Chapter 29

A tall, middle-aged man in a black coat entered the common hall, followed by two guards and a group of slaves from the 1st and 2nd sectors who had won the auction, which suggested their ill-concealed smiles.

Kyon could tell by the way the man was walking that he was no ordinary person. He had specific skills.

The crowd parted to let him pass. The trio in the market stall moved closer to the wall to make room on the mini-stage. Their status was clearly inferior to that of the coat bearer.

The stranger went onto the stage, looked over the audience with blank eyes, cleaned his throat, and spoke:

«All of you probably know who I am and why I'm here. I'm not going to stay in this place for long. Three people who make the highest bids will be promoted and sent to the estate…»

He said those words every year, and they always caused quite a sensation in the common hall.

Each slave considered the promotion and moving to the estate as something unimaginable, which would completely change their lives for the better. There would be delicious food, favorable living conditions, a higher salary... The chance to become a footman could make their lives a fairy tale. To become a servant or, even better, a livestock keeper, those were the dreams of the poor. The prospects were unthinkable. The estate belonged to the Stones, the family number one in the whole kingdom, no less. Promotion cost about three times higher than freedom.

The man in the coat, aka the deliverer, spread his hands and said solemnly: - «Let the auction begin! The first bid is five thousand rupees. Who will give me more?»

Arms began to rise, followed by shouts: «Sixty thousand!»...«Seventy thousand!»...«Ninety thousand!»

In the end, the first person bought the promotion for 250,000 rupees.

Kyon decided to buy the second, which he believed would be cheaper.

His plan was justified: he won the lot for 220,000 rupees. Psychology and the mood of the masses were an open book for him.

What a lucky turn of events it was to meet some well-heeled guys who kindly gave him all their possessions. He would have to toil for many, many years before he could take part in the auction with the money he had. Or maybe he would have to come up with another cunning plan. Everything worked out for him. Kyon didn't know what was in store for him in the mansion, and he couldn't wait to find it out.

The third lot was sold for 275,000 rupees. The winner had been saving for about 10 years, but promotion was totally worth it, unlike freedom. There was no way he would spend another year as a slave in the mine. He thought he would save buying the third lot. Oh well, he meant well. Surprisingly, sad and happy tears were running down his cheeks at the same time.

Kyon discreetly gave the rest of his money to Mike, who was already in good health and eternally grateful, shook his hand and followed the man in black.

As far as Kyon knew, rupees weren't in use in the mansion.

On the way from the common hall, Kyon met Borya, who looked happy and strong. He also shook Kyon's hand and patted him on the back. «The legend of the boy who defied the system and, most importantly, won would be heard for a long time in the mine. Good luck in the future, Kyon.»

John, Kyon's former warden, was standing there in disbelief. The little shit had beaten him up, crippled him and took his money to buy promotion. The world was evil and unfair…

Babil shed an angry tear, clenching his few teeth. The little crook didn't let him get one over on him. The boy was nobody's fool. He was a tiger in the skin of a fool.

Byron called Martha to tell her that Kyon was leaving the mine and went to see him off:

«Kyon, I'm so happy for you! I hope they will treat you well.»

Kyon smiled:

«Don't forget our conversation. By the way, I've left you a surprise. You'll find out tomorrow what it is.»

Byron looked at Kyon with a great deal of interest. He liked surprises. He gave Kyon a friendly smile and shook his hand:

«All right, Kyon. Take care of yourself. I wish I could leave you a surprise, too. But there's nothing to surprise you with…»

«That's okay.» - Kyon patted him on the shoulder. Thanks to Byron, nobody tried to steal the money from his pocket during the week, and many wanted to get rich overnight. If it weren't for Byron, he would have had to think of another way to get himself out of the mine, which might have taken him more than a month, and maybe more than two.

Kyon knew well that cleaning Byron's keys a bit wasn't going to write off his debt. He must get him out of here and then try and help him get his revenge. If it wasn't too much trouble.

When Kyon had shaken everyone's hand, he followed the deliverer in the black coat. He had the foresight to secretly take some amber stones, crystallized and potentially explosive energy, which in the future could come in handy. After all, it was real money unlike rupees in the mine.

It was a piece of cake to hide something from search. All Kyon had to do was to put the little stones under the thick bandage somewhere on his forearm.

His group was approaching Sector 4.

Mob was alone at the checkpoint as he owed Bob a day off. He was leaning back in his chair, reading a book. Either he was pretending to be an intellectual or wanted to be smarter than the slaves. When all of a sudden, Mob turned around and noticed Kyon's group.

The question slipped out of his mouth:

«Kyon?! Are you the winner?!»

Kyon nodded:

«My adventures here are coming to an end.»

The deliverer suppressed his surprise at the fact that a slave was on close terms with authorities. He approached Mob and said in a flat voice:

«So, you know each other, it makes things easier. Mention in your report that he won the auction and was sent to the estate. I'm in a bit of a hurry.»

Mob bowed slightly to show respect for the person in front of him and quickly made some log entries that would only mix things up later.

Kyon heard someone behind him: Martha had come to say goodbye. Thanks to him, she had the most unusual week in the mine.

Still writing in the log, Mob looked around at the familiar footsteps and cried out:

«Martha! Hi!»

She smiled bashfully when she saw all those present, especially Mob:

«Hello…»

Mob broke into a blissful smile, then coughed awkwardly.

Martha approached Kyon, took him by the hand and said:

«I didn't expect you to have so many secrets! I'm so glad you are getting out of here. I hope you'll be alright.»

Kyon looked at her good-natured, pretty face, smiled kindly and replied:

«All of this wouldn't have happened without your help. Thank you for being a partner… in crime as well.» - He gave her a conspiratorial wink.

Martha covered her red face with her hand, averting her eyes. She really was an accomplice in Martin's murder, albeit unintentionally.

