Books Is More Expensive Than Lives
"Your Excellency, Here…". (Elijah)
Coming to my side in Mina arms, was Elijah she give me the 3 gold coins which Old Grimm gave to her just before.
"Hn?…No, Keep em…you're the one who translated the book for him just now not me…just keep it…don't forget to give 1 to Mina, she's after all have been carrying you the entire time you know…".
I refused to take the money and put it back in her palm.making a big deal out of 3 coins wasn't my style, I'm not that petty. she tried to protest, I simply ignored her and tell her to use the coin for herself and buy anything she wants with it.
"We're here...". (Baroness Lydia)
Stopping right before a large store call 'Dragon Blood', Baroness Lydia turned to us and opened the door. The store front was extravagant, big double door, golden decorations, for a potions store it was certainly over the top. We were greeted by 2 woman wearing a maid clothes (Like the cosplay), before Baroness Lydia immediately calling for the store owner, Lydia and Mina sat at the guest lounge, while I take a look at all the produce.
"quite a variety…..quite good..".
I must say that, the potions quality was definitely outstanding, the range of potions they sale was also quite large. Vitality potions (@ Health potions) range from low quality (Which diluted with 80% water) up to High Quality (Which made from concentrated high quality items, like dragon blood). Even the potions vial was highly presentable, I was enthral upon seeing such store actually.
"Ahhh, Baroness Lydia….it's been a long time….to what do my humble store owe your visit today…". (Dragon Kin gentleman)
"Sir Xalbus…good day, we were just visiting...I bringing His Lord Duke guest around the town…and happened to stop by..". (Baroness Lydia)
"is that so?…then it an honour for me to host such esteemed guest…". (Xalbus)
I was shocked to see the store owner, He was a Dragon-kin with true High Dragon Blood (Which is very rare to find). Dragon-kin is one of the main race in Beast race, possessed a humanoid physique structure just like human, but Dragon-kin have a scale like skins, hind legs of a dragons, Horn on their head and a very distinctive fang like teeth and reptile eyes. Xalbus the store owner have a green scales, 2 meter high, with lean body type, yellow eyes, white haired and long moustache with brown twisted horn, he was very polite, wearing a simple penguin tuxedo, he looks like a wise English gentlemen.
"Elijah ask the owner if he has potions to treat burned wound?…or scar removal medicine..".
"Potions for a burned wound?…hmm, we do have them in the store….but for scar removal…I never heard such potions exist…..Hmmmmm, burned potions...here it is…". (Xalbus)
After hearing Elijah request Xalbus searched the potion amongst the display shelf, and pick up a vials with purple liquid then put it on the lounge table before Elijah.
"Your Excellency, is this for me?..". (Elijah)
"Hnmm,….well, who else...hmmmm..".
Carefully examining the potions, i was wondering how to use it. It was a common knowledge that potions was used by consuming it internally (Drinking). But, from what I see and know isn't it better to use it externally?.
(Consuming potions by drinking it was a common knowledge, IN this world….that doesn't mean you can't improved them with earth medical advancement..)
What T.A.S said was actually what I'm thinking, actually this burned potions was more effective if it was turned to external usage which applied directly on to the wound like paste or lotions. I was thinking of combining Earth medical treatment with Magic, It would make a great combinations, I should try this later.
"I want 20 Vials of each quality of Vitality potions, 80 Mana potions, 20 Antidote potions, 100 Vials of low concentrated paralysis potions and 200 vials of paralysis antidote…".
What hearing my order from Elijah, stunned Xalbus. His eyes were bulged, he looks towards Elijah and Baroness Lydia alternating between them, before snapped out and telling his staff to immediately pick the potions I ordered. It took them 30 minute to pack the whole order, each potions was packed inside a wooden chest carefully, the total price of all the potions I bought was 300 gold coins, I casually took out 310 gold coins to pay all of the potions (10 Gold coins was the tip.), Xalbus was beaming with smiles as he saw a stack of gold on the table.
"Thank you for visiting my store!….it's been along time since someone almost cleaned my shelves…hahahahaha, i hope Lady Elijah, would considered coming to my store the next time you visit Merrina…". (Xalbus)
"Certainly, till then Mr. Xalbus…..". (Elijah)
The happy Dragon men send us to the door as we leave the store and headed to our next locations, which is the slave market. I need a skilled worker and large man power to rebuild my keep, and for that Elijah already asked Baroness Lydia about a construction company, but according to her a constructions company does not exist, only a local personal carpenter were available for hire, and the cost was extremely expensive as they only receive works within the town and duke territories. That's why, her best solutions was to buy a skillfull slave from the slave market as it was cheaper than hiring a local carpenter, also at this time of the year the slaves were abundant.
To get to the Slave Market, we have to turn back from the noble street and drive south passed the Market street and entered the Common district, it the part of the town where free man caste live. It was fairly clean and well monitored, as we drive by, I can see town guards going around patrolling the street, People wearing a normal clothing (Unlike in the noble district, this part was more similar to the a fantasy novels scenes). the Slave Market was located near the end of common district, Slave market was fairly big just, like a town square there's a few platform all around the square, Large tent store.
"Quite a crowd though...".
My comment break the ice amongst the woman in my group, Mina was definitely sad by the scene before her, as For Elijah and Baroness Lydia both of them only shows cold looks.
We survey the Market slave for a suitable slaves to buy, it was an harrowing scene to see, but this is the way of this world. Accepting that fact was more logical things, rather than denying it. The Strangest thing about this market was, the gender and race imbalanced 90% of the slaves were females and not humans, the prices was also way cheaper. Human slaves were mainly females, their price also higher than other races females. As for Males slave the prices was over the top, especially male of human races, also the buyer was all human nobles, I asked Baroness why is this imbalance happened.
