most of the slaves captured and brought to the market were refugees fleeing from the southern kingdom.
There were over ten detention camps where these slaves were held.
Slaves with high value, such as elves, were only sold at auctions that were likely run directly by Marquis Leandro himself.
Cobler didn't seem to have held back any secrets.
"Of course, there's no direct evidence that Marquis Leandro is involved, but my suspicion is strong," Cobler admitted.
"What's your reason for suspecting Marquis Leandro is behind this?" Caron asked sharply.
"He takes bribes, doesn't he? People only accept bribes when they've got something to hide. The giver always knows," Cobler explained.
"...That makes sense," Caron replied thoughtfully.
The conclusion was clear. If he wanted to rescue the elven slaves, he'd have to confront Marquis Leandro directly.
Cobler continued to glance nervously at Caron, then explained, "As you probably noticed on your way in, Reben is practically a fortress. Its location is perfect for running a slave market."
As a border city, Reben enjoyed considerable autonomy from the central government, and the position of marquis allowed Leandro to maintain a large private army. After all, the duty of a marquis was to defend the border, which granted him extraordinary authority in the region.
So he's using that power to run a slave market? Caron thought. Something about it didn't sit right. Slave markets were typically run by those with nothing to lose. For a marquis to take such risks, there had to be more to it.
Marquis Leandro had close ties with Duke Salmon's house, one of the empire's most influential families. Caron would need to investigate further, but it was clear this wasn't just about money.
While Caron walked through the narrow alleyways, pondering the situation, Cobler suddenly stopped in his tracks and said, "We've arrived, Young Master! That's the auction house where the top-quality slaves are sold."
Caron lifted his gaze slowly, eyes narrowing as he studied the structure before him.
The building before them stood in stark contrast to the dilapidated structures around it. It was impeccably maintained and far too ornate for what was supposed to be a slave auction house. At the entrance, men stood guard with swords at their waists. Though they wore plain clothes and white masks, Caron immediately recognized that they weren't ordinary guards.
They're knights, he thought.
By the looks of them, they seemed to be at 4-Star and 5-Star. There were eight knights in total, which was far too many for the mere task of guarding a slave auction.
"When they auction off rare merchandise like elves, the security gets tightened like this," Cobler said cautiously. "Just so you know, Young Master, I'd recommend avoiding any unpleasant incidents..."
"Your face is the most unpleasant thing here," Caron muttered, waving a hand dismissively.
"...S-Sorry. Let's head inside then," Cobler stuttered, scratching his head awkwardly before approaching the guards.
"Good work, everyone," he said amiably.
The leader, clearly the commander of the group, stepped forward and demanded, "No entry today without an invitation. Show me your invitation."
"I've brought an important guest. He's looking to purchase some valuable items today," Cobler explained as he gestured back toward Caron.
The commander glanced at Caron, his eyes narrowing as he looked him up and down. "An important guest? Does he have an invitation?"
"He only just arrived today... Can't you make an exception? He carries a Black Card from the Imperial Bank. You know what that means. It's a direct transaction certification!" Cobler said.
The commander's expression stiffened as he asked, "Cobler, did you verify the card's authenticity?"
"Yes, of course! I had someone from the Imperial Bank confirm it. You know how I work. If he weren't a sure thing, I wouldn't have brought him here," Cobler said.
The commander's gaze shifted back to Caron. After a long, silent examination, he finally stepped closer and bowed slightly before asking, "Excuse me, but may we verify the card ourselves, just to be sure?"
Caron's brows furrowed in irritation as he looked down at the bowing commander. His voice dripped with annoyance as he said, "That's the second time today. How dare you people question me?"
"My apologies," the commander replied. "We normally only admit guests whose identities have been thoroughly confirmed. According to protocol, you shouldn't even be allowed inside, but we're trying to accommodate you. Please understand and grant us this favor."
"If what I'm looking for isn't inside, you'll be the one held responsible," Caron snapped, pulling the Black Card from his coat with clear displeasure.
