Clue to Althea

Garan did not call him out immediately, however, simply because—judging by the special mineral cuff on his neck—Garan knew this person was a slave.

It wasn't that he wanted to discriminate—that was something very rare to see in his time back in Terran. It was just that the slaves in this world had a really low position. 

They had such a low status; they were barely even considered humans. It was the type made to eat pig food and sleep on grass on a daily basis. 

Interacting excessively with a slave you didn't own could get them noticed. And not in a good way.

After hesitating for a moment, he turned his head to Jones.

Pointing at the cleaner, he said, "He looks very good at cleaning. There're a lot of shoes at home that are in need of major care." 

Garan looked indifferently at the man behind the counter, furtively giving a handful of silver, but seeming like he wouldn't really care if he couldn't borrow the slave.