The bartender frowned, “It’s not really a place a nice girl like you should visit.” He seemed to chew over the idea for a moment, “But you’ll probably try and find it yourself if I don’t help, won’t you?”
I shrugged, “Maybe not tonight, but it’s something I’m curious about.” For a number of reasons. I thought as a plan slowly started to form. I did send a question to Zeratus to make sure my plan was at least reasonable.
Is it possible to delay a punishment?
“Well, if you’re going to do it anyway, I can at least find someone to take you. There’s an auction once a week, but you can take a look whenever you want, usually.” Greg sighed and shook his head, “It’s tragic how common the practice is. I never saw this til we settled in this region.”
“Why’d you settle here?” I asked as I sipped at my drink.
“Martha won the tavern over cards. Well, the building. We had to convert it into a tavern ourselves.” Greg saw someone waving at him down the bar and he nodded in that direction, “I’ll be back.” He headed over with a jovial smile and clasped hands with someone I couldn’t see unless I leaned over the bar, which I wasn’t going to do.
I waited, occasionally sipping at my drink and going over my status page again. Specifically the fifteen free points I had to spend. I had options, mostly I was considering my Strength or magic based stats. Another ten in Strength would give me another kilogram of force behind my blows. Each kilogram was about as heavy as the daggers I’ve ‘collected’ that weren’t meant for throwing.
Right… I’ve got four dead bodies in my Spatial Closet. I thought grimly. Maybe I could drop them off in the alley I’d woken up in? No, I probably should have left them with the guildmaster… maybe he’ll still take them?
I got an alert about another message.
So long as you do not make a decision, the judgements will stay until you do something about them. The subject will be alerted to the Moderator responsible for the action, but it uses your Moderator name instead of your username. Unless you have other questions about the moderation system, I bid you a good night. And be safe.
I smiled at the apparent concern from Zeratus. I had been worried that someone labeled as a god would be less… personable. Despite his titles, he seems a reliable person and like he’d be a good friend to have. Though I likely wouldn’t be able to rely on him for more tangible help.
Being on my messages, I noticed that I still hadn’t gotten anything from Elias despite having connected to the communication book. I wasn’t even sure if he’d gotten my message. I’d need to check the book when I got a chance. I didn’t want to pull it out with so many people around, in case some accidentally brushed it. Thinking about it, I never really tested the edges of the hole it made for the items. It was another thing to add to the list.
“Hey, were you the girl Greg mentioned?” I heard someone talk loudly behind me. I turned to look at him. Standing behind me was a medium height man also wearing a brigandine. He had a nicely trimmed beard with a round face. “I’m Kojo!”
“Dani.” I said, finishing my drink before hopping off the stool. “He mention where I want to go?”
Kojo nodded, his shoulder length black hair falling into his face as he did. Grumbling, he pulled it into a bundle at the top and got a stretchy piece of cloth to go over it and tie it into a bun. “Sorry, have to redo my hair since we’re going out. Yea, we’ll be hitting the warehouse furthest from the gates. They hold the auction there. Think there’s one going on tonight, actually.”
“Really? I didn’t think I’d get that lucky.” I followed as he headed for the door. I waited until we were outside before asking, “How do you know about it?”
“I’m a merchant guard. Pay is good, but I don’t get to choose my clients.” He shook his head, “Sucks because I’m under contract for another three years.”
“Can you buy your way out of it?” I asked, curious how the system worked.
He barked out a laugh, “Maybe if I saved all of my crystals for the next year. You could raise a person from Tier 0 to Tier 2 with how much I owe. Maybe Tier 3 if the class wasn’t too rare.”
“Yikes. But if you finish the contract out, you get paid so long as you do your job?” Besides not being able to choose his own assignments, it didn’t sound like that bad a contract.
“Sure, but it’s already a small miracle I’ve made it the seven I have. They keep sending me on worse and worse contracts too. My last year is probably going to be high risk until I die if they don’t assassinate me.” He shrugged, “But I knew what I was getting into. Mostly.”
“Does something happen at the end of the contract?” It would have to be good if the merchants would rather kill someone than let them finish their job.