The commander received the card from Caron, then said with a bow, "Please wait here for a moment. It won't take long." With that, he quickly disappeared inside the building.
Not much time later, the commander reappeared. But this time, he was accompanied by another man. The newcomer was dressed in an expensive suit, was roughly of average height at just about 170 centimeters, and wore a golden mask. With a polite bow, he introduced himself.
"It is an honor to welcome such a distinguished guest. I am Noor, the head of this auction house."
Noor glanced at the commander, who then returned Caron's card. Noor then said, "I must apologize for the rudeness of my subordinates. It is our strict policy not to admit anyone without an invitation, but I'm sure you understand."
Caron chuckled, his smile mocking. "Since when do vermin who sell slaves care about principles?"
However, Noor maintained his composure, his lips curling slightly into a soft smile beneath his mask. Bowing again, he replied, "Please forgive the slight. I will ensure that you are well taken care of today. We have many fine items up for auction, and I am certain you'll find something to your satisfaction."
With a nod, Caron tucked the card back into his coat. The fact that he could bypass even an exclusive, members-only place like this with his Black Card made him appreciate its power once again. He hadn't acquired it for this specific purpose, but who was he to argue with its usefulness? It seemed the card would come in handy more often than he'd anticipated.
With the verification complete, Caron proceeded into the auction house.
***
The inside of the auction house was even more lavish than Caron had expected from the exterior. Crystal chandeliers sparkled above, and the lighting added an elegant glow to the room. The seating arrangement, with its wide spacing and luxurious chairs, felt more suited to an upscale restaurant than a place that dealt in slaves. Quite a few distinguished guests had already arrived, seated and awaiting the auction's start.
"This is your seat," Noor said, guiding Caron to the most prominent spot in the room.
The seat offered a clear view of the stage where the auction would take place. In truth, it was more like a private room than a mere seat. A golden-trimmed chair had already been prepared in front of a table laid with lavish food and wine, awaiting his arrival.
"If you ring the bell on the table, our staff will go to you immediately. Should you desire any specific dish or drink, please do not hesitate to ask. And during the auction, if there is an item you wish to bid on, simply write your bid on the magic panel next to the bell. I hope you will enjoy your time here," Noor explained.
With a slight bow, he quietly closed the door behind him, leaving Caron and Cobler alone.
Caron took a bite of an apple he took off the table, glancing around the room as he chewed.
"There are no special devices here, Owner," Guillotine's voice echoed telepathically in his mind.
Good, Caron replied internally, reassured that there was no eavesdropping magic in the room. He turned to Cobler, who was standing nearby and looking around nervously.
"If you're hungry, go ahead and eat something," Caron offered casually.
Cobler's face lit up with gratitude as he stuttered, "R-Really? Can I?"
Caron waved him off, saying, "It's not as if it costs much."
"Thank you, Young Master!" Cobler said; he didn't hesitate any longer and eagerly reached for the food. He spread foie gras pâté on some bread and shoved it into his mouth without a second thought.
Caron watched him and commented flatly, "For someone who used to be a slave, you sure have expensive taste."
Cobler swallowed, chuckling as he replied, "When else would a guy like me get to eat something this fancy? I work to make money so I can enjoy things like this."
"I thought you said you make a lot of money, didn't you?" Caron asked.
Cobler chuckled darkly and answered, "What's the use of earning a fortune, Young Master? After paying off my superiors, giving my subordinates their pocket money, and feeding the ones back at the camps, there's not much left."
He picked up a piece of roasted duck and popped it into his mouth, chewing slowly before continuing, "I remember once as a kid, I snatched some foie gras my master had tossed away—"
"Spare me the sob story. Since when do slave traders get to play the sentimental card?" Caron interrupted coldly.
Cobler scratched his head awkwardly, grinning and saying, "...Oh well, but that's why I keep making money."
"For someone who claims to not make much, your office is stocked with expensive liquor," Caron pointed out.
