Chapter 63: 63 Buying Slaves

Chapter 63: Purchasing Slaves

Anthony ultimately conceded. As he put it, for the sake of the Viper Slave Exchange's friendship with Ronin, he would willingly incur a loss this time to strengthen ties with Mountainwood Town.

Such words were mere talk. Regardless of the world, how much truth do merchants speak when conducting business? Claiming a loss, but whether they actually suffered one or profited, outsiders can hardly discern.

For Ronin, buying these slaves at the lowest possible cost sufficed.

Purchasing slaves naturally entailed a selection process.

Ronin did not go personally this time; he no longer wished to step into the slave exchange's sales area even once more. The scenes there unsettled his spirit.

Thus, this glorious and noble task fell upon Tom and Gallon.

Fortunately, selecting slaves was not difficult. It merely involved haggling with Anthony, striving to pick out the young and robust males and the plump young females.

Yet Ronin also anticipated that among these individuals, there might be slaves of lesser constitution.

After all, he had pressed the price down rather sharply. Since Anthony could not gain greater profit from the price, he could only recoup some from the "quality."

This was a reasonable matter, Ronin could comprehend it.

However, inserting one or two inferior ones was acceptable; if too many were slipped in, he would not agree.

"My lord, what will you do with these slaves? Does the territory lack laborers?" Redar asked, puzzled.

This question pulled Ronin's thoughts back. This newly joined knight knew little about Mountainwood Town's situation.

"Mountainwood Town currently has few people. Everything is still in its initial stages, lacking various forms of labor."

Redar slowly nodded, speaking with concern: "Then purchasing slaves is a good choice. Yet managing and utilizing them effectively is somewhat challenging."

Redar perhaps possessed some knowledge of management, hence making such an assessment.

These slaves, possibly due to conditioning, had experienced some degradation in thought and cognition.

Their completion and efficiency in tasks would be slightly lower than that of ordinary serfs; their learning and acceptance of new things would also be slower, requiring constant prodding from slave owners.

Restoring them would be a long and arduous process.

In the initial phase, Ronin decided to adopt methods like striking with a stick then offering a sweet—making them work diligently for him while also letting them understand that good performance, even as slaves, would yield rewards.

Ultimately, if slaves could become normal people, escaping a zombie-like state, even activating their subjective initiative, that was Ronin's desire.

Fortunately, the number of slaves purchased this time was small, making management relatively easier. He could also use this opportunity to accumulate experience in slave management, preparing for the future.

"Redar, Macken, after returning, you can collaborate to intensify training for our guards, enhancing their combat capability. Cavalry, infantry, archers—all must be equipped."

Ronin looked at the two senior knights beside him, beginning preparations for subsequent development.

"In the forests east and north of our Wushan Territory, many savage tribes are active. Rather than spending money on slaves, I hope to conquer them, incorporating the savage tribes' people into Mountainwood Town."

Redar and Macken listened, their eyes lighting up, especially Macken.

Recently, he had envied Elron. Not only could Elron spread the lord's benevolence, enhancing his prestige among the people, but also create wealth by making spell scrolls for the lord.

He could only assist in training guards and handle unchallenging territorial defense, feeling his role too minor.

Now, he envisioned campaigning for Ronin against savage tribes. With such a goal, his path in life brightened considerably.

"My lord, what scale do these savage tribes have?" Redar began assessing enemy and friendly forces.

Regarding this, Ronin could only shrug. "Sorry, I cannot answer your question, as I lack detailed intelligence on the savage tribes. In the former administrator Prist's study, no useful clues were found; we do not know their exact scale."

Nevertheless, for a long time, savage tribes had not invaded Mountainwood Town, suggesting their scale might be small?

Redar stroked his chin, pondering: "After returning, I will serve as a scout, searching the forests to see if I can find their traces."

He looked at Macken. "Guard training and defense will continue under Macken's responsibility."

"No problem!" Macken replied.

Perhaps due to their past hierarchical relationship, Macken had no objections to Redar's arrangements and followed them.

...

Selecting about a hundred slaves was time-consuming and laborious, especially since Gallon and Tom firmly remembered Ronin's instructions, almost scrutinizing each one meticulously, preventing Anthony from easily slipping in a bad one.

But Anthony was an old hand at the slave exchange, having experienced thousands, if not tens of thousands, of transactions. He always packaged poorer slaves as good ones, slipping them in when customers were unaware. With proper moderation, customers would not trouble him.

Thus, after over an hour, fifty males, fifty females, plus one carpenter and one mason, Gallon and Tom finally finished selecting.

They looked at each other, exhaling deeply in relief.

Now, closing their eyes, they could see various bodies appearing in their minds. Those naked slaves equally impacted their spirits.

Fortunately, fortunately they could follow Ronin, avoiding such beastly lives.

After selection, Anthony led these slaves to an empty hall, ordering them to kneel, loudly and repeatedly chanting Ronin's name, ensuring they firmly remembered, engraving their master's name into their brains.

After this, Anthony gave each slave a simple hemp garment and fed them two pieces of black bread, granting them strength for the journey.

When 102 slaves were escorted out by Anthony and his guards, over four hours had passed.

During this time, Anthony arranged lunch for Ronin. The fare, admittedly, was decent.

Ronin sat on horseback, observing this group of slaves standing before him. They remained silent, expressionless, heads bowed.

But Ronin keenly noticed some trembling, perhaps still from fear of the unknown, as they did not know how their master would treat them.

"Raise your heads, slaves!" Ronin shouted loudly.

Perhaps unaware the speaker was their master, only some slaves raised their heads.

Anthony roared beside them: "Your master commands you to raise your heads! Look well, remember his face—the one you must serve even unto death!"

"From now on, your bodies, your souls, belong to him!"

"Now, kneel before your master, call his name, pledge your loyalty!"

Anthony's shouts echoed; the slaves began murmuring:

"Lord Ronin..."

"Lord Ronin..."

"Lord Ronin..."

Scattered, feeble.

Ronin glanced at Anthony. Before completely leaving the slave exchange, clearly his words were more effective.

His gaze returned to these slaves. For a moment, he did not know what to say to this group.

After pondering, he spoke: "From now on, you are people of Mountainwood Town. If you work well, I will provide food, clothes, establish shelter for you!"

"Now, stand up, follow me!"

This time, Ronin's words elicited a response. Whether they acknowledged his master status or were moved by the promise of shelter and food, they stood up, speaking thanks to the lord, expressing gratitude, promising diligent work, obeying Ronin's command silently following behind the procession.

(End of Chapter)