"Humans preferably buying a human race slaves, as it was easier to communicate with them….if they were buying other races than human…..it was most likely for pleasure, or consume….this nobles bastards sickens me…!!….". (Baroness Lydia)
"......".
(I guess the part 'Consume' took you by surprise right?....it's a fact and a well know 'Secret' culture in high nobles society....they thought by consuming other races flesh especially the pure blooded and virgins will give them some kind of benefits....its all just idiocy made up by envy and unmeasurable stupidity of humans who privileged with power and wealth….And you think that rich people on earth were crazy, Fantasma rich people were even crazier).
T.A.S said all of this in a monotone voice, but honestly even I was disgusted by these stupidity, humanity are capable of achieving great things, but it even capable in doing stupid shit as well, and that fact were the same even in the other world.
Baroness Lydia lead us through the crowds, and we entered one of the large store in the Slave market. Unlike the loud and crowded place in the slave square, inside the store was fairly quite and clean, it looks like a normal office (Medieval fantasy style). Seeing us entering the store, A female attendant came forward to greet us.
"Esteemed Ladies and Gentlemen, Good Afternoon And Welcome to 'Green Hive', Ah…Baroness Lydia…It's an honour for you to grace us with your presence..". (Female attendant)
Wearing a tight Maid uniform, The female attendant bow gracefully in front of us.
"Good day to you to Candice, is Madam Here?..". (Baroness Lydia)
Baroness casually walks in front of us and entered one of the room, we follow her lead and make ourselves comfortable in the room.
"Yes Baroness,….please wait here for a moment, I shall inform her of your grace…". (Candice)
Candice gracefully leave the room.
"Green Hive is one of the top 3 slave traders in northern Hallerus, the owner was my acquaintance, people called her Madam Hive….She's trustworthy, in my opinion she can accommodate your excellency needs of an urgent workforce…". (Baroness Lydia)
Looking at her, I can see she was fairly confident about this. Still before long Candice once again entered the room this time following behind her was a tall Lady(?).
"Ahh~~~ Lydia~~, how you doing little girl!!!…owh~~ look like we got a guest in the room~~". (Lady?)
Just as she entered the room, instead of sweet voice coming out from her, a loud Hoarse womanly tone voice echoes. She was actually a transgender, 2 meter tall, blonde haired wearing a tube dress,exposing the lines of her large breast and supple bottom, thin waist and bulging muscular body, as for her face, quite a normal looking one except a thick white powder plastered on her face and thick red lipstick. She was quite loud and very feminine despite her muscular body.
"Hive!!..controlled yourselves!!..geez~~…Ehem!….I'm Sorry to show such inappropriate scene before you, you excellency..…". (Baroness Lydia)
"Ahhh~~, I also apologize for such shameful appearance…..it's an honour to meet you, your highness…I am Hive Alvert Vongl…The owner of Green Hive…". (Madam Hive)
Unlike the previous banter, seeing Baroness Lydia who were struggling escaping her tight bear hug and bowing towards us, Made madam realizes that I'm not her everyday customer. Towards their sudden apology, I just waved my hand signalling not to dwell on it to much.
"Good day to you Madam Hive, My name is Elijah and this is my Sister Mina, We're from Black Keep Company…We were interested on buying slaves today..". (Elijah)
Like always Elijah waste no time at all, always direct to the point.
"Oh of course..We at Green Hive are happy to have such esteemed customer…But, due to several unforseen circumtances we have no male slaves in our stock….but we do have many females slaves…will that be acceptable?…". (Madam Hive)
"Your Excellency….What now?…". (Elijah)
Upon hearing Madam Hive replies, Elijah Stop for a moment and turned to me.
".…I don't' see that as a problem, we need workforce…and we need it now…..I don't care if it's a woman or whatever..as long as they can do the labour…it's good enough for me….by the way, ask her for a standard price of 5-9 gold coins per slave and a delivery service…".
Nodding at my confirmations, Elijah Continue her negotiations with Madam Hive. It was a long confrontation between the two woman.
"My last price is 3 gold coins per slave, Black company will buy all the slaves in your store…". (Elijah)
".…..I'm Afraid I can't, 3 gold is not enough….how about this,…5 gold per slave and free delivery…..Lady Elijah, I'm are running a business here…I can only settle with this price..". (Madam Hive)
Madam Hive was fanning herself with her feather fan to calm herself, on the other hand Elijah was calm, she turned to me acting as if she was waiting for my decisions. Actually she's already perform exactly as I wanted her to, to make it look more suspense, I act like I was pondering for a few second, and nod slightly.
"Madam Hive, 5 gold per slaves and Free delivery service…Deal!, Prepare the contract, Black keep Company will pay the deposit now and the rest after the delivery is done..". (Elijah)
"Thank you!… Candice, get the contract!….". (Madam Hive)
Madam Hive was smiling wide, as Elijah agreed to her price. Actually the business has been slow lately, most customer only searching for a male slaves, as there's a rumour of wars looming on the west side of Hallerus, everyone was searching for a fighting forces to protect themselves, leaving her with abundance of female slaves In her stocks, seeing someone willing to buy some of her stocks, although the price was a bit low, she actually managed to profit at least 1 gold coins per slave.
Finally Candice comes in with the contract, Madam Hive immediately write the contract herself. After a few minutes, she finishes the contract and ask Elijah to Sign the contract, instead Elijah handover the contract to me, I signed the contract and place 900 gold coins on the table. We managed to buy 180 female slaves today, according to Madam Hive, 90% the female slaves was Beast race, Elf and Dwarves. it was quite a mind bogling to know that a single book was actually more expensive than as single human life.