I will buy that slave!_3

After Shily requested him to investigate and collect all information about Genus, Benso was startled at first, but seeing the serious expression on his lady, he did his best.

He used the remaining time of the day to ask the locals, even the shop owners, to collect every bit of information for his lady.

Nighttime, inside Shily's room.

"So, what did you find out?" Shily asked the moment he showed up.

"Uuuh, quite the headache." Benso replied in a tired voice.

He took a chair, adjusted it, then sat down facing her.

"Tell me… who is he?" Shily asked again, interested in Genus.

"Well, Despite how much I asked, No one knows anything specific about him. But I learned he's from the fallen Ria, the past formidable kingdom." Benso said, exhausted.

He had to ask all kinds of people, even those who wouldn't give it for free.

Some were just scammers, but he could so nothing but listen to their lies. For the sake of his lady!

"Ria?! I remember its civilians were enslaved in the last allied war…" Shily murmured, "But, is that all? Nothing more?"

"Sigh, wait until I finish. What I told you is just what the majority knows, except for a quite interesting story I learned from a merchant."

Benso said grieving, remembering just how much gold coins he paid to get this useless crap story!

But, if it is for the lady, it's nothing much!

"Oh? Tell me." She was intrigued.

Then, Benso started narrating what he heard from the shady, thief merchant.

The merchant told him that no one knows anything about the slave, except for being from Ria, a recently fallen kingdom.

After he was enslaved by Ugu Loy, a slave merchant, six months ago. The slave hadn't got sold for being a useless sack of bones, while being rebellious. Ugu did not want to waste food on him, so tossed him in the mines to work.

Two months passed as a mining slave, he tried to escape with a bunch of other slaves, he even killed citizens in their escape.

But they were pursued and killed, only he remained surviving. And from then on, Ugu made him a display torture for public, saying that it was for killing innocent citizens and as a reminder to those who wants to try running again.

But every time people demanded of killing him, Ugu would decline and continue his torture.

Ugu would move from city to another and torture him, but the slave never let go of his stubbornness.

—

Shily absorbed what she heard.

'So that's how it is, despite the story having some gaps, it's reasonable…'

"But wait, if it was just a matter of killing citizens, I know he's evil for doing so but… He doesn't deserve to be tormented for life, does he?" Shily asked, bewildered.

If he killed citizens, then the city lord guards should have killed him, no?

"That's where things get tricky." Benso replied before continuing, interested, "The merchant told me that there is a rumor about Ugu being afraid of killing him. Four months ago, Ugu had set a price to buy the slave suddenly, about 50 Gold coins. And that Ugu deliberately not revealed the slave's identity for public, while also not affecting any severe injuries in his torture afterwards."

Shily frowned, 'Why would he do that? He can't be afraid, right? Ugu is an influential and strong man, for him to be threatened, it must be a big figure, but why would someone think of backing that slave? Is he that special?... No! It can't be, why would he be tortured like that if that's true? It's impossible, there must be more to it.'

Seeing the confusion in his lady, Benso added, "That's why I said it's tricky, not killing him, setting a price, it looks as if Ugu want to dispose of him by any means, while also manipulating peoples' hatred towards Ria."

Shily intersected, "So you tell me, that he's being tortured every day just because people hate Ria, right? Not because of the citizens he killed?"

"Exactly so, The people he killed are just a frontal reason."

"What nonsense is that? Just because they hate a Kingdom, they torture it's citizen for life? Not even caring about their fellow inhabitants?" Shily couldn't accept it.

She gets that he must be punished for killing people, but because of a hatred? Unreasonable, right?

"Lady Shily, don't underestimate the deep wounds between the Empire and Ria Kingdom. It may sound nonsense to you, but to its civilians, that's more than enough." Benso said in a stern voice.

"..." Shily was startled, but she ignore it, "Anyways, don't you know why he tried to escape? Or why he killed those people?"

He wouldn't escape just to kill people, right?

"Unfortunately, No information." Benso replied.

After a moment of silence, Benso couldn't hold his urge and asked.

"Lady Shily, may I know why you want these information?"

Shily looked at him and joked.

"Hehe, Just curious"

"What?!" Benso eyes darkened.

Just curious? Curious? Exhausting him for those information just because she's curious? What nonsense is that?

"Just kidding, Despite the info is not that much, it's still what I wanted." Shily said afterwards.

"His determination inspired me, and I was curious about his killing intent. So I thought, Why don't I buy him and let him be a servant? He seems strong."

Benso frowned, "Absolutely no! Lady Shily, how can you buy a killer? He may be dangerous!"

"Well, you're here, there is nothing to be afraid of. And just because he killed some people, doesn't deserve to be unfairly tortured like that. Moreover, don't you want a male companion?"

Shily looked outside the window, gazing at the moon hanging in the dark sky.

"I-"

Before Benso could talk, she stated, "Teacher, I can't wait anymore. The family is putting a lot of pressure lately, and with how things are going, we may never rise!"

"Even if he's a killer, we need all that could help. If he cooperates, we may even free him. Its not a bad offer for him, is it?"

Benso was silent, not refuting anything she said. He knew what his lady said is true and that every little speck of power is needed, he just don't want his lady to in danger.

But as a teacher, he chose to support his student. After all, he's with her, nothing can harm her.

"If you decided, then I will support you with everything I can do." He said, resolute.

"Thank you, teacher!"

—

Next day.

Their third day inside the city, Shily and Benso strolled the markets until they found the Same situation happening.

But this time, they're not coming to see, but to buy Genus!

"Let's go, Benso." Shily urged.

Benso shook his head and followed, there is no coming back.

After they went through people to arrive inside the the crowded circle, Shily shouted her demand.

"Stop! I will buy that slave!"

Both Benso and Shily, standing near each other, attracted the attention, making Ruga stop his beating.

All people around looked at her like she was insane or something.

"Oi Oi, is that right?"

"Did you hear that? Buy? What the crap?"

"Shush, it the Norwen family…"

"Step aside, That slave will die here!"

Some became enraged, while others afraid. But the majority found it quite… amusing spectacle.

'Is she insane? But that's also good.' Genus thought, no happiness visible, but he saw that hope he had didn't betray him.

Ruga was dumbfounded, 'did I hear that right?'

He then asked, "I didn't hear you clearly, what was it again?"

This time, Benso spoke, "My lady said she will buy that slave."

His sharp eyes and intimidating straight posture silenced everyone, posing a suffocating air.

"I wouldn't allow that."

Suddenly, A young authoritative voice resounded, attracting all attention.