"Oh, those are just gifts from the clients who frequent our office..." Cobler replied with a smile.
"If you want to make more money, why not stop wasting it on the slaves, you idiot?" Caron retorted. It was normal to do as Caron said, not wasting money on the slaves. Slaves just needed to be alive, since they were considered worse than animals.
However, Cobler firmly shook his head and said, "As I've said many times, our policy at Cobler's Manpower Agency is to feed and take care of the merchandise. I want to find them good owners if possible."
"...Never thought of freeing them instead?" Caron asked.
"Then how would I make a living, Young Master? This is the only thing I learned..."
Smack!
Caron struck Cobler on the back of the head, but Cobler barely flinched, continuing to eat as if nothing had happened.
"Just eat your food," Caron muttered.
Every time Caron tried to give Cobler a break and think positively about him, Cobler did something that reminded him of who the man truly was: A slave trader. It didn't matter how kindly he treated his slaves; at the end of the day, he was still scum. He was just a slightly cleaner pile of filth. Just because there was only a little bit of dirt, it didn't mean there was none.
Caron thought that he would just use Cobler for now, but eventually planned to toss him aside, figuring he was just as bad as the rest.
His eyes scanned the room. On their way in, he had discreetly assessed the guards. There were at least twenty knights, likely more, and several well-trained soldiers in plain clothes were scattered throughout. Breaking out of the place by force wasn't an option. Even if by some miracle he managed to escape with the elves, sneaking out of this prison-like city would be nearly impossible.
The best option is to buy the elves myself, Caron thought.
That way, he could walk out with the elves legally, and Foina wouldn't object. After all, she had asked him to save the elves without specifying how. If Caron paid the price and took them out, no one would complain.
As Caron solidified his plan, Noor appeared on the stage, his voice amplified by magic and spreading through the auction house. The lights dimmed, save for those illuminating the stage.
"Thank you for your patience. We will now begin today's auction," Noor announced.
A smattering of applause followed; then a young boy appeared on stage, shackled and dressed in a tuxedo. He was blindfolded and gagged; all sense of freedom had been stolen from him. The boy's body trembled uncontrollably.
"The first item is a fourteen-year-old noble from the Entro Kingdom in the south. Though his family has fallen due to the long war, he was trained in manners befitting his noble heritage. As you can see, his appearance is exceptional. The starting bid is ten thousand gold, with increments of five thousand gold."
The auction began in earnest.
Caron watched in silence, trying to suppress his disgust as the bids started to fly.
"Bidder twenty-two, fifteen thousand gold."
"Bidder twelve, twenty thousand gold."
It was a race, one in which people placed bids on other human beings as if they were nothing more than commodities.
"Bidder twelve wins. The bid was twenty thousand gold," Noor announced. Just like that, the noble boy was sold off.
As Cobler set down his fork, he said in a low voice, "That woman, the one in seat twelve, is infamous in these parts. A middle-aged noblewoman, she has a thing for young boys from fallen noble families. Rumor has it that the boys she buys end up dead within two days, their bodies discarded in the streets."
Caron wasn't surprised. Anyone who would buy slaves here wasn't normal. Slave markets were always cesspools where people gave free rein to their darkest desires.
The auction continued. More nobles, beastmen, and others were brought up, and one by one, people eagerly bid on them. The winners celebrated with cheers when they claimed their prizes.
Caron etched every detail into his mind. In truth, he wondered if it was really enough to just save the elf and leave.
"Be honest with yourself, Owner," Guillotine said.
Unconsciously, Caron had gripped Guillotine so tightly that he half-drew the blade. Its voice resonated in his head.
"They indulge their desires openly here. Why shouldn't we? You want to kill them all, don't you?" Guillotine continued.
After hearing Guillotine, Caron chuckled softly and said, "You really are a cursed sword."
Guillotine wasn't wrong. At this moment, Caron wanted to erase this place from existence. So, he made a decision.
"I'll have to change the plan," he muttered.
Caron was going to take a darker path.