Mob looked startled as if he had remembered something. He grabbed Kyon by the hand and gave him a firm shake, patting him on the shoulder with the other hand:

«Kyon… Well... Have a good time. Alright... Good luck.»

Kyon looked at him in disbelief. Was Mob really shaking a slave's hand? No way! He just wanted to impress Martha. He turned his eyes to the doctor and nodded – it worked! It really did!

Martha covered her mouth with her hand. She always disapproved of Mob battering slaves and treated them like shit. And now he was shaking hands with a slave! Mob was even smiling at him! Was it the same man? When Mob was protecting her from the mad servant, she noticed many good qualities in him, and now this... But she hadn't said anything to Byron yet. She hadn't broken up with him. She had to be more determined.

Kyon cleared his throat and replied:

«I will! Believe me.»

Mob took away his hand and almost imperceptibly wiped it on his pants, his "sincere" smile never left his lips. His little ruse was for a reason. The expression on Martha's face was totally worth it.

Meanwhile, the deliverer was staring at Kyon as if he were an anomaly. He had never seen such a young slave in the mine. The boy must have committed a crime to be forced into slavery at such a young age. Then the deliverer wondered where the boy could get enough money to win the auction. It required years of hard work, and he was unlikely to have been toiling in the mine since his infancy. The boy must have pulled a fast one. But what could he possibly have done? Who did he deceive and rob to have such a huge amount of money? The deliverer found it strange, very strange. Then the boy turned out to be on friendly terms with the leader of the mine! Even stranger was the fact that the nurse came to say goodbye to him! The deliverer was inclined to believe that the doctor fancied the handsome young boy, but what about the supervisor, who, as far as he remembered from his previous trips, despised slaves?! An air of mystery surrounded Kyon, and the deliverer was curious to know how he did it. Anyway, he had completely changed his opinion about the boy.

The deliverer suppressed his emotions and roared. «It's time to leave unless you want to stay in the mine.» - Then he headed off to the 4th sector with his group.

Kyon threw a final smiling glance at Martha, waved her with two fingers goodbye and followed the deliverer. He knew that he would pay her back in full for her kindness and help but first, he needed to get on his feet and spread his wings.

The doctor watched him go with a longing look on her face. Suddenly, his disappearing silhouette reminded her of her son. Tears flew down her cheeks. She felt empty, yet her heart was so heavy. The memories came flooding back. It was happening all over again…

Mob saw his dear woman crying and gently put his arm around her. «Here, here... He'll be ba... He'll miss you, too.»

Martha nodded, wiped her tears, and shouted to Kyon from a distance:

«Take good care of yourself!»

Kyon didn't turn. A wry smile briefly touched his lips.

Finally, the group crossed the border of Sector 3... Kyon wasn't going to meet any familiar faces anymore. He let out a long sigh, partly of sadness.

After the auctions in other sectors, the deliverer had gathered a decent group of slaves ready to leave the mine. The guards respectfully let him out at the sight of the formation on his wrist.

The mountain wind was blowing. A beautiful mountain landscape opened before Kyon. The sun was at its zenith, and he could see green trees in the distance, a small river, birds... Dear nature that the slaves hadn't seen for many years.

Their faces expressed delight. They hadn't breathed fresh air for ages.

The deliverer led the group to a large cart pulled by two unusual animals. He sat on the driver's seat and beckoned to the others to get in.

{My journey is just beginning.} - Kyon reminded himself, making himself comfortable.

…

Twenty-four elders were sitting at a large round table in the half-open palace. Half of them flickered like an illusion. Up above them in the sky, there was a huge blue ball, the planet called Life.

There was an ongoing discussion of a fundamental issue between two rival factions opposing each other for thousands of years.

Emperor Mubay, the tall illusionary man with short blond hair, keen eyes and a pair of translucent white wings behind his back, spoke with authority:

«We have considered the competition proposal for the right to own Argus gates for the next hundred years. We have agreed upon all points, except the one that states that there should be a hundred of the top geniuses on each side. We suggest sending twenty-five contestants rather than creating a bloodbath on the lower planet.»

Ryder, the emperor of the opposite faction with a pair of dark wings behind his back and impressive looks, said with a grin:

«Do you expect me to believe that you care about the scum on the planet? Admit it, you don't have enough young geniuses to match us.»

Mubay's reaction was harsh and arrogant. «Our geniuses have always been famous for their quality, not quantity! It's a long and difficult process to cultivate gold grains instead of cranking out heaps of rot!»

They started a fierce debate trying to humiliate the opposite faction and defend their position. After a while, both sides came up with a compromise: there would be 50 participants on each side.

Mubay, the head of the light faction, summed up:

«Next year on the day of the gate closing, we're placing fifty of the best geniuses under the age of eighteen in random places of the planet. They will all start as third phasers, and their success will depend solely on their intelligence and talent. The losers will strictly follow the terms of the agreement, and the winners will have Argus gates at their disposal for the next hundred years. Now let's sign the spiritual contract.» - He looked at the dark faction leader.

Ryder signed the document with a confident smile and said solemnly:

«And may the STRONGEST win. I mean US!» - He dropped the call, leaving the last word to himself.

Ryder waved his hand leisurely, ordering the dark faction elders to leave the conference room. Everybody left with reverence. An extraordinarily beautiful woman stayed. She put her hand on his shoulder.

With an evil smile, Emperor Ryder pulled the gorgeous woman closer and kissed her sliding his tongue into her mouth, pawing her supple buttocks. Then he pulled away from her and said:

«We don't have much time to prepare, darling. Organize the qualifying tournament all over the kingdom. I want to see fifty greatest young geniuses next month. And take care of our son. He must get the best training and resources. He was born to be the first, after all.»