“Fifty million crystals and membership in the Merchant’s Association. Or the equivalent in land or assets. Not that anyone I’ve asked has ever met someone who’d gotten it.” Kojo had been leading the way as we walked and talked. The city gates had gotten farther away throughout, but we were still on the main road. “What about you?”
“What about me?” I responded, not really knowing what to say.
“What’s your story? Greg said you were considering buying someone to set them free, only reason I agreed.” Kojo stopped, turning to look over his shoulder. “Though I’d recommend against it. It’s a nice thought, but it’s just putting money in the merchant’s pockets to buy more slaves.”
“If I said bored noble, would you buy it?” I asked, hands in my pockets as we walked.
Kojo smiled, “Is it the truth?”
“It is true, but not the truth.” I said, cryptically.
“Must be a high level noble with an answer like that.” Kojo snorted, “None of my business, though I will recommend caution. They’ll bleed you dry if you aren’t careful.”
“I’ll keep it in mind.” I said, not actually intending to buy anything. I had a plan, and it was certainly a risky one. A way to test some of my Moderator powers without, hopefully, putting myself in too much risk. And hopefully avoiding another Chatterdeem incident.
We were quiet the rest of the way, Kojo eventually heading off the main road when the buildings started looking more functional than pretty. It was mostly large structures made out of wood without any thought to aesthetics. There were windows, but they didn’t have glass, or even shutters on them, instead I could see leather flaps nailed to the outside with a combination of Night Vision and my high perception.
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
Then I looked at the people starting to file into one of the large structures. There were carriages parked along the street, some with fancy decorations and house identifiers on them, others were plain and nondescript. Several people wore masks, and I idly wondered if I should come back after getting one.
Kojo noticed my hesitation, turning around to check on me. “Don’t worry too much about a mask. The regulars all know each other, it’s the same in every city. I wouldn’t be surprised if most of them just wear them as a fashion statement.” He rolled his eyes to show his disdain for the practice. “Waste of time, if you ask me.”
I shrugged, “If you say so. You’d know better than me.”
I followed him to a side entrance, away from where the general crowd was entering. “I’ll take you to the stock rooms so you can have a look before the actual auction. It should still be getting setup.”
As he led me through a couple hallways, I didn’t know what I expected. A series of cages with people in crammed inside. People tied up and forced into kneeling positions as they waited for their captors to sell them off in droves. Armed guards walking up and down rows of shackled prisoners.
The truth was creepier.
When we got to the stock rooms, there were rows of people, though they were all just standing there. Not in an uncomfortable position, and only a few had shackles of any kind on them. They were dressed in ragged clothes that were dirty from likely weeks of travel, but they were otherwise in decent condition. Each one of them had a collar on, and there must have been two dozen or more there.
Even the children were standing motionless in the dimly lit room. That was enough to make my fists clench, but there wasn’t a lot to do with the situation. I wasn’t strong enough to break them all out by force, I’d get overwhelmed by the merchant’s guards, and if they didn’t the city guards would do something. Then I’d be going to jail and the people here would still be slaves.
Fuck, I hate this. I thought, walking along the rows of people. “Can they understand me?” I asked Kojo.
“Yes, and they will answer direct questions if asked as truthfully as they can. They can resist answering, but it’s painful and most don’t bother.” Kojo said in a mechanical tone, not enjoying this much either. “Anything in particular you’re looking for?”
I shook my head, and activated my Scan spell.
I looked through the people pausing on the Elementalist. It was an older woman, mid to late thirties probably, who had brilliant blue hair and her eyes had slits in them. There was a faint scale texture to her skin, but I didn’t want to touch anyone since I didn’t know if that was allowed.
I kept going, getting a wide variety of classes, both combat and non-combat. The children were all some variety of Orphan or Street Rat, and it made me grimace as I considered what they were going to be involved in. Probably nothing good.
It was near the end that I noticed Scan had gone up a Tier and was starting to give more information. Not a name, but it did list approximate age. The reason this was notable was the last child I’d scanned.
I blinked a few times, kneeling down to get to his eyelevel, which was a novel experience since everyone was usually taller than me. Just to verify, I looked to the left and scanned another child.
I narrowed my eyes at the strange child. His hair was almost white as snow and hung down around his head, covering his ears and parts of his face. Despite his appearance, I could tell he was stronger than he looked. I looked him up and down, thinking about it. “What’s your name?” I asked, looking at him.
“Adelhard.” He said softly, though he looked like he didn’t want to.
I looked over at Kojo. “I’m curious about this one. Is there someone around I can ask about for a price?”
The guard looked at the person I was in front of and shook his head, “All the children go to the auction floor. If you want them, you have to bid on them.”
I frowned, but stood up. With one last look at the mystery child, I headed over to Kojo. “Alright, lead me to wherever I need to go to participate.”
He nodded, “Alright, it’s this way.” The merchant guard led me down some more halls towards the main lobby. Kojo talked with a receptionist who gave me a paddle with the number 43 on it before I was led to a larger room with a small stage built onto it.
I didn’t really know what I was getting myself into with this. Most of the people in masks were off to one side, lightly holding similar paddles with numbers on them. They were gossiping amongst themselves. There were some unmasked people hanging around, but none of them seemed like the centers of attention. I felt auras coming off the masked people, but none of them made it past my own.
Then, there were the more serious people who were forming a small crowd closer to the platform. They were dressed in fine clothes, but the few discussions I heard were talking about getting cheap labor, either to cook, clean, or work in whatever establishments they were the owners and operators of.
“Ay, girlie! You’re much too pretty to be here alone.” One man said, walking over. “My, what exquisite bone structure. You wouldn’t want a job, would you?”
I raised an eyebrow. He was dressed in well made, but simple slacks with a button shirt and a half coat that exposed his middle. There was jewlery all over, and I could feel a slick aura coming off of him that felt like someone was trying to dunk me in oil. Politely, I asked, “What kind of job?”
“Oh! Not an outright rejection!” He laughed jovially and put an arm around my shoulder to guide me off to the side. I let him, though I tensed and was ready to defend myself. “Relax. I’m just asking if you want a job at my establishment.”
“What kind of establishment?” I asked, slowly losing patience.
“I run one of the finest brothels in the city, of course!” He laughed, looking around. “Almost everyone here knows me.”
My mouth twisted in distaste at the thought of working in a brothel. The idea of men and women touching me intimately brought painful memories to mind. Memories that weren’t my own. “I… will pass. Thank you. I am not sure I would be comfortable working next to slaves either.”
“Oh, that’s the beauty of it! I just keep them until they’ve paid their debts, then free them and get new ones.” He smirked, “Though actual employees get all the more lucrative clients.”
Quest Discovered
Broken Laws
You have identified someone breaking the rules of Veldern.
Laws Broken
- Illegally holding someone against their will
- Purchase of slaves
- Forcing of persons into sexual acts against their will
- Torturing of another sentient and sapient being
Punish them for their crimes. Authorized for Level 3 Punishments
I shook my head, but couldn’t help blinking at the notification. Before I could address it, I smiled politely at the man whose nose I wanted to introduce more intimately to his brain. “I will pass. I am sure you will find what you’re looking for here.”
“Oh, but miss, you are all I am looking for now.” He said, holding his hands to his chest in a pleasing gesture, “I ask that you at least stop by. Perhaps one of my boys can tend to you and show you just what you’d be doing if you accept a job?”
“No.” I said, flatly. “Stop asking.” My patience for the man had run out.
He frowned in disappointment, but bowed his head. “Very well. Enjoy the auction.” He left, looking back at me occasionally. That’s going to be a problem. I thought, already anticipating violence after the auction was done.
Kojo wouldn’t be there to help either, since he’d already left. I didn’t see him in the auction hall, anyway. I wasn’t worried, though. I had my map and could find my way back to the gate easily. I could then figure out the best way back home.
What I was happy with were the many notifications I was getting. When I minimized the first quest, it had gone to a little tab were three other quests waited. By the end of the night, I hoped it’d be far more.